Summary
Spoilers forRed Dead RedemptionandRed Dead Redemption 2are ahead.
TheRed Dead Redemptiongames focus on the Van der Linde gang and how the members deal with various moral dilemmas. In the first game, players follow John Marston as he attempts to save his family that has been taken hostage by the government, which wishes to use him to bring justice to the broken-up Van der Linde gang. The prequel,Red Dead Redemption 2, shines a light on Arthur Morgan and how the gang gradually disintegrates.
Red Dead Redemption 2is a celebrated open-world game that raked in tons of money for Rockstar, leaving players wanting more. The nextRed Dead Redemptiongame is in a difficult position with one character - Dutch Van der Linde. As the gang’s leader, he is an integral part of the plot. However, if the next game isn’t another prequel, the franchise may have to say goodbye to him.
InRed Dead Redemption 2,Dutch Van der Lindeis a charismatic leader with a silver tongue. He convinces the gang members that they are fighting for a noble cause, even when they are robbing and murdering folks. Arthur Morgan views Dutch as a mentor, though things begin to change as the game progresses.
Slowly but surely, signs show that Dutch is unhinged, and he becomes obsessed with revenge. This is seen when he goes after Colm O’Driscol, the leader of theO’Driscoll gang, and makes sure that he is hanged. He also seeks revenge against Angelo Bronte the Italian mobster, and feeds him to alligators. Dutch isn’t all bad, however, and despite his flaws, he does make some good social commentary, causing players to consider the consequences of modernity and the role of law enforcement.
His story continues in the firstRed Dead Redemptiongame where he aligns himself with a Native American tribe. After the collapse of his gang, Dutch has grown to despise modernity and the changes it brings.John Marstoneventually corners Dutch, who chooses to throw himself off a mountain and fall to his death.
Many of the main themes of the franchise are delivered through Dutch. It is through his character that players witness the futility of revenge.As Arthur Morgan points out, “revenge is a fool’s game.” Dutch also highlights the effects of modernity, and how it leaves certain people and groups disenfranchised. He takes advantage of this to get the Native Americans on his side, though his intentions are dubious.
Dutch is a complex character, leaving players with varied opinions about him. To some, he is a tragic hero who falters due to his greed, ambition, lust for revenge, and violent nature, while to others, he is an irredeemable villain who is murderous and leads others astray. His complexities cause him to become the linchpin of the series and an irreplaceable part of theVan der Linde gang.
Dutch Van Der Linde is a Tough Act to Follow
AfutureRed Dead Redemptiongamemust deal with Dutch’s absence if it takes place in a different time period, especially if that period is after the events of the first game. Without Dutch, developers will have to come up with a new character that can match his charisma and enigmatic personality, which is no easy task. The simplest way to skirt around this issue would be to make another prequel, though this comes with its own problems, as it could result in a new game treading old ground, leaving players bored.
Dutch remains one of the most complicated characters in gaming, and it is difficult to imagine theRed Dead Redemptionfranchise without him. However, this is a path Rockstar may have to take if it wishes to keep the franchise interesting. This leaves developers with a dilemma, as they have to decide whether to include the gang leader in the next game or not. Either path is fraught with risks, highlighting how Dutch may just be the most important character in the series.
Red Dead Redemption 2
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
