Here comes my two pence.
GTA 4 was good. Graphics where great with the gritty look and the NP's wandering around with a purpose. The story I can't really comment on as I have not finished the game. In fact I am still on the first island. I stick it on and give it ago but get, not bored but more like 'I would rather kill lots of people'.
I do this and after 20 or 30 minutes of shooting random passers by I put Forza 3 on or come on the PC.
Red Dead Redemption is totaly different.
The acting, story, graphics and atmosphere are far better. I feel for my character. I love his back story and how he is a good guy. When I kill someone innocent I feel guilty and thats a good thing as it shows I am 'the character'.
For people saying the areas are barren and theres not much about, well, there wasnt much around back then. GTA 4 is set in the present day and there millions of people populating the citys. In Red dead, they are just small towns with small populations and RockStar has nailed this in a big way. There is so much to do even with the barren landscapes and less populus.
The map in Red Dead is idealy sized, not too big nor small. If it was bigger then the emptiness of the land will take its toll.
The missions are varied. I would never thought following a dog could be fun. Even when you walk past a dog he will stop and look at you. Little touches like that make a game.
My conclusion is Red Dead, in my opinion is a different game and rocks.
but why? 
