Summary
- The morality system in Red Dead Redemption 2 is flawed, making it unnecessary in future games.
- Players can easily increase honor by performing mundane tasks, and being good provides better rewards, skewing moral choices.
- Red Dead Redemption's themes can be effectively conveyed without a morality system.
Red Dead Redemption 2 puts players in 1899 America on the precipice of the rise of industrialization. Arthur Morgan and the rest of the Van der Linde gang want to continue their lives as outlaws, but it is becoming harder. He also deals with his personal demons as he comes to terms with his mortality.
Red Dead Redemption 2 features a morality system, and it is supposed to track the good and bad deeds Arthur commits. However, it misses the mark in several ways. Consequently, Rockstar shouldn't be in a rush to include it in the next game in the series.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Van Der Linde Gang Tier List
The Van Der Linde Gang is the heart and soul of Red Dead Redemption 2, as it boasts a wide spread of iconic, unique, and well-written characters.
The Problem With the RDR2 Morality System
On the face of it, the morality system is simple. Perform good deeds, and Arthur Morgan gets RDR2's "good" ending. If the scale slides to the bad side by performing bad deeds, Arthur gets the "bad" ending instead. However, problems arise when considering what is good and bad. The scale fails to give earning honor or dishonor the appropriate weight.
It's okay to murder animals, but some animals are special, like horses and dogs, which grants Arthur negative honor. Getting positive honor is also laughably easy. By simply visiting a busy location like Saint Denis and greeting everyone, it is easy to shift the scale from bad to good. There are also chores to do back at camp, which are mind-numbingly boring. Games shouldn't make players do mundane chores like moving hay and chopping firewood to earn something as lofty and philosophical as an honor score.
Are There Any Advantages to Being Bad in RDR2?
Overall, players are nudged to increase their Red Dead Redemption 2 honor levels. However, for those who want to embrace their devilish side, there are a few perks. This includes an increased drop rate for Dead Eye tonics, alcohol, tobacco, and throwing weapons. This pales in comparison to the rewards received when Arthur's honor is high, however. When in stores, he'll receive discounts and new outfits from stores, in addition to the "good" ending.
A Morality System isn't Necessary To Demonstrate Redemption
Unsurprisingly, redemption is a key theme in the entire Red Dead Redemption series. In RDR2, Arthur must struggle with his violent past and whether he can achieve redemption in his last days in the Van der Linde gang. It's a question that players are left to ponder during Arthur's last days as he receives opportunities to do good and turn a new leaf.
This is an effective "show don't tell" storytelling method that doesn't rely on a somewhat broken morality system. Instead of a mechanical scale, allow players to witness for themselves a character coming to terms with the morality of their actions and contemplating whether redemption is a possibility. This requires a tight, expertly crafted narrative, but that's always been one of Rockstar's strong points.
When is Red Dead Redemption 3 Coming?
Sadly, it is not known whether a third game is coming at all. Currently, Rockstar's attention is focused on Grand Theft Auto 6, which is set for release in 2025. For Red Dead Redemption 2, the studio gathered all its employees worldwide for its development, which makes it unlikely that Red Dead Redemption 3 is being developed at the same time as the next GTA game. However, with 61 million units sold, it's no stretch to imagine that Rockstar will revisit the franchise at some time.
Red Dead Redemption 2 offers arguably one of the best gaming narratives, though some elements of its gameplay have divided gamers. Rockstar has a chance to improve greatness with the next title, and a morality system isn't needed for that.
Red Dead Redemption 2
- Released
- October 26, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- RAGE
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- How Long To Beat
- 50 Hours
- Metascore
- 97
