Last week, we gave you our first look at Red Dead Redemption , the sequel to 2004's Red Dead Revolver. In our preview, we chatted about some of missions you'll be undertaking as reformed criminal John Marston (who looks a lot like a cross between Clint Eastwood and Charles Bronson, in our opinion). The game is set in the early years of the 20th Century, and while it's still the Wild West, civilisation is creeping in everywhere.

Bronson and Eastwood? Anyone?

Rockstar are, of course, no strangers to open worlds, with company reps saying the total area in Redemption--which is split into the three areas of Frontier, the Plains, and Mexico--is the largest they've ever created for a game. But with the old West not exactly known for its urban density, will there be much for players to do as they travel the land? Apart from racing with tumbleweeds, that is? Apparently, there will be plenty to keep you occupied in Redemption, and it won't all be all in the game's various townships and settlements. While the area in Redemption is vast, Rockstar have populated the world with its own ecosystem, as well as plenty of random events that should keep any gunslinger interested.

Before we go into specifics, let's begin with the three main areas in the game, each of which will have a distinct look. The Frontier will have plenty of low lying scrub and cacti--and yes, you'll see the occasional tumbleweed amble by. Mexico, on the other hand, features different vegetation, as well as an architectural style all of its own. To navigate the world, you'll have to rely on horses as your main mode of transportation. Horses in Redemption are what cars are in Liberty City--you can take any horse (you can even try to tame a wild one), and each breed has its own unique speed and handling. We're told you'll also be able to make horses more loyal to you--they'll follow you of their own accord and come when you whistle, for example--although our local Rockstar rep wasn't about to divulge how you accomplish that within the game.

And it won't just be horses and people wandering the world. Redemption has a host of animals who roam the wild, and they apparently form their very own ecosystem where animals hunt each other in a food chain. In our recent play through, we saw plenty of rabbits hopping around, as well as vultures circling the skies anytime carrion was around. We also saw pack of coyotes, wolves, snakes, and cougars. There will also be bears in the world, although we weren't lucky enough to see one during our short session with the game. You can, of course, interact with these animals in the time-honoured way of just shooting them for fun, but you'll also be able to use their skins as trading currency within the game.

Can you tame a wild horse?

What's even more fun is watching these wild animals interact with other NPCs in one of Redemptions many random events. As you roam the wild, these events will occasionally pop up, and it's up to you and your timetable as to whether you stop and take part. For example, on the way to the town of Armadillo, we saw a pack of wild dogs chase a man, jumping up at him before eventually bringing him down to the dust. We also saw what looked like a broken down stagecoach with a fetching lass stranded by the side of the road. Stopping, however, revealed it all to be a set-up, with armed men jumping out of nearby bushes to try to waylay us. Other random events that popped up during our short time with Redemption included an outlaw being chased by some marshals, and what looked like a lynch mob on horses dragging a poor fellow behind them tied to a rope.

While the world of Redemption may not have the hustle and bustle of Liberty City, it does look like the time you'll have to spend travelling from town to town won't be barren affairs. Check back soon with GameSpot for more on Red Dead Redemption as it approaches its late 2009 release date.