Despite being one of the greatest games of all time, Red Dead Redemption 2’s slow beginning through the snow has left many players frustrated.

There’s no denying how great Red Dead Redemption 2 is. Not only does the game offer an immersive narrative and complex characters, but it also takes a step ahead with its breathtaking landscapes and deep player agency. It’s become a benchmark in storytelling and open-world design over the years.

The game is regarded as one of the best ever made. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games

However, like many great works of art, RDR2 also has a flaw that’s very hard to ignore: its agonizingly slow beginning through the snow. The opening hours spent slowly trekking through snow-covered terrain at a painstakingly snail’s pace, have left many players frustrated, even though they love the game.

Red Dead Redemption 2‘s slow start that tests patience

Gamers didn’t enjoy the slow and snowy start of the game. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games

One common trait among many open-world games is their slow, deliberate pacing at the start. Developers often use these starting hours to set the stage for the game, introduce players to key mechanics, and immerse them in the world before the real adventure begins.

This predetermined pace is also present in Red Dead Redemption 2. The start of the game has the infamous snow sequence, where players trek through the frozen wilderness at a slow pace (while following an NPC).

Over the years, this sequence has become a defining moment of the game, not for its realistic and incredibly detailed it is, but for how incredibly slow it makes the game feel at the start.

Fans have voiced their frustration with this slow start, with some even admitting that it was enough to make them put off restarting a new save. Some may argue that it’s a necessary evil as it’s essential to establish the game’s tone and world, but still, that doesn’t make it any less painful.

The thread is filled with players calling out various open-world games for their slow start. Some even say that they’d rather not repeat the slow opening sequence. While it’s understandable, why there is a slow start, it’s hard not to acknowledge that this makes the start feel like a chore.

A brilliant journey that just takes too much time to get going

The game picks up the pace and shows why it is one of the best. | Image Credit: Rockstar Games

Despite its slow introduction, RDR2 eventually picks up the pace and rewards players with a rich experience that is well worth the wait. As the narrative progresses, players are given more freedom, meet new characters, and have the opportunity to explore a beautifully detailed landscape.

Not only these towns are filled with immersive stories and side quests, but they also contain some of the best side characters that can give moments of pure gaming bliss. It’s in these later sections, that the game really comes to life.

Players find themselves getting lost in the world, forging relationships with characters, and facing moral choices that affect the course of the story. The pace may be slow at first, but once it picks up, the game demonstrates why it’s one of the best in the industry.

As fans eagerly await the release of Rockstar’s next big project: Grand Theft Auto VI, they are hoping that Rockstar will return to the world of Red Dead Redemption for a potential RDR3.

In the end, Rockstar has created something truly special with RDR2, and though the slow start might turn some away from restarting from the start, it’s a small price to pay for the unforgettable adventure that follows.