I love the puzzle genre! Being tested from beginning to end is both rewarding and tough. Consequently, it gets the grey matter going while allowing you to be smug about your achievements. Alongside this, developers normally use outrageous and whacky themes. Accordingly, you don’t know what to expect. This is exactly what happened when Quintus And The Absent Truth hit my inbox.
Developed by Wreck Tangle Games and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is an adventure horror title. Further to this, there are plenty of puzzles, classic jump scares and a strange story to unpick. The creepiness is enhanced thanks to a unique art style and the first-person perspective. What’s more, the excellent audio will make your spine tingle and your skin crawl.
Quintus And The Absent Truth is a story of loss and companionship.
The story of Quintus And The Absent Truth revolves around Alan Shaw and his pet mouse, Quintus. After losing his wife, Alan is the sole carer and provider for his daughter. However, one day she goes missing. This incident sets off a chain reaction of events as Alan and Quintus undertake a journey to save her.
The theme of the story isn’t unique, but the delivery is. You control both Alan and Quintus as you explore each of the 4 chapters. During your adventure, you’ll encounter well-trodden jump scares, claustrophobic environments, and logic-based puzzles. Many of the problems require a keen eye and the ability to think outside of the box. What’s more, you must decide which protagonist to use in order to be successful. Will you need to push switches and buttons or grab something up high? Alternatively, is there an object out of reach that only a mouse can reach?
Why won’t she stop haunting you?
The clues are right before your eyes.
Like all great puzzle games, Quintus And The Absent Truth doesn’t overdo it. Subsequently, the answers to every problem are simple and right before your eyes. Now, this was wonderfully infuriating, as the lack of complexity has you chasing your tail. Talking of tails, the solutions normally involve Quintus and small spaces. Therefore, a thorough inspection of every room is a must if you wish to proceed.
Some may not like this finicky approach, but I really enjoyed the challenge. Whether you are distracting a cat, twisting valves, finding keys or unravelling clues, it kept you thinking. Alongside the traditional puzzle elements, we’re the supernatural undertones. These surreal moments enhanced the horror theme, even if they were a little hammy. With blood-soaked messages hidden by poor lighting, or creepy apparitions just out of reach, it screamed “I’m a cliché”. However, I didn’t mind this as it broke up the puzzling mechanics while keeping the absurd story alive.
What are you looking at Quintus?
Quintus And The Absent Truth has a strange style.
Though the story is weird, it has been gazumped by the strange art style. The first-person perspective is extremely claustrophobic and well-thought-out. Flitting from Alan to Quintus’ viewpoint is often entertaining but also disorientating. As a mouse, everything is bloody enormous and overbearing. Yet, as a human, it’s a little more “normal”. But, the use of a bland colour palette and supernatural imagery takes it up a gear. Unfortunately, though, the finish is somewhat rough.
Because of the unusual 3D style and the simplicity of the environment, it is a little underwhelming. I would have preferred there to be more detail and larger areas to explore. If this had happened, the gameplay would have been more open and expansive.
Improvements could and should have been implemented visually. However, the audio was pretty much spot on. The music is dramatic, suspenseful and matches the action. Moreover, its shrill and abrupt style is timed perfectly with each jump scare. I also enjoyed the basic sound effects and the laughable acting. With a really wooden delivery, you couldn’t help but chuckle throughout.
How will you cross the water?
The controls didn’t help matters.
When the action and puzzles rely on you finding small holes or obscure openings, you expect light and responsive controls. Sadly, this wasn’t always the case, as it made some exploration elements unnecessarily tedious. Yet, even the helpful indicators couldn’t resolve the issue. Instead, there were some moments of trial and error where you spam the A button. This is disappointing in a puzzle game, as it undermines the challenge.
Control issues to one side, and you get an interesting story that you want to explore. Alongside this, once you exhaust the 4 chapters, there is a museum of secrets waiting to be explored. Consequently, there is both replay value and longevity.
Quintus And The Absent Truth is an unusual title.
Quintus And The Absent Truth excels because of its unusual delivery. Thanks to its shifting perspective and horror elements, it is very strange. I liked its blend of observational and logic-based puzzles, as well as its supernatural horror moments. Furthermore, the music was great, and the acting was laughable. Of course, it wasn’t perfect, but the shortcomings were forgivable. All things considered, I recommend you to buy it here! Will you save Alan’s daughter? Work together, solve the puzzles, and live with the past that haunts you.
A refined design with heart rate monitoring and motivation for the young ones to achieve their daily steps target, more storage, more music, and much faster speed with the improved waterproof rating.
Specifications
1.3 inch TFT round screen with Capacitive touch
Language Supports: English, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Svenska, Norsk, Suomi, Dansk
2MP front camera
Battery Capability: 580 mAh
Operational Talk Mode Time: 6 hours
USB Charging: 5V, 1A
Storage: 8GB
Product Weight: 53g
NANO SIM card
Positioning: Wi-Fi, GPS, A-GPS
Wireless Connectivity: GSM, WCDMA, WiFi, GPS
App Supports iOS 10.0 & Android 5.0 above
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Fone R1 S, instructions, a charging cable and a SIM.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Fone R1 S is very lightweight and comfortable for a child to wear for an extended period of time.
Battery wise, the Fone lasts for around 2 days with normal use, or 6 hours of talk time.
The Fone R1 S comes with a free 6 Months Subscription with no contract (Powered by PCCW Global) – although check if it works in your region as it doesn’t work everywhere – for example here in the UK the SIM didn’t work (which I expected).
A SIM is required if you want to use the data, voice and messages functionality, which you will do, otherwise why would you be interested in the Fone?
The Fone also provides real-time GPS tracking so that you know where your child is at all times – this is a really useful feature. There is also an SOS button that your child can use if they are worried or in distress. This will send an immediate alert to you along with a 30 second recording of the surrounding sounds. Hopefully this function will never be needed, but its good its there.
Another useful feature is Class Mode which stops your child from being distracted during times you want them to concentrate.
The watch faces are customisable and include fun animated wallpaper so that your child can make the Fone their own.
The Fone also enables the monitoring of your childs heart rate, with warnings if it gets too high.
Around 150 songs can be stored on the Fone so that your child will always have something they want to listen to.
The screen is very clear and easy for a child to use, and if you want to motivate your child to play and exercise there are badges they can earn for doing all sorts of tasks, its a fun way of getting them moving!
The Fone is pretty durable and can take a few knocks and scrapes from your child playing whilst wearing it (after all, that’s the point!) and its water resistant.
The myFirst Fone Mobile App add additional settings and functionality and is compatible with both iOS and Android.
The myFirst Fone R1 S is available now priced around £180 and is available in Space Blue or Cotton Candy Mix.
Rush Rally Origins was developed and published by BrownMonster Limited for the PC back in April and is an isometric racing game putting players in the driver seat of a rally car speeding through various tracks. The game offers a lot of replay ability due to the time attack modes and both local and online multiplayer modes.
Rush Rally Origins is a blast from the moment players select a mode and course. Each mode offers players 8 different locations from Finland to Japan with 6 tracks across each country, giving players 48 maps to race across with different types of cars. One point that makes Rush Rally Origins so fun is that players are given points that they can spend to upgrade different stats on each car that has an actual impact on performance. For those concerned that this is just a padding mechanic to get more time in, I’d like to say that after putting two points into boosting my cars speed, I was able to shave off 15 to 20 seconds on a track that was giving me a lot of trouble. Cars all have different attributes so players can race to unlock cars and find one that fits their style. There is even an option to change the color of the cars and while there isn’t a lot to choose from, it is nice to see a car in the color that I want while racing through the snow.
There are 4 different modes for players to enjoy with those being time trial, Championship, Race, and multiplayer. Time trial pits players against themselves while championship has a leaderboard for players to race against through a series of tracks. Championship also allows players to earn points that can be spent to upgrade the cars and progress through the game.
The graphics aren’t too demanding so there shouldn’t be too much concern for getting it to run and there was an update recently that seemed to hint at the ability to run on the steam deck as well so that is something to look forward to for those looking for handheld racing on the go. The menus are extremely easy to navigate and there wasn’t any unnecessary clutter to be found on the HUD during the races. The ability to adjust the size of the HUD is also welcome since some players may prefer a more minimalistic look while they tear through the tracks. The HUD shows how a player is doing in regard to the current task, so it is helpful to have it visible, especially for those looking to beat their current time on a certain track.
One of the minor negatives that may not bother many is the fact that there is no music to be found during the actual tracks when going through time trial and championship. The menus have music, but it would have been nice to have something playing besides the sound of the cars engine and the occasional comment coming from the passenger regarding the upcoming turns (this can be turned off in the settings if someone backseat driving is frustrating to you). This is just a minor gripe though and the game’s sound design is so good that it doesn’t take away from the experience too much.
Overall, Rush Rally Origins is a fun little game for those looking for a more arcade style racer to pass the time. With its simple look and gameplay loop, there is enough here for players to get caught up in without being overwhelmed with all the customization options other racing games offer.
The latest development in wearable tech, the Ultrahuman Ring compliments the existing suite of biomarkers that the Ultrahuman platform tracks to deliver powerful, and real-time metabolic biomarkers data.
Ultrahuman, the world’s most advanced metabolic fitness platform, has today announced the launch of its newest wearable, the Ultrahuman Ring. The metabolism-tracking wearablewillmeasure movement, sleep and the body’s energy dynamics coupled with intelligent activity or recuperating recommendations, in real-time, to balance and take control of your health.
The Ring provides a minimal form factor with no screens or vibrations keeping you away from constant notifications. You check your details when you want to, on the app, ensuring no intrusion in your daily activities. It also comes with a power packed 5-day battery life.
The Ultrahuman ring is designed for enduring rough usage conditions and workouts. The ring’s outer surface is made of a titanium body coated with tungsten carbide which is 5 times harder than tool steel making it remarkably scratch resistant. At the same time, comfort and minimalism is at the core of the product.This is ensured by the smooth inner shell of the ring that makes it comfortable during sleep and rest scenarios. Ultrahuman Ringworks standalone or in combinationwith the existing advanced glucose monitoring platform, Ultrahuman M1, to offer users even deeper metabolic insights and more precise actionables for optimizing your health.
Mohit Kumar, Founder and CEO, Ultrahuman commented: “We have always believed in the power of biomarkers in terms of their ability to make health optimization more efficient. With the Ultrahuman ring and a new suite of metabolic biomarkers, you can now understand not just what’s affecting your glucose metabolism but also how to act on the insights in an efficient way. For eg. You could figure how much of your glucose metabolism is affected by the lack of sleep vs the food itself. This is a phenomenal leap in the world of biomarkers and allows us to study various factors around human health in a unique and much more impactful way than ever.”
Some of the insights that will be available with the Ultrahuman ring would be around understanding your NEAT ( non-exercise activity thermogenesis ), sleep efficiency and its effect on glucose metabolism and food’s impact on recovery and performance.
The Ultrahuman Ring will be available for pre-order globally from 7th July 2022 and shipping will start August 2022 onwards.
Ultrahuman is a venture-backed startup that has raised $25m to date. Their investors include Alpha Wave Incubation (AWI), which is backed by DisruptAD and managed by Falcon Edge, Steadview Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, Blume Ventures and Utsav Somani’s iSeed fund, and a range of marquee founders and angel investors including Tiger Global’s Scott Schleifer.
Paying big bucks for your audio accessory is the norm. Consequently, affordable earbuds and headphones commonly get overlooked. Now, I usually say that you pay for what you get, and I stand by this statement. However, occasionally, I’m wrong and a low-cost product takes me by surprise. The JLab GO Air POP earbuds certainly did just that. With a plethora of features and decent sound quality, I was impressed.
They have some high-end features with built-in microphones, a portable charging case, independent earbuds, a large battery life, Bluetooth 5.1, and touch-sensitive controls. What’s more, they are IPX4 sweat and water-resistant rated. Consequently, they are great for walkers, runners, and anyone who loves the great outdoors. Further to this, they come in a range of colours, are lightweight, and feel comfortable in your ears. Therefore, the JLab GO Air POP earbuds are an excellent all round entry-level device.
What colour will you pick?
What’s in the box of the JLab GO Air POP earbuds?
With a colourful and compact design, the packaging catches the eye. The cardboard is lightweight and, as a consequence; it is a bit flimsy. However, the contents were safe and undamaged and therefore; it mattered not.
The JLab GO Air POP earbuds. These compact earbuds are 15% smaller than others in this range. What’s more, they are 40% lighter with the charging case. Furthermore, they are available in a range of colours.
The charging case. This sleek and robust case matches the earbuds. On top of this, it has a handy LED to highlight its charging capabilities. The earbuds are held in place thanks to a magnetised clamp. There is also a handy built-in USB cable to keep it topped up.
Spare silicone ear tips. Everybody has different ears and JLab wants you to experience crystal clear sound. Therefore, you have a choice of 3 ear tips to ensure a snug connection.
Start-up guide. This small manual explains the fundamentals.
The complete packageSpare silicone ear tips.The JLab GO Air POP earbuds.Charge your earbuds in the small and robust charging case.A helpful user manual.The striking and colourful packaging.
Technical Aspects.
Speaker
Φ6mm Dynamic driver
Microphone
MEMS -42dB+/-3dB
Battery Life
8+ hours in each earbud
Total Playtime
32+ hours total
Bluetooth
Version 5.1
Range
30+ ft
Weight
35.4g (earbuds + case), 3.7g per earbud, 27.5g charging case
IP Rating
IPX4 (earbuds only)
Warranty
2-year
Unlike other earbuds I’ve reviewed, the JLab GO Air POP isn’t focused on the gaming market. Instead, they are designed exclusively for music and wire-free mobile phone calls. Sadly, this makes them less functional, but the price point of £19.99 reflects that.
Crystal clear audio is absolutely essential as no one likes tinny or crackly sound. Luckily, the 6mm dynamic drivers deliver a pleasant range of tones. Moreover, 3 preset sound settings adjust the EQ balance with minimal fuss. This was fantastic, as you can alter the sound at the touch of a button.
Other key features include the dual connect earbuds and the touch-sensitive controls. You can use the earbuds independently or together, and this was great. Unlike some of its peers that cut off your audio, you can instead enjoy your music through one earbud with little fuss. Alongside this, the built-in MEMS microphones ensure pitch-perfect voice pickup on each call.
The aforementioned preset setting and other functions work perfectly with the touch controls. You may answer calls, activate your smart assistant, alter the volume, skip tracks, and more. This user-friendly feature is fantastic when you have packed your phone safely in your backpack. Subsequently, you no longer need to search for your mobile whenever you wish to take a call or simply change a track.
The built-in USB charging cable.
Are the JLab GO Air POP earbuds worth it?
At £19.99, they won’t break the bank. Consequently, they are a phenomenal entry-level product. With a large battery life, they won’t let you down. Each earbud lasts 8+ hours, with an additional 24+ hours coming from the charging case. Alongside this, the Bluetooth 5.1 connection is reliable and quick to find with any compatible device.
Yet, in comparison to other earbuds, the lightweight nature is a little disconcerting. Accordingly, I was concerned that I’d drop or lose them, especially when exercising. Also, the bass is underwhelming unless you activate bass boost mode. Now, if you don’t mind missing out on a full range of tones, as standard, this won’t bother you. Furthermore, you must remember the affordable price point, so there must be some flexibility.
Charge the earbuds in this slim and robust charging case.
Summary.
The JLab GO Air POP earbuds have their limitations, but they are fantastic for the price. I loved the array of colours, the battery life, the EQ boost modes, and how easy they were to use. My issues regarding weight are personal, and most of you won’t consider this a problem. However, the lack of bass may put some people off. Luckily, the bass boost negates this, but I’d have liked a fuller sound as standard.
All things considered, these are excellent earbuds! They are perfect for people on a budget, students, or younger adults. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy them here!
Fall Guys, originally released in 2020 only for PS4 and PC, was an overnight sensation for millions of gamers on those platforms. Since then, the game has seen a steady decline out of the main spotlight for gamers. Developer Mediatonic hopes to have found the answer that will help catapult Fall Guys back into the mainstream, and back onto gamers screens.
With the release of Season 1: Free For All, the game has made its way to the remainder of the platforms, such as Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch. The game is also free for everyone to download, jump in, and play. This was the best decision for Mediatonic to make, as the developer announced since the launch of Season 1, the game has seen an outstanding 20 million players in only 48 hours. (https://twitter.com/FallGuysGame/status/1540711411629707265)
This was my first time jumping into Fall Guys, and I’ve had such a phenomenal experience, playing as the little beans, trying to get crowns with my girlfriend. If you will, join me as I explain all of the wonderful reasons why I love this game.
Gameplay
In terms of gameplay, it’s rather simple; You’re a little bean, competing on a TV game show-esque crash course, in hopes that you’ll be the winner of the crown. It takes the battle royale format, but adds a fun new twist with the variety of games you and your friends can play.
The games themselves are simple, with most offering the same easy to understand tasks like making it to the finish line, time trials, or not falling off a small platform. It’s simple, but don’t think it isn’t competitive, as getting crowns is no easy feat, but it’s so rewarding when you or your squad comes first.
Visual Aesthetic
I absolutely love the visual aesthetic of this game. Each level has a fun, vibrant, and wacky look to it, which invites the player in to have some fun with their friends.
The beans are cute, and fun to customize, which is there is no shortage of with the battle pass and shop, offering many cute and fun outfits.
As a Halo fan, I loved the Spartan Showdown event, which added Master Chief, Grunt, Aand Brute outfits to buy, with some free Halo items to earn as well.
Closing Remarks
As a newcomer, I am thrilled with how fun Fall Guys is. It’s uniquely charming, each and every time I go back and play. I highly recommend anyone with some friends looking for a fun multilayer game to play, jump into Fall Guys and go for some crowns. I think no matter the age, you will appreciate the joy this game brings, while also loving the challenge of winning in this highly competitive, game show extravaganza!
Ready to play as your favorite Capcom fighter and battle it out with another? Well here is your chance to enjoy a full collection of the 10 most remarkable Capcom fighting games that will be great to add to your gaming console! There are so many different and wonderful types to keep you fighting for hours. Each one is full of action-packed competition, fighting with special and fun techniques, and that fun, classic arcade-style design. It may appear a little more revived in graphics and contain some awesome music playing in the background, but it still has the classic arcade-style design and gameplay that everyone loved growing up playing.
The many games in the Capcom Fighting Collection are ones that have been played the most, and this is true for me, with a few additional games I’ve never had a chance to try. Each one chosen in this collection is in my opinion, an awesome set that makes owning this one game worth it! Also, to make one thing clear. The game isn’t just giving you the top five great games, there are a total of ten. Each being added with some additional features that it never had before. Even a training section to allow you to own those skills before going into a real fight.
So you really are getting something more for just this one purchase. I always find myself loving the classics and even more when they get remastered, placed with more than one game, and come with additional extras and features that weren’t present before. For example, the museum is now a part of the game, allowing you to recap and view some wonderful details like behind-the-scenes and art from each of the 10 games. Now you can enjoy so much art, music and so much more from all the games in this special edition.
Additionally, there are a few more wonderful modes that will allow you to fight anyone you like, view rankings, and build groups to conversate about each game you like. You can even just be a spectator and enjoy watching matches taking place. These are just amazing additions, and the one I love most is the ability to adjust the controller to set the buttons to suit you. So if you want to do a special attack, no more difficult button combination has to be done. Simplified is so much nicer than difficult and makes the fight much more enjoyable when you can win easier!
The Ten Remarkable Capcom Games:
** These are all the USA version names, but there are also Japanese names you can choose from too. So no worries that are also options. So if the names below don’t appear or look like what you see on the screen when it starts up, you just need to change it. So you can choose the USA version or keep it to the Japanese version and still enjoy the same gameplay under a different title and words or scripts being used instead. I do also want to let you know that some games are only in Japanese since they have never been released outside of Japan, so those names will be just exactly as you see them below. **
Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors
This game has a great array of characters to choose from. Many in the form of being an animal or creature combined with a human form. I think that really is what makes this fighting game very interesting, you can battle each other as these unique creature-people form and use all types of attacks. I am thankful they show each in the pause menu, the combinations to create such attacks, as it’s not super easy to grasp for beginner fighters or first-time players.
Also, the option to choose how fast you’d like the game to go is really an interesting part. You have a certain time to choose something which is normal with fighting games, especially classic ones. This game has 3 total speed settings and each will let the game run a bit quicker or slower. It may not always seem like a huge difference, but there is a slight change. Especially, with the opponent’s speed and movements.
I had the hardest time defeating my first opponent, Felicia the catwoman. As embarrassing as that sounds. There was only one time I played with a different character and had victory just to be defeated twice in the last two rounds. It took time to defeat her and move on, but honestly what I learned from the first few tries is I really need to practice the buttons better to be my best as a fighter. It’s so hard to pick up and just go right in thinking you’ll take down the opponent easily.
Night Warriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge:
I felt the game had the same similar effect as Darkstalkers: The Night Warriors. The characters are not much different and the effects are about the same. The game played similarly, for the most part. The little change may be how you can adjust the speed or let it go through auto mode. I’ve been mostly finding myself playing through turbo mode as it seems to be the best if you want to get into a faster fight and keep it going without slowing down. However, I still found each round to be quite difficult as the original settings. I can’t believe how badly I got defeated again and again!
However, the more I practice, even if I take on that training course and know how to use the different special skills the better I’ll get. This is a really great classic game, as it plays perfectly and really gives you a challenge! So there is really nothing to complain about, everything works as it should, and the reactions and effects take place right away, and I’m very happy with it. That also goes with the quality of this game as I was with the first.
Vampire Savior: The Lord of Vampire:
You don’t get the same vibe or graphics as the first two games in the collection. I’ve noticed a change in the game, it’s more like a fighting adventure. You go to the first battle then you just keep going until you win the fight. Next, you move to the next fighter in this circular-shaped mapped area. Each has a new opponent to fight. It’s a nice change and definitely different than how a normal battle would go.
Again I played the rounds through the turbo mode, so things were going quicker than normal. Oh yes, I can happily say I finally won the first battle as this bee girl, aka Q Bee which I’m thinking is short for Queen Bee. No matter, I was proud to say that as my fighter, she was able to beat my opponents. I didn’t play in any other setting, just turbo mode. However, this was just one character, there are so many other creative creature-like characters to choose from.
Once again, I must compliment how the characters are quite charming. Actually, I like the mix better than the first two above. It’s also impressive to say that my mom’s favorite bug the bee is the one I chose and she can really do some damage! Oh and the one that looks like the little red riding hood from a story, this character is hysterical as she is this so cute little girl with a gun and a lot more up her sleeves. Now that’s just two and there are so many more to play with such interesting twists and that makes the game a blast for me, and very entertaining to play.
Vampire Hunter 2: Darkstalkers’ Revenge:
This game brings the same heat as the rest! It’s actually got a few characters that are memorable from the recent ones, but it is such a nice fighting game. I don’t know why, but I’ve done better so far moving along to the next games in the collection like this one than I did from the start. Maybe the newer ones in the list of games are just made easier so you can take down the opponent easily. In my opinion, I feel this game really is stimulating cause as each may be wonderful but the easier it is to take victory is what makes it a bit better for me. However, I can’t say this really is better, it’s just as brilliant as the rest, but I like it a tiny pinch more.
A little bit of a tip or just something I’d like to share. When I was playing fighting games growing up, maybe call it the old school method of playing. However, I found what worked for me was to just press so many buttons to make a special attack combination actually work. Even if I had no idea what creates what, sometimes the results were just incredible! So I can’t lie, I tried that with many of these games, well all of them. When playing Lilith, who is as fast as Q Bee. I also liked her special abilities and speed. So with many different buttons pressing it didn’t seem like I needed to cause it is simplified than it was for other games. It was nice taking down that catwoman, Felicia, who in the past two games above whipped my butt so easily.
Vampire Savior 2: The Lord of Vampire:
Another Vampire Savior game, yippie! Loving them a bit more, but the 2nd one is just like the first, awesome! It’s great, especially the way it plays, I feel as if the special buttons in each game I play just get a bit easier to use and operate with each character. It’s marvelous how much I can get done faster and easier with just a press of a button than with learning so much or seeing the words K.O. you lose so many times. So in total, in many of the battles thus far, I’ve won the first round and second with no problem.
Also, this game is with the same similar characters, and I’m not hating on that! They all have great features, special abilities, and personal styles which make them so much more interesting. Lilith has been my choice for this game again, but there are so many others to choose from or you can allow the game to decide for you.
Cyberbots: Fullmetal Madness:
At first, I was thinking OK, same old choose a character and fight. However, this is a bit different. The game goes along with just a handful of characters, not many to decide upon. So once the character you want is chosen, it’s time for you to select your robotic machine. Now, this is a bit odd, but in some way interesting too. The character choice doesn’t do much for the game, and I could be wrong, but they become the icon of who you are inside the machine that you’ve chosen.
The real person that is doing the battling is the robotic machine and you the player of course! You can take down anything with the machine, and it has so many unique moves and abilities. I almost think of it as watching or actually being a part of Robot Wars. You are just acting as the robotic machine and using all these different gears and firepower to take down the opponent. I think this game adds something new to this collection and makes for such fun and fascinating to play!
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo:
This was actually a change from the traditional. Yes, a few well-known names from Street Fighter and a few from the other games mentioned above. However, there are two things about this game that is evident. It’s not giving you a large list of characters to choose from as many of the others, and there are no details on what they can do or their own strengths like many of the other games. This is where I feel it is more just a personal choice of who you want to be not if they are quick of going to provide something special.
So what is this game about? Well, it is actually all about gems. You’re playing the game on this vertical rectangular-style board that almost reminds me of playing Tetris. However, like a game of match 3 or more and so on, you have these gems of red, yellow, green, and blue come down. They aren’t moving so fast, so don’t need to worry or have to think quickly. However, like a game of Tetris, it’s best to keep it from getting too high.
So as you play, you form these bigger gems. The more the colors combine the more they form these giant gems, which you can set off with these special round spherical-shaped balls. They hold the color you need to place them so they match the gem or gems you’re setting off. The bigger the gem is made, even a small, single gem can be used, which will cause damage to the opponent. The more damage you cause, the champion you will become!
Super Gem Fighter Minimix:
This game was almost what I thought to be another gem-style game like Tetris, but it’s not! It’s a bit hysterical with the different special abilities that occur with each character. This game plays like a fighting game, but with gems. Odd I know, but the gems add a few special benefits to each player. There are going to be some same faces that can be recalled by the traditional Street Fighter. Yet, so cute as they are like mini-size fighters.
So here are a few details on these gems. They act as ways to help power you up and can even level you up, especially the larger the size they are. Plus, the more attacks you put on the opponent and knock some gems out of them, you can use them to aid in your success. It’s a cute and engaging game that like all these fighting games in this collection requires plenty of speed!
Oh yes, and there are a few options which are nice. if you want to focus on a different difficulty right for you, that is possible right at the start. The choices allow you more chances to practice with the easiest mode before going into the more difficult modes. Let’s just say it’s not super easy like slicing a piece of cake, it will get you a bit of K.O. you lose before you win.
Hyper Street Fighter II: The Anniversary Edition:
This is classic and brings back all my childhood memories! It has every character I can recall and each play is a traditional game. No special monsters only if that is what they were from the start. However, for Ken, Ryu, and the rest it’s like playing an original Street Fighter game, without any extra or unoriginal features. Mainly, just fight and use as many special abilities or moves to take down the opponent. A true classic game and a great second-to-last addition to this game.
Red Earth:
OH my gosh! Ok, I wish I knew this game beforehand. I was never into playing many different fighting games, but wow, WOW! This one is like fighting in the form of an animal-human, and I chose Leo the lion-style fighter. Now let me say he can really pack a punch. It’s more of a story with the game. Starts also with a map of where you’ll be going next to fight. This is all after you set up the character you want to be and choose the settings.
Next, you move on to the selected area and voila, the battle begins. It’s like an original fighting game, but the enemy’s lifeline is on the bottom. Plus, each opponent tends to be huger than you’d expect. You’re not fighting a same-size character, it’s like you’re defeating only bosses of the game. Each one has its own special powers, strengths, and appearances. Plus, a few words to go with the story, but wow! They seem like all bosses and have nothing to do with just battling a normal size fighter from the list of characters.
Honestly, for the last game on the list. I really enjoyed one! Don’t get me wrong each was really excellent, and brought something different to the game’s collection. Regardless, I never knew that a game where you can just fight giant monsters, like the bosses at the end of games would be a thing, but I guess it can be and it can be outrageously amazing too!
Final Thoughts
There is nothing like having the 10 best action-packed fighting games in one game download. The variety is excellent, the graphics are top-notch and it plays smoothly on the Xbox One, which I had a chance to try on. I came across no problems, only if having too much fun is an issue? Ok, maybe there was one thing I wish and hope could be possible. The game allows you to quickly save anytime you like, LOVE IT! However, you can only save one game and if you play another you can’t save or it overwrites the game making it lose the last game you saved. So no multi-saving feature, which I wish could change. However, It doesn’t affect the gameplay, which is awesome, and honestly, I really love every new and classic feature. What I thought was excellent in the past, is even better now!
There are a few games I’m playing for the first time and never tried before, which makes this collection even greater. So I can’t compare them all, but it’s no problem cause as I tried them all they play perfectly. Additionally, the story that follows and the entire detailed design is excellent as well! It’s just what I would expect when playing any Capcom fighting game. So if you are searching for more than just one game to keep you actively engaged in some fight sequences, puzzling arcade battles, and much more, then this is a collection you should give a try!
The Origin: Blind Maid is a first-person survival horror game where the terror is not just limited to the gameplay, but also extends to your experience of it, to the point where it’ll make you wonder – How willing are you to forgive an indie game for bugs and implementation issues?
Seeing fit to turn me into an unpaid QA video game tester, The Origin: Blind Maid forced me to solve 3 different progress-preventing bugs within the first few moments of installing it. Vera – your possessed assistant – either disappears due to skipped cutscenes or is prevented from running to the next area due to a fence that blocks the way (which I also experienced again later).
To bypass the issue I needed to actually go into my PlayStation 4’s system settings and delete all the save files before the issue disappeared, which was certainly a first, and not the greatest start to a game.
If you crawl and turn off your flashlight you can avoid the stalking enemies.
The story has you, a corrupt politician, fleeing the city in which he was mayor and lost in the middle of nowhere, which you come to learn is a place between Earth and hell, or ‘The Origin’, where an evil being is keeping you trapped within it like the gravity of a black hole.
The evil that lingers here unveils itself to you through the help of diary entries found in the linear maps while hallucinations teach about the ousted politician’s past and messages received on your phone inform you about the present. While trying not to give away what is actually a decent story, the evil originates from a woman who was mistreated by her family and it is those who took advantage of her that feature as the bosses of each new progressed area as the victim’s story starts to unfold.
Although intriguing, the story takes quite a while to get going, so of the 10+ hours you spend on it, the first 2 hours spent wandering around woods with your assistant chasing you around is frustrating and is utterly pointless in the grand scheme of things, especially as so many of the game’s issues occur during that period.
I forget which death this is, but it’s neither his first nor his last….
The story isn’t the only decent element of the game, however, as the environments look great for what is no doubt a low-budget title, with tension emanating from being hunted in the pitch black, and you’re even afforded the ability to play as the politician’s daughter who comes to help her father.
It’s one of those games that if you were to watch it on Youtube, you’d think it far better than it actually is, as Blind Maid does itself no favors in how you interact with it. Menu navigation and assigned controls for the PS4 controller are unintuitive and described poorly, and enemy weaknesses aren’t even mentioned once on the tips that appear on screen despite that being quite a key bit of information.
Quite confusing is the fact that the game decides that some enemies, killable at certain points, are invincible at others – for no apparent reason. Vera, for example, can be killed over and over during certain ‘battles’, but when chasing you on the open map cannot be damaged at all. Your character even says “No, I can’t do it” when you pull the trigger, presumably said due to the loyalty he showed as an employee prior to his bout of insanity, but you still can fire the gun, even though no damage will be received. It’s hardly a great sign for the Blind Maid‘s consistencywhen the beginning of the game can barely decide what it’s trying to achieve.
The gameplay itself is like a mix of Outlast and standard survival game mechanics with one stalking boss per area, as well as minor enemies that you need to defeat and puzzles you need to solve to progress through the areas. You eventually end up with a total of 3 guns and items you can collect for temporary power-ups, but these are all bog-standard elements that fail to impress, and even the best part of the game itself – the bosses – mostly just chase you in straight lines in narrow hallways, if they are not getting stuck in doorways, in the ceiling or on top of your head that is.
When the game is hitting its highs, Blind Maid provides jumpy in-game cutscenes, a decent mix of enemies and a harrowing story, but as these are all passively experienced elements of the game, it’s hard for me to actually justify convincing anyone to actually play it rather than just watch it being played.
Your guess is as good as mine for what this is supposed to be, but you can’t kill it, or so says the not-so-helpful hint as it’s killing you.
If time was given to clean up the inconsistent implementation and awful bugs in The Origin: Blind Maid, then the cheesy voice acting and reasonable scares might act as an entertaining interactive evening at home, just don’t hold your breath for it to come anytime soon considering the enormity of the task.
Incredible audio and amazing entertainment are intrinsically linked. Consequently, having the best headphones or sound system is a must. I have been fortunate to use some eye-wateringly brilliant accessories, and now ROCCAT has treated me to some more. The ROCCAT Syn Pro Air headphones are a truly wireless high-end over-ear audio peripheral. What’s more, their stunning design makes them stand out from the crowd.
Thanks to the lightweight design, honeycomb RGB lighting, lay-flat yokes, and detachable microphone, they are fashionable and practical. Alongside this, they complement the full ROCCAT range because of their looks and their ease of use.
Using their years of experience, you know you’ll get a premium and high-quality product. I have to say; they didn’t let me down. With crystal clear sound, 3D audio, pitch-perfect microphone pickup, and amazing build quality, this ticks every box. Then there is the multi-faceted approach because it can be used on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and USB-C compatible devices. Therefore, not only does it look and sounds great, it can be used across multiple platforms as well.
The lay-flat yokes are a fantastic addition to the ROCCAT design.
What’s in the box of the ROCCAT Syn Pro Air?
Sleek, simple, and alluring packaging. The compact box wastes no time in highlighting the benefits of these headphones. What’s more, its sturdy design ensures the contents are protected. Disappointingly, the internal packaging is plastic, and therefore it is tough to recycle.
The ROCCAT Syn Pro Air headphones. These beautifully designed headphones are lightweight, robust, and comfortable to wear. The honeycomb shell houses stunning RGB lighting that is memorising to look at. There is a USB-C charging point, two well-placed audio wheels, and a dust cover for the detachable microphone.
The flip-to-mute TruSpeak Mic. This slender and flexible microphone has a metallic grey finish and is built to last. The gold-plated jack creates a premium connection, and it is easy to connect to the headphones. Alongside this, the flip-to-mute option is convenient and quick to use.
USB-C charging cable. A braided cable to charge the headphones. Thanks to the quick charge facility, it is easy to maintain the 24+ hour battery life.
USB transmitter. Experience true wireless audio with the latency-free 2.4 GHz USB transmitter. Plug it into your device, switch on the headphones, and relax.
USB-C adapter. Connect the USB transmitter to any USB-C device with ease. This small adapter ensures you maintain a wire-free approach at all times.
User manual. A small but thorough start-up guide. Investigate the fundamentals and get started with ease.
The sturdy and compact packaging.Why are you using plastic packaging?A helpful quick-start guide.The USB-C adapter and USB transmitterDetachable microphone.Braided USB-C charging cable.Vivid AIMO-compatible lighting.The full package.
Technical aspects.
Compatibility
PC, Switch, PS4/5, USB-C devices
Battery life
24 hours + with rapid charge facility
Earcup
Over-ear with memory foam padding
Pro Specs
Yes
Connectivity
2.4GHz wireless USB dongle
App
Neon (Beta)
Warranty
2-years
RGB
AIMO-compatible 16.8 million colour palette
Comfort, build, and sound quality are must-have components of any great headset. Luckily, the ROCCAT Syn Pro Air has it all. With 50mm drivers, the 3D audio is crisp and accurate. On top of this, a superhuman boost mode picks up the smallest of sounds. Consequently, these are perfect for FPS, where the tiniest of advantages make a massive difference.
When you are wearing headphones for a long time, they need to be comfortable. Thanks to the memory foam earpads and breathable material, they are cool and fit snugly over your ears. Alongside this, the design is “Pro specs”. Therefore, if you wear glasses, there won’t be any discomfort that can be experienced by its competitors. Also, at 390 grams, they are noticeably lighter than their peers.
Finally, the detachable flip-to-mute TruSpeak microphone and lay-flat yokes make for an ergonomic design. I loved the ability to remove and stow the microphone. Whenever I’m playing solo games, I don’t want the mic to be in my way. Thankfully, this issue is eradicated. What’s more, the lay-flat yokes ensure it is easy to store.
Check out the AIMO-compatible lighting and the 50mm drivers.
Battery life, RGB, and the Neon app.
With any wireless peripheral, the battery life is essential. Fortunately, the ROCCAT Syn Pro Air excels in this department. Its 24+ hour battery life and USB-C rapid charging facility ensure you have premium audio for every gaming session.
The Neon app and the RGB lighting go hand-in-hand. You’ll note the familiar honeycomb smoked grey shell that covers an AIMO-compatible 16.8 million colour lighting compartment. As standard, this has a lighting loop that is vivid and eye-catching. However, you can customise your colours and brightness, or turn it off altogether.
The app is your go-to tool when you wish to adjust the audio settings. With a handy EQ and balancing options, you can get the levels just right. Moreover, you can alter your range of audio boosts and make other minor tweaks.
Everyone loves matching accessories.
Are the ROCCAT Syn Pro Air headphones worth it?
Jumping right to the point, the ROCCAT Syn Pro Air headphones are exceptionally good. They are easy to use, well-built, look great and have excellent audio, and lastly, they have a 2-year manufacturer warranty. On top of this, they are lightweight, have plenty of gaming boosts, and have an excellent battery life.
However, there are some niggles that tarnish the experience slightly. The Neon app is in the Beta stage, and consequently, it’s a little problematic. Furthermore, the rubberised dust cap for the microphone port is unsightly. If a harder and sleeker material was used, it would have been more subtle and in keeping with the sublime finish. Finally, connecting to an Android device is hit and miss. When it works, it is phenomenal. But when it fails, it is thoroughly disappointing. Luckily, I experienced no issues when playing on PC, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch.
Summary.
At £129.99, these headphones are considered a mid-range price point. Subsequently, you get an awful lot of bang for your buck. They are jam-packed with features, offer excellent sound and mic quality, and are built to last. Moreover, they look and feel fantastic. It’s for these reasons that I recommend you to buy them here!
Here is our review of the MyFirst Headphones BC Wireless Lite.
Unlike traditional headphones, BC Wireless lite uses bone conduction technology to transmit sound via the cheekbones. This technology leaves ears open to the surrounding sounds. Audio is set to an appropriate volume, ensuring safe levels of listening to the child.
Bone conduction technology allows for music to be transmitted via the cheekbones. Kids can listen to music while remaining alert outside.
The box contains the headphones, manual, charging cable, earplugs and stickers.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The headphones are very lightweight, weighing it at only 28g. They are easy to carry around and when worn they are comfortable (according to my trusty almost 6 year old assistant).
To charge the headphones, you place one end of the charger into a USB port and the other end into the headphones themselves. Fully charged, which takes around 90 minutes, the headphones will last for around 5 hours of playback.
Pairing the headphones with a device was simple and in no time at all they were ready to use. Place on them comfortably on your child (or have them do it themselves) and that’s it.
Sound quality was really good, and the volume can be controlled using a button on the headset.
The great thing about these headphones is that they don’t cover your child’s ears so they can still hear any important sounds around them yet still listen to whatever they want to.
The MyFirst Headphones BC Wireless Lite are available now priced around £54.
