13 years after release Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption ported the game to PS4 and Nintendo Switch, bypassing PC and current PS5 and Xbox Series consoles. Most players expected a full remaster with unlocked frame rate, improved graphics, features from the second part and received a standard port for $ 50 (4850 rubles). As a result, the RDR trailer was flooded with dislikes and social networks overflowed with messages of dissatisfaction.
We tested Red Dead Redemption on the Switch and it’s safe to say that Rockstar delivered the perfect port of the 2010 hit for a hybrid console. While Sony fans spit about the lack of innovation in the PS4 version, Switch owners are enjoying a perfect port of the iconic game that’s hard to fault.
The cult project is now available to almost everyone
Red Dead Redemption is, without exaggeration, a cult game that surprised not only GTA fans in 2010, but the entire industry. At the time, no one could have imagined that Rockstar Games would make an epic Western with a serious and thoughtful plot. The project impressed with its boundless freedom, available opportunities and an open world rich in situations. To date, Red Dead Redemption is regarded as some of Rockstar’s best work throughout the company’s entire existence. This is evidenced by the high marks from the press and the recognition of the players.
Red Dead Redemption has been a major contributor to the gaming industry and subsequent Rockstar projects. Few people know, but the development of the Western was the most painful test in the team’s history. Due to the overload of details and a large open world with a working ecosystem, a few months before release, RDR was horribly buggy and refused to work adequately on the consoles of the time. The power of the Xbox 360 and PS3 was not enough for stable and well-functioning work. Thanks to the producers’ heroism, irregular work, and a six-day work week, Red Dead Redemption managed to make friends with the console hardware and debuted in mint condition. A technological marvel, that’s how you can call it.
Unfortunately, the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles had not yet been distributed in the CIS countries in the 1910s, so many of our players missed out on Red Dead Redemption upon release. Even now, in the age of powerful PCs and the cross-gen capabilities of the Xbox series, not every user is ready to emulate the old Red Dead Redemption. If you’re one of those players, you now have the option to play the cult project on the Nintendo Switch or PS4 handheld console. Yes, we already know that some gamers are unhappy about the high price for a mainstream port that has multiplayer cut out, but let’s face it, another chance to play won’t appear any time soon.
Have you played the original Red Dead Redemption?
Quality and pleasant port
Red Dead Redemption on Nintendo Switch runs at a steady 30fps. At the same time, the game itself looks even better and sharper than the version for the Xbox 360. We’re actually not surprised that Rockstar has released a great re-release earlier LA Noire. The fact is that the Rage engine is perfectly optimized for any hardware and can display high-quality graphics without high demands on video memory.
The port cannot be called a remaster, but it is clearly an improved version. No blurring and inappropriate blurring, sharper textures and enhanced character details are a sight to behold. Also, the developers have pumped lighting and drawing range. It is commendable that in the docking station the picture gets better due to the increased resolution, and does not deteriorate, as in the trilogy GTA – The Definitive Edition.
Playing in portable mode is convenient and enjoyable. The small Switch screen hides all rough edges and modernizes the graphics of the thirteen-year-old game. It seems that Red Dead Redemption is no worse than the PS4 version in this mode. It is also good that during the study of the open world we did not have bugs and errors. The console itself remains silent and does not heat up.
Playing Red Dead Redemption on Switch is comfortable. Yes, due to the small travel of the sticks on the original joycons, aiming takes some getting used to, the port authors have not included the gyroscope functionality. On normal difficulty there is auto-aim, but sometimes you want to shoot accurately in the head, like real cowboys do. On the pro controller there are no problems with aiming. But this gamepad is not for every console owner.
In addition to the main game, we get a major expansion Undead Nightmare, in which the Wild West is full of monsters and zombies. A nice bonus was the achievements that are recorded directly in the game. Switch doesn’t have an achievement system, otherwise it makes sense for you to replay missions with the best result. And in Red Dead Redemption, cheats are available from the very beginning (well, this is important for many), bonus costumes and other nice little things.
Rockstar can be scolded for a lot of things, but the Red Dead Redemption port looks better than on older consoles and works consistently. What other open world game can deliver such a performance result? Even in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom has a lower frame rate and an annoying drop in resolution in less detail. And about I don’t even want to remember The Witcher 3 on Switch.
Red Dead Redemption is older but still fun
Of course, it’s sad that the Nintendo Switch version of RDR lacks multiplayer and extra controls, but we still have a thrilling game that’s hard to put down. Red Dead Redemption, unlike other Rockstar blockbusters, turned out to be measured and calm. This kind of game design is great for a hybrid console.
At the same time, the game clearly lacks improvements in the gameplay itself. The animations are also outdated, you can feel this especially in the movements of the main character. Marston doesn’t have much confidence in jumping, running, and saddling a horse. Riding after Tears of the Kingdom, and especially the second part of RDR, is unpleasant. In addition, the game could use a new interface and other minor improvements.
However, Red Dead Redemption has trumps that age is not a barrier. This, of course, is about the plot and the combat system. Despite the difficulties with aiming from the joycons, the gunfights themselves have not aged and look spectacular. The cool physics model has remained and the artificial intelligence is still challenging. For $50 you can buy a game that will keep you entertained for hours. In most cases you will spend time in the story missions without being distracted by side effects.
We definitely believe that if you really replay Red Dead Redemption, then only on a hybrid console. You will get a perfectly working project that you can play anytime, anywhere. An additional plus can be considered a beautiful picture on a small screen and good performance in the docking station.
But what players got on PS4 was hardly a job well done. Unlike the Switch, the Sony console could have had many more innovations and graphical improvements.
How do you play Red Dead Redemption?
Red Dead Redemption on Switch is a great port of one of the best games of 2010. Yes, without much improvement and adaptation to the console’s capabilities. But the re-release looks better than on older systems, produces a stable 30 frames, has a crisp image and excellent native resolution. In the absence of GTA on Switch (let’s put the nightmarish GTA: The Trilogy out of brackets) – a great opportunity to spend time in a large-scale Rockstar project. We do not recommend skipping. But if the $50 price scares you, just wait for the discounts.
Source: VG Times