I remember when I first played Red Dead at the age of 18, it being cathartic to watch Jack shoot Edgar Ross. Seeing John being gunned down like that hurt me so much that I felt vindicated that Edgar died at least half the death John did.
Now, at the age of 32 after over a decade of life and a sequel that told the story that lead to it, it's the most bitter thing I've had to make a character do in a game. This wasn't the plan for him, he was supposed to be a writer, or a rancher, or anything else. John sacrificed everything to give Jack a different life, Abigail scarified everything to give him a different life, Arthur sacrificed everything to give him a different life, hell, Uncle sacrificed everything to give him a different life.
But no matter how hard they all tried, the cycle couldn't be escaped. And I have to guide Jack at a young age through hell and brimstone, through staring a man's brother and his wife in the eye coldly and lying to them just to find their family member and exact vengeance none of them would have wanted.
No matter how hard anyone tried, the cycle just can't be broken. There's no way out. And now Jack has to live it too. And that's absolutely more heartbreaking than any moment in the series.
Like seriously-- I've just finished rdr2 and I could spend a while talking about beautiful and complex that game is but I had one question in my head after the main story and epilogue, why do people like Micah? Like aside from the obvious spoiler behavior he just seems like a generally nasty and hateful person.
Spoiler talk below.
If it weren't for the open racism and sexism I could see the appeal of his character, I'm a sucker for villains especially complex ones, his manipulative personality shining stronger in the later chapters and epilogue was cool but then he'd say something racist and then I was like.. oh yeah he's a dick.
I am definitely the list qualified to argue on morals but I can't understand being attracted to someone who call me a mulatto, LMAO.
"Bill Williamson is misunderstood and catches more hate than he should and if the gang was nicer to him then maybe he wouldn't have turned against the 'good side'" don't care didn't ask he called Javier racial slurs I literally do not care
idk if anyone has talked about this already but john’s death is always so much sadder to me because arthur was already never making it out alive because of the progression of his tb
john had hope for a future with his family and he even says at one point when he’s in mexico that he just wants to go home and grow old with abigail!! at the end of the game he was getting cows for the ranch and trying to mend his relationship with jack and that was all taken away by the pinkertons when he thought they were finally safe
arthur mostly accomplished everything he wanted to before he died, which was to save everyone in the gang that wanted out before it was too late. high honor arthur also gets a peaceful end watching the sunrise while john becomes swiss cheese no matter what!! tragic, i tell you