What Can’t You Do as John Marston in Red Dead Redemption 2?
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While the epilogue of Red Dead Redemption 2 allows players to continue exploring the vast open world as John Marston, stepping into Arthur Morgan’s boots for the first six chapters leaves a unique imprint on the experience. While John inherits much from Arthur, certain aspects, nuances, and interactions are irrevocably tied to Arthur’s character and are simply not replicable as John. This article delves into those differences, exploring what John Marston can’t do in Red Dead Redemption 2, and why those limitations matter.
Core Differences in Gameplay and Narrative
The differences aren’t just about gameplay mechanics; they’re deeply rooted in the narrative and the individual character arcs. John, though a capable gunslinger, is fundamentally different from Arthur in personality, background, and how the world reacts to him.
Here’s a breakdown of what John can’t quite replicate:
- Arthur’s Distinct Dialogue and Interactions: Arthur has unique ways of greeting people (“Hey there, mister!”, “Howdy, partner.”). While John has his own lines, the delivery and the contextual interactions established with NPCs during Arthur’s time are noticeably different and absent. John’s interactions are generally gruffer, and he lacks the same level of nuanced responses.
- Certain Stranger Missions: While John can complete the vast majority of Stranger Missions started by Arthur, a select few are exclusively Arthur’s domain. The most notable exceptions revolve around Mary Linton, Arthur’s former love. The narrative weight and emotional connection underpinning these missions simply don’t translate to John.
- Arthur’s Handwriting and Journal Entries: Arthur’s journal is a treasure trove of sketches, observations, and personal reflections. As John, you can view these entries, but you cannot add new ones in Arthur’s style. This visual and narrative element is unique to Arthur.
- The Weight of Arthur’s Story on Interactions: People who knew Arthur will react differently to John. Encounters with former gang members or individuals Arthur helped or wronged carry the weight of Arthur’s actions, not John’s. This creates a slightly awkward, albeit realistic, sense of disconnect.
- Maintaining the Same Level of Camp Immersion (Pre-Epilogue): While John establishes his own camp during the epilogue, he never fully integrates into the Van der Linde gang’s camp the way Arthur did. Arthur was a core member; John is more of an outsider, even after all those years.
- Looking exactly like Arthur: This applies mainly to weight and beard length. While you can change John’s appearance, Arthur has much greater variety in beard styles.
Aesthetic and Cosmetic Limitations
Beyond the narrative, some cosmetic and aesthetic differences prevent John from fully embodying Arthur’s presence.
- The Impeccable Beard: While John can grow a beard, it doesn’t quite reach the same level of fullness or detail as Arthur’s. This is a widely noted difference by players, and while a minor detail, it contributes to the overall feeling that John is not just Arthur in a different skin.
- Arthur’s Unique Outfits (Perfectly Worn): While John inherits all of Arthur’s clothes, they never seem to fit exactly the same. It’s subtle, but Arthur’s clothes seem tailor-made to his character.
- Humming While Riding: Arthur has a distinct tendency to hum while riding his horse, a small but endearing detail absent from John’s character.
- Arthur’s body frame: Arthur is a bigger guy compared to John.
Gameplay Restrictions
Although John has access to most gameplay mechanics, some subtle differences exist:
- Swimming: This is a well-known and significant difference. John Marston cannot swim. Plunging into deep water results in immediate death, a direct carryover from the first Red Dead Redemption. Arthur, on the other hand, can swim.
- Hunting Certain Animals with the Same Flair: While John is a proficient hunter, Arthur’s connection to the wilderness feels deeper. Some players report that the tracking and skinning animations feel slightly less impactful with John.
- Doing all the same camp activities: As Arthur you can do chores such as chopping wood and carrying hay. John can’t do those.
The Emotional Disconnect
Perhaps the most significant difference is the emotional connection:
- Replicating Arthur’s Emotional Impact on the Player: Arthur’s journey, his struggles, and his ultimate sacrifice resonate deeply with players. Stepping into John’s shoes after witnessing Arthur’s story feels different. While John is a beloved character in his own right, he lacks the same level of profound emotional connection.
- Reaching the Same Level of Character Growth: Arthur’s character arc is a central theme of RDR2. John, while growing as a person during the epilogue, doesn’t undergo the same profound transformation. He is already a more established character at the start of his playable segment.
While John Marston inherits the open world, the gameplay, and much of Arthur’s legacy, certain unique elements remain firmly tethered to Arthur Morgan, shaping the player experience in a distinct way. This isn’t a criticism of John; rather, it highlights the exceptional depth and complexity of Arthur’s character and the indelible mark he leaves on Red Dead Redemption 2.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can John complete all the challenges that Arthur could?
Yes, John can complete all the challenges that Arthur could. This includes challenges related to hunting, gambling, exploration, and more. Completing these challenges contributes to overall game completion and unlocks various rewards.
2. Can John get Arthur’s horse?
No, John cannot get Arthur’s horse back. Any horses owned by Arthur are considered “lost” after his death and do not transfer over to John in the epilogue. Players must find and bond with new horses as John.
3. Can John visit Arthur’s grave?
Yes, John can visit Arthur’s grave. It’s located on a mountain northeast of Bacchus Bridge. The epitaph on the grave changes based on Arthur’s honor level.
4. Can John do all of Arthur’s side missions?
John can do almost all of Arthur’s side missions, with the exception of those directly related to Mary Linton, Arthur’s former love interest. These missions are not available as John due to the narrative disconnect.
5. Does John have Arthur’s journal?
John can access and read Arthur’s journal in the epilogue. However, he cannot add new entries or sketches in Arthur’s style.
6. Can John get all of Arthur’s weapons?
Yes, John inherits all of Arthur’s weapons fairly early in the epilogue. These weapons can be found in John’s inventory and used throughout the remainder of the game.
7. Can John change his appearance to look exactly like Arthur?
No, John cannot change his appearance to look exactly like Arthur. While John can alter his hairstyle, facial hair, and clothing, there are limitations. He can’t achieve the same beard length or facial structure as Arthur.
8. Can John swim in Red Dead Redemption 2?
No, John Marston cannot swim in Red Dead Redemption 2. This is a consistent characteristic from the first Red Dead Redemption and remains true in the prequel. Entering deep water will result in John’s death.
9. Can John improve the camp like Arthur did?
While John establishes a camp during the epilogue, he doesn’t participate in improving the Van der Linde gang’s camp the same way Arthur did in the main story. Camp upgrades and donations are largely absent during John’s playable portion until he has his own ranch.
10. Can John find Dutch’s hidden money?
Yes, John finds a chest containing the Blackwater money in the mission “American Venom.” He divides the money with Charles and Sadie.
11. Can John interact with the same NPCs that Arthur could?
John can interact with many of the same NPCs that Arthur encountered, but the dialogue and reactions may differ based on their relationship with Arthur and the events that transpired during the main story.
12. Can John get the same honor level as Arthur?
Yes, John can achieve both high and low honor levels, just like Arthur. Honor level affects NPC interactions, story outcomes, and the epitaph on Arthur’s grave.
13. Can John buy the same horses as Arthur?
John can purchase many of the same horse breeds that Arthur could. However, any specific horses owned by Arthur are not recoverable.
14. What happens to Arthur’s money when you start playing as John?
Arthur’s money is lost when you transition to John in the epilogue. John starts with a small amount of money and must rebuild his wealth through missions, hunting, and other activities.
15. Can John complete all of Arthur’s outfits?
Yes, John can acquire and wear all of Arthur’s outfits in the epilogue. This allows players to customize John’s appearance and honor Arthur’s memory.
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