Purple Lifeless Redemption’s Swap Port: Good, However Dear

Purple Lifeless Redemption, considered one of Rockstar’s finest video games, has all the time been considered one 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 So it’s nice to see RDR making the long-awaited leap from outdated consoles to Swap and PS4 through newly launched ports. I’ve now had time to play the Swap model, and whereas it holds up properly, even when performed in transportable mode, the shortage of recent options, improved visuals, and a few efficiency hiccups makes its $50 price ticket laborious to disregard.

Launched in 2010, Rockstar’s Purple Lifeless Redemption was a unbelievable open-world motion recreation starring John Marston, a gunslinger who’s tasked to take down former gang members to try to safe his peaceable, household life. RDR would go on to win quite a few Sport of the 12 months 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 a much bigger, higher prequel within the type of Purple 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 accessible on extra platforms. It’s nonetheless a disgrace we didn’t get a PC port, however at the very least now Swap and PS4 house owners can simply play RDR. (Due to Xbox 360 backward compatibility the Xbox One and Collection X/S have lengthy had entry to a strong model of the sport.)

Purple Lifeless Redemption is a strong Swap port

Let’s get to the excellent news: Purple Lifeless Redemption on the Nintendo Swap runs very properly. 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 growing old Swap, compounded by a doubtlessly sloppy porting job, wouldn’t have the ability to deal with Rockstar’s huge open world. Fortunately, that’s not the case. Taking part in RDR on Swap, in transportable or docked mode, is a positive expertise, with no annoying visible artifacts or frequent efficiency issues. After I switched to docked mode and used the Swap’s Professional controller, I rapidly forgot I used to be taking part in 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 subject of this port. Sure, RDR runs very properly 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 truth, 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 so on. RDR nonetheless holds up, due to its unbelievable artwork design and environment—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 principally 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 most likely 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 Purple Lifeless Redemption you already know and love, for higher and for worse. Now you simply have the prospect to play it on the bathroom.

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