User blog comment:Spawny0908/Character Disscusion: John and the Honor Meter/@comment-4111375-20111218104113

Gameplay Wise: This game has some similar elements to GTA, and the fun of GTA is going around blowing up sh!t and they wanted that element to be included in Red Dead, and the honour meter would reward them for it.

However, I wouldn't call John a "good" guy so much as a tolerant guy. He only helps the people who help him find what he's looking for, and not to mention he's a former outlaw. I find the "bad" playthrough to make more sense, as the ending when the kill John will make more sense, because they killed him for still acting as an outlaw. That's just my take on it.