Sea of Thieves Captaincy Update In-depth Review

Devrim Kurt
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Sea of Thieves Captaincy Update In-depth Review

Introduction

The wait is over and The Sea of Thieves Season 7 is here! It launched on 4th of August and while it brought many new additions to the game that had been asked for a while, some things we wanted are still not here. Overall RARE has done a very good job with the update except for a few annoying parts. I have spent my last week playing the Season 7 update, tried to explore all the nooks and crannies of the long-awaited Captaincy content. A fore warning, this review is going to be quite in-depth and will cover almost everything about the Captaincy update. So, if you are expecting a short read, this won’t be it. Without further ado, let us get into it!

BE THE CAPTAIN OF YOUR OWN SHIP!

The biggest thing in this update is being able to captain your own ship. How do you become a captain? And what does that bring?

Ship Ownership

Probably the most important part of this update is owning your own ship. Well RARE has made sure everyone gets to buy a ship. You don’t have to be a pirate legend to purchase a ship and the prices are quite low.

While I understand RARE’s determination to adhere to the new player audience, I think these ship prices are too low. Most of them can be purchased within a day of grinding. When everyone so easily gets to become a captain, being a captain doesn’t feel as special.

My biggest advice for any soon-to-be captains is that make sure you are completely happy with the name you choose. You can only change your ships’ name with Ancient Coins. And it’s not even a small amount. It costs 499 Ancient Coins to change the name. That is an absurdly high price. I hope RARE realizes what a bad decision this is and reverts it in the near future.

Before you set sail, you can set your ship settings, so that your crew-mates can’t change any customizations. This option can be reverted from the in-game crew menu as well.

Once you become a captain and set foot on your ship for the first time, you will be greeted by the Pirate Lord. He will give you a quick introduction to the captaincy content. I really liked this sequence. It doesn’t feel too much like a tutorial and has a pretty cool moment right at the beginning.

Ship Customization

Now let us talk about the ways you can customize your new awesome ship. Unfortunately, there is still no customization for the rowboat or the harpoons. But, If, you have a Sloop or a Brigantine; you will get to customize the table, drapes, bed, and rugs. And, if you have a Galleon, you will also get to customize the captain’s chair, chandeliers, and curtains. You can also place trinkets on various places along all the ships. These customizations are aesthetically pleasing but I can’t stop myself from stating the obvious. The captain’s cabin in neither the sloop nor the brig, look nearly as good as the galleon.

While I can see that there is limited space on the sloop and the brig, there could’ve been more places to put trinkets or some other way to make sure those ships felt unique too. Either way it still feels nice to decorate your own ship, your own way.

Now on to the monetary side of things, what will it cost you to customize your ship according to your desires? Well except for some of the trinkets, almost all these customizations need to be unlocked with milestones first. Since I will be talking about the milestones in-depth in the next part, for now I will only focus on the prices of the customizations.

How Expensive are These New Customizations?

The trinkets are quite affordable. However there are some trinkets, called “trophies” that need to be unlocked first. Other than that, almost every other customization piece is expensive. You will be paying 100k+ for many of these single pieces even after you’ve unlocked them with milestones. I suppose this is RARE’s way of giving players a place to spend money after the update.

There is one more part of the ship you can customize, and it applies to all ship types. The crest (where the ship’s name will go), banner, title, and flag of your ship. The banner and the title are free to equip after unlocking with milestones. The banner, title, and the ship and captain name will be displayed when another player approaches your ship, looks at it with a spyglass or sinks it.

Now onto the crest of the ship. This is quite an important piece. Once again you need to unlock them through milestones before being able to change it. However, I was quite disappointed with the “free” available options regarding the crests. To me they didn’t look nearly as appealing as the ones you can purchase from Pirate Emporium. And some of them are also obviously parts of existing ship sets. This could be considered a personal preference but I will be putting a screenshot for anyone who would like to compare.

Saving Your Customizations

All these customizations along with the previously available regular ship customizations can be saved on your captained ship. It will cost a bit of money to save each piece as default. The prices range from 2500 gold to 7500 gold. This is a very neat feature. I was a big fan of it until I had a glitch happen multiple times where my saved customizations reset. I had to pay again to save them onto my ship. This wasn’t a huge problem for me because it was not that expensive. But for a new player who grinded money to be able to save their customizations, this glitch would be upsetting.

Battle Scars

In addition to the customization options, being a captain will also make it so that, the battle scars on your ship with persist between sessions. You can repair your ship before sailing it, through the “my ships” menu, or through the shipwright after sailing. Of course, this will also cost money. Honestly, I understand the reasoning behind this feature, and it sounds cool as an idea. However, I can see how it would be annoying for some players and be seen as a waste of money.

Milestones

“Milestone system brings a lot of new things to do for the completionist pirate”. Is what I would’ve liked to say. But no, it doesn’t. Yes, it brings more statistics you can grind and new titles to equip, but there is nothing new in the game for it. You need to do everything you’ve already done AGAIN. Your commendations will not carry over. While it will be a great way to track progress for a new player, if you had played this game for a long time and had a lot of commendations already done, this will feel like just more grinding of the same things. There are milestones for SLEEPING. Literally hours of staring into a black screen. That sounds fun, doesn’t it?

There are 8 categories of milestones. You must grind all 8 of them separately for your pirate, sloop, brigantine, and galleon. Once again, I’m appalled by RARE’s choice to not carry over your commendations. They could’ve at least carried over your pirate milestones and you would still need to grind for the ships’.

There is nothing special or new the milestone system brings to the game. It’s basically the commendation system in one single place. So, I would say this is the worst part of the update for me even though I enjoy working for commendations.

Captain’s Logbook

Another new addition to your captain’s cabin is the Captain’s Logbook. This book is located on your quest table and keeps a record of your ship’s activities. It mostly has statistics like; days since last sunk, gold earned, captained ships seen, etc. Some of these statistics will be consisting between sessions and some of them will only be current session based. Now the ships you sink will also drop the ships’ logbook. You can sell this to the reapers. The base value is 300 gold. But according to the game this value increases the longer the sunken ship was on the seas for. However I have sold about six or seven of these and they all were valued at 300 gold.

There is another issue I keep experiencing with the captain’s logbook. It doesn’t keep my statistics. I can see my gold earned for the ship through the milestones page, but it appears 0 on the captain’s logbook. Maybe this is caused by a glitch that will be fixed soon, but it is still annoying. So, I recommend players to be aware of this glitch and not pay too much attention to your logbook statistics.

SOVEREIGNS AND NEW ADDITIONS TO THE OUTPOSTS!

There are 2 more new additions to the outposts! If you ask me both changes are amazing quality of life additions. I’ve been using them casually ever since the update came out. They are simply very convenient.

New Shipwright Services

You can now buy Captain’s Voyages and extra supplies from the shipwright. You need to be captain for both these new services. The extra supplies include cannonballs, wood, throwables, fruit, meat, and worms. When bought they will automatically be sent to you ship. This addition doesn’t affect the ability to buy resource creates from the merchant either. So, you can buy both and start sailing with a nice number of supplies. I am honestly a big fan of this change. While I feel the amounts of these supplies could be made higher, it is still something to be happy about.

Captain’s Voyages

Now to talk about Captain’s Voyages There are 2 different difficult/length voyages for almost all the activities you can do as an emissary. For example, you can buy a treasure hunt for 400 gold, or you can buy one for 1500 gold, depending on how long you want to be on this voyage. This is a great idea! And it has a lot of potential to really create customized gameplay for a lot of players. However, It doesn’t work perfectly. I’ve tested the different “length” voyages a couple of times and the rewards were inconsistent. Sometimes the supposedly “longer” voyage took less time than the other one. And sometimes I was rewarded better from the “easier” voyage compared to the “harder” one. Assuming these problems can be addressed by RARE, this is still a very useful feature.

You can also buy combined voyages. These will have a bit of all the activities you can do as that specific company’s emissary. There are also mercenary voyages. These ones have a couple of activities from each company, combined in one bundle. All the available voyages here can be bought either in singles or as a 5-stack bundle. They will be stored on your ship in your captain’s voyages cabinet. You can start them just as you start regular voyages. One big difference is if you cancel a captain’s voyage, it will be destroyed.

Sovereigns

The last addition to the outposts is the colorful Sovereigns. They are a new trading group. They will take all the treasure you have and deliver it to the appropriate trading companies. Delivering your loot to sovereigns will count for the commendations, such as “deliver 10 Athena kegs to the mysterious stranger”.

You cannot give them reapers loot, like a ship’s flag or a humble gift. This is because they fear reapers and will not work with them. However, you can still give them loot if you are carrying a reaper’s flag. Keep in mind you won’t be getting extra gold if you deliver to the sovereigns as a reaper emissary.

The Sovereign’s shack have a rowboat docking spot and harpoons stations above to make unloading loot easier. Honestly this works like a charm. Selling loot has never been easier. I am a huge fan of this addition. One problem is that they will not accept any treasure if you aren’t a captain. If you are a crew member of a captained ship, your captain needs to be close by so that you can sell to the sovereigns.

WHAT ELSE IS NEW ON SEASON 7?

There is a new plunder pass as always and a couple of very crucial gameplay changes. Let’s get into it.

Plunder Pass

This season you will be able to unlock the Beachcomber’s ship and costume set if you have a Plunder Pass. This is once again a seasonal themed ship. I’m not a big fan of these ship sets so, personally I will be skipping it this season. But it is up to you to decide if you would like to have it or not.

Gameplay Changes

There are a couple of new gameplay changes. Some of them are long expected, while some of them are redundant. Here’s the full list and my thoughts about them.

There are now carriable stools washed up around the islands of Sea of Thieves. You can pick these up, put them anywhere you like and sit on them. That’s it really. I don’t really know who was asking for this, but it’s a cool little novelty addition I suppose.

Next is a long-awaited addition to the quest books and pages. You can now zoom in to any quest book page or quest page. You can use “F” on keyboard or, clicking right stick on the controller to access this feature. This has been especially useful on “X marks the spot” treasure hunts for me. I am glad RARE finally launched such an add-on. It really helps with the annoyance of trying to find treasure on huge islands.

You can no longer revive crew members on enemy ships. This feature was definitely added to stop spawn killing. And it really works. The fights last longer since you can’t just corner the enemy crew on their ship anymore.

Sloop Changes

There are big changes to the Sloop and the “solo sloop player”. Here is the list.

  • Respawn timers have been decreased for solo players.
  • The sloop’s mast now takes 2 chain shots or 3 regular cannonballs to fall. This is a massive buff to the sloop. The effects of this change are already there as the I’ve noticed an increase in number of sloops I see.
  • In addition to that there are also new respawn locations around the sloop and reduced knock back from cannonballs while on a sloop.

With these new changes, it is fair to say fighting on a sloop became a lot more advantageous. I hope the PVP fights will be lasting longer, and we will see less of “boarding” being an easy way to win.

CONCLUSION

The Captaincy Update brought a lot of new cool stuff to the Sea of Thieves. Captaining your own ship and customizing it is really engaging. And the perks you get for being a captain are also quite impactful. While there aren’t any new gameplay events added with this update yet, we might see some in the upcoming future. Overall, only part I’m disappointed with in this update is the milestones. Other than that, definitely a solid new season, with a lot of quality-of-life improvements.

Review: Book Quest

Daniel Waite
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Review: Book Quest

I’ve always loved RPGs and growing up, I had plenty of amazing titles to pick from. Consequently, I’m a bit picky whenever I start a new experience in this genre. I adore modern open-world adaptations of classic tropes. However, you can’t beat a retro approach. Therefore, when Book Quest came to my attention, I snaffled it up.

Developed by Nerd Games and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a retro top-down RPG. It takes influence from the best the genre has to offer and will thrill nostalgia hunters. Subsequently, I instantly fell for its charms and its kitsch ways. Moreover, I adored its simple story, but I appreciate its lack of complexity won’t appease everyone. Though I’m biased, I must remain professional. As such, I’ll start to dissect the pros and cons of this colourful game.

Book Quest tells a classic story. 

80s and 90s games are renowned for their absurdities. Accordingly, their stories, characters, and writing style are normally humorous and a little whacky. Luckily, Book Quest retains this style in its tongue-in-cheek, but classic story.

You control a young man who leads a quiet life. Subsequently, he yearns for adventure and to test his skills. However, he should be careful what he wishes for as his dreams become a reality. Unbeknownst to him, he allows his family spell book to be stolen whilst he raids a hidden chest. This error causes his grandfather to appear as an apparition, and so his journey begins. En route, he’ll solve problems, undertake mini-games, fight monsters, slay bosses, and eventually discover the truth. 

This cliché-fuelled tale won’t surprise old-school gamers. Thanks to its witty writing and nonchalant NPCs, you’ll enjoy a classic and amusing experience. However, the text is filled with minor punctuation and spelling errors. As such, this was irritating, but it luckily didn’t affect the final product too much.

The dragon is the first boss of Book Quest
Dragons are nothing but trouble.

Classic mechanics and brutal bosses. 

Though originality was lacking, I loved the familiar nature of the gameplay. The hero must slash bushes, collect items, and upgrade his equipment. What’s more, there is an array of puzzles to solve, enemies to slay, and secrets to discover. On top of this, there are plenty of quests to complete that progress the story nicely. As you explore the colourful pixelated world, you’ll encounter NPCs that require your help. Their tasks are rarely challenging, but they form a key part of the gameplay.

Alongside this, you must purchase and improve your equipment. The range of gear is limited, but it is essential if you wish you tackle the brutal bosses. These often overpowered abominations will drive you crazy. Their cruel ways will test your resolve as you die repeatedly. It’s not quite on the Soulsborne level, but it’s tough, nonetheless. As you overcome each one, you’ll visit a new area filled with obstacles and fresh foes. This repetitive approach is the gameplay loop and one that is familiar in all retro titles.

Finally, you’ll enjoy a plethora of mini-games. These simple tasks are poorly explained but fun to complete. Sadly, though, they won’t test you like the combat element, and this may frustrate some players. However, I enjoyed the break from the normal tropes, fighting, and quests.

Book Quest is filled with magic and foes.
How on earth will you avoid these spells.

Book Quest is a vivid pixelated dream.

Book Quest has done wonderfully to produce a modern but pixelated title. Its vivid colour palette, interesting and detailed sprites, and varied landscapes are amazing. What’s more, the text is easy to read and the level designs are complex enough to challenge you. Furthermore, it is filled with retro vibes and reminded me of Zelda. This is high praise, indeed, but credit where credit is due, and I loved how Book Quest is presented.

Disappointingly, though, the excellent finish was undone by a frame rate issue. Whenever a boss battle occurred, the action would slow to a nauseating crawl. As a consequence, this made it much tougher to play and uncomfortable to look at. Without this problem, the game would be amazing. As it is, this will tarnish the experience and will turn many gamers off. 

The audio was flawed as well. When it worked, it was fantastic. Yet, it randomly stopped for no reason, and this caused massive gaps of silence. This wouldn’t be so bad, but the dramatic audio enhances the gameplay perfectly. Subsequently, when it was missing, the action was flat and lacked energy. What’s more, the sound effects weren’t varied enough. Therefore, most enemies used the same sound bites, and this was frustrating. Accordingly, the developers needed to be more experimental as this would have improved things without a doubt.

Book Quest is full of mini-games.
One of the many mini-games you’ll tackle.

Sluggish controls and weird hitboxes. 

When a game relies on simple combat mechanics, you don’t expect any problems. Yet, Book Quest has sluggish controls and poor hitboxes. Therefore, it was unfairly difficult when the action was hectic. This was more apparent when tackling each boss. Instead of an enjoyable and challenging experience, you died repeatedly because of the poor controls. As a result, it was unnecessarily frustrating and this will discourage many gamers.

Because of its tough elements, there is some longevity. What’s more, the puzzles and mini-games add a degree of difficulty. Yet, once you complete this, there is little reason to return. Luckily, though, if you can overlook the niggling problems and brutal ways, you’ll enjoy your first playthrough. Consequently, it is good value for money even if it makes you scream.

Book Quest is good but is unnecessarily flawed. 

Though I enjoyed Book Quest, it is unnecessarily flawed. As a consequence, it doesn’t reach its full potential and will put off would-be gamers. The bosses are unfairly difficult; the text is poorly proofread, and the frame rate issue is unforgivable. However, many of these problems can be patched and this will leave a thoroughly enjoyable title. Once the faults are rectified, I recommend you to buy it here! Will you recover your stolen spell book? Explore, solve problems, buy new gear, and tackle your foes. 

Cybersecurity In Movies: Myths vs. Reality

Andrew Edney
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Cybersecurity In Movies: Myths vs. Reality

Hollywood has done an excellent job of portraying hackers and the hacking process in an entirely fictional way. Typically, the hackers we see in movies are lone wolves, dress exclusively in hoodies, and know how to get into every single system within minutes. However, the reality is completely different. Hackers don’t all look alike, don’t know every single system like the back of their hands, and sure, they can’t guess just any password. 

To shatter these myths and highlight what hackers actually do in real life, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 myths we see in movies and debunk them.

All Hackers Are Genius Youngsters

Among the most popular tropes we see in movies, the archetype of a lonely, young tech genius is probably the most prominent one. They will often be outcasts with no social life, dedicating most of their time to consuming tech-related knowledge and improving their craft. While there are definitely some hackers who fit this profile, it is not what the majority of hackers are like. Some of the most dangerous threat actors are seasoned professionals, more often than not working in teams rather than going at it alone. 

Typing Super Fast

Another overused myth we see in movies depicting hacking is that all hackers type extremely fast, which is supposed to demonstrate that they’re good at what they do and have done it so many times that they can type this fast without any errors. What makes this trope even more comical is that they can type at the speed of light, even if their immediate surroundings are collapsing around them.

In reality, whether or not a hacker is a fast typer has no connection to how well he does his job. And more often than not, typing fast will result in more errors and, consequently, more issues that will need fixing later. 

Immediate Access

We have all seen many scenes of hackers typing on their computer for 2 minutes and then declaring, “I’m in.” In these scenes, the hacker usually has to gain access to some remote system, which he is dealing with for the first time, yet somehow, he managed to figure it out in a matter of minutes. This is seldom the case when a hacker works with a new system.

Usually, a person would need more time and supportive tools. Additionally, they would also need to check some existing vulnerabilities, which usually takes quite a lot of time. 

Using IP Address to Hack Into Accounts

Hollywood movies would have you believe you can hack someone by only knowing their IP address. While it’s true that your public IP address is on display unless you are using the best VPN, hacking into your accounts using an IP address is extremely difficult, although it’s not impossible. A more realistic threat that can come from having your IP address be public is that hackers can get ahold of other valuable information about you, like your city and even a Zip code. 

Instantly Guessing a Password

Another trope that has nothing to do with the realities of hacking is instantly guessing someone’s password. Granted, getting into an account that uses a password like “1234” or the owner’s birthday is not too difficult. Still, most people these days have more complicated passwords, especially if they’re trying to protect sensitive data with it. It’s pretty unheard of to guess a difficult password on a first try, or even in minutes. 

In real life, it usually takes hundreds or even thousands of guesses to get it right, but that would be pretty boring to watch on the big screen. 

Finding the Right Information Instantly

Last but not least, the myth that is constantly overused in movies is that hackers can get relevant information instantly. This trope is especially popular in crime shows. An agent will ask a computer nerd where the suspect last used his device, and the computer nerd will have the answer for him in a matter of minutes. There is no directory that holds all this information that you can just look through and find the answer to.  

These movies rarely reference all the paperwork one needs to fill out to request this kind of information in the first place, let alone the time and effort it takes to find out these details that are likely buried in an overwhelming pile of useless information.  

Review: Trust Laptop Cooling Stand

Daniel Waite
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Review: Trust Laptop Cooling Stand

A battle rages on between PC players. Consequently, There is one team who is committed to desktop gaming, and on the other side are the laptop super fans. Therefore, whichever team you back, you are going to be fiercely loyal. I chose the latter for convenience whenever I travel. However, overheating and laptop gaming go hand-in-hand. Subsequently, this is where the Trust Laptop Cooling Stand (GXT 1125) comes into play. This simple device is designed to keep you gaming and your machine cool.

This is a brilliantly basic concept that is a must-have for laptop gamers. Its 5 fan design looks great, works wonderfully, and helps to reduce fan noise. What’s more, it has fantastic build quality, is adjustable, and has a mobile phone holder for your convenience. Alongside this, it is light enough to stow in your bag and it has anti-slip technology.

The Trust Laptop Cooling Stand has 5 integrated fans.
Stay cool with the 5 fan system.

What’s in the box of the Trust Laptop Cooling Stand?

  • The rectangular box is adorned with imagery and key selling points. This lightweight container is a little flimsy, but the contents are still well-packaged. Inside, the device is held in place by two polystyrene stop ends. Sadly, this makes it difficult to recycle, and that was disappointing.
  • The Trust Laptop Cooling Stand is great to look at. It has a premium aluminium finish and 5 LED fans. Furthermore, it is designed for laptops up to 17″ and weighs less than 10 kg. Alongside this, a sturdy lifting arm allows you to adjust the seating position by 190 mm.
  • USB to USB cable. This small rubberised cable is used to power the stand from a laptop USB port. 
  • Technical guide and sticker. A basic manual filled with key information and a Trust logo sticker.
The blue lighting looks amazing.
Simple design.
The phone holder.
Simple packaging.
Guide and sticker.
USB to USB cable
Keep your mobile device close at hand.
A stable platform to game from.
The full package.

Technical aspects.

Main materialAluminium
Max. laptop size17″
Max. weight9.4 kg
Max. lift height190 mm
Fan includedYes 1 * 130 mm 4 * 50 mm
Height50 mm
Width400 mm
Depth280 mm

Unlike its peers, the Trust Laptop Cooling Stand only has one setting. By powering it up, each of the 5 LED fans is activated. There is a large central fan that is flanked by 4 smaller ones. This design is well-considered as it gives the maximum coverage to the largest possible laptop. What’s more, with only one setting to consider, there is little that can go wrong.

What I particularly liked about the design was the sturdy lifting arm. With 5 different positions to consider, you can get your viewing angles perfect at any time. Furthermore, there are some well-positioned lugs to prevent your laptop from moving. Moreover, its anti-slip technology will keep your machine in place at all times. This was incredibly reassuring, especially when gaming on a moving vehicle.

Finally, there is nothing worse than a horrifically loud cooling system. Luckily, the Trust Laptop Cooling Stand peaks at a reasonable 45 dBa. Consequently, you won’t have to adjust your gaming audio, nor will others around you get annoyed. Yes, there are quieter alternatives, but I found this to be unobtrusive and fit for purpose.

The Trust Laptop Cooling Stand let's you adjust your viewing angle.
Get the perfect viewing angle.

Is the Trust Laptop Cooling Stand worth it?

I’ve purchased and experimented with many cooling systems. However, I’m always left dissatisfied. Fortunately, the Trust Laptop Cooling Stand is different. Thanks to its uncomplicated approach, excellent build quality, and LED fans, it delivers on every level. Alongside this, it is relatively portable, easy to store, and inexpensive to purchase.

As such, it is an affordable device that’ll solve a serious gaming problem. Accordingly, if you own a laptop and want to overcome overheating issues, then this is your solution. It is an incredible device that can be used at home or on the move with ease. Furthermore, there is a detachable phone holder if you need to keep your mobile close by.

Summary. 

It is tough to be passionate about such a simple device. Yet, I can’t help but love it. It looks great, is easy to use, it’s lightweight, and will complement any RGB setup. On top of this, your machine feels safe and the adjustable viewing angles make it comfortable to use. It is for all these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here!

(More information on Trust can be found here!)

The Trust Laptop Cooling Stand has been awarded the Movies Games and Tech Gold award.

Is RuneScape still good in 2022?

Andrew Edney
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1
Is RuneScape still good in 2022?

RuneScape is similar to Minecraft in a way that it has been around forever, and still somehow manages to stay relevant today. 21 years have passed since RuneScape got released, with nearly 300 million accounts created in its lifetime. Now, more than 100,000 players regularly join game sessions to either trade, fight, or grind for resources and grind for RuneScape Gold. It is said that MMORPGs are nearing their end, but some titles, like RuneScape, keep proving everyone wrong.  

So what is up with RuneScape; what makes it so interesting to this day, and is it worth playing and paying membership in 2022? Stay with us till the end to find out! RS3 is loved for its core mechanics and grinding potential, but sometimes, it gets dull to the point it deters players from playing further. At Chicks Gold, we offer cheap RS3 gold to help you avoid the grind or to buy a membership. Buy RS3 gold and quickly jump to late-game content with ease!

Gielinor

RuneScape’s Gielinor is a vast land brimming with wildlife, natural wonders, man-made structures, and hostile creatures looking to reset your progress in any way they can. What makes it even more interesting are NPCs, each with a story to tell or a quest to task you with. The sheer randomness of different events makes the world feel alive and explorable.

Quests in RuneScape are truly next-level, offering players the chance to relive stories of important figures from the Gielinor’s past and completely immerse in the RS3 experience. It also features a quest manager that helps players organize missions chronologically and by difficulty.

Gameplay

It is impossible to pinpoint a single feature that makes RuneScape popular, as it is the entire game itself that makes it replayable, unique, and memorable. Players can easily focus on skilling and look to progress their characters through trading and getting those 99s, or enter every single dungeon and slay bosses threatening Gielinor and its people to acquire insane loot. It is the freedom of choice that significantly ups the replayability paired with a plethora of quests and mini-stories each offering something unique and new.

Players have multiple ways to develop their accounts in RuneScape, through combat or non-combat means.

·         Non-combat

Woodcutting, Farming, and Construction are all skills that do not require players to lift their swords to level. These can be very lucrative too, as players can later sell the obtained goods for big bucks. What makes these skills interesting is the fact that they can be done to relax as they do not require complex actions and players can get to the late game with these skills without fighting at all.

·         Combat

RuneScape’s combat is very straightforward, as it is based on three combat types, melee, ranged, and magic. Essentially, use melee to beat ranged, ranged to beat magic, and magic to beat melee – simple! Having such a simple combat system helps balance game mechanics giving everyone an equal chance to show their skills in combat.

Graphics

The RuneScape 3 graphics look very modern and enhanced as opposed to the old-school version but thanks to polls and forums, developers have incorporated a Legacy Mode for those looking to return to RuneScape and experience the nostalgia.

Updates & events

Previously, Jagex was not paying much attention to the community, but today, we have forums and polls that include the players in the mix. This helps developers to precisely update those aspects of the game that are slacking as well as to add new content requested by the player base.

Regular events are also being featured, as a way to keep players interested in new, limited content releases. Usually, a new part of the map becomes available, or certain quest-related elements or NPCs spawn for players to interact with. They have to perform certain tasks to acquire event-exclusive items.

Pay-to-win?

This has been a theme for debate for the longest of times, mainly because F2P players can only experience so much of what Gielinor has to offer. Despite that, free accounts still have plenty to do with 38 quests and 17 skills and will hardly reach a point where they hit a plateau.

This does not mean that to fully experience RuneScape you have to pay for a content subscription, just that the membership system is made to restrict players from using the majority of RuneScape’s content and to urge them to pay. This is a standard practice of many free-to-play games so there is no need to raise any alarms.

Players can pay for their memberships with RS3 gold and that seems like a good deal to us. Think about it, you can get access to content available from 2001 till now, for free if you buy a membership with gold. But even when paying with real money, you will definitely get a good bang for your buck.

Our take

We believe that RuneScape will hardly meet its substitute, with a loyal community and a company that cares about its players. People love it for what it is; a classy, click-to-move MMORPG with a stunning environment and carefully thought-out quests. We strongly believe it is worth playing, as such experience newer MMORPGs cannot offer.

News: EGRET II mini

Daniel Waite
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News: EGRET II mini

In 1996, the EGRET II arcade cabinet was released and was a raving success. Roll on 26 years and the EGRET II mini can now be purchased. There is no doubt that this retro machine will have old-school gamers salivating. As such, owning one of these limited edition consoles will be tough.

So, why is this machine so popular? Well, everyone adores a great retro game, and this comes preloaded with some of the best. This console comes preloaded with 40 awesome arcade classics and has some excellent modern features. What’s more, there is an array of additional controllers, a rotating monitor, and HDMI output. Alongside this, there is an SD slot to add more games and integrated sound through stereo speakers.

The EGRET II Mini looks fantastic with its Western exclusive blue colour scheme.
Check out this awesome retro machine.

Why buy it when you can emulate them for free?

Now, retro gaming isn’t new! As such, there are plenty of emulators and ROMs available. However, the EGRET II mini is a must for those that wish to impress. Not only does it perform perfectly, but it looks cool as hell as well. I mean, who doesn’t want a replica arcade cabinet in their gaming room or man/woman cave? Hell, I know I do.

This is the market that this console is aimed towards. Gamers who have some spare cash and a desire to have a conversation starter. Furthermore, it’s amazing to choose from an array of excellent titles, and whoop your mates like you are back in the 80s.

The EGRET II Mini has a rotating monitor to support more games.
Check out the rotational screen.

What titles come with the EGRET II mini?

Build quality isn’t in question, nor can I fault the array of peripherals on offer. However, my biggest concern if I were to invest, would be the inbuilt games. Therefore, let’s look at what’s on offer.

Space Invaders 1978Lunar Rescue 1979
Steel Worker 1980Lupin the Third 1980
QIX 1981Pirate Pete 1982
Adventure Canoe 1982Elevator Action 1983
Chack’n Pop 1983Outer Zone 1984
The FairyLand Story 1985The Legend of Kage 1985
Bubble Bobble 1986Halley’s Comet 1986
Kiki Kaikai 1986Scramble Formation (Tokio) 1986
Rastan Saga (Rastan) 1987Kyukyoku Tiger (Twin Cobra) 1987
Rainbow Islands Extra 1988The NewZealand Story 1988
Ramais 1988TATSUJIN (Truxton) 1988
DonDokoDon 1989Violence Fight 1989
Cadash 1989Volfied 1989
Mizubaku Adventure (Liquid Kids) 1990Gun Frontier (Gun & Frontier) 1990
Runark (Growl ) 1990Hat Trick Hero (Football Champ) 1990
The Ninja Kids 1990Metal Black 1991
RayForce (Gunlock) 1993Kaiser Knuckle (Global Champion) 1994
Bubble Symphony (Bubble Bobble II) 1994Elevator Action Returns (Elevator Action II) 1994
Darius Gaiden 1994Dan-Ku-Ga 1994
Puzzle Bobble 2X (Bust-a-Move Again) 1995Bubble Memories 1995

And the additional 10 on the SD expansion card:

Marine Date 1981Strike Bowling 1982
Birdie King 1982Arkanoid 1986
Plump Pop 1987Arkanoid: Revenge of DoH 1987
Syvalion 1988Cameltry 1989
Arkanoid Returns 1997Puchi Carat 1997

I think we can all agree that there is something for everyone. Consequently, the EGRET II mini will be a welcome distraction from modern gaming. I know we all love COD, Fifa, and Elden Ring, but these are time-consuming endeavours. Instead, burn up some time with these mindless but addictive titles.

Technical aspects.

  • Measurements: 150mm (width) x 200mm (depth) x 209mm (height)
  • Maximum Power Current: 1.65 A (Console only)
  • Recommended Power Source: Above 5V/2.4A (12W)
  • Included Titles: 40
  • LCD Display: 5inch LCD display (Aspect ratio 4:3, resolution 1024×768)
  • Ports: SD card slot, power inlet (USB Type-C), HDMI port (for TV usage), 3.5mm headphone jack, 2 controller ports (USB Type-A)

What’s in the box of the EGRET II mini – Limited Blue Edition?

  • EGRET II mini – Limited Blue Edition
  • USB Type-C charging cable & HDMI cable (2m)
  • EGRET II mini – Paddle and Trackball Game Expansion Set
  • Instruction panel and exchangeable mini instruction cards (Japanese)
  • Taito 70th/ZUNATA 35th Anniversary Soundtrack (4 CDs)
  • Taito Arcade Strategy Book for the 50 included titles

Three additional controllers.

The EGRET II mini - Paddle and Trackball game Expansion Set.

This optional, special controller for the EGRET II mini uses the classic arcade control methods and includes 10 additional titles that take advantage of this feature on an SD card!

The EGRET II mini - Control Panel

This optional, special controller for the EGRET II mini uses the same layout as the arcade itself, with 6 control buttons and a joystick that can be switched between 8 and 4-directions. Allows for 2 player battle or co-op.

The EGRET II mini - Control Pad

This optional, special controller for the EGRET II mini uses a more home console-oriented layout, for those players who are more used to playing with modern console controllers. Allows for 2 player battle or co-op.

Summary. 

The EGRET II mini is currently available for pre-order in the exclusive Western colour scheme. Alongside this, 3 different controllers can be purchased separately for the authentic experience. If you love retro gaming, then look no further than this miniature old-school arcade console. 

(More information on ININ can be found here!) 

Review: Farm Manager 2022

Natosha M
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Review: Farm Manager 2022

Do you love the idea of running your own farm, taking care of everything by overseeing what goes on and what to do if things get troublesome? How about, do you enjoy a game that allows you to not only play on your own but also have a choice to challenge and build skills by going through a few career modes related to farming? Then maybe you should give the Farm Manager 2022 version a try! it’s the newest game for Nintendo Switch and will help you learn what it takes to run a farm and keep things thriving day by day.

Plus, there are so many fun challenges and plenty of engagement that as a manager, you’ll be required to handle. Don’t always think that employees are the only ones that do all the work, you aren’t just going to be standing around and watching. Instead, you’ll be involved with the important role of making important decisions, affording employees, and dealing with purchasing farming equipment, livestock, and many more items or buildings to add to the farm. Plus, with the weather changes and the occurrence of any type of disaster that may hit, you’ll need to know how to handle all of that as well! So do you think you have what it takes to be a farmer, but most importantly the manager of a farm? If so, then come check out what is in store for you in this game.

🚜 How Was The Game 🚜

The game starts out with four main gaming options, but mainly the one that really is worth trying is the one that relates to your understanding of the game better. That would be playing through the tutorial mode, and even better is to move forward and choose the second option that helps you learn and challenge what you were taught through the career mode. Each step and how to move through every piece feature are easily explained and can be acknowledged through these game modes. Since there are plenty of things you’ll need to understand so you can play the game without a problem, perfect beginner game choice.

There is one strange issue I noticed that isn’t the same as in the Xbox game mode, which I don’t recall it to be the same. During, the tutorial mode of the game, which is very easy to understand and play through each step. Yes, it does take time to get used to the controller to access each of the features. Regardless the completion is where it gets a little strange. There isn’t any congratulations or a special word of you created your first farm. Instead, it just returns you quickly to the main menu of the game, allowing you time to choose another one other option down the list to play, or if you want to play the tutorial stage again it’s still there too.

The third option is the Scenario Mode, which gives you certain tasks to accomplish inside an already established farm. You just have to do the task required, mainly told to you from when you select which scenario you’d like to try and also during the game. After completing a few tasks requested, then the stage is completed and you can move toward others which may take time and more work to accomplish. Another mode is great for skill building and adds an additional piece of gameplay to make this game even more interesting.

Lastly, the fourth option is Free Mode, close to playing a sandbox-style game. You are in charge and have no missions or goals to accomplish, it’s just your own personal farm to run and keep thriving. A game mode that is just as simple as telling you, here is a large amount of space and now do what you like and build a farm as big or small as you want. You’ll still have the job as the manager, but no important tasks to accomplish to move forward like in career mode. You just let your creativity go into play.

Now I did have a chance to try this game in the past for the Xbox One console and I honestly always felt this game to be awesome! I even like that now I can have it to play on my handheld Nintendo Switch console, which is also able to be played on the TV, and go with me when I want to play Farm Manager 2022. Additionally, I love the ease it has compared to some other realistic 3D-style farming games. Especially if you are an employee on the farm and not running it from the manager’s point of view.

The features that are included with this game will have you adding buildings, placing and purchasing new machines, and hiring employees to operate and take care of the crops and livestock you decide to buy. Besides purchasing only a few crops and livestock, you will also be able to raise a mixed type of livestock and crops. Plus, if you want you can take some time to oversee the production and operations by taking a close view with the adjustment of the camera and seeing from all sides what is happening and how everything is looking.

Next, there are some challenges like the weather changes that occur. You would have to make sure to know what to plant, how much, or how to care for certain livestock and plants that you are growing to make a profit on and feed. As bad weather can really cause havoc and even buildings may end up burning up in flames causing you to lose a building or requiring you to spend more money on repairs or replacement. That practically goes with a bunch of things that the weather can do. Then again, not everything lasts and not everything will survive.

In reality, this game brings plenty of realistic challenges and requires planning to keep the funds coming in as well as loans and avoiding disaster along the way. Just like being a tycoon, you will get to be in charge of how well the game plays day by day, all determined by how well you do your job. Plus, to be honest, I love this style of game more than just being a farmer working on the farm. As you are a leader that oversees everything and does what is needed to keep things running.

Lastly, there are two things that were a bit frustrating. I know all the steps are meant to make it easy, but sometimes I did get lost and confused, leading to a huge headache trying to figure out what I need to do to get certain tasks completed. Also, I want to mention that the text sometimes felt too small with so much being mentioned by the woman on top, guiding us through most of the game. For many, it’s just going to have you squinting most of the time. This was an issue I had while playing the Xbox version as well. However, if you get close up to the screen it’ll be easier, or if you just don’t have a problem reading small text, then it’s not the worst issue. Yet, many may suffer this as a problem.

Otherwise, I found nothing to be wrong with the speed, graphics, or sounds in the game. Plus, with so much that you can do during the game, you may think its loading time might stall or cause some type of issues, but in actuality, it didn’t. Everything from the sounds, change of weather, and the graphics and design of objects, characters, and many other items appear are so realistic. Additionally, the gameplay is easy it is to get a hang of, right from the start. You do need to get acquainted with the features as in many games, but after going through the career mode, which also acts like the tutorial stage of the game, everything becomes a piece of cake and from then on, it’s just so much fun to play and play over and over again!

🚜 Final Thoughts 🚜

I love these types of games, simulation games that also can be considered to play like a sandbox game too! It’s got career mode to get you understanding and also learning how to play. Then you have the chance to just build up your farm the way you like. After of course, learning how to play and use the different features, which there are plenty to learn, it does become easier to know how to build and run a farm as a great manager should!

I honestly loved the game, it’s easier to move around, but can be tricky in the beginning. However, it gets simpler after you play the game constantly. I don’t really feel there is anything so easier than Farm Manager as many other games out there that are similar to a simulated farming game. This game makes it easier to view everything on the farm and easily get the job required of you done correctly the first time. Except, some may find it a bit difficult or get confused at times, which can be a good reason to pause the game till you work the farm out and put it together. Also, for the details from the lady at the top of each tutorial, career or scenario mode can be a bit difficult to read. Yet on a good note, you can play the game as much as you like and always change it up, as there is no end to the possibilities and how to become a great manager!

Review: Voyage

Daniel Waite
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Review: Voyage
https://youtu.be/EAayHss5uvc

Surreal adventure games are nothing new. These odd experiences are open to interpretation and can be wild and whacky. Occasionally, though, they are touching, memorable, and heartfelt. This is exactly what Voyage hopes to impart to its players. Subsequently, it is a very strange title that is confusing, unusual, but oh so beautiful.

Developed by Venturous and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a cinematic puzzle adventure title. It focuses on a collaborative approach, as such, it can be enjoyed solo or cooperatively. I tried both methods and loved each one. Therefore, if you are a lone gamer, you’ll have just as much fun as when you team up with another.

Voyage has clear chapter defining moments.
The light and bubbles indicate a new path that you must take.

Voyage: a short but mesmerising journey.

Normally, I frown whenever the gameplay is too short. This is especially true when I adore what I’m playing. Voyage is over far too quickly and this was disappointing. Set across 8 absurd and bizarre chapters, you and your friend must work together to progress. The core concept revolves around basic puzzles, climbing, pushing and pulling items, and activating switches. Consequently, many of the problems are easy to solve and much of the action is linear. This wasn’t a problem though, as the simplicity allowed me to focus on my crazy surroundings. 

The story of Voyage centres around two survivors and their journey to get home. As they explore each level, they are haunted by apparitions of past encounters. These memories give them clues as to how to proceed, but the solutions are still shrouded in mystery. As you progress, you explore some zany and weird locations. By the end, the adventure comes full circle, and the truth is revealed. Without spoiling it for you, the conclusion will tug at your heartstrings. As such, it is a beautifully dramatic story told at a relaxing pace.

The puzzles in Voyage lack complexity.
Pull your boat and continue the adventure.

No violence or words are needed.

Many will say that violence is a key part of any video game. However, I don’t believe it is always necessary. In fact, in Voyage, it wouldn’t be relevant, nor would it be suitable. Accordingly, a combat-free experience is on the cards. During your short time with it, there are no elements of danger. Instead, you enjoy the straightforward puzzles and incredibly detailed landscapes. Whether it’s a dusty desert, gargantuan spaceship, or haunting wasteland, they never fail to impress.

Alongside this, there is no dialogue. You’ll see no text, hear no words, and yet, it’s still an emotional masterpiece. The simple aesthetics and gentle pace are captivating. What’s more, the strange and often shrouded nature of the story holds your attention throughout.

Voyage looks and sounds incredible. 

Indie titles have gone from strength to strength, and Voyage is a prime example. Thanks to its stunning looks and amazing audio, you are in for a cinematic treat. Its rich colour palette and wonderful hand-painted landscapes are eye-catching. I cherished the varied and intelligent stage design, but wish they were bigger and more complex. Though much of the action was linear, it lacked repetition, and this kept things fresh.

The audio beautifully complemented each chapter. The varied soundtrack created an eerie and haunting soundscape. Consequently, you quickly become immersed in this strange alien world. With no dialogue, it could have lacked energy or emotion. However, this wasn’t the case! The excellent composition injects pace when needed, and highlights loss and frailty perfectly. I adored every second of this cinematic treat and this is where it truly excels.

Voyage has some stunning locations to explore.
Battle the desert and find the secrets.

A simple game = simple controls. 

The opening chapter doubles up as a basic tutorial. This was nice, but it wasn’t entirely necessary. Why? Because the controls are so simple, they are mastered immediately. Furthermore, the responsive inputs and stripped-back UI support it further still. If you play this cooperatively, the controls are even easier. However, solo gamers needn’t worry, as the fundamentals are a cinch to understand.

Where Voyage is lacking is both longevity and replay value. In under an hour, you’ll have completed it and discovered every secret. Subsequently, this was disappointing, as I wanted so much more. Sadly, there is no room for an alternative ending, nor could a New Game + mode be implemented. Luckily, though, the first and only playthrough is so good that it’s worthy of your time.

Voyage is breathtaking. 

A game rarely gets most things right. Normally, there are plenty of shortcomings that can be improved. Voyage, however, is simply breathtaking and is, therefore, a stunning indie game. Consequently, I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Can you work together to solve the mystery and get home? 

Review: HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro

Andrew Edney
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Review: HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro

Here is our review of the HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro.

Engineered with world’s first coaxial dual-driver design with a powerful Ø11mm dynamic driver and piezoelectric ceramic tweeter, the HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro delivers a naturally resonant bass and clear melodious treble. Besides having an Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (Adaptive ANC) that recognises ambient sounds and switches to various noise cancellation modes for an immersive and uninterrupted experience, consumers were drawn to the HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro, which is also the world’s first true wireless stereo (TWS) earbuds to feature a 5C fast charging technology.

Features

● Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation

● Crystal-clear Audio

● Coaxial Dual-driver Design

● Incredibly Light and Comfortable

● Fast Charging & Long Battery Life

What’s in the box?

The box contains the Earbuds 3 Pro, charging case, charging cable, manual and spare tips.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

One of the first things you notice about the Earbuds 3 Pro is that they look a lot like Apple’s AirPods Pro, and that’s not a bad thing. These are grey rather than white and actually I prefer the look of the Earbuds 3 Pro. You can get them in white though if you really want to.

The charging case and the earbuds themselves are small and lightweight, making them both easy to carry around when not in use and comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Talking of charging, 5 minutes of charging in the charging cases gives you 2 hours of charge which is delivered using 5C fast charging and provides 65% charge in around 10 minutes. Basically charge up the case and when the earbuds are not in use they will charge ready for you to use. The box contains a charging cable which just needs to be plugged into either a USB port or a USB plug. A full charge gives you around 6 hours and with the 24 hours of charge the case can hold, you shouldn’t run out of battery!

Pairing the Earbuds is really simple and quick and they connect back to the device easily when used again later.

The Earbuds are very comfortable to wear, even for extended periods of time, this is party down to the pressure-equalising front and rear vents.

There are controls on the Earbuds themselves that you can use, or you can use the HONOR AI Space app, or if its just volume controls you want you can do that from your device very easily.

The sounds quality is extremely good and is one of the best I have listened to on earbuds. They have adaptive Active Noise Cancellation which recognises noises in the environment and automatically switches to various noise cancelling modes, and they work very well.

There is also Call Noise AI Cancellation which really helps when making or receiving phone calls. This worked very well with the people I spoke to saying my voice was very clear.

The Earbuds 3 Pro work great with an HONOR phone, however if you want to use them with you iPhone (for example) there isn’t an app. They do work with an iPhone, but you don’t get all the additional features the HONOR AI Space offers.

If you are looking for a high quality comfortable pair of earbuds that have high quality sound and features, and you are looking for an alternative to Apple’s AirPods then you really need to take a look, and listen at the HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro.

The HONOR Earbuds 3 Pro are available now priced around £169.99 and are available in White or Gray.

You can learn more from the HONOR website.

Review: ZR 01 Zen Running shoes

Daniel Waite
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Review: ZR 01 Zen Running shoes

The idea that sports and computer games go hand in hand is an alien concept for many. However, I genuinely believe that plenty of gamers also enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Consequently, when I was offered the ZR 01 Zen Running shoes to try, I leapt at the chance. These stylish, well-built, and lightweight trainers are perfect for amateur athletes as well as more experienced runners.

With many running shoes to choose from, it can be tough to pull the trigger and buy a new pair. Subsequently, we normally stick to tried and tested and familiar brands. I know I’m guilty of this, as I’ve spent years running in Brooks Ghost trainers. However, I’m always open to a new experience, and I was pleasantly surprised by the ZR 01 Zen Running shoes. On top of this, the manufacturer provided a pair of running socks to test the full Zen experience. So, let’s wait no longer and see how these trainers held up.

The ZR 01 shoes look great.
A clean and eye-catching design.

What’s in the box of the ZR 01 Zen Running shoes?

  • The ZR 01 Zen Running shoes are delivered in a simple compact box. The plain design is straightforward but eye-catching. Some basic words deliver the company ethos and the packaging is fully recyclable. Inside, the shoes are securely packaged and wrapped in a fine layer of tissue paper. Further to this, a cardboard inner lining ensures each trainer maintains its shape.
  • The ZR 01 Zen Running shoes look fantastic. With a two-toned design and an array of colours, they look and feel amazing. I chose the Mayfly / Lucite Green, but three other options are available. These are neutral shoes with cushioned support. Furthermore, they have a sewn-in sock-fit upper for ultimate comfort. Alongside this, they are made from plant-based material and are vegan approved.
Simple packaging.
More heartwarming messages.
The first glimpse of your running shoes.
How wide are these shoes?
A side view of your shoes.
The excellent Zen Running socks.

Technical aspects. 

Though I love my running gear to look stylish, comfort and build quality are far more important. Luckily, the ZR 01 Zen Running shoes ticks all these boxes and much more. These trainers are designed to be snug at all times. However, purchasing a half or full size above your normal fitting is recommended. I went for the latter option due to my wider feet, and I wasn’t disappointed. With a large toe box area and a tight but reassuring upper, they felt fantastic. Furthermore, the inner cushioning isn’t intrusive and your feet stand in a “normal” position.

This cushioning is important when training at high intensity or simply tackling a longer run. What’s more, the snug design combined with the excellent running socks reduces blisters and “hot spots”. As a result, you experience an effortless training session. Moreover, the stable strike area reduces injury and fatigue. My opening run of around 10 miles lacked the usual breaking in pain. Instead, it was business as normal as the miles faded away. On top of this, I had minimal fatigue in my muscles and there was no noticeable discomfort. This was an excellent result from a new and relatively unknown brand.

The ZR 01 shoes are comfortable to wear.
Snug fitting shoes that are comfortable.

Construction. 

I’m used to a traditional eyelet system. However, the ZR 01 Zen Running shoes use an external lace tensioning setup. I found this to be difficult to adjust at first, but easy to manage once familiar with it. The sock-fit upper was similarly received. I prefer a standard ankle design, but this offers more support and reassurance on uneven surfaces.

Talking of surfaces, the ZR 01 Zen Running shoes are designed for road running. Yet, I did tackle some light trails and woodland areas and they coped extremely well. Accordingly, I wouldn’t try anything more rugged as the lighter sole would probably struggle. Further to this, there isn’t a stability option in the range, at present. Yet, the manufacturers will expand their selection in the future to accommodate many runners’ needs.

The ZR 01 Zen Running shoes and their plant-based materials. 

What I found fascinating was the mixture of plant-based materials. The ZR 01 Zen Running shoes are constructed from an array of fibres to suit different needs. Furthermore, each element is vegan and has been approved by the Vegetarian Society.

  • Upper: One-piece sock-fit construction digitally knitted from eucalyptus tree fibres for zoned comfort, support and breathability.
  • Sockliner: Castor bean foam with a eucalyptus fabric, to cradle your foot.
  • Midsole: Sugarcane-based foam engineered with a ‘rocker’ design to cushion and glide you into your next stride.
  • Outsole: Made from FSC-certified natural rubber, it keeps you moving with the right blend of durability, grip and rolling motion.
A closer look at the sole.

Are the ZR 01 Zen Running shoes worth it?

With a vast selection of running shoes at your disposal, it can be tough to pick. However, these plant-based trainers certainly stand out from the crowd. Their lightweight design and comfortable and cool material make for an effortless training experience. Furthermore, I felt no discomfort, tightness, or hot spots when wearing them. The snug design is reassuring and the larger sole helps to maintain stability.

On top of this, they look fantastic even though the sock-fit upper wasn’t my cup of tea. Moreover, the road-specific design does limit their use slightly, but this is nothing new. If you enjoy trail or woodland running, then you shouldn’t discredit this product. Instead, you can be assured that they are strong and stable enough for the job at hand.

A final mention goes to the wonderful Zen Running socks. These soft, breathable, and robust socks offer comfort and a blister-free experience. Though they are similar to other market-leading brands, they are environmentally friendly and built to last.

Summary. 

If you are environmentally conscious and want a solid and technologically advanced running shoe, then look no further. Not only will your feet look great, but your body will thank you as you burn up the miles. I loved them and I recommend you to buy them here!

(More information on the Zen Running Club can be found here!) 

The ZR 01 shoes are awarded the Movies Games and Tech Gold award.

Review: MX Vs ATV Legends

Daniel Waite
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Review: MX Vs ATV Legends

I have a soft spot for sports titles, as I love their competitive ways and the excitement they bring. My go-to games were Fifa, ISS/Pro Evo, or anything related to the Olympics. However, my tastes have evolved and I now love the adrenaline rush of racing titles. I have reviewed RIDE 4, Monster Truck Championship, and more. Therefore, when MX Vs ATV Legends hit my desk, I couldn’t wait to play it.

Developed by Rainbow Studios and published by THQ Nordic, this is a racing simulation title. It has a refined physics system for an ultra-realistic experience. What’s more, it can be played split screen, online, or alone. Further to this, there are some custom options, an excellent career to explore, and a large array of races to win. In short, it is action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled, and exciting to play.

Earn the cash and upgrade every machine.
Upgrade your bike and lead the championship.

MX Vs ATV Legends has a heartwarming story with some gritty riding action. 

I love an underdog tale and MX Vs ATV Legends hams this up. You are a rookie rider, a diamond in the rough, if you will. Yet, a farmer sees promise in you and hopes that your skills will bring riders and money to his failing business. Consequently, you form a strong bond and your fledgling career takes off.

With the help of your friends, you form a race-winning team. You unlock new bikes, purchase new gear, and move up the ranks. Alongside this, you are free to ride bikes, ATVs, or UTVs across a variety of terrains. Each event you enter tests your skills and racing abilities. Accordingly, the better you do, the more fans you’ll earn and the bigger your sponsorship deals and prizes become.

Win the crown in the dirt arena.
Time to win the crown in the arena.

Choices, choices. 

What makes MX Vs ATV Legends so good is its progress tree. Every decision you make, and how well you race, impacts your career. Subsequently, you’ll experience different events and are likely to receive alternative rewards. Your ultimate goal is to be successful and become a world-famous professional rider.

However, all work and no play make you a very dull boy. Therefore, you can enjoy exploring the open environment, or competing in invitational events. Alongside this, there are also online races and exhibition events to win. Alternatively, you can challenge a friend to some split-screen action. This is an old-school approach that wonderfully enhances the competitive nature of the gameplay.

Disappointingly, though, I had issues with the online servers. Either MX Vs ATV Legends has no following, or the servers are broken. Either way, the potential of online racing and its inevitable shenanigans never happened. Consequently, this was a massive letdown. After all, half the fun of this genre is when you compete with and beat the best global players.

MX Vs ATV Legends looks great. 

Sports games are so real-to-life that it is eerie. Thankfully, MX Vs ATV Legends doesn’t disappoint as it has a wonderfully polished finish. I admired its slick action, detailed bikes, and wonderful settings. Visually, it is a trouble-free experience with no frame rate drops or bugs to report. Furthermore, its open-world segments feel vast and inviting, and this juxtaposes the claustrophobic and technical race courses.

If you’ve ever heard a swarm of wasps, you’ll know how every vehicle in this game sounds. A perpetual buzzing noise drowns out every sense. Consequently, each race is a cacophony of sounds that’ll make your head hurt. Now, this isn’t a complaint, as there is some nice variation amongst the vehicles. As you purchase or win a new machine, there are distinct differences that petrolheads will adore. Alongside this, there are some bone-crunching falls and disturbing crashes to enjoy. In short, it is loud, in your face, and the perfect example of modern racing.

MX Vs ATV Legends has a nice array of vehicles.
Jump on 4 wheels and win that series.

Easy to pick up and play. 

Normally, I struggle with the advanced elements of this genre. Getting the balance of acceleration and braking is often tough and a bit of a slog. However, MX Vs ATV Legends has an excellent tutorial and forgiving settings. Subsequently, you can jump into the action and enjoy yourself immediately. Yet, this doesn’t mean it’s easy, because it is not. With many difficulty settings and stunts and jumps to master, you’ll struggle to become an expert.

Like its peers, this is addictive and has replay value. Aside from the poor online mode, you’ll want to explore every racing category. Moreover, the technical elements and varied track designs ensure it doesn’t become monotonous or mundane. If you take into account the custom gear for your rider, the fine-tuning of each machine, and the split screen racing, there is an awful lot to do.

MX Vs ATV Legends was a pleasant surprise. 

I may love the genre, but I also had my fair share of stinkers to contend with. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised by MX Vs ATV Legends. Its addictive gameplay and adrenaline-fuelled racing are rewarding and fun to experience. What’s more, I loved the number of vehicles and the volume of racing on offer. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here! Becoming a legend isn’t easy. However, with help from your friends, you’ll make that dream come true. 

Spoiler Free Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Andrew Edney
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Spoiler Free Review: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

With Sonic the Hedgehog 2 now available to buy, here is our spoiler free review.

Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega. Photo Credit: Courtesy Paramount Pictures and Sega of America.

Produced by Paramount Pictures in association with SEGA Sammy Group; an Original Film/ Marza Animation Planet/ Blur Studio production, the world’s favourite blue hedgehog is back for next-level adventure featuring the all-star cast of James Marsden, Ben Schwartz, Tika Sumpter, Natasha Rothwell, Adam Pally, Shemar Moore, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Lee Majdoub with Idris Elba and Jim Carrey.

After settling in Green Hills, Sonic (Ben Schwartz) is eager to prove he has what it takes to be a true hero. His test comes when Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) returns, this time with a new partner, Knuckles (Idris Elba), in search of an emerald that has the power to destroy civilisations. Sonic teams up with his own sidekick, Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey), and together they embark on a globe-trotting journey to find the emerald before it falls into the wrong hands.

Knuckles (Idris Elba) and Sonic (Ben Schwartz) in Sonic The Hedgehog 2 from Paramount Pictures and Sega.

It’s quite rare that movie adaptations of video games are really good. That’s not to say that the movies aren’t fun, but they are rarely really good! I was pleasantly surprised by the first Sonic the Hedgehog movie, in fact, it’s one of my son’s favourite movies, which means we have seen it a lot! So when the second movie came out I, and he, was really looking forward to seeing it.

The movie takes place a short while after the first one, Eggman is stuck on the Mushroom planet, Sonic has settled in to his life with the Donut Lord and Pretzel Lady, although at night he becomes Blue Justice. It’s not long before Eggman is back and this time he has company in the form of Knuckles, the last of the Echidna warriors. But this time Sonic has a new friend in the form of Tails – you may remember Tails appeared briefly at the end of the first movie. And so this new adventure begins.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 is a really fun movie with lots of action, adventure and laughs (watch out for the dance battle which is brilliant) and I would go so far as to say we enjoyed it even more than the first movie, and that’s saying something!

This movie is a must see and must own!

SONIC THE HEDGEHOG 2 is available now on 4K UHD™ + Blu-ray™, Blu-ray™ and DVD from Paramount Pictures and is currently available to Download & Keep. In addition, fans can also purchase both the new movie and original hit film SONIC THE HEDGEHOG in a 2-Movie Collection on Digital, DVD, Blu-ray™ or 4K UHD™ + Blu-ray™.  

Review: The Tale of Bistun

Daniel Waite
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Review: The Tale of Bistun

I love a good mythological story, as they are intriguing and captivating. What’s more, game developers use a healthy dose of creative licence to add their touches. The Tale of Bistun is a prime example of a classic story with a modern and unusual twist.

Developed and published by Black Cube Games, this is a story-driven action-adventure title. Furthermore, it has a high degree of hack n slash gameplay and oodles of arena-based combat. Alongside this, there is rich lore to explore, a plethora of characters to encounter, and bags of secrets to find. All of this content comes together because of a booming and well-delivered narrative. Consequently, you experience a beautifully paced story that grabs your attention immediately.

The Tale of Bistun is a tale as old as time. 

Like all great mythological stories, The Tale of Bistun explores drama, romance, and loss. Its plot revolves around the famous Persian tragic romance “Khosrow and Shirin“. You play the part of Fashad, a stone carver who has lost his memory. As the hero awakens, he is haunted by whispered words. Determined to find the source, he begins his journey. En route, he jogs his memory and discovers a tale of unrequited love. However, this does not deter him as he must find the source of the persistent whispering.

Quite the dramatic plot, but the bite-sized chapters prevent it from becoming overbearing. This was phenomenal, as it allows you to enjoy every twist and moment in your own time. Subsequently, I revelled in my fleeting success and was invested in sorrowful elements. 

The Tale of Bistun takes you on a surreal journey.
Take a trip through the surreal world.

Arenas and ungodly powers.

The story focuses on Farhad and his journey. By saving the cursed pomegranate trees, images flood his mind. The further he progresses, and the more trees he saves, the clearer the picture becomes. 

But how does he save them? Well, this is where the arena battles come into play. Every chapter comprises an array of fights with varying enemies. You’ll face off with bats, goblins, orcs, trolls, and more. Each of these ghastly creatures has strengths and weaknesses that must be exploited. Accordingly, this is where Farhad’s powers come into play.

He begins as a meek and powerless man. However, things soon change as he finds a magical pickaxe and learns new skills. These abilities must be harnessed to defeat his foes, annihilate the Deev Bistun, and fulfil his destiny. 

Your progress is determined by each arena battle.
Kill your foes and open up new areas.

Fascinating characters. 

What’s particularly great about The Tale of Bistun is its array of fascinating characters. The story is filled with drama and emotion because of each of the protagonists. The most important of these are Farhad, your guide, the Hoopoe bird, and the gargantuan and evil Deev Bistun.

Farhad takes on the brunt of the action with his hack n slash combat and crazy powers. His desire to do the right thing is admirable and his naivety is charming and touching. The Hoopoe bird, on the other hand, is your guiding light. The further you progress, the more important she becomes to the myth and the gameplay. Her role is cleverly introduced, and she prevents the story from plateauing. 

Finally, the villain of this tale is Deev Bistun. This horrendous beast leeches darkness into his surroundings and curses everything he touches. He is the key to discovering the truth, but defeating him won’t be easy. Consequently, you must find every weapon, learn every ability, and be lucky if you wish to succeed. 

The Tale of Bistun has a strange style. 

Because of its mythological roots, I expected a clean and simple approach with a sepia finish. However, instead, the developers used an isometric viewpoint, cartoon graphics, and a rich and deep colour palette. Subsequently, it looked bizarre as it was more surreal than I expected. Yet, because of the dreamy imagery and cutscenes, it worked extremely well. But what I wasn’t so keen on was the fixed camera view. This was restrictive and frustrating. Consequently, the gameplay would have been improved if you could freely explore your surroundings. 

Though the visuals were strange, the audio was amazing. The combination of eerie music, crazy sound effects, and booming narration worked perfectly. Every chapter was described by a beautifully narrated script. As such, it was easy to immerse yourself in the odd but fascinating world.

The Tale of Bistun looks stunning.
The world is beautiful.

Excellent controls. 

Much of the combat relied on hack n slash mechanics. However, finesse was still essential. Farhad can roll to avoid damage, slash his weapons to hurt his foes, or unleash a special ability. Whatever you do, it is easy to understand and buttery smooth to execute.

My biggest gripe with The Tale of Bistun is its repetitive nature and its linear approach. The lack of freedom was annoying as the environment begged to be explored. Accordingly, you may worry about becoming bored, or there not being enough longevity. Well, fear not as the action is fun and there are many secrets to search for. In every chapter, you must carve statues of your beloved, find lost tablets, and uncover hidden carvings. Subsequently, there is plenty to do if you want to extend your time with the game.

The Tale of Bistun is an excellent but short indie title.

The Tale of Bistun would have had to be terrible for me to dislike it. My adoration of mythology will always make me biased. Yet, from a professional viewpoint, I can honestly say that this is an excellent indie title. Yes, there are shortcomings, but these don’t deter from the great end product. Unsurprisingly, I loved it and I recommend you to buy it here! Will Farhad regain his memory and become a hero, or will the Deev Bistun sow his demonic seed? Save the pomegranate trees, weaken the beast’s power, and discover the source of the whispers. 

Review: Outward Definitive Edition

Alex Chessun
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Review: Outward Definitive Edition

A crafting survival RPG that strays into simulation territory as it wants you to do everything yourself, Outward – an RPG of the fantasy variety – removes all modern conveniences from fast travel to levelling up, making you walk every inch of the map and defeat enemies just to get you meal to meal.  

This is mostly in the name of exploration and discovery rather than quest-led gameplay as you pull out your own bed, grab a huge cooking pot and stare at the stars when it’s become too dark to continue exploring. As the trailer states ‘Forget what other games have taught you’, Outward certainly does head in a different direction than what you might expect – a somewhat realistic one. 

That’s just the base version though. Today we review tepid trailblazer, Outward Definitive Edition, which is an upgraded version of the original with gameplay adjustments and the 2 DLC (The Three Brothers and The Soroboreans) that were originally released for the base game. The 2 DLC are a mixture of grinding and story additions to the end game content with The Three Brothers allowing you the ability to build an entire town.

It’s hardly a small endeavor either, you need to complete quests, purchase blueprints, acquire resources, build over many in-game days, upgrade and maintain as well as having requirements for each building once it’s built. It’s a lot of grinding, but it’s satisfying having something created something permanent in-game, and I actually enjoyed the idea of it far more than the base game.    

The mana meter for your character is pitifully small, meaning that in just a few swings of your weapon or a short run will leave you completely gassed, which is more than a little tedious when you actually just want to travel somewhere without falling asleep on the way there.

It might be presumptuous to say, but the chances that you’ll like Outward will likely be determined by how much you already like the genre going into this experience, as I just can’t see any players being converted to the fantasy crafting genre from this mediocre title and any action game fans coming in are likely to be disappointed when comparing it to other RPGs on the market.  

Not being a AAA game, Outward works to its perceived strengths though, wanting every excursion to be a life-threatening and tense adventure on its own, but in doing so, forgets to make the individual elements that make up each one actually enjoyable. With bare maps, no fast travel, and an egregiously bland gameplay loop, you have yourself a game that may take more from the player in time than it gives is satisfaction.

The main reason for this is that loot runs – the component that fuels the entire machine – provide little to no excitement, or motivation to move on to the next one, as the slow, floaty, and repetitive action mechanics dull the proceedings and the hope you might loot something worthwhile often leads to disappointment as the best possible outcome and item that needs to be crafted, is likely something you have no idea about. 

Furthermore, you are encouraged to be clever with your loot as your bag can barely hold any items, so not only do newcomers have a hard time trying to figure out what is actually necessary but you are forced to throw away a lot of – potentially – helpful things if you do not wish to constantly be running back home to store them in your stash. 

Ironically, despite the game wanting you to figure it out on your own, unless you are willing to spend hours upon hours of figuring it out, chances are the game’s overwhelming start will likely force you to find out online.  For those who haven’t succumbed to the subscription gaming’s version of channel skipping which makes you jump to another game at the first moment of discontent, this does mean that there is a lot to do here and those that enjoy getting lost in the minutia of making your own weapons and items will certainly have something sink their teeth into. 

There are plenty of builds and different weapons to choose from over the length of the game, but with few attacks each, it takes an awful lot of time to get to the point where the accumulation of skills and weapons make it worth it and don’t seem like the same lunge over and over. 

In that sense, the action is like a poor man’s version of Elden Ring, where you jump dodge around an attack strike and repeat, hitting an enemy whose only reaction to your attack is a depleting health bar.

One thing that everyone is sure to agree on though – unless you are playing with a PC mod – is that Outward does itself very little favors not including a fast travel ability. Combine that with a very slow run (and low energy levels for a sprint) and it really slows the entire experience down to a crawl.

This is clearly aiming to be part of the ‘realism’ of the adventure, but it also makes the game feel gimmicky and unnecessary at times. 

Graphically, the game does admirably well considering the small development team, but there are some performance issues, constant loading screens and bugs that you are going to encounter throughout.

The day/night and even different seasonal cycles are – in theory – a fantastic addition to the game, but none of the NPCs ever change their programmed route even in the dead of night or ever go home. The importance of sleep is further demeaned as there is no sleep meter and you don’t actually have to do it, meaning that you could survive indefinitely without even bothering. Health and food items feed into this poorly as they do an irritatingly useless job of healing you, so it just feels like it’s forcing you to sleep to feed into its realism. 

This is made more superfluous by a generous death system – which often drops you off with 25% health and your items on the floor – as its benefits are not that far off that of sleeping. When you are lost with the unhelpful map that refuses to show you where you are on it, dying to be moved to a marked part of the map is actually preferable to sleeping to stay alive. 

The story has four different factions that you can join and they all offer unique skills and equipment for the quests that they ask you to undertake. This allows you to create many different builds for the decent variety of weapons available. It also means that you won’t fully understand the story until you’ve played the game 4 times despite there only being one ending. 

Depending on where you die, you get a different mini-story before you get going again.

The original also included a multiplayer mode and, in my opinion, this is really where the game shines as the negatives are mitigated somewhat when playing with buddies either locally or online.

Outward is quite the divisive title and will likely continue to be a dichotomy amongst gamers. Some will love the lack of hand holding, the long walks, and the creative combination of crafting and survival gameplay, while others will pick apart its average implementation and frustrating mechanics. It is often said that when trying to write a story, it is helpful to think of the ending first and write backward. Outward seems to think that the gameplay needs to be much the same, putting the onus on the player to make it fun through a significant time investment and hoping something sticks, instead of first making the formula fun.

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