There is one thing that tied everything in the first Red Dead and brought it a step above a great game to turn it into a masterpiece – atmosphere. It’s a good thing the Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer shows exactly that; it’s what made the first game work so well.

Great shooting and horse-riding is awesome, but the truly spectacular moments in Red Dead Redemption came with the incredibly fitting soundtrack, the incredible vistas like jaw-dropping sunsets and beautiful starry nights. It came in finding strangers to help out in the wild west, animals to hunt, movies to watch and newspapers to read. That’s what elevated Rockstar’s 2010 western into a classic – all the elements working together; sound, visuals and gameplay to create a truly atmospheric experience.

For all the talk happening these days about immersion in games via virtual reality, a cohesively constructed open world that has something exciting waiting for you at every corner is one of the most immersive experiences a game can provide. If Red Dead Redemption 2 accomplishes this, it’ll be on its way to being a fantastic sequel (or prequel).