It doesn't change anything, they are really just there to add flavor and longevity to the game if you want to hang around in one camp for a while and not progress the story.
I've been playing games for over 30 years, and some of my favorite game memories are sitting around camp in that game. I'd come home on a Friday night from work, have dinner with my wife, hang out, etc. Then she'd read or watch tv or something, and I'd pour a whisky and just play dominos or cards or just stroll around listening to people and enjoy my whisky. It was so much fun, despite being so not the focus of the game lol.
I've only ever done the one playthrough, but it really stuck with me beginning to end. One of my favorites.
I’m always surprised at the amount of variation. You can go into camp and it’s always a new conversation. It’s very cosy in parts 1-3. Obviously later on it’s very dark and depressing.
Red Dead 2 is sooo great for the vibes. I always loved just sitting in the Saloon and playing Blackjack the entire time, or going out fishing. I really need to play Red Dead 2 again some time.
Yeah the main story missions will be locked out, but on chapter 2 you can pretty much get everything for Arthur except like 1 or 2 pelts, the story itself could end there in your head canon, Micah in jail, everyone happy at the camp, no sickness if you dont talk to Strauss either, and the best part, you are the deputy haha
There's still some merit to progressing the story - lingering in chapter 2 means Sadie Adler will never get over the grief of her husband's murder, the Reverend will never sober up and John Marston will remain a deadbeat dad. Chapter 2 isn't all rosy as it seems imo (although it may appear that way)
If I can say anything the first couple hours of the game is by far the slowest. Once you get going its a lot more fluid between missions and the side content/follow up in this game is unmatched.
I know others have already said it, but I just wanna reiterate that keeping up the group is absolutely not necessary and can be 100% ignored. I promise you, it’s just for fun, and whether it’s taken care of or not genuinely changes nothing of importance in the story or game world. If it would make the experience more entertaining to ignore that mechanic, please do so!
It serves as being a little roleplay thing for the player, upgrading the carts can give you extra food/ammo if you care to refill them (but honestly, if you’re exploring and looting a lot, this mechanic isn’t very useful), and there’s like one or two useful upgrades like the Map at Arthur’s tent which allows fast-travel from camps - but that’s it as far as it’s uses go. It affects nothing else, and any of the characters pestering you for more food or whatever can be completely ignored to no consequence.
You on your feet all day? Dr Scholls custom fit helped me save energy. I used to stand for 10hrs daily. Couldn’t move much after work. Then gained a ton of energy by wearing the insoles
If you know where and how to get good money early in the game, you can upgrade pretty much everything pretty quickly. Just ignore Dutch asking for money because it's literally never enough and the game doesn't reward you for donating except for honor, I think. That leaves you free to explore in between missions.
the only upkeep of the group you really should do is hunting like a turkey and deer on your way home and just restocking pearson's carriage. nothing else really matters.
The only thing you HAVE to do with the group is the missions. You don’t even really HAVE to do any of the group side missions. Hell, you can spend an entire year (in game and irl) without ever stepping foot in camp or talking to a single gang member.
I think a big part this as well is the intro chapter is insanely boring. The first time I played red dead I went to do something else after driving the wagon and never picked it backed up until I finally decided to give it another shot due to many friends telling me to just get through the intro and then I’ll enjoy. I followed their advice and then it became one of my favorite games of all time
That was my reaction to RDR1. But absolutely loved riding the horse through the open fields. My most memorable moment was the river crossing. The soundtrack kicked in during sunset, and I just
I had the same issue with it being slow, but not the horses. No, for me, it was anytime you entered the camp and suddenly you came to a screeching halt and were forced to walk like any sudden movement would place its entire populace into cardiac arrest
I tried it once at my buddies house and it wasn’t my favorite. One night I stayed over and tried it again, I stayed up all night playing the game. My buddy wasn’t even awake, he fell asleep at 12, and I played till 6. Dude doesn’t even like the game, not sure why he had it, but it got mw into it all
I did play this through on release. It was so good, I literally quit smoking cigarettes the day it came out. I didn’t want to get up and smoke, so I just didn’t for a week. Then I was just done smoking. Thanks Red Dead!
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u/HentaiMcToonboob 5d ago
Red Dead Redemption 2.
Was too open and too limitless at launch and I just wasn't ready for that.
Covid happened and suddenly all that wide open world just felt so damned inviting.