Just committ and pull MGS4 levels of cutscenes instead of this bullshit

Dear gods no! Not that! I'd put up with it from Kojima, but only because MGS4 was great(despite being the lesser of those 4 games in my opinion).

I actually enjoy riding and talking, and i prefer it a million times over to a cutscene. That's part of why the camp is so good! It allows story to be there without taking you out of being in the game. A lot like the codec from MGS - MGS3 (they really fumbled the codec and hiw you interact with it in 4 in favor of cutscenes)

But I also enjoyed the fishing, so we may just have different taste. I liked going out on a long fishing trip, going camping, doing some hunting. Afterwards, go into town and get a shave and trim, a nice meal, maybe gamble. Doing those things, for me, was part of the experience of rhe story. Not a separate thing. It was a chance to be Arthur, and live in that world for a bit. Go out and get money or hides for the camp to upgrade it, hang out with the gang etc.

I feel like the overall pace of the game is based on an idea of how most people interact with these kinds of games. I know when i play a game like this, the fitst thing i want to do is explore the world, and interact with all its mechanics. Thats why Chapter 2 at Horseshoe Overlook is perfect, in my opinion. Its fairly central in the map. The story stakes, despite being on the run, don't feel as high. The attitude and atmosphere of the camp are I'd imagine similar to what it was before the Blackwater Ferry job.

That whole section lends itself to going off and expporing, gambling, doing challenges, fishing, hunting - and most important of all - getting Arthur a decent wardrobe and the facial hair/hair length situation you want. That's why they tucked that gold in the burned down sheriff's office just west of camp - they want you to buy some essential cosmetics for Arthur or maybe get you guns engraved, or saddles for your horse, whatever you care about most. That's why most of the map is completely available from Chapter 2 on. You're not really gated from too from the start because thats when most oeoole want to do those things.

The story and stakes, pick up steam and focus as you go. With each new camp things get more dire. And you want to engage more directly in the story.

That was a big thing that yeam learned. For ages video game stories would start off as focused and coherent and then completely lose the plot as they gradually let players off to do sude stuff. I feel like they learned to do things the opposite way and i feel it works better.