Is it a similar feeling to the look of photos shot on a film compared to digital? It sounds like something I should definitely look into!
I always got the impression that John Marston was too harsh on him! Maybe I need to replay it, it's been a couple years!
Yeah a prohibition era game would be too similar to GTA! I would love to see a prequel story about the life of Uncle and what led him to the state he is in at the time of Red Dead Redemption. I thought he was an interesting character for sure! There was a lot of questions about his story and how people treated him. But you're right, if they chose a new storyline, they'd soon run out of options to say any more!
I loved Red Dead Redemption, I think the underlying feeling of struggling against the encroachment of the modern world, and watching the end of the 'Wild West' was fantastic. I'd love to see them go in the opposite direction with the next one, so we could follow the story of the birth of the West, perhaps follow the great migration of Wagon Trails as people went in search of land to settle. I reckon there are a lot of great stories that could be created in that context.
A fresh start can't hurt at all!
If you're looking for something similar to RTJ2, I would recommend checking out Killer Mike's album 'R.A.P Music' or EL-P's album 'Cancer 4 Cure'. Because these albums are by the people behind RTJ2, they keep a similar feel. I would also definitely recommend checking out the Freddie Gibbs & Madlib album 'Piñata', which I consider the best hip hop album to come out in years. I've also been listening to Tech N9Ne's album 'Special Effects' on a loop lately, it carries a raw energy very similar to RTJ2, but I find it is much more experimental in terms of collaborating with other genres of music. However, this is just a brief shortlist that I though might best answer your question. I only got into HipHop in the last 4 years or so, sticking more to punk and rock as well. I think what's best is to find the artists and songs you like, explore their catalogue and then check out the people who feature on their songs. Hip Hop is a great collaborative community and you can find a lot of new/veteran artists through features on tracks. Hope this helps!