The most anticipated videogame title of the year is now out, and gamers around the world are trawling their way through the epic world of Red Dead Redemption 2.
I was somewhat late to the first Red Dead Redemption, playing it about a year after its release. Undoubtedly, it became my favourite gaming experience - roaming the Wild West in pursuit of justice, honour and revenge was a noble undertaking and I enjoyed every second of it.
With the sequel, there was a sense of trepidation. Would I enjoy it as much, and would I ever get to experience the end? I needn’t have worried, because despite the beautiful storytelling elements and various interesting characters you come across, the true experience of the game comes in the form of being free - doing side quests and encountering strangers, going hunting or fishing, or even playing dominoes. The wide and wild world of the American west at the turn of the 20th century is incredibly satisfying.
What is the game about?
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the sequel to Red Dead Redemption, which came out in 2010. Although a prequel of the storyline in the first game, it is a step above in terms of graphics, sandbox capabilities and task complexities. Set in 1899 during the waning days of an American west dominated by cowboys, bandits and snake oil merchants, the game sees you control Arthur Morgan, a gang member who is neither good nor bad. The choices you make with Arthur will determine his character type and whether or not he is benevolent or malevolent.
How long is the game?
A week on, and playing for two to three hours at a time, I have only scraped the surface. In terms of story progression, I have only achieved 15 per cent, which you wouldn't know until you checked the statistics menu. Being sidetracked by chance encounters on the way to a bank heist might be described as distracting, but with Red Dead Redemption 2 you welcome it because you know it won't be a boring drudge.
According to various sources online, the consensus seems to be the game takes 45 to 50 hours to complete, which is a massive upgrade to the first game’s 15-hour completion time.
Game of the year?
It would be wholly unfair to start throwing accolades around such as best game of the year (perhaps even the century) as it’s still a little too early for that. It's certainly a strong contender though, as every minute spent playing as outlaw Arthur Morgan is unforgettable. From doing menial tasks like shaving, and eating to maintain strength, all the way to elaborate challenges like searching for old flames, the human element is present.
A common thread among friends who are also making their way through the game is the lack of a need to hurry through the story. In a world today where online gaming rules all, to see a game give the chance to revert to long campaign modes is quite an achievement, and shows how strong story-driven games still are.
For those who do decide to begin what is a major quest (compared to other games), be prepared to put in some commitment, and know that your horse is awaiting his grooming and patting while you go on with your daily life.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is rated 21 and older and is available at all major game retailers in the UAE
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
T20 World Cup Qualifier
October 18 – November 2
Opening fixtures
Friday, October 18
ICC Academy: 10am, Scotland v Singapore, 2.10pm, Netherlands v Kenya
Zayed Cricket Stadium: 2.10pm, Hong Kong v Ireland, 7.30pm, Oman v UAE
UAE squad
Ahmed Raza (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Rameez Shahzad, Darius D’Silva, Mohammed Usman, Mohammed Boota, Zawar Farid, Ghulam Shabber, Junaid Siddique, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Waheed Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Zahoor Khan
Players out: Mohammed Naveed, Shaiman Anwar, Qadeer Ahmed
Players in: Junaid Siddique, Darius D’Silva, Waheed Ahmed
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup – Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Results
5.30pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Al Battar, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer).
6.05pm: Maiden Dh165,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: Good Fighter, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
6.40pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Way Of Wisdom, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
7.15pm: Handicap Dh170,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Immortalised, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar.
7.50pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Franz Kafka, James Doyle, Simon Crisford.
8.25pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Mayadeen, Connor Beasley, Doug Watson.
9pm: Handicap Dh185,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Chiefdom, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
It Was Just an Accident
Director: Jafar Panahi
Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr
Rating: 4/5
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The%20specs
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