A First Look at Wildlife, Horses, and Fishing in Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 features a flourishing ecosystem and will let you fish and hunt to your heart’s content with over 200 species.

Rockstar Games has been releasing new information about the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 over the past few weeks and leading up to the October 26 release date. Last week we learned about the many towns and this week we get a look at the wildlife. This includes everything from native wildlife that’s there to make the world feel more lively, to bears trying to eat you for lunch, and many animals that can be hunted for food, materials, and income.

Wildlife

Red Dead Redemption 2 will feature many diverse habitats and climates filled with over 200 species of wildlife. These animals, birds, fish, predators, and other wildlife will all behave differently and appropriately for their species and location. Salmon will swim upstream, for example, while players may encounter a pack of wolves in the forest or a herd of bison in the prairies. The entire ecosystem is modeled after real-life scenarios, so you’ll see plenty of animals fighting for their place in the food chain.

Hunting and Fishing

Hunting and fishing are an essential part of many survival-themed video games these days, but in Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar Games intends for those activities to be a natural part of everyday life. Whether you’ll need to go out to hunt deer for nourishment or require their hide to craft a new outfit, hunting could easily fill hours of your time. You can even sell the spoils of your hunt to local merchants. As such, the experience is tailored to be involved and realistic.

Tracking an animal takes focus and patience; move carefully and watch the wind direction or you will alert your prey. Choice of weapon and shot placement are also very important and will affect the quality of the meat and pelt, which in turn affects the price that traders will pay for them. Make sure to pick the right gauge of rifle for the size of animal that you’re hunting, or master the use of the bow for a quiet and clean kill.

I would expect hunting and fishing to be a lot of fun in Red Dead Redemption 2 as it wouldn’t be the first time that Rockstar Games manages to make seemingly unimportant activities rival those games dedicated to that purpose. Playing tennis or golf in Grand Theft Auto V, for example, provided some of the best experiences of those activities in any game.

Your Bond With Your Horse

Red Dead Redemption 2 wouldn’t be much of a cowboy game without horses playing an integral part. Players can acquire horses by capturing them in the wild and taming them or by purchasing them from a local stable. You’ll be able to maintain several horses and store them in stables, where you can also buy equipment, food to keep your companion well-fed and healthy, as well as customize all of their gear.

Your horse is your constant companion, and you will rely on them just as heavily as on any of your fellow gang members so it is important to take good care of your animal. By keeping it groomed and well-fed, you will start to see improvements in stamina, performance and handling and it will become less skittish as the bond grows between you. With 59 different styles of coat, and a huge range of customizable tack, including saddles, horns, stirrups, spurs, you can create a horse that is truly your own, and develop a personal and unique relationship as you explore the world together.

It doesn’t seem far-fetched to imagine spending countless hours just living in the world of Red Dead Redemption 2. Spending time with your horse, hunting, and fishing, and just exploring the wildlife in the varied climates and regions of the game might be quite a distraction from whatever quests you’ve got going on. A welcome distraction, however, and one that I cannot wait to get my hands on when Red Dead Redemption 2 releases on October 26 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.