The review embargo for Red Dead Redemption 2 lifted this morning, folks, and the emerging scores have been pretty much perfect all around.
[jwplayer KlaiocWU]
It’s currently sitting at a score of 97 on Metacritic, based on 76 reviews. The site has even already crowned it as the number one PS4 and Xbox One game of 2018, with second place being God of War. on PS4, and Celeste on Xbox One. It’s on par with Rockstar‘s previous release, GTA V, which is also sitting at 97.
Here’s what some of the reviews had to say.
DarkStation – 100
“Red Dead Redemption II is video game escapism at its finest and you’d be hard-pressed to find anything else this year that comes close to matching its accomplishments.”
Guardian – 100
“There can be no doubt that this is a landmark game. It is a new high water-mark for lifelike video game worlds, certainly, but that world is also home to a narrative portrait of the wild west that is unexpectedly sombre and not afraid to take its time.”
Telegraph – 100
“This is a powerhouse of a video game, one of the finest, built by people at the top of their game and under intense pressure, lest we forget. As it is, they remind us of what games can be, creating a majestic sense of place and time and allowing you to play your role in the way only this medium allows. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have another train to, er, ‘catch’.”
Game Informer – 100
“Rockstar Games has outdone itself again with Red Dead Redemption II. The up-close portrayal of the outlaw Van der Linde gang’s unravelling is a compelling companion story that blends seamlessly with the original game, and depth and breadth of the open world is a technical triumph that every gamer should experience.”
Stevivor – 100
“Rockstar Games continues to prove that when it comes to creating games, it’s the master at pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved.”
Press-Start Australia – 100
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a triumph in world-building, character craft and downright skulduggery. Being bad has never felt so good as Rockstar toe the realism line while still keeping their sharp, trademark tongue in cheek. It’s the keen attention to detail where Rockstar succeed and this outlaw prequel comfortably outperforms their best works and in time, I believe, will be regarded as a once in a generation game.
IGN – 100
“Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game of rare quality; a meticulously polished open world ode to the outlaw era.”
GameSpot – 90
“Red Dead Redemption 2 is an excellent prequel, but it’s also an emotional, thought-provoking story in its own right, and it’s a world that is hard to leave when it’s done.”
Hell yeah, it’s gonna be a wild ride, folks. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to disappear for about a month. When I emerge, it’ll be with a fresh pair of RMs and one helluva sweet hat.
If you’re into cheat codes for the game, you can suss them here.
