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Red Dead Redemption
Throughout Red Dead Redemption, John Marston is trying to lead a simple life and live off the land, leaving his former life of crime behind and being a better man than circumstance allowed him to be earlier. The power in the ending of Red Dead Redemption then doesn’t come from the triumph of Marston completing the journey and getting his happily ever after. Instead, as the true antagonists of the game have been doing all along, Marston is disposed of and robbed of the quiet life the government officials like Ross promised him for returning to his old ways. His son coming around many years later to take out Ross in turn really hammers in the themes of the game – we all must pay for our sins.
