Has Anyone Ever Truly Fully Completed Red Dead Redemption 2? A Deep Dive
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Yes, someone has fully completed Red Dead Redemption 2, though the definition of “fully” is where things get interesting. Completing the main story missions is one thing. Achieving 100% completion, as defined by Rockstar Games, is an entirely different beast, a testament to dedication and the sheer scope of the game. However, even achieving 100% completion might not satisfy some players who define “fully completed” by exploring every single nook and cranny of the vast open world and discovering all its secrets.
The Road to 100% Completion: More Than Just the Story
Red Dead Redemption 2’s 100% completion isn’t simply about finishing the main storyline. It requires a player to dive deep into every aspect of the game, from completing specific side missions to discovering hidden locations and mastering various challenges. It’s a long and arduous journey, requiring dedication, patience, and a willingness to explore every corner of the game’s meticulously crafted world.
What does 100% completion actually entail? Here’s a breakdown of some key requirements:
- Completing the Main Story: Obviously, you need to finish all the main missions in both chapters of the story.
- Stranger Missions: You must complete 10 Stranger mission strands.
- Bounty Hunting: Catching specific bounty targets are a must.
- Collecting Items: This involves finding collectibles such as dinosaur bones, rock carvings, dreamcatchers, and exotic items, which are linked to specific side quests.
- Compendium Completion: Studying and skinning or studying and observing animals listed within the game’s Compendium.
- Challenges: Master the 9 challenge categories which include Explorer, Gambler, Herbalist, Horseman, Master Hunter, Sharpshooter, Survivalist, Trader, and Bandit.
- Encounters: Having and surviving 25 chance encounters
- Finding all Gang Hideouts: Discovering and clearing all gang hideouts across the map.
- Fishing: Catching every type of fish.
- Weapons: Finding and using every type of unique weapon
- Graves: Visiting all 9 graves from previous characters.
- Survival: This may be a difficult one for some, but you need to survive different ambushes.
- Other: Play all table games in each town (dominoes, poker, blackjack, and five finger fillet).
Essentially, 100% completion requires a player to become intimately familiar with every facet of the game. This is a much more involved undertaking than simply rolling credits after the main storyline concludes.
Beyond 100%: The Elusive “True” Completion
Even after achieving the game’s defined 100% completion, some argue that true completion requires even more. This involves activities like:
- Hunting Every Animal: Tracking down and studying/skinning every single animal species in the game, filling out the compendium completely.
- Discovering All Easter Eggs: Finding all the hidden secrets and references scattered throughout the world.
- Mastering All Weapons: Becoming proficient with every weapon, including mastering the Dead Eye system.
- Exploring Every Location: Visting and discovering every location of the map, including those without specific names and hidden locations.
- Maxing Out All Stats: Achieving maximum levels for all of Arthur/John’s stats.
- Finding all legendary animals: Finding all legendary animals and creating trinkets or cloths out of their parts.
- Completing all daily challenges in Red Dead Online: Some players will transition to Red Dead Online and participate in all daily challenges.
These goals are more subjective and driven by the player’s own desire for absolute mastery.
Is It Worth the Effort?
That’s a personal question. For some, the satisfaction of achieving 100% or “true” completion is immense. It provides a sense of accomplishment and mastery over the game’s world. The world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is filled with content that may take months or even years for a player to explore. For others, the grind may outweigh the reward.
Red Dead Redemption 2 and Learning
The dedication required to “fully” complete a game like Red Dead Redemption 2 highlights some interesting aspects of gaming and learning. The problem-solving skills, perseverance, and strategic thinking required to overcome challenges and master the game’s systems can be valuable assets in real-life situations. The sense of accomplishment can also boost confidence and self-esteem. Furthermore, it can promote exploration and learning about history.
You can learn more about how games can aid in learning through the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is considered 100% completion in Red Dead Redemption 2?
100% completion as defined by Rockstar Games involves completing the main story, completing 10 Stranger mission strands, bounty hunting, finding collectibles, completing challenges, clearing gang hideouts, and various other tasks.
2. How long does it take to achieve 100% completion in Red Dead Redemption 2?
It varies greatly depending on the player, but typically takes between 150-200 hours or more.
3. Can you achieve 100% completion as Arthur Morgan?
Yes, you can achieve 100% completion as Arthur Morgan. However, some tasks are easier to complete as John Marston due to map access and story progression.
4. What are the most difficult tasks to complete for 100% completion?
Many players find the Gambler challenges and certain hunting requests to be the most challenging and frustrating.
5. Is there a reward for achieving 100% completion?
Yes, you receive an in-game trophy/achievement and unlock a special cutscene showing Arthur or John reflecting on their journey. You also earn the satisfaction of completing a monumental task.
6. What are Stranger Missions?
Stranger Missions are side quests given by non-player characters (NPCs) that offer unique storylines and rewards. 10 of these missions need to be fully completed.
7. What is the Compendium?
The Compendium is an in-game encyclopedia that tracks animals, plants, weapons, and other items you discover throughout the game.
8. Do I need to complete all the optional missions for 100% completion?
No, only certain Stranger Missions and main story missions are required. Optional missions can be skipped, but may be worth doing.
9. Is Red Dead Online completion required for Red Dead Redemption 2’s 100% completion?
No, Red Dead Online progress is separate from the single-player campaign.
10. What happens after 100% completion?
You can continue exploring the world, completing optional tasks, and simply enjoying the game. Some players start a new playthrough with different choices.
11. Does difficulty affect 100% completion?
No, the game’s difficulty setting does not impact your ability to achieve 100% completion.
12. Is there any downloadable content (DLC) that is required for 100% completion?
No, 100% completion refers only to the base game content. DLC content is separate.
13. Where can I find a 100% completion checklist?
Numerous websites and online forums offer detailed checklists and guides for achieving 100% completion in Red Dead Redemption 2.
14. What is the purpose of hunting legendary animals?
Hunting legendary animals allows you to craft unique clothing items and trinkets that provide gameplay benefits. Some legendary animals also count towards compendium progress.
15. Is it possible to miss any content that would prevent me from achieving 100%?
Yes, there are missable content, such as certain companion activities and side missions that become unavailable after a certain point in the story. So it is important to keep an eye out for those things!