Spoilers for Red Dead Redemption 1 & 2
The Red Dead Redemption franchise boasts two compelling, wonderfully-written protagonists with John Marston and Arthur Morgan. These two chapters illustrate the harsh, unforgiving nature of the Wild West era, and John and Arthur experience this change in both different and similar ways. After the fates of these protagonists, Red Dead Redemption now has the tough task of choosing its next lead if a third game is ever made.
Unfortunately, it may be a long time before RDR3 ever sees the light of day, if at all. The wait between GTA 5 and GTA 6 will be a whopping 13 years by the time its successor arrives, so there’s no telling how long a third Red Dead Redemption game will take to make. There is still hope, though, and if RDR3 happens, John’s son, Jack Marston, is one of the more obvious choices to lead the story. Even better, his age makes him one of Rockstar’s most useful characters.
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Throughout the Red Dead Redemption franchise, players watch Jack grow over the years. At the beginning of RDR2 he’s 4, but by the time RDR1 starts, he’s 16. After the murder of his father at the hands of Agent Edgar Ross, Jack hunts him down, which is where players see him as a grown man in the epilogue. Although he’s 19, his appearance looks nearly a decade older. Of course, this is due to the years of trauma and the harsh and unstable living environment he experienced throughout his childhood, but it’s still surprising seeing just how much that has affected his appearance by the time he finds Ross. Jack Marston starring in RDR3 wouldn’t just mean that the Marston name can live on in the next story; it also means that Rockstar could utilize the character for years.
There are several blatant references to Red Dead Redemption in GTA 5, but one of the most notable is a book that can easily be missed. When observing Franklin’s book collection at his home in Vinewood Hills, players can find a blue book titled “Red Dead” that is written by an author named J. Marston.
Of course, this could simply be a meaningful nod to the western franchise, but it could also confirm that Jack grew up to follow his dreams of being a writer. Over the years, fans have come to realize how interesting Jack Marston’s life would have been if he lived into old age.
Between both World Wars, the Great Depression, Elvis, The Beatles, the assassination of JFK, the moon landing, Vietnam, and a long list of other major historical events, Jack may have lived to see a myriad of fascinating moments. By the time RDR1‘s epilogue happens, the Wild West era is over, and this could open some fascinating avenues for Rockstar to explore with Jack.
Jack Marston starring in RDR3 wouldn’t just mean that the Marston name can live on in the next story; it also means that Rockstar could utilize the character for years.
Such a bold departure would be controversial, but Jack could continue to lead the franchise into the future, allowing Rockstar to showcase a variety of historical periods. Red Dead Redemption‘s legacy has been defined by its western setting, but that has also kept it from growing at the same pace as GTA, because there is only a short time period to work with. Taking this direction with Jack Marston would be a huge risk, but it could be well worth it.
8/10
May 18, 2010
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
Rockstar San Diego
rockstar advanced game engine
