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ARTHUR’S HORSE
Red Dead Redemption 2’s horse bonding mechanic proved to be a stroke of genius in several ways, but not only did it prove to lend mechanical and systemic depth to the gameplay itself, the game even manages to find a way to tie it in with storytelling. In the harrowing climax, as Arthur helps John escapes, and we can see that he’s very, very close to his end, Arthur’s horse succumbs to grave injuries and dies. After spending a large amount of time with the same horse and bonding with him or her throughout the game, seeing Arthur say “thank you” to the dying animal in its final moments, even as bullets are flying past him, is a powerful moment.
