Red Dead Redemption -- Initial Impression.

These initial impressions of Red Dead Redemption are intentionally a couple days late. I decided to jump into the online half of the game before the single-player half. The opposite of what I'd usually do. I've been playing games online enough to know that most of the time the first day's experience is going to be rife with technical issues until they've gotten the chance to work out the server side kinks. Red Dead Redemption was no exception. In fact, it was probably the worst offender I've ever seen. Or not seen, as the case may be. My character, his weapon, and horse all took turns being invisible. My character is there, but his guns aren't. Now my horse is gone. My gun came back but now my character is invisible. Other glitches included not being able to plant the bombs to end a hideout mission. Not being able to end another hideout mission because you have to kill every last guy but one of them has somehow worked his way under the game world beyond your reach. Worst of all were the constant disconnections and losing posse members. Some stranger joins the game, off goes a friend. It was not fun. It was this way for the first two days. The servers stabilized a considerable bit on the third. There are still technical issues, but they seem to be on the way out. Which is welcome news. As the game is proving to be great fun otherwise. Red Dead Redemption was developed by Rockstar San Diego with some help by Rockstar North and was published by Rockstar Games. I'll be playing the Xbox 360 version of the game. The brothers Houser are absolutely in love with twentieth century America. They've given us open world epics revolving around crime and the teenage years and this time they're giving us the end of the old west. The time where the federal government and encroaching technology finally tame the west. Red Dead Redemption offers up a free roam world heavily influenced by the spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone, The Wild Bunch, Deadwood, Tombstone, Unforgiven, and more. The online offers up the entire world in a mode appropriately called free roam. Free roam comes in two varieties, private and public. You're able to join with other players in posses. You can do your own thing, which include challenges like hunting, gathering, and sharpshooting. Or you can work together to take out a gang hideout or deal with another posse. You can also try your luck at taking on the law. Rockstar is offering up everything you've ever seen in all the classic westerns. I've spent over twenty-four hours playing Red Dead Redemption online and I've yet to even touch the single-player game. It's proven great fun in spite of the hideous server issues. It's safe to say we've got a winner, and a serious Game of the Year contender. The only question for me is just how many hours is this game going to suck out of my life.