Why Does Nobody Talk About Red Dead Revolver?

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Red Dead Revolver marked the beginning of the Red Dead series in 2004. Despite being wildly underrated, the game stands out as a solid title to this day.

Story Highlight
  • Red Dead Revolver is the first game released in the Red Dead franchise.
  • This title is so underrated that I rarely hear anyone talk about it. 
  • Despite being so underrated, it actually does something better than its successors.

The Red Dead series is one of the biggest gaming franchises in the industry. Following the launch of Red Dead Redemption 2, pretty much everyone must know about this series. Red Dead Redemption 2 has also set high expectations for GTA 6.

However, one entry in the franchise doesn’t get much attention. Red Dead Revolver kicked the IP off and, in my opinion, remains the most underrated of the bunch.

Why it matters: While Red Dead Redemption and its sequel are well known among the fandom, few know much about the first game in the series.

The Well-Known Red Dead Series

GTA 6 Red Dead Redemption 2
Almost Every Gamer Is Aware of Red Dead Redemption 2

The Red Dead Redemption games are among my favorites due to their spectacular storytelling and open world. I like the second more because it emphasizes characters and stories, but navigating the Wild West with John Marston and Arthur Morgan in both entries is a treat.

I’m still amazed by Rockstar’s brilliant display in these games, though the studio could move away from linearity. Despite my criticisms of Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar’s latest release is easily one of the studio’s best releases. That said, the Red Dead legacy didn’t really start here.

Fun fact the first ever red dead game red dead revolver is almost 20 years old
byu/demonhawk47 inreddeadredemption

It all started in 2004 when Rockstar released Red Dead Revolver for the PS2 and Xbox. As I said earlier, the game remains highly underrated, and I barely see anybody talking about it. Some argue that Red Dead Revolver isn’t canon, but this is not true.

The game is cancon, but it is set in a different universe, as revealed by Dan Houser. Red Dead Redemption is still a successor to Red Dead Revolver. I think it is fair to say that the former would never have existed without Rockstar’s work on Red Dead Revolver.

Red Dead Revolver Is A Must Play Game

Red Dead Revolver Combat
Red Dead Revolver Has Great Combat Mechanics Despite Its Age

I first played this game on the PS2, but it is still fresh in my memory. Those days, I was obsessed with GTA Vice City, as this was among the first gaming experiences that introduced me to this hobby.

After playing Vice City for many hours, I finally got my hands on Red Dead Revolver. Of course, at that time, a game’s quality barely mattered to me, but when I played this title again recently, it blew me away.

I am not saying it is the best of the series, but it is certainly worth trying. If you’re a fan of Rockstar’s work based on the Wild West, I urge you to try Red Dead Revolver. It’s fairly basic in nature, but the gameplay is refined to perfection. This is what I love the most.

The shooting is clearly dated, but mechanics like Deadeye were still very fresh back in the day. This made Red Dead Revolver an immediate classic, and the core gameplay still works well today.

You may find it hard to deal with the difficulty initially since the combat isn’t easy to master. However, in my opinion, the combat here is better than what Rockstar offered in the sequels.

This might be a hot take, but come on, neither of the Red Dead Redemption entries really offers a great combat system.

More Freedom Than Any Rockstar Game?

Red Dead Revolver
I Believe Red Dead Revolver Feels Less Restricted Than Its Follow-ups

I have already mentioned that both Red Dead Redemption entries are linear and don’t allow much freedom. However, that is not the case here. The first entry follows a linear progression, narrative, and level structure but generally offers more flexibility in the gameplay.

Despite a clear starting and ending point for each mission, you won’t be punished for going slightly off to the left or right. You don’t even have to worry about keeping up with NPCs or following them at the right pace.

This is a glimpse at Rockstar’s old design philosophy, so you won’t find nearly as much freedom in the studio’s latest releases.

Nonetheless, Red Dead Revolver is a solid title that still deserves your attention. If nothing else, you should try it to familiarize yourself with the roots of Red Dead Redemption. After all, Arthur Morgan’s iconic tale may never have existed without this release.

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