Summary
Since beforeRed Dead Redemption 2’s release, there has been no shortage of clamor for a remake or remaster ofRed Dead Redemption. However,Red Dead Revolver, the game that started it all by shaping Rockstar’s love for stories set in the Wild West, could prove a bolder and better option. A relic from a time when the studio was churning out games much quicker,Red Dead Revolver- with some modern renovations and a visual touch-up - would be an endearing time capsule for fans.
In 2004, Rockstar was already well on its way to being one of gaming’s most well-regarded studios and publishers. A year removed fromGrand Theft Auto: Vice City, and withSan Andreasclose on the horizon,many consider this a golden era for Rockstar. A month after Rockstar North released its controversial yet favorably reviewedManhunt, Rockstar San Diego would dropRed Dead Revolver, a gun-slinging Western revenge tale that leaned on the genre’s cliches and set the stage for two of the most revered titles in the medium.
A Relic From Rockstar’s Past
PlayingRed Dead Revolverin 2024 is a tall order. The most recent console that can run the game through backwards compatibility is the PlayStation 4, and even then, there are some archaic systems at play that could put fans off from trying it out. The fidelity and animations were impressive for its time, but do not hold up all that well contemporarily, and the stage-based pacing with its narrative strung along through playable vignettes comes across as jarring for thoseused to theRed Dead Redemptiongames' open-world design.
The other aspect working againstRed Dead Revolver’s revisiting is a lack of connective tissue between its two successors.Red Harlow’s tumultuous journey was all but retconned forRed Dead Redemption, with the game’s most notable mention being some campfire gossip inRed Dead Redemption 2.With no returning characters, few revisited locales, and scant mention ofRed Dead Revolver’sprotagonist, it is understandable why the game has been lost in the annals of history and feels more like a prototype than the first entry in the series. That could be perceived as a knock against its case for a remake, but a self-contained plot and era-appropriate design make it a perfect candidate for a redemption arc.
In a time when remakes and remasters are in no short supply, from those offering things as minor as resolution changes and quality-of-life features to top-to-bottom modern recreations, a new take onRevolverwould feel natural. Two decades from its initial release,Red Dead Revolverwould have to fall under the category of the latter to iron out its antiquated kinks. Bringing the combat and Dead Eye mechanic up to itsRed Dead Redemption 2level of refinementand modernizingRed Dead Revolver’s tense quick-draw duel minigame would go a long way in bringing the game up to the modern standard.
ARed Dead Revolverremake would set its target audience asfans of theRed Dead Redemptiongames, but could also reach a wider draw with its looser grip on reality. Some of the larger-than-life boss fights, including a snake-oil chugging teleporter, two buffalo-mounted mercenaries, and the infamous Pig Josh could have incredible potential. With their HP bars and poise breaks, brutal difficulty, and unforgiving mechanics, it almost feels more like a precursor to the Soulsborne genre thanRed Dead Redemption’s more grounded sensibilities, and that could be an enticing hook.
A Matter of Time and Resources For Rockstar
GivenRed Dead Revolversmore honed-in scope andRed Dead Redemption’s notoriously difficult-to-manage codebase, remaking the former could be a much simpler proposition. In a perfect world, both games would get a proper remake before thenext entry in theRed Deadsaga, or at the very least, a remastering, butRed Dead Revolverabsolutely deserves a shot at renewed relevance.
