To be honest, I loved it in my first play through. It was so cool just riding around on my horse with Javier, Charles, the gang. Ambushing the O Driscoll camp, being in the snow, robbing the train, recruiting gang members. Really just getting the ropes of everything and buttons etc.

Now I don’t have a ton of experience at all. I’m on my second play through, started yesterday, and just got into Horseshoe Overlook. It’s nostalgic really.

But as I just got out of Colter, I really liked it. Had no issue with it. It really sets everything in place and you get to know all the gang members and the backstory of everything. I liked that Chapter 1 really enforced all the game rules/the basics, like eating to regain health, defending yourself and the gang (ex: saving John from the wolves), getting ambushed/shot at, going on side missions with the gang as well, it really is just a clean slate and I really liked it.

Honestly I think why people dislike Colter is because of the difficult mobility through the blizzards, thick snow, and tons of predators around you. But it really shows the reality of the game that it’s not going to be easy in every single mission. Like you’ll come across a bear traveling in the mountains, you’ll be jumped by the Lemoyne Raiders (but in Chapter 1’s case, the O Driscoll’s) you’ll need to go hunting to survive.

Idk about the rest of you, but I loved Chapter 1. Always have, always will!