Unveiling Red Dead Redemption 2's Unprecedented Modern Commentary

Highlights

Hunting and fishing are immersive experiences in Red Dead Redemption 2, creating a definitive Wild West simulation.

The game's Legendary Channel Catfish serves as a testament to the deceitful nature of legends and the act of being catfished. The connection between the fraudulent catfish and the deceitful individuals on MTV's Catfish sheds light on how easily one can be deceived through their own desires.

Hunting and fishing play a significant role in Red Dead Redemption 2, as Rockstar provides players with an ultimate Wild West experience. Mundane tasks like hunting for meat and gathering supplies come together to create an incredibly immersive gaming experience. While the game does incorporate elements of the occult, legendary animals add a touch of folklore. One of these legendary creatures is the Legendary Channel Catfish, which turns out to be nothing more than a tall tale. In Red Dead Redemption 2, players can embark on a stranger mission called "A Fisher of Fish," led by Jeremy Gill. Gill will take players to his home and reveal his taxidermy business. He then provides them with a map of legendary fish locations, asking them to catch those fish and send them to him. Completing this map unlocks a second part of the mission, where players search for the catfish alongside Gill. However, the mission ends abruptly when Gill is unexpectedly dragged into the water, never to be seen again. Despite their efforts, players are unable to locate or catch this elusive fish.

The Legendary Channel Catfish has Multiple Meanings

Red Dead Redemption 2's files contain information about the mysterious Legendary Channel Catfish, but this creature never actually appears in the game. Although stories of individuals being pulled into the river by this massive fish add some credibility to its existence, these tales are often treated as legends or rumors among fishermen. The inclusion of the Legendary Channel Catfish in the game serves as a nod to the rich tradition of folklore and local legends in the American West, while also cleverly highlighting the concept of players being deceived or "catfished" into believing in a mythical creature that isn't real.

Catfish, a reality show hosted by Nev Schulman and inspired by a similarly named movie, has aired for over a decade and has successfully completed eight seasons. The show explores the phenomenon of catfishing, where individuals create false identities and engage in romantic relationships with others under these assumed personas. Schulman and his team of co-hosts strive to understand the motivations behind the deception and approach both parties with empathy, although victims often find it hard to forgive the act of betrayal. Through more than 200 episodes, Catfish has popularized the term as a symbol of deceit and fraud.

The Legendary Channel Catfish is a Fraud

Similar to the personas created by the culprits on the reality show Catfish, Red Dead Redemption 2's Legendary Channel Catfish is too good to be genuine. While the other legendary animals can be hunted, they are all proportionate to real-life possibilities or have unique color patterns that could still occur naturally. A fish of such unrealistically large size would undoubtedly captivate any angler, just as a person who seems impossibly flawless would entice a potential partner.

The connection drawn between the deceitful nature of the Legendary Channel Catfish and the deceivers on MTV's Catfish reveals how easily individuals can be misled based on their desires. The origin of the catfish legend remains unknown, but due to its fantastical proportions, it is likely a fabrication by the game's creators to mislead players. Although the Legendary Catfish cannot be caught, Red Dead Redemption 2 is widely acclaimed as one of the best cowboy games, offering players a vast open world with countless other discoveries and activities to engage in.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox Series X/S.