Red Dead Redemption 3 Could Take its Honor Level Differences to New Heights

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 15, 2024 12 Views 7 Min Read
Red Dead Redemption 3 Could Take its Honor Level Differences to New Heights



Only time will tell what the sequel to Red Dead Redemption 2 will do differently, or if it ever even sees the light of day, as Rockstar hasn’t revealed any plans regarding the franchise’s future. Nevertheless, it’s consistently interesting to speculate about what Red Dead Redemption 3 could wind up looking like, as the IP’s world, not to mention the overflowing talent of Rockstar’s writers and game designers, presents a lot of unique potential.




It seems rather likely that, if Red Dead Redemption 3 ever were to come out, it would move away from the core group of the Van der Linde Gang, as these characters have already been through quite a bit, and it may be best to let their stories rest. That is to say that RDR3, in theory, could be more of a spiritual successor to Red Dead Redemption 2, rather than a direct sequel or prequel. Assuming that this will be the case, then the general themes and design principles of the previous two games can be expected to make a return, and this would include the honor mechanic, which could definitely expand past its limitations in RDR and RDR2.

ghost-of-yotei-red-dead-redemption-game-rant

Related
Ghost of Yotei Should ‘Steal’ One Red Dead Redemption Feature

Ghost of Yotei seems to revisit its predecessor’s love for nature, and looking to one RDR2 feature could elevate this even more.

How Red Dead Redemption 3 Can Elevate the Honor Mechanic

Honor In Red Dead Redemption Is Cool, But Not Too Influential

Honor plays a role in both Red Dead Redemption games, but it is most impactful in Red Dead Redemption 2, where a player’s honor level can alter several aspects of the experience, including:


  • Items available at stores
  • Store discounts
  • NPC demeanor
  • Random encounters and minor side quests

Most notably, Arthur’s honor can influence the finale of the story, but this isn’t nearly as interesting as it may sound at first. Ultimately, the key events of the story’s ending—Arthur’s death, John’s escape, Dutch’s continued partnership with Micah—are all the same regardless of honor level. Some smaller aspects, like Arthur’s final moments, depend on honor, but the plot itself remains the same. Beyond this, the story and world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is mostly consistent regardless of this stat.

Of course, Arthur’s cause of death, and whether he sees the wolf or the stag before he dies, is a key part of the
RDR2
experience, but these differences are emotional and thematic rather than concrete and pivotal to the plot.


Red Dead Redemption 3 Could Hone In On Honor

Both Red Dead Redemption games are concerned with the concept of honor and morality, but that’s not really what they are about. In a sense, RDR2 isn’t “about” whether Arthur is a good man or not, but more so his choices during this final chapter of his life, and how one can find redemption in spite of their compromised moral character. But maybe Red Dead Redemption 3 could have a stronger focus on right vs. wrong choices, and a revamped, fleshed-out honor system could be the most interesting way to convey this narrative stance.

More story distinctions based on honor level could make players consider their decisions a bit more carefully. For instance, maybe a Fallout-inspired morality feature, wherein certain allies or companions will break off from the player-character if their honor gets too low, would go a long way toward making the system more impactful. Conversely, certain story beats or character interactions may only be attainable when one has low honor. Red Dead Redemption 2‘s smaller honor-based changes, like how some cosmetics will have different color schemes, could also be expanded in a sequel, with completely new outfits, weapons, and gear being available depending on the player-character’s moral standing. With the same attention to mature storytelling that the Red Dead franchise is known for, this more in-depth system could hammer home RDR3‘s potential themes, in addition to increasing replay value, player expression, and the like.


Source link