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Red Dead
Series logo, since 2010
Genre(s)	Action-adventure
Developer(s)	Rockstar San Diego Rockstar Studios
Publisher(s)	Rockstar Games
Platform(s)	PlayStation 2 Xbox PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 PlayStation 4 Xbox One Microsoft Windows Stadia
First release	Red Dead Revolver May 4, 2004
Latest release	Red Dead Redemption 2 October 26, 2018

Red Dead is a series of Western-themed action-adventure games published by Rockstar Games. The first entry in the series, Red Dead Revolver, was released on the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in May 2004. Originally developed by Capcom, Red Dead Revolver borrowed elements from their 1985 arcade title Gun.Smoke, to which it was intended to be a spiritual successor, but the game was cancelled in 2002. Subsequently, after acquiring the rights, Rockstar purchased Red Dead Revolver and expanded on it.

Red Dead Redemption, developed by Rockstar San Diego (who also worked on its predecessor), was released in May 2010 to critical and commercial acclaim. Selling over 15 million copies by 2017 and winning many year-end accolades from multiple gaming publications, the game is considered to be one of the best games of all time. Multiple DLCs were added, including Undead Nightmare, a single-player expansion later released as a standalone game. A Game of the Year edition of the game includes all of the additional content.

Red Dead Redemption 2, developed by Rockstar Studios, was released on October 26, 2018. The game was also widely acclaimed and a commercial success, generating $725 million in revenue in three days and selling 17 million copies in two weeks.

Games

Red Dead Revolver

Red Dead Revolver is the first entry in the series, released for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004. Set in the 1880s American Old West, Red Dead Revolver follows bounty hunter Red Harlow, as he uncovers the plot that killed his parents and exacts revenge on those responsible. In terms of canonicity to the Redemption followup series, Dan Houser suggested that Revolver is set in a separate universe, but a version of the events in the plot could still have taken place due to the nature of myths told in the Red Dead games' world.

Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption is the second installment in the Red Dead series, and the spiritual successor to Red Dead Revolver. The game released in 2010 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game takes place in the year 1911, during the decline of the American Old West and the Mexican Revolution. A spiritual successor to Red Dead Revolver, the game follows John Marston, a former outlaw, who was his family taken away by the Bureau of Investigation to force him to hunt down the surviving members of his former gang, in the process achieving closure and redemption for his past actions. Undead Nightmare is a non-canonical expansion to Red Dead Redemption that follows John Marston as he searches for a cure for an infectious zombie plague that has swept across the American Old West. A standalone disc, titled Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare Collection, which does not require the original Red Dead Redemption game to be played, was released in North America on November 22, 2010.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to Red Dead Redemption and the third main entry in the series, released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2018. Its story follows Arthur Morgan, an outlaw and a member of the Van der Linde gang in 1899, in the waning years of the American Old West, and the extinction of the age of outlaws and gunslingers. The game features several returning characters from Red Dead Redemption, including a younger and less-refined John Marston, Dutch Van der Linde, Bill Williamson, and Javier Escuela.

Future

Head writer Dan Houser has said that Rockstar might do another installment in the series if Red Dead Redemption 2 does well financially.

Common elements

Gameplay

In each game in the franchise, the player takes the role of an outlaw in the waning years of the American Old West. All three titles are third-person shooters (although Red Dead Redemption 2 also gives the option to play in first-person), yet there are crucial differences between them. The first game in the series follows a linear storyline with fixed, limited locations. Red Dead Redemption, however, provides the player with an open world setting and gives them various options for exploration, random encounters and side-missions. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the biggest and most immersive of the three, providing far more options and activities for the player than in its previous titles. Combat and gunplay are a fundamental part in the franchise; players can cover, blind-fire, free-aim and can get into physical altercations with enemies. A large number of weapons are introduced in all three games, typically rifles and revolvers. Horses, stagecoaches and trains are the primary methods of transportation in all three games due to the period in which they are set.

Dead Eye

The trademark game mechanic of the series is the Dead Eye system, which bridges the gap between the protagonist's exceptional shooting prowess and the limitations of the human player's speed and coordination. For a short period, it allows the player to aim at targets in slow motion for better accuracy. After painting your targets, time goes back to normal as you then attack with a flurry of bullets in rapid succession. The Dead Eye system in Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 has been refined, as it levels up as the game progresses, giving the player more options when using it.

Honor

Red Dead Redemption brings a new mechanic to the franchise that has been improved in Red Dead Redemption 2: a morality system where the player gains positive or negative "honor". Good deeds like saving townsfolk from danger will level up the player's honor, while malicious actions like harming innocents or committing theft will lower the player's honor. The player should be considerate of the honor system, as it can influence how the world interacts with the character.

Setting

The trilogy of games have a similar Western setting, as they have canyons and towns that are pretty much alike. Red Dead Revolver's game setting is quite transient as Red usually moves from town to town throughout the game, the most prominent one being Brimstone, which acts as a hub between several missions. Red Dead Redemption offers the player a more significant interaction with the environment, and its location is bigger than the previous game. It ranges from canyons to deserts, but the player is unable to reach to the outer limit due to the borders surrounding the area (mountains and deep ravines). There are several towns and settlements that the player can visit, each with their own citizens (with whom the player can interact). Red Dead Redemption 2’s world is greatly expanded compared to its predecessor's. It is far bigger, more immersive, lifelike and responsive, and also includes Red Dead Redemption’s map. Each game is set in the U.S. While the name of the state or states that serve as Revolver's setting is never mentioned, Redemption takes place within the fictional states of New Austin and West Elizabeth, as well as the Mexican state of of Nuevo Paraiso. Redemption 2 also features the two U.S. states, which have been further expanded, in addition to three new ones: New Hanover, Ambarino and Lemoyne.

Characters

Protagonists

Each protagonist in their respective games do have a particular thing in common: they are all gunslingers. Red Harlow and John Marston, while completely unrelated, share similar traits such as their facial scars, hats and their commitment to their family. Arthur Morgan and John used to run in the same gang of outlaws. Red Dead Redemption 2 shows the relationship between the two, expanding on the gang's backstory.

Red Harlow: The protagonist in Red Dead Revolver, Red Harlow is the only known son of Nate Harlow, a gold miner, and his wife Falling Star. Through his mother, he is a descendant of the Red Wolf Native American tribe, and one of the grandchildren of Running Moon, the tribe's current chief. Years after the death of his parents, Red trained to become a deadly gunslinger and a feared bounty hunter, while seeking revenge on those responsible for his parents' murder. Although he does not appear, Red Harlow is mentioned in Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2. He is also a playable character in the multiplayer portion of Red Dead Redemption, as DLC included in the Legends and Killers pack.

John Marston: The protagonist in Red Dead Redemption. John is a former member of the broken Van der Linde gang who has sought to leave his life of crime as an outlaw behind to live safely with his wife Abigail and son Jack. Blackmailed by the federal government as they kidnap his family, John must bring wanted people, formerly members of his old gang, to justice, in order to save his wife and son. The events of Red Dead Redemption 2 show a younger John and how he used to live with the Van der Linde gang. In the epilogues, he's seen leaving his broken gang behind as he attempts to lead a normal life with a younger Abigail and Jack. He eventually finds former allies, kills Micah, pays off his loans with the money from his old gang and marries Abigail.

Arthur Morgan: The protagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, he is an outlaw, one of the first members of the Van der Linde gang as well as Dutch's right-hand man. Ever since the botched robbery at Blackwater, the Van der Linde gang has been facing several problems. Asa the game progresses, Arthur begins to question his loyalty to Dutch as the latter gradually descends into violent behavior.

Red Dead Revolver

Jack Swift: An English trick-shootist and former member of a traveling circus who becomes an ally of Red. He does not appear in the sequels, as he is killed off-screen at the end of the game, but is playable in the multiplayer portion of Red Dead Redemption as part of the Legends and Killers DLC.

Annie Stoakes: A rancher and occasional gunslinger, who seeks revenge on Governor Griffon after losing her farm to him, and becomes an ally of Red. Although she does not appear in the sequels, Stoakes is a playable in the multiplayer portion of Red Dead Redemption.He is also a playable character in the multiplayer portion of Red Dead Redemption as part of the Legends and Killers DLC.

Shadow Wolf: Red's Native American cousin and a member of the Reed Wolf tribe, who is skilled with the bow and arrow. He rescues his cousin and the Buffalo Soldier, who had been forced to work as slave labor in the mines of Bear Mountain, but is later mortally injured by Colonel Daren. Shadow Wolf appears again as a playable character only in the multiplayer portion of Red Dead Redemption as part of the Legends and Killers.

Buffalo Soldier: An unnamed African-American U.S. soldier who was captured by the Mexican Army and forced to work as slave labor, until befriending Red and escaping alongside him. He appears again as a playable character in the multiplayer portion of Red Dead Redemption as part of the Legends and Killers DLC.

Sheriff Bartlett: The Sheriff of Brimstone and an ally of Red, sending him to hunt down several well-known outlaws who have been terrorizing Brimstone and its surrounding area in exchange for the bounties on their heads.

Antagonists

Governor Griffon: The main antagonist of Red Dead Revolver, Griffon was Nate's partner and co-owner of the Bear Mountain gold claim. While trying to cross a river where a battle between the U.S. Army and the Mexican Army, led by General Diego, occurred, he was captured by the latter, but was spared after betraying Nate and offering Diego half the gold in Bear Mountain; this betrayal would soon cost Nate's life, who was killed along with his wife on Diego's orders. Over time, Griffon would become governor and maintained a partnership with Diego, continuing to exploit the gold in Bear Mountain, until being killed by Red, Nate's vengeful son, years later.

Javier Diego: The secondary antagonist of Red Dead Revolver, Diego is a highly-corrupt general within the Mexican Army and later co-owner of the Bear Mountain gold claim, after striking a partnership with Griffon and ordering the death of his former partner Nate. He is killed years later by Nate's vengeful son Red.

Colonel Daren: A highly-corrupt colonel within the Mexican Army, Daren is General Diego's right-hand man. Following Diego's partnership with Griffon, he sent Daren to kill Nate and his family, the only other people who knew about the gold in Bear Mountain. Though he managed to kill Nate and his wife, their son Red survived and escaped after shooting off Daren's left arm with his father's revolver; Daren later had his lost arm replaced with a compact, shoulder-mounted mortar. He is killed years later by Red during an attack on Diego's fortress, though not before mortally injuring his cousin Shadow Wolf.

Mr. Kelley: The best gunslinger in Brimstone and Governor Griffon's personal enforcer, Kelley is the four time champion of the yearly Brimstone quick-draw competition. He is pitted against Red in the competition's finals and, while Red defeats him, Kelley survives his injuries, later being ordered by Griffon to kill Red. However, he is again defeated, this time the injuries being fatal.

Redemption series

Van der Linde gang

Dutch van der Linde: The leader of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Dutch is depicted as a charismatic and caring leader, considering the members of his gang his family. Some of them even were adopted and looked after by Dutch as a young age, such as Arthur and John. Throughout the game, Dutch promises his fellow gang members a life of luxury in an attempt to convince them to continue following his ideals, but slowly grows more violent and paranoid as they keep facing numerous problems, until he finally betrays his allies and parts ways with them, though he briefly redeems himself in the game's epilogue, where he realizes that Micah Bell, his most trusted man, was responsible for the gang's demise and Arthur's death, and helps John kill him, before departing in silence. In Red Dead Redemption, Dutch is the leader of a new gang of Native Americans that he leads in a war against modernization, and one of the dangerous fugitives John has to hunt down, which he finds difficult to accomplish due to his complicated past with the man who raised yet also ultimately betrayed him.

Micah Bell: The hidden main antagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, Micah is an experienced outlaw and gunslinger who was rescued by Dutch during a fight over some stolen gold and subsequently joined the Van der Linde gang, only a few months prior to the events of the game. While Dutch finds him very loyal and even appoints him as his advisor after Hosea's death, Micah is disliked by most of the gang, epecially Arthur, for his violent and reckless nature. Furthermore, it is later revealed that Micah was secretly working with the Pinkertons, and he becomes the primary cause of the demise of the Van der Linde gang, despite Arthur's attempts to warn Dutch about Micah's true nature in the final moments of his life. Years after the gang's demise, Micah forms his own outlaw gang and joins forces with Dutch again, until being confronted by John, who convinces Dutch to turn on Micah and shoot him, allowing John to finish him off, thus avenging Arthur's death.

Jack Marston: The son of John Marston and Abigail Marston who becomes the playable character in the epilogue of Red Dead Redemption, and also appears in Red Dead Redemption 2. He was born and grew up within the Van der Linde, therefore being exposed to acts of violence at a very young age, though his parents always attempted to prevent him from going down a similar path. Following his parents' death, Jack becomes a gunslinger and kills Edgar Ross out of revenge for what he did to his father three years prior before disappearing.

Abigail Roberts-Marston: The wife of John Marston and mother of Jack Marston who appears in both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2. She joined the Van der Linde gang at a young age through Uncle and used to work as a prostitue withing the gang, unil falling for John. Both of them, along with Jack, eventually left the gang after its downfall and attempted to start a new life as ranchers. A hard-working woman, Abigail can be often very stubborn and critical, especially towards John, but deeply loves her family and tries her best to offer her son a better life than she or John ever had. Three years after her husband's death, Abigail dies under unknown circumstances and is burried by Jack right next to him.

Uncle: An eldery and lazy member of the Van der Linide gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, and a good friend of the Marstons in Red Dead Redemption. Very little is known about Uncle's background or the origin of his nickname, but the gang seems to enjoy his company due to his very joyful nature and interesting stories. Despite this, he does little to nothing to help out the gang, often claiming that he has lumbago to avoid physical work. Years afte the gang's demise, Uncle reunites with John and helps him build a ranch, where he ends up moving alongside the Marstons. After Abigail and Jack are kidnapped by the Bureau of Investigation and John is forced to hunt down the other surviving members of the Van der Linde gang, Uncle remains to look after the ranch, but does little to nothing about it, leaving John to do all the work once he returns from his mission. When Edgar Ross leads an attack on the ranch to kill John, Uncle helps fight off the attackers, but is ultimately shot and killed.

Sadie Adler: The newest member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, she joins the gang after they rescue her from the O'Driscoll gang, who raided her house and killed her husband, at the very beginning of the game. She quickly establishes herself as a useful addition to the gang, proving herself to be a strong and independent woman and a skilled gunslinger, despite her past as a housewife. She also forms a strong bond with Arthur, with the pair going against Dutch's orders several times to do what they believe to be the right thing. Following the gang's demise, Sadie becomes a bounty hunter and, years later, reunites with John, helping him earn money to build a ranch by collecting several bounties, and avenge Arthur's death by killing Micah, before leaving, presumably to South America, to follow her own path.

Charles Smith: A half African-American and half Native American hunter and member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2. He is a honest man in a world that no longer seems to put a price on principles, and, having living most of his life on the move, never truly experienced what it feels like to have a home, but nontheless considers the gang his family. Charles is good friends with the equally virtuous Arthur, but ends up leaving the gang to help the Wapiti tribe of Native Americans after they suffer numerous loses due to their war with the U.S. army (which Dutch played a large role into provoking). Years later, Charles reunites with John, helping him build a ranch for his family and avenge Arthur's death by killing Micah, before leaving, presumably to Canada, to follow his own path.

Hosea Matthews: Dutch's best friend, advisor and co-founder of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2. The pair met while attempting to rob each other on a road near Chicago, and quickly became good friends. Hosea is the gang's oldest member and, therefore, also its most intelligent and calculated one, often attempting to find a reasonable solution to problems before resorting to violence. Hosea is caught and executed by the Andrew Milton during a botched bank robbery in Saint Denis, which plays a major role in the gang's ultimate demise, as the treacherous Micah later replaces Hosea as Dutch's advisor.

Bill Williamson: A member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Bill is a former U.S. soldier who was dishonorably discharged from the army and resumed to violence, drinking, intimidation and killing, until meeting Dutch, who persuaded him to join the gang, roughly five years prior the game's events. He is a stubborn loudmouth who likes to act tough, especially towards his fellow gang members, which mostly annoys them rather than intimidating them, but he is nontheless loyal, a strong fighter, and always ready for a fight. Following the gang's demise, he ends up forming his own gang of outlaws in New Austin and terrorizing the locals. In Red Dead Redemption, Bill is one of the dangerous fugitives John has to hunt down.

Javier Escuella: A member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Javier is a Mexican mercenary who was forced to flee his home country after killing an official and, while waiting for a change in the country's government so that he could return, travelled to the U.S., where he met Dutch and, impressed by his ideals, joined his gang, roughly five years prior to the game's events. Javier is very attentive towards his appearance, often wearing the most stylish outfits among the gang members, and also very loyal towards Dutch, with his loyalty being beaten only by that of Arthur. Following the gang's demise, Javier returns to Mexico and becomes an enforcer and assassin for the Mexican army, in exchange for the Colonel Agustín Allende's protection. In Red Dead Redemption, Javier is one of the dangerous fugitives John has to hunt down.

Susan Grimshaw: An elderly member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Susan is responsible for maintaining order ing each of the gang's camps. While many find her terrifying, she is just a hard-working and strong-willed woman who doesn't accept excuses, only results. Susan is ultimately killed by Micah during a standoff, after Arthur reveals the latter's true nature to the gang.

Simon Pearson: The Van der Linde gang's cook in Red Dead Redemption 2, Pearson is a former marine who would have liked to become a whale hunter, like his father and grandfather, but destiny had other plans for him, so he ended up joining the gang after they saved him from some loan sharks. He is a loud and joyful degenerate, who is somewhat in denial as to what turn his life took. Following the gang's demise, Pearson gets married and opens a shop in Rhodes, where he may be visited by John in the game's epilogue.

Leopold Strauss: The Van der Linde gang's elderly loanshark and bookkeeper in Red Dead Redemption 2, Strauss was born in Vienna and travelled to the U.S., where he ended up joining the gang, mostly for protection. Like any loan shark, he has a somewhat changing personality, ranging from a helpless old man to a merciless loan shark. Strauss tasks Arthur with retrieving money from several debtors, but is ultimately kicked out of the gang by Arthur, who saw who may lives his money lending operation ruined. It is mentioned by Charles during the epilogue that Strauss was later captured by the Pinkertons and died in custody without selling out the gang.

Lenny Summers: A young African-American sharpshooter and member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Lenny became skilled with guns since the age of 15, when he shot some men who killed his father, and claims to have lived three years on the run after killing every law officer and bount hunter west of the Lannahechee river. He joined the gang mostly for protection, but soon proved himself among their ranks, and befriended Arthur, who sees him as a little brother. Lenny is an intelligent, ambitious, and competent young man, who appreciates to be part of a group who judge him for his abilities and not his skin color. Lenny is ultimately killed by Pinkertons during a botched bank robbery in Saint Denis.

Mary-Beth Gaskill: A member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Mary-Beth is orphan from an young age and ended up joining the gang after they saved her from some men who caught her stealing from them. She gives the impression of an innocent girl, which makes her a perfect thief, and enjoys reading in her free time, hoping to become a writer herself someday. Following the gang's demise, Mary-Beth ends up accomplishing this dream, as she becomes a romance novelsist, while still keeping in touch with Tilly Jackson. Mary-Beth may also reunite with John in the game's epilogue, telling him about her current life and giving him a copy of her newest book before leaving.

Tilly Jackson: A young African-American member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Tilly is a former member of the Foreman Brothers' gang, who kidnapped her at a young age, before ultimately escaping from their clutches and finding a new family within the Van der Linde gang. Dutch in particular helped her change her life for the better, such as teaching her how to read and keeping her safe. Following the gang's demise, Tilly gets married and starts a family in Saint Denis, while still keeping in touch with Mary-Beth Gaskill. She may also reunite with John in the game's epilogue, telling him about her current life before leaving.

Sean MacGuire: A skilled gunslinger and member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Sean is originally from Ireland and became one of the original members of the gang after meeting Dutch and Hosea shortly after his father was killed. He is a stereotipical Irishman, often being very drunk and annoying people, which causes most of the gang to despise him, but deep inside he has a good heart and is very loyal to his newfound family. Sean is ultimately killed during an ambush by the Gray family in Rhodes

Karen Jones: A skilled con artist and member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Karen is very joyful and enjoys the outlaw life, being the only female member of the gang to take part in their more risky operations. Following Sean's death, she is very affected and resumes to drinking, becoming an alcoholic and distancing herself from her fellow gang members. Kaaren's fate after the gang's demise is not revealed, though Tilly Jackson mentions in a letter to John that she supposedly drank herself to death.

Josiah Trelawny: A master con artist who finds it easy to trick others with his schemes, Josiah is an ally of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, often giving them tips for their upcoming robberies and other operations, while planning a few himself. Very little is known about his background, other than he is originally from Cornwall, England. He enjoys entertaining his fellow gang members with his tricks, but is not as active in their outlaw lifestyle, most of the times not disappearing from their camps without a word. An easter egg reveals that he has a family in Saint Denis, which might be the reason why he leaves so often. Following the gang's demise, Josiah is last seen returning to Saint Denis, presumambly settling in permanently with his family.

Molly O'Shea: A member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Molly is Dutch's eccentric and pretentious lover who is not content with the outlaw lifestyle. Over time, she grows more jealous of Dutch ignoring her and, in an alcohol-induced outburst, eventually lies that she is the Pinkerton informant who sold out the gang in an attempt to get Dutch angry, only to be shot on-the-spot the spot by Susan Grimshaw in accordance to the gang's rules.

Orville Swanson: A member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Swanson is a former reverend who joined the gang after losing everything and supposedly saving Dutch's life. A very sinful man, Swanson often abuses morphine to forget about his painful past, which leaves him in a drunk-like state that gets worse by the day and only gets him very disliked within the gang. When the gang begins to fall apart, Swanson quietly leaves after an optional last encounter with Arthur, and moves to New York, where he becomes the minister of the First Congressional Church in the city.

Kieran Duffy: A member of the O'Driscoll gang turned member of the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, Kieran is a very cowardly man, who claims to be an orphan from a young age and have worked in various places before being forced to join the O'Driscolls. He is captured by Arthur for interrogations at the beginning of the game, but eventually saves his life during an attack on an O'Driscoll hideout, which earns him a place within the gang, mostly as their horse carer, with whom he gets along very well unlike people. While most members of the gang dislike and distrust him, Kieran is genuienly loyal, with his heart in the right place, and tries to help out his newfound allies in any way he can. Kieran is later kidnapped by the O'Driscolls, though very few notice his absence, and, after several days of torture, is ultimately decapitated, with his body later being used as a distraction for an attack on the Van der Linde gang's hideout.

Antagonists

Edgar Ross: The main antagonist in Red Dead Redemption. Originally an agent of the Pinkerton Detective Agency who, alongside his partner Andrew Milton, was employed by Leviticus Cornwall to hunt down the Van der Linde gang in Red Dead Redemption 2, he later became an agent and eventually director of the Bureau of Investigation. Tasked with hunting down the surviving members of the Van der Linde gang in an attempt to end the era of outlaws, Ross holds John's family away from him to force him to do the job instead. Though he returns them to him once the job is complete, Ross ultimately betrays John and sends an army to ambush the Marstons, resulting in John sacrificing himself to allow his family to escape. Three years later, Ross retires and attempts to live a peaceful live, but similarly to John, his past catches up to him, as he is tracked down and killed by John's vengeful son Jack in a duel.

Colonel Agustín Allende: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption, Allende is the tyrannical governor of the Mexican state of Nuevo Paraiso, and the right-hand man of Ignacio Sanchez, the president of Mexico. An unscrupulous man and leader, he knows no limits, often kidnapping young women to rape, or mocking his subordinates, especially Vincente de Santa. Allende leads a war against a large revolution led by Abraham Reyes, and employs John, who came to Mexico in search for Bill Williamson and Javier Escuella, to help, promising to hand over the two men, secretly under his protection, in return. However, John ends up playing both sides of the war in the hopes either can help him track down Bill and Javier, so Allende ultimately betrays him and senteces him to be executed, though he is rescued by Reyes in time. Afterwards, John focuses on helping the rebels win the war, ultimately attacking Allende's palace, causing him and Bill to flee, though they are quickly caught and subsequently executed by John and Reyes, allowing the latter to take over Nuevo Paraiso.

Captain Vincente de Santa: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption, de Santa is Agustín Allende's right-hand man. While generally joyful, he can be as merciless as his superior, though most of the times he serves as nothing more than a joke for both Allende and the members of the revolution he attempts to stop. While initially working with John against the rebels, de Santa double-crosses him after it is discovered that John helped the rebels as well, and attempts to have him executed, but fails. Later, while overseeing a massacre, de Santa is captured by Johm, who interrogates him on the wherabouts of Javier Escuella, who is under Allende's protection, before either executing him or leaving a group of rebels to do so.

Andrew Milton: The secondary antagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2, Milton is an agent for the Pinkerton Detective Agency who, alongside his partner Edgar Ross, is hired by Leviticus Cornwall to hunt down the Van der Linde gang. Despite being part of a law enforcing agency, Milton is often as ruthless as the gangs he hunts down, and seeks to put an end to the outlaw era at all costs, believing that outlaws prevent the civilization from progressing. At one point, he attempts to convince Arthur to betray the gang in exchange for his own safety, but fails, so he later convinces Micah to do so, allowing the Pinkertons to find and attack the gang more easily. Milton is ultimately killed by Abigail, not before he reveals to Arthur that Micah was a Pinkerton infromant.

Leviticus Cornwall: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, Cornwall is a wealthy businessman and industrialist, who employs the Pinkertons to hunt down the Van der Linde gang after they rob one of his trains. As any businessman, he is very arrogant, irritable, and will stop from nothing to achieve his goals. Eventually, Dutch, joined by Arthur and Micah, surprises Cornwall as he arrives in Annesburg via boat, and swiftly kills him, believing that this will stop the Pinkertons, but does nothing other than enrage them further, as they lost their employer, and increase Arthur's distrust in Dutch.

Colm O'Driscoll: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, Colm is a notorious outlaw and the leader of the O'Driscoll gang, as well as Dutch's sworn rival. The pair had some sort of partnership in the past, until Dutch killed Colm's brother and he in turn killed Annabelle, a woman Dutch dearly liked. Over the following years, Colm formed his own gang that has been largely expanded into one of the most infamous criminal organizations in the Old West. Throughout the game, the Van der Linde gang often clash with the O'Driscoll gang. Their conflict comes to an end when Colm is captured by the authorities and sentenced to be hanged. Though his men had a plan to save him, Arthur, Dutch and Sadie foiled it, leading Colm to panic, realizing his plan failed, moments before he is finally hanged.

Catherine Braithwaite: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, Catherine is the leader of the Braithwaite family, one of the two families rulling over the state of Lemoyne. The Van der Linde gang works simultaneously for the Braithwaites and their sworn rivals, the Grays, in an attempt to deceive them and steal the Civil War gold they supposedly possess, until they both realize their plan and double-cross them. The Braithwaites kidnap Jack and sell him to Italian crime boss Angelo Bronte, prompting the Van der Linde gang to attack and burn down their mansion. Catherine is the sole survivor but, upon being briefly interrogated about Jack's whereabouts and let go, runs into the burning mansion and is burned alive.

Leigh Gray: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, Leigh is the second-in-command of the Gray family, one of the two families rulling over the state of Lemoyne, led by his older brother Tavish, and the sheriff of Rhodes. The Van der Linde gang works simultaneously for the Grays and their sworn rivals, the Braithwaites, in an attempt to decieve them and steal the Civil War gold they supposedly possess, until they both realize their plan and double-cross them. Leigh is killed during an ambush on the gang in Rhodes.

Angelo Bronte: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, Bronte is an Italian crime boss who controls Saint Denis' underworld. He buys Jack from the Braithwaites, but later returns him to the Van der Linde gang and strikes a partnership with them, giving them tips on a few robberies, only to later betray and attempt to have them arrested. In retaliation. the gang attack his mansion and kidnap him, before Dutch feeds him to an alligator.

Colonel Alberto Fussar: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, Fussar is the tyrannical ruler of the Guarma island, having earned his wealth by enslaving the local population and forcing them to work as slave labor on his sugar plantation. After washing ashore on Guarma, Arthur, Dutch, Micah, Bill and Javier help the revolution against Fussar, ultimately killing him and securing a transport back to the U.S.

Colonel Henry Favours: An antagonist in Red Dead Redemption 2, Favours is a corrupt U.S. colonel and the leader of the regiment stationed in New Hanover. He is a proud and merciless commander, who enjoys tormenting the local Wapiti tribe of Native Americans and secretly made a deal with Leviticus Cornwall to chase them away, so that Cornwall could industrialize the region. Although the Wapiti leader's, Rains Fall, attempts to peacefully negotiate with Favours, Dutch manipulates his son, Eagle Flies, into starting a war against Favours' forces, in order to distract the U.S. army away from the Van der Lindge gang. While Favours is ultimately killed by Arthur during an attack, the Wapiti suffer numerous losses, including Eagle Flies, therefore forcing them to flee the region. As such, Favours ultimately achieved his goal despite being killed.

Reception

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (October 2016)

The Red Dead series, particularly the second and third games, are critically acclaimed. Red Dead Redemption, averaging 95% on both review aggregate websites Metacritic and GameRankings, won numerous awards, including Game of the Year by GameSpy and GameSpot, and is considered to be one of the greatest games of all time. Reviewers praised the visuals, music, acting, open world gameplay and the story. A Game of the Year edition containing all additional content was released in October 2011.Red Dead Redemption 2, averaging 97% for both platforms on Metacritic, was also widely acclaimed by critics, who praised the same aspects as well as its significant level of detail, winning a number of awards from publications.

Sales

While not having as long of a best-selling history as its sister franchise Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead is still regarded as a financial success. Red Dead Revolver sold 920,000 copies in North America as of July 2, 2010.Red Dead Redemption broke the records of its previous game, having shipped over 11 million copies by August 2011 and over 15 million copies by February 2017.Red Dead Redemption 2 however, marked the franchise's commercial achievement. In three days, the game generated $725 million in revenue, officially having the largest opening weekend in the history of entertainment, as well as being the second highest-selling entertainment launch, behind Grand Theft Auto V, another widely popular title from Rockstar Games. Two weeks after launch, the game shipped over 17 million units, thus exceeding its predecessors' lifetime sales.

Notes

References

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Further reading

• Hester, Blake (October 17, 2018). "How the Red Dead franchise began". Polygon. Retrieved October 21, 2018.

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