In May of 2010, Rockstar Games gave us all what we didn’t know we wanted: an American western sandbox game, complete with all of the trappings typical of a Rockstar title. Red Dead Redemption included compelling characters, entertaining dialogue and an expansive parody of real world locales. As reformed criminal John Marston, you were tasked with rounding up your old partners in crime in order to be reunited with your family. Along the way, you traversed gorgeous landscapes, heard some truly great music and gunned down foes with what were easily the best combat controls to ever grace a Rockstar title.
And then there was the unbelievably huge multiplayer mode, which has managed to grow even larger since it’s release, thanks to downloadable content. This update allowed up to 16 simultaneous players in a single instance lobby, players could choose from a variety of gametypes or just terrorize the old west with a posse of friends, all while leveling up and unlocking new skins, weapons and mounts. Then, October saw the release of the Undead Nightmare expansion, a zombified alternate universe of the original RDR setting that introduced new weapons, new enemies, and even new play styles. With all of this great content, coupled with one of the best ending narratives I’ve experienced in years, it’s no wonder Red Dead Redemption earned a spot in the hearts of (the majority of) the SideQuesting team.
*All images courtesy of Rockstar Games.
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