I like the game, but it is just GTA in the west. There was even a point where our hero said something to the effect of "did you talk to the police?" Ooops. But I am enjoying the game, except for the Bonnie missions. Specifically the cattle drive. I hate that and haven't completed it and so I'm without a lasso. Also the movies are juvenile/stupid and I feel like I've furthered the inundation the 360 has of M-rated for M-rated's sake games. That is, games targeted at young adults and teens who still get a huge kick out of shock value, blood spatter, etc.

But... again, I don't want to understate the fact that the game is fun overall and certainly beautiful to look at.

If you don't like doing the "mundane" stuff, just do the story. There's plenty of story for you to enjoy. Everytime I log on, I intend on advancing the story, but get caught up doing other random stuff like stranger quests, clearing out hideouts, playing poker, and causing general chaos. Before I know it, my playing session is over with and those same 2 available story missions haven't even been touched.

Sounds like you just built your expectations too high and were expecting to enjoy EVERYTHING about the game, which is the wrong attitude to take. There's enough stuff in this game that you can enjoy 1/4 of it and still feel like you got your money's worth, in my opinion.

I got bored with the game in around 8 hours and I've given up on it.

The 95 Metacritic makes me sad when games such as Alan Wake, which I found infinitely better, is only getting a low.. 80ish on Metacritic.

Who cares about metacritic? You shouldn't, make up your own mind.

The game is cool, GTA4 has more "stuff" to do, you know like blowing shit up and what not. I will probably not finish the game, but put in about 20 hours or so, maybe more if I get interested in the story or when I try the multiplayer. I've heard good things.

These open world games are cool, GTA, Saints Row, ect but nothing beats the RPGs Oblivion, Fallout, Mass Effect. Those are the games to get excited about and ultimatly dissappointed if its not what you were expecting. You should take Red Dead for what it is...GTA in the old west.

I think it is funny you don't like to break in horses, but your complaint is that you want to be a cowboy. Well, cowboys mostly broke in horses, and herded cattle. Throw in the occasional gun fight, hold up, or whatever and that is pretty much what a cowboy would have done. I think these are things you will find in this game.

I wasn't very hyped for the game but I did get excited the closer the release date came. I knew in the back of my head I'd more than likely be disappointed especially after GTA4 but I wanted to try it out and with the 25% off Gamestop code I bought it. Trying to enjoy it but it's tough especially considering I just bought Just Cause 2 a week ago which to me is a much much more entertaining open world/sandbox experience...looks like it's headed to ebay.

I wasn't excited about this game at all, but I was able to get it for $20 using my Amazon 30% glitch. I figured I would still give it a go, and if I didn't like it, I would just sell it for more than what I bought it for. I hate the western setting, but this game changed my mind. I can't put the game down...it is just so good. Never could get into GTA other than just randomly stealing/blowing up cars....but this game has really pulled me in. About 10hrs in, and I've loved every minute of it.

So from my side, I wasn't hyped at all...but it blew me away.

This game needs ZZ Top + a mission where you push a Delorean with a locomotive.

Why would review scores matter to you. I don't care if a game gets 100% of 1%. If I like it, I like it. Yea I probably wouldn't buy the game with a 1% review but if I somehow got it cheap or heard it was good I'd play it.

You have to just look at games for what they are and not what others think they are.

Just get Red Dead Revolver or some other last gen western shooter. Less money wasted.

I'm right there with you.

I just got this on tuesday, ive enjoyed the multiplayer and single player alot so far. Excelent scenary and beautiful sunsets/rises. Cant say im bored with it yet but ive only got about 3 hrs on single player also.

Seems way more solid than gta4. I got bored with that one real fast.

I agree. MP is trash and the story, well if I wanted to get a good story I would play Heavy Rain.

If you want interesting Western action, may I suggest an underappreciated cult gem: Samurai Western? It's incredibly repetitive (very, very repetitive) with lots of reused assets, but the gameplay is surprisingly fun. Enough to merit a good distraction for an afternoon.

Also, it's by Atlus, so has at least a modicum of fun.

Might be best you skip all those other Westerns. The only other one worth playing is Oddworld Stranger's Wrath!

I've played my fair share of western themed games. For me, Red Dead Redemption ranks a little better than Gun, but not as good as the Call of Juarez games or Red Dead Revolver. In my opinion, the story lines were more compelling in Juarez and Red Dead Revolver. The story in Redemption is not intriguing, it's not even interesting -- it is boring.

The visuals in Redemption are outstanding. Beautiful vistas, realistic settings, and a believable -- natural -- change of environments. Graphically, the game is second to none, and I cannot fault it for anything visually.

The controls are just mediocre. They do nothing revolutionary, or even a little different. The controls are simply GTA, which isn't bad, but it isn't great either.

My biggest disappointment in Redemption though is something just about everyone is gushing about -- the soundtrack. I am a big fan of Spaghetti Western soundtracks. I have about half a GB of MP3s from old westerns. In fact, Red Dead Revolver really sparked this interest with its fantastic use of licensed music from this genre. Call of Juarez games also had a very good original soundtrack that fit the setting. The mostly original Redemption soundtrack (there are a couple of licensed songs) are just ambient noise. A guitar twang, then silence, followed by another twang and then a lone harmonica. I was really hoping for more licensed songs that made Red Dead Revolver so good, but this isn't the case, while the soundtrack in Redemption isn't terrible, it's just not memorable.

Another thing that bothers me about Redemption is the time period. The early 1900's seems to be a little late for the "Old West". The West was won by this point, and seeing automobiles, carrying around a Colt 1911 semi-auto pistol, and watching silent movies really detracts from the whole basis of playing a western themed game.

Much like GTA before it, Red Dead Redemption is greatly overrated. Rockstar gets a free ride from most of the reviewers and that is unfortunate. The game is okay, but it isn't the best third person shooter out there -- it's not even the best game in the Western theme.

The only good thing from the high ratings, is that it is getting people to buy this game, and interest in the western genre means that we will see other games, from other developers, improve upon the formula.