Red Dead Redemption 2: The game certainly living up to the hype (Image: Rockstar)
With its enormous open world map, innovative narrative and complex characters, Red Dead Redemption 2 is certainly living up to the hype.
It is no surprise that the game had the largest opening weekend for any entertainment product in history.
There are so many things to do, people to meet, and places to explore it can be a little overwhelming.
Here are four helpful things to know before beginning Red Dead Redemption 2.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Horses:
Just like in the first Red Dead Redemption game, your horse is your best friend and most vital tool you possess.
But the ways in which players interact with the animal has changed.
You can now feed, pat and brush your horse and calm it when it gets nervous.
You can also revive it when it is near death should a fall or bullets injure the beast.
Red Dead Redemption 2: There are many things to do, people to meet, and places to explore (Image: Rockstar)
Performing these actions maintains your horse’s health and stamina cores, allowing you to ride faster and longer, and survive better in battle.
And strengthening the bonds between you and the animal will also unlocking new tricks like rearing, skid stops and horse drifting.
You will also be able to own and house multiple horses in the stables, and they can be sold too.
Certain breeds have much higher base stats than others.
Although small in stature, the Arabian breeds are thought to be the fastest in the game.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Camp:
The camp you share with outlaws is your home, where you can relax, check in and chat with friends.
It is also a useful hub where you can get your provisions, saving you a trip to the general store.
Contributing to the camp’s shared stock of money is good for your Honour Rating.
And once you gain access to the camp’s ledger, you can pay for upgrades which will make your life easier.
Buying leather working tools for Pearson, for example, will mean he can upgrade your equipment.
Red Dead Redemption 2: The camp you share with outlaws is your home (Image: Rockstar)
Red Dead Redemption 2: Hitting L2 on your gamepad is generally used as a speaking tool (Image: Rockstar)
And buying a chicken coop will improve the benefits of the stew he cooks for everyone.
The most useful tip is to focus on upgrading and maintaining the camp’s stock of food, medical and ammunition provisions.
You can both take what you need and replenish via the ledger.
This is helpful because players will generally visit the camp prior to any missions begin.
And as you accumulate more money as the game progresses, the cost of keeping everything topped-up is relatively low.
And there is an added benefit that when the camp’s lodgings are made more comfortable, its occupants act even nicer to you.
Encountering Red Dead Redemption 2 characters:
It is always good to stop and help those in need when the opportunity arises.
These random encounters almost always lead to something good, sometime many hours later.
It is always worth donating money to the poor – offering 25 cents to a blind man or veteran may mean little to you, but it could result in a potion or information being given in return.
Red Dead Redemption 2: The map is vast and it can take a long time to travel from place to place (Image: Rockstar)
Red Dead Redemption 2: You can buy a train ticket to visit places you have been (Image: Rockstar)
Hitting L2 on your gamepad is generally used as a speaking tool to get every scrap of information out of any given situation.
It can, for example, be used to diffuse or escalate situations.
The L2 trigger can also be used to highlight animals, allowing to players to play with and pat cats and dogs you meet.
You can use it on fellow outlaws to ask them for more context on your current mission.
Or it can be used to learn more information about the show you are watching.