Red Dead Redemption 3 Should Lock On to an Exciting RDR2 Easter Egg

Article Key Points

Red Dead Redemption 2 pays homage to American spiritualism, the supernatural, and the occult through Easter eggs and references, including a Manmade Mutant.

Both Red Dead Redemption and South Park both have a shared approach to humor that promotes equality, which is why referencing South Park in Red Dead Redemption 2 is appropriate. The limited interaction with the Manmade Mutant in RDR2 hints at the possibility of it being featured in a future game like Red Dead Redemption 3 or a DLC centered around mythical creatures, similar to Undead Nightmare.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is filled to the brim with Easter eggs, references, and more. While the main storyline of the game is realistic, with many elements resembling a simulator, the developers at Rockstar Games have still managed to inject some fun into the world. Both Red Dead Redemption games pay tribute to American spiritualism, the supernatural, and the occult. Alongside vampires, ghosts, and hints at witchcraft, Red Dead Redemption 2 introduces a Manmade Mutant. This not only suggests the existence of disturbing human experimentation in the game's world but could also be a nod to the popular TV show South Park.

South Park holds the record for being one of the longest-running animated comedy series of all time. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators, have gained fame through their series' approach of providing equal-opportunity humor. If something is relevant in pop culture or politics, you can be sure that South Park will eventually parody it. Despite facing occasional controversies, the show remains a prominent fixture in American television and has inspired various video game spin-offs, such as the highly regarded South Park: The Stick of Truth. Similar to Parker and Stone, Rockstar Games frequently incorporates parodic humor into their games and often attracts controversy, making it logical for one to pay tribute to the other.

The Reference Behind the Manmade Mutant

The Manmade Mutant in Red Dead Redemption 2 can be discovered within a sprawling, deserted dwelling situated directly west of Van Horn. Adjacent to the peculiar statue, players can stumble upon informative writings regarding the experiment. These scribblings reveal that the statue possesses the heart of a bear, wings taken from a vulture, and a combination of various parts sourced from both a man and a boar. Further inspection of the statue suggests that additional elements from different animals might have been utilized as well. The peculiar language employed in the notes strongly implies a potential association between the Manmade Mutant and Galvani, an Italian figure. However, it is noteworthy that the statue's striking resemblance to South Park's ManBearPig cannot be overlooked. Thus, referring to it as the Manmade Mutant also serves as a subtle nod to the origins of ManBearPig, a character initially depicted as a mere conspiracy in the TV show.

The Manmade Mutant Should Come to Life in Red Dead Redemption 3

Although incorporating the ManBearPig-esque Manmade Mutant as a sculpture is undeniably impressive, its lack of interactivity distinguishes it from the numerous other whimsical creatures found in Red Dead Redemption 2. In the game, players can engage in a vampire mystery, collecting clues and stumbling upon the vampire in the midst of a meal, while multiple ghosts can be discovered across the map. Compared to these encounters, the presence of the Manmade Mutant, although more grounded in reality, is somewhat underwhelming. While engaging in combat with such a creature may not align with the game's core experience, witnessing it traversing the woods at night would be on par with the existing ghostly encounters.

A Reprisal of Undead Nightmare in Red Dead Redemption 3 Could be the Perfect Venue for ManBearPig

The original Red Dead Redemption featured a supernatural-themed DLC called Undead Nightmare. However, it is unlikely that Undead Nightmare 2 will be released as DLC for Red Dead Redemption 2. Despite being over ten years old and with little hope of a sequel, Undead Nightmare continues to be popular among fans, and there is a demand for something similar. In a potential Red Dead Redemption 3, instead of focusing on zombies, the game could explore a variety of mythical creatures. This would be an opportunity to introduce and expand upon the series' references to ManBearPig. Within a more fantastical DLC, players could battle and potentially create gear from the Manmade Mutant by defeating it.

While the inclusion of a ManBearPig reference through the Manmade Mutant statue was a fun tribute to South Park and the works of Galvani, which inspired Frankenstein, it falls short compared to other Easter Eggs in the game. Rockstar Games has the potential to further develop this reference. Including the Manmade Mutant as a roaming creature in the next game, particularly if Red Dead Redemption 3 is another prequel or includes an Undead Nightmare-style DLC, would be an exciting way to expand upon the Easter egg.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is an action-adventure game developed and published by Rockstar Games. It was released on October 26, 2018, for the PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia platforms. The game features online multiplayer functionality and is powered by the RAGE engine. It has an ESRB rating of M for Mature due to its depictions of blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, sexual content, strong language, and the use of drugs and alcohol. The average time it takes to beat the game is approximately 50 hours, and it has received a Metascore of 97.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I am excited about the prospect of Red Dead Redemption 3 including a more prominent role for the Manmade Mutant Easter egg. The Manmade Mutant is a fascinating creature that has the potential to add a lot to the game's story and gameplay. I would love to see the mutant play a larger role in the game's story, perhaps as a boss or a companion. I would also like to see the mutant be more interactive, allowing players to fight it or interact with it in some way.

Overall, I think that the Manmade Mutant is a great addition to the Red Dead Redemption series and I hope that Rockstar Games will continue to expand on its role in future games.