Wednesday, May 26

Draw

It is slightly upsetting that there are not more people playing Red Dead Redemption online. Sure some people are playing through the single player campaign (I am still yet to finish it), but I was hoping that more people would at least log on and give it a try. What you will find is not the most refined experience, it is however unapologetically brutal. I've only played Free-For-All matches: they are fast, fun and messy. The auto-aim is a little too overbearing, and if you wait until you can see an opponent, and then choose to aim, you're targeting reticle will be right on them. Dead-Eye also makes it into FFA matches and is used in real-time. When you click the right stick, you'll have a few seconds to wave your reticle over enemies, mark targets and then fire off as many bullets as you can. It is also a little too effective. With the auto-aim and the Dead-Eye, you will sometimes feel like you have copped a few cheap deaths.

The reason I've kept going back though isn't the weapon selection (meh); or the large, vertical maps with ample amounts of cover. I haven't gone back for the cheap deaths and kill stealing. I've gone back because each match starts with a Mexican stand-off. With 2 players it is a great test of timing and wits. With 8, it is straight up hateful. The game suggests an opponent for you to kill and you will obtain a bonus if you manage to dispatch the pre-determined target. Once again, that's all good, but that's not the reason I love it. I love it because if there was someone who was absolutely ruling you in the previous round, you have a sound chance of getting revenge. In matches where there was one player dominating everyone, I couldn't help but laugh when every other player aimed square at the leader's head, and filled it with lead. After the first few shots are fired, it's a mad scramble. The stand-off will expire if players survive for long enough, but even in that event, it is quite the rush.

For anyone wondering, Free Roam is mind-numbingly boring by yourself. When in Free Roam solo, I decided to act on my most jerk-like impulses. It's fun for a little bit, but after about 5 minutes you will find yourself whistling for your trusty steed and dashing to a lobby.

I'm ranking up at a (suprisingly) steady rate and I am interested in trying out some team modes. The only problem is that given how slowly these matches populate, I dare say I lack the patience to actually compete in a team match. I'm going to put the multiplayer adventure on the shelf for now and complete the single player game. Do yourself a favour and start playing Red Dead Redemption......now!

20 comments:

  1. Talk about being swamped with titles right now. Lost Planet 2 multiplayer, Blur on the inbound (will be like some of crack cocaine to my low socio-economic gamer credentials), FUEL for those eerie drives in the country, Motostorm: Pacific Rift for t-boning motorbikes off the size of a cliff with a dune buggy and Red Dead for all things Rockstar Sandbox. Goddamn.

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  2. Two of those intrigue me, Lost planet 2 and red dead. Car games have lost me in recent times, im waiting for GT5 so i can Nascar it up, come Viagra Car keep it up!

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  3. Taz be sure to let us know if Blue is worthy of interest. As far as Bizarre is concerned, I didn't really dig the Project Gotham games. Motorstorm is awesome!

    You should grab Lost Planet 2 Rubes. The 3 of us could start giant bug slaying together. Plus Carls bought me a Bluetooth headset so I can swear at you from more than 100km away.

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  4. but i dont have one, why would i pay 100 to be abused from a wanker 100km away if i cant abuse back.

    Ill invest in one, yes i would like lp2 to slay bugs but my birthday is a coming lol doubt ill get that but heres hoping.

    Ill see what i can muster up otherwise you will all have to skype chat me.

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  5. I'll keep you informed on Blur. I've got a sneaking suspicion it'll be awesome. Reviews seem to say so thus far, huge value for money and utter chaos online with twenty cars on the road.

    Reubes, Lost Planet 2. Kill a man if you have to, maybe even a family. Just do what you can to grab it.

    By the by, I'm no fan of PGR, although I did enjoy my first *real* car game in Metropolis Street Racer. Outside of that, it's arcade all the way.

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  6. I loved GT3, that game was so freakin sweet. And I am so hanging out for next wednesday to lay my hands on some sexy western adventures.

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  7. The Gamespot video review is a pretty good one for Blur, if you're at all interested:

    http://bit.ly/aoMf3i

    But yes, back on topic, Red Dead should be great fun. I just want to wander around and lasso the unsuspecting.

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  8. I played a game of Free Roam last night with some "Friends." Let's just say you need good company for this to work, and my two fellow posse members did not take kindly to me riding around a gang hideout on a mule, firing wildly into the air. Screw them, it was good fun.

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  9. That would have been mad!

    We have to do that this weekend, mad cap mule madness!

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  10. A lot of podcasts I've listened to say the same thing. Friends or bust. I really thought this would be the next big thing in multiplayer, but I guess idiots will always be idiots.

    Not sure if I mentioned this but the craziest multiplayer I had back in the day - craziest being "I can't believe this is THIS fun!" - was Vice City Stories on the PSP with Ben Smith. Lots of MAN vs. CAR moments, and more often than not, man would win due to shotgun. Good fun.

    Reubes, get that headset!

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  11. I will, but for now must use skype its free, its compatible with laptops or iphone if ya got one and it uses little to no bandwith.

    I had fun on liberty city stories with Tris, sniper wars.

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  12. It was good fun, even when those tools bailed. The Free Roam world (and it's challenges) are open to lone wanderers on the online front as well. You don't need to have a posse to take on Hideout challenges or ambient challenges (such as Survivalist, Sharpshooter). It's a another title that exists in the same game world, on the same disc. When you weigh it all up, RDR is unbeatable value. Like a cowboy MMO w/o subscription fees.

    Oh and it wasn't Sniper Wars Reuben, it was Tristan gets nailed again... and again. Tristan aims rifle, too late dead.

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  13. wahahaha yeah it was great fun.

    Ill be on RDR tonight if you wanna skype it up for an hour or so?

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  14. Sounds good Rubes. Not sure when I will be online, just PM me if I'm on. I picked up FFIX as well.

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  15. sweet, had no idea it was out lol, ill download later tonight

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  16. Capcom is apparently bringing RE franchise and capcom ps one titles soon to store

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  17. Where did you hear that? I'd be keen to read up.

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  18. It was on IGN.

    By the way Red Dead was a shite load of Fun had a great time duelling for a while with ya then our hunting of other players was merciless and awesome, loved it.

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  19. Taz i will add Pylon Command tonight 3 player death would be mad.

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  20. Thursday was good fun, when everyone grabs RDR we will have to ride together. It is madness!

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