Worth playing if I didn't like GTAV?

[Dark Sun Gwyndolin]

GTAV was indisputably a masterpiece, but its cynical tone made it hard for me to enjoy. In particular, the lack of any real rewards for non-heist missions was annoying, none of the characters (except possibly Franklin) were particularly likeable, and the torture scene made me shut the game off for good. GTAOnline was cool, but excessively monitized.

How is RDR2 as an open-world game? I honestly like tracking down collectibles and doing sidequests, is that what this game focuses on? Or is it a more linear story like GTAV? Open-world games I like include Saints Row 4, Batman Arkham, Prey, Elden Ring, Skyrim.

[CunningLow-Life]

You'll love it. The story is a bit tight as you start as it teaches you the basics and more. Can be frustrating at times. Best fishing mechanics I have seen in a game, the world is vast with MANY much goodies. Tons of stuff to collect.

When I first played, I felt like RDR2 is everything I wanted skyrim to be ++++ but western

[MAXE]

GTAV vs RDR2 = RDR2 wins .. both for its story rich singleplayer mode and for its outstanding graphics and npc´s in the game ..

i really like it .. i just wish that you had a better option to totally optional out on pvp, if you just want to enjoy the game online with a friend without getting hammered down by some pvp players that thinks its fun to jump you ..

[CunningLow-Life]

I love the online. Yes cheaters, but can be side stepped if you have a vpn connecting to east coast NA. Over 2k hours later I still have a blast everyday.

[JuiceWSA]

Originally posted by M-A-X-E ™:

GTAV vs RDR2 = RDR2 wins .. both for its story rich singleplayer mode and for its outstanding graphics and npc´s in the game ..

i really like it .. i just wish that you had a better option to totally optional out on pvp, if you just want to enjoy the game online with a friend without getting hammered down by some pvp players that thinks its fun to jump you ..

That problem is solved in less than 60 seconds:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFd2af8wINE
You and as many friends as you want (up to 32, of course) in the game - with 6.5 Million White Tail Deer (and friends) and nobody else.

[NumberGuy]

Neither I did like GTAV, but rdr2 made so different
Most interesting world to discover, good mechanics, so much stuff to collect, challenges with good rewards, really interesting side stories, locations made with huge love to details etc
Strongly recommended

[Mewsha]

RDR2 has the best open world I've played.

GTA V set the groundwork, but you can see the full potential of what open world means in this game. Even if you don't particularly like the setting, that level of quality alone is very impressive and currently unrivaled.

Narrative-wise it's a linear story and it's hyper focused. The story isn't for everyone, but I found it to be one of the best I've ever played. I'm not particularly fond of the western or cowboy genres either, but I found myself really caring about the story and more importantly the characters. Many have a development arc that grows organically as you progress the story.

It's good to take breaks from the story too. Branching out into the open world is rewarded. There's no map bloat, so you'll come across things through exploration. That's where the immersion shines. People spend hundreds of hours in the earlier chapters alone because there's so much to see, do, and collect.

GTA V has an excellent open world, but just not a lot to do, which is why people mod the single player so much. I also didn't like the story either. It's fine for what it was, but the focus on three characters really made it hard to connect or truly understand each of them. Michael is very unlikable, and meant to be unlikable, so I get it, but Trevor is also unlikable and you can tell the developers didn't intend that. Franklin is the straight man meant to be the glue of the group. Just not interesting enough to like or dislike.

I'd actually argue it's cynical tone and willingness to take shots at obvious real world parallels are what makes it a great game though. It's just unfortunate that Rockstar turned into what they were making fun of, but I digress.

There are only a few misses here and there in RDR2. For example the honor system. It's nice in theory but overall is just not well executed. Thankfully it doesn't interfere with the gameplay too much. There's also a point in the story where you're taken out out of the immersive open world that I didn't like, but it's a short chapter. That's all I'll say because saying anymore is spoiler territory.

Still, I struggle to find things I don't like about the main game.

RDO is a vision of what Rockstar could have been. I say that because it's surprisingly new player friendly and unlike GTAO, there's not and emphasis on griefing.

If you don't know, griefing mechanics were built into GTAO in order to pressure players to skip the grind and buy shark cards.

Another thing is inflation in GTAO is even more ridiculous than in real life currently. In RDO it's not bad. Everything is more or less priced fairly. You can get a lot for not much effort in comparison. You have to level up to unlock important aspects, so spending money isn't what's emphasized anyways.

Unfortunately that helped sealed RDO's fate. The lack of mechanics to push players into predatory microtransactions and the fact that Rockstar today arrogantly expects GTAO 2017 to present levels of success meant that they quickly stopped producing new content for RDO.

It's wild to think about because it took years for GTAO to be the cultural phenomenon it is today. It was actually trashed on release. In contrast, they have the lessons learned from GTAO and a very solid foundation behind them, as well as a passionate fanbase, but since it's not making them billions, they shelved it. It's a real shame and something that only Rockstar would do because they are leaving money on the table due to laziness.

There's still hundreds of hours of content to enjoy on RDO though, and especially if you're a fan on GTAO, I'd encourage you to play RDO. Not because they're so similar, but because it really symbolizes what a Rockstar open world game can be when it's not catered for an army of 12 year olds with their mom's credit card.

[Jack Burton]

Originally posted by Nyakuza:

GTAV was indisputably a masterpiece, but its cynical tone made it hard for me to enjoy. In particular, the lack of any real rewards for non-heist missions was annoying, none of the characters (except possibly Franklin) were particularly likeable, and the torture scene made me shut the game off for good. GTAOnline was cool, but excessively monitized.

How is RDR2 as an open-world game? I honestly like tracking down collectibles and doing sidequests, is that what this game focuses on? Or is it a more linear story like GTAV? Open-world games I like include Saints Row 4, Batman Arkham, Prey, Elden Ring, Skyrim.

Did anyone else READ his post? What he didn't like about GTA5?

Or were you just parroting what YOU feel about the game?

FFS.

Dude, most of the characters are completely unlikable. Even the MAIN character you play is difficult. JUST like in GTAV

But it's not your story, it's Arthurs story. (for the most part) if you can live with that? & get through the single player version (which, much like GTAV is setting you up for the online experience) you'll likely as not enjoy it.
The story is good. The characters are bad. Literally Charles is one of the only decent individuals in the entirety of the game. Much like CJ & Franklin & Caesar were about the only ones worth the pixels that made them up in previous Rockstar offerings.

Get the game. Don't get it HERE for full price. Get it somewhere's else & enjoy it for the story it is.

Did you like Tarantino's "The Hateful Eight"? Probably not judging by the critique you had of Rockstar.
& for the same reasons: Basically you had to fight to find anyone in the movie likable.
You will do that in the single player version of the game...But in a way? it's worth the ride.

As far as collectibles? Open world? etc? You'll like that aspect. The story may not completely thrill you with it's direness-throughout.
But is is indeed a classic western-tragedy.

[CunningLow-Life]

The end state of the single player campaign is a literal dream. To say the single player is just a foot pad for Online shows just how shallow your eyes see into the darkness.

You really can't compare the two. Online is pretty much just an RDR2 skin in a pvp paradise

How single player progresses is to insight love between you and the world around you in much deeper ways then online. If you are unable to love yo self or make any sort of connections, and have no moral compass, then yeah you might be a shallow guy with the need to get real with ones self.

You get meaning by giving things meaning in your heart. Allowing yourself to care for a great story book character is the same thing. Books end. This game gives you the dream and the tools to do whatever however you want.

Online is amazing for what it is, and it gives a freedom that many games strangle you for. It's IMO the closest thing we have to perfect freedom in our lives. Be responsible and use it to grown who you are, not diminish.

[Dark Sun Gwyndolin]

So, I've watched some reviews, and it definitely looks like something I enjoy. However, I don't think I'm gonna get it quite yet. It's a very impressive game graphically, but my desktop (RX 580) isn't quite powerful enough to get the full potential out of it. My laptop (RTX 3050 Ti) is more powerful, but has a small SSD (500GB) and fitting RDR2 on it would require me to uninstall the fantastic Total Warhammer 3.

I'm also not desperately in need of a new open-world game. I'm currently playing through the entire Batman Arkham series, and setting up mods for a Skyrim playthough. Once I get a new desktop PC (which I will do on the next GPU generation depending on how well my grad student job pays), I'll jump right in.

[JuiceWSA]

Originally posted by Nyakuza:

So, I've watched some reviews, and it definitely looks like something I enjoy. However, I don't think I'm gonna get it quite yet. It's a very impressive game graphically, but my desktop (RX 580) isn't quite powerful enough to get the full potential out of it. My laptop (RTX 3050 Ti) is more powerful, but has a small SSD (500GB) and fitting RDR2 on it would require me to uninstall the fantastic Total Warhammer 3.

AMD FX-8350
AMD RX-570

Full Potential? No, but is very nice, smooth and absolutely enjoyable with moderate settings:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2801022175

Looks pretty good to me - considering:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2736534055

I'm also running it on Spinning Rust and don't mind the 20 to 30 seconds of load time.

It's on Sale. Whataya waitin' for?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1174180/Red_Dead_Redemption_2/

For me - $30 for a good 3000 hours (so far) is a good way to waste some time and not have to spend that $2K for a new rig right now. How 'bout you?

The game is so good - any slight shortcomings you may have to endure in playing it - are totally worth it.

:)

[CunningLow-Life]

Nyakuza TBH I have same problems. Im using a 500$ laptop and can have only on game installed when its the size of rdr2 or WH3 with all the paid content.... you will not regret playing this game. The amount of animations, and the dialogue. EVERY WORD is voiced, and the world is breathing so hard I loose my breath.

[Skram]

Honestly, I hated GTA5 due to the writing mainly, it came off as if it was written by an edgy/way too cynical highschooler. While the gunplay is not much different in RDR2 than in GTA5, what it does make up for is its writing and mood. It feels way more grounded and immersive, the story if very well written and has one of the best written protagonists in video games, hands down.

it IS going to be open world with heavily scripted/linear missions though, so if that's a make it or break it for you then I might suggest skipping. That being said, the open world is amazing.

[SilentGhilly]

GTA 5 > RDR2, unless your on console and have hard copy's. But as far as PC is concerned, GTA 5 is pretty dope. Giant mod community, use to have offline capability till rockstar came out with their gimmick launcher. Which it still doe's if your good with computer's. Rdr 2 is overhyped capitalism crap. No mod community, Forced online verification, Online an even "offline" is pretty much unplayable unless you use cheats. The ingame economics are horrendous, but what do you expect from greedy rockstar. They want your money, while selling you crap games so you spend more money lol

[Dark Sun Gwyndolin]

Originally posted by SilentGhilly:

GTA 5 > RDR2, unless your on console and have hard copy's. But as far as PC is concerned, GTA 5 is pretty dope. Giant mod community, use to have offline capability till rockstar came out with their gimmick launcher. Which it still doe's if your good with computer's. Rdr 2 is overhyped capitalism crap. No mod community, Forced online verification, Online an even "offline" is pretty much unplayable unless you use cheats. The ingame economics are horrendous, but what do you expect from greedy rockstar. They want your money, while selling you crap games so you spend more money lol

Strange, the rumour I heard is that the reason RDROnline failed is that it wasn't a money printer like GTAOnline was. The monetization wasn't nearly as aggressive, so it wasn't infinite free money, so Rockstar stopped updating it.

[Sigvuld]

In response to OP - Others have given far more detailed responses, so I'll just throw in my two cents and say that, yes, RDR2 is one of the best open world single player experiences I've had to date, and I've been playing a billion different games for over 20 years. Please give it a shot once you feel like your PC's up to snuff!

Originally posted by SilentGhilly:

GTA 5 > RDR2, unless your on console and have hard copy's. But as far as PC is concerned, GTA 5 is pretty dope. Giant mod community, use to have offline capability till rockstar came out with their gimmick launcher. Which it still doe's if your good with computer's. Rdr 2 is overhyped capitalism crap. No mod community, Forced online verification, Online an even "offline" is pretty much unplayable unless you use cheats. The ingame economics are horrendous, but what do you expect from greedy rockstar. They want your money, while selling you crap games so you spend more money lol

The dude's clearly asking about the single player, not the online that you knew would be hot garbage from the very start - don't pretend GTAV's online is any more tolerable either, they're both dumpster fires