- Red Dead Revolver was the first game in the series, developed by Angel Studios and later taken over by Rockstar.
- Angel Studios became Rockstar San Diego, allowing them to complete Red Dead Revolver with a more realistic tone.
- Though not as popular as its sequels, *Red Dead Revolver* laid the foundation for the *Red Dead Redemption* series.
Red Dead Redemption has become one of the most popular games ever, with the most recent entry in the series being subject to massive critical acclaim. Most people are unaware of the history behind how these games were made, so strap in while we explain how one of Rockstar’s best games was almost never made.
The Forgotten One
For many people, the first game in the Red Dead series they play is Read Dead Redemption 1, but there was a game before that, something most people aren’t very aware of. Red Dead Revolver was the first in the series, serving as a precursor to these beloved games.
To delve into the development of this game, we need to tell you about a little-known game studio that has been making games since the 90s, and it’s not the one you’re considering.
Angel Studios
Angel Studios started in 1984, and its first decade was spent making 3D graphics for non-gaming media like movies and TV shows. After they established a foothold in gaming, Nintendo planned to involve them in their “dream team” for developing games for the N64.
They made two baseball games for the Nintendo 64, but their main project was “Buggie Boogie,” a game in which vehicles brawl with turrets and cranes. Shigeru Miyamoto was involved in this game, which was a big deal. Unfortunately, this game never saw the light of day.
The next big break they had after failing to make Buggie Boogie was a game called Midtown Madness, which I have fond memories of playing as a child. This release caught the attention of Rockstar Games.
After seeing their promise, Rockstar wanted to collaborate with Angel Studios, which is exactly what they did with the Midnight Club and Smuggler’s run games.
Between The Lines
Sometime after Angel Studios fumbled the chance to make Buggie Boogie for the N64, they were responsible for creating a port of Resident Evil 2 for the Nintendo 64. Their talents were noticed by Capcom, and they soon got in talks to make a spiritual successor to Gun Smoke (released for the NES).
This wasn’t anything new, as Resident Evil was also inspired by an obscure Capcom game from the 1980s called Sweet Home. Capcom wished to capture the same lighting in a bottle as they did with Resident Evil.
The collaboration of these two gaming powerhouses on a spiritual successor to an old cowboy game laid the groundwork for 2004’s Red Dead Revolver, but another studio cut short their plans.
Rockstar Sandiego
Capcom and Angel were divided on what to make of Red Dead Revolver. The former leaned toward the fantastical, while the latter wanted to ground their game in realism.
Rockstar maintained close ties with Angel Studios because of their work on the sequels to the games they made for the publisher. This led to Rockstar’s parent company buying the studio in 2002 and creating Rockstar San Diego.
After Capcom withdrew, Rockstar took over Red Dead Revolver, and Angel Studios made the game more gritty and realistic to align with Rockstar’s style.
While it was developing with Capcom, the game’s UI elements were borderline obnoxious, which Rockstar removed for the final version.
Red Dead Revolver
The game followed Red, a bounty hunter, killing the lowlifes in the Wild West to avenge his parents’ murderers.
Red Dead Revolver was praised for its atmosphere and mechanics, which people thought conveyed the subject matter better than any other Western game at the time.
Some aspects of the game did not sit well with people, like the movement of the characters, the multiplayer, and the involvement of too many side characters that players could play as. It didn’t blow people’s minds like something like GTA, but it set the stage for the later entries in the series.
The Crux Of The Matter
Red Dead Revolver was a game troubled by development issues, but it saw the light of day because Rockstar and Angel Studios stuck to the idea. After rebranding the series to Red Dead Redemption, they made one of the most beloved game series in history; a game that many people, including myself, hold dearly in their hearts.
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[Comparisons Specialist]
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