Rockstar Games’ highly anticipated new game “Red Dead Redemption 2” launched Friday, Oct. 26, and it exceeded all expectations. Gamers can truly feel like they are fighting gangs and breaking the law in the old west.

“Red Dead Redemption 2” is the sequel to the critically acclaimed 2010 game “Red Dead Redemption.” However, the second installment in the franchise is not a direct continuation of the story, but rather a prequel to the events of the first one.

In “Red Dead Redemption 2” you play as Arthur Morgan, a member of the infamous van der Linde gang. Players must struggle to survive against the dying age of outlaws.

Simply put, “Red Dead Redemption 2” is huge. The playable game world is the largest Rockstar has ever created. With it comes gorgeous, realistic graphics, the likes of which have not been seen.

So much care and detail went into each texture and movement of the characters. From pieces of fabric on your clothes being blown in the wind to realistic twitching of the horses’ muscles as they run, every little detail is carefully put together.

Having a beautiful and large game world is one thing, but if you do not have anything to do in then that world can feel very empty. “Red Dead Redemption 2” does not have that problem at all.

The game world is packed full of things to do and see. Each non-player character (NPC) can be interacted with and talked to, unlike in Rockstar’s previous game “Grand Theft Auto V,” where the NPCs were just there to get run over by players.

The NPCs will react to everything that the player does, and some may even remember you. Save an NPC from a bear trap, and he may just buy you a brand new gun as a thank you.

As you wander the world, you will run into many different scenarios that you can either intervene in or let be. You can pass things like stage coach robberies, characters whose horses died on them, someone who got bit by a rattlesnake and even a guy who gets kicked in the face by his horse.

Of course, since you are an outlaw, there are plenty of things that you can rob as well. Every NPC you pass can be robbed for little bits of cash or trinkets. The real money, however, is in stagecoach, train or homestead robberies that you can partake in.

Any train you see can be stopped and robbed. It takes a lot of work, but there are some great benefits. Homesteads are dotted around the map that you can go to and break in. They usually have new weapons and some nice cash. You can even rob a lonely stagecoach on their way to the next town.

On top of that, you can rob every store, bank or house. The life of an outlaw is all about making quick money.

Of course, every action you make can affect how the world sees and reacts to you, which involves Rockstar’s in-depth honor system. Every good or bad action can affect your honor, and the world may look at you differently.

Have a reputation for robbing stores? Storeowners may already have their guns pulled when you enter. Are you kind to everyone you pass? Some free items may be in your future.

This does not even touch the actual story, which is estimated to be around 60 hours long. Rockstar is known for creating compelling, wacky stories, and “Red Dead Redemption 2” is no exception.

The story follows the van der Linde gang as they try to survive while being hunted down by the law after a failed robbery. The gang must keep moving as they try and escape the law.

With this moving comes the camp system, which operates as the players base of operations. Here you can talk with gang members, upgrade tents, eat some stew, play some dominoes, go fishing, sleep, shave (yes, you must shave otherwise you look like a bear) or just sit by the fire and enjoy the bad singing.

The story will have you meeting wacky characters and is filled with high stakes action. Lots of bullets will be flying in the 60-hour campaign.

There is so much more in the game besides this stuff. An in-depth hunting system, customization, dynamic weather, over 200 species of animal, realistic horses, hat losing and so much more.

So much that you need to experience it for yourself. Rockstar has done it again and crafted a game that will last an eternity, a game that everyone should pick up.