Thursday, June 3, 2010

Red Dead Reverence

After a marathon of playing, I finally finished Red Dead Redemption. Or rather, I finished the initial story mode. I have to say, this is some of the most emotional writing I've ever seen in a game. The story itself isn't terrible original, some minor characters can be cliché, but Rockstar – to many critics surprise – has created a gripping morality tale where a father’s struggle for independence and redemption is met with unfettered strife.

I’ll admit. I got teary when John Marston, the main character, finally rides through a snowy forest to meet his family after a month and a half of fighting. The game developers waited until that scene to play the first of only two original songs in the game with lyrics. The ambiance is perfect. You actually feel like you’re meeting real people that you really care about… that you actually love. And Rockstar was smart enough not to show you the players the family in any exposition scenes; they are only talked about. Clever. No… brilliant.

There’s obviously turns in the story that I can’t spoil. The story twists a little and perspectives shift, but that is typical for “endings” in good games and good novels. At the end of Red Dead’s story mode – the first end anyway – you have a hard time wrapping your head around what your character must be thinking and what will happen next.

Because there will be more. Downloadable side-stories and additional plot. Multiplayer skirmishes and online mythmaking.

There's really no "finishing" sandbox style games anymore. After the initial story mode arc is complete, the climax and resolution is told (if there is one), and the credits role, players often find themselves standing where you left off. Literally. You're standing over the vacant body of an enemy, a person you had a long vendetta with, and your life just keep going on. Or the game does.

Sometimes you play as other characters. Perspectives change. Motivations shift. In a way, this new organic way of storytelling is more like real life than the static novel.

I’m not sure which I prefer anymore when it comes to game vs. novels, which is kinda okay with me.

3 comments:

Jenica said...

[Sometimes you play as other characters. Perspectives change. Motivations shift. In a way, this new organic way of storytelling is more like real life than the static novel.

I’m not sure which I prefer anymore, which is kinda ok with me. ]

Which set of preferences are you unsure of: organic v. static storytelling or game with organic storytelling v. real life?

Justin Sirois said...

It was a "novels vs. video games" preference/love. I leaning towards games.

Justin Sirois said...

I clarified in the review.

:)