Imagine How a Companion System Could Have Enhanced Red Dead Redemption 2's Immersive Experience

A Red Dead Redemption 2 fan has shared a video of Dutch's gang that highlights just how cool a companion system could have been. While Red Dead Redemption 2 was a huge success, this feature might have made it an even more unforgettable adventure.

Despite being a numerical sequel, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to its predecessor. The plot follows Dutch Van der Linde and his gang as they make their way across the American southwest looking for opportunities. The Van der Linde gang includes Arthur Morgan, Josiah Trelawney, Micah Bell, Simon Pearson, and more, some of whom quickly became fan favorites. Players can also learn some backstory to the first game's protagonist, John Marston. While the Red Dead Redemption 2 gangs' story was successfully told, with multiple branching plot points, one gamer has pointed out the missed potential of including a companion system.

Reddit user Itchy-Engine6605 recently shared a clip of Red Dead Redemption 2 that focuses on the Van der Linde gang riding their horses in formation. Arthur rides in the middle, with the rest of the gang on either side. While similar moments happen fairly regularly in the game, the Reddit user points out that a companion system may have improved the experience. The player can do multiple side quests that add context and background to different members of the gang, but a companion system may have allowed them to get to know these characters better. There's also a missed opportunity for roleplaying experiences that could have deepened a player's immersion in Red Dead Redemption 2's Western setting.

How Could a Red Dead Redemption 2 Companion System Work?

Games like Fallout 4, Mass Effect 3, and Skyrim feature rich companion systems that flesh out certain characters in each game. These companions often agree or disagree with a player's decisions and provide different dialogue depending on how a conversation goes. With Red Dead Redemption 2's characters having unique personalities, a companion system may have improved dialogue sequences. Even without the added system, the game featured a 2,000-page script. Players can also earn a companion using a glitch that's initiated using the wagon at the camp, but these characters don't do much other than follow them.

As Red Dead Redemption 2 only occasionally gets big updates, it's unlikely to receive a companion system in the future. The PC version of the game includes a companion mod that provides an experience loosely similar to Itchy-Engine6605's idea. With this mod, players can team up with characters like Javier, John, Bill, and Hosea, but because it's not in the base version, it's lacking compared to what Rockstar may have been able to accomplish with a companion system.