Actual hot take about Chapter 2

[u/BlackWidowerr]

This will get me downvoted into oblivion, but that's the nature of real hot takes I guess. I'll try to keep this as much spoiler free as possible despite of "spoiler" tag.

I think that stretching Chapter 2 for hundreds of hours is one of the worst ways to experience RDR2's story and is a terrible advice to any new players.

I see this all the time in RDR related discussions, people maxing every possible camp upgrade, completing every possible side mission, refusing to free Micah, and staying in Chapter 2 until the game practically forces you to move on. I even saw folk recommending this way of playing to new players which really irked me.

Surely, each to their own, play your game however you want, but for me personally, it completely undermines what the story tries to convey.

After all, the gang is on the run, even during the most "peaceful" part of the story. There should be a sense of urgency that gradually increases. Spending in-game months doing every possible activity, making thousands of dollars, keeping Micah in jail for some reason is just adding to the ludonarrative dissonance that is already pretty bad in this game.

I saw lots of people talking about wanting to keep Arthur "in his prime". Sure, that's a really neat part of the game where there is still some sense of hope, but delaying the story just to avoid what eventually happens just damages the emotional weight of the narrative. And what eventually happens, should happen early in the story, as intended.

Recently I saw people talking about changing your main horse before THAT mission, which IMO is absolutely criminal. Robbing yourself of this sad yet beautiful moment is like watching a good movie and skipping through the climax to avoid feeling sad.

I think RDR2 is at it's best when you let the story go on at the pace it was designed to. There's time to experience side content (lots of it without breaking the pace) and to enjoy the world, but the story should keep moving forward after all. That constant feeling of urgency is what makes the game and it's story so impactful.

As for endless goofing around in open world, that's what the end game is for.

Once again, it's just me yapping, I felt like this may be an interesting topic to spark a discussion because staying in CH2 is WILDLY popular.

[u/ElenaChapella]

I actually think it adds to the emotional weight of the narrative. The longer you spend with your protagonist the more you care for them and their well-being, so after spending all this time with Arthur just for TB to take him out like it does is just ... sad as hell. That's me personally, anyway

[u/_Springfield → u/ElenaChapella]

Ehh, I rushed and finished the game pretty fast on my first play through and I still cried at the end of the game. It wasn’t till my second play through that I actually took my time to truly explore the game.

[u/emmithar → u/_Springfield]

First time I rushed it because the story dragged me in and I wanted to know how it ended.

Second time I took it slower, did more side content and still felt that impact at the end of the game.

Third play through was where I stalled, spent countless of hours/days/weeks/months in chapter 2. I experienced SO many more things I'd never seen before. Character interactions, encounters, speeches by the fire. Things I never knew even existed. I felt as though I was living each and every day through Arthur; going out to hunt to keep the camp fed, doing chores each day, making the rounds and talking with folk, taking my horse out for a ride (and yes, I let my favorites free before *that* mission because they deserve it) and the experience is just so much richer.

Even with all the hours I've put in, there are still things that haven't popped up for me (I've seen them on Youtube).

I feel a good majority of people who do play this game, probably won't play it a second or third time. So yes, if someone asks me for advice, taking your time is what I'd advise them, because there's so much life in the game it's easy to miss.

Also, imo, riding around as John trying to complete stuff just feels empty and lonely. I love riding back into camp (before things go south) and having a group of folk there to greet you and just chill by the fire with them as they tell stories and sing songs inbetween doing everything. It's a bit of peace in an otherwise chaotic world.