Kean_1

It's not that big of deal IMO. Most times, the missions are not that far from the main camp but even so there are sometimes other options when they are. ....stagecoaches and trains for example. Personally, when out and about I take that opportunity to visit fences to unload goods, buy new weapons, do side activities / missions that may be available, get a haircut, etc. I like way R* has immersed me into the game world this way.

They even said that they wanted players to experience the campaign first. ....to get used to the game world, mechanics and controls before diving into RDO.

I wish I could use the companion app but alas, my devices are a wee bit too old as they don't have the latest version of Android that is required for the app. I don't know why they made it incompatible with previous versions but it is what it is. .....my phone isn't even that old.

You can make some good, quick money from that stuff. After an ambush I can hear the faint sound of "cha ching" as I look at the dead bodies around me. Also, the tonics...... I don't hold on to those. I sell nearly all of them except for a could potent health tonics and the horse revivers. You can only hold on to so many and these things are frequently on dead bodies I loot, in homes, etc. It's a waste otherwise as those too bring in some decent cash. .....it all adds up.

Yeah, I did the same thing. I wasn't sure what was going to happen to all the loot so I rushed in to collect it all before the fire spread. ......needless to say the idea crossed my mind to use this new found knowledge of the fire mechanic to my advantage in the future.

Yup.... You can also save outfits to your horse (up to four IIRC) so you can switch them out on the go.

As mentioned, the first two games were not the same and RDR2 is simply an evolution of RDR1. What it essentially boils down to is that the devs added more depth to the mechanics, UI, AI, etc. ....and it's all the better for it IMO. The controls are similar to RDR1 and also GTAV. I'm not sure what you are struggling with but if you give us some specifics, we would be more than happy to help. Not enough open exploration? How far have you progressed in the game? Believe me.... The game opens way up at around Chapter II IIRC. The whole game world is open to you and there are a ton of side missions, random events, activities, etc. Some you unlock along the way. Crap items? Like what exactly? The economy is pretty simple and as you progress, new opportunities present themselves to you as new ways to make money. ....bounties, pelts, meat from game, fishing, herbs, stealing wagons, horses, robbing trains, holding up stage coaches, gang camps / hideouts, robbing houses, etc. As you progress, fences begin to become available where you can sell stolen goods and valuable items. A stable that will give you top dollar for stolen horses, etc., etc. You choose what you prefer. I can understand some disagreeing about some of the aspects of the game like controls and such (everyone is different), but to say the RDR2 doesn't have as much open exploration as RDR1 is flat out wrong. RDR2 is bigger and has more going on in it's game world than RDR1 ever did.

Throttle back there tiger..... I wasn't being condescending but simply pointing out that this forum and many of its members would prefer that any potential spoilers to the story be edited as pointed out in that sticky I linked you to. You included parts of the story / mission in your description. It's just a matter of courtesy. A mod was even kind enough to edit your original post for you. .....carry on.

I wish there were a way to not show that belt buckle. Once I got the perk, I wanted to remove it but couldn't. ....it's silly looking IMO and my eye is always drawn to it now.

I won't even get into FC5 as I found that Ubi had completely butchered that franchise ever since FC2 and FC5 was the coup de gras as far as I'm concerned. Having said that, I do usually like a minimal or clean HUD especially on tactical shooters. RDR2 is obviously different but I still like to keep the HUD relatively clutter free. However, I don't want to have to continually jump to my map to orient myself so I typically use the compass or normal mini map (not expanded). I wouldn't be opposed to running without this feature though and I may do it in my second run through. I like the idea of not being able to see who the enemies are.

A horse train....

Really? I find that's there's not enough of them and they rarely pay well. The only reason I do them is because I enjoy that part of the gameplay. I really wish bounties were more, well, bountiful in the game. I currently have about $4k and am able to maintain that amount even with paying off bounties, customizing weapons, buying ammo, etc.

Please be mindful of spoilers for those of us who haven't completed certain missions, etc. I appreciate it from one fan to another. Skunk provides some quick tips on how to keep content spoiler free for your fellow community members here:

Personally, I have no interest in the exploit. It takes away from the gameplay. Funny enough, I've found that looting provides a wealth of valuable tonics, jewelry and other items I can sell to fences for a tidy sum. I actually try to seek out gang camps and ambushes because of this.

....why automatically assume it's broken?

I stuck with some really simple customizations on mine so probably not worth showing off.

....no offense to Slim but I like the title of your thread better.

Honestly though, the frame drops I have experienced have been nothing close to what I would consider game breaking. Yeah, I can notice a struggle here and there with the frame rate at certain times but again, nothing to the extent of what i think of when reading some of the descriptions here from some. I'm working off of a base PS4 and a 60" 1080p monitor from about 5 - 6 feet away. Some of these complaints tend to make me think the game is stuttering heavily to the point where it is difficult to play vs. what we see in the video. ....and perhaps it is for some people. My experience is closer to what I see in the recording but the examples of FR drop they point out are not my general experience. ....rather occasional instances here and there.

Preach it brother! .....nor is being 50 for that matter. While I may not be a badass (sadly, old injuries have aged my body beyond my years) , I know plenty of 50+ dudes few would consider messing with. Arthur reminds me of a bit younger Longmire.

Same here. I learned that one a few days after launch and it helped a lot. These are really good features. I'm just unsure why they haven't made them more accessible through a control list in the menu, etc.

On console? .....yeah, I can see that for the most part. Although I am interested in Insurgency Sandstorm which will be coming to PS4 / XB1 next year. Small dev but at least it appears to be a decent tactical shooter for a change (more realistic damage, etc.). I think the only hope for those like me who enjoy more realistic, FPS shooters will be devs like these who bridge the gap from PC.

Yeah, there are even a lot of somewhat hidden features in some of the controls. I'm still learning new ones as I go.

Co-op. .....I want more co-op gameplay options.

I can understand someone disagreeing with the mechanic but lazy? .....naw. It's just the way they designed the penalty system. You die, you lose you pelts. Who knows.... Maybe the animals were members of PETA. Save early, save often. ....btw, an example in my book of lazy programming is Ubisoft (IMO). GRW & FC5 to name two recent examples. Both could have been great games if they had half the passion, effort and creativeness R* shows in some of their game mechanics.

To get the core health and stamina back up, just feed it until it's full. Interact with the horse and feed. It's fast and easy. To be honest I've never used tonics with my horse except for the one that helps save it when it's down. Those other things being discussed help the horses maximum stamina but to fill it, it just needs food. It's the same as the player.