TheRed Dead Redemptionfranchise will likely be on hiatus for quite some time yet. Rockstar is going to be focused onGTA 6for the foreseeable future, and if the company’s release strategy in the 2010s is anything to go off, it’s extremely probable that audiences won’t seea follow-up toRed Dead Redemption 2until the 2030s, if at all.
But nevertheless, theRed Dead Redemptionseries is ripe with unrealized potential. Rockstar’s best-in-class environment design and narrative crafting have been out in full force in the first twoRed Dead Redemptiongames, turning the duology into an undeniable modern classic. For all the games' strengths, though, there are plenty of shortcomings, with moment-to-moment gameplay perhaps being chief among them. Indeed, while Rockstar tends to favor strong writing over gameplay in all its releases, theRed Deadgames feel particularly stiff and slow, making follow-up playthroughs something of a slog. If there ever is aRed Dead Redemption 3, then gameplay, specifically with respect to the combat sandbox, ought to be front-of-mind.
Though some considerRed Dead Revolverpart of the broader series, its markedly different gameplay and structure, plus the lack of “Redemption” in the title, make it more like a spin-off, even though it came first.
Rockstar is certainly a trailblazer, but if it ever wanted for inspiration comeRed Dead Redemption 3’s development, there are a host of relevant third-person shooters that could serve as wellsprings. Relatively grounded shooters thatRDR3could borrow from include:
There are loads of great third-person shooters on the market, but the above are the most appropriate due to the conservative nature of their shooting mechanics; games likeSpace Marine 2are great, but hardly relevant when discussingRed Dead Redemption 3. TakeUncharted 4andThe Last of Us 2, for instance: these games feature cat-and-mouse stealth systems and meaty, brutal animations that drive home the intensity of every shootout.Metal Gear Solid 5is another good choice in this regard, its tactical stealth and unparalleled character controls sorely missing from contemporary gaming.
In terms of overall gamefeel,Resident Evil 4 Remakemight just be the best third-person shooter around. Leon’s smooth but weighty movements tie a titanium string between player and game, making for an intuitive, immersive, and deep experience.Red Dead Redemption 3could learn from these strengths, making for a far more comfortable and nuanced wild-west shooting sim. Finally, there’sMax Payne, which is perhaps the mostmechanically similar toRed Dead Redemptionthanks to their shared penchant for bullet-time mechanics. But theMax Paynegames feature a far more rewarding and expressive bullet-time experience than the Deadeye feature, allowing players to jump, slide, and dive while dispatching enemies in slo-mo. This focus on momentum could be an obvious area forRed Dead Redemption 3to double-down on.
The above comparisons are helpful from a conceptual standpoint, but even if Rockstar rejects all other third-person shooter mechanics as inspiration, there are still key pain points the developer should target comeRDR3. More and better options for engaging enemies might be the most important one: inRDR2, players are generally forced to either shoot from behind cover or rush into a hail of bullets, hoping for the best. Diverse options that reward strategy and creative thinking would allowRed Dead Redemption 3to be more funand expressive without necessarily sacrificing realism. The other broad-strokes shortcomingRDR3could focus on is character movement, as Arthur and John have a tendency to move more like bathtubs on wheels than fit, capable outlaws.
Red Dead Redemption 2
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America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
