And All The Storms You've Been Chasing.

[rionaleonhart]

I have now completed Red Dead Redemption!



I was spoiled for Marston's eventual fate, and so I was most distressed when I rode to the mission-starting place and what I knew to be the name of the final main-game mission came up on the screen. NO NO I'M NOT READY.

John Marston, you are my very favourite ex-gang member with a heart of gold. It has been a pleasure to control your every move.

(And Bonnie definitely had a bit of a crush on him, bless her. I wonder how she reacted when she found out what had happened? I like to think that she and Abigail had tea together frequently over the next few years.)

Oh, just looking at my icon is making me sad. Marston!


I wasn't very enthusiastic about playing as Jack Marston in the aftermath, but I decided to give him a chance; it wasn't fair to dismiss him purely on 'I LOVED JOHN; YOU ARE NOT JOHN' grounds. No, I was going to play for a bit, see how he—

and then I spurred my horse and Jack shouted, 'WORK, YOU DAMN NAG,' and I was so shocked I stopped spurring immediately and tried to spur as little as possible from then on.

Jack Marston. That horse is a fine and noble animal. It served your father extremely well. It carried him away from perilous situations more times than you can count. It always came when he whistled for it, and it extends that same loyalty to you. How dare you?

I will confess that I smiled when he said 'No wonder I've got problems' whilst looting a dead body. BUT STILL: when I next want to wander the beautiful world of Red Dead Redemption, I'll start a new game. I don't want to play as someone who's going to be rude to my beloved Kentucky Saddler. Your father knew to respect his horses, Jack. He was also much hotter than you.



Red Dead Redemption really is the best videogame I've played in a very long time. Possibly a contender with Ōkami for the title of my favourite videogame ever, in fact. That world. That gorgeous, gorgeous world. It's strangely relaxing just to ride around, looking at things and not doing anything in particular.

Well, it's relaxing until a cougar tries to eat you, at any rate.

Comments

[bubbles-san.livejournal.com]

Clearly Jack needs a few lessons on the magic of friendship with horses.

I may need to waylay someone who has this title; you make it sound awesome.

[thewaterbandit.livejournal.com]

I wish I could 'like' this post! Red Dead Redemption is a gem of a game, and you've summed up why perfectly.

John is waaay hotter than Jack, I was so disappointed. Genetics made a mistake somewhere along the line :(

[amy-wolf.livejournal.com]

and then I spurred my horse and Jack shouted, 'WORK, YOU DAMN NAG,' and I was so shocked I stopped spurring immediately and tried to spur as little as possible from then on.

Jack Marston. That horse is a fine and noble animal. It served your father extremely well. It carried him away from perilous situations more times than you can count. It always came when he whistled for it, and it extends that same loyalty to you. How dare you?

I suspect I would have had much the same reaction. There is a lot of moral ambiguity and dark stuff I can put up with, but being pointlessly mean to a horse? I've had horses step on my actual foot and I was still nicer than that (well, just the one horse, and he moved quite politely after I gave him a nudge).

[phoenixstorm.livejournal.com]

Jack clearly has issues with animals and enjoys violence against them. Have you heard him say "Can I take your coat, ma'am?" as he skins animals? That's messed up.

My horse, my beloved horse survived the majority of the game, and then after roping a bounty I made a mad sprint to the jail (decided I couldn't be bothered dealing with the chasing bandits that day) and just as Jack's handing the guy over my horse just drops dead. For no reason. There are no bandits anywhere in the vicinity. GAME SAVES. I have always blamed Jack for that. Clearly he wasn't looking after Jersey properly. >=(

Bonnie's crush on John was the sweetest and saddest thing, and thankfully I wasn't spoiled for the ending. I remember seeing those men charging at the ranch at the start of the mission and being hit with this sudden realisation: "Oh god. They're going to kill John." It was almost like a smack to the face. THOSE BASTARDS!