Doing Evil-Ish Deeds in Red Dead Redemption 2 Is My Guilty Pleasure

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In Red Dead Redemption 2, you get to experience all shades of moral choices – ranging from a righteous gunslinger to an unrestrained bandit.

This option doesn’t compel you to pick a specific approach; instead, it leaves the choice up to you on how you want to define yourself.

In other words, I fully exploited that liberty and engaged in some seriously wicked activities that the game provided. For myself, it turned into a secret enjoyment, something I felt guilty about enjoying.

In that video game, I engaged in actions I wouldn’t dream of doing in real life. I committed thefts, told lies, and spread fear as I moved from one town to another, earning numerous enemies along the way. I picked fights with drunkards, threatened beggars, and even snatched a woman who had just donated money from her cause moments later. Yet, despite my fall from moral standards, I never hurt animals or children (although there were a few exceptions that made me pause). That was my personal rule. Even the most ruthless outlaws have their own set of principles, right?

One day, I unexpectedly entered a cabin and found an elderly woman engrossed in a book about her bandit offspring. She didn’t seem pleased with my presence, but I chose to stay and inject some tension into her final moments. Occasionally, I would observe as NPCs experienced their grim demises, such as the man who drowned in a dirty outhouse. Definitely disgusting.

Once upon a time, I found myself in an unfortunate situation where I unwittingly contributed to the demise of a Chelonian evangelist, due to his group’s relentless annoyance. Another instance that took an unexpected turn was when I unintentionally crossed the line while trying to intimidate a debt collector’s victim, leading to their untimely end. Whoops, things got heated faster than I expected! I merely intended to give them a good shake, not send them on a final journey.

Later, I encountered a man who begged without sight, and instead of offering him kindness, I wasted time by provoking him unnecessarily. A fleeting sensation of remorse arose within me upon observing his response.

Additionally, I encountered that widow too – one of numerous characters I seemingly constructed. Upon seeing me, she rushed towards me, weeping, accusing me of murdering her spouse (a memory barely lingering in my mind). In response, I threw some change at her as if a mere few coins could balance the devastation I had caused. However, she rejected it, for her dignity was valued more than my paltry attempts to hush the matter. That two-dollar coin was met with a scornful gaze and a bitter curse that trailed me throughout the street.

In instances like these, I found myself briefly halted, amused, and contemplating whether I’d transformed into quite the unsympathetic character within this digital realm. Encountering another soul in distress, he sought my aid to reach home. He humbly requested a ride on my steed, and in an instant of uncharacteristic cruelty, I dismissed him, urging him to march instead. His tone conveyed utter dejection. For a fleeting moment, I felt remorse… only to swiftly depart, leaving him behind in the trail of dust.

At times, I’d gallop into town solely to provoke conflicts with anyone around, even those who merely caught my eye displeasingly. I’d push people into the dirt, instigate bar fights without provocation, and stir up as much trouble as possible before the law eventually apprehended me. One of my most enjoyable hobbies was knocking over NPCs when they were carrying items, just to see them lose their footing.

After that came my unsuccessful endeavors in train robbery, which unfortunately didn’t turn out as I had planned. Initially, I aspired to be a merciless bandit, executing flawless heists, but most of the time, things went awry. I’d jump onto a speeding train, only to misjudge my landing and end up being run over by the wheels instead.

Or perhaps I’d intimidate passengers only to slip off the train unscathed, leaving them untouched as they carried on with their journey. Each botched heist only fueled my resolve, pushing me to try again and again, convinced that one day I would succeed – until the Pinkertons arrived and made it clear that I was hopelessly out of my depth in this criminal enterprise.

I can’t say I haven’t had my moments of regret.

On one occasion, I found myself walking into a heated dispute between a man and his son over money. The father was heavily intoxicated, squandering their meager resources. Feeling sympathetic, I intended to offer them some financial assistance. However, before I could do so, the father lashed out at me. In an instant, I defended myself by firing a shot, which left the boy in tears. Instead of leaving the situation, I felt compelled to act, and in a misguided attempt to spare the son further pain, I ended his life as well.

Interestingly, these emotional scenes have always tugged at my heart, be it in movies, books, or real-life events, often leaving me teary-eyed. However, in Red Dead Redemption 2, they felt far from sentimental; instead, they were exhilarating. The game’s immersive world is so vibrant and responsive that I found myself eager to test its limits, curious about the outcomes.

Occasionally, when I’ve done something I’m not particularly proud of on the screen, I take a break and connect with nature. I watch birds, listen to the wind, even admire sunsets – it’s like a way for me to purify my spirit after getting too engrossed in the game, where I might have acted rather harshly or negatively.

But the next time I booted it up, that same devilish grin returned.

Since RDR2 is an exceptional sandbox to explore, and indulging in a touch of mischief now and then provides a secret thrill, it’s hard for me to completely let go.

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2025-02-26 11:12