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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Five expert hiking tips
Always check the weather forecast before setting off
Make sure you have plenty of water
Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon
Wear appropriate clothing and footwear
Take your litter home with you
The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
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Scotland v Ireland:
Scotland (15-1): Stuart Hogg; Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Sean Maitland; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); Josh Strauss, James Ritchie, Ryan Wilson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Simon Berghan, Stuart McInally, Allan Dell
Replacements: Fraser Brown, Jamie Bhatti, D'arcy Rae, Ben Toolis, Rob Harley, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn
Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)
Ireland (15-1): Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Chris Farrell, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray; Jack Conan, Sean O'Brien, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Quinn Roux; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy
Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Andrew Porter, Ultan Dillane, Josh van der Flier, John Cooney, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour
Coach: Joe Schmidt (NZL)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Favourite things
Luxury: Enjoys window shopping for high-end bags and jewellery
Discount: She works in luxury retail, but is careful about spending, waits for sales, festivals and only buys on discount
University: The only person in her family to go to college, Jiang secured a bachelor’s degree in business management in China
Masters: Studying part-time for a master’s degree in international business marketing in Dubai
Vacation: Heads back home to see family in China
Community work: Member of the Chinese Business Women’s Association of the UAE to encourage other women entrepreneurs
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Wonka
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Essentials
The flights
Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Seattle from Dh6,755 return in economy and Dh24,775 in business class.
The cruise
UnCruise Adventures offers a variety of small-ship cruises in Alaska and around the world. A 14-day Alaska’s Inside Passage and San Juans Cruise from Seattle to Juneau or reverse costs from $4,695 (Dh17,246), including accommodation, food and most activities. Trips in 2019 start in April and run until September.
One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
