Gripe all you want about the gameplay, but this is the first time in a Rockstar game where the dialogue genuinely impressed me. This has to be the best they've written since San Andreas, in a wholly different way.

At times I was frustrated by the mission structure like everyone else, but that price was well worth it to me for the greatest western sandbox ever programmed. The detail that occurs in the random events that never got old after 60-70 hours of playtime is the stuff I used to dream about. After a few drinks I'd always talk with friends about wanting a GTA where if you kill a random pedestrian, you can track down the relatives and coworkers to find them grieving. Red Dead 2 doesn't quite get that far, but more than any of these open worlds it gets close to drilling in the actual consequences of your actions. Of course, you can always save-scum and do some psycho shit of which I partook plenty, but man do you almost cringe at the violence that would normally be a joy in any other over-the-top rockstar game.

I played through the whole story and the epilogue. Loved how much this one fits the themes of "redemption" in a way that tops the original. I can see one driving themselves mad trying to get all the collectables, but I'd rather adventure the wild west for another 10 hours while dressing Arthur like he's straight out of Trigun and not worrying about any of that.