Red Dead Redemption II: The Perfect Prequel | A Narrative Analysis

[@LazerzZ]

john and athur

[@DaniyalAhmed-lb2eo]

And dutch

[@IcoSonic91]

Athur and John

[@dodgydiggler]

When john and Dutch backed up at the cliff i noticed the speech bring the same , paused the game and went nuts doe 10 minutes passing around my house. Loved every Second of rdr2

[@NoName-yw1pt]

Athur??

[@theonlyplain]

John and atturrr

[@rondaniels5089]

There's no need for DLC on RDR2, or even better, the DLC should be the whole RDR1 campaign remastered with RDR2's engine, gameplay mechanics and graphics.

[@JohnArceane]

If that was the DLC, I would buy an entire console just for this game.

[@bigfoot5725]

But, undead nightmare 2

[@rik5384]

It's somthing I thought of right after finishing the story, literally thinking to myself 'and now let's implement rdr into this game. Seamless.'

[@ThizbeSylvan]

@@bigfoot5725 what if when they made the DLC be Red Dead Redemption's Campaign Remastered, they then included Undead Nightmare but with more area to cover? more masks to recover since we find two in RDR2.... also! what if they remastered the RDR1 campaign and expanded upon Sadie and Charles. maybe John met them during the RDR1 campaign but we never saw it because we never knew them? or we get an expanded Jack Marston campaign...am i asking too much? haha

[@ralcogaming7674]

@@aninfinitemindofmusicandreams the only thing about this idea I dislike is going through arthur, John and then Jack as protagonist. Maybe if they let you pick who you play as post game I think alot of people enjoy being John post game and having all that freedom, I made a new save file just to play as Arthur for free roaming, certainly connonically it makes no sense to be able to play as a dead character but it would allow people to play as who they want. Personally I'd enjoy an RDR remaster as dlc, but if also love new story dlc that we can play as Arthur or John.

[@omarw7724]

A friend of mine only bought rdr2 for the online, dont know whether to laugh or cry

[@lune0326]

Despacito 2 laugh AND cry

[@ezionalie]

If my friend did that I would of said are your stupid brother.

[@selectdevotee6810]

Despacito 2 It's because the first game is better.

[@selectdevotee6810]

ezion alie I would call you stupid for not considering that people might like the online, but hate the story.

[@Quack_attack_]

Unfriend him ....you dont need that kind of shit in your life lol

[@olimerrick6767]

Arthur should have just coughed in Michas face when he was asleep

[@jordandennis6794]

Yeah but Micah doesn't sleep.

[@karthikcv8104]

@@jordandennis6794 He doesn't sleep, he just waits in the shadows.....

[@pastorofmuppets4552]

@@karthikcv8104 and he will kill them all. All who sniffed the air that day in Siwa!

[@fappecarl639]

I literally cried when i finished the game, not because it was sad (don't get me wrong it was very sad), but because i knew i couldn't experience the story the same if i played it again. Arthur is the best written, character in any form of art i have ever experienced.

[@Quack_attack_]

review .......couldnt agree more

[@kredlseeve3248]

What about geralt of rivia

[@fishbowlliz]

review I sobbed, and then felt terrible for 3 days 😂

[@andymontanez56]

Pussy

[@thomasmcguinness365]

@@kredlseeve3248 Geralt is boring.

[@TheRubberMatch]

RDR 2 is the only game I have ever played that makes me nostalgic for ITSELF. By the time I get to the end of the story I genuinely miss the glory days of the gang and always end up replaying .. I’ve beat the game 3 times since it came out and take my time every time to avoid the inevitable tragic end

[@jimmymurphy898]

I have also beaten it 3 times! I usually don't replay games but idk this game just clicked with me and I don't even like westerns. I think for me honestly Arthur Morgan is the main reason. Arthur is simply the best written videogame character period. Better than John imo...lol

[@montanastranger]

No record or anything and I'm 160+ hrs and only 1 playthrough. I'm putting off rnd 2 because I'm still entertaining myself just seeing where that days RDR2 session takes me.

[@shawnbyers6947]

Arthur's mindset imo: *Arthur* = Worst version of himself *John* = Best version of himself (i.e. the life he could of had)

[@Quack_attack_]

John was a better version and a better man because of Arthur

[@Murge0403]

Arthur Morgan yea

[@appa6610]

Which Arthur is the Arthur

[@TheRubberMatch]

I agree I think he looks at John and Abigail as what he always wanted with Mary

[@EvanHynes]

Gennaro not only that but Arthur’s son who died along with the mother and the life he could have had there as a life he should’ve committed to instead of fighting

[@FireWolfDragon]

I wish I could forget the story just to enjoy it again especially part in the epilogue where you build beechers hope the music is so funny

[@MassiveMyatt]

'When the time comes, you gotta run don't look back, cause this this is over'

[@obiden5286]

Gayyyyy

[@darkrider3952]

This game is perfect. I loved every single part and Rockstar really knows how to connect with their fans. Arthur is a ruthless outlaw but Rockstar found a way to make him relatable. How? I don't know it's just their speciality I guess. Every part of the game was beautifully written and lotta people hate the Guarma part but that's right about when Dutch starts to go crazy by killing the lady in the cave. This game is a masterpiece and Rockstar nailed it. I couldn't stress that enough.

[@Quack_attack_]

I didnt hate the Guarma chapter but to me it just seemed like filler kind of idk i just think there could have been much better use of a whole chapter somehow

[@Ic3h0rnEt14]

I was annoyed at first when John became the playable character, but now I realize that’s just because Rockstar wrote Arthur as such an amazing character that I legitimately miss him.

[@Fizhy]

You spelled Athor wrong

[@selectdevotee6810]

Fizhy no it's Ahor

[@joe_z2042]

No, it's Arturo

[@13DollarBill.]

No its BHOI

[@Murge0403]

No itz Moneh

[@dx_Rain_xb]

No,its Author

[@guitarman0365]

8:40 always love that moment from the standoff. Micah telegraphs going for his gun first but arthur already has his gun up before Micah can even get to his gun. haha Micah is lucky arthur was sick or he would have kicked the shit out of him on that mountain.

[@Quack_attack_]

Fucking A he would have ..love when he tells micah "you can't even kill a dying man"

[@simonvetter2420]

I legit tried to shoot Micah in the mission where you break him out of the Strawberry jail after reloading because I was so upset he made me shoot up the whole bloody town. If only the game had let me.

[@supremeworld87]

I do think you're missing a key aspect of the Arthur/John relationship here, their relationship doesn't grow over the course of the game so much as it is restored to what it had once been. They go back 15 years...they were the original 'sons' of Dutch and Hosea, both taken in as children and raised by them - they were the original members of the gang. When John was taken in by Dutch he was only 12 years old and Arthur was 21...he became the protective older brother to John and they became extremely close, they were literal brothers. This is why Arthur is so antagonistic to John in the early game, John had ditched the gang, Abigail, Jack etc for an entire year and Arthur was extremely hurt by this - his constant jibes and digs at John are his way of letting that out. What happens is over the course of the game Arthur slowly falls back into the older brother role, alot of this was due to how well he dealt with Javks kidnapping and how much of a better family man he becomes afterwards. Their close relationship is reignited and by the time Arthur finds out he has TB it leads him to be absolutely committed to helping his little brother leave the gang and start a new life - in a way hes also honouring Hosea by doing this, Hosea (being as much a father to John as Dutch was but in a more positive way) had been urging John since Valentine to leave the gang with his family since he knew Dutch was going to lead them to ruin but he knew it wasn't too late for John and his family to get out and live good lives. All of this is conveyed in optional camp conversations between John and Hosea but you can tell he just wants to take care of his boy before he dies, something he doesn't feel he can do for Arthur because he feels Arthur's past the point where can leave the life behind much like himself. So it's so beautiful that Arthur takes up hoseas mantle and does his best for his little brother before he dies, and when he too knows dutch has gone nuts. That scene where he says goodbye to John and puts his hat on John's head is just the ultimate explemplification of their big brother/little brother dynamic and is so emotional. Love that John tries to emulate Arthur's drawing when he takes over his journal but his drawings are really bad compared to Arthur's - again its another example of the younger brother trying to emulate the older brother who taught him so much. This is what makes what Dutch did so unforgivable. Arthur & John were his proudest achievements, his literal sons, yet the poison that was Michas influence led him to turn of them both despite all theyd given him - especially Arthur. The camp interactions show that John had been calling Dutch out on his actions since Valentine but because he was Dutchs golden boy he got away with saying alot to him that even Arthur wouldnt have gotten away with. Bit once Michah started making Dutch believe John was the rat, even his golden boy status wasnt enough to prevent Dutch cutting him loose

[@LazerzZ]

That is a really really great point, adds much more depth to what I explained. 100% with you.

[@supremeworld87]

@@LazerzZ great video though and I agree with pretty much everything youve said. Alot of people say they dont see the point of the epilogue because if they were telling Arthur's story, why add that in? But I agree that this is really John's story as an overall narrative and telling Arthur's story is key to explaining John as a character. RDR2 is chiefly about Arthur's redemption, but John basically IS Arthur's redemption, and Arthur's redemption leads into John's own redemption. I'd never classed Rockstsr as being such masterful storytellers until this game, it felt like a novel.

[@yashsinghal1023]

@@supremeworld87 Absolutely Agree.. You just told what i was feeling

[@tschaytschay4555]

[@nox6948]

Couldn't ask for a better prequel. Two of the greatest games of all time.

[@OwO377]

You absolutely right

[@valtontony826]

If John listened to Arthur and didn’t kill Micah, he wouldn’t die “Revenge is a fools game” Arthur Morgan 1899

[@abdullahaltuwaijri8550]

Yes he would of died, maybe not the same way but he would still die

[@selectdevotee6810]

XALTONY 13666 actually if you take red dead redemption 2 away from red dead redemption 1, he was left behind on a bank heist causing him to leave the gang. Also Micah never existed in the first game, nor the Pinkertons. Also, Hosea never existed, Tilly never existed, Mary Beth never existed, reverend Swanson never existed, Arthur Morgan never existed, grimshaw never existed, uncle's lumbago never existed, Sadie Adler never existed, Jack was never kidnapped, the braithwaits never existed, Dutch was a Robin Hood type figure before he became more ruthless, Leviticus Cornwall never existed, Molly never existed, Lenny never existed, Sean never existed, Karen never existed, Mac never existed Kieran never existed, joe never existed, Jenny never existed, Charles never existed, Davey never existed, leopold Strauss never existed, Pearson never existed and Bessie never existed. Those members never got mentioned in the first game.

[@Quack_attack_]

I could be wrong but i believe Dutch is technically the 1 who kills Micah

[@kylecarpenter4341]

SelectDevotee68 he was left behind in saint denis and on the train heist at the end of rdr2, and why would he mention all of those people? It’s been years and he’s moved on and has a family, I don’t think they want to relive those days

[@fishbowlliz]

"Revenge is a luxury that we can't afford." - Dutch, 1899 (I think)

[@jimmymurphy898]

People are gonna kill more for this comment but I honestly think this game is vastly superior to God of War in terms of narrative. Kratos was well developed and all but it pissed me off that you kept having to find a magical item to progress it felt like padding. I feel that with Red Dead 2 Arthur is extremely well developed and there is a clear arc with slow moments but those moments don't feel like padding they feel like important moments that develop the character and the gang. His fear of death and how desire to help John at the end was moving because you see him change and realize Dutch is losing his mind. I expected God of War to blow me away with it's story like the last of us did b it didn't and that's mostly due to the pacing and blatant sequel bait ending but Red Dead 2 did. The Last of Us is my favorite game ever but Red Dead 2 is just as good and maybe better. I am truly blown away by this game

[@NozzleDog07]

No crap for your comment. I agree with you completely

[@selectdevotee6810]

Jimmy murphy in red dead redemption 2 you had to babysit the gang.

[@Quack_attack_]

Completely agree God of war was a sweet game but rdr2 felt more like an experience or some shit ...it def without a doubt hands down should have won game of the year

[@ruskispoot5217]

Arthur Morgan tuberculosis.

[@fishbowlliz]

Jimmy murphy I haven't even looked into God of War, but from what I've heard, Red Dead Redemption 2 is so much better than God of War. I mean, the graphics in Red Dead 2 vs. God of War proves that Red Dead 2 is already superior. I know that graphics shouldn't impact the game, but... It does. We all know it does.

[@clefton3112]

This game really got to me. Arthur’s got to be my favourite protagonists, even over ezio

[@Quack_attack_]

Same here.. Arthur > John in every single way period. I wanted a single player dlc where your a younger Arthur early on in his days w the gang or maybe around the time he had his son but maybe rdr3 will be like that and end with the famous blackwater heist ...i just need more Arthur Morgan lol

[@buffoonustroglodytus4688]

"I wish we could've had a prequel where you play as a younger protagonist doing dumb shit" Every moron ever

[@justanordinaryguy._.7399]

@@pondaction9506 your opinion, his opinion. So fuck off.

[@pondaction9506]

@@justanordinaryguy._.7399 tell him to fuck off then for having an opinion you fucking donkey

[@edgyomellete0121]

@@pondaction9506 Most people who bought the game, had already played the original so I don't know what you're on about.

[@JohnArceane]

Since I'm cool with spoilers and may never actually play RDR2 for myself, I went ahead and watched this video with only a few hours of viewed gameplay footage experience with the game. I have to say, excellent video James. You definitely made me interested in this franchise and kept me entertained. I remember some of your videos from 2015 when I first started watching your content, and you've come so far since then.

[@sansastark4040]

I highly recommend that you play this game. You won't regret it.

[@bardiaozzie]

the one thing john shouldn't have done was going after Micah. That's something Arthur implored him not to do: "don't look back". and when John does it, you can directly see how that creates the tragedy in red dead redemption 1.

[@tyleyden8695]

The game is literally called red dead redemption.. that's like saying the car stealing mechanic in gta should have been left out.

[@GreenDragonPainting]

This is my favorite game of all time. It single handedly brought me back to gaming after 5 years of not picking up a controller. I bought a system and 4k tv just to play this game. I will never forget the time I had. It was truly amazing.

[@berkian]

How much you put effort in your videos, you deserve more than 79K subscribers

[@JohnArceane]

He's getting there, don't you worry. It's pretty likely that he'll have 100k by the end of the year.

[@skillz_venomek3975]

Even watching it now a year after I completed the game, when I heard the words “may I stay unshaken” from the amazing soundtrack it brought tears to my eyes

[@dobby5684]

Every time

[@fishbowlliz]

As someone who wasn't into video games when Red Dead Redemption came out (I was 6 at the time) I didn't know what to expect from this game. I know the people who played the first game knew that the second game would explain why the Van Der Linde gang fell apart. But I had no idea. The storyline, in my opinion, is the best storyline in any vide game that I've every seen. A ton of people agree. The story took so many unexpected turns that I don't think anyone really expected, and the story was very emotional. Especially when things started going downhill. Speaking of "emotional," holly shit was it emotional. This game made me cry, laugh, smile, and so much more. When Sean was shot, my jaw dropped, and I legit had to pause to process what happened. And I cried when Lenny was shot, and I also cried when Hosea was killed. And when Arthur died, I legit sobbed and felt terrible for about 3 days. That's never happened when I've read a book, watched a movie, etc. But somehow, a video game made me cry. Multiple times. Now, I could go really in depth into how incredibly well written this storyline is, but I'd be here for hours.

[@awesomedude2556]

I remember losing my first horse, I spent three whole chapters with the horse, but in the fourth chapter I engaged combat with some bounty hunters. They shot my horse and ended up killing me. When I returned I immediately called for my horse, only for a random mare to show up. I was literally contemplating if I should return to my previous save file (which was around ten missions ago) just to have my old horse again

[@funforu8856]

We all do. No boah left behind

[@ivikaputova3177]

The best RDR2 analysis everrrrr.. honestly And I cannot agree more on that John and RDR1 part. Couldnt been said better

[@erikallen3804]

You know how a lot of people are saying there won’t be another game in the Red Dead Redemption franchise? Well, people said that with RDR1 all the way back in 2010. And here we are with RDR2 in 2018, 8 years later. For all we know, they could be working on RDR3 as we speak. If that’s the case, I really hope we get to play as Dutch Van Der Linde and see how he created the gang with the Epilogue after The Blackwater Massacre where we switch from Dutch to Arthur. I don’t know how they would do it, but they have their ways.

[@div4o]

I agree with every single word in the video. RDR2 is clearly the best narrativ Game I ever played and I played a lot. For me as PC user who never played RDR1 was interesting to experience the story without knowing nothing about RDR1. I was hoping the whole time that Arthur will find a why to survive. Seeing him dieing and John growing somehow to the person that Arthur ever wonted to be was such a great moment for me. Now i don’t like PS but i will buy one just to play RDR1. Thank you Rockstar for this game. It was live experience.

[@HUGO-MMA]

Red dead 2 makes the first look like a tech demo.

[@ralcogaming7674]

The first game really feels incomplete especially now that we have all this context to that story.

[@ej2208]

Ralco Gaming I don’t think so. I think it makes it the first game 100x better.

[@selectdevotee6810]

Brandon C red dead redemption 2 makes the first game look better. Red dead redemption 1 made the Red dead redemption 2's story to look like shit. Fuck Arthur Morgan, John didn't get a quick or painless death. John also didn't get killed by a gunshot to the head, a knife to the back or killed by tuberculosis. Also John is more honorable than Arthur. The only thing Red dead redemption 2 showed is how good red dead redemption 1 would look if it was remastered. Also, fuck the people who comment on red dead redemption 1 videos about red dead redemption 2, the people who have played red dead redemption 2 never played the first game. I have played both red dead redemption 1 and red dead redemption 2. The only reason I even like red dead redemption 2, is because I put on the mindset that red dead redemption 2 is not a prequel to the first game, but it's own game.

[@selectdevotee6810]

Ralco Gaming red dead redemption 2 is incomplete because it contradicts plenty of things from the first game.

[@jakobhovland04]

SelectDevotee68 What did it contradict? Why fuck Arthur Morgan? He’s a much better character. Arthur didn’t get a painless death? Arthurs death was actually worse since it lasted for weeks. John is more honorable than Arthur? That depends on how you play the games. Why fuck people who comment RDR2 stuff on RDR videos? The games are closely related. I’ve actually never seen a more stupid comment than yours. Grow up.

[@boah1668]

If we play as Davey or Mac Callander in the next RDR game i wouldn't be able to accept it seeing Arthur and not playing as him.

[@erikallen3804]

I hope we get to play as Dutch Van Der Linde. Seeing how he created the Van Der Linde Gang and switching to Arthur in the Epilogue after The Blackwater Massacre. I don’t know how Rockstar would do it, but I’m sure they’d find a way.

[@obiden5286]

@@erikallen3804 yes, but I would want aurther before the black water massacre in a epilogue or it isn't even worth it because black water leads into rdr2

[@ArcaneMelodies82]

The most interesting thing I noticed in both Red Dead 1 and 2 was the World itself. It Seems Rockstar wanted a fictional world where Texas is known as New Austin, Louisiana is Leymone and New Orleans is St. Denis and Yet New York, Ohio, Yukon Canada exists in the same world. Spoilers but when you find out what happened to the Swanson the Preacher in an article it mentions he ended up first in Ohio and then got his own congregation in New York. Charles Smith and Rains Fall leave to Canada. It is even mentioned John Marston Traveled to Yukon, Canada for a time and came back. It is as if Rockstar thought it would be interesting if some States and American Cities had an alternate history meshed into the world we all know. Fascinating observation is all I am saying

[@SRosenberg203]

I had a student in one of my classes last year whose name was literally "Micah Pinkerton". It took all my integrity to not just fail him out of principle, and tell him to "ask Rockstar" if he asked me why he failed. I also wanna know who the 46 O'Driscols that disliked this video are.

[@jordanwright2313]

Probably one of the few that hated playing as John in the end. I need a cheat code to play as Arrthur in after the story

[@ontologicallysteve7765]

I've been playing it since the 26th. I have 300+ hours into it and it feels as if I've only played 20 hours. I'm not sick of ANY of the formulaic elements whatsoever. It STILL feels organic. That is a landmark achievement in gaming. It's uncanny. I've since purchased Hitman and Odyssey and just cannot bring myself to leave RDR2. I'm still playing as Arthur (but I think it's getting close to the end). This is the best game of all time. This is indisputable. EDIT: I finished Arthur's story 20 min after writing this comment. If you were able to hold back tears-----you're a stronger man than me (even if you're a woman). I'm glad I was alone. Damn you Rockstar. Damn you. Emotions were stirred that I didn't even know I had. 😢 But it was SO SO SO SO good.

[@deadwalkin_]

I know I'm late as fuck, but this is genuinely one of the best Narrative analysis I have ever seen!

[@Leonan_Brin]

One incredibly subtle but powerful moment in the game is during the final showdown right after Micah shoots Ms. Grimshaw is if you look at Javier when he is next to Dutch, everyone is aiming their guns at Arthur and John except for Javier. He’s holding his gun up towards the sky visibly fighting with himself because as his actor says Javier was incredibly close to Arthur and he could’ve easily gone with them but he was conflicted. He fought to allow them to have his gun pointing towards the sky because Javier in that moment didn’t want to hurt his brothers but he couldn’t be with them either. Something so small but so powerful

[@LazerzZ]

That makes so much sense. But in the end Javier is a coward and sided with who would allow him to survive most easily. But you could see throughout the game Javier is a very conflicted guy, he just doesn't have a whole lot of integrity

[@igor4479]

9:40 John and Athur lol

[@sav9484]

Igor ???

[@RadinV1]

@@sav9484 seriously does that joke neex explaining? He spelled Arthur wrong. How can't you get it?

[@Spaceserenade]

These types of videos are pure GOLD

[@johnhanifin1952]

It would be awesome to see a remake of the first game with more references to characters in rdr 2 such as arthur,sadie and charles

[@turdblaster923]

Yeah, and also new RDR2 based mechanics. Like growing a beard or hair, making your own outfits, better gameplay, better graphics, a better honor system, like you said more dialogue, less cartoony characters, dual wielding, weapon customization, different gun belts and holsters, better character designs, and more. Edit: I know I'm late btw

[@maccadundee510]

I swear Dutch went crazy after the accident on the trolley. His brain injury is when he started to fall apart and the gang went truly downhill

[@BetterDialLyle]

It wasn't a brain injury, his greed for money, the death of Hosea, his inability to see that Micah was a terrible person who was manipulating him, and his stubbornness, all those caused his downfall.

[@jaydimmick8554]

The 22 dislike are O'Driscolls

[@Sander50cc]

And 29 lemoyne raiders

[@timculhane625]

Good one bud

[@Alrahmahstudios]

Please take notes Ubisoft instead of ruining the lore of assasins creed

[@Alrahmahstudios]

@@penumbrum3135 you know I can agree with that ubisofts good days are gone

[@erezben14]

What is a Ubisoft?

[@Alrahmahstudios]

@@erezben14 Ubisoft is a gay

[@EvilSlayer398]

Ubisoft may have money like a AAA gaming studio. But they make games that feel more like a AA game

[@Alrahmahstudios]

@@EvilSlayer398 yeah you can have all the money in world spent on a video game but the game itself won't be good if you don't know how to use it

[@TylerHarff]

Just bought red dead 2 tonight currently downloading it on my PS4 can’t wait to experience it

[@sav9484]

Tyler Harff hope you had/are having an amazing experience with this wonderful game

[@richard90051]

Why would you watch this before you played it

[@TylerHarff]

@@richard90051 cause I wasn’t interested in playing the game but watching multiple videos on KZbin changed my mind

[@spencersteinbrecher6511]

The game has an incredible story and the attention to detail is unbelievable and immersive. However, the gameplay is outdated. I would think with eight years of development they would have evolved the controls

[@thelawrocks1303]

Personally I think it’s the best story in gaming to this date

[@tyleyden8695]

It's really good but theres some close ones out there.. gta v as crazy of a story it was, was fantastically writin.. the last of us is in my top 3 as well .. I know theres a few more but I cant really think of any off the top if my head

[@WalshieYT1]

Really good video as always, James. This game is debatably the best I've played in terms of story, the characters are all human and interested and it genuinely hits you when they die, not to mention them having real chemistry with you but other members of the camp, really carrying the story.

[@henksweers1967]

I actually felt like I was in the game when playing. From the the smallest of details to the npc's feeling like real people made the immersion so intense that when I was taken out of it, it felt like pain. There were so many times that I wished I just lived in that era!

[@tyleyden8695]

That double barrel shotgun scene sent shivers down my spine. ..a straight up jaw dropper

[@jamesbullows1137]

I've never replayed a game and it feel like the first time again more than this game it's just amazing

[@lukamarjanov366]

I liked Micah at the beginning.He was okay.I started hating him more and more while completing story.I knew from beginning that when he said(even in 3rd trailer) “Sometimes brothers make mistakes” i knew it would be something important to his character

[@cenahater5002]

It sets up RDR3 perfectly. You know it will end with a blackwater massacre and several of your gang members dying after botching it and ending up in the cold wilderness

[@obiden5286]

Yea, I want to play as Dutch and mabey hosea threw the 70's and 80's and aurther threw the 80s and in a epilogue play as mac with the last mission being Blackwater

[@kingofblackout]

Just saw your reaction video of gameplay trailer, and came across here now. I'm still saying this game is the greatest story-game I've ever played, even after half a decade of release nothing has come close and I'm convinced it will remain that way until perhaps GTA VI, but I'm not sure, we'll see that when time comes as R* being on downfall lately.

[@atharvavadeyar5157]

Haven't played RDR or RDR2 just here to drop a like for our favourite horse

[@Nick-kb2jc]

Damn, I want RDR1 remastered for PS4 so badly now.

[@UitdenOosterhout]

I'm so glad I played Red Dead Redemption years ago. Some people don't even know that the story continued or even played the game at all.

[@alexandernicholl5772]

You know after watching this video for like the third time I've realised that I'm a lot like John I'm not great at expressing my emotions especially affectionate ones I'm not just an asshole all of the time but I call my mam mother because in my mind that's less affectionate and easier for me to say I can express emotion obviously it just doesn't come as easy to me I'm also cynical like John. Also I would do anything for those I love and if anyone were to hurt them I would basically become the hulk I also want to be a father someday and I have promised my self that I will be a better father than mine.

[@Fabian-vn2im]

This analysis is spot on, good job bro!

[@jackbrassil5318]

Just finished this game for the first time a couple days ago, loved it!

[@yashsinghal1023]

You have earned a subscriber .... :) Thank you for telling what I was feeling for last three days

[@theonlyplain]

Peter Blomquist should get an award. Micah is probably the most hated antagonist, ever, period. So hated that he got shitposted in Twitter. Amazing.

[@spookz1812]

Absolutely brilliant video James, top quality content. What a game!

[@SatansGreatestSoldier]

Playing RDR1 a decade ago, I was always curious about what was east of the map. I was also curious as to how life in the eastern United States might have been during the Wild West. Rdr2 introducing Louisiana (Lemoyne) & what seemed like the eastern Tennessee Smokey Mountains (Roanoke Ridge) really made me fall in love with this game. Speaking of Roanoke...the Beaver Hollow camp was HELLA depressing, lol.

[@antoniopanzetta4778]

Do you think if Rockstar made RDR3 another prequel about Dutch and Hosea, it would mess with the feeling that John is the main protagonist? Ik I desperately wanna see that story considering how much I love Dutch as a character. If we could see the founding of the game in 1877, a young Arthur and John being raised by Dutch and Hosea, the feud between Colm and Dutch begin, and the vents just before the Blackwater Massacre but still leaving that offscreen, I think that'd be awesome! But would it change the feeling that John is the main protagonist of the series, or build it up seeing him become the man that ultimately seeks redemption?

[@goat4298]

Arthur has to be known as one of the most influential characters in the game story. If it wasn't for him John Marston wouldn't be who he was. Arthur may have lived a rough life, his influence showed John that he could still change while he has the chance and John took that advice and became somebody we know in red dead redemption 1. This game took me 4 months to beat because of how the story went. It may be a video game, but it has a story that speaks out loud

[@annoyingcomayeer7853]

So when I first played rdr2 I figured Arthur was going to die so I went and did all the side missions before he dies and I fully completed the veteran side mission and got buell and I fully maxed him out and it hurt when he ended up dying to

[@mrsspiritwolf]

@annoyingcoma year, youcan do this mission as john so you don't lose buell, but its a crap horse anyway, its stats are terrible even with the best saddle in the game.

[@BlazingJ]

I hope they can make another game with a compelling story like this They can make GTA VI like this yes it will be more witty but if it has more Heart , moral and 😉 redemption

[@ggb7302]

what a game this was... truly amazing !

[@QFl7098]

Love how the game starts and ends in the snow

[@paulcauchois6564]

I was crying the whole way through

[@saurabh7730]

so was I

[@miguelrodrigues4995]

I've been waiting for this video for a week finally

[@wittyostrich6156]

I was playing darkest hour on AC syndicate and during the mission to Assassinate the nurse it was said she was collecting blood samples in odd vials. I believe this is a reference to Blacks Flag’s observatory. Blood samples are needed for that and the nurse was a spy which means she would have great use for the observatory. I was wondering what you think about my theory.

[@Southernstereotype]

It is rare to see a series make a piece of media that defies all expectations and creates a story that brings a fanbase in together with almost no objections, no whining, and no fan feuding. It’s almost impossible to top that in a second release and it’s fitting to see that rockstar is one of the GOAT’s that can pull it off.

[@NFLed]

I had quite a bit of difficulty enjoying this game, after greatly enjoying RDR1. When I am playing a game as a character -- whether Geralt (Witcher), Shepard (Mass Effect), Batman (Arkham Knight), Kassandra (Assassin's Creed Odyssey), or whomever -- I like to understand their motivations for pretty much all of their actions. I enjoy it when what they choose to do makes sense to me, even though my point of view is that of a 20th-21st century regular person, and even if it's not what I would choose to do if I were in their situation their choices nevertheless make a lot of sense to me. In RDR2 I was often left with the feeling that I really don't understand Arthur's motivations for staying in the gang. I enjoy games which explore the other side of life, in taking on lifestyles which I would never consider, as that is often part of the fun, but the life of a gang which steals and kills for profit is just not something I could get into even from a fantasy/gameplay standpoint. It could be said that he had no real choice but to stay in the gang, but that didn't seem to be his feeling through the game, and he chose to stay in the gang because it was his way of life, not because he was a prisoner. I'm not saying that what he chose was unrealistic. Many people are stuck in their way of life even though they think they shouldn't be. I just can't identify with that and it's not something I enjoyed playing in a game. There are many games in which a character is stuck in a situation, but Arthur's being stuck was a state of mind, not because he literally was stuck. For example, in some Far Cry games the protagonist is usually literally unable to escape, and tries to make the best of the situation, but that's different from my point of view from what Arthur was stuck in. Just leave, darn it, but he didn't, and while that's potentially realistic it's just not a fun narrative for me. That tainted my entire 70-80 hour experience playing this otherwise fairly good (not great) game. In RDR1 John's actions were mostly understandable in trying to atone for and escape from his past, but in RDR2 Arthur is continuing to commit atrocities in the present and future. I just couldn't identify with it. With that said, I could certainly understand that this would not be how others feel, and that the story would be enjoyable without reservation.

[@hayabusa09]

They could still do a sequel to RDR1 with Jack Marston, at some point right?

[@dx_Rain_xb]

There's a possibility,but what would that do anyway?For all we know,the age of outlaws has come to an end and Jack was pretty much avenging John.He maybe a newborn outlaw,but that time is gone and the world is slowly becoming more modernised when John killed Javier, Bill and Dutch himself.But that's just my opinion, just throwing that out there.

[@hayabusa09]

@@dx_Rain_xb good point, i'm just looking for more RD :(

[@Coronado_G]

I'd love seen in RDR3 how the gang was created in some flashbacks and then seeing John's son, Jack, and the story can be something like... revenging the death of his mother than I'm thinking she was killed by Guido Martelli, a partner of Angelo Bronte, and, as Jack lived for a time in Bronte mansion, maybe Rockstar can make something about it, create a story and stuff, and by the dates we are getting closer to WW1 and the rise of the italian mafias in the 20's so start adding italian gangs in rdr3 should be coherent...

[@prime_sol1610]

Thanks for the effort ❤ .

[@CaptinnCatt24]

Philosophy at its finest

[@wadestilwell4228]

I didn't even play Red Redemption so I didn't know what to expect. So imagine my surprise when it turned out to be the best Fn game I've ever played. And I've played hundreds

[@ParadoxDesmond]

Amazing video I really hope this game gets a story dlc and they don’t just do multiplayer dlc

[@tristbotha7286]

John and arthur knew each other for 15 years. They are both great protagonists and i cant decide which is better. Rdr2 is the best game imo and rdr2 and rdr1 are my 2 favourite games of all time. Arthur and john are also my 2 favourite protagonists

[@SketchySkullKnight]

It kinda trivializes Arthur's journey and character arc labeling him as "nothing more than a narrative device to push John onto his own journey". He was more fleshed out and developed as a character than John ever was.

[@LazerzZ]

I don’t think anyone is suggesting that alone. That summary makes my analysis incredibly hollow. There’s a lot more going on here. But it is in service of John’s arc. That’s not to say that Arthur doesn’t have his own incredible depth.

[@nayten0324]

Arthur does have his own arc, but his main purpose for the narrative is pushing John onto the path that leads to him becoming the man he is in rdr1

[@itsfreakincap3089]

I finished the game, and I haven’t finished this video yet, but I just wanna quickly say that in my honest opinion, there shouldn’t be anymore Red Dead Redemption games. The story is perfect, and we all now have the full picture. This is a genuinely spectacular game. It’s one of a kind, and if they did make a third Red Dead, I wouldn’t know how to feel because there’s just nowhere else I think they can go to. But if they did, then hopefully they make it a brand new story with new characters.

[@eques9280]

if Arthur was angry with John it is mainly because John did not want to recognize his son, more the fact that he is to abandon the Gang

[@NewCandyCane]

Also damn! Spoiler alert, don't see my comment until you've finsihed the game. - - - - - - - - - - Sorry for spam but it was nessessary. He pretty much said the whole story within the first 5 mins, which usually takes like 30 - 50 hours to discorver the very first time (depending on how much you love the free toam aspect of the game) unless you're speedrunning through it! Which in itself is incredible. I actually didn't have a problem with Micah from the beginning, but after Strawberry, but look oh him drasticly changed, and onwards after that I didn't trust him. Which did not help after later in to the story when we found out he was the rat! That completely destroyed me how Dutch took his side and not his loving compainion who had been around him since like age 14. That to me was the ulitmate betray and it hurt.

[@wandaself6979]

DOES ANYONE ELSE THINK CHARLES SMITH SOUNDS AND LOOKS ALOT LIKE CONNOR KENWAY?

[@bigfoot5725]

Broooo i was thinking this the entire time i played through rdr2 lmaoooo

[@restlessentertainment9760]

Same accent

[@justarobo_]

If you explore games other than Assassin's Creed on the channel, it would seriously be one of the best

[@LazerzZ]

NightSpeed I do.... that’s literally what my channel has been all year. I decided start of this year to entirely shift my focus. I’ve made a total of maybe 5 assassins creed related videos this year if you don’t count charity streams and what not which I don’t because that’s hardly the same kind of work. Most of my content has been entirely different games and I’ve been loving it. Check my channel out if you haven’t seen all the new stuff I’ve been putting out

[@wewden6887]

Assassin's creed. An 8 hour long game. LaserzZ did an over 4 hours long video about it. Red dead redemption 2. The first 6 chapters are already competing for 8 hours of play time, if you let yourself hunt and experience the side missions. I roughly spent 80 hours on it before I finished it and then went back for over 60 hours of online content. LaserzZ does a 20 minute long video about it. I still yet have to see what he has to say. Might be that his retrospective videos are the sole long ones and he says it here, but this is absolutely shocking for me.

[@BlackPantherFTW]

While john does take a lot of cues from Arthur, he ignores two big pieces of advice that arthur gave him... that revenge is a fools game and to never look back. John looked back and the law was there to welcome him back

[@hs3361]

Another great game, another great video

[@pon7630]

I believe you got a little confused when it comes to quoting duch when talking about John and his family and nature, Arthur wants to be and good guy but he belives that his nature is to be bad because of his past mistakes, that's what he tells everyone when they say he is a good guy, and by the end of the game he shows that besides all that he can still choose to be a good person, you as the player can choose to be good just like John chose to care and love his family because Arthur showed him that, the hole theme of Arthurs character is showing that you can fight your nature and become who you want, subverting the years of being an outlaw and killing people Arthur shows that your past self doesn't define your present one, Arthur proves Duch's philosophy wrong with his life, using his time left on earth to be the good person he knows he can be, by helping John to do the same thing, the hole theme of redemption itself is against what duch belives and you quoted and the thing Duch feared the most was change, the thing both Arthur and John go trough

[@LazerzZ]

I was more applying his words in a different context, but meaning different things. I didn't mean to say that John or Arthur was ever a represenation necessarily of Dutch's words

[@pon7630]

@@LazerzZ Oh okay, great video none of less my dude I was wondering when I would be able to watch a video about this game's story and themes

[@kratos692]

RDR2 IS SO GOOD, IT COULD HAVE BEEN EASILY MISTAKEN AS A SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY. 🥺

[@bigbadwolf7368]

Arthur Morgan and John Marston my favourite rockstar characters created ever. Their brotherhood reminded me of the McCall brothers Reverend Ray McCall and Thomas McCall from call of Juarez. You know that gem of a Ubisoft title that they also fucked up.

[@Pokerface-tr1ds]

I'd like a RDR Game where we play as LANDON RICKETTS!!!! On of my all time favourite Characters in the Red Dead Universe.

[@ARCtrooperblueleader]

Magnificent video.

[@prodbykeion]

When ur riding ur horse as Arthur and the music starts playing... u know

[@LazerzZ]

👌🏻

[@aranerem3767]

Masterpiece. I loved it

[@selectdevotee6810]

I overall liked most of the video, just didn't like some of the connections you tried to make. Overall thing to take is: Good video hope you make more videos in the future.

[@synthesize5618]

Fuuuuck killing Micah was the best thing to ever happen! And I’m glad that Charles and Sadie survived because they’re some of my favourite characters along with Arthur and John.

[@d.m.515]

Ok, I know this is stupidly impractical, but what if rockstar released a DLC for red dead 2 that gave the last interlude between the two games (so agent Ross convincing John to bring in his former gang members), before transitioning into the entirety of Red dead 1? Probably reuse the voice lines from the first game, but otherwise update everything with that rdr2 shine? I know, this would be massively resource intensive, but i think it would make this one game a story of epic proportions.

[@hannahnicole2644]

this is almost makes me want to write an essay on this game oh my god