Wanted levels have never made sense in Rockstar games and they are always a joke. In the Grand Theft Auto games, even though you can steal a tank, and alpha boss pal locations destroy literally hundreds of people, all that happens when you get caught is you lose some mo

Don’t be deceived by the number at the end of the title, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a direct prequel to its predecessor. The story takes place years before our last adventure as we follow Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang. If you recognize the latter name, it was the group of outlaws that John Marston rode with back in the day. As you can expect, you’ll see our loveable Marston often, who is perfectly implemented into the story. It’s not too much fan service or focus, but just enough so he’s a solid supporting role, especially in the later half of the campaign. He has his own arc, but it’s all about Arthur and his issues. The first couple of chapters in the story, Arthur is an unlikable individual. It takes him a little while to find his footing as he’s an overly serious character who never breaks a smile and plays the rough cowboy to a T. His relationship with the group, including the gang’s leader, Dutch van der Linde, is what stands out among everything else. It’s the little things around the camp; the songs, the gestures and the interactions that expand our protagonist’s likability, and you begin to better understand him. Even the most insignificant faces seem to bring out the more positive aspects out of Arthur more than the main story ever does, and it’s sad that it’s something players can completely overlook, especially considering entering the camp setting forces the player to move at a snail’s pace.

With that being said, reports have surfaced claiming that Read Dead Redemption 2 will show off the power of the heavily touted Xbox One X–Microsoft’s powerhouse luxury console. Rumor has it, the game will run at 4K and 60FPS on the upcoming console. However, we still do not know how Red Dead 2 will look on Sony’s high-end unit, the PlayStation 4

All in all, giving gamers more ways to consume content is a good thing. The definitive way to play a Red Dead Redemption title will still likely be in third-person, but there is no reason why players should not be allowed to experiment with other mechanics as w

While Red Dead Redemption 2 is very much a "Rockstar game" that allows players to create as much horse-and carriage-fueled chaos as they like, one of the most notable additions to the game is the integration of new layers of interactivity between the player and other NPCs out in the world, including the ability to take a bit more of a pacifist approach to most encounters.

As you stock up on valuable loot and money earned from heists, you have the option to contribute those items (or cold hard cash) into your gang's funds, which in turn can be used to invest in upgrading the various sections of the camp. Though some of these upgrades will be a bit pricey (especially early on in the game), the camp provides a valuable resource by giving you easy access to ammo, provisions, and tonics that will all be more than useful when you're going between missions, in a more cost-effective manner than getting it all individually at a general store.

It’s safe to say that Red Dead Redemption 2 is easily the most visually-impressive game Rockstar has ever created. While it’s difficult for open world games to compare to more linear, focused experiences due to the amount of content shoved onto screen at once, there were times when I thought I was playing a CG movie. Maybe that’s a little bit of hyperbole as there are still some compromises that are taken, but for the most part this is arguably the best looking game of the year. Character models are remarkably detailed, even with the most insignificant individuals, and the open world is absolutely gorgeous. Not only does it have an incredible amount of variety, from industrial cities to snowy mountains, but the way settings are organized bring the world to life in a sensational way. From a pure visual aspect, the only negative notions are minor ones, namely beards can sometimes look like they’re pulled off a character creator, and the rendering and reflections when moving through water has a strange issue on the sides of the screen. Animation is the only other aspect that can be bothersome at times. Don’t get me wrong, everything is animated meticulous, from faces to actions, but when you need to interact with something in the world, it can put you into an animation that takes a lot longer than you’d hope for. Other than that, I was blown away with what Rockstar was able to accomplish, as the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is simply breathtaking.

However, the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is also the home to a number of interesting characters and folks that you'll meet along the way, whether randomly or as part of a side mission. Typically, other characters you'll meet fall into the category of "Strangers" -- side mission characters that you'll find on the map marked by a white question mark -- or Random Encounters, which usually will involve a character seeking assistance on the side of the road or while you are exploring town.