Red Dead Redemption 2 released in 2018 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, and it blew the gaming community away. Rockstar Games’ developers did not hold back and gave the player base a glimpse into what they could expect from a next-generation game while taking them on a historical trip to fill in the boots of outlaws in the Old West.
From visuals, different biomes, weaponry, and dialogue choices, this game has it all. The game developers wasted no time crafting this detailed world to deliver arguably the greatest open-world experience. Years of hard work have paid off after the gaming community celebrated the game’s success years after its release but there is a cost.
The Amount of Red Dead Redemption 2 Cut Content Could Have Made the Game Bigger
The game came off the heels of the success of Grand Theft Auto 5 and dialed everything up to eleven. The players are transported back to 1899 to an age when the old way of life of outlaws and savagery is nearly over and grapples with the themes of family and loyalty.
Arthur Morgan is an original character introduced in the Red Dead Redemption franchise, and it is tough to compete against the endearing performance of the original protagonist: John Marston, who takes a back seat in this outing. However, Roger Clark’s talent and unique way of walking made him a worthwhile protagonist.
One might assume that the game developers will be limited to what they can do in this project given the setting; however, Rockstar Games took the opportunity to make this world as detailed as it can be with various activities from NPCs, an accurate day and night cycle, dynamic weather system, and impressive physics.
The project was much more ambitious and grander than the studio anticipated prompting them to make hard decisions like choosing which pieces of content will be left on the cutting room floor with no chance of seeing the light of day.
The final version of the base game was already massive in scale and calling it a masterpiece is an understatement; however, leaks of omitted content have been resurfacing for quite some time, and fans can’t help but think how much bigger the game could have been if Rockstar Games decided to keep everything in and avoid cutting corners due to budget or time constraints.
Some players discovered that the island of Guarma in Chapter 5 was meant to be larger; however, the story set around the location was short-lived and is arguably the shortest chapter in the entire game. Players had no reason to wander and explore the exotic island, especially with low supplies and ammunition.
Arthur could have explored the island in his free time or between missions helping Hercule liberate his home. There is a slim chance that the developers realized that overstaying their welcome in a foreign land would take too much time and encourage players to get sidetracked rather than continuing the story, and ultimately decided to trim the fat.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Has Set the Bar High for a True Open-World Experience
Not everyone was immediately sold on the idea of playing a cowboy in a different period; however, with enough time to bond with the characters and to be engrossed in their world, some fans wish they could go back in time and erase any memory to experience this Western masterpiece for the first time.
The game developers did not hold back and pushed previous-generation hardware to the absolute limit. Despite looking great on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X through backward compatibility, some PC players would have loved to see this game get the next-generation port it deserved.
While there are no plans from the game developers to provide any post-launch support for a game this old, it would have been nice to see a formal way to travel to the island of Guarma without relying on glitches and other bugs. Perhaps all of this work done is meant for a larger picture and the game developers will continue achieving greater breakthroughs for years to come.
It is sad to see potentially great content omitted from an already great game; however, the game developers might have repurposed their work for another project instead.
The water physics and dynamic weather effects are a cut above the rest, and these could be used for the next major project: GTA 6. Game development has reached a new level thanks to the advancements and incredible technological breakthroughs. Developers can now create life-like worlds that can be easily mistaken for real life.
It is rare to see a Western project be well-received, especially in this format. Rockstar Games has shown the entertainment industry how to properly and authentically take the audience a trip down memory lane in the best way possible. From the open plains of New Hanover to the swamps of Lemoyne and the industrialized city of Saint Denis, Red Dead Redemption 2 has it all.
The beautiful vistas are breathtaking paired with a great story about honor in a world where the word means little to the average person. Players can decide how Arthur will act around the world and their actions will have serious ramifications to the overall story.
The drastic differences between the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises are extremely perplexing, and fans could not comprehend these games are made by the same developer.
These games romanticize the life of crime and act as a safe space for players to let their intrusive thoughts win without real-life applications. Arthur and John are righteous men, depending on how a player dictates the narrative, and are the perfect lenses back into this period. Hopefully, the next major project will carry over the emotional weight the developers have achieved in this game.
Would you like to see the cut content from Red Dead Redemption 2 see the light of day? Let us know in the comments section below!
