Yesterday, IGN got stuck into 4 full hours of Red Dead Redemption 2. And you – rocking back and forth in that novelty Stetson you haven’t taken off for months, ravenous for any morsel of Red Dead news – really can’t resist spoiling it for yourself, can you?
Well, we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be this way. We dutifully looked through their gameplay log so you didn’t have to, and pulled out some spoiler-free features and tidbits you’re set to enjoy. Have a look, and then read their guide anyway because you are a weak, weak man.
You can shoot hats off!
The newly revealed first-person mode, which will be available throughout the game, allows you to shoot with pin-point accuracy. That means you can ping a cowboy’s hat clean off, rather than blast a clean, Homer Simpsons-esque hole through the front of it – and the same goes for your beloved headwear, too. You can buy new hats, stash them away, and an icon on the mini-map will direct you to its whereabouts if you lose it.
Of course, there are other targets at hand once you get bored of flying Stetsons.
Nerds will grass on you
When you’re running amuck in different towns, rootin’, tootin’ and shootin’ people square in the face, you’ll need to watch out for hysteric locals fleeing in the background. Chances are they’re off to dob you into the local law enforcment, and you’d be wise to stop them.
The game’s new conversation option allows you to threaten people into keeping schtum – but that’s not to say they’ll be cowed by you. If that's the case, you’ll be left with a difficult decision that could put you in further trouble. Choose carefully.
Your horse is your only true friend
Your bond with your trusty steeds in imperative to the flow of the game. A good relationship will result in a fearless, un-spookable horse that braves gunfire and elemental challenges, and helps you traverse the ginormous open world with ease of control and a minimum of fuss. You can progress through four stages of bond by staying loyal to your travelling companions.
The music is pretty special
According to Rockstar, there are 192 individual pieces of music by American composer Woody Jackson, who scored the original Red Dead. He was also the man behind Grand Theft Auto V, as well as movies like Ocean’s Twelve and Devil Wears Prada.
Soundtracking the stunning landscapes, natural beauty and adrenaline-fuelled shootouts of Red Dead Redemption 2 was always going to be a huge challenge, but according to IGN Jackson more than meets the task.
It’s the subtle things that blow your mind
IGN points out that, to appreciate the sheer amount of work that has gone into creating a convincingly naturalistic world, you need to pay attention to the small details.
Mud that stains your clothes dries and changes colour over time, and you’ll run into countless seemingly random set-pieces on your travels, giving you the feeling that real life is happening around you at all times. That’s not to mention the beautiful graphics, which truly push the PS4 and Xbox One to their limits.
Nick Pope is the Site Director of Esquire, overseeing digital strategy for the brand.
