Russ and I have been playing Red Dead Redemption 2 since the beginning of the pandemic. We figured that if we couldn't get out and do the things we wanted—interact with people, play poker, etc.—at least we could do it in a very realistic and beautiful game.
People had told us for years that we should try playing it, but we aren’t video game people. We didn’t grow up with games, aren’t handy with controllers, and generally prefer real-life experiences over virtual ones.
So, when people insisted we play Red Dead Redemption, we were skeptical. We thought it might be great for others, but definitely not for us.
However, when the pandemic hit, we gave it a chance, and I believe Red Dead Redemption 2 kept us sane while everything else was chaotic.
We would play for entire days, and even now, if I have a spare afternoon and need some relaxation, I’ll sit and play for a few hours. I’ve even started taking screenshots of the game for inspiration for my watercolor paintings. There’s no question that Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most beautiful video game I’ve ever seen.
At this point, we’ve played through the entire game multiple times (well, Russ has; I still can’t handle the end of Arthur’s story, so I’ve managed to avoid that crucial scene on the mountain). (For those who know, you know. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone else.)
When we discussed creating scents inspired by the game, we wanted to focus on people or places.
Making scents inspired by characters seemed a bit tricky from an intellectual property standpoint (I’m still waiting to hear back from Rockstar about licensing), but we figured using location names was pretty safe.
We plan on making many others, but for our starter Legends of Redemption set, we have Big Valley, Saint Denis, Emerald Ranch, and Rhodes.
Rhodes was particularly challenging because, taken literally, it didn’t smell that great—kind of like dusty tobacco. But after a few tries, I think you’ll really love what we’ve come up with.
Many video games don’t seem to contribute meaningfully to culture or a positive life, but I appreciate Red Dead Redemption for how it celebrates transitions, exploration, leadership challenges, and interpersonal relations.
In particular, I love Sadie’s character because she came from a horrible situation and showed incredible strength (and even a fierce rebellious spirit) as her character developed.
Each character is rich and the storytelling really shines.
Each location in the game is inspired by, but not obviously derived from, real-world locations in the United States... When we first got into Tumbleweed, I was absolutely enamored. Russ actually saved the game at that point to show me this new and wonderful place that reminded me so much of Joshua Tree.
If you’ve ever wandered through the back alleys and streets of Saint Denis, greeted a stray dog, or petted a cat, you know this game is unlike any other.
If you haven’t played it, it’s unlike any other game I’ve ever experienced. For those old enough to remember, it has the pacing, at times, of Myst—groundbreaking in its storytelling.
It’s really hard to explain how much of an impact Red Dead Redemption 2 has had on our lives, and I know we aren’t alone in this experience.
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