TL;DR
Rockstar's classic Western adventure, Red Dead Redemption, is back on PlayStation with a new version. While the original is beloved for its open-world cowboy action and compelling story, this "remastered" edition on PS4/PS5 doesn't quite hit the mark. The upgrades are minimal, and the full price tag feels steep for what's offered, especially for those who already own the game. Even with the fantastic Undead Nightmare expansion included, it might not be enough to justify the cost. Discover if this nostalgic trip is worth the ticket, or if you're better off sticking with your memories.
Red Dead Redemption, a spiritual successor to 2004’s Red Dead Revolver, was initially released in 2010. The game casts players as outlaw John Marston, navigating the decline of the American West in 1911. Similar to Rockstar Games’ critically acclaimed title, GTA V, Red Dead Redemption employs an open-world format, allowing players to undertake missions in a non-linear fashion. The expansive environment encourages exploration, offering considerable content beyond the central narrative.
Red Dead Redemption, along with its sequel, Red Dead Redemption II, holds a special place as one of my favorite games. This affection stems from a long-held fascination with the romanticized image of cowboys in a lawless American frontier, and also from the titles’ exceptional execution in terms of gameplay mechanics, environmental design, and narrative depth. Originally launched on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 thirteen years ago, Red Dead Redemption remains playable on newer Xbox consoles. However, the original PS3 version was not compatible with PS4.
This year saw the release of Red Dead Redemption: Remastered, a version developed for Playstation 4, and playable on Playstation 5. The release on last-gen hardware is a curious choice, as the game’s age becomes immediately apparent. The video review below highlights the modifications implemented in this release. While several changes are present, their significance may not justify the full retail price for existing owners.
A more equitable approach might have involved offering a discounted upgrade path for owners of the original game, while maintaining the full price for new players. Despite its age, Red Dead Redemption‘s core gameplay and narrative remain compelling.
One might speculate that Rockstar is attempting to capitalize on the PS5 market once more…
A noteworthy inclusion is the zombie expansion, Undead Nightmare. This substantial addition rivals the original game in scope, delivering a unique blend of the undead apocalypse and Western themes.
While Red Dead Redemption remains a stellar title deserving of high praise, Red Dead Redemption: Remastered feels like a missed opportunity. The visual and technical enhancements are insufficient to justify the “remastered” moniker, and the inclusion of Undead Nightmare, while welcome, does not fully compensate for the game’s relatively high price point given its age.
Rockstar Games provided a review code for this assessment. Provision of materials does not influence our editorial objectivity.
