Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that this is a role-playing game in which you become a bounty hunter in the old west. It is particularly violent, thus the "M"-rating. The star rating given this game is based on quality of game play within this genre of video gaming and not endorsement of the violence within the game.
Families can talk about the role of the Buffalo Soldier and the Native American in the Old West? And, was there any type of judicial system in the early west, or was the type of "eye for an eye" justice that the main character looking for common place?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Matthew Pavao
From the makers of the GRAND THEFT AUTO series comes RED DEAD REVOLVER. Set in the wild west, the game merges the kitschy charm of a spaghetti western with the characteristically violent adult realism for which Rockstar games have become famous.
The story focuses on Red, a bounty hunter who has sworn revenge on the man who murdered his parents. To complete his quest, Red, travels through several familiar western settings, gets into gunfights, overcomes an out-of-control locomotive on horseback, and wins a no-holds barred saloon brawl.
Like GTA, the violent gameplay makes this an inappropriate choice for kids and teens. Blood streams from gunshot wounds, and dying characters let out cries of desperation.
There are some creative touches, though: You can play as several different characters, completing missions as all of the friendly characters that Red meets, as well as a few villains. Unusual characters break genre stereotypes. Annie Stokes is a single woman who, instead of working at the saloon, is very handy with a shotgun and owns and operates her own cattle ranch. Red also meets up with a Buffalo Soldier who becomes invaluable to his quest, and a Native American, Shadow Wolf, who instead of being cast as an enemy, is one of Red's only real friends. Players also look at the Mexican/American war through the eyes of General Diego. Although Diego ends up as Red's enemy, his mission to take a bridge from an American troops turns out to be one of the best in the game.
The game play is often clumsy and hard to deal with. The automatic aiming feature, a staple of the GRAND THEFT AUTO series, is limited here. Players rely mostly on manually aiming Red's pistols with the left and right analog sticks. Red does have Dead Eye mode, but this feature is limited to only a few uses per battle, and is rarely effective. When fighting a duel, players use only the left analog stick to guide Red's gun out of his holster and up to his target. They must aim correctly -- and quickly -- before his opponent gets off any deadly shots. Luckily, missions can be replayed quickly.
Overall, RED DEAD REVOLVER is a good way for adult GTA fans to hold themselves over until the next installment. While the violence in the game prevents it from being appropriate for kids, mature players may enjoy the unique takes on the Old West.
Rate It!
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Sexual ContentA saloon scene has women behind close doors making suggestive remarks, but nothing too blatant. |
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ViolenceIn keeping with the Red's main mission in the game is to hunt down and kill another person. Along the way he finds a way to destroy everything else in his path. Bullet holes gush blood and victim's cry in desperation. |
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Social BehaviorThe game does introduce several characters from diverse backgrounds not often represented in tales of the old west. |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoBy purchasing alcohol and tobacco, players get clues to help solve the missions. |
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Educational ValueThe game may pique players' interest about the real Old West but it still falls into several romantic notions. |
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