The anticipated release of "Red Dead Online" beta testing may have ridden the wave of critical acclaim for "Red Dead Redemption 2's" single-player campaign, but it seems that the beta is definitely bringing a new experience that the stand-alone game has yet to provide. With access to the "Red Dead Online" beta still limited to a number of "Red Dead Redemption 2" owners, some fans may be wondering how exactly the online game is stacking up.
According to The Verge, "Red Dead Online" captures the expansive feel that the game's singleplayer campaign brings but the experience is definitely changed when other online gamers are encountered. The publication notes that while cooperative missions - both narrative and otherwise - are fun to play with friends, some activities are hard to execute without running into other online players dedicated to making a fellow gamer's experience miserable.
The Verge notes that even if "Red Dead Online" also includes an honor system similar to the base game, it does not seem to dissuade other gamers from participating in behaviors that negatively affect the experience of others. One of the other key diminished experiences of "Red Dead Online" that the publication points out is the fact that while its missions include cinematic scenes, the "Red Dead Online" custom character does not speak during such moments.
The Hollywood Reporter's own review of "Red Dead Online" also highlights the griefing activities described by The Verge, but takes the experience in a more positive light. According to the publication, the tension of knowing that another player may be plotting against their own plans is an addicting experience.
In addition, The Hollywood Reporter notes that players who start out in "Red Dead Online" will want to amass as much experience as possible to make sure that they can keep up with the game's many gamers-turned-bandits. The publication does point out a specific bug which required a restart during a loading screen after accomplishing a minor mission but it seems that the overall gameplay of "Red Dead Online" has been a smooth experience.
Based on the two publications' reviews, it seems that "Red Dead Online" is quite stable at the moment but players will have to consider that the current game world allows consistent player-against-player behavior. While Rockstar Games may eventually tweak this aspect of the game, it may not be significantly affected as the original vision was to allow players to engage in conflict with other rivals and posses.
"Red Dead Online" fans themselves have their own take on the online game's experience. Reddit user u/CaptainWhitebeard notes that while the activities in "Red Dead Online" are enjoyable to an extent, the lack of varied content may push the game to devolve into a simple "grief festival." It seems that while attacking other players is an essential component to "Red Dead Online," Rockstar Games will have to populate it with more interesting game modes to ensure that players are not driven off by those who would prefer player-versus-player content.
