Crimson Lifeless Redemption’s Swap Port: Good, However Expensive

Crimson Lifeless Redemption, one in every of Rockstar’s finest video games, has all the time been one in every of its hardest to play, particularly if you happen to don’t personal an Xbox console or a PlayStation 3. So it’s nice to see RDR making the long-awaited leap from outdated consoles to Swap and PS4 by way of newly launched ports. I’ve now had time to play the Swap model, and whereas it holds up effectively, even when performed in transportable mode, the dearth of recent options, improved visuals, and a few efficiency hiccups makes its $50 price ticket arduous to disregard.

Launched in 2010, Rockstar’s Crimson Lifeless Redemption was a implausible open-world motion recreation starring John Marston, a gunslinger who’s tasked to take down former gang members to attempt to safe his peaceable, household life. RDR would go on to win quite a few Recreation of the Yr awards throughout PS3 and Xbox 360. Then, in October 2010, the single-player paid enlargement Undead Nightmare got here out. This excellent little bit of DLC added a brand new mini-campaign that includes zombies and different spooky creatures. Within the years since, Rockstar put out an even bigger, higher prequel within the type of Crimson Lifeless Redemption 2, however conspicuously declined to launch up to date variations of the primary. Now the unique RDR and its zombie DLC are lastly obtainable on extra platforms. It’s nonetheless a disgrace we didn’t get a PC port, however not less than now Swap and PS4 homeowners can simply play RDR. (Due to Xbox 360 backward compatibility the Xbox One and Collection X/S have lengthy had entry to a stable model of the sport.)

Crimson Lifeless Redemption is a stable Swap port

Let’s get to the excellent news: Crimson Lifeless Redemption on the Nintendo Swap runs very effectively. I wasn’t involved about PS4, as that console is greater than able to dealing with RDR. Nevertheless, I used to be nervous that the ageing Swap, compounded by a doubtlessly sloppy porting job, wouldn’t have the ability to deal with Rockstar’s large open world. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Taking part in RDR on Swap, in transportable or docked mode, is a advantageous expertise, with no annoying visible artifacts or frequent efficiency issues. After I switched to docked mode and used the Swap’s Professional controller, I shortly forgot I used to be enjoying the 13-year-old open-world western on Nintendo’s console.

Nevertheless it’s not good, and right here’s the place we get to the sticky difficulty of this port. Sure, RDR runs very effectively more often than not on Swap. Galloping across the desert round Armadillo is okay. However when too many enemies present up, TNT is used, otherwise you go to a really busy space, the framerate can begin to dip a bit. To be clear, this was the case again on the Xbox 360 and PS3, too. In actual fact, the Swap appears a tad extra secure than these older variations when evaluating footage. In order that’s good.

But, that is additionally a 13-year-old conversion of a online game that’s lacking all of its on-line options and multiplayer modes. Plus, there are nonetheless indicators that that is an Xbox 360-era recreation. Not one of the textures are higher, fashions nonetheless look dated, animations stay jerky at a distance, and many others. RDR nonetheless holds up, due to its implausible artwork design and ambiance—using by way of a snow-covered forest with the sport’s music quietly fading into the background won’t ever age poorly—however make no mistake: That is nonetheless largely the identical outdated recreation.

And promoting that outdated recreation for $50, with no 60fps possibility or visible enhancements, feels foolish. Positive, it comes with Undead Nightmare—which is nice and nonetheless a spooky pleasure to play in 2023—however the math in all probability received’t make sense for most folk.

Nevertheless, relaxation assured that not like the rickety and ugly GTA Trilogy remasters, this re-release is similar Crimson Lifeless Redemption you already know and love, for higher and for worse. Now you simply have the possibility to play it on the bathroom.

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