Red Dead Redemption II – 2nd Trailer

Well its finally here. Forget a big build up, lets just get right to it…

This is a little follow on from my previous Red Dead Redemption II article and here I’m just going to offer my thoughts on what this new trailer shows us (after watching it several times).

First impressions… I looks efing’ gorgeous. The vistas and scenery, the character models, the lip syncing, etc. It all looks incredibly detailed and to be honest, after Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto V –  I’d expect nothing less either. Also, its now Red Dead Redemption II and not 2.

The trailer synopsis, according to Rockstar themselves reads:

“The story of outlaw Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang as they rob, fight, and steal their way across the vast and rugged heart of America in order to survive.”

So looks like we’re playing as this Arthur Morgan character or at least he is one of the characters you play as. I’m still confident there is more to be revealed when it comes to playable characters and I also think the multi-character mechanic from Grand Theft Auto V will make a return. Mainly as you are connected to the Van der Linde gang which is the gang that previous protagonist, John Marston was involved with in the events before Red Dead Redemption… which would also cement in place what many people thought from the start – that this game will be a prequel. It also could mean the return of John Marston as a playable character. Plus Dutch appears in the trailer and if you’ve completed the previous game – then you know this means it has to be a prequel.

No John Marston though… not yet anyway. But I think this could be Abigail Marston…

She was a member of Dutch’s gang and the character models look very similar between the two games… except for the obvious quality difference. And I think when she says “You’re the only one of these fools that I trust.” That she’s talking to an off camera John.

Morgan seems to be a complete, unrelenting asshole. There’s a part in the trailer where he threatens the son of a grieving mother still in mourning over the death of her husband… the he was most probably responsible for. He seems like a very different character to John Marston who was actively trying to become a better man.

Morgan seems like he relishes being the bad guy, so quite a contrast from the previous game. Its also point blank pointed out that he is a wanted man so it seems you’ll definitely be playing on the wrong side of the law this time around… at least as Morgan anyway.

We get to see some interesting action in the trailer too. A train heist, bank robbery, all sorts of fisticuffs and gun-play, alligators and the return of the wild horse breaking… I didn’t see any wild flower collecting – which is a good thing. But the wildlife is back and more varied than before too, so hunting will be a part of the game again. I also noted the use of a bow & arrow hinting that ‘injuns’ could be a part of the game. There is also a variety of places to explore including snowy mountains, swamp land, forests and of course – classic western towns.

There’s still much more for Rockstar to reveal in regards to Red Dead Redemption II I’m sure of that, and we’ll see more trailers over the next few months that’ll reveal more characters and plot and hopefully some actual gameplay footage.

Its looking good, very, very good indeed. Still no confirmed release date though, just that ‘Spring 2018’ rough time-frame. But I can wait. Looking forward to playing as a complete bad-ass, outlaw, cowboy and causing some wild west havoc.