Here we show you many small details that Red Dead Redemption 2 offers. Many are well hidden, so you might not notice them during your first playthrough of the story.
What kind of details are we talking about? We will highlight how much effort Rockstar Games has put into realistically portraying the characters and the wildlife. Nuances in nature are also included.
Did you notice these details? Some of the videos may show small story spoilers related to the gang’s progress or the storyline.
1. The world grows over time – tracks are completed
In the first hours of the story of Red Dead Redemption 2, you will see many unfinished houses or tracks that have no connection yet.
Come back to these places from time to time. In your absence, the workers are busy finishing houses and train connections.
This doesn’t happen by magic and suddenly becomes complete. A player takes the time to watch the NPCs at work. They even have a structured daily routine with visits to the saloon and more.
2. You can be hit by lightning
Have you experienced a thunderstorm in the game? It’s especially impressive. The sound effects can be really frightening when you hear the loud thunder rumbling.
As it turns out, this fear of thunderstorms is indeed warranted. Your cowboy can be hit by lightning.
The exact chances of being struck by lightning in RDR 2 have not yet been calculated. In Germany, the odds are about 1 in 6 million. The likelihood of dying from it is even lower.
This player was struck by lightning in RDR 2 and filmed it.
3. Arthur is quite a poet
That Arthur keeps a diary is probably no news to you. But have you ever looked at how he writes and draws? Whenever there is a significant point in the story, Arthur pulls out his diary and fills a few pages.
If you play as Arthur, the nasty outlaw, who fights the law with heavy weapons, the diary shows his artistic side. His texts seem poetic, his writing elegant. You can tell how he reflects on events and thinks about what is happening.
He shades his drawings, and they have many details. Here you can clearly see the artist Arthur Morgan.
4. Blood sticks to you
In Red Dead Redemption 2, things often get bloody, and that leaves its marks. If you throw a dead animal over your shoulder for transport, you will notice blood stains on your shoulder afterwards.
If blood splatters on you in a fight? It remains there. To remove the blood from your clothes, you can jump into the river or take a bath.
If you transport carcasses on your horse, they also leave marks on its fur. To clean the blood from the horse, you either walk with the four-legged friend into a river, or groom it.
5. Opossums play dead, just like in real life
If you encounter opossums in the wilderness of RDR 2, these little marsupials can play dead. They probably do this based on their real-world counterpart. They lie there and do not fall into Arthur’s automatic targeting.
But sometimes they just pretend to be dead. In the real world, this happens when they are injured or unexpectedly discovered. They then lie down and simply stare into the distance with a blank expression or close their eyes. However, this is not a conscious “playing dead,” but a bodily reaction triggered by fear.
6. NPCs retain their injuries – do not heal magically
If it ever happens that you take out your anger on the store owners in RDR 2, they will hold a grudge. This is already evident from the fact that their mood noticeably becomes more tense when you re-enter their store after the fight. They wish for you to leave quickly.
In addition, you will still see the physical damage that has been inflicted on them. They sometimes even still have bandages on. After a big shootout, they will talk about it.
7. Arthur can be beaten by his gang
One of the most important points in the story of Red Dead Redemption 2 is your freedom of choice. You decide whether you are the nice, supportive Arthur who contributes money to the group or brings food. On the other hand, you can also be antisocial and behave badly.
However, behavior has consequences. If you annoy the group, make fun of their appearance or age, you might get slapped in response. If you overdo it, they might even knock you out.
8. Animal carcasses decompose over time, do not disappear magically
You know it from other games when animal carcasses suddenly become invisible and disappear. Not so in RDR 2.
Gradually, the carcasses of the animals rot until only bones remain. Dead human bodies are taken away by NPCs.
9. Have you ever observed the moon?
If you ride your horse under the night sky, take a look at the moon. Because here too, Rockstar Games has put in a lot of effort. The moon actually follows the lunar cycle.
At night you can see the crescent moon, new moon, and also full moon.
10. Dogs are under police protection
Be mindful of which beings you shoot in Red Dead Redemption 2. Because, as it turns out, NPCs are particularly concerned about certain species of animals.
The animal-loving readers among you probably won’t try it, but if you injure a dog, you will draw the town’s wrath upon you.
11. Newspapers write about you
Sometimes it’s worth it to buy the local newspaper in town. Because the press writes about you.
So you will find articles in the Saint Denis newspaper about events outside the town that you or the Van der Linde gang have participated in.
Have you noticed any other exciting details in Red Dead Redemption 2? Then let us know in the comments.
