GUNNAR is a brand that rolls with the times. Moreover, they love to innovate and surprise the world with fresh styles and impressive collaborations. Accordingly, I wasn’t surprised when they released the Barton glasses. These classic-framed spectacles combine a retro approach with modern technology. The result is an eye-catching design that improves your eye health and productivity.
The patented lens technology reduces dry and itchy eyes. In turn, this improves your eye health as blue light and UV light exposure are reduced by 65% and 100%. The results speak for themselves as headaches diminish, and that sharp, uncomfortable experience of repetitive contrasting imagery falls by the wayside.
If the health benefits don’t impress you, the build quality will. These glasses are part of GUNNAR’s legendary range. Therefore, you’ll receive high-quality accessories and an impressively durable frame. The hinges are strong, and these rectangular glasses will last the test of time.
What’s in the box of the Barton glasses?
The outer packaging is simple but effective. Furthermore, it can be recycled.
The Barton glasses have a sleek frame, stylish accents, and a premium acetate frame.
A hard case, a soft case, and a microfiber cloth are provided for protection and to keep the lenses clean.
Technical aspects.
If you require prescription lenses, the Barton glasses have you covered. Available in +5 – -5 prescription, you can combine fashion with your medical needs. This option can be selected at checkout. Alternatively, if you have 20-20 vision, you may pick the amber tint or clear lens for 65% or 35% blue light protection. Either option delivers 100% UV light protection to up the ante.
Whatever lens you pick, you’ll enjoy a premium protective coating for an array of needs. Whether it is the premium hard coat, hydrophobic or oleophobic coating, these glasses are designed with durability and usability in mind. The latter option offers anti-glare properties that are perfect for streamers. Moreover, unfortunate smudging and nasty fingerprint marks are reduced.
Build quality.
The Barton glasses combine exceptional build quality with a retro edge. The result is a set of glasses that has a distinct look and a premium vibe. The acetate frame material is lightweight, comfortable, and durable. Furthermore, the slightly oversized lenses offer greater protection when looking at monitors, TV screens, or other harsh surfaces.
The strong hinge is designed to withstand roughhousing. Moreover, there is an element of flexibility to work with the unique nature of everyone’s face. This was fantastic as it ensured that the glasses were comfortable. Additionally, I experienced no pinching or temple pressure when wearing the glasses for extended periods.
The frames have a pleasant contrasting accent to add a nice layer of detail. Unlike GUNNAR’s collaboration products, the Barton glasses keep things clean and simple. This was appreciated as I loved the professional and retro edge.
Are the Barton glasses worth it?
GUNNAR offer an impressive array of glasses. Whether you want something unusual and dramatic or you want a clean and professional finish, there is something for everyone. Moreover, there are plenty of lens types to complement your lifestyle and needs. Therefore, if you want a pair of glasses that improve your eye health and productivity, I recommend buying them here!
It’s February, so that can only mean one thing: Valentine’s Day! This loved-up event is the perfect chance to spoil your loved one with some incredible tech. I’ve covered many major brands, and I reckon this guide will help you to treat that special person in your life. So, sit back and enjoy the Movies Games and Tech Valentine’s Day guide.
Whether it is a controller, headphones, or gaming glasses, this guide has you covered. Turtle Beach, OneOdio, GUNNAR, and SteelSeries are part of this heartwarming article.
The Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 3 Gaming Headset is a multi-platform wireless gaming headset. Furthermore, it features immersive 60 mm dual drivers, up to 80 hours of battery life, and simultaneous 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connectivity. It features a flip-to-mute AI noise-reducing mic and customizable audio via the Swarm II app, ideal for gaming or media.
It makes a fun Valentine’s Day gift for a gaming partner who loves immersive audio. Show your support their hobby with quality gear they’ll use often.
Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave Wireless Controller – A vibrantly styled wireless gaming controller for Nintendo Switch. It features bright RGB lighting, a rechargeable battery, and a 30-foot wireless range. Moreover, it has dual programmable back buttons, ergonomic grips, and built-in motion controls for immersive play.
Its colourful glow and fun wireless freedom make gaming together more playful and memorable. Consequently, it’s perfect for sharing cosy multiplayer sessions this Valentine’s Day.
Riffmaster Wireless Guitar – A wireless rhythm-game guitar controller with a 30-ft low-latency connection. Additionally, it has a rechargeable battery, a built-in analogue stick, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. Finally, you can play titles like Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival.
For music-loving gamers, it turns co-op rhythm sessions into interactive fun. Accordingly, it is a playful way to bond while you rock out together.
SteelSeries.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7 Gen 2 Wireless Gaming Headsetis a premium over-ear wireless gaming headset. It offers a large battery life, wireless connectivity, and 360° spatial audio. It also offers 200+ game-specific audio presets.
Treat your gamer partner to immersive audio and long-lasting comfort. Therefore, it makes every co-op session feel special, and both of you are ready to play together for hours.
SteelSeries Rival 3 Gen 2 Wireless is a versatile wireless gaming mouse with dual connectivity (2.4 GHz + Bluetooth), TrueMove Air optical sensor with up to ~18 000 DPI for responsive tracking, ultra-low 1.9 ms click latency, lightweight symmetrical shape, and very long battery life (up to hundreds of hours on Bluetooth). Durable switches rated for millions of clicks make it great for everyday gaming and work.
Its reliable wireless performance and comfortable design make long co-op game nights or shared desktop work sessions more fun — a thoughtful way to show you care about your partner’s playtime.
More tech this Valentine’s Day.
OneOdio.
OneOdio Focus A1 Pro Wireless On‑Ear Headphones – Compact on-ear Bluetooth 6.0 wireless headphones with hybrid active noise cancellation, 40 mm dynamic drivers, low-latency gaming mode, and multi-device support. They deliver up to ~70 h playback without ANC (40 h with ANC on), fast USB-C charging, a foldable lightweight design, and a built-in mic for calls.
Their long battery life and noise-cancelling comfort make them perfect for shared travel, cosy listening, or gaming dates — ideal for enjoying music and moments together.
OneOdio Studio Max 1 Wireless Headphones — Premium wireless DJ-style over-ear headphones with up to ~120 h battery life, 50 mm drivers with LDAC/Hi-Res audio support, ultra-low 20 ms latency mode via included transmitter, and 4-mode connectivity (Bluetooth, DJ wireless, 3.5 mm wired, 6.35 mm wired) for versatile use in studio, stage, or everyday listening.
Their long battery life and immersive sound make them perfect for music lovers and creative partners — great for shared playlists, travel, or chilling together with rich audio experiences
GUNNAR.
GUNNAR Barron Gaming & Computer Glasses are stylish blue-light-blocking eyewear designed to reduce digital eye strain and protect against harmful blue light and UV exposure using GUNNAR’s patented lens tech and G-Shield® Premium anti-reflective coating. The classic rectangular acetate frame offers a timeless look with comfort for long screen sessions (gaming, work, or study).
They help reduce eye fatigue and enhance visual comfort, making them thoughtful for anyone who spends hours in front of screens.
Spread the love.
Don’t be the one who buys chocolates, flowers, or a card. Instead, treat your loved ones to some incredible tech. The Movies Games and Tech Valentine’s Day guide highlights just a few products from these amazing brands. Accordingly, there is something for everyone.
Do you like battling giant mechs but wish there was a less violent alternative? Steel Century Groove aims to give you that alternative by having giant mechs move their steel bodies in different ways. No, not in those ways. These towering machines throw down in the form of dance battles, grooving to funky beats. They’ll shake, strut, and generally cause a wreck in the location where the battle takes place.
Steel Century Groove is a rhythm RPG. Players pilot giant mechs called Tenzerks in deep rhythmic combat. Developed and published by Sloth Gloss Games, the game was released on January 28th, 2026. Steel Century Groove is not your typical rhythm game, as Tenzerks have their own unique abilities and combat tricks. Players will need to keep track of more than just the beat in order to continue on their journey to the ultimate dance championship. Players can boogie to the 20+ songs in the game, or add their own custom music.
The game is simple, but effective in what it aims to do. With the inclusion of strategy and planning, it becomes more than just a rhythm game. I enjoyed the game’s structure and was initially intrigued by the different Tenzerks. Gameplay did start to feel a bit repetitive after some time, but I think that’s just the unfortunate curse for most rhythm games. It could polish a few things, but it still offers plenty of fun and hits its intended mark. So, get ready to groove, because it’s time to discuss Steel Century Groove!
A Pilot’s Adventure
Steel Century Groove actually follows a very similar structure to that of a classic Pokémon game. Players receive a Tenzerk from the professor and head out on an adventure, defeating the four principal pilots to gain entry to the First Pilot Finals, and then to take on the pros in the championship battles. Players travel with their friend, Seny, the professor’s daughter, Chanda, and occasionally run into their rival, Gigi. During your travels, you will obtain new Tenzerks, gather plenty of items such as mods and simchips, and learn more about the game’s story. You will run into those who don’t have the best intentions, into the powerful thought-to-be-extinct Novox, and save the world from disastrous outcomes. It’s a simple story, but one that I believe is effective. I wouldn’t say that it completely had me hooked, but serves as a decent background for why we’re doing all this dancing.
One thing that I found pleasantly surprising was the writing itself. There are moments that I found it to be genuinely humorous and had a good chuckle. After each dance battle, players select something to post on the in-game social media platform called Rhymery. The amount of fans you gain from your postings will unlock new dance moves for your mechs to do. A decent bit of these potential posts and some of the comments made I found funny and akin to what I might actually see on my own social media. The humor is well done and a pleasant surprise, as I was expecting a lot more cringe. I greatly appreciate the few laughs I’ve had along the way as it helped keep my attention to the story.
Inclusive and Customizable…to an Extent
Another aspect to the writing that I enjoyed was it’s inclusion of many LGBTQIA+ themes. Players are not trapped by the binary of he or she, and can instead use they/them pronouns if they wish, including variations such as he/they or she/they. Every NPC has their pronouns next to their name as well which was a nice touch. There are mentions of different romances, including the not so secret romance between the professor and Seny’s uncle, as well as various small mentions from other NPCs. As a gay male myself, I greatly appreciate simple inclusions like these and consider this a huge positive. Though I myself identify with he/him pronouns, it is still a nice consideration by Sloth Gloss Games.
Steel Century Groove is customizable in a few ways. Players can choose different Tenzerks to use with their own sets of abilities, as well as including adding custom songs to the playlist. These I will discuss a bit later in the review. For this section, I want to talk character customization. There are many different body shapes to choose from with decent customization. There are plenty of hairs and a few facial features options such as eyes. Players can also change the difficulty in these screens, ranging from easy to very hard.
However, the one thing I thought was lacking here was clothing options. Players can only change the color of the outfit, rather than the outfit itself. We end up looking more like an NPC than the NPCs themselves, as most of them have unique outfits and accessories. It feels like an odd choice to not have different outfits and accessories for players to wear. This could even be something simple like different tops and pants. In the end though, it isn’t the biggest issue.
Groovin’ to the Music
Obviously, the highlight for Steel Century Groove are the dance battles. Like in Pokémon, a battle starts when you lock eyes with another pilot. Notes follow along a squiggly line, and players must tap or hold a button as they pass them, aiming for a perfectly timed beat. To win the battle, players must fill their acclaim bar faster than their opponent, which can be seen at the top of the screen. The game certainly does not hold back on the number of battles you will need to do as you progress. Routes, cities, and buildings are filled with NPCs, waiting to defeat you in dance. You can also re-battle NPCs as well, which is a nice way to practice or try out new strategies.
And yes, I mean strategies as there’s more than just mindlessly tapping away to the beat. As mentioned, Tenzerks come with their own moves, or abilities, to use in battle. Moves can be used to sway the outcome from hitting a note on beat. For example, my favorite Tenzerk is Aedonix-L9. They are all about raising the solo meter and gaining huge amounts of acclaim during a solo. I needed to press a specific button (K in the image above) on a note to start filling the meter across the next few notes. Once I filled my solo meter, a solo would start showing notes that my opponent couldn’t see. This would also allow me to use another ability (F in the image above) to score the large amounts of acclaim.
Another Tenzerk has you uploading AI into androids above you. One is about planting seeds and watering them. Even common enemy Tenzerks have abilities, such as leeching your acclaim or increasing cooldown timers for your moves. Tenzerks can range from low complexity to high complexity, though really it is up to the player to select which ones they like best. Tenzerks have their own stats and level, which will increase with more usage or through the use of simchips (experience candies in Pokémon). On levels 2, 6 and 8, passive stat bonuses will be unlocked that are for all Tenzerks.
Mods unique to a Tenzerk can be found during your travels, which can be equipped with various effects. You will unlock a total of four mod slots as you defeat principal pilots. There are plenty of different strategies and builds players can try for your Tenzerks. Steel Century Groove takes a standard rhythm game beyond just matching the beat of a song. It adds layers of strategy and planning. It is important to have a good understanding of what your Tenzerk’s moves are, and how the available mods can turn the battle in your favor. This helped make the game a lot more interesting and fun.
As an extra layer, you can also have a group of back-up dancers, or replicas, behind your lead. These backup dancers come with their own strategy and moves, though are much more simpler than the lead. Players can pair different leads and replicas together to further their strategy. Oh, and you can also collect different paint colors for your Tenzerks as well!
Funky Beats in Semi-Small Variety
Of course you can’t have a decent dance battle rhythm game without the music. Steel Century Groove features over 20 songs for your Tenzerks to get down to. A majority of the songs are fast, poppy, foot-tapping songs with little variation. Some of them include vocals. Some take slightly different styles of music. None of them are something I’d say is an absolute “banger”. Unfortunately, because most of them have the same style of music coupled with the sheer number of battles, this is when the game started to feel repetitive. After a while, the beat of the actual songs faded into the background as my focus stuck with the notes on the squiggly line. It would have been nice to have a bigger variety of song styles, but I can imagine this might be a lot to ask depending on outside factors such as time and money.
Thankfully, Steel Century Groove allows players to add in their own mp3 files to use as the soundtrack. How you obtain these files is up to you, but once you do obtain them (and hopefully no viruses), you can very easily add them into the game. The game analyses your file and builds a beat track for in‑game use. Players can adjust it whenever it drifts off‑sync. In practice, that adjustment is almost always necessary. I tried a handful of songs that should’ve produced clean, obvious beats, yet the generated tracks barely aligned with the beat.
I Probably Won’t Be Dancing All Night Long
As mentioned, the game at one point did feel a bit repetitive. This isn’t just because of the music, though that did play a big part in it. The fun in trying other Tenzerks and experimenting with different mods is somewhat fleeting. I found myself only really liking two of them with certain mods, and therefore only using those. Though there is a slight incentive to use different Tenzerks with the unlockable passives that benefit them all, I found myself able to reach some of those levels easily with the plethora of simchips given.
Overall, though I think Steel Century Groove is fun, I think it might be best played in small doses over time. It doesn’t seem like the type of game to spend a whole weekend playing, and having time away could help bring back some of the freshness.
I think it would also be nice if there was an online aspect to this game. Players could battle against other players (probably best in like a ghost format instead of real-time battles). Players could aim for high scores on a chart or share the custom songs they’ve fine-tuned, allowing for others to add it to their game. I can see many of these ideas fitting naturally into the Rhymery app, though I’m not a developer and don’t know how difficult that would be to implement.
Care to Dance?
Speaking of developers, apparently Steel Century Groove was developed by mostly one person at Sloth Gloss Games. This alone deserves some applause! I think my opinions are pretty in line with what other reviews had to say. I hope the developer is passionate about the game and wants to continue working on it. I’d love to see future updates expanding on the game’s online capabilities, on bringing more variety in both soundtrack and in character outfits, and maybe in bringing more of an incentive to use other Tenzerks. I’ve seen some people not being big fans of the art style, but personally, I have no issue with it. Some of the screengrabs I have showcase some lovely scenes. I also loved watching the actual dancing my Tenzerks did, as they stomped all over the items littering the dance floor.
Overall, I enjoyed Steel Century Groove and can definitely see myself continuing to play every so often. It isn’t the best game out there, but it certainly is not the worst. I would recommend this to players who are fans of rhythm games as it goes above and beyond what your typical rhythm game might look like. There is a demo, as well as a small spin-off called Steel Century Groove: Midnight that is free. If you are unsure if Steel Century Groove is for you, then there is no harm in giving either of these a try.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift is the latest instalment of a much-loved franchise. This new addition adds rogue-like elements to the familiar core gameplay. This shift in dynamics may upset hardcore fans of the series, but I enjoyed the modern challenge, the grim settings, and the casual approach. Furthermore, the fear of losing it all is enough to keep you frosty throughout.
34BigThings developed and published this cruel racing and fighting endeavour. It is a single-player game that runs at 60+ FPS. This smooth visual experience was appreciated as the action is remarkably fast-paced and gory. Additionally, there is an array of missions on offer, plenty of upgrades to unlock, and loads of money, credits, and other items to discover and use. Consequently, it offers plenty of depth and mindless action to get your teeth into.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift is all about survival of the fittest!
Survival of the fittest is a cruel idea. No matter your level of skill, there is always an element of luck and money involved in success. Carmageddon: Rogue Shift plays with these ideas perfectly. Moreover, the dark and sinister futuristic world is a joy to explore. As players race around an array of hectic racetracks, the levels of gore and brutality are sharply brought into focus. Therefore, no matter how good you are, there is always a risk of failure.
The year is 2050, and the world is a post-apocalyptic wasteland. The Wasted roam the streets, and humanity is on its backside. This oppressive way of living is soul-destroying. However, there is a way out. The Carmageddon offers skilled drivers the chance to flee this disturbing existence. Your chances of survival are small, but anything is better than living in a grim and deadly world.
New mechanics, but a familiar mindset.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift has moved away from its tried and tested formula. However, this didn’t bother me too much. I loved the short races, the sense of drama, and the random nature of each playthrough. Moreover, the different upgrades, weapons, and perks add a layer of excitement and danger that cannot be ignored.
As you complete each race, you are awarded with credits and tokens to purchase new gear and upgrade your existing equipment. This element is the difference between success and failure. Your original rust bucket car is vulnerable to attacks and lacks speed or the ability to tackle your opponents. Yet, once you upgrade it, or purchase new cars, you quickly become a mean killing machine. This is essential if you are to complete each run and take down every gargantuan boss.
Collectables and side missions.
Once you select your race, you are shown a side mission to improve your earning capabilities. Alongside this, you’ll rake in credits by finding a hidden skull, running over the Wasted, and smashing other cars. Although much of this can be ignored, it is a great way to focus your mind while increasing the chance to upgrade your vehicle.
As you race and battle, you must find ammo and repair orbs. These are essential as you cannot shoot your gun without ammo, and your car will quickly explode if you do not repair it. Additionally, any damage is carried over to the next event. Therefore, some foresight makes completing each event much easier.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift looks great.
Despite its grim and earthy colour palette, Carmageddon: Rogue Shift looks great. I love the 60+ FPS and the excellent stage design. Moreover, the blend of longer and shorter races works incredibly well. As you progress, the backdrops change to keep things fresh. If I were to be picky, there isn’t enough variety in vehicular models and the Wasted are very rinse and repeat. However, you are moving so quickly that this is a minor complaint.
The audio is a nice blend of anger, danger, and unwanted noises. Each vehicle sounds aggressive, loud, and borderline annoying. Furthermore, the machine guns and rockets are shrill and obnoxious. Although this could become tedious, it works well in short bursts.
Excellent controls.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift is an arcade racer fighting game that doesn’t disappoint. The loose steering controls allow gamers to drift, weave, and work their magic as they navigate each winding course. Furthermore, the automated aiming for your guns lets you focus on driving and running down those pesky Wasted. This was a great design choice, even if it makes the combat element a little easier than needed.
Replay value and longevity are at the fore! Although the action can be a little repetitive, there is enough variety to keep you hooked. Different upgrades, races, and bosses per run ensure that no playthrough is the same. Additionally, as you fail, you’ll unlock new items to keep things fresh.
Carmageddon: Rogue Shift is a great addition to the series.
I admire what the developer has achieved with this grim and gruesome racing experience. Although purists may dislike the rogue-like twist, I enjoyed the brutality and the risk of losing it all. Furthermore, it is great to look at, despite the flailing limbs and horrible bloody moments. Accordingly, I think it’s fun, and I recommend buying it here! Can you overcome the odds and survive? Upgrade your car, destroy the Wasted, and fight for a new life!
Nova Antarctica, RexLabo’s new story-focused survival game, reinforces my belief that cold weather is superior to hot. When it’s cold out, you can (usually) mitigate it by putting on more layers. There’s no bad weather, only bad clothes and all that. When it’s hot, though? There are only so many layers you can remove. Once you’re considering hanging up your skin on the coatrack, you know it’s much better to be cold. That said, I should perhaps draw the line at minus thirty, unless I intend to wear my entire wardrobe at once.
I’ll stick to games like The Long Dark and, indeed, Nova Antarctica for experiences like that. I’ve a fondness for survival games where the principal antagonist is the world around you. That is true survival to me, where you need to constantly be on your guard. However, I feel like Nova Antarctica cuts itself into too many pieces in the pursuit of exploration, and the end result feels muddled and frustrating. There is an intriguing survival game in here, but it needs to pump the brakes first.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Nova Antarctica opens with a young child travelling to the South Pole, to investigate a mysterious signal. Earth is in dire straits, with a series of disasters and wars wiping out much of the population. This signal is the last hope. I’m not entirely sure why they send a single child to investigate it, rather than a big boat of burly men, but here we are. The child must progress towards the source, scrounging up as many resources as they can along the way, and crafting anything they can’t find.
Nova Antarctica takes a rather streamlined approach to the survival genre. Rather than worrying about separate food and warmth meters, it’s condensed down into suit energy. If you run out of this, you die and start the stage over. Alongside this is stamina, which is mainly used for actions like mining and digging. It’s a system with some value, as it means a constant ticking clock. The weather changes every thirty seconds or so, meaning things can very quickly turn sour. The biggest danger being blizzards, which can kill you rapidly if you’re not behind cover.
Before we dig too much into the gameplay, I want to take a moment to comment on aesthetics. Snow covered landscapes naturally look beautiful and Nova Antarctica does them justice. There are ruins of human occupation everywhere, sitting half-buried in crisp white snow. It’s a pleasant game. There are also animals that you can rescue, and they trigger cutscenes about their (usually tragic) backstory. It’s heart-rending stuff at times. On the opposite side of the spectrum is the forest fire in the mid-game, which is appropriately intense. There’s no faulting the aesthetics here, and the music isn’t half-bad either.
Scrounging Up Supplies
The main goal of Nova Antarctica is to progress through various stages in order to reach the seed vault at the South Pole. The world map is broken up into smaller maps, called stages, which have clear entry and exit points. You could just hop straight through, but Nova Antarctica puts an emphasis on exploration. The constantly dwindling health means a source of supplies is essential, and there are usually little story fragments to be found. Each level has an animal to rescue too, which quite often brings gameplay benefits. Riding the wolf was definitely a standout.
I like this emphasis on exploration, but a lot of Nova Antarctica feels like it’s working against it. For one thing, health dwindles even when you’re warm so taking your time isn’t really an option. What’s more, the rapid weather changes mean there isn’t really a good time to explore, as blizzards are dealt with by hunkering down in one place. Half the time I had to abandon expeditions before they’d begun, because blizzards were coming in rapid succession. I had to bail on the stage so I didn’t run out of health kits. Doesn’t help that the map is absolute rubbish, making it hard to figure out where to head to. One bit of snowy wasteland looks like any other.
Towards the end, I just grabbed what supplies I could easily reach and left. It didn’t help the feeling that much of Nova Antarctica was spent just bumbling about. I would find things that would ‘purify’ my suit, for instance, without any idea what that meant. Communication stations can be repaired, which adds a little dialogue to the end of the stage, but I’ve no idea what else it does. I just seemed to wander from place to place, fiddling with machinery with no tangible benefit. It makes the exploration all the more frustrating, as I have no idea if I’m even doing anything.
Nova Antarctica – Muddled At Heart
There are other minor frustrations too. There’s only a small variety of materials to collect, so the difficulty drops off as you progress, as health and stamina items are cheap as chips to craft. I didn’t even feel the need to upgrade my tools, as I could find what I needed just lying around. Blizzards inconsistently destroy your crafted items too, so I had to abandon a cat because a storm destroyed my boxes and I didn’t have the time left to craft more. There are also quite a few bugs. I kept getting stuck on ledges or having buildings pop up around me. Then it all culminated in a depressing, unsatisfying ending, with a not-so-subtle nudge at playing through again.
In the end, I feel like Nova Antarctica is trying for a meditative experience, but the rapidly changing weather and constant ticking clock rather ruin it. It’s hard to meditate when someone’s holding a gun to the back of your head. There were moments where it came together, like building a shelter in a big ice field, but the individual stages are too small and exploration is too brutal for it to really stick in the head. A pleasant enough experience, if a little cold.
There is a familiar moment during a live match when attention starts to drift. The score has not changed. The tempo slows. The outcome feels distant. For many viewers, that is where engagement usually fades. In sports betting, something different happens. Instead of disengaging, some viewers place a small bet. Not to win big. Not even because they strongly believe in the outcome. The bet exists for a simpler reason. It keeps them in the match. Micro bets did not emerge because people suddenly wanted to gamble more aggressively. They emerged because people wanted to stay connected to events that naturally ebb and flow.
Why small stakes feel psychologically different
From a psychological point of view, the size of a bet matters less than its function. Research on decision making under uncertainty shows that people respond strongly to personal involvement, even when the financial exposure is minimal. Once a choice is made, the brain treats the outcome as relevant. A small in-play wager creates what behavioral scientists call “attentional anchoring.” The match is no longer just happening on a screen. It is now linked to a personal decision. That link sharpens focus, even if the stake is trivial.
This is why micro bets often appear during quiet phases of a game. A corner kick. The next point. The next foul. These moments do not change the overall narrative, but they create short windows where engagement can be renewed.
Staying involved beats predicting outcomes
Traditional betting emphasized prediction. Pick the winner. Predict the score. Wait for the result. Micro betting shifts the purpose. The goal is not long-term accuracy. It is continuity. In live sports betting environments, especially on platforms like Betway that offer rapid in-play markets, small bets act more like checkpoints than forecasts. They reset attention. Each decision creates a reason to watch the next thirty seconds closely. Psychologically, this aligns with research on task engagement. Short, repeatable decisions are easier to sustain than a single high-stakes commitment. The brain prefers manageable uncertainty over prolonged waiting.
Emotional regulation, not just excitement
Another overlooked aspect of micro bets is emotional control. Large bets amplify stress. Small bets soften it. Studies building on Prospect Theory show that people are loss averse, but the emotional weight of a loss scales faster than the actual amount. A small loss is processed quickly. A large one lingers.
By keeping stakes low, bettors protect the viewing experience itself. The match remains enjoyable even when a bet fails. This is especially relevant in high-pressure games where fans care deeply about the result. A small wager keeps involvement high without turning the match into an emotional liability. In this sense, micro betting is less about chasing adrenaline and more about managing how a game feels to watch.
The illusion of agency matters
Micro bets also create a sense of control, even when outcomes are still random. Behavioral research shows that people value agency, sometimes more than success. Making frequent, low-impact choices gives the feeling of participation. The viewer is no longer passive. They are responding to the game as it unfolds. Importantly, this does not require the illusion to be accurate. It only needs to feel responsive. Live betting markets that update quickly reinforce that feeling by acknowledging the bettor’s presence in real time.
Why this behavior keeps growing
Micro betting fits modern viewing habits. Attention is fragmented. Matches are interrupted by notifications, messages, and second screens. Long periods of passive watching are harder to sustain than they used to be. Small, optional decisions offer a way to reconnect without demanding full commitment. That is why micro bets appear most often when the game slows down, not when it explodes with action. They are not replacing traditional bets. They are filling the gaps.
What it really means to “stay in”
From the outside, micro betting can look impulsive or unnecessary. From the inside, it serves a clear psychological role. It keeps attention anchored. It regulates emotion. It restores a sense of agency. On platforms like Betway, where in-play markets update continuously, these small decisions give viewers a way to stay connected without committing to a single outcome. In modern sports betting, “staying in” is no longer about predicting the final score. It is about finding small reasons to care about the next moment, even when the match itself seems to pause.
There is this undying, unique charm to millennial-esq “random humor” siphoned through . . . um, cats. Our feline friends (or fiends) are just so expressive, borderline unpredictable, and most importantly inseparable from us humans, as they are one of the most commonly owned pets in the world.
Going back to the early 2010s, there was the Nyan Cat: a kitty, pop-tart hybrid flying through space emitting rainbows. Oh, so random! Then, the unforgettable Exploding Kittens came out years later, and remains popular. That game is basically total cat chaos filled with gaffs and destruction. There is also the Steam game Catlateral Damage . . . which is exactly how it sounds.
We are becoming a bit tame in the cat craze department nowadays. Releases like Stray or Little Kitty, Big City prefer the lost cat storylines while still remaining fun and adventurous. Cozy games have been dominating the gaming space as well, with cat-centric titles like Cat Cafe Manager, and even back in 2014 there was Neko Atsume: Kitty Collector.
But, in July of 2024, developer Prikol Team and publisher ESDigital released Cats on Duty. If you had been missing that cringe but charming cat craziness – this is it. An action-based, real-time strategy game that is all about admiring goofy kitties wielding weapons and slaying incoming baddies.
Play Cats on Duty on the PlayStation 4 and 5, the Xbox Series X/S, PC, Steam, and the Nintendo Switch.
Purrfect Pandemonium
Cats on Duty is an interesting blend of Plants vs. Zombies and Bejeweled. It is puurrfect for thise who enjoy both match-3 and tower defense games . . . at the same time! Do not fret as it is not an overwhelming process. The tutorial is thoughtful and forgiving. Tips and tricks are given by this mega random, heterochromatic cat adorning a wizard robe. Their blocky look reminds me of Unikitty from The LEGO Movie.
There is no plot. Players simply develop a cat army to defend their homes against random monsters, like zombies, skeletons, bugs, and witches. Players get access to a variety of feline characters: the tabby Desperado with a sawed-off shotgun, the white cat Scout with the long-ranged bolt rifle, the plump fencer Lord Junior, an explosive litterbox saboteur, among others.
Kibble Crush
Cats on Duty operates a lot like its Plants vs. Zombies inspiration, where you must defend your territory against waves of mobs. Each wave and stage gets progressively more difficult. However, as the game says itself: it is “nothing difficult. The game is designed that way.”
Before starting, there are two difficulty settings. The “Kitty” difficulty is like easy mode, granting you more resources and slows down enemies. The “Cat” difficulty is a fair step-up, for those who “prefer to KILL.” You can change the difficulty at any point in time, even mid-game.
Before each wave begins, players get several freebie swaps at the match-3, which takes up the entire left half of the screen. As it can be inferred, you have to match three of the same color resource in a row or column to obtain it. “Resources” are cats for your army, or doors and litter boxes and such. You unlock more abilities and upgrades as you progress through the stages. Each color represents something: red tokens (the meat stick) are the little shotgun tabbies, and the blue fish tokens are the black cat gunmen, for example. Match as much as you can, but do this wisely. Once the monster-killing begins, for each enemy you slay, you gain extra swap attempts, but the wave will keep going simultaneously.
Kittens Exploding
You can’t do much at the start, but eventually players unlock the ability to move cat soldiers around the gridded battlefield; remove cats you accidentally place or do not want via a cruel squirt bottle; and if you line three of the same cat in a column or row, the kitty will upgrade and become beefier. Unfortunately, this is an automatic reaction. Cats will upgrade in that manner whether you want it or not, so place them down smartly. Anyways, resources are essentially unlimited as long as you strategize correctly.
if either a monster or cat dies, it becomes quite bloody. Players are able to adjust the pixelated blood and corpse volume to loads or none at all.
The Cat’s Pajamas
Cats on Duty has that classic, pixelated, almost Flash Player kind of look. The kitties are cute and a bit anthropomorphized. All the enemies look kind of weird, though. Overall, the art style is lowkey ugly but in an appealing way.
The setting continues to shift from suburbia to forests to deserts, and they each have their own quirks. It keeps it interesting. As for the soundtrack, it is pretty much a repeat of the same tunes but it’s quite catchy and dynamic. I never got bored of the sound.
You eventually unlock the encyclopedia to all the monsters and kitty soldier types. It gives adorable descriptions of their homicidal prowess.
Final thoughts
Cats on Duty is a breath of fresh air for tower defense fans. It captures that chaotic magnetism that cats have been associated with for decades, and is overall just a silly and bloody joyride. Of course, the game gets a bit redundant at times, some of the unlockable cats are a bit of a let down, and there’s also occasional and unusual difficulty spikes. However, I don’t think there has ever been a perfect tower defense game. Ahem, purrfect.
Cats on Duty is cheap, easy to get a hang of, and can be played in short bursts. I recommend this game to fans of the genre. I cannot really say that it would reach an audience beyond that though. While I have never been a tower defense fan, I did find appeal and enjoyment with this title.
The Focus A1 Pro headphones are the latest audio product from OneOdio. I’ve recently reviewed their top-end Studio Max 1 Wireless headphones, and I was blown away. Therefore, I wasn’t going to say no when they offered another pair of headphones to look at. Unlike its bigger brother, the Focus A1 Pro headphones are designed as an entry-level option. However, don’t let this put you off. It is only the price point that gives this away. Every other aspect of these headphones is upmarket and impressive.
If you want wireless audio, ANC functionality, an impressive battery, comfortable earcups, and a stylish finish, this is the product for you. On top of this, they are easy to use, and they offer incredibly clear audio quality. The 40mm drivers are powerful, and the bass and tonal range are fantastic. Consequently, these offer the performance of high-end audio peripherals at a fraction of the cost.
What’s in the box of the Focus A1 Pro headphones?
The packaging is sleek, professional, and pleasant to look at. Furthermore, it is 100% recyclable.
The Focus A1 Pro headphones have soft protein cushioned over-earcups, tactile buttons, and lay-flat yokes. The design is refined, and I appreciate the simple style and the black finish.
A USB-C cable is provided to charge the headphones.
Learn the basics with the user manual.
Technical aspects.
The Focus A1 Pro headphones offer an impressive up to 70 hours of battery power. This reduces to 40 hours if you use the ANC feature, but either way, you’ll enjoy over 1 day of full usage before you have to plug the headset in. This battery power was impressive when you consider that they are available for under £50. When compared to other entry-level headphones, these are a standout performer.
If you run low on juice, you do not need to worry. Thankfully, the quick charging facility keeps you in the game for longer. If you are in a rush, you can boost your battery in 10 minutes to increase your listening time by around 5 hours.
Bluetooth 6.0 delivers seamless connectivity and a stable connection to any compatible device. I had no issues connecting this product to my laptop, mobile phone, or tablet. Furthermore, it was easy to flit between devices without having to play around with the settings. The 15m range was impressive, and I had no issues using this feature despite living in a granite cottage. Unlike other headphones, this didn’t falter even when you pushed it to the limit of its connectivity range.
I rarely use my headphones for calls, but during testing, I was impressed by the ANC mic functionality. This algorithm removes unwanted ambient sounds to deliver crisp microphone pickup. This is ideal if you have to take a business call when you visit a cafe, or you’re walking your dog.
Audio quality.
Audio quality is where headphones should rise and fall. If the sound quality is woeful, the headphones will fail to impress. However, decent drivers, an impressive tonal range, and balanced bass are a must for the best audio experience. Thankfully, the Focus A1 Pro headphones offer a hearty range of tones without distortion or an unwanted tinny mess. Moreover, the bass line is nicely balanced for a comfortable soundscape, no matter the genre.
Each tonal element can be picked out, and I liked the warm mids, clean highs, and deep lows. Furthermore, the bass complements every aspect without blowing your eardrums or brain. I spent much of my time with the volume at 50 to 55%. This was the optimum choice for battery and clarity. However, when I cranked the volume up, the bass never cracked, and there were no shrill notes or distortion.
Build quality.
200 grams of weight is impressively light for a pair of headphones. This makes the Focus A1 Pro headphones extremely comfortable to wear during lengthy gaming, music, or movie sessions. Alongside this, the comfortable material doesn’t overheat your ears or generate pressure on your temples or your skull. The lay-flat design is ideal if you prefer to keep your headphones around your neck without creating a bulky appearance. Moreover, the slightly smaller earcups are perfect if you don’t want obscenely large earcups that make a bold statement.
The combination of soft protein cushions and hardened plastic was impressive. The yokes are strong, and the hinged points are durable, resisting roughhousing and the occasional accident. The cushions cover your ears nicely, and they work well with the ANC functionality for a clearer audio experience. However, if you want to hear your surroundings, select the ambience awareness mode to stay alert to the outside world.
Are the Focus A1 Pro headphones worth it?
I was surprised by the Focus A1 Pro headphones! They offer some high-end tech options without breaking the bank. Whether it is exceptional audio, impressively clear microphone pickup, or amazing build quality, they deliver on every front. Accordingly, I think they are great, and I recommend buying them here! Grab yourself 20% off with code MoviesGames.
Some games don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they polish it, slap on a fresh coat of paint, and remind you why you loved it in the first place. Pie in the Sky is exactly that kind of game, a compact, heartfelt love letter to the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater era, made with clear affection and understanding of what made those games special.
A tried and tested gameplay loop
The task system is where Pie in the Sky really wears its heart on its sleeve. Each map is packed with objectives that feel straight out of a THPS checklist. A high score challenge, collectibles, traversal goals and secret objectives. All pushing you to explore the space more creatively and efficiently. It’s a formula that still works, and the game knows better than to mess with it.
Beyond the main tasks, there’s a strong sense of curiosity baked into the design. Secrets are everywhere, rewarding players who experiment or pay attention to their surroundings. Some unlock cosmetics, giving you fun ways to personalize your winged villain, while others introduce small but clever map changes. From blocking the road preventing traffic from ruining your run to draining a whole canal. completing a map to 100% will also unlock skins which to my surprise where not just colour schemes but whole different models.
Short but sweet
After around three hours, I had completed all main missions and knocked out 60 of the 70 total tasks. On one hand, that brevity is a bit of a disappointment, the core gameplay is so enjoyable that I couldn’t help but want more. On the other, the experience never overstays its welcome. There’s no filler, no bloated progression, just a clean, focused burst of fun.
While I wish there was more content overall, the remaining challenges give me a good excuse to jump back in every now and again and eventually push toward that 100% completion. And honestly? That feels very on-brand for the genre this game is honouring.
My Conclusion
Pie in the Sky doesn’t try to be the next big game or promise constant updates to keep you hooked for years. Instead, it succeeds by being tight, nostalgic, and thoughtfully designed. It understands why Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and other titles of that era worked.
If you grew up chasing high scores, hunting secrets, and replaying the same map to leave no secret behind, Pie in the Sky will feel like coming home, even if the visit is a little shorter than you’d like. The price might seem on the steeper side with regards to the short play time but I would spend my money on it to support the indie developer in hopes for a more refined nostalgic trip in the future.
Skewer Squad is one of those rare indie games that feels like someone asked, “What if we made tower defence for foodies” and actually pulled it off. Released on February 2, 2026, this tiny yet delightful strategy title from indie developer Fake Owls delivers a bite-sized roguelite experience that’s surprisingly deep, and very addicting.
Core mechanics
From its pastel visuals to its whimsical premise, Skewer Squad may resemble the likes of Plants vs Zombies but immediately sets itself apart. You’re the newly appointed Grillmaster, tasked with defending your grill from a horde of cheeky rats who, for reasons only the developers truly know, have an insatiable craving for your tasty skewers. There’s no pretentious lore here, just pure, grilled-to-perfection fun.
The loop is what you would expect from a rougelite tower defence tower defence, pick the Grillmaster that fits your playstyle and start shooting rats with your preferred food in order to unlock more foods and seasonings. pretty standard stuff.
Jokes aside Skewer Squad gets pretty deep. There are ;
Two main types of food – Meats and Vegetables.
Two attack types – Shooters and blockers.
Multiple effects/tastes – for example spicy, sour or salty.
A multitude of seasonings, spices and sauces that either affect players overall stats or specific groups of food.
There of course also countless synergies, items with benefits that will make players change their entire strategy and enemies that will make players adapt on the fly. A core change to the genre is that you have space for 9 foods on your grill, or specifically on your skewers. Skewers that can be slid from side to side to optimise defence which means players are more engaged than simply putting down ‘towers’ and watching the game play itself.
Charming from graphics to humour
One of Skewer Squad’s biggest strengths is how approachable it is. The core mechanics are intuitive enough that you’ll understand the basics within minutes, yet there’s plenty of depth for players who enjoy experimenting with builds and combinations. The roguelite randomness keeps the game feeling fresh, and discovering new food synergies is consistently satisfying. With the art style and gameplay it actually reminds me a little of Commanders Quest which I have reviewed a while back.
The game’s personality also deserves praise. Its cheerful visuals, playful animations, and food-themed humour give it a distinct identity, helping it stand out in an increasingly crowded indie roguelite space. It never takes itself too seriously, and that charm goes a long way.
Despite the chaos, success still hinges on smart placement quick reactions, not only while defending but also adapting to the ever changing roster of enemies. Strong builds feel earned, and losses usually teach you something useful for the next attempt.
My Conclusion
Skewer Squad takes a simple, silly idea and turns it into a smart, addictive strategy experience. It’s fast, charming, and endlessly replayable, with just enough depth to keep you thinking between runs. If you enjoy tower defence games with a charming style and for a very affordable price this title is and extremely easy recommendation.
Heroes Battle Awakening is a Plants vs. Zombies-style top-down title that’ll scratch that defence itch. However, it isn’t as intense as its popular peer. Instead, it is an affordable indie game that is great as a casual endeavour.
Josep Hernandez has developed, and Eastasiasoft have published this short indie title. It utilises classic tower defence mechanics, and it has a fun fantasy theme. However, some levels can be a little tedious as limited planning and new monsters lead to trial and error. This may thrill you, but I found it more frustrating than enjoyable.
Heroes Battle Awakening tells a tale of monster vs monster.
You’d think that monsters would see eye to eye. After all, mankind hates them, and this should be enough to focus their attention. Yet, Heroes Battle Awakening tells a story of monster vs monster. This unusual approach was interesting, and I liked the fresh ideas. However, the plot has limited depth, and it rarely impacts the core mechanics.
The action spans 4 unique works, each with 10 stages. As you progress, new monsters are unlocked, and different foes create problems to overcome. If you manage to complete each world, you’ll face a skill-testing boss level. This final stage pushes you to the edge of failure. Accordingly, only the best players will make it all the way.
Simple mechanics.
Like its peers, Heroes Battle Awakening has relatively simple mechanics. The gaming world is framed around a grid-like map. Each wave of monsters walks from right to left as you place your troops and collect gold coins.
The coins must be used to buy more units to improve your chances of survival. Yet, this is easier said than done. Once you place a monster, it cannot be moved. Therefore, you must think wisely before you place your army.
With a large roster of creatures at your disposal, there are plenty of ways to complete each level. Whether it is a melee beast, a ranged monster, or something that can generate coins or explode on touch, you must select the right unit for the job at hand.
Heroes Battle Awakening has a cartoon edge.
Visually, Heroes Battle Awakening is pleasant to the eye. The vibrant colours and fun cartoon edge look great. Furthermore, the animation is smooth, and it performs well on PC and Steam Deck. I noticed no bugs or glitches. Moreover, I appreciated the varied appearance of each creature.
The audio is fun, upbeat, and occasionally sinister. This was great as it helps set the scene without being overbearing or annoying. Additionally, the sound effects have a nice fantasy edge.
Simple controls.
I played this with a mouse and keyboard and a gamepad, and it works incredibly well. I did have to adjust the sensitivity of my controller as it was far too fast. However, once it was sorted, everything worked well. If you have played this genre before, you’ll pick up the basics in no time. Alternatively, if this is your first rodeo, you’ll master the fundamentals quickly.
Replay value is questionable. Once you fly through each stage, there is little reason to return. This was a shame as I enjoyed the action and the colourful monsters.
Heroes Battle Awakening is simple but enjoyable.
Despite its lack of depth or originality, I enjoyed Heroes Battle Awakening. It offers enough to keep you interested, and it is relatively inexpensive. Therefore, it is a great option if you want a change of pace, and I recommend buying it here! Can you stop every monster? Choose your army, gather the coins, and hope that luck is on your side.
The web gaming space continues to grow rapidly, and one of the most notable collaborations in late 2025 is the exclusive launch of Obby Roads on Poki’s global browser gaming website. This partnership brings together one of the most influential web play portals and a studio with a proven track record of web hits, creating a compelling example of how developers and browser-based game websites can work together to reach massive audiences.
Obby Roads is the latest title from Tall Team, the independent game studio best known for the enduring popularity of Smash Karts. By making Obby Roads exclusively available on Poki.com, both partners are positioning the game to reach millions of players worldwide, combining Poki’s strengths with Tall Team’s creative expertise.
A Partnership Built on Scale and Creative Trust
The core of this collaboration is straightforward: Poki offers a massive browser-based game website with global reach, and Tall Team brings engaging web game design that connects with players. Poki’s website field tests games, provides discoverability, and connects titles with hundreds of millions of active players. For Tall Team, partnering with Poki, whose infrastructure and audience scale dwarf what most independent studios can access on their own, can dramatically accelerate a game’s visibility and long-term engagement.
This dynamic is similar to how players explore choices across different categories of online experiences and how developers and publishers must evaluate platforms for reach and performance. For Tall Team, Poki’s ability to provide instant global availability with no downloads and cross-device play is a critical part of that calculus.
At the heart of the deal is mutual confidence. Poki’s leadership views Tall Team as a developer capable of creating not just viral moments, but games with lasting impact. Tall Team’s previous success with Smash Karts, which remains a top ten web title with millions of active players, gives Poki confidence that Obby Roads can attract and retain a broad audience.
Poki’s Perspective: Scale Meets Creativity
In announcing the launch with Medium, Michiel van Amerongen, co-founder of Poki, emphasised the synergy between the two organizations and why Tall Team was a natural fit for an exclusive release on the browser-based gaming website:
“As an independent studio with a team of eight, Tall Team has a proven ability to create and scale web hits like Smash Karts that maintain high daily players and strong community loyalty. With the launch of Obby Roads, we are proud to see that established developers are trusting Poki to provide the necessary scale and platform support for their newest titles.”
Michiel highlighted that this level of trust is not given lightly. Poki’s publishing arm collaborates with hundreds of developers, prioritizing games that demonstrate creative ambition alongside long-term engagement potential. In this case, Obby Roads, with its vibrant 3D obstacle racing gameplay and multiplayer design, aligned closely with Poki’s broader strategy to support deeply engaging and accessible browser games.
For Poki, the partnership reinforces its mission to be more than a catalogue of casual titles. By hosting an exclusive release from an experienced and proven studio, Poki continues to strengthen its position as a destination for high-quality web gaming experiences.
What Poki Brings to the Table
For Tall Team, partnering with Poki is not just about reach, though that is a major factor. Tall Team’s leadership emphasised the importance of working with a gaming website that understands web gaming’s unique requirements and has the infrastructure to support live title growth.
Tall Team’s co-founder explained that Poki’s ethos aligned with their vision for Obby Roads from early discussions, the partnership acting as the missing link for both giants. The game combines dynamic obstacle courses with vehicle advancement and multiplayer elements. It also benefits from Poki’s global distribution and technical support, including player account integration that saves progress during browser sessions for uninterrupted gameplay.
A Model for Web Game Partnerships
The collaboration between Poki and Tall Team on Obby Roads exemplifies how developers and gamers can find aligned interests and mutual trust. Poki gains a high-quality exclusive title from a proven studio, strengthening its catalog and providing fresh gameplay for its global audience. Tall Team gains access to an audience measured in tens of millions, along with the tools and expertise to support ongoing player engagement.
For players, the result is immediate. Obby Roads is now playable directly in browsers via Poki.com, allowing both new and returning gamers to explore Tall Team’s latest creation without downloads or barriers. For the industry, it highlights how strategic partnerships continue to shape how web games are launched and grow in 2026 and beyond.
The Pro X is the next evolution in our wireless earbud lineup.
We maintained the celebrated hybrid triple driver acoustic system of the Between 3ANC and Between Pro, with some notable improvements: An enlarged 12mm dynamic driver, supported by two Balanced Armature drivers manufactured by Knowles, a leading producer of these precision-crafted specialty drivers.
We added high-resolution LDAC codec support, alongside a High Res Wireless Audio certification from the Japan Audio Society.
Additionally, we’ve “future-proofed” the Pro X with Bluetooth LE Audio support, enabling the LC3 codec and Auracast protocol.
But it’s not just sound quality where the Pro X takes a massive leap forward.
The Pro X are substantially smaller and ergonomically optimized, so they wear slimmer and sleeker in your ears, while maintaining a comfortable and secure fit.
Active Noise Cancelling and Transparency (Ambient Aware) Modes are radically improved, as is the companion app (available on iOS and Android), which allows full EQ customization, re-mapping of controls, FindMy support, and numerous other features to optimize your listening experience.
Massive R&D resources were dedicated to a key feature for wireless earbuds: call quality. We introduced Voiceloom AI Speech Enhancement, which leverages deep neural net training to filter out background noise during voice communications.
Inside and out, the Pro X are in a class of their own.
Features
Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Block out distractions with over 52db of powerful noise reduction.
Optical Wearing Sensor Auto-detects when they’re in your ears.
Voiceloom AI Speech Enhancement Clear calls, even in noisy environments.
Six Beam-Forming Microphones Radically improved ANC, Transparency Mode, and Call Quality.
Bluetooth® 5.3 with Advanced Codecs SBC, AAC, and LDAC — delivering 24-bit/96 kHz audio at bitrates up to 990 kbps.
Bluetooth LE Audio and Auracast Support Future-proofed for the next generation of Bluetooth, with LC3 codec support.
Triple Driver Acoustic System 12mm Dynamic Driver + Dual Knowles Balanced Armature Drivers. Transparency Mode Let in ambient sound with a click. Stay aware, stay connected.
IP55 Water & Dust Resistance Handles sweat, splashes, and dirt.
Long-Lasting Battery Life 8 hours per charge, 24 hours total with the included charging case.
Status Hub App Fine-tune your sound, manage your earbuds, and more in the Status Hub app for iOS & Android.
Superior Connectivity Multipoint Connectivity. Android Fast Pair. Microsoft Swift Pair.
Wireless Charging The Pro X support Qi Wireless Charging.
Sidetone Feature External mics amplify your own voice during phone calls, so you don’t have to yell.
Find Lost Earbuds GPS Tracking of lost earbuds with sound notifications.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the charing case and earbuds, extra tips, a charging cable and instructions.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Status Pro X is small and lightweight and easily fits into your pocket or bag. They also look good too!
When fully charged, the Status Pro X will last a good 24 hours – each full charge in the charging case gives 8 hours, although depending on the settings you use this could drop to around 5 or 6 hours per charge. The case can even be charged using wireless charging.
The earbuds themselves are vey comfortable, even for extended periods of time. You also get different size tips in the box so you can make sure you are using the most comfortable fit for your ears. They are also water resistant so you can get them a little wet without worrying too much.
Connected the Status Pro X to your device is really simple and takes only a few seconds.
Sound quality wise, the Status Pro X is very good and the active noise cancelling works very well, even in noisy environments, well that is other than very windy environments without making some settings changed.
The Status Hub app enables you to control a number of settings so that you can get the perfect sound for you, including changing the listening modes.
The Status Pro X is available now priced around £225 and is available in Black Alloy.
Here is our review of the PDP Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller for Nintendo Switch.
Get ready to take center stage on Fortnite Festival with the Riffmaster wireless guitar controller, officially licensed by Nintendo for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, & Nintendo Switch – OLED Model. This guitar also works with Nintendo Switch 2 – C Button not available. Designed to enhance your gaming experience, the lightweight guitar is perfect for both left- and right-handed players of all ages. With up to 30-foot low-latency wireless connection, you’ll enjoy complete freedom of movement. The built-in rechargeable battery provides up to 36 hours of playtime on a single charge, and the shoulder strap ensures comfortable play. Featuring a patented analog stick for precise control, the Riffmaster improves your rhythm gaming experience. The guitar also fully collapses allowing for easy travel or storage. Rock out to your favourite songs like never before!
Features
This guitar also works with Nintendo Switch 2 – C Button not available
Up to 30-foot low latency wireless connection
Built-in, rechargeable battery for up to 36-hours of play time per charge
Unique design that is suitable for both left- and right-handed players of all ages
Guitar is collapsible for easy storage or travel
Built-in, patented, guitar analog stick for easy navigation
Includes a shoulder strap for elevated comfort
Officially Licensed by Nintendo
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Riffmaster controller, a charging cable and a shoulder strap. There is also a leaflet with a QR code on for installation instructions.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Riffmaster looks cool and holding it makes you feel like you are using a real guitar. It’s very light and you can hold it and play it for a while without aching! It feels very natural.
Putting the Riffmaster together was really simple – you just click and lock it into place. When you are finished you can collapse it back down for easier storage and transport, if necessary.
They have included a strap in the box, which is easy to fit and adjust, however it does slightly cover the charging port.
Once fully charged, the Riffmaster has about 36 hours of battery life, so more than enough for a play session.
The buttons and controls are very responsive and they are silent, which is a nice change if you are playing using headphones and trying not to annoy anyone else in the room. There is even a dedicated screenshot button too!
The Riffmaster really does pick up fingerprints so if this bothers you, make sure you have a cloth to hand to wipe it down after use.
At the time of writing this review, the only game that this version of the Riffmaster works with is Fornite Festival in Fortnite. It’s a lot of fun playing that, but lets hope that other games will get released because £129.99 for a controller that only works with a single game may feel like a lot of money for some people.
The PDP Riffmaster Wireless Guitar Controller for Nintendo Switch is available now priced around £129.99. There are also versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox.
