Whenever Rockstar Games moves forward with the inevitable Red Dead Redemption 3it should consider making Landon Ricketts the main playable character. The original Red Dead Redemption played John Marston, while Red Dead Redemption 2 served as a prequel and featured Arthur Morgan. Rockstar Games has yet to officially announce one Red Dead Redemption 3but the success of the first two games means it's a virtual guarantee.
This article contains major SPOILERS for Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2
The first one Red Dead Redemption was critically acclaimed and took home several awards, including Red Dead Redemption 2 manages to eclipse it commercially and critically. Red Dead Redemption 2 continues to be a best-selling game, and many point to it as one of the absolute best titles the industry has ever produced. Rockstar Games is currently busy developing the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto 6but one has to imagine it Red Dead Redemption 3 has at least been discussed at this point.
Red Dead Redemption 3's Protagonist is a real Hedgehog's Dilemma
Red Dead Redemption 3 may be in a tough position when it comes to its protagonist, which is not something to be taken lightly.
Who should be the main character in Red Dead Redemption 3?
There are all kinds of fan theories about what Red Dead Redemption 3 can be about. Some have suggested that the game should be a sequel following the events of the original RDRwhile others feel that the game should be another prequel and focus on the early days of the Van der Linde Gang. Still others have suggested that the fan-favorite RDR2 the character Sadie Adler should be the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 3. These are all great options and I wouldn't mind seeing any of them come to fruition, but I also think that Landon Ricketts is the main character of RDR3 should be seriously considered.
Perhaps Red Dead Redemption 3 will draw one Grand Theft Auto 6 and has both a male and female playable character. If so, perhaps Adler and Ricketts could cross paths and be the dual protagonists of RDR3.
I have replayed the original Red Dead Redemption recently thanks to the new version of the game that was released on PS5, and one character that has stood out to me more than others is Landon Ricketts. Ricketts is a legendary gunslinger that John Marston meets in Mexico, and he seems like the perfect character to follow in a prequel. While Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 set during the decline of the Wild West, a prequel game starring a young Landon Ricketts could feature the West in its glory days.
Depending on how long a hypothetical Red Dead Redemption 3 follows Ricketts' history, it could be a game that spans several decades. It can start when he is a rookie gunslinger and follow his life all the way up to the point where he meets John Marston in the first Red Dead Redemption game. It could even show how Ricketts met characters like Andreas Muller and the Stranger.
Red Dead Redemption 3 with Landon Ricketts would be a good opportunity to break from tradition
Both Red Dead Redemption games end with the protagonist dying and being replaced by someone else. IN Red Dead Redemption 2Arthur dies and John Marston becomes the new main character. IN Red Dead Redemption 1John Marston dies and is replaced by his son Jack. If Red Dead Redemption 3 would feature Landon Ricketts and the story stuck entirely to the past, it would mean that for once the protagonist of a RDR wouldn't have to die at the end of the story.
This could make for an interesting departure from norms too Red Dead Redemption 3. Again, maybe one Red Dead Redemption 3 could go all the way to the events of the first game, show Ricketts and Marston's interactions from Ricketts' perspective, and then continue following the character after the events of RDR1. We know Ricketts eventually died peacefully in his sleep, so even then it wouldn't be a violent end like those met by Arthur and John. Unless what we've been told about Landon Rickett's death is made up.
Ricketts is technically playable in first Red Dead Redemptionbut only as part of the Myths and Mavericks multiplayer DLC.
The Blackwater Ledger containing Landon Ricketts' obituary mentions that he was part of the Blackwater Massacre of 1899, but Ricketts is nowhere to be seen during the events of Red Dead Redemption 2. A Red Dead Redemption 3 with Ricketts being able to explain that discrepancy and show exactly what he was doing when all this was going down.
The same obituary states that one of the things Ricketts is best known for is killing The Butcher Brothers in 1896. We know very little about them, but the Butcher Brothers could potentially be the main antagonists of a Ricketts-led Red Dead Redemption 3.
If Red Dead Redemption 3 stars Landon Ricketts or anyone else remains to be seen, but there's no doubt he'd make an interesting choice. Provided Grand Theft Auto 6 reaches its November 19 release date, a potential Red Dead Redemption 3 would still be years away, so fans shouldn't hold their breath because they'll learn something substantial soon.
- Released
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May 18, 2010
- ESRB
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M for Adults 17+ due to blood, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs
- Developer
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Rockstar San Diego
