John Marston - Red Dead Redemption Review

by Steve Cook

---

★★★★★ 5 stars for John Marston and Red Dead Redemption!

I just forced myself to take a break from playing the Xbox version of Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar Games' newest blockbuster release. After being totally immersed in the old west I felt compelled to post a review.

Before I get started it's important to know that at 54, I am not the typical Xbox gamer. While I have enjoyed several of the first person shooters available for the Xbox, I generally find them too manic for my taste.

The last game that received my 5 star rating was "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" for Nintendo 64 - about 13 years ago. All the elements I liked from that game (plus so much more) are to be found and greatly improved upon in Red Dead Redemption.

Redemption's protagonist, John Marston, is the quintessential stoic western hero and loner - a blending of Clint Eastwood's 'stranger' character from 'The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly' trilogy, and Charles Bronson's 'Harmonica' character from 'Once Upon a Time in the West'.

Playing this game will transport you to the wild west of 1910, when technology was first getting a foothold with innovations like the railroad, telephone, and even a Model T that appears in the opening sequence. I feel like I'm in in a Sergio Leone film, complete with an Ennio Morricone style score.

Red Dead Redemption Killing Spree Watch the John Marston Trailer

Don't let the encroachment of newfangled technology fool you - this is still the WILD west, with danger and countless adventures at your behest. Like my previous 5 star game (Zelda), Red Dead Redemption offers a more cerebral gaming experience. In addition to the first person shooter missions (and there are plenty of them), there are also many opportunities to explore the rich western evironment and discover countless entertaining distractions. I spent several hours last night playing Texas Hold'em in a saloon in the small town of Armadillo. The character of John Marston is brought to a stunningly vivid reality through the amazing HD graphics and animation from the folks at Rockstar. Playing this game with a 47 inch HD TV and Dolby Surround Sound is like no other gaming experience I've ever had. I HIGHLY recommend this game!