Summary
Red Dead Redemption 2puts players in 1899 America on the precipice of the rise of industrialization. Arthur Morgan and the rest of the Van der Linde gang want to continue their lives as outlaws, but it is becoming harder. He also deals with his personal demons as he comes to terms with his mortality.
Red Dead Redemption 2features a morality system, and it is supposed to track the good and bad deeds Arthur commits. However, it misses the mark in several ways. Consequently, Rockstar shouldn’t be in a rush to include it in the next game in the series.
The Problem With the RDR2 Morality System
On the face of it, the morality system is simple. Perform good deeds, andArthur Morgan getsRDR2’s “good” ending. If the scale slides to the bad side by performing bad deeds, Arthur gets the “bad” ending instead. However, problems arise when considering what is good and bad. The scale fails to give earning honor or dishonor the appropriate weight.
It’s okay to murder animals, but some animals are special, like horses and dogs, which grants Arthur negative honor. Getting positive honor is also laughably easy. By simply visiting a busy location likeSaint Denisand greeting everyone, it is easy to shift the scale from bad to good. There are also chores to do back at camp, which are mind-numbingly boring. Games shouldn’t make players do mundane chores like moving hay and chopping firewood to earn something as lofty and philosophical as an honor score.
Overall, players are nudged to increase theirRed Dead Redemption 2honor levels. However, for those who want to embrace their devilish side, there are a few perks. This includes an increased drop rate for Dead Eye tonics, alcohol, tobacco, and throwing weapons. This pales in comparison to the rewards received when Arthur’s honor is high, however. When in stores, he’ll receive discounts and new outfits from stores, in addition to the “good” ending.
A Morality System isn’t Necessary To Demonstrate Redemption
Unsurprisingly, redemption is a key theme in the entireRed Dead Redemptionseries. InRDR2, Arthur must struggle with his violent past and whether he can achieve redemption in his last days inthe Van der Linde gang. It’s a question that players are left to ponder during Arthur’s last days as he receives opportunities to do good and turn a new leaf.
This is an effective “show don’t tell” storytelling method that doesn’t rely on a somewhat broken morality system. Instead of a mechanical scale, allow players to witness for themselves a character coming to terms with the morality of their actions and contemplating whether redemption is a possibility. This requires a tight, expertly crafted narrative, but that’s always been one of Rockstar’s strong points.
Sadly, it is not known whether a third game is coming at all. Currently,Rockstar’s attention is focused onGrand Theft Auto 6, which is set for release in 2025. ForRed Dead Redemption 2, the studio gathered all its employees worldwide for its development, which makes it unlikely thatRed Dead Redemption 3is being developed at the same time as the nextGTAgame. However, with 61 million units sold, it’s no stretch to imagine that Rockstar will revisit the franchise at some time.
Red Dead Redemption 2offers arguably one of the best gaming narratives, though some elements of its gameplay have divided gamers. Rockstar has a chance to improve greatness with the next title, and a morality system isn’t needed for that.
Red Dead Redemption 2
WHERE TO PLAY
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.
