"Red Dead Redemption Undead Nightmare is a delightful choice for Halloween on the Asus ROG Ally X, although Windows 11 still has issues on gaming handheld devices."
The remaster of Red Dead Redemption on the Asus ROG Ally X presents a significant issue.
The search for terrifying video games for the Halloween celebration led the author to find a fitting option: the remaster of Red Dead Redemption for PC, which includes the famous expansion Undead Nightmare. This title, which combines the Wild West with a zombie invasion, promises to offer an entertaining experience without risking the player's nighttime serenity.
The experience began with a complicated installation process, but in the end, playing such an ambitious title on a portable device like the Asus ROG Ally X turned out to be a pleasant surprise. Initially set to 1080p with graphics on ‘medium,’ the author was impressed by the performance, although the game's age was evident due to the low-resolution textures. When attempting to increase the quality to ‘Ultra,’ performance issues became apparent, leading to a switch to ‘High’ settings, which offered a good balance.
The author greatly appreciated the ability to enjoy the game comfortably at home while the unpleasant October weather raged outside. Despite having access to a gaming PC with an RTX 4090 to play in 4K, the comfort of handheld gaming was a crucial point. The game achieved visually striking moments, such as walking through sunlit plains or crossing burning bridges attacked by zombies.
The work of the teams at Rockstar and Double Eleven was highlighted, providing a faithful adaptation of the classic that has been modernized without losing its essence. A notable aspect was the ROG Ally X speakers, which delivered surprisingly immersive sound quality.
On the other hand, playing Undead Nightmare evoked not only its fun gameplay but also its moments of tension and humor, reflecting Rockstar's high-quality writing. However, not everything was positive; some graphics showed the game's age, with textures that did not hold up over time compared to more recent titles.
The experience also brought to mind the disappointment over the lack of expansions like Undead Nightmare for Red Dead Redemption 2, as well as the feeling that Rockstar is moving away from single-player campaigns.
Finally, the frustration of using Windows 11 on a portable device was addressed. The installation process of the game was complicated and not user-friendly, which tainted the gaming experience due to the challenges presented by the operating system on devices without a keyboard and mouse. Ironically, this aspect turned out to be the most terrifying part of the night.
