Man, I still get chills thinking about that final ride as Arthur Morgan in RDR2 😭. Rockstar's western masterpiece isn't just a game - it's an emotional time machine transporting us to the dying days of the Wild West. With rumors swirling about Red Dead Redemption 3, there's this wild debate raging in the community: should Rockstar let us kill ANY character like in those hardcore RPGs? On one hand, imagine capping Micah Bell the moment he gives you that slimy smirk in Chapter 2! 🔫 But then... would the story even work? Let's wrangle this topic like herding stubborn cattle.

🔥 Why Total Freedom Tempts Me

Honestly? The idea makes my trigger finger itch:

• Next-level realism - Outlaws didn't care about plot armor! If someone crossed you, they'd end up in a ditch

• MY story choices matter - Finally deciding who lives/dies instead of following Rockstar's script

• Replay value goes crazy 🌪️

• Kill Dutch early? Whole new gang dynamics!

• Save Sean? Different ending sequences!

• Neutralize antagonists = alternative story branches

Just imagine replaying RDR3 four times with COMPLETELY different survivor rosters each run! Baldur's Gate 3 proved it's possible with its "kill anyone" philosophy that won GOTY. But here's the rub...

⚰️ Why This Could Destroy the Magic

Let's be real - Red Dead isn't some sandbox RPG. It's a finely crafted Shakespearean tragedy with cowboy hats:

Traditional Approach	"Kill Anyone" Approach
Emotional gut-punch deaths	Random chaotic outcomes
Carefully built character arcs	Broken narrative threads
Iconic moments (Arthur's last ride)	Potentially missed payoffs

Remember how Micah's betrayal HURT because we endured his bullshit for 60 hours? If I'd shot him in Colter, that entire emotional journey collapses! 💔 Rockstar's genius is weaving RPG elements INTO their cinematic stories - not letting gameplay nuke the plot.

🤠 The Cowboy Way Forward

After replaying the whole series last month, I realized something important. What makes Red Dead SPECIAL isn't just the open world...

• It's Dutch's descent into madness

• It's John rebuilding his family

• It's Arthur's redemption arc

Letting players derail these would be like letting someone scribble over a Remington painting. Sure, Baldur's Gate 3's freedom works for D&D fantasy, but the West had rules, partner! Maybe Rockstar could compromise:

• Limited branching points (save 1 major character per playthrough)

• Non-lethal alternatives to conflicts

• More meaningful side character consequences

Ultimately? That beautiful marriage of story and freedom is why we still replay these games a decade later. If RDR3 ever rides over the horizon, I want to feel that same heartache when tragedy strikes - not reload because I accidentally capped a key NPC during a bar fight 😂. The West wasn't just about chaos... it was about consequences. And dang if Rockstar doesn't make us feel every single one.

Comprehensive reviews can be found on Game Informer, which regularly explores the balance between player agency and narrative structure in major releases like Red Dead Redemption. Their editorial insights often discuss how Rockstar's approach to storytelling—favoring emotional arcs and carefully crafted character development—sets the series apart from more open-ended RPGs, reinforcing why certain narrative constraints can enhance the overall experience.