Here is our review of the ESR Halolock mini Wireless Power Bank.
ESR’s Halolock MagSafe mini Wiress Power Bank is an ideal gadget for iPhone users and is compatible with iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Pro/14 Pro Max and the iPhone 13/12 series. Coming with a USB-C cable and available in both 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh, the built-in magnets align the phone to the power bank and automatically enables MagSafe-style charging as soon as the power bank is attached. Super convenient and fast, users can choose from 7.5W or 12W wired charging and the powerful magnets have 1000g of holding force keeping the phone safe, and securely locked to the power bank.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Power Bank, cable and instructions.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Power Bank is quite small and can easily be carried out.
When you want to use it you have two options – either using MagSafe mode by either placing the phone onto the Power Bank, or by placing the Power Bank onto the phone, or by using a cable connecting from the Power Bank to the phone you want to charge. If you are in a rush, charging using a cable is quicker as it charges at 12W where as its 7.5W when using MagSafe.
When using MagSafe charging, the charging begins the moment the Power Bank and the phone connect. The Power Bank supports all caseless iPhone 14/13/12 series phones, MagSafe and HaloLock cases, and standard cases with the HaloLock Universal Ring.
The Power Bank is held onto the phone with very powerful magnets using 1000g of holding force so the Power Bank isn’t going to fall off when you are carrying the phone and Power Bank connected.
The Power Bank also supports pass-through charging so you can charge both the Power Bank and your phone at the same time.
When fully charged, the Power Bank can provide a range of charging – for example, you can fully charge an iPhone 13 mini from empty, or provide about 60% charge for an iPhone 13 Pro Max. The Power Bank is designed to provide a charging boost rather than multiple full charges for your phone.
One other interesting feature is that because the Power Bank is quite small, when connected to the phone via MagSafe it doesn’t obscure the camera, so you can continue to take pictures when it’s attached.
The ESR Halolock mini Wireless Power Bank is available now priced around £35.99 for the 5,000mAh version and is available in either black or white.
The best accident insurance is to ensure you never get into one. That is to say that you can often avoid an accident even though there are some crazy drivers out there. Even when you aren’t going to be at fault, there are things you can do to not get into an accident in many circumstances. There are some techniques involved that are called defensive driving.
As drivers, we have a responsibility not only to ourselves but also to other road users. Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, often resulting in serious consequences. But by using defensive driving techniques, we can significantly reduce the chances of these incidents occurring. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of defensive driving, providing you with practical techniques that can help you navigate the roads more safely and confidently and avoid needing a car accident lawyer like Lamber Goodnow.
1 – Stay focused
It seems too obvious a thing even to mention, but many people must be reminded to stay focused when driving. The other issue is that many people think they are focused when they aren’t.
Staying focused is the cornerstone of defensive driving. When you’re behind the wheel, giving the road and the traffic around you your full attention is essential. This means eliminating distractions and concentrating on the task at hand. So, put your phone away, avoid fiddling with the radio, and save your deep thoughts for a more suitable time.
Distracted driving is a leading cause of accidents, so staying focused is crucial for your safety and that of other road users. One way to maintain focus is by continuously scanning the road ahead, checking your mirrors, and being aware of what’s happening in your peripheral vision. This active approach helps you stay engaged and react promptly to any changes in traffic or road conditions.
Remember mental distractions, too. Emotional stress, fatigue, or even a bad day can make it difficult to concentrate on driving. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or tired, take a break, clear your head, or have a quick nap if necessary. Remember, being focused and alert is your first line of defense against potential accidents.
2 – Keep a safe distance
Maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles is essential in defensive driving. It’s all about giving yourself enough space and time to react if the unexpected occurs. Tailgating or following too closely can lead to rear-end collisions, which are both dangerous and avoidable. So, how do you ensure you’re maintaining the right distance?
One widely accepted technique is the three-second rule. When the vehicle in front of you passes a fixed point, such as a sign or a tree, start counting: one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three-one-thousand. If you reach that point before you finish counting, you’re too close and need to back off a bit. Of course, this is just a guideline – it’s essential to adjust your following distance depending on factors like traffic, road conditions, and weather.
It’s crucial to be extra cautious in rain, snow, or fog, as these conditions can reduce visibility and increase stopping distances. In such situations, doubling or even tripling the three-second rule is a wise move. When driving behind large vehicles, motorcycles, or bicycles, it’s best to give them even more space. These road users have different braking capabilities and maneuvering needs, so keeping a safe distance helps ensure everyone’s safety.
3 – Anticipate
Anticipating potential hazards is a key element of defensive driving. It involves being proactive and looking out for anything that could potentially cause an accident. By staying one step ahead, you can make timely decisions and avoid dangerous situations.
It’s about keeping your eyes moving and scanning the road ahead. Look for pedestrians, cyclists, or animals that might suddenly cross your path. Be aware of road signs, traffic signals, and any changes in traffic patterns, as these can help you predict potential issues. For example, if you see a “lane ends” sign, you can anticipate that drivers will merge and adjust your speed and position accordingly.
Another key aspect of anticipating hazards is paying attention to other drivers’ behavior. Are they signaling to change lanes, slowing down unexpectedly, or swerving? Recognizing these cues can give you valuable insight into their intentions, allowing you to react accordingly. Don’t forget to consider blind spots, too – yours and those of other vehicles, especially large trucks.
4 – Adapt to road and weather conditions
Adapting to road and weather conditions is a critical aspect of defensive driving. Adjusting your driving style according to what’s happening around you can help keep you and other road users safe. Let’s dive into how you can become a pro at adapting to various conditions and avoiding potential accidents.
Weather can be a game-changer when it comes to driving. Rain, snow, fog, and even strong winds can significantly impact your visibility and your vehicle’s handling. In these situations, reducing your speed is essential, as stopping distances increase on slippery roads. You’ll also want to increase your following distance, allowing more time to react if something goes wrong.
Use your headlights when driving in heavy rain or fog, even during the day. This helps improve your visibility and lets other drivers see you more clearly. However, avoid using high beams in fog, as the light can reflect and reduce visibility.
Adapting to road conditions is just as important as adjusting for weather. For instance, when navigating through construction zones or areas with uneven surfaces, proceed cautiously and reduce your speed. Be prepared for sudden lane changes and follow any temporary traffic signs or signals.
Conclusion
Defensive driving is an essential skill that can make a significant difference in keeping our roads safe. By mastering the techniques mentioned above, you’ll be better prepared to handle unexpected situations and avoid accidents. Remember, as drivers, we have a responsibility to ourselves and others on the road, and embracing defensive driving helps promote a safer driving culture for everyone.
Are you looking for an edge in your next game of cribbage? Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, there are strategies you can use to improve your game and increase your chances of winning. From understanding the basic rules to knowing how to count cards, this article provides a comprehensive guide on how to become a cribbage master. Keep reading to learn more.
How can playing cribbage online help you win more?
Cribbage is a classic card game that has been enjoyed by generations for its competitive and strategic gameplay. But you can now enhance your competitive and strategic card-playing skills by playing cribbage online. With a variety of options available, you can take your game to the next level on an online cribbage platform.
One of the primary benefits of playing cribbage online is the opportunity to try new strategies. Online players can easily experiment with different approaches to improve their game. Whether you want to try aggressive or conservative play styles, online cribbage platforms allow you to do so without fear of ridicule or mistake.
Moreover, playing online cribbage can help players develop a stronger focus and concentration, thus enabling them to make better decisions and reducing the chances of missing any potential points. Additionally, online games tend to be faster-paced than physical games, which can help players develop quicker reflexes and better decision-making abilities.
Playing cribbage online is an excellent way to get better at the game and improve your chances of winning. With the convenience and flexibility of online gaming platforms, players can practice and improve their skills without worrying about the constraints of physical game nights. So, if you’re looking for a fun way to improve your cribbage skills, consider playing online.
What are some strategies for winning at cribbage?
While it’s easy to learn the basic rules of the game, developing winning strategies can be a bit more challenging. Here are some key strategies that can help improve your cribbage game and increase your chances of winning.
Understand the importance of the crib.
First, understanding the importance of the crib is crucial. The crib is a hand of cards that each player creates after discarding two cards to a pile in the center. The dealer then uses this hand and the top card of the remaining deck to create a four-card hand, which is then scored separately from the regular hands. Skilled players focus on creating a strong crib by discarding cards that work well together when they’re the dealer. Conversely, if a player is not the dealer, they should focus on discarding cards that will not allow the dealer to score extra points.
Keep track of the points and the cards.
Second, you’ll want to keep track of the points since a wide range of points is up for grabs in a game of cribbage. Points can be scored for various combinations of cards, such as pairs, runs, and flushes. Knowing which combinations are worth the most points and playing your cards accordingly can make a big difference throughout the game.
Moreover, counting the cards played can help players determine which cards are still in play and adjust their cribbage strategy accordingly. For example, if a player has already played a number of low-value cards, they may be more likely to hold onto high-value cards to maximize their score in future rounds. Alternatively, if a player has already played a number of high-value cards, they may want to focus on trying to make combinations that will allow them to score points for pairs or runs.
Keeping track of the cards played is an essential aspect of playing cribbage. By doing so, players can gain a better understanding of the cards that are still available and make strategic decisions about which cards to hold onto and which to discard. This can ultimately lead to higher scores and a more enjoyable gaming experience.
Overall, players can become more adept and successful at cribbage by understanding the rules, the different strategies, and their practical application.
Transport Fever 2 – Console Edition is the perfect opportunity to test your OCD mindset and strategic powers. Furthermore, this simulation game enables you to turn a hefty profit, run a marvellous transport company, and experience some wonderful locations. However, its audience will be niche as the intricacies and the patience that is required to be successful will be a turnoff for some.
Developed by Urban Games and published by Nacon, this is a realistic simulation title. Moreover, it has 100s of life like vehicles to use, some interesting scenarios to explore, and an amazing freeplay option. In short, if you fall for its charms, you will waste hours building the business of your dreams.
Though I know this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, it was an easy sale for me. Having adored Railroad Tycoon as a teenager, I had high hopes when I received my code. Spoiler alert, I wasn’t disappointed, as I happily invested hours of my life into my virtual transport network.
A beautiful viaduct to watch two steam engines pass.
Transport Fever 2 lets you play as you wish.
Like its peers, Transport Fever 2 has a structured campaign mode to play through. This interesting, albeit extended tutorial takes you on a journey across multiple eras. Moreover, you are drip-fed new time-specific vehicles and different resources and commodities are unlocked as you go. This was an excellent choice, as you never feel overwhelmed or out of your depth. Alongside this, the excellent UI ensures that this is simple to pick up and play once the fundamentals are nailed.
During the campaign mode, you are tasked with completing an array of main quests as well as some bonus objectives. Frankly, the latter option was occasionally absurd, but it added some lighthearted elements to an otherwise deadpan atmosphere. The aim of the game is to connect roads, train lines, fly planes, and build docks to deliver goods and passengers from point A to B. On top of this, you’ll have to move resources to be processed before you can make a profit. Furthermore, each town has specific needs that must be attended to, and your profit and loss rely on an eye for detail.
Simply ideas in a complex world.
The core ideas are simple to understand. However, it is a tough task to balance every element. Moreover, you’re asked to maintain your vehicles, manage your routes, and alter any problems as they arise. Additionally, you must weigh up the benefits of new vehicles over any potential outlay. Now, this may seem straightforward, but it is harder than it appears. Yet, trying to maintain a profitable business while expanding your empire was moreish as hell.
The campaign was all well and good. But where Transport Fever 2 shines is its freeplay mode. Here, you are able to create a massive empire that serves every randomly spawned town. Furthermore, you are free to invest however you wish, as you move fruit, coffee, logs, or precious materials from one location to another. Each random map is created from a set of factors, such as climate, difficulty, continent, and geography. These elements combine to generate a unique map that can be shared with others if you wish.
Transport passengers or freight.
A brilliant port from PC.
Simulation games have a terrible reputation from the console perspective. Why? Well, the control system and UI are normally fiddly and frustrating to use. Thankfully, Transport Fever 2 bucks this trend with its intuitive setup and excellent user interface. Yes, there is a steep learning curve, but thanks to the campaign mode and its structured approach, you’ll learn the basics in no time at all.
What was also fantastic was how easy it was to adjust your errors or alter your fleet of vehicles. Furthermore, you could tweak your business at the touch of a button. This was great, as there weren’t layers of data or mess to work through. Consequently, you could adjust your railway, bus, flight or shipping routes with minimal effort.
Transport Fever 2 looks great, but there are some minor issues.
I rarely expect decent graphics from the simulation genre. Why? Well, the developers focus on their gameplay and the graphics play second fiddle. However, luckily, Transport Fever 2 is pleasant to the eye. Additionally, the unique landscapes and masses of vehicles look great as well. Yet, there were some minor performance issues and the frame rate wasn’t as stable as I’d have liked. Fortunately, though, it has little impact on the overall experience, so it is a minor issue.
What was fantastic, however, was how alive each map was. As your business grows, each town and city expands with it. Therefore, your business model must adapt to maximise your profit while servicing every resident.
The audio was fantastic as well. The weird blend of jazz, honky tonk piano, and high-energy tunes will get under your skin. Alongside this, the excellent sound effects never get boring. Subsequently, you’ll toot the horn of your train, listen to your horse neigh, or enjoy the sound of your ship carving through the water. Alongside this, the main campaign is brilliantly narrated by era-specific characters. Now, this does create a few uncomfortable moments, but luckily, they are few and far between and can be easily forgiven.
Can you transport goods across this ocean?
Spectacular controls.
I applaud the developers for their excellent control setup. I fully expected this to be an overwhelming and complicated experience. Yet, despite its tough learning curve, it was an excellent game that was intuitive, fun, and simple to play. Moreover, the brilliant UI and radial menus ensure that keeping on top of your data and tasks was straightforward.
Though the campaign is relatively simple to work through, Transport Fever 2 still has plenty of replay value and longevity. Because of its excellent freeplay mode, you can waste hours of your life tweaking and designing the perfect transport network. What’s more, the evolution of each town and the constant flux of resources and demands forces you to change tactics to maximise your profits.
Transport Fever 2: a brilliant but niche experience.
I completely understand why Transport Fever 2 may be overlooked. Yet, I urge you to think twice. This incredible simulation game works fantastically on console and is deep, rich, and rewarding to play. On top of this, both game modes are enjoyable, and the audio is particularly good. Yes, there were minor performance issues, but they do not taint the action enough to cause major problems. Accordingly, I adore it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you run a transport business and become a wealthy individual? Buy your vehicles, create your routes, and cash in on every opportunity.
Here we review the WD My Passport SSD external drive.
Save, access and protect the content that matters to you with My Passport™ SSD, giving you read speeds of up to 1050MB/s and write speeds of up to 1000MB/s with NVMe™ technology.
Stylishly designed in a range of colors, enclosed in a compact sleek metal design. The My Passport SSD is engineered from the ground up to be a quality drive, inside and out, to deliver reliable performance. It’s a trusted drive built with WD reliability.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the SSD, a USB-C cable (and USB-A adaptor) and instructions.
Using the My Passport SSD
You can just use the My Passport SSD as a normal external hard drive – plug it in and just use it. Or you can install the WD Discovery software that is included on the drive (both Mac and Windows versions are included).
Once installed (and possibly updated) there are two areas in the app. Storage and Apps. The storage area allows you to import your data from either your cloud storage or social media accounts. It also gives you access to your My Cloud Home account (if you have one).
The Apps section includes apps that you can use with the drive, including Acronis for backup and WD Security for features including encryption.
Disk Speed Test
Using the Disk Speed Test app from Blackmagicdesign gave the following results when connected via USB-C to a MacBook Pro.
Final Thoughts
You can never have enough storage, and you can never have enough portable storage. This is where the WD My Passport SSD comes in – its small, lightweight and fast!
It’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand and can easily slip into a pocket which you even knowing it’s there!
It’s comes with a USB-C cable but it also comes with an USB-A adaptor for connecting to devices that don’t have USB-C.
Speed wise the drive is very fast, so you won’t be disappointed!
The apps included if you install the additional software give you various benefits from easy backup to encryption – take a look and install whatever you need, it’s all very simple and quick to do.
If you want a small fast drive to carry around with you, then look no further than the WD My Passport SSD.
The WD My Passport SSD is available now and comes in either 500GB, 1TB, 2TB or 4TB. There are also a variety of colours including Red, Gray, Gold, Silver and Blue. The drive reviewed here is the 1TB version and retails for around £116.99.
My favourite part of El Paso, Nightmare was definitely the protagonist. When faced with a blood-soaked woman throwing balls of energy, his response was to shout at her like she was screaming about an expired coupon. He’s awkward, nervous and completely unable to process the nonsense that’s happening in front of him. I love it.
It’s representative of the general tone that El Paso, Nightmare is stabbing for: silly horror comedy. A lot of it is screaming, bloodthirsty monstrosities but it’s layered with this level of irreverent comedy that makes it work. It’s fully settled into the B-movie groove. As a demo for the full title coming later this year, El Paso, Elsewhere, it does its job pretty well.
El Paso, Divided
El Paso, Nightmare‘s main campaign is split into two distinct sections. The first begins with our boy, Luis, waking up, slamming some pills and making the ill-fated choice to get some ice. Unfortunately, the motel he’s staying in has been infested by horrors from beyond time and space, in addition to the usual cockroaches. Being armed with naught but a bucket, he has to run and hide from the monsters while scooping up heart-shaped keys. It’s an effective little opener, which is overlaid with some bizarre, but enjoyable, hip-hop. It’s not that deep but it’s a nice showcase of the ghoulies and gets across the horror-comedy vibe well.
Then we run down a liminal-space nightmare and burst out into a graveyard, to be greeted with a pistol sitting on the ground. Oh, it’s revenge time. The second half is a wave based shooter, as you push through waves of baddies to reach a slowly descending lift. It’s deliberately old school in theme, which I appreciated, even if it was pretty poor at telling me where this magical lift was. Still, I assume that’s kind of the point. We’re supposed to be running around, panicked, desperately trying to find the way out.
El Paso, Pew Pew
Old school shooters live and breathe on how good their guns feel and El Paso, Nightmare does well on this front. The shotgun feels powerful and popping off headshots with the pistol makes enemies ragdoll in a satisfying way. The Uzi does feel like we’re spitting on them instead of shooting them, but they can’t all be winners. Enemy variety is pretty top notch too. On my second run, I fought through hordes of knights, dancing puppets and one giant lumpy bloke, only to turn around and be greeted by a floating, biblically accurate angel. It’s wonderful, weird and chaotic.
Not to say it’s without fault. Enemy AI is fairly old school as well, with most enemies being content to just run straight towards you. El Paso, Nightmare‘s solution is just to spawn in more of them. Not an elegant solution and it brings up another issue: the movement. Please, El Paso, Nightmare, just let me jump. The tight corridors and the AI meant that I was frequently getting followed by a conga line, which would trap me in corners and lead to irritating deaths. Being able to jump would give us the power to properly strafe and herd enemies. Still, one thing I did like was that it doesn’t reload for you. You have to hit R each time. It made things actually tense, especially when I’d point my shotgun at a werewolf and hear nothing but a fatal click.
El Paso, Bitesize
It’s worth remembering that El Paso,Nightmare is an appetiser and not an entree. It’s a playable prologue, so it won’t last you much more than a couple of hours. Hell, the game straight up tells you to refund it if you want to. In terms of getting cash to make the proper game, it’s a lot more entertaining than throwing money into a bottomless Kickstarter page. Just make sure you go in knowing what to expect.
I try and critique games on what they are versus what they’re trying to be. At the end of the day, El Paso, Nightmare is trying to be a funny little horror shooter, serving as a sample of the full game to come. Bar a few small issues, it does that. It won’t stick around for long but, hey, there are worse ways to spend four quid.
Plantera 2: Golden Acorn is another fantastic entry in the Plantera series. While it is a sequel, there is no need to play the original to understand what is happening in this entry. For those unfamiliar, Plantera 2: Golden Acorn is an idle game developed and published by VaragtP and features charming pixelized visuals, a bright bubbly soundtrack, and a satisfying progression system.
Plant, Expand, Sleep and Repeat
In this new exciting, addictive game, the Mellows are back to help you, the player, tend to the garden and grow the fabled Oak tree. These round blue creatures will help you harvest your crops and other resources. By harvesting, your coin count will increase allowing you to expand the garden even further. You can even buy animals to further increase profits.
While there is a lot to learn, it is all introduced with the player’s rank. The game will force you to start by growing leaks, then move to strawberry bushes, and so forth. The player rank will grow as you make more money, in turn allowing you to increase the variety in your garden. All of these mechanics combine into a wonderfully enjoyable experience that kept me hooked for a very long time. I thoroughly enjoyed expanding my garden and customizing it to my liking.
A very lively garden
The Oak Tree
New to this sequel is the golden acorn meter. This meter increases over time and can be increased further by planting decorations all over the garden. Once this meter has maxed out, it will grant you a golden acorn, which can be used to grow the Oak tree in the center of your garden. This tree has several benefits, including housing bees to protect the garden from pests and increasing the speed at which the Mellows work. This new feature adds some nice quality-of-life changes to the gameplay. This includes bees attacking aliens, something which the dogs of the previous game cannot do. It is very addicting and satisfying to watch as the tree grows taller and taller.
Sit back and Idle
As an idle game, this game is all about sitting back and watching the money roll in. This is not a bad thing. As stated earlier, players can expand the Garden to further increase their profits. However, if there is nothing else the player can do they can turn off the game and let the Mellows do some work for a while. How long they will work is determined by how much the player has upgraded the clock upgrade. A huge problem most idle games have is being forced to babysit the computer as the game automatically makes profits. This feature is perfect as I can turn the game off, go to the grocery store, then boot it back up to continue expanding my garden.
Mellows hard at work
Cuteness and charm abound
This game has plenty of charm, from the bright bubbly music to the amazing colorful pixelated graphics. Further exuding this charm is the ability to customize your Mellows. New to this sequel is the ability to put hats on your Mellows. This is a neat new feature that I am glad they added. I enjoyed putting top hats on all my Mellows, making them look fancy. Another thing that makes this game so pleasant to look at is the adorable character designs. This cute and cuddly game is a visual treat for the eyes.
Plantera 2: Golden Acorn Idling at its finest
From the charming visuals to the fun and addicting gameplay, Plantera 2 is one of the best idle games I have played. The only negative I can think of is that it hurt my hand a tiny bit when I was mashing click on a Loot Hero. Outside of that very minor problem, this game is fantastic. I loved every second of this charming expierence.
Cloud gaming is the future! The biggest players on the block are making waves and Amazon refuses to be left behind. Consequently, on the 1st anniversary of Amazon Luna, some big news has been announced. Previously limited to a US-only audience, the rest of the world looked on enviously. However, residents of Canada, Germany, and the UK can now get in on the action.
Not only can you now subscribe to the excellent Amazon Luna+ service, but you can also invest in the Luna Controller. The latter option is a phenomenal way to seamlessly play between a range of devices. What’s more, it can connect via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to enhance its versatility. On top of this, the controller effortlessly reduces gameplay latency, and this improves your experience further still.
Why subscribe to Amazon Luna+?
With plenty of cloud gaming options available, why would you invest in another option? Well, the Amazon Luna+ subscription service is great value for money and offers a vast range of games. Moreover, Amazon Prime subscribers have a plethora of titles available at no extra cost! Alongside this, Ubisoft+ Multi Access allows you to play your Ubisoft PC gaming catalogue on a range of devices.
Talking of devices, Amazon Luna+ can be used on mobile devices, TV, PC, and Fire TV. Furthermore, if you love to stream, you can become a Twitch broadcaster with ease. Stream gameplay live with a camera feed overlaid on-screen using the broadcast button, which provides a simple way to broadcast to the Twitch community. For those on Fire TV devices, simply use a QR code to connect your phone as a webcam and mic.
Enhanced Gameplay.
Luna frequently delivers new features and content, and offers several unique features that make it easy to play and engage with friends, family, and communities:
Luna Phone Controller:Luna Phone Controller allows customers to play Luna on Fire TV using just their iPhone or Android phone as the controller through the Luna Controller app, available as a free download in the iOS and Android app stores. An on-screen controller is an option for new or casual gamers without a controller who wants to check out side-scrollers, turn-based RPGs, trivia titles, and more.
Luna Couch: Enjoy playing local co-op games together with friends on Luna, even when you’re physically apart. The most popular games with Luna Couch among U.S. players are Overcooked!,Pile Up, Death Squared, the Contra Anniversary Collection and the Jackbox Party Pack.
Gaming on Luna.
To play even more titles in the Luna catalogue, customers can choose from three different monthly subscription options. Subscriptions available today are:
Luna+:Luna+ gives customers access to a growing collection of games from across genres—action, adventure, classics, and more. Our largest and most diverse collection of games, Luna+ features fan-favourite titles such as Beach Buggy Racing 2: Hot Wheels Edition, SpongeBob: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated and Resident Evil 2. The Luna+ library includes family favourites, appropriate and approachable for gamers of all ages and a retro selection of beloved classics from publishers like Capcom and SNK. Luna+ is available for £8.99 per month.
Ubisoft+ Multi Access: Ubisoft’s subscription service includes access to fan-favourite AAA titles including Assassin’s Creed, Watch Dogs,Tom Clancy, and Far Cry franchises for £14.99 per month.
Jackbox Games: Only available on Luna, the Jackbox Games subscription includes popular hits like Quiplash, Trivia Murder Party, and Drawful. Jackbox Games are available for £3.99 per month.
(More information on Amazon Luna+ can be found here!)
(More information on the Luna controller can be found here!)
Wobbledogs is the most unique and original game I’ve played so far this year. It’s a creative combination of playing like you are a mad scientist, changing the DNA of a dog, and creating so many more. There are no specific restrictions stopping you from creating the most unusual dog to love. So what can go wrong when you build your own dog and add it to your playroom with the many other dogs you’ve created?
Weird Science, Let’s Get Mutating!
First off, there are no real rules to follow, just a slightly quick tutorial on how to control and set things up. Afterward, you are free to invest time in developing new dogs and bring them to your empty playroom, where you’ll be able to add new items. The entire design is an open space cube floating, giving you a free area to add and design as you like. Leaving you a full amount of freedom to play without restrictions or large goals to achieve.
The only thing that gets a bit confusing with the game is getting a handle on how to use the controls to select anything within the game. I felt a bit disappointed, even though it appeared like a hand cursor on the screen, it was very hard to move or select certain features and objects. I found myself going through every button at times to just release, get near or find what I need to select. It mainly was this control, which is the big part of the game I struggled with, the rest of the buttons with direct actions weren’t difficult to use.
After that one disappointment, I sort of lost interest in the game. It just felt complicated and started to begin feeling frustrated. If it’s to waste time, well this will waste so much time just trying to do one single thing. Sadly, after that issue, I felt the game didn’t interest me as much as I felt in the beginning. However, I did take a second chance at the game after giving it a day to completely clear my mind and reset my thoughts. the result still felt the same, I’m on the fence about the game. Even if it felt a bit easier to understand the controls, it just still is not as easy as I’d like to control every movement and selection.
Don’t get me wrong, the idea was really awesome, using DNA changing and breeding one’s own dog or dogs. Also the idea of having the ability to play with them, and add or change the room as you like. Oh, and I can’t forget the ability to watch them all interact with each other. I did find those features of the game to be quite fun and entertaining. However, the learning portion sort of got a little lost for me, trying to figure out what each micro-organism or what else has been found out on the list. I didn’t really know what it had to do with what I needed to use and the same goes for the strange feeling of dogs being placed into a pod to pupate is also odd for a dog, but maybe just oddly different.
There was one other issue that stumped me. In the beginning, the loading took so long and it almost appeared as if it froze the entire screen. I had no idea if it did freeze and if it required a reset. Fortunately, it did start moving again and everything ran smoothly afterward. I guess maybe having one very slow-loading portion of the game is better than the entire game taking too long to load.
Final Thoughts
This game is quite a nice idea, but it could require a bit more work. I liked the concept, and love the color graphics and cuteness factor, but the few issues that came up so often are hard to pass and forget about. I think I was half the time frustrated and getting a headache from how much I was going around in circles to select and try to do anything I could in the game. Unless a few things get fixed, this game may not be on my radar anytime soon.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers attempts to bring colour to an otherwise grim horror genre. This asymmetrical 7V1 survival multiplayer steps on the toes of Dead by Daylight and Friday the 13th. However, can something as loud and in your face as Dragon Ball excel in this niche arena?
Developed by Dimps and published by Bandai Namco, this is a multiplayer experience. What’s more, it brilliantly incorporates the Dragon Ball lore, has some incredibly unusual ideas, and is thoroughly enjoyable with the right audience. Yet, sadly, its player base is fading and trying to connect to an online match is arduous, tedious, and definitely lacking in fun. Consequently, no matter how much you love this game, its connectivity issues hold it back.
Hide from the raider and stay alive.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers gets off to a bad start.
Learning the fundamentals is nobody’s idea of fun. But somehow Dragon Ball: The Breakers makes it a little more horrendous. With tricky controls, mental ideas, and a linear approach, it is extremely tiresome. Thankfully, though, once you break through the learning curve, the action improves vastly.
The game can be played solo or online with up to 7 others. Each endeavour comprises 7 human survivors and a Dragon Ball villain as the raider. The aim of each round never changes as a mashup of resource gathering and combative moments culminates in a fight to the death or an ingenious escape.
The 7 survivors are sucked into a temporal rift where they must face off against some grandiose Dragon Ball characters. By utilising the massive environment, scavenging for supplies, and working together, each hero must stop Frieza, Cell, and more villains from destroying the world.
Best escape any way you can.
Simple concept.
Though each arena is a great sandbox world, the concept is relatively simple. The raider must skulk around the place while hunting its next victim. Whereas the survivors must collect power keys to start a time machine or fill energy cells to annihilate the raider. Alongside this, there are supplies to harvest, and some interesting combat mechanics to use.
Effectively, Dragon Ball: The Breakers is a game of cat and mouse. Each of the survivors must search marked-out zones to find key items. All the while, the raider will try to pick you off one by one. The idea isn’t new to the genre, but the crazy nature of the theme pushes it into a surreal realm.
Alongside this, transpheres can be unlocked to empower every survivor with the spirit of a fallen warrior. As such, the combination of this idea and the ability to work as a team gives the survivors some interesting tactical ideas and an advantage over the overpowered raider.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers looks dated.
Dragon Ball has such a fine pedigree that I expected Dragon Ball: The Breakers to blow me away. However: the textures aren’t great, the landscapes lack detail, and it is visually lacklustre. What’s more, minimal arenas and raiders make it unfortunately repetitive. Alongside this, it didn’t perform as smoothly as I’d have liked and this taints things further still.
I expected the audio to be loud, in your face, and distinct. Luckily, I wasn’t disappointed or let down. The cliched approach added to the theme while enhancing the drama and madness. Additionally, the loud sound effects and unique noises for each action were interesting and enjoyable to hear.
Well done for escaping the hunter.
Confusing controls.
I don’t mind a tough learning curve, but Dragon Ball: The Breakers took the biscuit! With manic combat, large levels, and an all-powerful raider, shit hits the fan all the time. Consequently, I expected the layout to be more intuitive and better considered. Alongside this, the tutorial is as dull as dishwater. Subsequently, this doesn’t help matters.
Because of its rapidly fading player base, this lacks replay value and longevity. However, if you can find a lobby, you’ll enjoy the challenging and insane action as well as the opportunity to level up. On top of this, you can customise your hero while selecting unique features from the key characters of the franchise. Disappointingly, a lack of content and dead servers hold this back, though.
Dragon Ball: The Breakers is an interesting concept that has failed to take off.
I applaud the developers for their efforts, but the asymmetrical survival genre is best suited to horror. Now, I enjoyed the mashup of ideas and the Dragon Ball theme. Yet, confusing mechanics, poor visuals, and a lack of content prevent it from excelling. Accordingly, I don’t recommend that you buy it. However, more information can be found here! Will you survive, or will the overpowered raider take all the glory?
Tricky Thief lets gamers forget about hectic action and violence. Instead, it asks you to test your mind as well as your logical thinking. As such, it is a casual experience that is good for completionists and players of all ages.
Developed by YeTa Games, and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a top-down puzzle title. What’s more, its art style and audio make it a captivating experience as well. Alongside this, its simple approach and tongue-in-cheek nature are safe and can be enjoyed by everyone.
A nice way to learn the fundamentals.
Tricky Thief has no story.
Rarely does this genre incorporate a story. Consequently, the action can feel shallow and there is no empathy towards the protagonists. Disappointingly, Tricky Thief follows this pattern and there is no explanation for what is happening. Accordingly, this could have been easily resolved had cutscenes and a basic plot been introduced.
However, these elements never appeared, and you are left to form your own conclusions. Yet, let us not dwell on this shortcoming, as the core concept is well-conceived, enjoyable, and mentally taxing (in the latter stages). The action resolves around the “hero”, a thief who wishes to steal the gold and avoid detection. If he is spotted by the roaming security personnel, he is arrested and you must start the level again. However, if you are successful, you’ll escape and live to steal more treasure.
Things are getting a little harder.
Create your path.
Though the concept is easy to understand, solving each puzzle isn’t a walk in the park. The thief can only move in 4 directions and they stop whenever they collide with a wall, crate, or special tile. As such, you must create a path to the treasure by running at walls and adjusting your plan accordingly. By doing this, you’ll carve a path through each stage and collect all the treasure.
Additionally, you must be aware of the security guards, pulsing beacons, explosive boxes, and crates. The guards walk a set route that is marked on the floor. Furthermore, they have a restricted field of view, and both elements must be manipulated if you wish to succeed.
This being said, the early stages of Tricky Thief are far too easy. Consequently, your focus will wane. Yet, once you tackle these levels, the action is testing, and the gameplay improves vastly. Had the developers incorporated more mechanics or a harder option, I believe the game would have been much better.
Tricky Thief: A nice whimsy art style.
Tricky Thief has a bright colour palette and a charming art style. The whimsy character models and simple stage design allow you to focus on the puzzles. What’s more, the animation is basic but smooth, and this is more than acceptable. Subsequently, I wasn’t blown away, but I appreciated the end product nonetheless.
The audio complements the visuals. With a charming and upbeat soundtrack, it isn’t impressive, but it is serviceable. What’s more, there is a mischievous edge to proceedings, and that enhances the sneaky theme further still.
I did say that things get harder.
Basic controls.
Unsurprisingly, a straightforward concept has a basic control layout. Yet, this is so refined that I was shocked. With no action button or switches to select, all you must do is move the thief. Thankfully, the navigation controls are responsive and accurate and this improves the gameplay.
Tricky Thief unfortunately lacks both longevity and replay value. Because the opening levels are so easy, you fly through 50% of the game without concern. Furthermore, a lack of additional game modes holds it back as well. However, this is perfect for completionists and is still good value for money.
Tricky Thief is a pleasant and casual title.
This isn’t a game that will wow you, nor is it bad enough for you to voice a complaint. Instead, it is a pleasant and casual title that is inexpensive to buy. Furthermore, once you navigate the easy levels, it will test your grey matter, and that was fantastic. I loved its charming way, but the lack of cinematic and story disappointed me. Accordingly, despite its shortcomings, I recommend that you buy it here! The treasure is yours for the taking. However, you must avoid the guards, beacons, and explosions if you wish to carve a path and be successful.
Poker has been around as an evergreen pastime for centuries, and with the rise of online casinos, there are more ways than ever to play this classic game. But, with so many variations, how do you know which ones to try? In this article, we’ll look at some of the best poker games you can play online so that you can find the perfect fit for your playing style. So, whether you’re a seasoned pro or a newcomer to online poker, there’s a game out there for you!
Texas Hold’em: The Classic Poker Game.
When it comes to poker, Texas Hold’em is the undisputed king. As the most popular and widely played variation, you’ll find no shortage of online games and tournaments to join. Here’s why Texas Hold’em is a must-try:
Easy to learn: With simple rules and a clear structure, Texas Hold’em is an excellent starting point for beginners.
Wide range of strategies: As your skills progress, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to develop strategies and outwit your opponents.
Huge online community: With millions of players worldwide, you’ll never struggle to find a game or make new friends who share your passion for poker.
Omaha: A Twist on Texas Hold’em
Omaha is a great choice if you’re looking for a poker game similar to Texas Hold’em, but it offers more complexity. Here are some reasons to give Omaha a try:
More hole cards: In Omaha, each player is dealt four hole cards instead of two, making for more interesting hands and decision-making.
Pot-Limit format: Most online Omaha games are played in Pot-Limit format, adding another layer of strategy to your betting.
Variety: Omaha comes in several variations, such as Omaha Hi-Lo, where the pot is split between the highest and lowest hands.
Seven Card Stud: A Classic Favorite
Though it has waned in popularity compared to Texas Hold’em and Omaha, Seven Card Stud remains a favorite among poker enthusiasts. Here’s why you should give this classic game a shot:
No community cards: Seven Card Stud has no community cards, making it a more individualized game where you’re not sharing cards with other players.
Up and down cards: Players receive a mix of face-up and face-down cards, providing a unique blend of visible and hidden information.
Strong memory skills: With more cards and no community cards, Seven Card Stud requires good memory and observational skills to read your opponents and make the best decisions.
Razz: Lowball Poker Fun
Razz might be right up your alley if you’re looking for something different. This lowball variant of Seven Card Stud rewards the lowest hand, making for a fun change of pace. Here’s what sets Razz apart:
The lowest hand wins: The objective of Razz is to make the lowest possible five-card hand, flipping the traditional poker mindset on its head.
Unique strategy: Razz requires players to adjust their strategies and think differently, making it a great challenge for experienced poker players.
Less popular: Since Razz isn’t as well-known as other poker games, you might find softer competition, giving you a better chance to win.
Triple Draw Lowball: Three Chances to Win
Another exciting lowball option, Triple Draw Lowball, offers players three opportunities to draw and improve their hands. Here’s why you should consider trying Triple Draw Lowball:
Multiple draws: In this game, you’ll have three chances to exchange cards and improve your hand, allowing for more strategic play.
Two popular variations: Triple Draw Lowball comes in two flavors: Deuce-to-Seven and Ace-to-Five, giving you options for your preferred lowball style.
Less mainstream: Similar to Razz, Triple Draw Lowball’s lower popularity might mean weaker competition, making it a potentially profitable option for skilled players.
Zoom Poker: Fast-Paced Action
For those who crave a quicker pace, Zoom Poker is a thrilling, high-speed alternative to traditional poker games. Here’s why you should check out Zoom Poker:
Rapid gameplay: In Zoom Poker, you’re instantly moved to a new table with new opponents after each hand, keeping the action non-stop.
Less waiting: You won’t have to wait for slow players or sit through boring hands; you’ll always be in the thick of the action.
More hands per hour: With the fast pace of Zoom Poker, you’ll play significantly more hands per hour, perfect for players looking to gain experience quickly.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, there are tons of thrilling poker titles to choose from online. Whether it’s the traditional Texas Hold’em or something more dynamic like Zoom Poker, everyone can find a game that fits their taste and capabilities. So why not try out all these options and discover your ideal match?Best Types of Poker Games to Play Online
Streaming and video reviews are great ways to get your point of view heard. However, if you have an awful microphone, people will run for the hills. Consequently, you want to buy something that sounds incredible, is easy to use, and looks amazing. Luckily, the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone offers all of these elements and plenty more besides.
Designed with build and audio quality in mind, this microphone blew me away. Furthermore, its metal casing and simple effective lighting system were fantastic. On top of this, there are 4 recording modes that are easy to select and straightforward to understand. As such, this is the perfect accessory for those that are starting out, and those that want a little more versatility in their set-up.
What’s in the box of the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone?
The simple but effective packaging is professional and striking. Furthermore, it is adorned with key selling points and can be recycled.
The Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone comes in three parts. You have the microphone, a small fixed tripod stand, and a 5/8″ universal lug. Each of these items is made from metal and has a brushed black finish. What’s more, the mic has a mode button at the top, gain and headphone volume knobs at the front, and a USB-C port and LED switch at the bottom.
The USB-C cable is relatively short, but it can be replaced with any standard cable of the same fitment.
The basic user manual highlights the fundamentals. Alongside this, it tells you the use of each of the 4 recording modes.
Technical aspects.
Microphone Type
Back electret condenser
Pickup/Polar Patterns
Cardioid, Bidirectional, Stereo, Omnidirectional
Audio Connection
USB 1.0 or 2.0
Frequency Response
20Hz ~ 20kHz
Sensitivity
‑36dB ±2dB (0dB=1V/Pa at 1kHz)
Maximum SPL
130dB
Microphone Gain
‑12dB, 12dB maximum
Output Impedance
32 ohms
Sampling Rate
Up to 96kHz
Bit Depth
24‑bit
LED Accent Lighting Colours
Pink, yellow, white, blue, green, off (no lighting)
Compatible Operating Systems
Windows® XP/Vista®/7/8/10, macOS® 10.x or later, Linux®
If you are looking for a new microphone, then you’ll want to prioritise usability and sound recording over looks. However, the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone does look great, so you won’t have to discount too much, fortunately. We can forget its style for one moment as we focus on its excellent recording facilities.
Designed with 4 recording settings, you are spoilt for choice. Monoprice has incorporated Cardioid, Stereo, Bidirectional, and Omnidirectional as standard. Luckily, each of these options is easily identifiable thanks to the excellent mode LED system. With the press of a button, the microphone flicks between settings while automatically adjusting the pickup and cancellation. This was incredible, as this makes it a truly versatile accessory that works on many levels.
Compared to its peers, the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone can be used for a range of tasks. You may wish to record musical instruments, interviews with one other person, a podcast situation, or a large group of friends. Whatever the event, this microphone will work perfectly. Moreover, thanks to the excellent frequency range, this device easily records a selection of vocal tones. On top of this, the sound quality was crystal clear, and I never struggled with distortion or unwanted background noises.
Build quality.
So, we know it is easy to use and has exceptional recording facilities, but what about the build quality? Well, this weighty microphone excels in this department as well. With a brushed metal finish and a wired grid cover, it is built to last. What’s more, a delightful LED omits a coloured hue to improve the show. On top of this, the universal 5/8″ connection allows you to use the supplied mount or a boom arm. This was incredible, as it adds to its already versatile nature.
The control system is straightforward and the gain and headphone knobs are tactile and simple to adjust. Furthermore, adjusting the recording settings or the colour was easy to do. Thanks to the easily identifiable buttons, you can set up the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone in no time at all. Additionally, Monoprice has utilised a USB-C system to power the device. This was a wise choice, as I believe it makes it more accessible to standard gamers and streamers.
Is the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone worth it?
Having reviewed the ROCCAT Torch, the Ampligame A8 microphone, and the Shure MV7X, I know what a good microphone looks like. Consequently, the Dark Matter: Sentry Streaming Microphone compares nicely to its peers. With exceptional build quality, a fancy LED display, and simple controls, this is a user-friendly device. Moreover, the 4 preset recording modes are exceptional! As such, this makes this microphone stand out from its peers.
I absolutely adored its usability, the sound quality, and how great it looks. On top of this, the plug-and-play approach and USB-C setup make it the perfect accessory for newbies and veterans alike. Accordingly, it is for all these reasons that I recommend you buy it here!
(More information on Monoprice can be found here!)
I’ve always found horror and comedy to be two sides of the same coin. Both seek to probe the emotional core of the mind, with links back to past experiences. They’re also both incredibly hard to pull off. Ever tell a joke and have it fall completely flat? It takes a proper set of ingredients to make people laugh or, as Anthology of Fear is trying to do, scare them. Fear is a primal, near-inexplicable emotion that’s hard to pin down.
Both horror and comedy tend to fall back on stock tropes, too. Look at how many zombies are in popular culture these days. In both genres, actually. Still, the rules of comedy tend to be easier to lay out, so let’s flip those rules to horror and run Anthology of Fear through the gauntlet.
Ghosts of Redundant Media
First rule, a good scare requires a good setup. Anthology of Fear does alright on this one. The story starts off fairly routine, but gets more interesting as time goes on. We play as a chap looking for his missing brother, which leads us to (what else) a creepy hospital. From there, the plot takes a sharp left turn as we discover that the hospital staff have been experimenting with dream therapy, which has led to some disastrous results. To uncover the truth, we begin to watch some mysterious VHS tapes that relate to these incidents and, ultimately, the whereabouts of our brother. As setups for horror goes, it’s not too bad.
Anthology of Fear isn’t too shabby at setting up atmosphere either. It’s well paced in the beginning, with a lot of walking through creaking corridors and flickering lights. I found myself looking over my shoulder quite a bit for the first half hour, which was a positive sign. Unfortunately, it couldn’t quite keep it up. A suspensful atmosphere isn’t worth much if there’s no payoff, which is distinctly lacking. Anthology of Fear is like a rollercoaster where the big climb just ends with the photo kiosk and a long walk down a staircase. Well, alright, there is some pay off but that leads us to the second rule…
Second rule, the audience shouldn’t be able to guess what scare is coming. Let me conduct an experiment. If you’re playing a horror game and you turn a corner to see a mannequin, do you think it’s going to A) model fashionable clothing or B) appear behind you when you do something important? It dropped the bottom out of the atmosphere for me, because I guessed (correctly) exactly what was going to happen. So when they did inevitably move, I just nodded slightly and carried on. A whole half of the game is built around these things, turning a harrowing experience into a humdrum one.
Threat Not Found
It’s particularly frustrating because Anthology of Fear‘s story is hitting interesting beats. The second chapter seemed to be building up around the idea of survivor’s guilt, paired with themes of suicide. Its a brutal story that doesn’t pull any punches. It even competently links together the different chapters. It’s an absolute gold mine for horror, but Anthology of Fear only starts to dig in right towards the end. There’s a giant eye that’s saying mean things, I keep getting locked in rooms and someone’s crying over my shoulder. Spooky stuff. It’s trying its best to get under my skin, but the entire thing is completely undermined by the next rule..
Rule three, the best scares are the risky ones. Anthology of Fear is desperately lacking in any sort of threat. It’s one of those games where ninety percent of game time is spent walking down a corridor and the other ten percent is on easy little puzzles. Even when a monster did appear, all he did was make my screen wobble for a bit and then disappear. I did get a gun at one point, which gave me hope that we were about to throw some tension in the mix. It even had a unique mechanic where you could only fire it when a phone was ringing. But then it disappeared after about five minutes and it was back to holding up the left stick. Knowing that nothing bad could happen to me rather killed what tension was left.
It’s not helped by the slightly wonky execution. For one thing, Anthology of Fear makes you hold the right shoulder button and then press A to examine things. A small problem, granted, but given that I ended up holding down RB almost constantly, I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t set examine to just the A button. It’s also not great at explaining its mechanics. At one point it wanted me to yank out some of my teeth (don’t ask), but was weirdly reticient about telling me to how to do it. Add in some wonky writing and voice acting and you’re left with a slight unfinished feel. That said, let me give some credit: it does look rather nice. The lighting and general graphics hold up Anthology of Fear a great deal, even if it is weirdly insistent on smearing Vaseline over the camera.
Post-It Note of Fear
The last rule is an important one – don’t charge a premium price if you’re only going to be on stage for five minutes. Anthology of Fear‘s full playtime clocked in at just over two hours. For £13, that’s pretty painful. Layers of Fear, a comparable game, is two quid more and about twice as long. I wouldn’t mind as much if the story wrapped up well, but it just meanders about. The missing brother plot is concluded about an hour in. We’re left exploring the brain of a tangentially related woman and then it just ends. There’s no interesting climax or even any characterisation to speak of. Two stories does not an anthology make.
I do feel a little bad for bashing it because there is some grain of potential buried here. But it’s buried in handfuls of dirt from other, stronger titles. Mannequins, looping buildings and impossible architecture. It’s all been done before. I’m glad we all agree that PT was an interesting experiment but it’s time to move on. Dig deeper into that interesting plot, perhaps explore those gun mechanics a bit and then you’ll have something a lot more interesting. As it stands, Anthology of Fear is trying its best but the curtain hook is already extending to yank it off.
