I just recently "beat" the game (yesterday). I have beat in quotes because I technically have not reached the end credits but to me I have reached the main goal of the game so I have beat it. (See note at bottom for more information)
In this Rockstar game you explore the old west (on a horse and everything) to hunt down outlaws. Your goal? To track down some of your old gang buddies and kill them or turn them in to the authorities. Your reward? You get to go back to your peaceful life with your family that the government has kidnapped. I said, in my first post, that I would try to stay away from spoilers but I can assure you that most of this is brought out into the open relatively early on in the game.
This has a lot of similar aspects to the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) games in that you have a stash of different weapons, you go on missions, you can get different rides, and you can buy houses in different areas. The feel is the same in the controls and so on. This game does have a big difference, though. When you commit a crime there is a bounty on your head. Even when your wanted status goes away, your bounty remains, at least for a period of time. You can pay off your bounty to become a law-abiding citizen at the nearest telegram office. This is an interesting game mechanic that I quite actually enjoy. There are three main areas of the game to play in. 1. Armadillo, 2. Mexico (which feels really big), and 3. Blackwater (which is more government but small).
What do I like about the game? I like that you can choose whether or not you want to be the good guy or the bad guy. Depending on what you do you gain or lose honor and fame. My honor was filled up completely by the time I hit the halfway point of the game. I also like some of the characters you encounter and help (it's easy to like them and they have interesting back stories that don't seem like a bother to find out). There is a lot to do and a lot of gameplay. If the person playing doesn't want to play the missions there are plenty of side quests and strangers to help (or rob if you want to be an outlaw). They have challenges to complete (for small prizes) and everything feels fun. It's not all easy and the challenge fluctuates as the game continues. The game is really enjoyable and I couldn't put it down. I wanted to save Marston's (the main character) family.
What I didn't like... I hated to help the scummy characters do their dirty work. I understand that there are all sorts out there and in order to get things done you will have to work with them but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth. Some of the missions (in order to move on with the story line) had the player help them cheat, lie, steal, and murder. I was upset about having to murder innocent people to help evil people get their way. Halfway through the Mexico section of the game I realized that I wasn't having fun anymore. There was too much killing for no reason. Of course Marston's time there was in the middle of a rebellion so I'm honestly not surprised. It was in Mexico, though, that the difference between good and evil is blurred. The supposed good guys weren't so great and sometimes the supposed bad guys weren't so bad. I also didn't like fulfilling the authorities "request" and then not getting his family back. I found it extremely unfair and disappointing.
My overall impression of the game is good. After letting the frustration of everything subside I know that I had a lot of fun. The game felt fun to play and it is quite beautiful to look at. During the night portion of the game the sky was wonderfully decorated with stars, watching the wind blow the grass in the desert was a nice touch, and while it rained rain drops hit the screen to make it feel more real. It was all well done. The story was gripping, the gameplay felt good, and it looked great.
With all that... why didn't I finish it to the end? I'm afraid to. This will be a partial spoiler so if you would like it to not be spoiled then please leave now. I got to the point where John Marston was reunited with his family but the game didn't end. Well his estate (farm) was kind of in tatters (his cattle was poached and the chickens had been eaten by coyotes etc) so there is a mission to go buy some cattle. I can understand the last missions to set up the ranch but after that there is more to do. With the game not ending I'm afraid something bad will happen. I am afraid that Marston's life will be ripped apart somehow and I don't want to see that when I worked so hard to get him back to his family. With that in mind I ended it. I said I finished it because, to me, I had completed the main goal of the game. That's enough for me. Maybe one day I will finish it to the end just to see if my fears were grounded, but for now I can imagine that it all ended well for his sake.
Wishing for a reasonable ending,
Skye
Note: I have been told that I am only halfway through the game and for the sake of it being a good game that I should push through what I might not like that is coming. I'm nervous but I will continue because it is a good game. I am extremely unsatisfied when things are unresolved or unhappy but the person who told me I should continue is right. The game is really good and I would hate to miss out on it because I am too stubborn to experience the bad with the good. Keep a lookout for part 2 of this entry as I am sure I will have some to say.
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