As Rockstar moves to make the next Grand Theft Auto title, fans of Red Dead Redemption want to see another prequel when they should be clamoring for a sequel to Gun instead. Created by Neversoft and published by Activision, Gun was released shortly after Red Dead Revolver in 2005 and featured several veteran voice actors, including Thomas Jane and Ron Perlman. While Red Harlow, the main Revolver character, is mentioned in Red Dead Redemption and its sequel, the tale of Gun is left unappreciated for its story. Set in 1880, the same year as Red Dead Revolver, the game follows the Apache protagonist Colton White and his journey of revenge and uncovering the lost city of Quivira.
The third game in the Red Dead Redemption franchise would likely be another prequel, whereas a sequel to the award-winning Gun could have a direct sequel with more focus on the tall tales of hidden mythical sites or items. A sequel to Gun could take an Indiana Jones approach, dealing with an ancient cult dedicated to the Mayan culture or uncovering a lost treasure that's better off in a museum. Colton can potentially go down the path of adventure like the climbing pros of Tomb Raider or Uncharted in a period where access to vehicles such as cars and motorcycles isn't possible, let alone taking a plane ride. Gun's sequel wouldn't need to follow Colton as the protagonist since his story saw a fulfilling conclusion of vengeance against the main antagonist.
Gun's Sequel Could Play Like A Western Indiana Jones Movie
Games and media set in the Wild West love to focus on the lone wanderer or criminal cowboy gangs causing trouble for the local militia. Gun's gameplay allowed for a partial open-world exploration, providing players with side-quests and mini-games, allowing players a variety of explosives and guns to use along with horseback riding, and giving them the freedom to engage in combat on their horses. Gun was ahead of its time, and just like how GTA 6 is learning from RDR2, Rockstar's latest came after its predecessor built on what Gun did right. The game allowed players to live the cowboy fantasy long before Red Dead Redemption was made. A sequel to Gun could build upon what RDR2 provided, though it's unlikely given the IP's owner.
Gun's Gameplay Was The Blueprint For Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar's marketing for the Red Dead Redemption franchise is extensive, though Gun never got that treatment under the care of Activision as its publisher. A few years after the release, Neversoft was never given a chance to produce a sequel. The studio instead turned out Guitar Hero titles and assisted with Call of Duty before eventually becoming defunct. Rockstar's second foray into the Wild West saw a kinder yet accurate depiction of the era, as Red Dead Redemption learned from Neversoft's Gun, making it both a spiritual successor to Red Dead Revolver and Neversoft's only Wild West game. Activision still holds the IP for Gun but may never use it, as Rockstar holds the reins for amazing Western games.
The awful reality is that fans of Gun who saw a Native American raised like a cowboy will never see the game remastered or even expanded upon under Activision. The renowned voice cast would be more expensive than before to hire for a remaster or remake, and a sequel coming out of nowhere wouldn't receive much attention for a game relatively few remember. Gun will likely stay a short but enjoyable experience for the older console generations without a sequel, as Red Dead Redemption 3 continues to be what Wild West fans want to see.
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