Red Dead Redemption’s Ending Was A Joke

*small spoilers*

I had been playing Red Dead Redemption for about three weeks now in between some other games. I would do a mission or two then put the game away for a couple to start back up later. Well, earlier tonight, I could tell the game was getting closer to the end, so I decided to stick it out and finish it in one last play session.

[knight626]

nah you just a joke

[lelo2play]

I liked the ending of Red Dead Redemption. It was original.

[Elimin8]

he did what he had to do then went on to live his life or so he thought! Shit happens so story took a slight twist.. I loved it.. Though I was bummed for losing my character only to play with another......

[Zydake]

Me too I liked the ending thought it was original as well. Got a bit mad tho at the ending for some reason I though I was going to play as John again cause they zoomed into the grave as if Jack and john's wife left the scene thought he was gonna rise from his grave

[DJexs]

same I dug it but I do not think it was real original this ending was perfect for this genre and plot.

[seinfan]

The asshat who wrote that article doesn't know anything about a good storyline. He's probably one of the few people that would still go to a theater to see another Scary Movie/Date Movie/Epic Movie sequel and thinks they're comedy gold.

[AKS]

I expected to see reactions like the author's. The game has a more mature, realistic ending than we are accustomed to seeing in a video game. Life generally doesn't have a neat and tidy Hollywood ending. I thought it was wonderful that it allowed you to spend at least a brief amount of time raising your son and taking care of your family. Would it have really been better to just see some shallow and saccharine cut scene after his last big bounty hunt that showed him walking off into the sunset with his wife and child for a few seconds to live happily ever after? We knew nothing of either character until he reunited with them and R* allowed us to spend time with them and get a sense of who they were. I thank Rockstar for providing us with these experiences instead of dumbing down their game to the lowest common denominator (i.e., the author of this article and mouthbreathing knuckledraggers of his ilk).

Rockstar matured a bit as a company with Red Dead Redemption. Not only did they give it a more mature conclusion, they also dialed back many of the extreme and over the top satirical exaggerations we typically see in GTA games. Of course it's still going to contain plenty of wild, over the top experiences and satirical humor, but RDR was easily R*'s finest and most composed title ever released. I hope Agent and other future titles continue to build upon this. I also hope future titles supposedly designed with a mature audience in mind truly become more mature in the way they present their stories to us. RDR's ending was a small step forward in that direction.

[aaron5829]

Agreed..

My opinion : The ending was perfect !

It's the most unexpected ending of all time... !

Great job R* !!

Dont listen to this ass...

[Darkstorn]

I liked the 'first' ending too (Dutch's death), but I was shocked to have more story missions afterwards (and tedious farm maintenance ones, too...).

[AKS]

I think you're missing the point of those missions entirely. What did you know about John's wife and child prior to those "tedious" missions? Those missions are there to let you interact and get a better sense of who your wife and child were. The simple and relatively easy missions that have you killing crows and rounding up cattle aren't supposed to blow you away. They are there to have you spend some time taking care of your family and get to know who they are. Returning to his family and escaping his violent past lifestyle was the dream John was striving for the entire game. I realize that many gamers seem to be conditioned that a video game ending must involve a planet exploding or some sort of outrageously over the top conclusion, but try to keep an open mind for a more mature and intelligent ending. R*'s choices for the conclusion(s) of RDR actually fit the game perfectly.

[poopface1]

I wonder if he even did the real last mission which is a stranger mission.

I already had a feeling that was going to happen. they foreshadow it when marston talks to his son in one part.

[facelike]

I was thinking the same thing. Dude hasn't found the final mission yet. There's 3 endings, and you know the real one when you hit it. It was quite worth it.

[poopface1]

jack says its about a man who gets revenge for his murdered father.

[Ace Killa 08]

nice one poopface, when that scene occurred i thought of typical western and really the same when i went through the stranger mission to lead me to the 3rd ending a western ending.

[USEYOURFIST]

your meant to dislike the ending

[Got2bemad2behere]

The guy who wrote this hasn't played the real ending. I don't know should I be mad at him for it or cut him some slack.

[Elimin8]

Because he should have finished before writing this article... He does sound like he did though...

[kneon]

The real ending is no better, it was too predictable. Most of the story was fairly unoriginal.

[Darkstorn]

It may be unoriginal in the Western genre, but considering how unpopular western films are these days, I honestly don't think most people saw the ending the way you did.

[Ace Killa 08]

i agree with darkstorm, it was the typical western but when was the last western game good like RDR, call of juarez never tried it and i dont know any more games before this except for Red dead revolver. theres no typical western games, it is unoriginal but its uncommon also.

[himdeel]

...but after telling me the ending it sounded typical for a western. Especially if you're older than 30 and have seen or read westerns made before 1980 you wouldnt be surpised by ending. RDR ends one of the handful of ways that most westerns end.

[AKS]

It fits quite well with what R* was going for with RDR. And I'm over 30 and have watched quite a few Westerns myself.

[MysticStrummer]

Yeah... you're just dead wrong. I thought the ending was outstanding.

[Rucury]

He's "dead wrong" because YOU "thought" the ending was outstanding?

So because you believe in something, it's automatically true and whoever disagrees is wrong?

Huh.

I loved the ending.

[nikkisixx2]

The ending is logical, I'll give it that, but

**spoiler**
i want to play as john damn it

[spandexxking]

you know theres a cheat to play as him again.

[bujasem_89]

please dude i cant stand that little twerps VOICE!!! its driving me MAD!!! YEEHAW FASTER FASTER :@ MOTHER F$*#@&

[aaron5829]

That was funny...

Bubbles+

"YeeHaw.. Faster, faster.."

LOL

[Ace Killa 08]

hes got a point though, playin john is better than the kiddo.

[AliTheBrit19]

The ending was awesome, very sad how John sacrificed himself.

And an interesting development how you then go on to play as your son

Bad article by the way, on a crappy "website" lols, website..

[Simon_Brezhnev]

Yeah i agree the ending was good John was never a hero so it should not a hero ending i like tragedies :)

[kneon]

SPOILER!!

I thought it was handled rather poorly. He just finished wiping out a few dozen soldiers, another dozen or so should have been easy. Sacrificing himself made no sense, how does he know they won't go after his wife? Remember she was an outlaw as well.

The logical ending would have been for John to wipe out the rest of the attackers, catch up with his family and make a run for Mexico. Remember he has friends in high places there. Plus you get the bonus chase scene into Mexico, possibly followed by a large battle as Reyes forces help to defend John. They would have had to adjust Reyes character though as he is an ass and may not have helped. Though that can work as well.

Now if they were determined for John to die then you should have had to play out the battle, it could have been epic, instead of lame. It would be easy to ensure John doesn't survive. Just keep piling on attackers until you fail, but make it last a while so you think you have a chance. Even if you do manage to make a break for it they could always have a sniper take John down. That would have been a much better ending.

[yojimbo_slice]

His wife dies anyway, so that was tied up in the end.

Reyes ends up being just as corrupt as the men he killed to get to power.

Getting pegged by a sniper would have been a better ending? Seriously?

[kneon]

If I recall the date on the cross she dies a few years later.

Yes Reyes is corrupt, but that could easily lead to a sequel, or john being betrayed yet again, or they could have had Reyes actually turn out to be not so bad after all.

Yes even the sniper would have been better, provided it happened right after you finish the big battle at the barn. But my preference would have been the battle would be unwinnable with no chance of escape, but you have to try anyway. As I said, that battle could have been truly epic if done right.

If they did offer the possibility of winning the battle it wouldn't have necessarily have had to have been a sniper that takes john down, it could just be some dieing soldiers last shot as you try to ride off. Or even better one of the mortally wounded government agents. there are lots of possibilities that get you to the same result in a more entertaining and emotional way than what was in the story. My immediate reaction to the ending was "well that's just stupid!!"

[bujasem_89]

i kept asking my self why didn't he use the window on the top of the barn to shoot and take cover or something ! but then i realized if he was dying then he wanted to have died a good old western mans death.

its just amazing how a game can get soo much hype and still deliver i enjoyed it way more than GTA, yet it still hasn't broke GTA numbers in sales it damn well should though .

lets just hope people recognize xD

[bujasem_89]

the ending was awesome but i was sooo angry that john was killed, i really grew to like the character , i put him right up there with snake and some other folk.

plus him dead means if there ever was a 2 its gonna be totally different :(, i was hoping to still play him even though rock star never did do that in any of their games

[xabmol]

They let you experience the family life you've been fighting for the entire game, so that when the bastard law men rip it away from you, it feels a bit jarring. And rightfully so. Also, I felt that going out in a blaze of glory was epic, and totally fit, because Marston knew he would just be hunted. Putting his family in jepordy.

Only thing I don't like about the ending is that now I'm stuck with Jack. I liked how they let you play as him for the 'real' final mission, but I liked playing as John. He was just a better character/cowboy.

[ChefDejon]

That whole part wasnt just filler it was so that you could get to know John's family and eventually the person who would take over the game, and it made the real ending that much more emotional. It was definitely planned, not just tacked on like this guy is saying.Amazing ending.

Also a tip for you guys who dont like playing as Jack... always make an extra save when you feel you are getting toward the end of a game.

[TooTall19]

RDR's ending was good. I just finished playing AC2, now that ending was a joke.

[Rucury]

Hush. Assassin's Creed 2 had a cool, albeit weird ending.

It gave it a "bigger than life" approach and I felt not many games do that nowadays.

-------------------Disclaimer ------------------------

The above mentioned is formally considered an OPINION.

Have a good day.

[-Gespenst-]

I knew something big was coming throughout both games but that ending just totally came from left field. I loved it. But then again, I really like sci-fi stuff in general.

[TooTall19]

I didn't mind it till she started talking to you, and then a stick fight to the death in the 21st century? Lame in my OPINION.

[frankymv]

I hated the ending

[iamnsuperman]

I agree I didn't like the main story missions at the end, I found them tedious and unnecessary

**Spoiler**

you do boring farm missions which were so boring. then you die which seamed unnecessary as I didn't want to play as his son but him dying I do admit a bit of a shock .....Then you do the stranger mission which was a bit of an anti climax because there is no big bang ending I was hoping from Rockstar. Also playing the whole game as one character just to change at the end felt a bit stupid. Also his son is a pussy and his voice irritated me

[xabmol]

You can see in Jacks eyes that he was expecting more from killing the man who killed his father. I think that final mission was ment to be rather anti climatic. It fits with the mantra of revenge.

[PirateThom]

Yep, spot on. Jack didn't get any solace out of his revenge, you could blantantly see that, which is why it was left as a stranger mission, barely part of the main game, something many will miss and left as an epilogue should be.

I loved the end of that game. It has this awesome segment followed by John doing the monotonous and very simple tasks of adjusting to ranch life, there's no danger and, as far as John is concerned, it's over... then it all goes to hell and he sacrifices himself so his family can escape and everything he had wanted to avoid for Jack is beyond his control. If the game had just ended with him returning home, it would have been too easy, too nice and too sappy for a man who was still viewed as a criminal. Sometimes, the "hero" has to die in order to validate everything that went before. There's no "redemption" in John getting to live his life with rustlers and bears being his biggest worries, he faced the same fate as Dutch and Williamson for the same crimes.

Red Dead Redemption WILL go down as one of the great video game stories just because of that twist and how well it worked, even in an open world.

[volkl30]

Precisely. Violence begets violence.

It was up to Jack to stop the cycle, and of course Ross had it comin, but a slew of bullets to that SOB did little to ease the pain of loss.

Alas, the call for blood is far too strong.

The only thing that could have possibly made that ending any better, was if Ross had a kid of his own...

[ballsofsteel]

again MAJOR SPOILERS so don't read

anyway the ending is fantastic in my opinion mainly because it deals with the same conflict as the entire game......"you can't run away from you past". The entire game you spend hunting down you ex posse members because the government is making you and your gang members answer for your past. when he finally gets his family back and doing this farm mission. John is still trying to find ways to answer for his past until the government agents come back for him. it when john is in his barn surrounded by the agents and army that john realizes that you can't run away from your past. and they only way a find redemption for his past is to face it straight on and he does and he pays with this life.

agent ross the man who kidnapped johns family, made him hunt down is ex gang members, and eventually killed john also has a past now and just like john he simply can't run away from it. So when john's son jack comes to him looking for revenge and redemption ross like john must face his past and like john it also cost him his life.

and now that Jack has found his redemption he turns and walks into the sunset. Westerns generally end in 2 ways either the hero walking off into the sunset or forfeiting his life.......RDR has both. RDR's story is nothing short of amazing imo and left me with a feeling on 2 other games have in my life. maybe it's might be deep for some to understand

[Azerach]

I thought it was one of the best endings in a video game in years *shrug*

Every time i see someone complaining about the ending i feel that its some person who got too attached to the main character and is now being a crybaby :D The twist at the end isnt one that you couldnt see coming midway through the game, as there are lots of clues leading up to that. The president/candidate promises to wipe out all gang members from the area, Ross definitely has an interest in taking down Marston.. But the ending was well constructed (unlike the mexico part of the game) so you were kind of hoping for a happy ending and then youre struck with the twist. I liked how it was done.

[BannedForNineYears]

So, he wanted it to end when

-spoilarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrz-

Mr. Marston got his family back.

-End spoilarrrrrrrrz-

Honestly, I'm glad it didn't end there.

[Dorwrath]

I thought it was a pretty good ending.

[CaptainMarvelQ8]

not every game does that,you know kill the main character
even though it was sad,and i wanted to play as john again....but to me its just a plus that made the game more dramatic

also the real ending was great..it was a relief that i got to kill the asshole Edgar Ross for his actions....i even teabagged him..oh it was such a relief getting my payback xD

[pimpmaster]

SPOILERS!!!

the ending was really lame, i liked that he died but it really wasnt done right. they should of looked at some other games like MGS3 and some RPGS for how to do sad parts in games they should of put some sad orchestral piece and be able to hear johns breath or heart beat as he opened the door.

[clarkdef]

Yes I agree, I liked the ending, but we have been playing as John for hours and the death should of been a lot more dramatic and heart string pulling, because thats me dying it should be special. If you guys have ever watched the end of a good 60s western then you will no what I am talking about.

good idea but execution not so good.

[mopground]

if they did that it would totally go against what john was saying about himself the entire game. and considering it was johns moment they executed it perfectly. although he sacrificed himself for his family john never considered himself a hero

[Nickster800]

I thought the ending was pretty good,I think they should make a sequel were you are John's son(whatever his name is) and your tracking down the men who killed your father, because it never explains why the mexicans, and the goverment workers(or who ever all of those people were) killed John.

[CaptainMarvelQ8]

his sons name was jack
..
and i dont think it needed any explanation.... because from what agent Edgar Ross says....that john has done many wrong things in the past and that in the end he had to be killed...and those people came to help Ross...or (maybe)had a grudge against john...

and since jack killed the man behind all off this (edgar rosss) i dont think it wold be necessary to kill the others

[Azerach]

"and since jack killed the man behind all off this (edgar rosss) i dont think it wold be necessary to kill the others"

Agree. Ross was the one who pulled the trigger and shot Dutch with Marstons weapon and said "It'll look better on the report"... For whom did it end up looking better? For Edgar Ross of course, because he had grounds to put down the last member of the gang on the count of murdering Dutch.

Edit: Although the president most surely had his hands in this... But a game about murdering the president? I dont think thats going to happen :D

[Dsnyder]

ATTTENTION N4G:ITS NOT OVER TILL THE CREDITS ROLL

[volkl30]

*FACEPALM*

[Dsnyder]

But ill try again

WARNING SPOILERS ETC

I was mad at first when John died. But then I thought about it and the foreshadowing was there the whole time. Ross refereed to John as a dying breed in the age of the machine. People who live off the land like john were becoming more and more scarce in the civilization age so John ultimately had to be wiped out but the "civilized" era. But in a way, we are all the ancestors of those people and I think Jack represented how the "cowboy" in all of us can live on through genrations.

I hated Jack at first. He was angsty and annoying and he lacked badass scars but I grew to like him. I still miss John and I hope I can unlock his skin later on.

[TABSF]

I loved the last missions, it was a great idea then I did the last mission and for me it killed it

Still though could see myself doing a second playthrough then never doing the final mission, John Marston what a character

[Red_Phoenix]

**Spoilers**
*
*
The actual ending is a side mission that you do as you play as the son. The side mission can be located in Blackwater, at the train station, and is given by a fellow marshal. This mission is for pure revenge and is pretty amusing. Once you finish this side mission, the credits play along with some spectacular music.
*
*
**End Spoilers**

[showtimefolks]

ending sucked even though it made some sense but whole game you killing like a super hero than they get to kill you while have no interaction in the ending

and rest of the way you play as his son i mean what? i started the side missions with john than have to play with his son lol nah nah nah traded mine after finishing great game ending sucks

[volkl30]

Sucks for you. You walk out of movies before the credits roll, right?

[DirtyLary]

Yet another POS opinion no one cares about.

Why is this on a news site?

Come on N4G clean your site up.

[-Gespenst-]

The ending is done in a very artful way. It was never going to be epic. He died bluntly; his culture swallowed by the expedience of emergent civilization. John simply couldn't be a part of it given his past and he had to die lest he impede the growth of civilization with his "savagery". He was totally outnumbered and his death was never going to be glorious. So many things culminate in that scene; it's too hard and restricting to attempt to describe in a comment.

[Brklynty1]

whats so bad about Jack avenging John? I liked it. and the last pick of when Jack turned to the screen and it turned red and wrote "Red Dead Redemption" looked epic. Btw i killed that bitch Ross with the same High Power Pistol he gave John.

[Socomer 1979]

The ending is sweet. I was frustrated ranching with the family because I was confused as to how it will end. I was surprised & I like that it wasn't really over until Jack mopped up the wild west.

Dutch said, it didn't matter because once he's dead they are going to need another monster to hunt. Then Dutch jumped. The new monster was in fact John. How dope is that?

[Bathyj]

I thought the end was great.

There IS no redemption for a life of crime.
That was their point I thought.
And his sins, only got passed on to his family, so naturally his sone set out for revenge. I thought it was a very natural, way to end it.

I just wish there was more to do. My favourite part of the game was herding cattle. I wish you got to maintain the ranch afterwards, herd cattle, guarding from poachers and wildlife, catching new horses, lyching criminals (cant believe to cant hang folk.)

PS
Still no MO. Bloody Legend of the West suit, I'll never get it.

[DaBadGuy]

*spoilers* The point of the ranch missions was to lull you into a false sense of security. Get you accustomed with your family, make you care about them. So, when the army comes to kill you and they kill your uncle, it's supposed to be a strong moment. You need to protect your family, you sacrifice yourself to save your wife and son. The point of the missions was to establish a bond with your wife and son and repair the hurt feelings, so that when that's all taken away, it means so much. The missions weren't simply thrown in to add an extra hour to the gameplay. Teaching your son to hunt, going with your wife to McFarlane's ranch, herding cattle with your uncle, it's all there to establish a bond. If they just rushed the ending, you know, you go back to your ranch, meet up with your family, then the army comes right away, that's too rushed. I liked the ending, it was unexpected, but fitting. Plus....there's also the other ending...

[SpaceFox]

The author is stupid! He completely missed the point of the ending. The game is called Red Dead Redemption, and the "1st ending" did not have John redeem himself.

*SPOILERS*

The only way for John to redeem himself and have the government leave his family alone would be for him to die. The old west is near its end and the government doesn't want people like John around, they wanted to get rid of everybody in Dutch's gang and that includes John.

The missions at John's home were not filler missions, they were to introduce Jack as a character and help the player get accustomed to him, so when you finally get to play as Jack it doesnt feel awkward and rushed. Ending the game the second you got home would have honestly just been a lame and generic "happy ending". That wasn't the point of the game, shit happens and that Edgar Ross guy was a grade A douchebag. Why would he ever leave John alone? He wouldnt, he would either keep asking favors or kill him when he was done. He was done. And John also couldn't run away or kill everyone like a badass, if he did he'd be on the run forever and his family would be in danger.

[rakunado]

LOL some people need everything to end it the way they want it. Just because something doesn't go their way, they bring on the hate.

Nice to know how some people have very closed minds. Now just picture these people running a country in politics. Yep they exist in our political parties. Geez makes you scared don't it? No wonder we never really experience true peace in this world.

SPOILERS:

I was dissapointed that I had to play Jack, but honestly did we all really think John would get away scott free? He was a criminal for god's sake and he killed people. No matter how we twist it, THIS to me is the endings the GTA's should have. John on the otherhand in that final scene, expected it to come all along. It's an ending that we all may not like, but really fulfills the purpose of signifying the end of an era, like as if John was one of the last cowboy/bandit(s), kind of like butch cassidy and the sundance kid(the end of western bank robberies). Its a neat way to look at it. Also I believe the game is kinda saying, if you follow the bad path, redemption is an idea, not a reality.

[Lirky]

(spoilers)

the ending was fine.. its just u have to get use to using jack and theres nothing else for jack to do.

[Focker420]

I thought the second ending was the real ending. When you're Jack, you don't go to Ross and challenge him to a duel. Thats just plain stupid. He would've walked over and blown him away with a shotgun. Right in his face. And why did Jack wait years before he got revenge?? Overall I was disappointed in the ending. Yes John dying was an excellent finisher, but it was for all the wrong reasons. His wife was a wh*re and a b*tch, and his son was a little pr*ck. Marston traveled to hell and back and this is how they treat him. I would've liked to have seen Bonnie incorporated into the ending. They had a real connection throughout, and it could've ended in a similar fashion. He lives with Bonnie, the law comes to kill him, and she gets revenge. Instead of the son that didn't even give a sh*t. Marston dying in Bonnie's arms would've been a little more heartfelt. The 'redemption' felt very weak and pointless coming from the son. Plus who all would've preferred playing as Bonnie instead of Jack?? I know I would. The ending definitely needed work, but Marston dying was spot on. I was in shock when it happened cause I thought I could actually kill them all lol.

[Silver_Faux]

The whole point of John dying is to signify the end of the Wild West. I thought it was a fitting ending to an outstanding game. Yes everyone would prefer to play as John but its good how he becomes immortalised as a legend from the old west.

[Focker420]

To my above post, I didn't explain how Bonnie could tie in. Since John's wife was a wh*re, after they reunite and are coming back from Mcfarlane's Ranch, she could say how much she likes Bonnie. Then she'll mention that she cheated on him while he was away. :cues crying: So, Jack then runs off to go hunting and John chases after and shows up as hes getting killed by that bear. Would've been an awesome scene. Then John comes home, they do the funeral thing, and then Mrs. Marston goes on a walk. Later John finds a note saying she lost her son, that she was just a wh*re, and she was never cut out for the 'farmer' lifestyle he wanted. He rides up the street to 'Broken Tree' only to find that she had hung herself. He gets back and the Uncle says theres trouble at Mcfarlane's Ranch, Uncle goes with him and gets killed at Mcfarlane's. He saves Bonnie (again), and right after she kisses him. They do the ranching thing a bit, marshals show up to kill him. He tells her to wait in the house. He ends up in the barn and its the same ending as before. Except Bonnie runs over to him after hes shot and its a drama moment. Then she gets revenge later on like Jack did. Just one way the ending IMO could've been better. A wh*re wife and a pr*ck son didn't sit well with me.

[Silver_Faux]

To be honest the people chucking a hissy fit about the ending like this douche are just big sooks because their game doesnt do what it wants and can't appreciate a good story. Boo fucking Hoo.

[thedarkvault]

spoiler alert - most games have shitty endings.

[You Noob]

This guy is a complete idiot!

[04soldier]

I actually felt something for John Marston as he peered out of his barn and realizes that its over for him. He was a loose end and Edgar Ross could not let him live knowing good and well a criminal helped kill more criminals alongside the federal government.

And when the graves were shown of his Mom and Dad and the camera panned out to a disgruntled vengeful Jack marston. That scene was priceless. This ending was what I look forward to in my AAA single player games.

This why I detested GTAIV ending. Sure it wasn't a goody goody happily ever after ending but it didn't drag down my spirits to a new low neither. It simply offered the title of the game at the end REDEMPTION....