Summary

In the world ofRed Dead Redemption, players explore the complexities of an intense narrative focusedon John Marston’s quest for redemption. Although Marston’s main story revolves around his efforts to reconcile with the past and achieve a peaceful future, the game allows for different paths of honor, including the opportunity to follow a darker and more chaotic trajectory.

Opting for a low honor run offers an alternative and intriguing view of this relentless Wild West, where one lives as a true outlaw, exploring the consequences of questionable morality. Below are the main reasons to embark on a low honor run and see how far the dark side of John Marston can go inRed Dead Redemption.

John Marston aiming at an enemy in a Mexican town square in Red Dead Redemption

8A Lifestyle More Similar To The Wild West

No Room For Heroism

Making John Marston follow alow honor run inRed Dead Redemptionserves as a commentary on the lifestyle people led in the Wild West, an era marked by violence. An honorable character trying to be the hero doesn’t quite fit with the setting’s harsh reality.

Moreover, adopting this path allows players to experience the true essence of outlaws in the Wild West, taking advantage of weak laws, ambushes, and characteristic confrontations of the time. This deep immersion in the criminal lifestyle enriches the narrative, making the experience more authentic and engaging.

rdr3 choosing the flip side of rdr1

7There Is An Achievement For Low Honor

Completionists Need This Achievement

Although it’s possible to obtain the Man of Honor/Chivalry’s Dead achievement in a high honor run, those who choose to explore the criminal side of John Marston inRed Dead Redemptioncan also unlock it during a low honor journey. To achieve it, Marston needs to reach the maximum fame level while keeping honor at the highest or lowest possible level.

This achievement is an incentive for those who prefer tosow chaos in the Wild West, offering justification to commit crimes without losing the chance to achieve this feat. The low honor run transforms the gaming experience, allowing the protagonist to live as a true outlaw, dominated by violence and the pursuit of power.

John Marston resting on his black horse in the open plains of Red Dead Redemption

6An Exclusive Horse For John Marston

When John Marston reaches the second level of low honor, the Road Agent, he can whistle to summon a new exclusive mount, the Dark Horse. This beautiful animal has a sleek black body, some white hair, and red eyes.

Along with its beauty, the horse is somewhat better than many options available in the game. Even though it’s not as fast, it compensates with more stamina and health than other horses. The Dark Horse also doesn’t lose speed when off-road, making it an excellent option for combat.

John Marston standing beside a man in a Mexican town square in Red Dead Redemption

5Unique Interactions With NPCs

Mostly Rude, Sometimes Funny

John Marston’s personality also transforms when choosing alow honor path in the game, noticeable mainly through interactions with NPCs. For example, instead of greeting someone he meets, he will insult them.

This enhances immersion during the journey throughRed Dead Redemption, as it’s possible to notice a real difference in the character based on his honor level. Additionally, many of these insults are funny and can lead to some laughs, hearing the offenses from both John Marston and the various NPCs encountered throughout the game.

Thieves Landing in Red Dead Redemption

4Better Prices At Thieves’ Landing

Profiting More There

Choosing a low honor path means that players will not have the same freedom to maximize profit by selling various loot to shops in towns along the way. However, this can be circumvented because Thieves’ Landing starts offering more money to John.

If players are unsure about the consequences John Marston might face by not getting good prices from merchants, as happens when the character is honorable, they have other options. Moreover, Thieves’ Landing has one of thebest settings in the game, capturing the essence of the Wild West with many criminals and fugitives living there.

John Marston on horseback aiming at a distant foe in Red Dead Redemption, bounty on screen

3More Bounty Hunters Appear

For Those Seeking Action Moments

Throughout the story ofRed Dead Redemption, players are susceptible to random encounters on the map. Groups of bounty hunters may come after John Marston’s head, which happens even more frequently when the character doesn’t have positive honor levels.

Those seeking good doses of action in Rockstar’s open-world game can find it thanks to the random encounters provided by bounty hunters, which will be more intense and frequent. It’s also an excellent opportunity to improve dueling skills during the shootouts that will happen due to John Marston’s low honor.

Sawed off shotgun in an action scene

2More Freedom To Commit Crimes

People Fear John Marston

As John Marston’s honor decreases inRed Dead Redemption, his reputation as a dangerous outlaw spreads, causing people to fear him. This natural intimidation makes it easier to commit crimes across the game’s map. Citizens think twice before reporting him to the authorities, enhancing the game’s immersion.

Additionally, the cost to bribe witnesses decreases significantly, making it easier to silence those who witness John’s criminal acts. With fewer people willing to speak or interfere, it’s possible to continue a path of crime with fewer obstacles, intensifying the experience of living as a true outlaw in the Wild West.

John Marston surveying the landscape on horseback in Red Dead Redemption

1The Game Becomes More Difficult Overall

Some Resources Are Out Of Reach

For those who wish to add more difficulty toRed Dead Redemption, choosing a path without much honor can contribute to that factor. This is because the game, in general, becomes more complicated, placing new obstacles for the character to complete missions.

For example, not having access to discounts and higher selling prices in many of the map’s shops makes it impossible to earn easy money in the game, which, although not very important, still has some utility. Additionally,the fact that the Johnis constantly pursued by bounty hunters is another significant problem that must be dealt with.

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