Red Dead Redemption - thoughts

I've always been a sucker for a Rockstar game, and this one certainly doesn't disappoint. Probably has more Rockstarryness than even GTA IV had... however, whilst it obviously shares massive parallels with it's many R* forebears, it's also such a huge departure from them.

There have been plenty of moments of note in terms of the gameplay and story, but what really got me last night as I was playing it is how they've totally nailed the outdoor wilderness side of it. As I was cantering away from Gaptooth ridge, the game did it's first and by far most memorable moment so far. It thundered.... and it was amazing! The flashes of lightning and rolls of thunder all look and sound 100% authentic and I was completely taken aback by it. I was amazed first by the sunrise early in the game, as Rockstar often get this right since the days of Vice City, but the thunder was just a real moment for me and completely eclipsed anything I'd experienced like it in any game before. In fact - the entire sky and the colours it goes through look so absolutely convincing, they really deserve credit for working so hard to get that right. I haven't been this sucked into a game since Shenmue... loving it.

Anyone else having any awesome stand out moments?

Definitely. I liked looking for cannibals in Hanging Rock during thunderstorms, definitely a creepy experience. The other two big ones I can think of are: First arriving in Mexico, and also first discovering West Elizabeth, which I feel is the most beautiful part of the game by a longshot. :)

RDR is just plain amazing and I have to agree the colors, atmosphere, lightning and thunder are so realistic and immersive. This game just sucks you in. I was even impressed by the horse animations and how their muscles flex as they run. Rockstar kept that GTA familiarity but yet gave us a whole new game. The game is also filled with great characters...Irish is a hoot and has some wacky story lines. You play this game and feel like you are taking part in a good western movie. Heck, you can even spend hours in this game just playing Blackjack and poker. Multiplayer is a hoot and nothing is funner than going to gang hideouts with your posse and shooting some bandits. I haven't finished the campaign portion of this game yet, but I hear its got a good ending. If this game isn't already consider a Game of the Year contender I will be sorely dissapointed. I haven't played a game this addictive since Fable II. Great job Rockstar. If ya need another posse member...hook me up. My Xbox live tag is Gladiator Box.

The attention to detail is staggering. The way the wood thumps and creaks when your horse gallops across a bridge, the hawks shadow moving on the ground when they're flying over from above, the way the trees sound when wind is blowing through them. Rockstar really outdid themselves this time. Such a large game with so many things going on in it is nothing short of amazing.

I agree, R* did an amazing job with the big and beautiful environments that has realistic thunder, ligntning, lots of animals...

Everything is so detailed, the scenery, the sounds, the wildlife. Sometimes I can almost smell the smoke from the locomotive, that's how alive this game is.

Although my only quibble with the game is the instant death when you go into water that is deep enough to swim in. That is a step backwards to Rockstar's older GTA games. Are we supposed to believe that cowboys can't swim? Rockstar must not have watched the Butch and Sundance movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpVheIFJ43M

a hunting trip shared between me and a buddy.

"When Cougars Attack". Check it out, it's only 2:19

Red Dead Redemption is/was amazing. While I loved GTA IV, this blew it out of the water.