TheRed Dead Redemptionseries is one of gaming’s most important, and that will remain the case whetherRed Dead Redemption 3eventually sees the light of day or not. Rockstar hasn’t made any statements regarding a third installment in the Wild West franchise, but considering its popularity, and the fact that there’s nothing else quite like it on the market, there’s a solid chance that it will continue, perhaps becoming a second pillar for the company alongsideGrand Theft Auto.
But ifRed Dead Redemption 3is greenlit, it won’t be without its complications. Perhaps the biggest obstacle in the way of a potentialRDR3is its broad-strokes narrative premise, as the tale of the Van der Linde Gang is more or less exhausted at this point. Sure, there could be another prequel that follows Dutch and his companions during their “glory days,” but this would rob the series of its subjectivity and nuance, pulling the curtain back too far. Having said that, there are still ways that Rockstar could conjure a promising third chapter, and if it does, it will definitely be interesting to see how certain series traditions, like the late-game pivot to a foreign country, are handled.
Heading toMexico inRed Dead Redemptionand Guarma in its sequel is interesting for several reasons, not the least of which being the accompanying fish-out-of-water narrative elements; John and Arthur are both out of place in these foreign lands, and in the case of Guarma, they are considerably out of their depth as well. From this perspective, another isolated and unfamiliar country would be a fun path to walk inRed Dead 3, regardless of what its broader narrative looks like.
Hawaii was only granted statehood in 1959, so even though it was a US territory before that, it was still, for all intents and purposes, a foreign land, with foreign customs, history, and lifestyles. Assuming thatRed Dead Redemption 3’s settingwas to fall between 1898 (when Hawaii became a territory) and 1959, Hawaii could strike a good balance between familiar and alien, offering new narrative scenarios for the game’s protagonists to find themselves in. Plus, Hawaii’s stunning tropical vistas could make for unique and rewarding exploration. The biggest downside to this angle is that Hawaii is possibly too similar to Guarma’s Caribbean geography, and it being an island runs the risk ofRDR3retreading old ground.
Much like howGuarma is clearly a stand-in for Cubaand other Caribbean islands,RDR3’s Hawaii wouldn’t literally have to be “Hawaii.”
WithRed Deadand its sequel both taking players south of the US border, it might be interesting forRed Dead Redemption 3to head north for its foreign foray. There are countless opportunities for rich exploration and storytelling in geographically diverse Canada, and the Great White North offers unique cultural opportunities as well. For instance, French-dominated cities like Montreal could serve as an interesting parallel to the likes of St. Denis, while the struggles of the First Nations people would mirrorRed Dead Redemption 2’s Native American subplots. These similarities would be presented against a decidedly different backdrop, which could be novel.
By letting playersvisit foreign lands,Red Dead Redemptionand its sequel are able to be more complete period pieces, showing their eras from perspectives other than the American one. Plus, it offers fresh exploration and narrative opportunities thanks to having a healthy degree of separation from the Wild West antics in the States, soRed Dead 3shouldn’t break tradition in this regard.
Red Dead Redemption 2
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America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
