Spoiler about the first camp mission for Uncle
Have you been in the saloon yet and triggered that 'mission'? Try that, I have a hunch it might take precedence over that.
So I've just completed a few missions in Valentine. This is without a doubt the greatest visual world by far. Granted I'm still in the opening areas but the lack of LoD pop-in and anti aliasing is phenomenal. Seeing the wildlife bound away into the distance gradually fading, the cluster of trees looking so realistic. Honestly jaw dropping. Playing on the PS4 Pro, can only imagine the extra little detail on the X1X version.
Generally I don't even mind the slower pace. I like just moseying round. I think this is a new benchmark for new RPG's like the Witcher to emulate. The transitions from world to quest and events are brilliant and I'm fully immersed and engaged with the characters
So now the bad parts of the intro's. I don't find it fun trying to find my hat after a skirmish. I'm sure the tutorial said it was marked on the map but it wasn't after the Driscoll shootout. Took me an age to find it. The train heist introduced to some very strange behaviour with the NPC's and the knives. The controls are a clusterfuck, swapping every two seconds (L2 and draw and shoot etc) and the lasso on the move is a nightmare. I don't mind the animations really. I don't like the awkwardness of swapping between cover and the knife was a bit unintuitive - is it melee or R2 etc.
I'm also not a fan of the heavy survival focus, cores and levels. WTF is that? Feel like I'm playing the Surge. In the tutorial area I used all my stamina by holding my bow twice for the deer shots. Had to eat a couple of oatcakes. And here's a tip rockstar if you're game has an open world, then don't have a fail state for taking a different route. Was on the way to horseshoe creek. Took the first left, failed and put back to the checkpoint. Went over the bridge and turned left, then stayed on the road. Failed and recheckpointed. Was annoying when the ride takes five minutes. Let me figure out the way on my own. Especially when playing HUDless.......
Anyway impressive, bit more survival oriented than I thought, very immersive. Pace doesn't bother me but it a game to not actively rush through.