Focusing on not ...having helicopters just seems ridiculous.
I never said that. I stated that that's one aspect I found fun with GTA along with the size of the map and the fact that there are more missions. I never said they needed helicopters them in RDR. In fact, I said: "I understand it's a reach to have those in RDR."
The stereotypical wild west cowboy who defied the law also partook in what was considered by some to be sinful pleasures. Heck, the game even has people standing outside decrying the drinking and prostitution... not being able to branch that avenue is immersion breaking, IMHO. It's also not the only reason don't find the game fun, as you continue to try to point out.
The lack of ability to hold up a train for anything more than $10, the cut scenes for skinning animals, the horse thief who always shows up in the same spot (they could have had several dynamic events even though you claim that it's not the norm... it's another game. The least they can do it add more ability to the game engine.) I listed several reasons that you ignored. (And it makes me think you are pointing out the prostitution thing on an ad hominem basis.)
Lol at editing my quote to make your point, then decrying me for talking about one of your points more than others.
Yes the game doesn't let you completely immerse yourself in a fully realistic 3d cowboy world, complete with all the tastes, smells, sounds, and sensations a real cowboy would've experienced. That's beacuse it's a video game, not some magical imagination machine. Every game has things that break immersion, as I've pointed out with many examples in GTA.
Just because some cowboys went to whores doesn't mean your guy needs to. Much in the same vein that some criminals decide to mend their ways and work for the police, or set up youth centres for inner-city gang children yet you can't do that in GTA. Is it immersion breaking? arguably yes, but that's just how video games work. There are always limits on what you can and can't do. You are being presented with a pre-made character that has very very specific goals and motives. You're asking to be able to do things that run completely contrary to the one defining point of the character. See: why you can't kill nico's cousin/brother/whoever he is in GTA4 because he's annoying.
How much money do you want for holding up the train? Perhaps people who get on the train should be given thousands of dollars so you can steal it from them? Maybe in GTA hookers should be given thousands of dollars so you can steal it from them too. Noone in RDR carries around much money. The only people I've ever seen with more than 10 dollars are people i've either just paid, or have lost a game of poker/blackjack too. I imagine most people in the wild west didn't ride around with their life savings in their pockets.
I've allready talked at length about the morality mechanism, you seem to be ignoring that now I guess since you aren't responding to any of it, so I'll avoid rehashing all of it again. See my other posts if you're curious. Ditto for the size difference between GTA4.
All sandbox games that have repeatable missions don't randomly generate them, or whatever it is you want. In GTA4 if you do a race, and then do it again its the same race both times. If you want a different race you go somewhere else. It works the same way in RDR.
Anyway, you seem to be pretty adamant to not like RDR because it's not GTA4, so to each his own I suppose. Just thought I'd post a different opinion for anyone considering getting it. It's a damn good game. Far from perfect, but definatly better than GTA4 in my opinion. Just don't go into it expecting it to wank you off while granting 3 magic wishes for you while it makes you a grilled cheese.
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P.S. I'm fairly sure you couldn't hold up the trains in GTA4 either?