Colter. A chapter filled with hopelessness. Metres of snow piled in the hostile wasteland of Ambarino, with the only respite serving from the inhospitable mountains being Colter. A messy and dilapidated settlement, with the smell of damp wood and melted candles overwhelming you. Outside of the dim and gloomy cabins filled with several hopeless gang members are gusts of snow so dangerous that it is physically impossible to leave the state. What the chapter brings are six missions. Six expository and introductory missions that bring the player into the mechanics of Red Dead II. Six overlooked missions.This is what many people remember Colter for, but is Colter as “bad” as people say?
The opening of Red Dead Redemption II thrusts players into the treacherous winter wilderness, where hope seems as scarce as the dwindling firewood. Colter, a settlement clinging to survival, represents the microcosm of struggles faced by the Van der Linde gang. Its ramshackle cabins and dimly lit interiors evoke a sense of hopelessness, not so different from the vast expanses of snow outside. Yet, within this seemingly bleak backdrop lies a chapter often dismissed as uneventful and insignificant.
Colter offers six missions that are frequently seen as mere exposition and introduction to the game's mechanics. While you may be thinking “I can’t wait to get out of this snow,” while playing these missions, they lay the groundwork for the narrative to unfold. They introduce players to the core mechanics, gradually immersing them in the vast world of Red Dead Redemption II. It is through these seemingly overlooked missions that players begin to understand the intricacies of gameplay and the depth of the characters they inhabit.
However, reducing Colter solely to its introductory nature undermines its true value. This chapter serves as a necessary canvas upon which the rest of the game is painted. It establishes the desperate circumstances and challenges faced by the gang, setting the stage for the dramatic events that will follow. The harsh and unforgiving environment of Colter serves as a thematic backdrop, mirroring the hardships endured by the Van der Linde gang as they struggle to survive in a changing world.
The eventual downfall of Dutch’s Boys can be traced back to Colter, where the seeds were first planted. Arthur’s doubt in Dutch can be traced back to the very first missions, where he constantly question’s Dutch and his actions, and all Dutch has to respond is “Have some faith!” The main antagonists are introduced as well. Micah Bell, although not painted as the traitor he was in Beaver Hollow, is highlighted for his horrible attitude in Colter. Leviticus Cornwall and the Pinkertons, although only mentioned, are painted as huge threats. The O’Driscolls— Dutch’s arch nemeses, mirror Dutch’s ideologies and his eventual downfall.
Unlike the other chapters of Red Dead II, there’s pretty much no-filler in this chapter. All of it has meaning, whether it be world building, plot advancement, or character development. Outlaws from the West, the first mission, paints the Van der Linde Gang’s hopeless state as we are introduced to the starving and desperate gang. The following mission, “Enter, Pursued by a Memory,” advanced the hostile world of Ambarino, showing the devils of the hellscape as Arthur and Javier are on a mission to rescue John. The following mission, “Old Friends,” advances the feud between Dutch’s Boys and the O’Driscolls, and seeds distrust between Arthur and Dutch. “Aftermath of Genesis,” advances the characters of Arthur and Charles as they hunt for the gang. The climax, “Who the Hell is Leviticus Cornwall?” Shows the gang on their first score since Blackwater, robbing a train. Following that, “Eastward Bound,” is a relieving respite from the cold and tense previous missions, transitioning into Chapter 2.
All six missions play a role in introducing you to Red Dead Redemption II, and are all amazing in their own right. My favorite mission in this chapter is “Who the Hell is Leviticus Cornwall,” because it shows that your actions have consequences. At first glance, you’re happy because the gang now has money and a newfound sense of hope, but as the story advances, you realize that maybe this wasn’t the best choice. The robbery allowed for Cornwall to find the gang, pouring money into Pinkertons and lawmen to search for them. The heist also only fueled more into Dutch’s plans of “one more score!” and “we’ll get out of this one!”
All of Colter would lead to this. The fall of a once-mighty gang. United we stand, divided we fall. So next time you restart Red Dead Redemption II, don’t go into the “Colter” chapter and groan. Appreciate it for the literal point of its existence— planting the seeds of a mighty downfall.