Today, Rockstar Games released the first trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2, and while it’s only a minute of footage, there is still plenty to look at – and I mean that literally. The visuals are well presented, showing shots of many different environments in crystal clear definition.
The trailer starts in a plain in the early morning, with two deer standing and grazing, before a wide shot of a ranch that is believed to be a continuation of the last shot. The scene then transitions into a woodland area, starting down in the brush then switching to a bird’s-eye view.
Day falls to night as an upward shot at a campsite late at night provides a stunning look of the star-covered night sky. The scene continues on to an incredibly impressive view of a lake, with light reflecting off the water as a canoe paddles by. The next few seconds depict a heard of buffalo running alongside a steam-powered train.
The condition of civilization is shown beautifully in the next scene, with the simple and old style of the general store juxtaposed with the immaculate condition of the cart passing by. We then get our first look at what can be assumed to be the main character, showing that work on his farm is presumably a large part of his life.
The next shot exhibits another view of life in this time period. It’s a troubled time, as exhibited by the scene that follows: fire surrounds what again seems like the main character, with red-hot ashes drifting around him. The trailer ends with a group of outlaws running past the camera and into the distance, before the screen fades to black.
Right off the bat, it is apparent that the footage was taken in-game, and by the looks of it, RDR2 will run on the same engine as Grand Theft Auto V. With GTA V having such an abundant and expansive world, we could possibly see Red Dead Redemption 2’s open world surpass the original with this latest instalment. The time-based dynamic lighting we see in the trailer could also lead to a more finely tuned day and night cycle.
As opposed to GTA V, the tone set by this game seems to be much more serious. The track used is of a heavy, old western atmosphere, with calm and serene music punctuated by a spike in energy. The serious and dangerous tone of the game is set by this sudden change in tempo, along with the dialogue that follows: “Listen to me. When the time comes, you gotta run and don’t look back. This is over.”
The main character of the game seems to be a mystery at this point, but it could very well be the case that you continue as John Marston’s son, Jack. There is a possibility that Rockstar will take the same ensemble cast route as they did in GTA V, judging by the group of horse-riding gunslingers that appear at the end of the trailer. Either that, or perhaps Red Dead Redemption 2 will contain a leadership system, which could have the player take control of factions within the game.
In all, if the final product is anywhere close to today’s trailer, it should prove for a truly impressive experience for players.
Do you have any thoughts on Red Dead Redemption 2’s official reveal? What would you like to see in the game? Let us know in the comments below.
