Red Dead Redemption [PC] | REVIEW

The re-release of Red Dead Redemption on modern platforms felt pretty special last year, with Nintendo Switch gamers especially pleased that they were able to experience John Marston’s adventure in the palm of their hands. Well, after a long, long wait, the Wild West escapade has finally made its way to PC too, bringing with it an array of enhancements as well as Steam Deck support that make the game better than ever to play.

Check out some screenshots down below:

I actually reviewed Red Dead Redemption’s re-release on the PlayStation 4 last year, and all of what I said regarding the storytelling and gameplay stands true now. You can check out the review through this link, though I’ve included some of the important bits below:

“Red Dead Redemption puts players in the role of John Marston, a former outlaw who has tried to settle down into a more normal life with his family. Of course, you can’t outrun your past and the shady things that you’ve done, so when some federal agents take his family hostage, John has no choice but to work for them in order to make up for his previous misgivings. This means killing the remaining members of the gang he used to run with, which won’t be easy given than they haven’t been quite so willing to give up on their rebellious lifestyle…

The storytelling is superb, with the tale taking some gripping twists and turns as John Marston looks to go back to his new way of life and escape from the burden that still hangs over him. It’s strengthened by some brilliant writing and voice acting that’ll genuinely have players believing they’re out there in the Wild West. And, if you’ve only played Red Dead Redemption 2 before (that acts as a prequel to this), it’s a good chance to see how the story of Dutch’s gang eventually reached a conclusion. The pacing is a bit swifter when compared to narrative of its sequel, but it’s still a cinematic treasure that showcases just how good storytelling can be in video games.

When it comes to the gameplay, it’s safe to say that Red Dead Redemption still holds up today. Exploration is rewarding thanks to the wonderful world design, shooting is satisfying and really feels like it packs a punch, whilst the mission design and set pieces all feel expertly crafted to ensure the open-world design is embraced to its fullest. Of course, it might not feel quite as smooth as modern releases, but it still feels great to play two generations on from its initial release.”

“I said it before and I’ll say it again: Red Dead Redemption is a gaming masterpiece, and it looks and plays better than ever on PC.”

Everyone already knew that Red Dead Redemption was groundbreaking for its storytelling and gameplay, so knowing it still holds up now is probably no surprise. What’s of more interest is how it holds up on PC – especially since the iffy port of Grand Theft Auto Trilogy: Definitive Edition left a bit of a sour taste with gamers. Fortunately, this is substantially better, with Red Dead Redemption on PC easily the best way to experience the game.

I was able to play the game at a 4K resolution with a silky smooth 120fps frame rate, which is better than ANYTHING you’re going to see across the console re-releases. This brought with it impressive lighting and shadows, detailed textures, and an increased draw-distance over the console release too, which really showcased just how impressive the game can actually look. Don’t get me wrong, it still looks like a game that released in 2010 (there textures and character models haven’t been refined to help it match its sequel or anything), but this is the best that the game has EVER looked – and hey, the dusty western aesthetic has aged really well in my opinion.

However, whilst it looked and played great on my PC, what impressed me the most was its performance on my Steam Deck. I managed to play the game at high settings (with a little bit on tinkering) with a 60fps frame rate with no issue at all, which just felt pretty special. I played the game on the Nintendo Switch last year and was impressed, but experiencing it with fancy bells and whistles (as well as the higher frame rate) on the Steam Deck? It was wonderful. I’m sure Steam Deck support will be one of the things PC players might look for with Red Dead Redemption’s PC release, so I’m happy to report that its runs on Valve’s handheld really, really well.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The only sticking point is the price, which is once again £40. It’s something that I moaned about with the PlayStation 4 re-release, but the point still stands now – especially since there haven’t been significant improvements made to the game that match similar remastered titles. Does it feel like a complete rip-off? Definitely not, especially when you consider you’re getting one of the best games ever made (and its Undead Nightmare expansion), but given its age, it’s a little disappointing that it didn’t come with a slightly lower price point.

Developer: Rockstar Games, Double Eleven
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 4, Nintendo Swtich
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2668510/Red_Dead_Redemption/