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As a developer, its narrative strengths are often overshadowed by the wackier and raunchier elements from Grand Theft Auto. So who needs a sequel? While I have my concerns, I still can't wait to see what else Rockstar does with that world. The first Red Dead Redemption is as close to perfect as a game can be. I didn't expect much from Before the Storm, especially with its new cast, but it ended up being a heartbreaking portrait of teenage angst. Somehow, a Life Is Strange prequel without any time-travel powers is actually more compelling than the original. Runner-up: Life Is Strange: Before the Storm Perhaps that's why, in this age of antiheroes and misfits, he feels like a breath of fresh air.
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Throughout its missions and side quests, it's hard not to feel the same sense of duty that drives Bayek, Origin's noble main character. While the game starts out as a revenge story, I was more compelled by simply helping out the people of Egypt. But once I moved beyond the (admittedly clunky) opening sequence, I had a hard time putting it down. I didn't think I'd have patience for yet another massive open-world game, let alone one in a franchise that's embodied the worst elements of big-budget game development. Thanks to strong writing, a compelling lead and a gorgeous rendition of ancient Egypt in 4K and HDR, it's easily the best game in the series. I never expected that an Assassin's Creed game would end up being one of my favorite games this year.
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