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Fun, nice to look at, but lacking in depth.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 25 / 32
Date: May 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

It's been said of Stephen King before that he could publish a grocery list and it would sell a million copies. The perception of Rockstar Games is very similar these days. From GTA3 forward, the Grand Theft Auto series have been instant classics. That Rockstar is promising to "blow people away" with the upcoming San Andreas title is a scary thought considering how far they pushed the envelope with Vice City. With titles like State of Emergency, Max Payne, and Manhunt, they further solidified an already stellar reputation. Here's a company who puts out games the way gamers want them. No compromises or shortcuts, this crew clearly lives and breathes gaming and it's evident that they enjoy what they do. These days that's something pretty special, as huge production houses churn out/rush out titles that feel like they were made by people who never played them.

The point of all of this is that many people (myself included) probably went out and bought Red Dead Revolver more because it's a Rockstar game than anything else. Sure, it hits shelves at a time where HBO's Deadwood might have rekindled some national interest in Western-style media. But if I'm honest, I don't know that I buy this title on the first day if it's coming from EA, UBI, or some other company.

In that light, Red Dead Revolver is going to be a bit of a disappointment in the long term with people who buy it before checking the reviews. Make no mistake, the game is fun, the storyline compelling, the characters fun and interesting. The game play is solid, the controls easy to get down, there are no major flaws with the game. Except that it's relatively shallow. It is as linear as games can get. There's nothing to be determined or decided, save your shot/hit ratio, the damage you take during a given chapter, and what little extras you unlock. My experience playing is going to be exactly like yours, and yours like anyone else's.

Not that this is a bad thing for everyone. Red Dead plays like an arcade shooter. You play as one of a few different characters, but mostly the main protagonist, Red. With a variety of weapons (which can be upgraded throughout the game) you take down waves of opposition in a number of gritty Western movie-style settings. A ghost town, a graveyard, up in the mountains, on a train, on a ranch, etc. Beyond the normal aim, shoot and run, you also make use of something called "Deadeye Mode", which is a familiar slow-time mode where you can make a series of precise shots against one or more enemies. The third mode of play is QuickDraw, which is just as it sounds. The screen comes up, you pull down on the right stick, push up, and try to line up a number of shots before a slow-time clock runs out. I would have liked to have seen this worked into the game a bit better.

The game as a whole is fun once you put aside what could have been, accept it for what it is and enjoy the experience. It is not a title I will keep long-term, once done with the single player mode, it will get traded in towards something else. There is a multiplayer mode, but it's limited, and doesn't add (in my opinion) anything to the long term playability of the title. I felt Rockstar could have done much more with this title. There are times where you run around town between chapters with no real purpose. Let me get myself in trouble at the Saloon with a bar brawl, or end up in a Quickdraw shootout because I hit on some saucy barmaid that some other tough unwashed thug is interested in. Without some of the freedoms and depths Rockstar has worked into its other titles, you do eventually feel like you're just pulling the trigger in one chapter after another, just going through the paces until the inevitable finale with the men who killed your parents.

I highly recommend renting this game before buying it. I'm glad I played it, and I enjoyed it, but when you're done, there's nothing drawing you back in. Even Western fanatics might not find this one worth keeping long term. Definitely worth playing, but you might be better served hanging on to that purchase money for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas if you're a fan of that series. Make no mistake, this isn't about Red Dead not being considered on its own merits. I'm not holding it up against Rockstar's previous home runs, despite that being what drove me to buy it blind. This game isn't a flop, and it's not going to ruin the image of Rockstar, but my opinion is that it's one of their weaker titles. This game was handed off a couple times, starting with Capcom, ending with Rockstar, perhaps that has something to do with the lack of depth.

Positives:
Graphically impressive, everything is convincingly gritty and bleak. Everything has a spaghetti Western-style feel to it visually.
Solid storyline.
Fun arcade-style gameplay.
Hard enough to be a challenge, easy enough to be fun.
Bull/horse riding, stagecoach driving and train-related opportunities really add to the fun factor.

Negatives:
Restrictively linear, no opportunity for playing outside the lines.
Shallow. I know I keep harping on this, but depth is a hallmark of Rockstar titles.
No real replay value.
Weak online aspect doesn't really add to the game.
After about half the chapters, you start to feel like you've been there and done that.
Wants to be both an action shooter and a story-based adventure game. Doesn't really grab onto either and is sort of missing a real identity.

Rent it. Play it. Enjoy it. Then move on to something else.

High end of the 3 star rating for me.

Question: What makes this game so great anyways?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: May 21, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Answer: It's innovative. When is the last time you have jumped on the back of a buffalo? Exactly, this game brings what most games dont have. Creativity. If you are reading reviews from the interent like www.ign.com dont bother, they dont give this game justice. This game blew my mind from the second I jumped into the character of Red. Give it a shot!(no-pun intended). All praise goes to Rockstar and Take2 Interactive for putting a game out that is actually different from the rest. This game stands out from the crowd. One last question: Why do people expect every Rockstar game to be like Grand Theft Auto? Newsflash its not going to be. This game is entirely different. Its called Red Dead Revolver, totally different name, totally different game. Thats my story and im sticking to it. Thanks for reading this hopefully you take it to heart and give this game what it deserves.(this game is a classic must have)

One of Rockstar's Best Games...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: July 06, 2004
Author: Amazon User

...but it does not come without flaws. For those of you who don't know, Red Dead Revolver is Rockstar's first attempt at a western-themed game. The game has a great presentation, terrific sound, and amazing gameplay. However, in many cases, its flaws outweigh its good spots.
Of course, you can't notice it at first, but this game is brutally short. If you are familiar with this genre, you can breeze through it in about 5 or 6 hours. And I thought Max Payne 2 was short! Once you finish the game, you will be very disappointed, because it is a very fun game to play, and it captures the feel of the west perfectly. You will run across ghost towns, menacing cowboys, and colorful environments.
There is no shortage of weapons in the game, and every weapon feels authentic. Also, the gameplay is great, with smooth controls and good AI.
Basically, if you have any interest in the west, this is a good investment for a game. It just may not be interesting to some people, and you may even just want a rental. I know I should have rented it instead of bought it, because I beat it in six hours, and I was bored after a few days. The multiplayer games improve the value, but still you will tire of them after a few hours.

Sergio Leone...Meet Max Payne

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: May 15, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Many film critics feel that the Western genre is all but dead in the modern era. They're right. Still, Red Dead Revolver is a video game, not a film, and while extremely enjoyable, the game can become repetitive very fast and make one rue the return of Westerns. Make no mistake, I like this game alot, but there are some minor foibles. First, however, let's look at the positives:
1. There are some really inivative sections of the game. The showdowns are fun and quite fresh, and the levels, though small, are quite breathtaking.
2. The minor "film" touches. The score is superb and the minor "defects" to the cutscenes really make the player feel as though he or she is watching a Leone flick (other than the Man with No Name trilogy).
3. The Multiplayer. It's easy to navigate and kind of fun.
4. The Story. This also falls under the foibles section as well. The positive aspects to the story are the multiple characters working together and the way they connect.
And now, the foibles (or problems for all you youngsters).
1. The "Deadeye" system. Rockstar makes great games including another breakout hit, Max Payne. Granted, Capcom originally created the game, but still...The Deadeye system actually slows down time in order to help the player make a critical shot (sound familiar at all?)
2. The Story. The problem with the story is that it is the cultivation of several different films into one story. Boy seeks revenge for father's death, while girl defends farm, etc, etc. They pull it off, but if you like old westerns, you'll know where the story goes.
3. The Learning Curve. The game gets difficult VERY fast. After the first few levels, it becomes extremely hard to score an excellent instead of a good. You'll spend alot of time trying to gain that excellent level only to become frustrated at the fact that you were 1% off your accuracy from gaining that excellent.
4. The Camera. This is a minor problem. THe camera is entirely manual, so if you're not careful when positioning the camera, you'll get blasted by enemies you didn't know were there.
Finally,
5. The Length. This game is short, just like the original Max Payne. After only a few levels, you're finished and feel like you have whiplash for how fast it ended.
All in all, this game is great. Except for the few minor issues, I recommend buying this game, hooking up the HDTV and Home Theater System (if you can) and enjoying Rockstar's ode to the Spaghetti Western.

Fun game, for awhile

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: May 23, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Red Dead Revolver is a fun game. The controls are medicore requiring the use of both analog sticks on the controller, similar to Halo. Also, keep those index fingers flexed. You'll have to use the L1, R1, and R2 while running amongst a hail of gunfire dodging objects with the left stick while aiming with the right stick.
The graphics are ok, but become a little blurred after a few feet and blur worse with distance, no that isn't your TV.
Shooting seems off, I seem to be shooting alot of bad guys with magic curving bullets. Point the gun in their general direction, within a foot or two, and you'll likely get a hit. I guess that is suppose to makeup for the controls or am I that good?

Good sounds with mood setting music.

Overall though, it is a fun game. Lots of different settings and landscapes to shoot you way through. I also had hoped for more free movement, but it's mostly linear, straight forward.
Replay value, well, you'd do well to rent it, play through it, and return it.
I haven't tried the multi-player yet. After I master the controls a little more, then I'll invite the friends over for a little cake....

The Most Fun From A Video Game Ive Had In A Long Time

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: May 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

An extremely fun game filled with shooting, horseback riding, climbing, bandit killing, slashing, train robbing fun.And I dont care what most people say , the controls on this game are quite easey to figure out and remember ,and the story line is fairly intresting but not quite edge of your seat. There are also a fair number of humorous things in the game to give you a laugh every once and a while so you don't end up screaming at your TV when you can't beat a level on the first try. The Dead Eye Zone can be a bit of fun when you get tired of just blasting away at bandits, especially if you happen to have twin revolvers or Show Stoppers ( basically the same thing , but better )which give you almost automatic fire. One thing I liked about the game is the ability to unlock better things for multiplayer and upgrading things in story mode.This game has a number of things hidden as well, so it would be wise to replay it a couple of times. My only Complaint is that some of the boss battles can be extremely tricky to figure out , or are very hard and frustrating keeping you up for hours trying to beat them. After completing the game I must say I highly recomend it.

A very good game by Rockstar

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 5
Date: May 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Rockstar has done it again. They have managed to live up to the hype i was expecting it to be. I saw an online preview for this game on Rockstargames.com. I was excited for it because it look awesome, and trust me...it is. Arcade style gameplay of run n shoot stuff. Plus some nice boss fights, challenging gameplay( challenging....not annoying), and overall fun. The story basically follows red, a boy whos family was killed by bandits. He has now grown up and is a bounty hunter (which make for some great missions, and he wants justice to be served. This has all the elements of a great old-style Clint Eastwood like spaghetti westerns. It has shootouts, barfights. I'd say all in all it's a very fun and entertaining game. See ya lata....and have a good time.

Solid Western

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: May 29, 2004
Author: Amazon User

First off, I think a lot of people are expecting Rockstar to keep putting out Grand Theft Auto every single time they release a game. Not exactly fair, but that shows you just how good those games are.

If you are looking for a solid western "shoot em up" game, then you should enjoy Red Dead Revolver. You play (mainly) as Red, a quiet yet lethal gunfighter whose family was slaughtered in front of him. Basically his father had married an Indian girl, and the rest of the white folk didn't like this too much. So, Red sets out to avenge the deaths of his parents (sound familiar).

You make your way through different "scenes" and encounter different characters, although none of them really stand out. There is a lot of gunfighting, at times it seems even the most trivial little thing will lead to a battle. The fights are strung together by little movie scenes that progress the storyline of the game. As the game wore on, I found myself hitting the "X" button everytime a scene started to play out. In other words, the story failed to keep my attention.

The controls are somewhat awkward, as are the camera views/perspective. You control which way Red is facing with the right analog stick and make him run in that direction with the left stick. This can be tricky and sluggish; at times an enemy will be blowing you away from just a couple feet off, but you can't change Red's direction and position fast enough to kill him. So you end up almost dying. Also, gunfighting can be a pain due to the odd control scheme; this takes time to get wired and even then you will find yourself getting crazy since the controls are not intuitive. That type of thing is frustrating but overall the game has more strong points than problems. The graphics are pretty good, lots of gritty western backdrops, tumbleweeds, saloons, etc. The whole thing moves along pretty quickly as far as load times go. You can buy different weapons and supplies throughout the game as well.

Overall I would recommend this game. 50 bucks is too much but hey just my opinion. The fact that there aren't any other western cowboy games on the market makes this one that much more appealing anyway. If they worked on the storyline a little more and tightened up the controls this game would be significantly better.

Good Clean Fun!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: May 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The perfect mix of a Sergio Leone Western and a third-person shooter. I rented it and I hated to take it back.

GREAT THINGS: Graphics, Sound, Dialogue, Music, Story and plenty of ACTION! Also, this game is rated M for Mature, but it's a "clean" Mature. There's no sex, drugs or bad language, just a little blood, which is a refreshing change from the usual Rockstar game.

NOT SO GREAT THINGS: You have to look hard to find any flaws in Red Dead Revolver. I only found two. 1) You pick up and use health bottles even if you're already healthy, which is a waste. And 2) There's a frustrating lack of checkpoints.

That's it! Red Dead Revolver is going on my Must Buy list.

hmmmm

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: May 10, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Overall rating - fun and well worth a rent. There are very, very few games out there that are worth $50.00 to me. I've learned to rent before I buy to save the heartache.

I expected greatness from Rockstar of course and I got "pretty goodness" from Red Dead. It's fun and once you learn the controls it's challenging enough without being too hard. I was hoping it would be a little more non-linear like the GTA games. Not quite that good I'm afraid. I've yet to find a game that stacks up to Vice City on all levels. VC simply is the best - so far.

Once you play a level there's no need to go back to it. It's not gonna be any different. But again, that's not to say it wasn't fun! It IS fun. Just not worth $50.00 to me. I like the vibe. I'd buy it when it hits the used market.

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