At the mention of the term ‘Wild West’ a flood of associations pour into the mind: Cowboys and Indians, last chance saloons, Billy the Kid, showdowns at high noon, Back to the Future Part III, rolling tumbleweed – the list goes on. In years to come perhaps Rockstar San Diego’s Red Dead Redemption, set in the years prior to World War I at a time when the American frontier succumbed to the expanding reach of government and industrial advancement, will have a rightful place in that list. Since its official announcement last February this title has been at the top of many gamers’ wish lists. Now it’s finally here, is the follow-up to 2004’s Red Dead Revolver really worth your fistful of dollars?

Influenced no doubt by the Spaghetti Westerns directed by the likes of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood, RDR tells a brilliant but bloody tale of betrayal, revenge and (as the game’s title suggests) redemption. Players step into the boots of ex-bandit John Marston, whose plan to leave his criminal past behind him is thwarted by the government. A newly-established Bureau is trying to bring members of his old posse to justice, and after countless failed attempts to capture the criminals federal officials turn to him for help. The reformed outlaw is understandably reluctant to hunt down his former Brothers is Arms, but when the lives of his wife and son are threatened by the local authorities, he is left with no choice but to cooperate.

The narrative grips you from the moment you arrive at Armadillo Station. Marston himself is arguably the deepest, most compelling protagonist Rockstar has ever created. His complexion is scarred and weathered, his utterances stoic and rational, and his background shrouded in quandary and mystery making him more than just a trigger-happy bounty hunter. In fact, there is an unprecedented amount of depth and personality apparent in almost all of RDR’s characters, regardless of their overall importance, from fraudulent salesmen and alcoholic arms dealers to deluded grave robbers and thrill-seeking journalists. As the events of this action adventure epic unfold through a mixture of tidy cut-scenes, well-written dialogues and diverse gameplay scenarios, players can only become more and more engrossed.

That being said, the true star of RDR is the landscape. Marston’s search for his past cohort requires players to travel in an out of three distinct and contrasting environments: the rural, lawless border of New Austin, the sun-scorched canyons of Mexico’s Nuevo Paraiso, and the industrialised civilisation of West Elizabeth. Amazingly, each lavishly-detailed set piece flows seamlessly into the next, allowing you to navigate between humble farmlands, perilous mountain passes, isolated settlements and fortified townships without being inconvenienced by in-game loading screens. Furthermore, this beautifully-rendered open-world playground is teaming with wildlife, which can be hunted and skinned for dividends if you’re prepared to compromise your wellbeing. Cattle roam the dusty plains preyed upon by wolves and yapping coyotes, bears and cougars prowl the barren hilltops, eagles and vultures patrol the skies above, and all at a stable frame rate. Both artistically and technically, this title is phenomenal.

True to the conventions of the sandbox genre, the onus is on the player to complete RDR as they see fit. Aside from the somewhat gung-ho main quest, there is a generous array of auxiliary activities to get involved in that encourage you to explore every nook and cranny of Rockstar’s wonderfully-crafted world. You’ll be surprised how easily the smallest distraction can lead you off the beaten track, whether it’s taming mustangs, hunting for treasure, rounding-up wanted fugitives, completing specified Ambient Challenges, or taking part in a variety of mini-games – and this is by no means a criticism. In fact, it’s actually quite nice having some more light-hearted things to do when you want to take a break from central missions. However, should you lose all your chips to a smug rancher in a game of Liar’s Dice and feel the urge to vent your unhappiness by offloading your Cattleman revolver, it is advisable to first consider the consequences.

Why? Because Marston’s morality is constantly monitored by an intelligent Honor and Fame barometer, and his reputation as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ determines how non-playable characters receive him. Players who carry out good deeds will be granted legendary status across the West, awarding them with discounts at general stores and assistance from local law enforcement in times of need, whereas committing repeated felonies will earn the respect and support of desperados and wrongdoers, strength in numbers being the benefit here. Just keep in mind that, until the bounty on your head is either cleared or served in prison, county Sheriffs won’t hesitate to put a bullet in your brain on sight.

Worry not though; if you find yourself in a gun-slinging situation, you can rely on an intuitive set of gunplay mechanics to prevent you from an unpleasant death. The familiar snap-to-target aiming system taken from Grand Theft Auto IV will do most of the hard work for you, and a context-sensitive cover button is at hand to give Marston protection when he needs to regenerate lost health. But RDR’s coolest feature is by far is Dead Eye. A press of R3 whilst holding L2 will temporarily slow the action (much like Bullet Time, as seen in the Max Payne series), allowing players to mark multiple targets before downing them with one accurate, lightning-quick burst of bullets.

Fire fights are fantastic to watch, too. Rockstar’s proprietary RAGE engine has been combined with NaturalMotion’s Euphoria character behaviour system to assign realistic reactions and physics to enemies as they ride the momentum of each gunshot. For example, if you cap a varmint’s leg with your sawn-off shotgun he’ll slump to the ground clutching his bleeding wound. Blast a bandit’s steed with your Winchester repeater rifle and it’ll collapse mid-gallop, throwing its rider to the dirt in reflex. As sadistic as this might sound, these interactive animations look splendid, and once you’ve witnessed them in slow motion you’ll want to embrace every opportunity to dispatch foes using Dead Eye – whether it’s to your tactical advantage or not.

Without question, the solo element of this title delivers plenty of bang for your buck, but to disregard the longevity on offer online would be absolute madness. Get connected and there’s a selection of Core and Hardcore modes to participate in, including Free-for-All, Gang Shootout, Hold your Own (the equivalent of Capture the Flag) and a frantic, every-man-for-himself treasure hunt called Gold Rush. Alternatively, you can remain in Free Roam, where you and up to 15 other cowboys and cowgirls are at liberty to mosey around the entire single player landscape fulfilling organised tasks, storming gang hideouts, improvising point-to-point races or repeatedly slaughtering one another - accumulating experience points that unlock new ranks, characters, armaments, mounts and game types along the way.

At face value, one could say that RDR is little more than GTA IV on horseback, yet after an hour or two of gameplay it becomes clear that Marston’s adventure significantly supersedes Nico Bellic’s. Rockstar has taken their successful tried-and-tested formula, refined it, expanded upon it, and produced possibly one of the greatest, most complete videogame packages in recent history. This authentic tribute the iconic Wild West is definitely a worthy contender for 2010’s Game of the Year, and the decision not to own a copy is a darn foolish one, ya hear?