One of the wonders of the modern age is the wide variety of media that serve the noble and age-old purpose of storytelling. Cable TV is turning out some truly outstanding tales and has largely supplanted the Big Screen in terms of quality, character-driven storytelling. And, so I hear, the world of video games is offering up Story with a capital “S.” Terra incognita for me, but I tend to believe it’s true, based on the indisputable fact that video games are serving up some incredibly good music.
So I was intrigued but not surprised to see an NPR story touting Red Dead Redemption as author Jason Sheehan’s favorite Western of all time.
Sheehan recounts his early exposure to the Western via his dad:
I watched Jeremiah Johnson with him a dozen times, and A Man Called Horse. I saw Duck, You Sucker! when I was too young to understand anything more than the motorcycles and the dynamite and The Missouri Breaks when I was too young to understand anything at all. I still consider The Outlaw Josey Wales one of the most perfect American stories ever told.
But it isn’t my favorite. No, my favorite Western of all time? The grand horse opera that eclipses them all? That would be Red Dead Redemption.
Red Dead, like all great Westerns, has a velocity of narrative that is, ultimately, undeniable. There is badness in the world, and it must be met with badness. There is innocence, and it must be defended fiercely. There is a world out there that is moving on — spawning revolution upon revolution, a glorious modernity that will outpace us all — and it must be met face-on.
The man really likes this story. Not just a game, but a STORY. Emotionally involving to an extraordinary degree. Seems hard to believe, but there it is. I must confess to a niggling prejudice that inhibits my willingness to accept gaming as legit storytelling. It’s a completely bogus prejudice, based on ignorance. I know this. I also have negative stereotypes fixed in my mind, and I’d rather just go out and shoot than sit on my couch and “shoot.”
The Mexican border setting just into the 20th century is right in my wheelhouse.
But I’ve heard from too many people whom I respect that Red Dead is, in fact, all that, to discount it. And it would be hard to find a setting more amenable to my Frontier Partisan tastes. The Mexican Border, c. 1911? That’s practically where I live. Not to mention that I listen to the soundtrack regularly at work…
I have a standing invitation to play from a friend. I don’t know where or when I’ll find the time, but it seems I really must hit the trail with John Marston.
Matthew says
From what I’ve understand, I stopped playing video games when the stories got good. This was mostly because I’d always get frustrated half way through and give up. I’m glad I did because it would be even more frustrating if the game had a good story.
That said, I’ve never like the idea that one form of entertainment is inherently better than any other. It’s what you do with it that matters not the type of entertainment.
Pat McGowan says
This game is one of the two I have ever finished and it because of a compelling story and GORGEOUS visuals. There was more than one time when I was just ride around in the sunset. It has a pretty open gameplay which is cool. I keep trying to play “firewatch” but having trouble with the site.
JimC says
And another A rating.
deuce says
Is it just me, or does the guy in the middle kinda look like a young Steve Earle?
JimC says
A bit I’d say.
Matthew says
This does not have anything do with Red Dead Redemption, but it has plenty with the site in general.
http://www.newser.com/story/237535/woman-claims-to-be-member-of-lost-tribe.html?utm_source=part&utm_medium=united&utm_campaign=rss_home
I from what I can tell I say that no one can really if she is or is not Beothuk. The strange thing is that a week ago I read Vanishing Point by Thomas Perry about a Seneca woman who helps those in trouble disappear. She mentions helping the last Beothuk disappear in a chapter.
JimC says
Look forward to reading that.
Matthew says
The article or the book?
JimC says
Article. I’m in AZ at the moment — information on that to come.
Eccentric Cowboy says
Something I can actually offer some decent insight about! Oh joy!
I’m actually part of this younger generation, much to my embarrassment at times, and some of your prejudices are founded. I am a gamer, albeit a rather snooty one at times. I value story and solid gameplay above all else. Shiny graphics don’t grab me. There is a plethora of dime a dozen games that you could go through and get nothing of value out of them, so your suspicions of them are not unwarranted.
I’m mostly saddened that there are just so few Western games out there. Red Dead I’d say is decent, but not amazing. The story actually didn’t grab me nearly as much as it did for others it would seem. I almost felt a hostile cynicism in it, like it was intentionally trying to smash the dreams of those who enjoy Old West folklore. Many of the characters are downright unlikable and some are truly alien. A lot are just bizarre for the sake of comedy or standing out, rather than seeming like actual people. But this was done by the same people who made Grand Theft Auto, a franchise I refuse to touch. Grand storytelling isn’t one of their strong points. To be fair though, some characters are pretty good. But wow most others are very grating.
That’s not to say it is bad. Honestly the best section is in Mexico, as it is portrayed pretty darned accurately, at least from a realism standpoint. Corrupt military leaders, rugged banditos, revolutionaries trying to overthrow the oppressive status quo, women dragged from their homes to satiate the lusts of troops and villages burned to the ground. It’s pretty chilling stuff. Honestly you’d get lost in that section and just keep playing it over and over. But it does have really fun mechanics. The world is huge and expansive, lots of fun is to be had, and a delightful array of period-accurate weapons that makes a weapon nut like me salivate.
But the Western games that won my heart are Call of Juarez Bound in Blood, and it’s sequel Gunslinger. If I may be permitted, Bound in Blood is much more true to life, facing the gritty realities of the frontier while our main characters run the gamut of tropes but somehow makes them feel fresh. The interaction between the three brothers is actually rather heartbreaking, two being grizzled and embittered war vets set on riches and women while the youngest brother is a church man, watching his brothers walk down a dark and depressing path and feeling helpless to stop them. Yet for all of its darkness it ends on a surprisingly natural and positive note.
Gunslinger is just extraordinary fun. It has a very sly sense of humor to it, poking fun at itself and yet somehow later on becoming quite grim. Its done from the perspective of an old retired bounty hunter retelling his old tales which can change radically depending on who is telling the story, giving it a lot of charm. But at some point you wonder if the guy is just yanking everyone’s chain, as they notice his stories repeat and obvious historical contradictions, but later still you wonder if the poor man is out of his mind. The story teller singing Oh Death is truly chilling.
Phew! Sorry to have prattled on for so long. In the end you might be best off just watching some let’s play videos, as getting into the gaming market today is an absolute nightmare. If you do happen to tread that path I wish you the best of luck and hope you find enjoyment!
JimC says
Thx for that EC. Good to hear that Call is good. I like the soundtrack from those. A lot too.
Eccentric Cowboy says
Anytime! Sorry for prattling on for so long about them, heh. What can I say though? Passion makes for lots of words!
And seeing as how you seem to be in a soundtrack mood, I highly recommend this tune. It makes everything more fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSPgt503q_4
LJ_Rime says
As someone who has never been a fan of games made by Rockstar, I was absolutely taken with Red Dead Redemption. It’s been a while since I’ve played it because my copy was stolen(ugh), but I remember beating it and not playing another game for a couple of months. There’s not really a flaw in the game, which is not something I say lightly. I’m very picky. It blends the narrative with the open world better than most games I’ve played and its story is magnificent.
JimC says
Thanks for stopping by the campfire. I’m Really gonna have to give it a whirl.