Bonds Between Characters
An open world can be made to look pretty, and it can even be packed full of content for players to keep themselves occupied for dozens of hours, but without the interactions to bind it all together, it ultimately ends up as nothing more than a playground: fun to play in but lacking the emotional gravitas that takes it to a next-level gaming experience.
CD Projekt Red managed to bring The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt’s open world to life thanks to an almost absurd amount of narrative and dialogue, a feat that was rightly praised in reviews. In all honesty, though, it was a handful of truly meaningful story arcs peppered among scores of other quests in that game that truly lasted long in the memory. The most colorful and vibrant characters and the bonds between them are what made the world feel so believable, and largely why we wanted to keep playing. This latest Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer is sending all the right messages that the bonds and interactions between player and NPCs are going to form a central pillar of the experience.
I’m fascinated by the notion of being part of a nomadic tribe of gangsters, moving through the wilderness and setting up camp where it pleases us. More than the idea of being a wanted outlaw, though, it’s the humdrum of daily life and bonds shared between members of the community that looks like it has the potential to make every interaction a meaningful one in Red Dead Redemption 2. The camp is said to be a hub for players, a way to socialize and engage with different gang members. This is what sticks out to me most. Providing for the community, the stories around the fires, the gossip, the betrayals, and the nitty-gritty of being a criminal —the trailer shows us snippets of what appears to be a colorful cast. And that all looks as though it will add a sense of immersion and depth to rival even the most brilliantly written video game scripts.
