Only time will tell what the sequel toRed Dead Redemption 2will do differently, or if it ever even sees the light of day, as Rockstar hasn’t revealed any plans regarding the franchise’s future. Nevertheless, it’s consistently interesting to speculate about whatRed Dead Redemption 3could wind up looking like, as the IP’s world, not to mention the overflowing talent of Rockstar’s writers and game designers, presents a lot of unique potential.
It seems rather likely that, ifRed Dead Redemption 3ever were to come out, it would move away from the core group of the Van der Linde Gang, as these characters have already been through quite a bit, and it may be best to let their stories rest. That is to say thatRDR3, in theory, could be more of a spiritual successor toRed Dead Redemption 2, rather than a direct sequel or prequel. Assuming that this will be the case, then the general themes and design principles of the previous two games can be expected to make a return, and this would include the honor mechanic, which could definitely expand past its limitations inRDRandRDR2.
Honor plays a role in bothRed Dead Redemptiongames, but it is most impactful inRed Dead Redemption 2, where a player’s honor level can alter several aspects of the experience, including:
Most notably,Arthur’s honor can influence the finale of the story, but this isn’t nearly as interesting as it may sound at first. Ultimately, the key events of the story’s ending—Arthur’s death, John’s escape, Dutch’s continued partnership with Micah—are all the same regardless of honor level. Some smaller aspects, like Arthur’s final moments, depend on honor, but the plot itself remains the same. Beyond this, the story and world ofRed Dead Redemption 2is mostly consistent regardless of this stat.
Of course, Arthur’s cause of death, and whether he sees the wolf or the stag before he dies, is a key part of theRDR2experience, but these differences are emotional and thematic rather than concrete and pivotal to the plot.
BothRed Dead Redemptiongames are concerned with the concept of honorand morality, but that’s not really what they are about. In a sense,RDR2isn’t “about” whether Arthur is a good man or not, but more so his choices during this final chapter of his life, and how one can find redemption in spite of their compromised moral character. But maybeRed Dead Redemption 3could have a stronger focus on right vs. wrong choices, and a revamped, fleshed-out honor system could be the most interesting way to convey this narrative stance.
More story distinctions based on honor level could make players consider their decisions a bit more carefully. For instance, maybe aFallout-inspired morality feature, wherein certain allies or companions will break off from the player-character if their honor gets too low, would go a long way toward making the system more impactful. Conversely, certain story beats or character interactions may only be attainable when one has low honor.Red Dead Redemption 2’s smaller honor-based changes, like how some cosmetics will have different color schemes, could also be expanded in a sequel, with completely new outfits, weapons, and gear being available depending on the player-character’s moral standing. With the same attention tomature storytelling that theRed Deadfranchiseis known for, this more in-depth system could hammer homeRDR3’s potential themes, in addition to increasing replay value, player expression, and the like.
Red Dead Redemption 2
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 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.
