Red Dead Redemption 2 was one of the best games of the year, accumulating millions of players and blowing competition out of the water.
The game has become an instant classic, but it seems not everyone was awestruck with the latest offering from Rockstar Games.
Bruce Straley, director of Naughty Dog’s basically flawless The Last Of Us and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End has called-out RDR2 during a conversation with Naughty Dog designer, Matthew Gallant.
Over on Twitter, Straley vented some frustration with the game design, criticising Rockstar’s decision to create what’s essentially a playable cutscene.
He wrote: “The game killed me when I tried to flank in that mission – like so many RDR2 story missions. They need me to do what the story requires & continually remove my choices. The env was open & I had the skills, but they punished me for thinking for myself instead of rewarding me. ☹️”
The game killed me when I tried to flank in that mission – like so many RDR2 story missions. They need me to do what the story requires & continually remove my choices. The env was open & I had the skills, but they punished me for thinking for myself instead of rewarding me. ☹️
— Bruce Straley (@bruce_straley) January 14, 2019
Straley’s complaint is a valid one. RDR2 often favours “the stick” – allowing players to remain in control during what’s basically a cutscene – but it’s all down to illusion. You still have to follow the motions that the game wants, and if you try not to, you’ll get punished.
He went on to discuss how he feels the game’s decisions sometimes result in scenes that “undermine the power of interactivity.”
Totally! But I’d argue removing player choice in order to achieve “epic stories” undermines the power of interactivity completely. So, it winds up NOT being epic, because I end up frustrated that the game just doesn’t trust me. Then I’m just ticking boxes to start cutscenes.
— Bruce Straley (@bruce_straley) January 14, 2019
Do you think Straley’s right, or did Rockstar do just what was needed?
Featured Image Credit: Naughty Dog.