Red Dead Redemption II is not only the best game made by Rockstar Games, but one of the best video games ever made.

This game is a one of a kind 60+ hour epic that must be experienced by all. Rockstar's previous games all laid the groundwork for this to shine as much as it does. While being a prequel to 2011's Red Dead Redemption, it tells an incredible standalone story that benefits from knowledge of the original game.

The gameplay from RDR II is extremely solid, but not the standout factor of this package. Guns feel satisfying to use, but do not feel extremely different from one another within categories. Once you find a repeater rifle you like, you'll use it forever. Same goes for all weapon types. Upgrading components of your guns is available, but they do not feel necessary most of the time. Dead Eye returns here, and is as satisfying as it was in the first game. Lining up headshots feels great from beginning to end.

Riding a horse is something you will do a ton of in this game, and they nail this mechanic. Riding at top speed through the various areas of this game feels amazing, especially when engaging in gunfire with multiple enemies. You can change your horse and level them up through the story, but I found it satisfying to keep the same horse, as I thought Arthur would bond with his animal.

While the story revolves around money, the game has surprisingly little to spend your money on. Of course, you can play the gambling minigames, buy horses, guns, supplies, etc., but I had a surplus of money several times and had nothing I wanted to use it on. I found this to be one of the only negatives throughout my run of this game.

Side activities are vast throughout the map of this game. Legendary hunts, tons of side quests that turn into multi-mission storylines, bounties, etc., are so incredibly engaging. When going from one mission to another, it is impossible to not run into something interesting to do. Whether it’s a random encounter that will give a 2 minute activity, or a legendary bear to hunt, RDR II never lets you get bored in it’s world.

The most important part of this game is the story. Few tales in games have hit me as hard as this did. It brought me to tears several times, turning me into a blubbering baby on a few occasions. These characters are some of the most lifelike in the medium. You truly feel for them and your heart breaks when they meet their end, or sores when they succeed and escape their situations. Many missions in this game reward you with nothing, some even leaving you worse off than when you started. However, the story moments you get out of them are the true reward. You really feel like you are a part of the biggest western story ever told. Rockstar are masters at this, but they have never blown this aspect out of the water like this before.

Red Dead Redemption II is a true masterpiece. It marries solid gameplay with the best western story ever written. I have had few experiences like this with a game before, and I am so happy I finally got past the intro. GTA VI is high on everyone's list when talking about games coming soon, but I would have chosen another story set during the end of the country outlaws any day.

I was generally put off by the idea of Dead Space receiving a remake but I'm pleasantly surprised. It's essentially the exact same with some extra side objectives that add a little more to the experience. The combat is a step up and feels like Dead Space 2, the graphics and scenery are breathtaking, and the it's solidly fun. I like it more than the original to be honest.

The only problems with this game is that it's a little too faithful, and keeps in a lot of the mediocre or downright shitty areas of the original. Another thing is the subpar objective markers, you'd think it'd be difficult to mess up a straight line that you're simply supposed to follow but it doesn't always work.

Overall a more or less perfect remake, very excited to hear Dead Space 2 might be receiving the same treatment.