Red Dead Redemption 2 is a gem in Rockstar Games’ ever-impressive library, and that’s saying something when you consider that it’s up against titles like the Grand Theft Auto series. Don’t forget 2010’s Red Dead Redemption.
When Red Dead Redemption 2 was released in 2018, it instantly became a household name, garnering ratings as high as 96 on aggregator sites like Metacritic and earning “must-play” recognition, which is why fans have been eagerly awaiting the release. Red Dead Redemption 3.
To this day, players are still having fun with Red Dead Redemption 2, whether it’s the main story missions or activities like hunting down legendary animals or tracking down the worst criminals of the Wild West (a.k.a. the exception to our group). That said, as fun as Red Dead Redemption 2 is, questions should be asked about the fact that it won the ‘Labour of Love’ award at the 2023 Steam Awards, five years after its release.
In 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2 would have deserved any award, and if Rockstar Games hadn’t dropped major content support for Red Dead Online, a ‘Labour of Love’ award in 2023 would have been justified.
According to Comicbook.com, five years after its release, one player discovered a secret that many players may have missed. The quest in question concerns a bounty for NPC Mark Johnson. By accepting the bounty, you will eventually find Mark Johnson living in the forest with his wife and son. When you find them, Johnson’s wife warns her family of your approach. Johnson is a killer, but instead of fighting when you pick him up, he tells you he’s changed and will come quietly to say goodbye to his family.
Still, if you kill his wife in cold blood (and let his son get away) and then tie up Mark Johnson to take him to the sheriff, he’ll be understandably upset. After taking him to the sheriff to be sent to jail and returning a day later, Arthur apologizes to Mark Johnson. Doesn’t mean much after you just killed his wife.
When you return to the sheriff’s place a week later, you find that Mark Johnson is about to be executed for his past crimes. Before he faces death, you can take down everyone in the force, making yourself a wanted man. Flee the scene, wait for your wanted level to drop, then return to where Mark Johnson is still tied up. You can now pull the rope, freeing the wanted man to live his life with his son. However he is now a widower and his son is bereft of his mother. So, hooray?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PlayStation and Xbox.
