(UN)FRIENDLY COMPETITION pt. 2

The universe's warped brand of justice is served.

Red Dead Redemption has my attention once more in the form of the Undead Nightmare pack. I finally decided to give it a whirl and I must say, it's good to dust off the ol' dusty sunbleached hat... thing, and slip into the spurs of John Marston again. Not so good, though, is remembering (which lent to mine brain that grudging "oh yeaaahh....") how Mr. Marston controls. Or doesn't, as the case may be.

I tell ya, there's nothing that shatters the immersion factor into a million little pieces like trying to casually strole through an open door on a second story balcony only to get snagged on the corner of the entrance, overcompensate with the movement stick, spin wildly out of control and take a dive over the railing to the street below. Real smooth, action star. Real smooth. It's enough to get under my nails, sometimes.

Maybe I just have to reacquaint myself with the way the guy handles, having been away from him for so many months; like embracing a long lost friend - relearning their idiosyncrasies, what makes them tick. What makes for a good conversation. What will make him swing the God damn torch in the right direction instead of flailing wildly at open space while a walking husk from hell feasts on your epidermal delights.

But I like it. In spite of the above logorrhea, I do like it. The mood the developers have managed to create along with the reunion of all those classic characters makes me all warm and fuzzy inside.

Now, I just have to remember how to play the damn thing - a new way.

-Fitz

End Transmission