RED DEAD REDEMPTION II Trailer Checks All The Western Boxes

Rockstar Games debuted a new trailer for its rabidly anticipated Red Dead Redemption sequel last week - the first we’ve seen of the delayed-to-2018 game in nearly a year - and hot dang, it’s gorgeous:

There’s not much story to go on here - at least, not in terms of a single, unifying narrative thrust. Instead, the trailer presents a slew of situations and vignettes confirming that yes, this is a Western: bank robberies, train fights, horse wrangling, bows and arrows, and more are all present and accounted for. All of that takes place in a sweeping, varied, largely untouched Western landscape sure to conceal all manner of dangers. The swamp gator isn’t quite a Western standby, but I’ll allow it. Ain't nothin' greater than a gator.

Red Dead Redemption II is actually a somewhat confusingly-named prequel, according to Rockstar, telling “the story of outlaw Arthur Morgan and the Van Der Linde gang as they rob, fight and steal their way across the vast and rugged heart of America in order to survive." This Arthur Morgan fellow certainly seems to be a total asshole in the classic Western asshole mould. Imagine it’ll take quite some work to gain his titular redemption. 

Best get to playing poker and hunting more species to extinction, I guess.