Review: Spectra Infinity

Daniel Waite
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Review: Spectra Infinity

Having a loud and bright controller isn’t for everyone. Some gamers like to stick with plain colours and official branding. However, if you like to push the boat out, maybe a Spectra Infinity enhanced wired controller from PowerA will be for you?

This mappable and sturdy pad may not be as bright or lairy at first sight. Yet, once you plug it in, it has a life of its own. Using 7 colour edge LED light zones, this vivid pad will add energy to your setup. Furthermore, its anti-friction rings make it responsive and accurate to use.

Check out those lights.

The Spectra Infinity will make you choose wired gaming?

Many players turn their nose up at wired options because, sadly, it’s seen as the poorer cousin to the wireless market. However, I understand the benefits of a wired connection and its allure. There is a reduction in lag, you never worry about battery power, and your pad is always where you left it.

If you can tear yourself away from your official wireless setup, maybe PowerA and the Spectra Infinity option will tempt you to switch. This officially licensed Xbox accessory is lighter than its peers but is well built. Moreover, it’s packed with features and looks spectacular while gaming.

Supplied with a massive 3 metre braided USB cable, it’s long enough for most setups. It has two mappable buttons as standard, an adjustable microphone control, and the Series X/S capture button. So, it’s obvious this isn’t a boring piece of kit.

Trigger locks and mappable buttons.

What’s in the box?

The packaging is simple at first sight but striking on inspection. Slapped with an Xbox logo, you know the contents will be of great quality. Once you break the seal, you reveal a well-packaged controller, a separate USB cable, and a user manual.

  • Spectra Infinity enhanced wired controller. 
  • 3 metre USB cable.
  • User manual. 
A stunning looking pad.

Responsive controls and easy to map. 

No matter what accessory you purchase, you want it to be easy to use and robust. Fortunately, the Spectra Infinity controller is remarkably simple to master. Thanks to its user-friendly manual, you can alter and map the custom buttons with ease.

These are located conveniently at the rear of the pad and lay naturally where your fingers rest. Altering their use on the fly is straightforward, and this gives you a tactical advantage. Furthermore, the excellent audio adjust button allows you to mute chat in an instant. Alongside this, the footage capture button is accurate and works like its official Xbox alternative. Moreover, 3 point trigger locks allow you to decide the travel distance of the right and left triggers. It’s a game-changer in the FPS genre and the difference between life and death.

The Spectra Infinity enhanced wired pad is a great choice!

You may frown at the idea of a third-party accessory, but you really shouldn’t. The Spectra Infinity is fantastic value for money, packed with features, and looks great. Its audio jack offers wonderful sound quality and the buttons feel robust and respond well to touch. Overall, it’s a great choice and should be seriously considered as your next pad. I recommend it, so why not buy it here!

Review: My Universe – Doctors & Nurses

Kara Phillips
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Review: My Universe – Doctors & Nurses

I have never played any of the My Universe: titles, so I went into Doctors and Nurses completely blind. Within this game you are tasked with joining the medical team at the local hospital. You customize (which I say very lightly, there are only a few elements to change) two characters, a doctor and a nurse, who are both new to the job. Within your role, you must diagnose, treat and generally care for patients which can be done through a series of mini game style tasks. 

I am going to immediately preface that I am not the target audience of these games. From starting it up it’s obvious that the My Universe: series is for young children, which I think is fantastic as they are definitely educational. Doctors and Nurses in particular is an extremely educational game, teaching players symptoms of common illnesses, and also spreading the dangers of self diagnosis. The dialogue and exchanges between characters is very easy to understand, at times a little too easy. 

More often than not a character will glitch when they’ve finished speaking. A text box will close, then appear again and lag the game for a split second. Although usually this would just go unnoticed, the rate of which it keeps happening makes it very distracting. Additionally movement seems rather blocky, and very slow. It takes a lot to turn around, so when you miss a location there seems to be a lot of excess time spent circling around yourself before you can walk back in the direction you came. 

In this case, all that wander are lost

It really doesn’t help that there isn’t a map either. The hospital, despite being essentially one room broken up into several smaller ones, is massive. There are many locations to remember with different names that you need for different parts of a patient’s diagnosis. I can’t help but think that this is a huge amount for a child to remember. But maybe that’s because my adult brain is trying to remember at least seven hundred things at once. I spent more time walking around trying to find where I needed to be than actually diagnosing patients. Which is a little frustrating since you walk through a room thinking you can get out the back and find yourself having to once again repeat your own footsteps. 

Final thoughts

As a whole I definitely understand the appeal of this My Universe installment. And I think it could be massively beneficial to young minds. But there are a lot of faults and glitches in the gameplay which very quickly make it lose its charm. Between movement lag, dialogue glitches and an extremely repetitive nature, I don’t think I would entirely recommend this game. As much as I can see it being a fun experience there just isn’t enough in both the story and gameplay to keep me interested. It’s a very basic game, but I think that’s the point.

News: Car Mechanic Manager 2023

Daniel Waite
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News: Car Mechanic Manager 2023

We’ve all been there when a mechanic has sucked the air before giving us a price. It makes your heart sink while hurting your bank account. How about you put the shoe on the other foot and build your empire of workshops? Car Mechanic Manager 2023 has finally been announced, so maybe it’s time to prepare to chuck on your virtual overalls and get greasy.

This has been developed by Pyramid Games and published by Manager Games S.A (part of the Ultimate Games group). This is a car mechanic simulation title that focuses on economy and running the shop floor. It balances the best elements from managerial and tycoon games and will be moreish.

This will need more than just an impact driver.

Car Mechanic Manager 2023 has been developed by a well-established team.

Pyramid Games are specialists in the sim game world! Subsequently, they have released some fantastic and unusual games that proudly sit in my library. Castle Flipper and Rover Mechanic Simulator are two of their much-loved franchises. Therefore, the developers have high hopes that this car-inspired simulation will be a hit among the genres many fans.

The gameplay revolves around the development of each garage, managing employees, controlling finances, and repairing cars. There will be a variety of modes and scenarios to undertake, as well as conflict with your nearest competitors. Furthermore, there will be a wide range of cars and specialist equipment to select from. Therefore, it has the ingredients to be a deep and enjoyable title that will take over your life.

Whoopsy!

What does the team say?

“Car Mechanic Manager 2023 is a unique mix of the best elements of managerial titles and tycoon games. Naturally, the player will have a lot of freedom in choosing the right approach and tactics to achieve their goals, maximise their effectiveness and make the highest possible profits. The game will also feature many random events, which may positively or negatively affect the player’s situation” – said Tomasz Sobiecki, CEO at Manager Games S.A.

“We pay special attention to our proprietary repair system and everything related to it. The assumption is that a vehicle that ends up in the workshop may have obvious defects, but also hidden ones. Of course, it will be up to the player to decide what to do in a given situation. The skills and specialisations of individual workshop employees will also be important. We are preparing, among other things, unique possibilities of deciding how the employees should operate, so that the player will be able to automate their work to a large degree” – added Jacek Wyszyński, CEO at Pyramid Games S.A.

Another car, another job to complete.

Car Mechanic Manager 2023 – main features:

  • Construction and development of a car repair shop. 
  • Multi-stage repair system. 
  • Many types of cars. 
  • Employee management. 
  • Marketing activities and fighting for your share of the market.

The premiere of Car Mechanic Manager 2023 on PC (Steam) is scheduled for 2023. More information can be found on the Steam page!

Review: Arcadia Fallen

Jordan Kirkpatrick
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Review: Arcadia Fallen

In a world where magic and the occult is often frowned upon, living and working as an apprentice alchemist is a challenging life to live. It becomes increasingly difficult when a young spirit attaches herself to you and an all-out war between humanity and magical beings begins to break out. In the town of Anemone Valley, a mysterious and magical part of the world where alchemy thrives and spirits dwell, is there more than meets the eye hidden under the surface?

Visual novels are the Marmite of the gaming world for many. You either love them or you hate them. After experiencing Arcadia Fallen for myself, I can firmly say that my love for visual novels is as strong as it ever was. Arcadia Fallen has a world of mystery and fun to offer, and with it, it brings a brand new modern lease of life into the genre of visual novels. The story begins as you inadvertently become bound to a cheerful spirit by the name of Mime after a series of rather unfortunate events that reveals a demon infestation in Anemone Valley, a small town within the larger area known as the Empire. With no easy way to contain the demons and malevolent spirits at first, your job as an alchemist’s apprentice soon gets pushed aside to investigate how to seal the spirits away as well as separate your soul from Mime’s before the sleepy mining town is destroyed from the inside out.

The demons are rather adorable to be fair…

One thing that Arcadia Fallen does incredibly well from the outset is character creation. It isn’t the colour options or clothing styles that make the difference though, but instead the options to choose whether you want to appear male, female or androgynous in looks. You also have the rare but much-needed option to choose the pronouns you prefer—he/him, she/her and they/them. As if to further emphasise the degree of choice you have within Arcadia Fallen, you can also choose between two voice options—one more masculine and one more feminine in nature. Of course, you can also change the name you use to suit your preference. This was the first thing that really impressed me with Arcadia Fallen, and I’m happy to report it only gets better from here.

Choose your alchemist, just who will you create?

The companions you meet on your journey around the valley are the true heart and soul of Arcadia Fallen. In traditional visual novel style, you can travel between different areas around Anemone Valley through a map, and each area you visit will introduce you to a new character as the story progresses. You first meet Victoria, a knight tasked by the Empire to track down Mime and keep an eye on her. With some convincing on your part, Victoria gets roped into your demon infestation investigation despite her deep-rooted dislike for magic and alchemy. On your travels, you will also meet Ann, a young Tinker Mage who is working towards becoming a magic professor within the academies of the Empire. Michael, a suspiciously suave mage with no formal training will also accompany you. Lastly, you’ll come across mysterious magic-imbued Kaidan who travelled to Anemone Valley to prevent a further demon outbreak. And the best part? All four of your companions are romance options as you progress. 

Mime asking the important questions as always…

Writing and dialogue can make or break a visual novel, and it is without a doubt one of Arcadia Fallen’s strong points. One aspect that is a complete game-changer for me was tone indicators on each dialogue path. With each option that is presented to you, hovering over the route you want to choose highlights how the choice will be interpreted by your companion or whoever it may be that you’re speaking to. This simple addition is game-changing. I can’t recall the number of times in various visual novels and choose your own adventure games where I’ve picked a dialogue option that I believed was the most appropriate to the route I was trying to achieve only for the dialogue to go down in a completely different tone to which I intended. With these tone indicators, it becomes incredibly easier to recognise and decide which kind of play-through you want to do and stick to it. For my first play-through, I mainly stuck with dialogue options that allowed my character to keep everyone happy and I avoided any options that were antagonistic as much as possible. You’re never shoved down a path of one choice and one choice only, and you can switch up your reactions to fit the situation—this alone helped in creating an atmosphere where your character was much more believable and your companion’s reactions to them are entirely plausible within the confines of the plot. 

  • The Knight or the Mage, who would you choose?
  • Staying determined and on task

Romance options work in the same way. Occasionally, if you happen to be conversing with one of the four romantic option characters, a dialogue box labelled “romance” will appear and allow you to then choose a reaction fitting with your character. There is never a “wrong” option here, and the level of detail put into the decisions is abundantly clear. As you play through each chapter, you will also occasionally encounter a choice that you have to make that has an impact on your relationships with certain characters—this is perhaps the one area I would say is slightly let down. The consequences of these choices, in particular, could stand to be a little more severe—whilst they may make certain characters upset or unhappy in the moment, the friendships and relationships are easily salvageable and the choices don’t have much in the way of impacting the overall multiple endings you can achieve either. 

Visually, Arcadia Fallen is unique and stunning. If I were to picture a world where alchemy and magic were present, it would look something along the lines of the world of Arcadia Fallen. The use of bold and vibrant colours in the backgrounds give each area you visit a personality. The style overall seems to have a classic comic book and manga influence which is another aspect that I thoroughly enjoyed. Each character that you encounter is uniquely designed and it’s clear that thought and detail have been put into each of them to reflect their personalities and roles within the world. Victoria for example is exactly what you would expect a knight or high ranking official from the Empire to look like—neutral colours, clean uniform and well kept. Compared then to Mime, for example, a magical spirit, her design uses bold pinks and purples as well as emphasising her non-human features like her horns. Each character also has multiple sprites featuring different expressions and poses, which helped to keep the game dynamic and flowing in each scene.

The music was also very fitting and changed depending on which part of Anemone Valley you were in, again emphasising the fact that you’re in a fantasy game but also accompanied each scene well and didn’t overpower at all. One especially nice touch was an opening theme and animation at the beginning of the game which was something I wasn’t expecting but was extremely impressed by.

One of my favourite aspects of Arcadia Fallen was without a doubt the voice acting. I was simply blown away by the quality and talent of the voice acting. Again, voice acting in visual novels is often a hit or miss situation, but Arcadia Fallen yet again struck the bullseye with this. Every single voice actor did an incredible job in portraying their characters—often in voice-acted visual novels, characters can lose a lot of depth and personality if they are not performed correctly, but this is not the case here. The superb voice acting brings out the sheer depth of the personalities that you wouldn’t otherwise experience—it’s very hard to dislike any of the main cast due to this. 

Rounding off, some of the other interesting aspects of Arcadia Fallen that I enjoyed were the alchemy table mini-games. These mini-games are deceivingly challenging as you progress, and used for a multitude of things throughout the plot like potion creation and sealing demons. For the most part, these puzzles are easily completed with some thought and some luck. 

  • The easiest puzzle
  • Challenging but fun
  • Yet another puzzle
  • Create different potions and fill your alchemy book

I was also greatly impressed with the LGBTQ+ representation that Arcadia Fallen provided. As already mentioned, the ability to choose your own pronouns as well as your appearance and voice was already stellar, but Arcadia Fallen goes even further than this. All four romance options are open to you regardless of any choices you made in your character creation and they are all written extremely well. The inclusion of a romance between two older female characters was also handled realistically and one of the more prominent side characters Quinn happens to be non-binary. As a bisexual woman myself, the positive representation throughout the game was incredibly well done and overall is a credit to the story as a whole. 

Whilst Arcadia Fallen may just appear to be another fantasy world visual novel with a seemingly cliché plot, I can assure you that there is absolutely more than meets the eye. It is an immensely enjoyable visual novel, and of course whilst it isn’t perfect and it has its flaws, it is absolutely memorable in the genre and I look forward to jumping right back into the small sleepy mining town of Anemone Valley to complete another play-through as soon as I possibly can. 

Strictly Limited presents Aaero – pre-order starts soon

Andrew Edney
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Strictly Limited presents Aaero – pre-order starts soon

Strictly Limited Games, in partnership with two-man developer team Mad Fellows are proud to announce that the indie-hit Aaero: Complete Edition will receive a much deserved, limited boxed release on the Nintendo Switch. This rhythm rail-shooter synergizes high-speed sci-fi shooting action with an incredible licensed EDM soundtrack, to deliver a uniquely exhilarating audio-visual experience that received much praise from press and players at launch.

Aaero: Complete Edition contains all DLC content in one package and will be available as a boxed Limited Edition and Special Limited Edition, with pre-orders kicking off on Sunday, December 19th, at 12 AM CET (midnight), only at Strictly Limited Games.

About the Game 

Speed through stunning, futuristic environments in a stylish spacecraft, tracing ribbons of light that visualize the EDM songs while evading obstacles, eliminating approaching enemies and overcoming epic boss battles. The game controls like a twin-stick shooter with the left stick controlling the ship, which has to grind along the musical ribbon and the right stick for targeting enemies. If you play well, your score multiplier will build up and you can chase that high score on the leaderboard, for an extra dose of adrenaline. 

Dazzling action!

Key Features

  • Pilot your spacecraft through dynamic environments, negotiating obstacles and battling enemies and monstrous boss creatures, all synced to a banging soundtrack. 
  • Experience a unique sensation of speed and tunnel-vision as the levels warp and twist around you, perfectly combining music, gameplay and visuals. 
  • Vibe with licensed music from superstars of the EDM genre, including Noisia, Flux Pavilion, Katy B, Neosignal, Astronaut, Barely Alive and many more. 
  • Soar through 21 different levels, each painstakingly crafted to match the music. 
  • Four game modes – Normal, Advanced, Master, and Chill-out (a relaxed, practice-focused mode). 
  • Aaero: Complete Edition for Nintendo Switch includes all additional DLC content in one package: the 1000DaysWasted: Drum & Bass Pack, the Monstercat Pack as well as the Comet, Phaser, and Sol ship skins. 
Giant spider mech awaits!

Strictly Limited Editions for musical speed-demons

Strictly Limited Games is giving Aaero the immortal, boxed legacy it deserves, with two unique limited editions, available for pre-order exclusively via the Strictly Limited Games online shop.

The Limited Edition includes the Nintendo Switch game and a colorful game manual for 29.99€, limited to 2,200 copies.

LE Nintendo Switch box art
Collector's Edition box art

The Special Limited Edition is limited to 1,800 copies for Nintendo Switch at a price of 49.99€, including lots of cool EDM-festival themed collectibles: 

  • Nintendo Switch game 
  • Special Limited Edition Box 
  • Colorful Game Manual  
  • Stylish spaceship acrylic standee 
  • EDM-festival-style wristband 
  • EDM-festival-style ticket (replica, individually numbered) 
  • EDM-concert-style poster (DIN A3) 
  • Aaero logo fabric patch  
  • Bottle opener
Special limited edition contents

—————————

For more information please contact Derek@PRhound.co.uk

SKYPE – thegrassisnevergreener

About Strictly Limited Games 

Strictly Limited Games is a German publisher based near Stuttgart, specialized in releasing a curated selection of digital download-only games in exclusive collectible physical editions for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Nintendo Switch. The company was founded in 2017 by Dennis Mendel, a former scholar for game studies and advisor at Fraunhofer Institute, and Benedict Braitsch. Both passionate collectors with a combined collection of over 7.000 digital and physical games for all console generations, their intention is to form an opposite pole to the current trend of digital-only releases. All collectors’ editions are available exclusively at Strictly Limited Games online store www.strictlylimitedgames.com.


About Mad Fellows
Mad Fellows is an independent micro-studio founded in 2013. Paul Norris and Dan Horbury are industry veterans who have been developing high-profile video games since 2001. They have extensive experience in console development, having worked on hit franchises including Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, Colin McRae Rally, ToCA Race Driver, and many more. 

Non Spoiler Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Sean McCarthy
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Non Spoiler Review: Spider-Man: No Way Home

Spider-Man: No Way Home has to be the most anticipated MCU film release since Avengers: End Game, though it has only been two years since Spider-Man: Far From Home, so much has happened to build the next phase of the MCU now having introduced the Multiverse thanks to the excellent Disney Plus shows, that the MCU Spider-Man finds himself dealing with the repercussions to the ending of Far From Home and now straight into this new era for the MCU. So there is quite a lot riding on this film and thankfully, it nails every single thing it has to accomplish including being the best Spider-Man film….ever!

*This will be a NON-SPOILER REVIEW, only references will be to trailers already released and my overall reaction and thoughts to the film*

This is going to be a rather difficult review to write just because so much of the story is in spoiler country with its many surprises and turns in the 2hrs 24-minute run time of ‘No Way Home’. Make no mistakes, this is a film you will want to see as soon as you are able too because once the spoilers do make it out there, it will lessen the experience of seeing it, one of the big reasons I will not be going into any for this review as there are surprises you might be expecting, some already hinted at and some you might not see coming but they should all be enjoyed as intended, by watching the film.

With that all said, ‘No Way Home’ is a tapestry of a variety of objectives which it manages to complete close to perfectly. This is a large scale MCU film which could fail if any of the components needed to make it all work suffer a misstep, happily the pacing and delivery of everything this story needs to accomplish works so well. The trailers all indicate a massive ensemble and coming together of characters across the Sony big screen Spider-Verse with multiple ‘Classic’ villains all being shown bridging the other two Sony Pictures Spider-Man films and the reveal of Doctor Octopus, originally played by the brilliant Alfred Milano confronting the Tom Holland Spider-Man gave me goosebumps.

We do need to start at the beginning which ironically actually begins with the ending of ‘Far From Home’, with Mysterio’s video revealing to the world that Peter Parker is Spider-Man and No Way Home literally begins in the moments of that reveal as Peter swoops up MJ who is being hounded by a crowd with questions about her relationship with Spider-Man. The opening really is the fallout from the reveal and how Peter is trying to handle this world now knowing who he is, judging him for the events of ‘Far From Home’ as Spider-Man and the impact being Spider-Man has on the life of Peter Parker and his friends and family.  As seen in the trailers, this forces Peter to go to Dr Strange to ask for his magical help to undo the damage done by Mysterio’s revenge.

The Spell Doctor Strange offers to help Peter undo the mess he has found himself in, one that would make the entire world forget that Peter Parker is Spider-Man, does not go well mainly due to Peter constantly asking strange to adjust it which causes Strange to instead contain the spell before it can do harm to the world except, it still manages to pull into the world however, the villains known to fans from the other Spider-Man films. This moment, whilst shown in the trailers, is still immediate and in my cinema screening received an audible reaction from the audience, something that would indeed happen multiple times during the film, which is again, why I am choosing not to spoil those very moments in this review.

Now there is a lot of fan service in ‘No Way Home’ as you would expect, and so many of the twists and turns in the story do rely on the fan service of the audience knowing the other Spider-Man films to know who these villains are and why they are important. It would be very much fair to say this is story where you should not focus on the ‘Who and the What’ but the ‘How and the Why’. Knowing who is in this film is not as important as learning how they are here and why, and in doing so you do start to see how the bigger picture of setting up more of the MCU progress into the Multiverse, brilliantly explored and started in the Disney Plus shows Wandavision and Loki in terms of Doctor Strange who admits that the Multiverse is still a relatively unknown factor, to him at least. Doctor Strange being the vehicle to explain how the events in ‘No Way Home’ happen is more about introducing the Multiverse to him as he himself moves to his own next big screen story in ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’. We learn more about him as well and it is easy to forget that he himself was snapped out of existence during Infinity War and how his world was impacted by that, something that goes to explain why we saw so much of Wong in ‘Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’.

The one thing that is not lost in the scale of this massive story, however, is Peter’s journey and this is by far the most Peter Parker story yet in the MCU. In ‘Home Coming’ we saw a Peter Parker in the early months of having his powers, having been thrown into the Civil War battle of the Avengers and now trying to live up to what he feels is expected from him as a hero and Avenger all under the watchful eye of Tony Stark. In ‘Far from Home’ we see a Peter Parker now having to deal with the loss of Tony Stark and the legacy laid before him but still sent out on a mission by ‘Nick Fury’ which leads to more growth in him as a character before Mysterio drops the big bombshell. To this point, we have seen a Peter Parker trying to find his place in the world as himself and as Spider-Man and very much a Spider-Man almost defined by the people around him, especially other heroes with Peter constantly looking for guidance and acceptance.

But this story, is Peter Parker following his heart, his view of what a hero means even when it comes into conflict with someone as powerful and known as Doctor Strange. We finally get to see this Peter Parker truly soul searching at pivotal moments of the story in amongst all the usual comedy moments and light hearted scenes and we do get to see Peter as he is going to be from this point on, this trilogy of big screen stories really have been a true hero’s journey for him and I am so pleased that this very much remains the core of this film, never overshadowed by ensemble of iconic villains and is just about a kid trying to do the right thing for the people he cares about most. MJ has grown so much from the grumpy teenage love interest to someone Peter fully relies on for his emotional center whilst Ned, though still the comic relief at times, is the friend he can always turn too. This group has grown so much from ‘Home Coming’ and this film is truly the payoff for them all. Both Zendaya and Jacob Batalon have grown just as much as actors as their characters have, which along with Tom Holland, showing a maturity in their performances across the MCU Spider-Man films.

Coming out of the cinema and my mind was just racing and I had a massive smile on my face which I could not say was the same reaction with the first two MCU Spider-Man films. There is so much in this that I fully recommend seeing it as soon as you can. The action sequences are just incredible, which is why I fully intend to see this on IMAX after Christmas, the effects are amazing and the MCU update to the villains all make sense and work without changing too much about them that their original fans will notice and dislike. Seeing the Villains get a second chance on the big screen was satisfying, not just because of how their actors deliver more great performances with Jaime Foxx as Electro able to add more of himself to the role and William Defoe just stealing the screen as captivating as Green Goblin as ever. I am still in awe of just how much is in this film, how much is pays tribute to the character of Spider-Man across the different films but also in getting the MCU further into the new phase and not dropping the ball on any of it.

This has been a hard review to write and for a very good reason, this is a fantastic Spider-Man film and story, it is a brilliant MCU film, and it is a standout Comic Book film as well. There really are no negatives to talk about. I want everyone to have the same experience I had of watching this and enjoyed each surprise as it came on screen and to spoil that for anyone would be cruel. I will say this, if you are reading this and you have been on the fence about seeing this film either because you think you know or sadly have had some of the surprises spoiled for you, I implore you to still go see this film because it is just a great cinema experience that will be one of the more memorable MCU event films yet. Seeing how they pull this off and how it all comes together really does complete a journey for Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, a character that many thought would never be in the MCU due to Sony owning the license to the character and even more following the scare that the deal was over.

Spider-Man: No Way Home is one of those films, like Winter Soldier, Infinity War and End Game that fans will study for years to come, it delivers on the expectations and manage to allay any concerns I had about it as I headed into the screening. It certainly is a must watch for MCU fans but also for fans of all Spider-Man films on the big screen, a fantastic watch to end 2021 on and the setup for the MCU Adventures to come, especially for its Spider-Man is very bright indeed!

Review: Heavenly Bodies

Alex Chessun
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Review: Heavenly Bodies

One small step for man, one large step for fiddly controls and budding astronauts. Entering earth’s atmosphere at a pedestrian pace is Heavenly Bodies, a short physics puzzle/simulation game where you undertake spaceman duties with your individually controlled arms that flail around at the behest of your dual analog sticks and zero gravity.

This isn’t your standard control-your-limbs game (like Human: Fall Flat, I Am Bread or Octodad) though, so if you thought that giving someone a wedding ring with tentacles was hard, try doing it without gravity where one wrong movement will send your body floating in the wrong direction! Those who enjoy a challenging simulation may get a kick out of it, but for most casual gamers the honeymoon period of the novelty-like controls and floating in space might be over sooner than you’d expect as the controls frustrate and become the main focus of the game while the remainder fails to excite.

Don’t let go. JAAAAACCCCCKKKKK. Wrong movie – sorry.

Floating from one section to another, you must set up research modules, communication satellites and even extract samples from rocks in the earth’s orbit. Other than flying a little space pod, this is mostly done by connecting cables to the relevant socket and cranking levers while holding onto something in the space station. There is a certain level of satisfaction to be gained from completing the seemingly impossible tasks you are provided with especially when they require you to make adjustments outside of the space station, resulting in some highly dangerous and tension-filled leaps of faith. 

Unlike the aforementioned games, there are 3 different sets of controls that you can choose from here ( Assisted, Classic or Newtonian) but even though there has been a distinct effort to make it accessible, I still found it far too hard to adapt to. This meant that I often ended up undoing what I spent an extended time attempting, whether it was re-folding some apparatus that I just unfolded or collapsing antennae I just extended. It’s quite hard explaining how hard it is exactly, but with your body very rarely vertical, knowing which direction to push your analog sticks is a task in and of itself. 

Losing your grip and ‘falling out’ of your space station and into the empty void will result in a countdown and an eventual George Clooney-like death (it’s not a spoiler if I don’t mention what movie it’s from!) which the soundtrack, that sounds like its been taken from a deep-sea diving documentary, does a decent job conveying the isolation throughout.

Follow the instructions you must.

The rather unpleasant death is actually the only game-like challenge that prevents you from completing your task though, as you can otherwise spend hours on them without worrying about limited tools or retries due to the game’s sole focus on the completion of chapters. Disappointingly, there’s also as much story as there is gravity in this game, with very little linking the chapters other than the tasks becoming more complex, which seems like a wasted opportunity for at least a few interactable characters on the space station or at least a few lines of dialogue with Houston.   

With a plural in the title – as opposed to Heavenly Body – it is perhaps no surprise that the local co-op is where the real potential of the game lies, with it finally getting the chance to shine through with another layer of interaction. Fair warning though – working as a team does not make it any less stressful!

Heavenly Bodies takes a gimmicky control system that’s traditionally been combined with a lighthearted and amusing concept and instead makes an earnest physics simulation out of it. Without any other gameplay mechanics or story though, its 6 stages feel like a space station DIY kit with countless steps and mandatory instructions, but minus any real fun.

Review: GameSir VX2 AimBox Console Keyboard & Mouse Adapter

Andrew Edney
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Review: GameSir VX2 AimBox Console Keyboard & Mouse Adapter

Here is our review of the GameSir VX2 AimBox Console Keyboard & Mouse Adapter.

With its supreme precision and cross-platform compatibility, GameSir VX AimBox has become one of the most popular desk setups for console gamers to control with a mouse & keyboard. Now, its 2nd version VX2 AimBox comes with a built-in 3.5mm audio jack and PS5 games support. Not only you can hear and speak more in your own gaming world now, but also enjoy more fun in PS5 games with your PS5 console.

Besides, through its GameSir App, you’re free to fine tune in-game settings as mouse, ADS, keybinds, joystick and lighting effects. That’s to say, aside from its PC gaming experience provided, VX2 AimBox allows of total custom control, no matter on the input console devices or in-game play style.

Plug your favorite headset to the built-in 3.5mm audio jack of VX2 AimBox, dive right into your gaming world and leave other noises behind. With VX2 AimBox, hear every movement of enemies and chat with your teammates, let the sound guide you to the breathtaking immersion and glory.

Specifications

Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch

Connection: Wired (for Controller and Console); Wired & 2.4GHz Wireless (for Keyboard & Mouse); Bluetooth 5.0 (for GameSir App)

3.5mm Audio Port: Yes (not supported on PS5)

Battery: No

Micro-USB Cable Length: 50 cm / 1.64 ft

Type-C Cable Length: 50 cm / 1.64 ft

Product Size: 80*58*18.5 mm / 3.15*2.28*0.73 in

Net Weight: 84 g / 0.19 lbs

Package Size: 129*123*29 mm / 5.08*4.84*1.14 in

Gross Weight: 186 g / 0.41 lbs

What’s in the box?

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

The first thing you notice about the VX2 AimBox is that it’s small – it also has lights on the top. These lights are controlled via the GameSir App and can be configured to however you want to have them.

The app itself is easy to use and once installed you can customise gamepad mappings, sensitivity adjustments and various other things too.

The AimBox is compatible with the Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, PlayStation 4 and 5 and the Nintendo Switch – so all of your console needs are taken care of.

Connecting up your console is just a case of plugging it in and then plugging in the mouse and keyboard. Depending on the console you are connecting to you might need to make a setting change on the console, but everything you need to do is detailed in the including That’s really all there is to it. You might need to plug the AimBox into a power source if your console doesn’t provide enough power.

If you want to use a keyboard and mouse instead of a controller for some of your games, especially if you want that extra precision in a FPS game then the GameSir VX2 AimBox is right up your street – take it out for a spin now!

The GameSir VX2 AimBox Console Keyboard & Mouse Adapter is available now priced around £45.

You can learn more from the GameSir website.

Review: Moga Gaming Clip 2.0

Daniel Waite
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Review: Moga Gaming Clip 2.0

Mobile gaming is big business, but for a long time, it was associated with small and simple indie games. Nintendo changed that viewpoint and suddenly Sony and Microsoft realised that gamers are an adventurous bunch. Yes, we all still prefer our gaming setups at home, but when we are out and about, we still want to play. The Moga gaming clip 2.0 is a high-quality accessory that makes gaming much more comfortable and user-friendly.

With the meteoric rise of Microsoft’s Xcloud, many players realised they could continue gaming in outdoor spaces. However, there was the issue of how to balance both your controller and mobile phone. The Moga Gaming Clip 2.0 solved that problem with its sleek and lightweight design. Created for Xbox controllers, this small accessory is sturdy and robust while being easy to transport.

An award-winning design.

The Moga Gaming Clip 2.0 is the perfect accessory.

I was dubious when this landed on my desk, as I thought it was a waste of money and a fad item. I was wrong! The simple design fits perfectly around my Xbox controller while gently grasping my mobile phone. The adjustable arms allow you to set both pad and screen to your liking, and this enhances your experience further. Moreover, everything felt secure and locked into place in every section.

Its wonderful compact design folds in on itself to ensure that it’s easy to transport. Place it in your bag with your controller and you won’t notice it taking up any more room. It was surprising how much I used this peripheral, especially as I wasn’t its biggest fan to start with. I particularly like how easy it is to set up! With a snug clip for your pad and thumbscrews for each hinge, and it takes moments to lock in and get started.

It fits many phones, but it’s not perfect.

Right, I’ve gushed enough about my love for the Moga Gaming Clip 2.0, however, it’s not perfect! Though you can adjust the angles and the pitch, you can’t alter the width of the phone holder. Therefore, if your phone has badly placed buttons, you must lock it into place off centre. This was annoying as it made it awkward to play while impacting the balance of the device.

With a minor tweak in design, Moga could improve the experience exponentially. Yes, you can work around the issue, but it looks messy and reduces the appeal somewhat. The padded and spring-loaded phone clip allows you to grasp any device up to 79mm in width. Fortunately, this makes it a viable option for many gamers to play comfortably and conveniently.

A brilliant design.

What’s in the box?

At first glance, the packaging is a little uninspiring. However, this is a minor accessory that’s inexpensive. Once the security tabs are broken, you uncover a small user guide, some moulded plastic packaging, and the Moga Gaming Clip 2.0.

  • Moga Gaming Clip 2.0.
  • User Guide.
Designed for Xbox.

The Moga Gaming Clip 2.0 solves a fiddly problem.

Though mobile gaming won’t be everyone, it is an ever-growing market. Its fans demand comfort and quality, and the Moga Gaming Clip 2.0 provides it. Sadly, it has a few minor issues, but these are masked thanks to the price and wonderful build quality. If you love Xcloud and don’t have a gaming clip, I recommend you to buy one here!

Review: Raiden IV X Mikado Remix – Switch

Sean McCarthy
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Review: Raiden IV X Mikado Remix – Switch

My early gaming days were full of playing the top-down arcade shoot em ups with very fond memories of games like 1942, R-Type and Blood Money on the Amiga. The exhilaration of surviving wave after wave of enemy ships with the screen filling up with more and more bullets and taking that 50/50 risk of going for that much needed power up was a joy, something now only really seen in “Bullet Hell” shooters. One of my Xbox 360 experiences of this was the Raiden series, so as my journey into all things Nintendo Switch continues, it was a lovely surprise to come across Raiden IV X Mikado Remix, first released in the summer of 2021.

The vertical shoot em ups are truly something to behold and very much a classic, had to imagine the original Raiden IV released on the Xbox 360 ten years ago, with a PC port coming in 2015 which added some new mode and features. This Switch version includes all those additions such as the Overkill mode but now with an updated soundtrack to compliment it all. That soundtrack is quite the kickass anthem you would want in a high paced shooter to help keep the tempo high as the action ramps up with progression through the stages.

Visually this is just classic arcade which works remarkably well with the Switch in handheld mode especially, more so due to the way the game itself is boarded as it lacks full screen gameplay. Great for handheld but when docked and on a TV screen, the boarders take up a lot of the actual screen whilst not making it unplayable, it would have been nice to have a full screen option for TV mode.

The gameplay is just incredible in any mode, taking on a variety of enemies on each stage to reach the boss with action that is frantic and deliciously chaotic as much as it is a visual treat which when paired with the new soundtrack really makes this a total package for fans of the genre. There is the traditional Arcade mode, with stages that can be unlocked with credits earned from completing stages to replay them.

The Overkill Mode from the PC port adds a lot of Score challenge mechanics to the game which works by having a gauge in the game, destroy enough enemies and score bonus power ups will drop to enhance your regular score. The Global Leaderboards add that little incentive to keep trying to do better and gain even more high scoring runs and there is a real nostalgia blast when you earn a score worthy enough of adding your initials to your scoreboard placing.

By bringing together all elements of previous Raiden IV releases, this truly becomes the complete package for fans of the series but also it just makes an absolute banger of a game for the Switch which adds one final magical trick to the mix, Co-Op gameplay. Using the joycons, two players can share the experience on a single Switch console. The action is fast when playing alone and with some of the incredible power ups that make your ships weapons just obliterate ships on screen, having a partner with you to double that action is very satisfying indeed, just remember that bombs can clear the screen of enemy bullets as well as doing heavy damage!

With the Christmas now upon us, this would make an excellent stocking filler for a Switch owner that brings some classic arcade action this holiday season and for me, a great trip back in time to the 2000’s when this genre was really at its best for me.

A Closer Look at the Thumbs Up Remote-Control Flying Santa Drone

Andrew Edney
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A Closer Look at the Thumbs Up Remote-Control Flying Santa Drone

With Christmas not too far away now, we are going to be looking at various things you might want to consider – here we look at the Thumbs Up Remote-Control Flying Santa Drone.

The most wonderful time of the year just got a little more magical with the new easy-to-operate Thumbs Up Flying Santa Drone. Christmas has come early with this year’s must-have addition. Straight from Lap Land to your home this drone comes with its very own reindeers.

The flying drone will sprinkle festive cheer and provide endless fun. A truly unique invention to become the world first flying Santa drone with reindeers. Naughty or nice you can fly Santa and his reindeer past children’s windows on Christmas Eve to their wonder and delight. Fly around the room at the office to make people check twice. 

A fantastic gift for tech lovers, kids, mums, dads and friends. The fully rechargeable drone will make this Christmas extra special.

The drone has four-propellers for swift and rapid manoeuvrability, providing hours of entertainment for parents and kids this Christmas. Believe in Christmas and pop the Flying Santa Drone on the list and you’ll be guaranteed to raise a few festive cheers.

A Closer Look

The Thumbs Up Remote-Control Flying Santa Drone his available now from Very.com priced around £39.99.

Boulder Dash Ultimate Collection boxed edition now available to pre-order

Andrew Edney
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Boulder Dash Ultimate Collection boxed edition now available to pre-order

ININ Games and BBG Entertainment are truly excited to announce a collection of all time classics in gaming history. The Boulder Dash® Ultimate Collection will release a boxed version of this bygone gaming experience that captivated the hearts of many gamers. The action puzzle retro classic will be available for Nintendo Switch in North America and Europe. 

The Boulder Dash® Ultimate Collection delivers both, the fresh 2021 relaunch, Boulder Dash® Deluxe™ and Boulder Dash® 30th Anniversary™ – now available for pre-order!

Simply Devious…

Boulder Dash® Deluxe™

The original Boulder Dash® set a milestone in interactive gaming back in the ‘80s. For many players, regardless of age, the action puzzle adventures with Rockford™ were a challenge but also a delight to master. Loyal fans of this classic and new players alike can now take up the challenge again – Rockford™ is back in the awesome 2021 relaunch of this action-puzzle digging and collection game! 

Grabbing the loot!

Boulder Dash® Deluxe™ comes with some amazing new content, features and fresh graphics:

  • 180 all-new levels with advanced features!
  • Includes 20 levels from the original 1984 Boulder Dash® version
  • 9 exciting new worlds with high-end graphics, having their own, unique textures, go to Macmarnua Sea or Urath Castle – or back in time to the classic 1984 world with its caves
  • 15 new special opponents like Octopus, Shark Polar bear, and Snow tiger will keep your mind agile and you on your toes.
  • Full character customization of your game character Rockford™, e.g. shirt, pants, shoes, eyewear, headgear, hair, and facial hair
Retro version screenshot

Boulder Dash® 30th Anniversary™

Guide Rockford™ and help him dig his way through spectacular caves and collect as many diamonds as required whilst avoiding the many dangers that surround you. Watch out for falling boulders, discover treasure chests, collect potent power-ups and unlock 9 other playable characters. 

Coming with family-friendly, pretty pixel-art style, it seems like a nice puzzle experience, but beware! One wrong move could end in disaster. Boulder Dash® offers an all encompassing challenge for all gamers – from newbies to hard-core players!

HD screenshot
  • 280 all-new levels with advanced physics!
  • 12 Never-before-seen worlds, with new creatures with 3D animations!
  • Premium world by videogame legend Peter Liepa – with 20 of the most mind-bending levels yet!
  • New multicolored gem combos, treasure chests, rare collectibles and spectacular power-ups!
  • Play as Rockford™ or unlock 9 other playable male and female characters including Crystal™!
  • First Boulder Dash game ever to include diagonal walls and movement!


With this Collection, players get the ultimate Boulder Dash® experience – more than 400 levels across both games waiting to be mastered. There are several different beautiful game worlds to discover, created by the video game legend Peter Liepa, making his return to the game he created 30 years ago.

For more information about the game, visit https://www.iningames.com/games/boulder-dash-ultimate-collection/ 

Review: A YEAR OF SPRINGS

Daniel Waite
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Review: A YEAR OF SPRINGS

Visual novels are wonderful at tackling taboo subjects in a matter-of-fact way. Yes, there are over-sexualised and bizarre moments, but there are also plots full of emotion that’ll touch your soul. A YEAR OF SPRINGS comprises three short tales that highlight friendships, romance, and the insecurities associated with the LBGTQ+ community. It’s wonderfully written, can be completed in a few hours, and will make you feel warm inside.

Developed by npckc and published by Ratalaika Games, this is a charming visual novel trilogy full of dialogue choices and intertwined friendships. You will enjoy; One Night, Hot Springs, Last day of Spring, and Spring leaves no Flowers. Each tale follows the life of either Haru, Erika, or Manami as they explore love, friendships, and wanting to belong.

A YEAR OF SPRINGS is unusually short.

I’ve delved into many visual novels and each time I review one, I leave hours to get through the text. Strangely, however, A YEAR OF SPRINGS is unusually short. I blasted through each main story in no time, and then enjoyed the bonus chapter that was unlocked. You may think four minuscule stories wouldn’t be enough, and perhaps I was left wanting. Yet, this wasn’t the case as the dialogue twists and turns and the relationships flow from one book to the next. Moreover, it was fascinating to see how each story relied on the other, and the development of the characters’ relationships.

Time to relax after a long day.

Three novels to devour.

One Night, Hot Springs focuses on Haru, a transgender Japanese woman who is invited to a spa day by Manami. Still legally considered a male, she must deal with the regulations imposed upon her while fighting her emotions. It allows you to see through the eyes of a transgender woman and the emotional ties that shackle them.

Last day of Spring picks up the tale a few months after the first instalment. Here Erika attempts to book a spa day for Haru’s birthday. However, unlike One Night, Hot Springs, the staff are not so accommodating to her gender, and this leads to many uncomfortable conversations. Haru wants to back out of the trip, but Erika won’t give up without a fight. The beautifully written script highlights the special bond between the two and how Haru’s comfort is placed before anything else.

Spring leaves no Flowers picks up approximately two months after Last day of Spring and focuses its time on Manami. After the group of friends go out for a meal, Manami’s boyfriend asks why he wasn’t told of Erika and Haru’s relationship. Manami didn’t know what he was saying and begins to see clues that perhaps her friends were dating. This forces her to question her understanding of relationships and friendship and steers the plot towards other areas of the LBGTQ+ community. It was an interesting twist on the trilogy and made for a fascinating final read.

Make sure to keep talking to your friends.

Wonderful characters and touching moments.

With three distinct novels all focusing on strong emotive plots, this could have been an overwhelming game. Fortunately, however, the beautiful touching moments and wonderful characters keep the story grounded. If you are ill-educated towards the LBGTQ+ movement, don’t let this put you off, though. You can still enjoy the setting, friendships, and dialogue that unravel without worrying about the subtle complexities. 

It’s a coming of age title that evolves across the trilogy. The developers have incorporated some hard-hitting moments that will resonate with many of its readers. Sadly, I never became emotionally attached to any of the protagonists, but I enjoyed it on a base level. Fortunately, though, the plots were interesting enough to keep me hooked.

A YEAR OF SPRINGS is wonderful to look at.

Many visual novels follow a similar and simple animation style. The still images and OTT facial expressions help to highlight the emotion in the text. A YEAR OF SPRINGS sticks to these tried and tested ways with its hand-drawn basic imagery. The use of soft lines and pastel tones present a calm and understated finish. Furthermore, there is a blend of melancholy and fun moments that support key points in each story.

The audio does wonders to highlight the Japanese roots and the emotional elements of each plot. I loved the blend of fast-paced and slower songs and the use of traditional Japanese instruments. Fortunately, the music didn’t distract you, nor did it detract from the text. No, it enhanced each moment, even if the changes in music were subtle. Sadly, there is a distinct lack of sound effects, and this was a shame. Sometimes less is more, but in this case, more would have been better.

Who could be ringing?

It’s easy to make each decision. 

I was shocked by the number of dialogue choices and subsequently, this is one visual novel that demands you stay alert. You’ll regularly flit through an array of options, but luckily the control system is straightforward. Like all visual novels, this utilises limited buttons, and this makes it easy to play.

I’m used to visual novels having several endings, but A YEAR OF SPRINGS takes the proverbial biscuit. Every story has a ridiculous amount of finales and this was both fantastic and fascinating. The developers have explored every avenue of each character and this leaves no stone unturned.

A YEAR OF SPRINGS won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. 

Visual novels divide people at the best of times, however, A YEAR OF SPRINGS will push people to breaking point. With an array of taboo subjects at its core, it can be a tough read. I loved its openness and frank approach and recommend you to buy it here! Take a journey with each of the protagonists while they fathom out what it means to love, to connect with others, and to belong. 

Review: GameSir T4 Mini Multi-platform Game Controller

Andrew Edney
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Review: GameSir T4 Mini Multi-platform Game Controller

Here is our review of the GameSir T4 Mini Multi-platform Game Controller.

The majority of gaming controllers have one standard size which can make it slightly more uncomfortable for those with smaller hands to grip and play on for longer periods. Thankfully GameSir has addressed this issue with its latest release, the T4 Mini. Shaped in a compact and lightweight body, the wireless controller is ideal for families and travel and has big cross-platform compatibility, enabling gamers to use on Switch, Android, iOS phones & PC. In particular, it’s a perfect fit for Switch in multiplayer gaming, providing an excellent gaming experience with its built-in 6-Axis gyro and asymmetric dual motors allowing for more motion inputs such as tilt and rotation for a more active and immersive experience. The asymmetric dual motors create different and non-monotonous vibration effects on the left and right grips, delivering vivid vibration feedback for racing, fighting and shooting games.

Specifications

Platform: Switch, Android 9.0 or above, iOS 13 or above, Windows 7/10 or above
Connection: Bluetooth 5.0 (for Switch, Android, iOS); Wired (for PC)
Six-Axis Gyroscope: Yes (for Switch only)
Vibration Motors: Yes (for Switch and PC only)
Auto-sleep Mode: Yes
Wake up Switch Console Function: Yes
Auto-Combo Function: Yes
Battery: 600 mAh rechargeable Lithium battery 
Product Size (1pc): 143*83*53 mm / 5.63*3.27*2.09 in
Net Weight (1pc): 156 g / 0.34 lbs

What’s in the box?

The box contains the GameSir T4 Mini, a user manual and a Type-C Cable.

A Closer Look

Final Thoughts

The GameSur T4 Mini Controller is small – well that’s what you want in a mini controller. It feels very comfortable in your hands, even if you have smaller hands (like my trusty 5 year old assistant has).

Pairing the T4 Mini with the device to use it with was very simple – it only took a few moments.

There are turbo setups on the controller which enable you to perform certain functions, such as rapid fire without having to press the same buttons over and over again – this cuts down on hand fatigue but also wear and tear on the controller itself. These turbos are really easy to select and turn off so you shouldn’t get distracted when playing.

When I had the T4 Mini paired with my Switch, I was happy to see that the controller powered down when the Switch was powered down, and I could restart the Switch by pressing a button on the controller.

There is also various options of backlighting available on the T4 Mini to suit your preference.

The battery takes around 3 hours to charge which will give you around 10 hours of gameplay – so more than enough if you are on the go.

If you play games on the go, then the T4 Mini is the controller you want to carry around with you – it’s small, lightweight, doesn’t get in the way and works great! What are you waiting for?

The GameSir T4 Mini Multi-platform Game Controller is available now priced around £29.

You can learn more from the GameSir website.

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