Red Dead Redemption is an action third-person shooter game in the Western genre. Developed and distributed by Rockstar Games, this game takes you back to the days of Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, and Gregory Peck, when a horse was the best companion and your six-shooter was the only one you could trust.

The story is about John Marston, an ex-outlaw who has gone straight, left his gang and has set up a ranch. His family is held hostage by the Federal forces and John has to hunt down his old gang member Williamson who operates his gang from Fort Mercer. Marston confronts Williamson but gets shot and is left for dead outside the fort where he is picked up by a rancher McFarlane. There are a few missions that John must complete at the ranch of McFarlane. Eventually, he builds his own gang and attacks Williamson at the fort.

Williamson escapes to Mexico, while the other gangsters are killed in a fiery gun battle. There are shades of Grand Theft Auto when civilian witnesses to killings can be bribed and stopped or shot before they give evidence. Marston can gain negative and positive honour from killing and thieving. Enemies can be shot, sniped or hogtied. There are about 18 superb songs that play in the background. The scenery and locations are lush and just fantastic.

I would give this game a 9 for story, theme and playing pleasure. If you are a Western films fan, then this Play Station and X Box game is a must. If you are from the new generation and have never seen Westerns, then this is not for you. The game will cost about `4,200 but it’s worth it.

Shashi Kadapa