The DT 270 Pro headphones are the ideal studio headphones for creators, audiophiles, and anyone who wants high-tech but simple headphones. Beyerdynamic has created a superb range of professional products that are admired globally. They are comfortable, discreet, but eye-catching, and perfect if you desire balanced audio without any negatives.
Alongside this, they are great to wear. The earcups are plush, comfortable, and help to keep your ears cool. Moreover, the movable parts are smooth and robust. The detachable cable is gold-plated for the best connection possible. Additionally, the wire can be connected to either earcup. This versatility was appreciated as the wire never got in the way.
What’s in the box of the DT 270 Pro headphones?
The packaging is simple but alluring. Furthermore, it can be recycled.
The DT 270 Pro headphones look amazing. They have lay flat yokes, soft and large earcups, and a clean and professional finish.
A cable with 3.5mm audio jacks and a 1/4″ adaptor is provided. Alongside this, there is a USB-C connector.
Headset information.
The DT 270 Pro headphones are a studio-grade headset that is ideal for content creation, recording, and monitoring (closed). Although they could be used for everyday music and other tasks, there are better products on the market for that job. Consequently, these headphones will appeal to a niche but high-value audience.
Audio quality.
Professional products are held to a higher standard than gaming headphones or other entry-level items. Thankfully, the DT 270 Pro headphones deliver wonderfully balanced audio that is comfortable to listen to. I tested these across an array of songs and tasks, and they never faltered. The generous audio profile picks out the highs, mids, and low tones with ease. Moreover, there is a rich bass line that supports without overpowering.
Despite pushing the DT 270 Pro headphones to their limits, I never experienced crackling, popping, or static. This was great as I ran them through their paces for extended periods. Additionally, I tested them with my review audio clips, and everything sounded clear and crisp. As such, I believe professionals will enjoy the hearty sound without any negatives.
Build quality.
This product is built to last. The headband is strong, flexible, and comfortable. It can be adjusted, and I felt no pressure when wearing it for hours. Although the earcups are snug, the material doesn’t apply pressure if you wear glasses. Moreover, there is enough room for your ears, and I experienced no uncomfortable overheating.
The headphones are built with durability in mind. Yet, it was the accessories that impressed me. Many manufacturers overlook the extras and chuck in subpar products. Thankfully, DT 270 Pro headphones have exceptional cables and a robust carry bag to keep things safe. The gold-plated connections reduce interference, and the solid wires will last the test of time.
Are the DT 270 Pro headphones worth it?
If you want an all-around pair of headphones, the DT 270 Pro headphones may not be for you. Yes, they can do many tasks, but they are aimed towards a specific audience. Consequently, if you are a content creator, editor, or someone who loves clean and crisp music, these will appeal to you. Accordingly, I recommend buying them here!
(More information on Beyerdynamic can be found here!)
(Full disclosure! A sample was provided for an unbiased and free review!)
Blood of Mehran is awful. It’s awful in a way that I didn’t think was possible anymore. It’s like a sloppy PS2 action game that was cobbled together to cash in on the God of War/DMC craze of 20 years ago, hoping to trick edgy teenage boys with a sick ass cover and the promise of gnarly dismemberment. But now it’s 2025, gaming has grown up and so has Kratos; now a single widower with a BOY. He’s still capable of disembowelling monsters and NPC’s he finds annoying, but it’s now in a package clearly inspired by the AAA over the shoulder cinematic storytelling that The Last of Us (whether you like it or not) has set as a gold standard. Based on Persian mythology, and made in Iran by a very small indie team, Mehran is clearly trying to be the middle eastern modern God of War/Assassin’s Creed; a noble endeavour. But good intentions aren’t always enough.
I honestly don’t know what the plot of the game is, its storytelling is so poor. Mehran is a retired warrior whose wife and daughter are murdered by the order of the corrupt King of the land. Why? I don’t know. The game opens with a recount of their culling, told through a cliche sequence where Mehran walks through the ruins of his homestead and the transparent ghosts of that night slowly manifest; the screen is filled with fire and alpha effects, the dying screams of his family echo through the night. The problem is that it’s unoptimised Unreal Engine 5 and all this grief causes the frame rate to tank to the low 20s.
He’s thrown in prison and then breaks out and this escape serves as your tutorial area, aka the thing that gets the player hooked. And it’s bad. Character models are, without any hyperbole, early PS3 quality, bug eyed with smooth skin and awkward movement. Mehran sprints like a constipated caveman and when you move around in a circle, his feet just glide along the floor like an Oblivion character. Lip synching is seemingly non-existent, almost as if they were ashamed to time it with the wooden voice acting, the worst performance being Mehran himself. We have a game where our main character looks, moves and sounds terrible. Off to a great start.
Then you get to the combat. It’s 2018 God of War but rubbish. Throw any criticism you want at the direction GoW has gone in and the modern “cinematic” style of gameplay, but you can’t deny the effort that’s gone into the animation, sound design and responsiveness in those titles. You’d probably appreciate it more if you played this. Fast attack, strong attack, parry and dodge, press the two sticks to go into Rage Mode, you know the bloody drill. But imagine that running at like 23fps with input lag, missing/cut off sound effects and wooden animation, topped off with a nauseating motion blur effect that can’t be turned off because the toggle in the options is broken. It’s like if someone made a NINTENDO HIRE THIS MAN tech demo into a game.
Okay I’ll play devil’s advocate for a bit, I have a few nice things to say. When not in motion and at a distance, environments can look kinda nice. Textures can be somewhat decent and it seems to have some kind of Ray Traced/Lumen reflection system (probably explains why the frame rate can barely reach 30). It also has a pretty sick opening cinematic that looks nothing like the actual game, which they proudly display on their store page to lure in the Assassin’s Creed audience. Lastly, the music can be nice sometimes, mainly when it’s emulating a classical Persian sound and not when it goes techno for some reason.
I do not recommend buying Blood of Mehran. They’re asking £21 for this; you can get a modern Assassin’s Creed or Dad of Boy for cheaper than that. I could barely stomach 2 hours and in that time I learned all I needed to know. It’s not even bad in way that’s entertaining or campy, it’s just mediocre at its core, kinda nostalgic in a weird way, like a clumsy PS2 game that’s been given a fan made texture mod. Both the gameplay and storytelling are beyond archaic and it has no place to stand in an industry with increasingly high standards. Sat next to me when I was playing it, my flatmate said it “looks like a mobile game from 2011”. And he’s right.
I don’t know what went wrong in the production of Slots and Daggers, but I have yet to find a game that tends to go from fun to boring the longer you play it, all intentional. It was an experience I won’t soon forget. Even though I have no intention of ever playing it again.
Slots and Daggers is a Slot machine-based, Rogue-like with a focus on combat and Defence.
I am not one to gamble, so slot machines are far from something that excites me. But I was hoping this take on the concept would be fun… and it was, but only for the first few bits. It is hard to explain how I felt with this game, but for the sake of work, I will try my best to describe Slots and Daggers.
Stabbed and Slots
The gameplay of Slots and Daggers is quite interesting. You have an enemy in front of you and must defeat them by rolling 3 rolls of a slot machine. Starting with three possible results, you have the choice of acquiring more as the game goes on. Each spin determines whether you land a critical hit, earn coins, or simply waste a turn, and that constant tension is where the game first shines.
This is a roguelike with a mix of round-based temporary upgrades and some permanent ones you can get post-loss. Between fights, you can tweak your setup, purchase bonuses, and experiment with different builds, which initially gives the illusion of depth and strategy.
However, the issue I took with Slots and Daggers was the slot machine itself. In my playthroughs, I soon found out that if you only keep 2 types of weapons and just 1 type of either money or defence, then you can actually time the slots perfectly for desired results. Anything more and it becomes a play of luck. Trust me, it gets boring very quickly.
The play is to just keep upgrading the stuff you have and get either the health updates or health regen updates whenever the chance arises.
While this may seem like a 7 out of 10 recommendation, I simply cannot for the simple reason that this is a roguelike with almost non-existent replay value. Like, there is a story that is told in fast text that you will not keep up with, but that does not make a game.
It may feel like a weird concern to have, but every game needs to justify its existence, and this one just fails on certain important levels for me.
Slots and Sadness
Slots and Daggers feels like a clever idea that lost its pulse somewhere between novelty and repetition.
The first hour or two gives you that satisfying hit of chance and strategy, but the deeper you go, the more it starts to feel like an echo of its own mechanics, rolling, matching, upgrading, repeating. There’s no real sense of progression beyond the initial intrigue, and the story is barely there to justify another round.
What’s frustrating is that the foundation is solid. The concept of combining roguelike tension with slot machine mechanics could have been something special. Maybe even genre-defining.
If the randomness carried real risk and reward rather than predictable patterns. Instead, the game almost teaches you how to break it, and once you do, the magic’s gone.
Still, I won’t deny that it’s an experience worth trying once, especially for those curious about experimental design. Slots and Daggers is one of those games that dares to gamble with its own ideas.
It just happens to lose the bet somewhere along the way.
So yes, play it for the curiosity, but don’t expect it to pull you back for another spin.
I’ve been pretty busy lately. So busy that I’ve missed the latest titles from Nex Playground. I love this console as it is safe, ad-free, family-friendly fun that is guaranteed to make you laugh and get off your sofa. My kids adore the silly games and building up a sweat. I enjoy watching them giggle and making a fool of myself. Accordingly, I loved looking at the Nex playground latest titles.
The 2 games I’m focusing on are Bluey Bust a Move and NHL Puck Rush. These 2 games couldn’t be more different if they tried, but both got me off my bottom and onto my feet. Furthermore, I admit they made me sweat as I leapt around my living room like a buffoon. Thankfully, no one was watching, and I think my kids were too embarrassed to film me and send it to their friends. Either way, we all had a fantastic time as the competition heated up and the fun times rolled.
A dive into the Nex Playground latest titles.
Bluey Bust a Move is a game aimed at preschoolers. However, in reality, anyone who loves Bluey can join in. With a handful of game modes that test your basic skills, timing, balance, and memory, this is the perfect title for developing minds. Additionally, it incorporates many fine moments from the TV series. This is where the game comes to life for adults. I chuckled repeatedly as little one-liners brought back memories of my favourite episodes.
Whether you are playing keepy-uppy with a balloon, using a magical stick of asparagus, cooking food, dancing, or playing squash, it’ll get you moving and laughing in equal measure. The Nex Playground camera works wonderfully, no matter the number of people. 1-3 gamers can take part, depending on the scenario you pick. Additionally, there is a warning for medium physicality. I’m not sure that is needed, but I guess it is pretty tough when you pretend to be an octopus.
NHL Puck Rush.
I’m not a massive fan of hockey, but I enjoyed NHL Puck Rush. This high-energy game asks you to move your body as you smash pucks towards a goal. As the season unfolds, your character will earn XP and unlock new jerseys and other items. Unlike traditional hockey games, this one doesn’t ask you to move around the ice. Instead, you are focused on the goal and maximising your score.
In theory, this should have been a terrible idea. However, in reality, it is stupidly addictive. I can imagine that fans of the sport will absolutely eat this up. Sadly, the downside is the single-player nature of the action. This is understandable due to the mechanics of the game, but a lack of in-house competition may disappoint some people. Word of warning, you will need plenty of room to play this. I forgot to move my coffee table, and my toe hasn’t forgiven me. Thankfully, the coffee table didn’t get damaged in the process.
Visually pleasing.
Although both games are relatively simple in design, the Nex Playground latest titles are nicely polished. Bluey Bust a Move has a distinct and familiar edge that will appeal to fans. Additionally, the action flows nicely without any bugs or issues. NHL Puck Rush has a more gritty design that matches the drama of the sport. The basic character model moves the puck smoothly, and the energy builds as you smash each target. The result is an addictive and tough-to-put-down game.
Both games have contrasting audio profiles. Bluey Bust a Move is lighthearted, funny, and perfect for young children. There are fun one-liners and familiar soundbites. Subsequently, it will appeal to kids from the start. NHL Puck Rush is more aggressive, but safe. The drama builds as you smash pucks, move from side to side, and build your score. Both games were great to listen to and a credit to the Nex team.
Excellent controls.
The Nex Playground latest titles blend automated controls with the supplied remote control. This results in accurate and reliable gaming that will not frustrate you. Moreover, the camera is incredibly accurate and impressive. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t trick the camera. Consequently, there is no cheating as you try to beat your kids or top the hockey scoreboard.
Both of these games are included with the Nex yearly subscription service. Although they took a while to download, I was able to play them as much as I wanted. Furthermore, my kids loved Bluey Bust a Move so much that they insist on playing it before school and when they arrive home. Therefore, be warned that the latest titles from Nex Playground are addictive.
The Nex Playground latest titles are great fun.
Nex Playground is all about innovation, safety, and fun. The latest titles add this at every level. The gameplay is amusing, simple, and casual. Furthermore, both games look great for different reasons. If you are on the fence, I suggest you get yourself this console. The roster of games is always increasing, and you’ll have hours of fun. Accordingly, I recommend clicking here for more information.
(More information on Nex Playground can be found here!)
(Full disclosure! A console was provided for a free and unbiased review!)
I’ve lost count of the nights I spent hunched over the 2004 classic VTM: Bloodlines, losing myself in the world, creating new characters and exploring all the possibilities in dialog and story. This was the game that shaped my love for that strange, sticky mixture of gothic roleplay and urban noir. And of course, vampires. When Bloodlines 2 was announced, multiple times, with multiple cancellations and delays I knew it wouldn’t live up to the original masterpiece. But I had to give it a go.
Admittedly I went into Bloodlines 2 expecting a disaster which did the game a favour because I was pleasantly surprised. It may not be on the way to be a critically acclaimed RPG but it sure is a good vampire power fantasy.
How does if compare?
Let’s start with the writing and the characters who are often well written, interesting as well as a great addition to the Elders story. Conversations are often sharp, realistic and with vampires who drip personality. At its best the game channels noir and gothic melodrama in ways that feel genuinely of the World of Darkness, and the voice performances are frequently excellent. Those late-night bar conversations and the chilling one-on-ones with powerful figures are the moments when the game remembers what made the original special and actually doubles down on it. The narrative and character work are highlights.
However the character building suffers greatly. This is where the disappointment bites. In the original Bloodlines, the character sheet, stats, and skill spreads mattered, they were how yours to adjust and create the vampire you wanted to play. In Bloodlines 2, you can choose a clan (Which hardly matters) , and within an hour or so players will max out their starting clans abilities. But then with the lack of more ‘powerful’ abilities but still throwing harder combat scenarios at the player Bloodlines 2 somehow makes the main character feel weaker as the game goes on. This is due to fewer branching systems, less granular skill specialization, and a much smaller feeling of consequence in spending skill points. You still have stealth options, and a choice of approaches to most encounters, but those choices rarely feel as mechanically meaningful as they used to. The game nudges you toward a handful of viable playstyles rather than letting you craft oddball builds the way the original did. For a fan who equates roleplaying with mechanical breadth, that narrowing is a real loss.
The gameplay.
Bloodlines2 is split into two major gameplay sections which interchange every time the player rests. The main story including Phyre, and elder vampire nomad and Fabien, a detective reduced to a voice in your head.
Phyre is where it’s at for players to awaken their disciplines. Combat is serviceable in short bursts but rarely satisfying for long stretches. It’s often clunky, with repetitive encounters that don’t reward clever build decisions the way older CRPG systems did. The disciplines can be fun, there are neat, vampire-y tricks to employ but they’re boxed into a more action-oriented loop that sometimes undermines the feeling of being a cunning, ancient predator. If you liked pacing that pivots between tense social encounters and strategic fights, the balance here leans toward plain action in ways you might not enjoy.
One area where Bloodlines 2 surprised me was in its investigative bits. These are sequences that play like small puzzle-box mysteries , sifting through scenes, piecing together memories, and manipulating objects as well as kindred with disciplines. These detective moments can be interesting, blending the setting, the protagonist’s fragmented perspective, and the fiction’s darker intrigues into something that feels closer to the intellectual satisfaction of an RPG than the combat sections. They’re not always perfectly executed, sometimes leaning too heavily on guided solutions, but they genuinely recapture the investigative vibe that made the first game’s side-quests and main beats so memorable.
World and atmosphere
Seattle looks moody and neon-kissed in the right moments. The set-pieces, dive bars, snow-littered streets, opulent vampire dens are often gorgeous and atmospheric. But the city can also feel a bit sparse and recycled; there’s an intermittently empty quality to the world that diminishes the sense that your choices change the social fabric of the Masquerade. This is a visual and tonal success most of the time, but not always the lived-in playground the first game felt like
One of the most painful shifts for long-time fans: choices rarely land with the weight they used to. Dialogue choices can be brilliant and fun, and some branches do lead to distinct scenes, but overall, the scope of meaningful divergence is smaller. The feeling of shaping a personal legend in the city is reduced. That reduction is the core of my gripe: strip the mechanical meat and you’re left with a lovely theatrical body, but there’s less under the surface to role play with.
My conclusion
If you come to Bloodlines 2 purely for a moody, well-acted vampire story and some clever investigative beats, it’s worth the time. If you come for the old-school, systems-forward roleplaying that made the original a cult classic, you’ll have to make do with the first game. The mechanical scope has been narrowed, and the promise of freedom is more about moment-to-moment play than the long arc of building your unique vampire. In short, it’s a respectable vampire game with sharp writing and a few memorable moments, but it shouldn’t be wearing the “Bloodlines” badge.
The R5 PRO HS headset from RIG is a fine gaming peripheral if you want high tech at an affordable price. This PlayStation licensed product is comfortable, discreet, and perfectly built. Additionally, it has large and comfortable earcups and a simple wired design. Unlike other headsets, you control every setting from the inline switch. This makes it a remarkably simple device to master.
Although I loved the simplicity, it was the incredible audio, excellent microphone, and lightweight design that impressed me. I wore this for hours and felt no ill effects. Moreover, I let my brother test it, and he was blown away by its build quality, appearance, and detachable PlayStation covers. In short, we both love this headset, and we’re still arguing about who gets to keep it.
What’s in the box of the R5 PRO HS headset?
The packaging has a distinct PlayStation vibe. Furthermore, it can be recycled.
The R5 PRO HS headset is easy on the eye. It has lay flat yokes, cushioned earcups, and a streamlined finish.
A mod plate set is provided to customise the headphones.
Learn the basics with the user manual.
Technical aspects.
The R5 PRO HS headset is a wired-only product. I understand that this may be off-putting for some, but it shouldn’t put you off. The passive charging ensures that the 40mm drivers deliver incredible audio. Additionally, the lack of a battery helps to reduce weight and gives you one less thing to focus on.
The 40mm drivers may not be as large or as powerful as some of their peers, but it matters not. This headset is optimised for Tempest 3D AudioTech on PlayStation, and this generates a lush and impressive range of tones.
The inline volume controller is reasonably old-school. Now, this isn’t a complaint because I love the rudimentary design. I could adjust the volume and mute my microphone with ease. What’s more, no matter how crazy things got, I could crank up the volume or shut it off altogether. This user-friendly design will be appreciated by casual and high-end gamers.
Audio quality.
If your headset has a tinny and uncomfortable sound, your gaming experience is ruined. Luckily, the 40mm graphene-coated drivers deliver a pleasant range of tones. I could identify high, mid, and low moments without cranking up the volume or straining my hearing.
Whenever I turned things up, the R5 PRO HS headset never failed. Additionally, it has a pleasant and balanced bass for FPS and racing games. If this isn’t enough, the Tempest 3D AudioTech helps you to pinpoint footsteps, bullets, and other key audio clues. The result is an immersive soundscape that’ll impress you.
Finally, the flip-to-mute mic is a godsend. No one wants their private conversations to go viral. Thankfully, the microphone can be flipped away, and your privacy is at the fore. Whenever you use the mic, your teammates will enjoy crystal clear comms.
Build quality.
The R5 PRO HS headset is built with durability in mind. The yokes are hardwearing, and the pivot points are smooth and easy to handle. This robust design can be seen in the flip-to-mute microphone. No matter how rough I was with this headset, it never faltered.
Alongside the durable design is a product that screams comfort. The plush earcups feel great against your skin. Furthermore, the padded headband reduces pressure on your skull. I wore these headphones with my GUNNAR Gaming glasses, and I had no issues with pinch points. Consequently, if you wear glasses, you can enjoy marathon sessions with no negative side effects.
Is the R5 PRO HS headset worth it?
Available for under £70, this gaming headset is eye-catching. The simple design is perfect if you love an understated finish. Additionally, the clip-on mod plates add detail if that’s your thing. Although the wired design will not be for everyone, I appreciate the lack of charging and the lightweight design. Moreover, the 40mm drivers deliver an immersive soundscape. Accordingly, I think they are great and I recommend buying them here!
The biggest sports game returns, with its yearly iteration in the form of EAFC26. Can this year mark a turning point for the franchise? Or are you left frustrated once again?
It’s In The Game (And Money)
My love of sports games can be traced back to as early as the PlayStation one with FIFA 97. I revere the game of football but over the years my love for the game has waned slightly. The most recent addition to the FIFA now FC franchise was EAFC25 and much to my dismay was my least favourite from the whole franchise. Terrible gameplay, awful microtransactions and not enough content completely soured my experience. Now with FC26, whilst some huge issues remain, I can thankfully say that EA have righted some wrongs and have made a substantial improvement over last year. That said, the issues which remain are absolutely unforgivable and in some cases are even more scandalous.
FC26 launches with a plethora of content that will quench the thirst of any football fan. The main modes from previous games return; Ultimate Team, Clubs and Career Mode, along with the casual Kick Off modes. All of these offer different play styles which cater to many different players’ needs, thus making it the most accessible FC game yet. Ultimate Team remains the main competitive mode for players with its rivals and champions head to head modes that are both as addictive as they are infuriating. Clubs is still the best way to enjoy the game, with friends teaming up, creating your own club and achieving glory against other teams. In addition, Career Mode has become a brilliant in depth mode to test your knowledge and ability, whether it’s as a manager or as a player, along with added live modes to allow you to play and follow real life events. However, as mentioned, some issues really drag the package down.
To put it simply, the microtransactions and the season pass available on launch in this game are disgraceful. The way in which this franchise has become so infected with microtransactions saddens me to my core. Everywhere you turn in the game there are prompts and in game stores which allow you to use real money. Whether it’s packs for new players in UT or cosmetics in Clubs, the amount of focus EA places on this is sickening.
Ultimate Team is, as usual, the biggest victim with the in game rewards from matches and events reduced even further from before, deliberately tempting to you to sink more money into the game. And don’t get me started on the season and premium pass! The fact that the premium pass costs 500k in game coins is a joke. It’s not just the cost though, it’s the bizarre choices the developers have made. Icons can be used in career mode this year but instead of putting them in the base season pass, they are locked behind the premium pass. Considering you have to earn tens of thousands of XP to unlock these, with most of the XP tied to Ultimate Team, it’s a real shame. Whilst the modes and content are there and in abundance, these monetary choices are unforgivable and inexcusable. EA, do better. Thankfully, they have, in the gameplay department.
A Refreshing Streamlined Tactical Concoction
Thankfully, gameplay in EAFC26 is the best it has been in years. The developers have tried to go for a simplified approach, splitting between the Authentic and Competitive gameplay style pre-sets. When selecting the Competitive pre-set, the game offers a faster paced style, filled with more moments and vastly improved AI teammates. It is by far the most optimal way of playing FC26, in particular online, due to the improvements with the AI. Authentic does exactly what the name suggests – a slower, more realistic approach to football, with slower players forcing you to rely on your own tactical knowledge. These pre-sets really do offer a great amount of variety and it’s a testament to the development team at EA that they feel so damn good.
Attacking in FC26 has never felt better. Shooting and movement feels sleek and highly responsive, making it an absolute joy to weave your way through the opposition’s defence. Stick dribbling is the best it has ever been. Passing feels much crisper and responsive, allowing you to ping the ball around the park like you’re prime Kroos! Defending, however, is another story. The difficulty in defending in this year’s iteration feels as hard as it ever has. Mistiming a tackle has never felt so impactful in a game and whilst the AI has been vastly improved, the AI players still needlessly go out of position when under pressure from a counter attack. EA has tried to counteract this by giving the AI goalkeepers a huge boost, with great positioning and much better shot stopping. They’re not perfect but they are so much better than the terrible goalkeepers of last year.
Clubs has received some minor new additions to its gameplay styles that have helped freshen up this hugely popular mode. The new Archetype system is a brilliant new way of progression in this mode. The ability to craft your player into a certain playstyle or emulate a great of the game is a brilliant new system and whilst the meta of the mode will certainly change, it is great to be able to have so much freedom in your choices.
The Beautiful Game
There are many issues with EA’s stewardship of the FIFA and now FC franchises, but one thing I feel can never be questioned is their commitment to authenticity and presentation. The visuals in FC26 are gorgeous and so lifelike at times that it’s uncanny. Every stadium looks magnificent in detail and scale, whilst the fans continue to be vastly improved upon year after year. Each player looks hyper realistic, with superstars like Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland looking particularly impressive. The commitment to authenticity in this franchise is one that should be lauded. The UI remains as sleek and strong as ever, whilst the continued additions to cosmetics in both UT and Clubs is fantastic, although dampened by the use of microtransactions. This is another stellar effort across the board in visual presentation.
Similarly, the audio design and soundtrack have been crafted to perfection. Every goal scored bristles the net with such force and emphasis it is truly brilliant. Every referee whistle pierces the sound barrier with great force. Every crowd chant virtually known to man is in this game for each team, making you feel like you are truly surrounded by your fellow fans. Keep Right On, particularly sounds great if you’re a Birmingham City fan like myself! Then there’s the soundtrack, which kills it once again. With over five hours worth of in game music, featuring artists like Ed Sheeren, Labrinth, Tom Grennan and many many more, there’s a song for everyone to enjoy! A superb effort in collating a soundtrack that will entice any music fan to listen to it!
Verdict
When EAFC26 clicks into gear it really feels like the most authentic, exhilarating title in the long running franchise for quite some time. Brilliant modes and great improvements to gameplay help push this series to new heights. Beautiful visuals and an infectious soundtrack seal this as the best title in years for the franchise. It’s just a real shame that EA have to infect this beloved series with shameful and disgusting microtransactions and a truly pathetic season pass. Nerfing rewards, throttling prices and some inconsistencies with the AI stop this from being an instant classic. EA, you’re slowly getting on the right track again, don’t mess this up.
Long before language, before firelight stories or painted myths, there was survival. I Mother, the debut title from indie developer HellYeah!, pulls us into that ancient silence. It’s a game about instinct, emotion, and connection, told without a single word.
In an industry obsessed with dialogue trees and branching narratives, I Mother strips storytelling down to its core: movement, symbol, and feeling. You don’t just play this game, you interpret it, almost like an archaeologist.
A Unique way of story telling
From the moment you awaken as a Neanderthal woman separated from her tribe, I Mother makes one thing clear: it will not explain itself.
There’s no UI, no tutorial pop-ups, no quest log. Instead, every objective, memory, and relationship is communicated through prehistoric symbols. Beautifully inspired by real archaeological markings studied by paleoanthropologist Genevieve von Petzinger At first, it feels alien. You wander through ancient forests, piecing together meaning through body language, tone, and rhythm. But slowly, something clicks. You stop translating and start understanding. It’s an uncanny experience as the player finally learns the language of I Mother.
The sound design deserves its own spotlight. Composer Paleowolf, known for tribal ambient and ritualistic soundscapes—creates an atmosphere that feels ancient and spiritual. Drums echo like heartbeats. Animal calls blur with human breath. The absence of human speech becomes its own kind of music. You begin to listen to the world, not just hear it. It’s meditative, almost hypnotic. A reminder that sometimes silence can tell the loudest stories.
World building and presentation
The world of I Mother is not vast in a traditional open-world sense, but it feels boundless thanks to its design. There’s no map only memory and observation. Hills, rivers, and the way light hits a cliff become your navigation tools. Every journey feels personal because it depends on how well you remember your path, your shelter, and the scents of nearby food sources.
Predators roam, but I Mother refuses to turn survival into warfare. There’s no power fantasy here, only respect for nature’s balance. You hunt only what you need, you flee or scare off what you cannot overpower, and every act carries quiet gravity.
Graphically I Mother is nothing special, it get the job done but ultimately can look a bit flat. However, the sky box looks stunning. The hand painted visual contrasting to everything else is such a unique style that works so incredibly well.
My conclusion
Personally it wasn’t for me but I could absolutely appreciate what I Mother was going for. It is a slow, silent and thought evoking journey.
I Mother is not a game for everyone. It’s slow, deliberate, and defiantly wordless. There are no skill trees or loot drops, no quest markers to follow. But for those who crave solitude, exploration, and emotional storytelling through atmosphere, it should definitely make it onto your list.
Turtle Beach sets industry standards. It has worked efficiently to combine its work ethic with ROCCAT’s technology. The result is incredible gaming peripherals that impress a large audience. The Burst II Pro mouse is one of the latest products from an ever-growing range. Furthermore, it is an impressive lightweight (57g) mouse that delivers durability and comfort.
This amazing gaming mouse will please the harshest of critics. It has 8 kHz wireless polling rates, a 30K DPI sensor, 750 IPS tracking speed, and 70g acceleration. On top of this, it is rated for 100 million clicks. Accordingly, even the roughest of gamers will find it challenging to destroy this hardy peripheral.
What’s in the box of the Burst II Pro mouse?
The packaging is compact and attractive. Additionally, the durable box can be recycled.
The Burst II Pro mouse is a symmetrical and lightweight device. It has programmable buttons to increase versatility and usability.
An 8k cable is provided for optimum performance.
Use the 8k transmitter for seamless connectivity.
Grip tape and spare skates are included.
Learn the basics with the user manual.
Technical aspects.
Gaming peripherals must be accurate, responsive, and easy to use. Thankfully, the Burst II Pro mouse ticks each of these boxes. The 30K DPI owl-eye sensor delivers mind-blowing speed, no matter the genre. On top of this, you’ll enjoy 8k polling rates and low 0.125 ms latency for optimum reflexes and accuracy. Whether you are gaming via Bluetooth, the wireless dongle, or the 8k cable, you’ll not be disappointed.
If you choose the wireless approach, you’ll experience around 40 hours of gaming at the maximum settings. Alternatively, if you aim for a 1 kHz polling rate, the battery leaps to an impressive 150 hours. Alongside this, there is fast charging to keep you in the game for longer. I switched between each setting and was impressed by the seamless transition. Additionally, charging the device while playing didn’t undermine performance.
Build quality.
I’ve always associated Turtle Beach with exceptional build quality. The Burst II Pro mouse doesn’t break the mould. Every aspect of this mouse is incredibly well-built. Furthermore, the 100 million click guarantee highlights Turtle Beach’s faith in their tech.
The symmetrical design is comfortable for left or right-handed users. However, I’d say it is easier to use if you are right-handed, as the position of the customisable keys feels more natural. If you don’t like or require custom inputs, you can ignore these buttons altogether. The DPI switch is well-positioned to maximise comfort and usability when changing genres. This was a great design choice and something I appreciated.
Finally, the accessories are well considered and made to last. The 8k cable is durable and the right length for comfortable gaming. Additionally, the dongle is durable, small, and easy to handle. Subsequently, everything is designed with gamers in mind.
Is the Burst II Pro mouse worth it?
If you love durable and lightweight gaming peripherals, the Burst II Pro mouse should be your go-to option. This amazing gaming mouse is unbelievably comfortable during lengthy gaming sessions. Furthermore, the 8k polling rate and accurate IPS rating are perfect for elite gaming. Accordingly, it is the ideal option for serious gamers, and I recommend buying it here!
(More information on Turtle Beach can be found here!)
(Full disclosure! A sample was provided for an unbiased and free review!)
The 3rd installment of the award winning series Jurassic World Evolution is here and it features new creative tools not seen before in the previous installments.
The basis is exactly the same as one and two, you build your own Jurassic World in a new campaign, breed and look after dinosaurs, build attractions to please guests and build your dream park, aiming to raise its rating to five stars. There are also challenges along with a sandbox mode, allowing you to create your dream park without any limitations.
Now I haven’t actually played any of the first two games, so I can’t really compare them to the third one, though if ratings from Metacritic and IGN are anything to go off on, then it’s the best one of the series yet.
There were constantly things to do, so you’re never left bored
Running my own jurassic park was definitely a few things, it was fun, hectic and most importantly constant. There was never nothing to do, whether it was sending maintenance teams to fix things across the park, sending ranger teams to check statuses of dinosaurs, send your scientists on expeditions or even deal with the dinosaurs that have escaped from their closures, something always needed attention on and off site.
Once you unlocked all of the 10 campaign locations, there were specific objectives you had to complete in order to progress through the story, with an old face from the previous game Dr. Ian Malcolm (who is voiced by Jeff Goldblum) along with some newer ones there to help and guide you from the beginning. Once you finished those objectives the rest of building and transforming the park was left to you, with the final outcome (hopefully) being to raise the park’s ratings to five stars.
Despite the constant need to do something I actually really liked that aspect, one problem I’ve faced with a lot of games which I think a lot of people can also relate to, is that I get bored quite quickly which is either a result of waiting for something to happen or because nothing is happening, which is pretty much the same thing. Obviously not all games I have played are sandbox, therefore not all of them have different things which you constantly have to divide your attention between, but I enjoy sandbox games and I enjoy always being busy, so put those two together and you get games like Jurassic World Evolution 3.
Whilst I had fun creating my own park,the limited space didn’t allow me to fully capture my visions
Upon playing through the first few hours of the game and seeing what I had to work with in terms of the different locations, I had a rough idea of what I wanted the parks to look like. After completing certain objectives for each location you were able to unlock more of the area and expand the park, whether you wanted more enclosures, attractions or restrooms, there definitely was a good enough amount of space to build and place them down, however I found the space to be quite limited, which resulted in me not being able to place everything I wanted down.
I would have to choose between either placing a dinosaur enclosure which would take up all of the space, or place down a few other buildings such as a restroom, a food and drink stand or a hot air balloon tour. Now I can’t be too picky since if I wanted to capture my ideal park then I could just play sandbox mode, or better yet just be smarter with the space given, prioritizing specific things first even if it meant not looking the exact way I wanted it to.
I did eventually accept that and put things above others in terms of how much it appealed to guests, along with what needed to be added or changed to deal with the feedback from the guests and their satisfaction levels.
Now it sounds silly of me to moan about lack of space when sandbox mode is quite literally available from the get go, but I wanted to build my ideal park in the main campaign, it would just feel more rewarding and satisfying, since I would actually be working towards something rather than doing it in sandbox where I’m given everything right away without working for it. I feel the same when it comes to Minecraft, I like creative mode and the idea is great, but I’d personally go through all of the challenges that comes with obtaining whatever it is I want.
In Jurassic World Evolution’s 3 sandbox mode there are two different versions, the first one being standard in which the preset settings are the same as the main campaign but with unlimited money. The other version is creative, in which all of the game’s restrictions are disabled and creativity is in the palm of your hands. There are also a lot more options, from simple ones such as changing the weather and time of day, to more complex ones such as changing the levels of power outage frequency and dinosaur disease levels, allowing for a vast variety of customizable options to build your dream park.
With over 90 species of dinosaurs you’re spoiled for choice
Out of the three installments of the series, to no surprise Jurassic World Evolution 3 has the most species of dinosaurs available, with over 90 available in the base game and an extra four available by purchasing the deluxe edition. It’s a huge jump from the first game which only had 48 dinosaurs and there’s a good chance that even more species could be added in the future.
Having so many dinosaurs to choose from was both great and annoying. Great because there were so many different species so you could have flying, land and underwater dinosaurs all in one park, but annoying because it was difficult to choose from all of them with the limited space available. Most dinosaurs need pretty big enclosures to be comfortable so there’s only so many different species you can have in one park, some species can co-exist but even then the area will need to be big enough to please both of them.
Some of the dinosaurs I picked were because I liked them, though most of them were due to the appeal they would bring to guests, ultimately increasing profit. Gaining most dinosaurs was fairly easy, all you had to do was hire scientists (more can be hired by building staff centres) and assign them to research new species. After that’s done more dig sites will appear on the expedition app, which you can send your scientists on though make sure they’re rested enough to carry it out and have enough genetics and logistics skills to carry it out.
Completing expeditions will give you fossils which you can then use to increase the genome of said dinosaur, once you’ve reached a 50% genome level you can start to synthesize the dinosaur in the hatchery and then release it into your park. Be mindful though that the higher the genome the healthier it will be and the longer it will live, so try to aim for 100%.
The biggest dinosaurs like the T-Rex aren’t as easy to unlock however, though it’s more that you’ll have to put more hours into the game to actually get them, the amount of guests it brings to the park and the profit that you make will most definitely be worthwhile.
What the Stars Forgot is a Kickstarter title that is going to hit Early Access later this year. I know what you are thinking, “Another Kickstarter campaign that won’t work”. Well, I’d normally agree, but this one is different. The developer Airlock Games is taking a fresh approach to the genre and the industry.
This fresh and exciting studio plans to break the mould and simplify the complexities of making high-end games. Although they will not be looking at AAA titles, they plan to make experiences that they know gamers will love to play.
More information on What the Stars Forgot.
What the Stars Forgot is a horror-based management sim where you play the role of SNPAI. This AI supercomputer helps the team manage the events that occur during every playthrough. You’ll have to manage the workload, focus on new tasks, and deal with emergencies. Furthermore, you’ll have to think quickly as lives are in your hands.
Utilising your team’s hidden skills is a key tool if you wish to succeed. Accordingly, you must experiment and hope to get things right. Additionally, you must plan for the future without undermining the safety of your team. This balancing act is tough, but something that adds to the drama and longevity.
The Game Loop.
What The Stars Forgot is broken up into four sectors, each corresponding to a chapter of the game. In each sector, you will need to look for resources, manage dynamic events, and find the path to the next sector. As you progress through the adventure, the events you encounter will become more bizarre, disturbing, and supernatural.
The target game time for a single playthrough is approximately four hours, with a deep learning curve and high replayability.
Who are Airlock Games?
Airlock Games is the combination of 45+ years in the hectic gaming world. The 2 leading lights are passionate, enthusiastic, and lovers of top-quality games. Justin Fischer and Brock Feldman are confident that their vision for the gaming industry will deliver high-end results. Additionally, by cutting the red tape, they hope to deliver impressive games in shorter periods.
What The Stars Forgot is their first title and represents the kinds of games Airlock Games want to make: focused, innovative games (with an emphasis on horror) that allow them both to break out of the strict matrixed roles and astronomical scope and revenue requirements of the AAA space. They are excited to focus their energies on passion projects that allow them to wear multiple hats and take creative risks.
This Kickstarter project has 24 days to go (correct at time of publication). It has almost hit its target and needs that final push to see it through. I adore a passionate idea and something fresh to play. Accordingly, I’ll be giving this some money to help get it off the ground. If you want to find out some more information, I recommend clicking here to see the project!
One of my biggest frustrations with the emerging eastern games industry is its lack of variety. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely happy that creatives from countries like China and Korea are able to share their art with the rest of the world, but it feels like their output has consisted mainly of samey soulslike action games that reuse assets and cultural aesthetics.
Kaku: Ancient Seal provides a breath of fresh air in this respect. While it also seeks to emulate a popular design formula (that of the Breath of the Wild-style open world), Bingobell Games is able to inject enough charm into the project to make it stand on its own.
You play as the titular Kaku, thrust into a grand adventure where you’ll have to travel to different areas, fight enemies, and conquer bosses. Much like its Zelda inspirations, the story won’t be shoved down your throat. Cutscenes are few and far between, which is unfortunate given that they’re a great opportunity to showcase the Pixar-style visuals. Most dialogue and plot beats are handled with still images and text, which can sometimes read a bit stilted, though this is likely due to challenges with localizing the script.
Narrative shortcomings are easy to wave off when you have a game world as lush as Ancient Seal. The map is made up of multiple biomes, each representing a different element, and you’ll have plenty of collectibles to find and resources to gather. Exploring will reveal your standard towers that, once activated, can act as fast travel points. You’ll need to solve a sliding block puzzle in order to add the tower to your map, which serves as a fun change of pace.
Much of your moment-to-moment gameplay will be dominated by combat, with enemies littering most locations. Although it starts out as very button-mashy, your attack options expand significantly after the tutorial. You’ll be able to spend resources earned during traversal on new techniques, ensuring that skirmishes always stay fresh.
Your offensive abilities aren’t the only parts of Kaku’s kit you can upgrade; almost every single gameplay system can be improved in some way. Cooking can be made more potent, item capacity increased, and your health pool expanded. In order to make any changes to Kaku, you’ll need to teleport to the Ruins Realm, which you can do anytime you like without penalty.
After arriving, you can exchange materials gathered in the overworld for enhancements, and there are a lot to unlock. The opening of the game doesn’t do an amazing job of explaining everything you’re able to do in the Ruins Realm, instead introducing a bunch of powers you can use at a rapid pace. It’s a lot to wrap your head around, but once you understand what’s on offer, you’ll return often to buff Kaku, facilitating a sense of progression regardless of where you are in the story.
Ancient Seal is an Unreal Engine title, and that presents the usual set of challenges. Environments are packed with detail and the lighting is excellent, helping the animated art style pop, but there are performance drawbacks. Enclosed areas feel locked at 60 frames per second, but the moment you step into the open world, there is a notable hit. It seems to be operating above 30, but with inconsistent frame pacing, leading to regular stuttering. It’s not like the visuals are particularly taxing either; image quality is quite fuzzy, which only exacerbates the other technical issues.
Kaku: Ancient Seal is clearly aimed at kid gamers, perhaps those looking for a Zelda-like experience on their console of choice. I imagine that younger audiences will be very satisfied with Bingobell’s work, and older players may also find themselves hooked on the game’s various modes of progression or inviting visual design. Be prepared for some nagging performance problems, though if those don’t bother you, this is a great adventure to jump into.
With Christmas just around the corner, we take a closer look at the Photo Creator Video Projector Camera from Canal Toys.
With the 3-in-1 Video Projector Camera from Photo Creator, you can snap photos, shoot crisp HD video, project your creations in colour, and connect to cast your favourite content onto any surface! This exciting all-in-one device projects photos and videos from up to 4 metres, creating a big screen projection display up to 200 x 112cm, with adjustable focus to capture the perfect picture!
The Photo Creator Video Projector Camera takes 48MP photos and films crisp HD video on the 2.4 screen, with 27 fun effects, including digital frames and filters to personalise your work! With simple projection in bright, bold colour, this video projector camera offers endless creative fun, with a 16GB MicroSD card that lets you capture, save and share with friends and family!
Connect your devices wirelessly to cast your favourite content onto any surface for an even bigger viewing experience and home-projector fun, and use the included sticker sheet to personalise your camera! With a rechargeable battery and a complete set of accessories, record, connect and project to capture your world with the Photo Creator Video Projector Camera, inspiring endless play and HD creativity!
Features
Capture vibrant photos, shoot HD video, and project your creations in bright, bold big screen projection!
Project photos and videos from up to 4 metres, creating a 200 x 112cm display that’s ideal for sharing
Share memories with 48MP photos, and stunning 1080P HD video to showcase your visual creativity
Connect your devices via Wi-Fi to seamlessly cast your favourite content directly onto any surface
16GB MicroSD card included.
View your creations on the 2.4 screen, adjust the focus, and customise with the sticker sheet!
Charge Time: 120 minutes
Contents: 1x Photo Creator Video Projector Camera; 1x 16GB MicroSD Card; 1x Sticker Sheet; 1x USB-C Cable; 1x User Guide
Dimensions: 28L x 8.5D x 24H cm
Batteries: 1x Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, charging cable included
Final Thoughts
The Photo Creator Video Projector Camera is really easy to use and hold, even for those smaller hands. It’s basically point and shoot so nothing too complicated. Projecting the movies is as simple as pressing a button and choosing the movie. You can easily adjust the sharpness of the projected image by turned the dial on the front.
If you have a child who wants to make movies and show them off, then this is the perfect Christmas present and having stickers included in the box makes it easy for them to personalise the camera for their own tastes.
Another great product from Canal Toys!
The Photo Creator Video Projector Camera from Canal Toys is available now priced around £74.99.
The Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset is the epitome of market-leading! This incredible headset is designed specifically with the Xbox in mind. After all, it is an officially licensed product. However, if you play on another platform, SteelSeries has you covered. This GEN2 model has a strong foundation to build from. With preset audio profiles, incredible battery life, and the SteelSeries guarantee of gaming brilliance, you know that you have nothing to lose.
This wireless headset allows gamers to play freely without annoying wires. Though this means you have to be more prepared when it comes to power, I think the sacrifice is worth it. The included USB-C dongle adds no weight to your gamepad. Moreover, it is incredibly easy to set up because of the free-to-download mobile app. Although I have mentioned the Xbox certification, this headset is compatible with other platforms and your mobile phone. Accordingly, it is wonderfully versatile.
What’s in the box of the Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset?
The packaging captures the Xbox theme and SteelSeries’s levels of perfection. Additionally, it is fully recyclable.
The Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset is wonderful to hold. The headset is perfectly balanced and feels great to wear. The materials are premium, and the soft and large earcups are comfortable during lengthy gaming sessions.
A USB-C cable and dongle are provided for charging and connecting to your console. Furthermore, a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable lets you use this headset wired.
Learn the basics with the user manual.
Technical aspects.
It will not surprise you when I say that the Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset is leaps and bounds ahead of its nearest competitor. This superb device offers dedicated preset audio profiles, simultaneous wireless connection via Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz connectivity. Additionally, there is a free-to-download mobile app, impressive Neodymium audio drivers, an amazingly accurate microphone, and mind-blowing materials.
On top of this, it offers fast charging and an impressive up to 50-hour battery life. This figure can be a bit misleading if you are gaming via the dual connectivity and you have every setting turned up. Realistically, during testing, I could get around 42 hours between each charge. This isn’t to be sniffed at, as I had the volume cranked up and plenty of bass to support my Battlefield action.
The plug-and-play approach will appeal to elite gamers and relative noobs. If you play across multiple platforms, the Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset should be on your radar. Its dual connectivity makes it easy to use and even easier to set up. Additionally, the preset audio profiles ensure you have the best audio experience with little effort.
Usability.
I’ve tried and tested many headsets. Most are user-friendly, but this takes it to a whole new level. The aforementioned plug-and-play mindset leads the way. However, many gamers do not wish to be so blasé. Instead, they want to show off their skills and have the best user and audio experience.
Fortunately, everything about this headset will appeal to that mindset. The controls are easy to master, and once you download the app, you can adjust every setting with ease. Connecting the headset to the Xbox and your phone is a cinch, and the greatest of technophobes will excel with little guidance.
Audio quality.
If you’ve ever used a SteelSeries product, you’ll know that they deliver time and time again. Their Neodymium audio drivers are custom-made to give you an audio experience like no other. The tones are crystal clear, and fussy users can pick out the low, mid, and high points with ease. Furthermore, no matter how much you push the drivers, they never crack.
Another element for a perfect audio soundscape is balanced bass. Thankfully, these headphones do not fail here either. The bass is rich, strong, and impressive. What’s more, it is wonderfully balanced. Although you can adjust each element to your liking, the preset settings and gaming profiles generate the ideal sound settings.
If you love immersive sound, you’ll be blown away by the 360° Spatial Audio. This preinstalled feature is a game-changer. FPS games come to life as the world feels electric. Moreover, you’ll hear pinpoint-accurate footsteps and bullets as the headphones deliver realistic audio.
Finally, a crystal clear microphone is a must. Luckily, this one is impressive. It has a noise-rejecting setting to remove unwanted external sounds. No longer will your teammates have to endure the noise of your pets, kids, or clacky keyboard. Additionally, you are free to adjust the levels of your microphone from the mobile phone software.
Build quality.
I adore every aspect of these headphones. However, the build quality was probably the most impressive aspect. When you wear headphones for hours, you appreciate high-quality materials. Every layer of the Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset is incredible. The premium steel construction, combined with the elastic support band, delivers durability and comfort. Moreover, it reduces pressure on your skull during marathon sessions.
The earcups are large, plush, and perfect for gamers who wear prescription glasses or gaming glasses. If you are thinking of investing in the latter, I suggest taking a look at the fine products from GUNNAR Gaming. The earcup material is plush, comfortable, and great for short or long gaming sessions. No one likes their ears getting hot, and I never struggled with this problem. Instead, my ears stayed cool even when I lost my head.
Is the Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset worth it?
I think it is pretty obvious that this headset blew me away. Every aspect of it is exactly what gamers, content creators, and commuters want. The audio quality is out of this world, and the build quality is phenomenal. Furthermore, it is a certified Xbox product. If you are a technophobe, these headphones alleviate many stressful aspects of gaming. They are easy to use and even easier to customise. Accordingly, they are fantastic, and I recommend buying them here!
(More information on SteelSeries can be found here!)
(Full disclosure! A sample was provided for a free and unbiased review!)
