What I Don’t Want From Red Dead Redemption 2

There’s going to be a new Red Dead Redemption 2 announcement very soon (in only a few hours in fact).

Yes, Rockstar have been doing what they do best by teasing us fans when they Tweeted the above image and nothing else. But what is coming in a few hours? A new trailer? Gameplay footage? Online mode reveal? A confirmed release date?… another delay?

We can do nothing but wait…

Its been almost a year since Rockstar released the first teaser trailer in October of 2016 when they also teased a fall 2017 release date and if things had worked out – we most probably would all be playing Red Dead Redemption 2 right now. Of course the game was delayed until 2018 (as some predicted months ago), so no Red Dead Redemption 2 for us.

In the almost 12 month wait between that first trailer, Rockstar have remained very tight lipped and with the exception of a few images – they’ve shown us nothing. But this has not stopped fans from predicting what the new game will be about. A full on and direct sequel is what the title suggests, but given the fact the last game ends just as the wild west era was dying out – a sequel seems doubtful… possible but doubtful.

Others think it’ll be a prequel filling in the backstory of John Marston and his involvement with Dutch van der Linde’s gang that served as the backbone of the plot for Red Dead Redemption. Some have even suggested that’ll it could be both a sequel and a prequel featuring John’s son Jack Marston. With the player being both Jack in the ‘present’ telling the story of his father in the past via stories he was told growing up. But no matter what theory you look into – there’s one central factor that seems to be a fan favourite and that is that John Marston will be in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Now, I love me some John Marston. In fact I would say he’s probably one of my all time favourite game characters ever. He’s charismatic, humble, caring as well as being a total bad-ass. The ending to Red Dead Redemption is still one of the most emotional and hard hitting game endings I’ve experienced and I miss playing as John as much as the next fan. But do you know what? I don’t want John in Red Dead Redemption 2.

Well let me rephrase that. I don’t want John as a main playable character. If Red Dead Redemption 2 is going to be a prequel – then I’d rather that Rockstar come up with all new characters and story. As much as I adore John Marston, I feel I’d rather play as a new character or characters – given Grand Theft Auto V’s multiple character mechanic, I’m sure we’ll see that return here too. But also like the Grand Theft Auto franchise, I always enjoy how they create all new characters for each game.

There are often references and ties to previous games (within each new Grand Theft Auto generation) and characters from one game can often appear in another. This is something I’d like to see with Red Dead Redemption 2 – a whole new set of main characters to play as but maybe have them cross paths with Dutch’s gang and John. Intertwine the stories and let us peak into the window of John’s previous life before Red Dead Redemption, sure have that story going on the background -but give us a totally new set of main characters to play as in the main story.

Yeah I love me some John Marston but I also think his history should remain just that – history. Keep it under wraps and leave us fans to make up our own mythology of John. Oh yeah, one more thing… a lot less wild flower picking too.

Just have to wait for the big reveal now…