Review: EAFC26

Matt Cooper
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Review: EAFC26

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.

Review: I Mother

Dawid Wisniewski
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Review: I Mother

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.

Review: Burst II Pro mouse

Daniel Waite
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Review: Burst II Pro mouse

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!)

The Burst II Pro mouse from Turtle Beach has been awarded the Movies Games and Tech Gold Award.

(Full disclosure! A sample was provided for an unbiased and free review!)

Review: Jurassic World Evolution 3

Luke Hedingham
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Review: Jurassic World Evolution 3

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.

News: What The Stars Forgot

Daniel Waite
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News: What The Stars Forgot

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!

Review: Kaku: Ancient Seal

Aidan Cannon
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Review: Kaku: Ancient Seal

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.

A Closer Look at the Photo Creator Video Projector Camera

Andrew Edney
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A Closer Look at the Photo Creator Video Projector Camera

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.

You can learn more and buy it from the Smyths website.

Review: Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset

Daniel Waite
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Review: Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset

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!)

The Arctis Nova 7X Wireless GEN2 headset from SteelSeries has been awarded the Movies Games and Tech Gold Award.

(Full disclosure! A sample was provided for a free and unbiased review!)

How AI is Redefining Storytelling in Modern Video Games

Andrew Edney
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0
How AI is Redefining Storytelling in Modern Video Games


Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-in-white-shirt-holding-brown-pipe-7773735/

Artificial intelligence is moving into the core of modern game design. It’s no longer just pathfinding or enemy AI. Studios are testing it as a storytelling engine, changing how players experience plots and characters.

Dynamic Narratives and Player Choice

Older RPGs often worked like flowcharts. Pick option A, go left. Pick option B, go right. Players quickly learned the limits.

With AI-driven systems, dialogue is less predictable. NPCs can remember your earlier actions and adjust how they treat you. They can change the story in ways developers didn’t hard-code years in advance.

Analysts say the shift in storytelling mirrors how digital audiences behave in other sectors. In the US, regional debates often spill into gaming and entertainment. Texas is one example. While traditional casinos are limited by law, players still search for digital alternatives, asking about where to play from Texas when looking at online platforms.

That interest isn’t only about gambling. It overlaps with how Texans approach digital media in general, from streaming services to interactive games. The same curiosity that drives people toward online casinos also drives demand for adaptive game experiences, where AI shapes the outcome instead of a fixed script.

Procedural Stories Beyond Landscapes

Procedural generation has long created maps or dungeons. AI now builds entire arcs. Rivalries form because you annoyed the wrong faction leader. Friendships grow if you help at the right moment. On a replay, those arcs may not appear at all.

The difference is unpredictability. Side quests aren’t recycled text. They evolve out of play. That makes each run feel less like repeating content and more like uncovering something unique.

Story and Gameplay Blended

Developers are trying to merge mechanics with narrative. In survival titles, AI can make food scarcity part of the story instead of just a stat to manage. In shooters, opposing groups may clash mid-mission, triggered by previous player choices.

Role-playing fans already notice it. Romances and betrayals can unfold over hours of interaction, not through a single “yes or no” moment.

Personalisation Keeps Players Interested

AI can read how you play. Cautious players get more stealth-based missions. Aggressive players face new enemies who want revenge.

That shifts the sense of control. You’re not just choosing from a menu of scripted outcomes. The system is responding to you, quietly, in the background.

Developers are also testing personality mapping. If you always side with underdogs or choose dialogue that avoids conflict, characters may start to trust you more quickly. If you’re reckless or dishonest, word can spread inside the game world, changing how towns or factions treat you.

It goes further in multiplayer environments. Some AI tools track how teams work together and then build missions that play to or against those tendencies. A squad that relies heavily on one player may find missions designed to split them up, forcing new strategies.

For players, this creates a loop of recognition. You see the game reacting to your style, not just your button presses. That keeps people invested longer, because each playthrough feels personal, not generic.

Concerns Inside the Industry

Writers worry about nuance. Machines don’t understand satire or cultural weight in the same way people do. A generated quest might make sense logically, but fall flat emotionally.

There’s also the credit issue. If an AI system spits out dialogue, how should the writing team be recognised? Most studios experimenting with the tech say they see it as scaffolding. Human writers still polish the story, add humour, and set the tone.

Development and Market Outlook

Publishers are testing the waters. Surveys suggest players like the idea of a reactive world, but still want strong main arcs written by people. Games like The Witcher 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2 remain benchmarks for crafted narrative.

Indie developers could benefit most. Tools that generate dialogue or quest frameworks cut costs and time. That levels the field, letting smaller studios release worlds that feel alive without hundreds of staff.

For players, the result is more variety. One release may offer a deep cinematic story. Another may hand the narrative reins to the AI. The key point: no two games will feel alike.

A Closer Look at the SpongeBob SquarePants Controller Holder & Phone Stand from Cable Guys

Andrew Edney
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A Closer Look at the SpongeBob SquarePants Controller Holder & Phone Stand from Cable Guys

With Christmas not far away now, we take a closer look at the SpongeBob SquarePants Controller Holder & Phone Stand from Guys.

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? SpongeBob SquarePants! And now he’s ready to keep your devices safe and sound with his ever-present smile. Whether you’re watching your favourite episodes or just need a cheerful addition to your setup, the SpongeBob Cable Guy has you covered with some classic Bikini Bottom vibes.

• Spongebob SquarePants phone, remote control and gaming controller stand/holder

• Compatible with most types of smartphones and console controllers, including the next-gen PlayStation 5 DualSense, Xbox Series S/X and all iPhones

• The perfect gift for any SpongeBob Fan

• Officially licensed by Paramount, styled on SpongeBob SquarePants

The SpongeBob SquarePants Controller Holder & Phone Stand from Cable Guys is available now priced around £29.99.

You can learn from the EGXPro website.

Review: Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection

Daniel Waite
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Review: Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection

I’m usually a huge fan of anything Atari touches. The recent spate of remasters coming from their offices has been vibrant, fun, and unbelievably addictive. However, the latest game from this much-loved publisher is pretty rubbish. Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection is anything but perfect! Unfortunately, this protagonist wasn’t particularly well-loved, and this sudden release does little to resolve that issue.

This collection of 2D and 3D platform games was developed by Limited Run Games and published by Atari. It is a single-player and cooperative title that spans four or five key franchise games. Moreover, players can experience some retro console gameplay. On paper, this should be amazing. Yet, in reality, every moment is tired, clumsy, and just too frustrating.

Which games appear in the Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection?

The best of this collection has to be Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind. It is a pun-filled classic 2D platformer that tests your reactions, mindset, and patience. The action is unforgiving, and death and failure go hand-in-hand. The other games available are Bubsy II, Fractured Furry Tales, and Bubsy 3D. I was excited to try FFT, but my excitement soon faded to anger. I owned an Atari Jaguar, but never played this game. Consequently, I was looking forward to finally playing and completing it.

Sadly, it was everything I hoped it wouldn’t be. The levels are woeful, the controls are sluggish, and the difficulty settings are off the charts. Accordingly, it was a mess, and there were limited redeeming features for me to enjoy. Disappointingly, this is the same for the other titles. Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection doesn’t hit the right notes as everything feels off, slow, and painful.

Dull action.

Despite the obvious flaws, it is the dull action that drives my feelings of negativity. I cannot remember this franchise being so tedious. The attempts at humour, the basic stage design, and the rudimentary goals are ridiculously simple by each era and console standard.

Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection fails to make up for these issues, and this gaming collection will suffer as a consequence. Yes, the developer cannot rewrite each game, but surely a sequel that modernises the whole franchise would have been a better choice? Sadly, we’ll never know, as I believe this is tainted beyond repair.

Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection doesn’t look good at all.

I’m usually a huge fan of dated and retro games. I love the vibrant colours, interesting but out of touch level design, and simple sprites. Unfortunately, Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection gets everything wrong. The visuals are painful, and the movement isn’t smooth or comfortable to look at. Additionally, the colour choices and level design are repetitive and just a little boring.

The audio is probably one of the shining lights. The music is brilliantly dated and just the right side of annoying. Furthermore, the sound effects have a pleasant nostalgic edge. Though I wouldn’t want to play it for too long, the audio works perfectly in short stints.

Terrible controls.

The cherry on top of the cake was the poor controls. Bubsy feels like an out-of-control tanker trying to turn on the spot. Unlike other platform titles from this era, the action feels horribly clunky. Subsequently, if you are a fan of the genre, you will have to adjust your style to overcome the problems.

I’d love to say that this collection will keep you busy for hours, but it won’t. Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection is so frustrating to play that many gamers will not get through the opening chapters of each title. This was unfortunate as it affects both replay value and longevity.

Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection is a big let-down.

I hate being so negative, but Bubsy In: The Purrfect Collection is pretty terrible. 90% of the elements of this game were poor by modern standards. Furthermore, the dated moments don’t work particularly well, and most genre fans will not appreciate the flaws. Accordingly, it is a big let-down and should be avoided. More information can be found here if you wish! Can you tackle every dated game? Pick your title, take a deep breath, and pray for some patience.

Review: Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship

Daniel Waite
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Review: Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship

Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship is another simple racing affair for younger children. Furthermore, it is perfectly safe, enjoyable, and filled with familiar characters from the franchise. However, it has some performance issues when playing it with another player. This will hopefully be ironed out, but the low frame rate was uncomfortable. It is fair to note that my kids played on regardless. *The performance issues have subsequently been resolved. Thankfully, a patch from the dev has resolved this unfortunate issue. Accordingly, both single-player and split screen run as intended.

This racing title was developed by 3DClouds and published by Outright Games. It can be played alone or with another player. However, it isn’t an online experience, so you’ll enjoy some classic split-screen action. If you have tackled any racing game from this publisher, you’ll know what to expect. The story is refined, and the action is relatively shallow. Yet, this matters not. Its intended audience adore the simplicity and the lovable characters.

Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship has a limited plot. 

The Rescue Wheels crew is revved up and ready to race. However, Boomer, Frank, and Mayor Humdinger are ready to cause mischief. Everyone wants to be crowned the champion, and nothing can get in their way. Each racer will perform tricks, collect pup treats, and power-ups as they aim to be crowned the best pup racer. 

The idea is fundamentally simple, but I’d expect no more from a child-friendly game. Once you tackle the tutorial, you are free to explore 4 different game modes. Free race, the Championship, arena battle, and the Pup Cup. The races all follow the same principles. However, the arena battle is all about avoiding your foes and collecting pup treats.

Fun gameplay. 

If you dislike shallow racing games, Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship will not be for you. Additionally, adults will find the action to be extremely basic and repetitive. Yet, this is a game aimed primarily at kids and family experiences. Accordingly, this will shine for its intended audience.

As you race around each course, you’ll have to avoid key characters from the franchise. Furthermore, you’ll collect as many pup treats as possible. These allow you to unlock new cosmetics for your vehicles. Additionally, as you progress, you’ll gain new playable characters. Other than this, there are a few stunts to execute and some small shortcuts to discover. 

Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship is colourful and fun. 

The performance issues were regrettable. The low frame rate during 2-player action was uncomfortable and unnecessary. This is an issue that needs ironing out ASAP. If you are playing this alone, you’ll not endure these problems. If you ignore these shortcomings, Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship is a colourful, exciting, and varied game. The level design is interesting, and there is enough variety to keep youngsters interested. * As expected, the developer patched out the issue fairly quickly. As such, there are no longer frame rate problems during 2 player action. Therefore, although it is simple, it plays exceptionally well with limited issues.

The audio offers no surprises. Little soundbites punctuate the action. Moreover, the engines dominate proceedings. Subsequently, it is loud, energetic, and ideal for a cartoon-inspired affair. 

Simple controls. 

My kids are becoming more gaming competent. Yet, I know others who struggle with basic controls and eye-hand coordination. Thankfully, Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship is ridiculously easy to play. Additionally, there are automated controls if you need assistance. Consequently, it is an inclusive title.

My kids adore this and will play it endlessly. I’m a little more pragmatic as I can see the obvious simplicity from a mile off. Luckily, this is aimed at younger people, and my thoughts are almost irrelevant. As such, this has plenty of replay value and longevity. 

Paw Patrol Rescue Wheels: Championship is flawed but fun. 

Unlike other Outright Games experiences, this one lacks that final polish. This was unfortunate, but something I expect to be patched out. Therefore, my final thoughts are based on this idea. My kids enjoyed the gameplay, the easy to master controls, and the addictive action. Accordingly, it’s a good game and I recommend buying it here! Can you win every race and become a champion? Choose your pup, grab the treats, and earn your crown. * If the developer hadn’t resolved the issues, this would have not achieved it’s potential. Thankfully, the smooth action, fun and refined driving, and colourful characters bring this game and franchise to life. My score has now been increased to 7.5/10 to reflect this improvement.

Review: Orbyss

Josh Blackburn
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Review: Orbyss

Playing a puzzle game like Orbyss means I need to dust off my old rule about puzzle games. Essentially, the rule is that the puzzles should be hard but not too hard. There’s a sweet spot. A puzzle that’s overly complex leads to frustration overtaking any sense of achievement. Too easy and it yields no emotions at all. You want something that’s initially hard, but falls into place when you latch on to the logic behind it all. You need an ‘Ah ha’ moment.

Orbyss repeatedly nails that sweet spot. I know because I audibly said ‘ah ha’ more than once. Thankfully, while no one was around to hear me. It achieves this in a few ways, but I think the feeling stems from the fact that the puzzles themselves are quite short and self-contained. A lot you can solve just by sitting there and stroking your chin, which I consider a big pro. So if you can get into it, Orbyss will give your ego a stroke, even if some bits of it might leave you a little cold.

Orbyss

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

Orbyss features two main elements: an orb, and a big abyss that kills you if you roll into it. Essentially, you start with a handful of marbles and you need to position them correctly in order to get to the next area. Things start fairly straightforward with rolling a ball into a switch, then changing control to another ball so you can roll across a bridge. By the end, you’re freezing balls in mid air then timing their drop along with a UFO, which is flying along a pre-programmed path. It’s quite the ramp up.

Though to Orbyss‘ credit, I never felt like I was completely lost. It introduces its pieces gently, and usually gives you a fairly straightforward puzzle to start with before mixing things up. There are quite a lot of different mechanics too, some of which I really enjoyed. One standout was a section where you had to position your marbles to go through a set number of gates in the right order. It required turning my thinking upside down and I loved it. Sadly, it never came back.

Orbyss has a habit of introducing mechanics, setting five or six puzzles around them, and then never using them again. I was waiting for the last chapter to bring everything home to roost, but the only mechanic that was really carried on was the freezing mechanic. A shame, really. Still, I did enjoy Orbyss‘s little sidepieces inbetween puzzle chapters. These are generally little audio-based puzzles (with good accessibility options if you’re as tone deaf as me), that try and build up the plot that’s running in the background. More on that later.

Orbyss

Pondering The Orbs

Pulling back to a broader scale, I will say that Orbyss‘ movement feels great. I was worried that the premise would have us rolling out of control all over the place. Thankfully, the orbs are easy to control, even when you’re pulling another orb behind you. Directing a non-possessable orb to the right place can be a bit fiddly, but it gets the job done. Graphics are quite nice too, with relevant puzzle elements being immediately visible. I didn’t make the ‘stroking the chin’ joke idly. I solved a few puzzles by just taking in all the mechanics and putting them together in my head.

Still, the graphics do contribute to a feeling of coldness that hangs over Orbyss. If I had to describe its atmosphere in one word it would be: sterile. Everything is set in a flat, white world where a big red thing is causing havoc. We fix it by interacting with random purple circles and rolling from place to place. There’s very little personality in the world. There are little red splodges with eyes and that’s about it. It’s a very vague plot. There are no real characters, or anything to latch on to. So the between puzzle sections focusing on this ‘story’ end up feeling a bit redundant.

It’s pretty clear that Orbyss is gameplay first, world second. Fortunately, its gameplay is pretty good. Although, one issue with puzzle games is replayability. Where do you go once you’ve solved all the puzzles? Well Orbyss tackles it, strangely, through achievements. An odd thing to praise but bear with me. For most of the puzzles, there are achievements for tackling it with a low number of switches, or some other constraint, so there must be other solutions that I missed. Re-contextualising solved puzzles is a good a way as any to generate some replayability.

Orbyss

Orbyss – Smart, But Cold

There’s even an achievement for keeping the original orb right to the end. I wish I’d seen it before I immediately left the orb to rot after the first puzzle. Oh well. My final thoughts on Orbyss is that it made me feel quite clever. It made the good decision to keep the puzzles, for the most part, small. I would solve a few, then tab out to focus on something else for a few minutes while my brain reset. I know losing the players attention like that isn’t really a good thing, but the puzzles felt like snacks for the mind.

If you can look past the general cold atmosphere, then you’re left with a big handful of intelligently designed puzzles. I never felt like I was guessing, or exploiting mechanics. Orbyss laid out the rules, and I solved the puzzle by following them. It also hits the right length for this sort of thing, with the first run through clocking in around five to six hours. It doesn’t drag things on. Orbyss is content to hand you a big platter of smart puzzles. While its plot and general surroundings might be a bit threadbare, it’s truly excellent at making you feel like a clever clogs.

(Orbyss’ Steam Page)

Review: Ionoor

Natosha M
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Review: Ionoor

Sometimes, you need a game that demands your entire focus. Not a story-heavy RPG or a sprawling open world, but something that forces you to put your entire brain, and both your hands. That’s exactly what Ionoor delivered for me. This is not a game you can play while half-watching TV; it’s an exquisite, fun, and intensely engaging experience that feels like a puzzle and an action game rolled into one chaotic, neon ball.

The Unique Hook: Hands-On Engagement

What truly hooked me about Ionoor is its unique style of gameplay. It strips away traditional controls in favor of an engaging, hands-on experience where you feel like you are physically part of the action. The core mechanic involves manipulating energy flows or guiding a central element through complex, abstract geometric pathways that shift and evolve in real time. It’s less about tapping a button and more about precise, sustained control directly on the screen.

I found this system instantly refreshing. It’s slightly like a puzzle because you have to analyze the geometric structure and predict the path forward, but it is simultaneously a fun action-packed game because your response time must be lightning fast. When the action heats up, you are moving both thumbs simultaneously, reacting to obstacles appearing from every angle. It forces a level of concentration that is surprisingly motivating. I was completely involved; there’s no room for mental drifting here, which is quite the achievement for a mobile title.

This requirement to pay attention is one of its most beautiful qualities. It requires such precision and concentration that it acts as a mental reset. For me, playing Ionoor is very fun, as it immediately gets you motivated and involved. It’s the kind of intense focus that temporarily pushes all the noise out of my head. The pure need for exquisite timing and spatial awareness makes the successes feel earned and thrilling.

The Loving Aspects: Flow, Challenge, and Design

The overall aesthetic of Ionoor is just as striking as its gameplay. The visuals are abstract, often featuring vibrant neon colors, pulsing lines, and sharp geometric forms. If you are easily dizzy by fast movement and going around in circles with lights, it might cause some dizziness. I deal with vertigo myself, but haven’t felt too much of that with this game. It really isn’t so bad, I would just take a few breaks after each level(win or fail),and not constantly play, as it can be a bit much. Nevertheless, this is a fun challenging game that supports such a beautiful landscape which can be hypnotic and it’s easy to get lost in the flow state, especially when you nail a long sequence of perfect maneuvers.

The game includes many challenging levels, which is a huge positive, thanks in part to its two distinct game modes. The first is a basic gameplay mode that allows players to tackle the core level designs and mechanics. The second, a challenge mode, significantly ramps up the difficulty by introducing a mix of constraints—such as being timed, featuring no color changes to guide movement, and requiring you to collect every energy ball—which truly demands exquisite concentration. Because of these varied challenges, just when I thought I had mastered a certain mechanic, a new layer of complexity would be introduced, forcing me to rethink my approach. This dedication to escalating difficulty gives the game longevity and a satisfying sense of progression. As a final, powerful reward for the intense concentration required, each completed level ends with a scripted, single word that often holds a profound or beautiful meaning. The levels aren’t just harder; they genuinely explore the mechanical space of the game, keeping the experience fresh. I genuinely appreciated that the developers didn’t rely on simple speed increases but instead introduced new obstacles, like gravity shifts or multi-point control challenges.

The audio design supports this flow perfectly. The soundtrack is often energetic and rhythmic, syncing up beautifully with the movement and visual pulses. When a sequence clicks, the audiovisual feedback is deeply satisfying, a perfect reward for focused effort.

Where the Energy Fades: The Necessary Critiques

While I found a lot to love, no game is perfect, and Ionoor has a few areas where the experience can be difficult, sometimes bordering on frustrating.

Firstly, the difficulty curve is brutally steep. The jump in complexity between early and mid-game levels is jarring. While I enjoy a challenge, there were moments when the sheer speed and complexity of required multi-touch inputs felt less like a test of skill and more like a test of finger dexterity and patience. For players who prefer a gentler learning environment, this steep climb could lead to early burnout.

Secondly, the sheer intensity of the required multi-touch input can lead to significant physical discomfort over time. While the hands-on control is engaging, the necessity of maintaining high-speed, precise manipulation with multiple fingers constantly on the screen makes the game physically demanding. Extended play sessions, particularly on small mobile screens, often result in hand cramps or muscle fatigue. This makes Ionoor less suitable for casual, sustained play, forcing frequent breaks that disrupt the flow state the game so brilliantly creates.

Finally, while the abstract design is unique, the lack of narrative context or world-building might be a con for some players. The feeling of manipulation is great, but the purpose remains entirely abstract. There’s no character, no story, and no clear motivation outside of “beat the next level.” For players who need a strong why behind their actions, Ionoor’s pure, mechanical focus might feel a little sterile over long play sessions.

Final Verdict

Ionoor is a game that knows exactly what it is: a tightly focused, challenging, and visually intense action-puzzle experience for mobile devices. It is very fun and highly effective at pulling you into the moment, making it a fantastic tool for concentration and motivation. The engaging, hands-on controls make you feel connected to the action, creating a unique and rewarding flow state.

If you crave a game that demands every ounce of your attention, which is one where mastering the controls is its own reward. I enthusiastically recommend giving Ionoor a try. Just be prepared for the beautifully rendered, abstract challenge that lies ahead.

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