Ok the only thing I asked for this Xmas other than college fund donations for my 9mo old daughter was RDR2 due to all the hype, and after 2 days of playing it I'm hoping it's more than guided missions with cowboys sitting around eating beans.
I've just gotten to a point where the open world should begin, I think, so expecting it to get a lot better from here.
Just be prepared for a loooong download and a slooooow build to the storyline via tutorial.
Ok it does get better as far as gameplay after a certain point, and after switching to 1st person (and changing controls to FPS instead of stock). But if you don't like riding around on a horse you're going to have a bad time. However, if you enjoy watching someone skin animals in graphic detail this is the game for you.
Still figuring out leveling, crafting, upgrades, etc. Not sure how to really see the benefits of anything that isn't already obvious (like item slots, which I'm still figuring out). Many of these systems are not explained well, if at all.
But the landscape is great and you can tell there will be side mission and story depth with a vast map.
Biggest complaint, other than all the sometimes annoying horse travel, is how slowly you move while in your main base camp. You'll see what I mean.
If you're in the mood to immerse yourself in old west culture then it seems pretty accurate.