LEGO have just released an Atari 2600 set, and it’s awesome!
Take a trip back to the 1980s with this LEGO Atari 2600 building set for adults. Enjoy a rewarding project creating all the details of this replica console, game cartridges and joystick. Gaming fans will love the 3 mini builds depicting themes from 3 popular Atari games. There’s even a hidden 1980s scene to build for total nostalgia overload.
Rediscover 3 of the most popular Atari games: Asteroids, Adventure and Centipede. There’s a cartridge for each, plus 3 scenes to build capturing the story of each game. The games slot into the vintage-style console and can be stored in the cartridge holder. Check out the artwork, inspired by the original Atari designs plus a touch of LEGO spirit.
Revel in the retro details – This replica version of the Atari 2600 console is packed with authentic details that you’ll remember from the original with a few LEGO twists added.
Build and reveal the 1980s scene – The hidden vignette shows a kid playing Asteroids in a 1980s room. Spot the details like the classic TV, boom box, posters, retro phone and roller skates.
Create 3 game display pieces – Build 3 scenes inspired by the Asteroids, Adventure and Centipede games, including a spaceship shooting at asteroids, a castle and a centipede with mushroom builds.
The Main console model measures over 8 cm (3 in.) high, 33 cm (13 in.) wide and 22 cm (8.5 in.) deep.
One of the first games consoles I got to play on as a kid in the 70s was the Atari 2600 – we were lucky enough to have one and I used to love playing on it. I still have an Atari 2600 console in my collection (not the one we had in the 70s though). One of my all time favourite games is Adventure so I was so happy to see that included!
The attention to detail is exactly what you expect from LEGO and they don’t disappoint. This set really is one for the collection if you are fan of retro gaming and cool LEGO sets!
The LEGO Atari 2600 set is available now priced around £209.99. There are 2532 pieces, it’s aimed a builders aged 18 and over and the set number is 10306.
Here is our review of the House of Marley Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker.
The Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker delivers exceptional audio clarity and unmatched sound experience. With a 20-hour battery life, quick-charge technology and an optional multi-pair mode, this innovative Marley must-have promises non-stop sounds. Dust-proof and water-resistant, the Get Together 2 speaker makes for a favourite travel companion, wherever you’re going. True to its roots, this speaker was crafted with natural bamboo and upcycled fabric made from plastic bottles to give new life to old materials.
Features
20-hour playtime
Multi-pair mode
30-metre Bluetooth range
Dust and water resistant (IP65 Certified)
Bass Boost, Acoustic, and Marley Signature Sound EQs
Dimensions: 33.4cm x 11.7cm x 10.3cm
Made with sustainable materials
100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging
What’s in the box?
The box contains the Get Together 2 speaker, sticker, quick start guide and USB-C cable.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The first thing you notice about the Get Together 2 speaker is that it doesn’t look like your normal plain speaker. The Get Together 2 is crafted from natural bamboo, premium REWIND fabric, REGRIND silicone and aluminium. Delivered in 100% plastic-free and recyclable packaging, this speaker is good for your mood and even better for the planet. Every purchase also helps to plant trees around the world.
Charging up the speaker is easy, just plug in the charging cable and away you go, you can use the speaker whilst it’s charging too! Even the USB-C cable is branded Marley! When fully charged, the battery will last for around 20 hours, so that’s pretty much all day listening if you are out and about.
You can even charge your phone from the speaker too, after all what’s the point of having an amazing speaker if your phone runs out of battery and you have nothing to play!
Whilst it’s billed as a portable speaker it’s still a little heavy, but not too much that it would put you off taking it with you for a picnic or a party, or anything in between! The speaker is dust proof and water resistant too, so don’t worry about it getting damaged.
Pairing the speaker to a phone was really simple – it took a few seconds once the pairing button had been pressed. Your phone works up to about 30 metres away from the speaker. It works with either Android or iOS. You can even pair it with another Get Together 2 speaker to give you an even better sound experience.
There are three different EQ modes to choose from, Bass Boost, Acoustic, and Marley Signature Sound, all of which can be selected at the touch of a button on the rear of the speaker, the colour appearing to signify which EQ mode you have chosen. All modes sound really great, so it’s really going to be a case of choosing your favourite. Personally I was more than happy with the Marley Signature Sound mode. The speaker itself pumps out 40 watts of power.
You can even use the speaker to answer phone calls and the quality of the inbuilt microphone is great too.
There are three buttons on the top of the speaker that handle all the controls, from changing the volume, to answering and ending phone calls and more.
If you are in the market for a high quality portable speaker that not only looks great, but is great for the environment, then take a look and a listen to the House of Marley Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker – you wont be disappointed.
The House of Marley Get Together 2 Bluetooth Speaker is available now priced around £249.99.
Celebrate 90 years of LEGO creations as you build this scaled-up anniversary tribute to the Classic 497 LEGO Galaxy set.
Join the celebrations to mark 90 years of LEGO creations with this nostalgic building project for adults. This anniversary collectible edition of the Classic 497 LEGO Galaxy Explorer model retains all the joy of the 1979 set but on a bigger scale.
Take your time crafting the features of this buildable model including the blended delta wing configuration of the original craft. The spaceship sits on 3 retractable landing legs and features opening rear doors and a retractable ramp to deploy the rover.
The rear of the ship houses the rover compartment with extra tools and an extendable ramp. The cockpit opens to reveal the interior of the spaceship where there are seats for all 4 astronauts as well as a living quarters with 2 beds, computers and storage compartments.
When I was a kid, a very long time ago, some of my favourite LEGO sets were the LEGO Space ones, I loved building the sets with my Dad and then playing with them, imaging all the adventures the astronauts were on. This was around the time of the first Space Shuttle launch, and all of that really interested me. Now here we are, 40 years (or so) later and I am building space themed sets with my son, and both of us loving it just as much as I did when I was kid, possibly even more now that I am sharing that with him.
This 1,254-piece set includes 4 astronauts and their robot helper, plus a surface rover and accessories and is available now priced around £89.99 and the set number is 10497 (which is a nice touch given the original set was number 497).
If you ever had a LEGO Space set as a kid, or you want to start building LEGO space sets with your kids (or you just want to revisit your youth), then you will want to pick this one up, it’s great! The set is aimed at 18 years old and above, but that didn’t stop us!
Here is our review of the Waatr LYT Self-Cleaning Water Purifier.
This bottle has a powerful ultraviolet light is your family’s new favourite tech! Built right into the cap, hard-working rays are on the same wavelength as the UV used to sanitise operating theatres and water treatment plants. These UV-C rays destroy various micro-organisms in your drinking water. Third-Party tested to kill 99.9% of e-coli in your water. The LYT bottle cap stops odours from breeding inside your water bottle. EVERY HOUR, powerful UV rays in the cap automatically activate, keeping your bottle fresh and clean keeping odour and everyday funk away from the bottle.
The box contains the water bottle and a charging cable.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
Everyone needs water to survive, and there are plenty of water bottles on the market that ensure the water in the bottle remains cool for a period time. The Waatr LYT bottle adds to that – it actually purifies the water in the bottle killing 99.99% of bio-contaminants.
There is a magnetic charging cable in the box that you connect to the LYT cap in order to charge it. Once charged you only need to ensure the purification function is enabled (you can also disable it to stop it using the battery when you are not using the bottle). The purification cycle happens automatically every hour.
When you fill up the bottle you can start the purification process by pressing the top twice and the blue light comes on. The process takes around 3 minutes to complete.
The process also keeps the bottle clean and odour free too!
I found the bottle easy to use (there really isn’t much to it!), it kept my water cool for a long period of time (to be fair I had drunk the contents and filled up way before the 12 hour limit to keep the water cool, but overnight it was very useful in keeping the water cool).
Taste wise I couldn’t notice any difference from drinking the water straight from the tap, but I felt reassured the purifier was making the water “safer”.
If you drink a lot of water and want a bottle to not only keep the water cool but to ensure its pure, then look no further than the LYT self-cleaning water purifier.
The Waatr LYT Self-Cleaning Water Purifier is available now from Zero Water with prices starting around £49.99. It also comes in a variety of colours too!
If you already have one of the many supported bottles you can just buy the LYT cap only to provide the waster purification function for around £29.99.
Here is a closer look at the Army AirTag Case from RUGD.
The RUGD. Army AirTag Case is the perfect companion for protecting your Apple AirTag. This ultra-protective case is made with super tough materials that are durable enough to withstand any outdoor activities.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the case and carabiner clip.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
If you have an Apple AirTag then this really is a useful bit of kit!
Fitting the AirTag took a few minutes as the material was a little stiff (although that also gave me a good feeling about protecting it too).
The box includes a carabiner clip that you can attach the case to and then attach to a bag or something else, or you can just fit the case to your keyring.
The Army AirTag Case provides a useful addition to not only protect your AirTag but make it easier to use it for whatever purpose you bought it for!
The Army AirTag Case from RUGD is available now priced around £14.99.
Here is a closer look at the Extendable Tripod from Kikkerland.
Great for both photography and video recording! The extendable tripod offers a height range between 13.7 (35cm) to 28.3 (72cm). Perfect for use on a tabletop surface or as a hand-held camera prop. Each leg extends individually for convenient use on uneven or outdoor surfaces. Adjustable handle for accurately positioning the camera angle, including a built-in level to ensure picture is level. Equipped with an easy-to-mount universal phone holder (suitable for phones up to 3 (7,62 cm) wide) that also works with regular cameras.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the tripod and camera clip.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
The Extendable Tripod is small and lightweight, and it can easily slip into a bag with very little effort.
Setting up the tripod is effortless and you just screw on the phone clip to the top. Then just place your phone in the clip, adjust the height of the tripod and start using it – it really is as simple as that.
The tripod also has a spirit level so that you can make sure your phone is level when you use it – that is a really useful addition!
Whether you want to use it to take pictures or you want to do vlogging, this is a useful bit of kit at a very reasonable price.
The Extendable Tripod from Kikkerland is available now priced around £20.
Here is a closer look at the Camera Pencil Sharpener from Kikkerland.
What’s in the box?
The box contains the pencil sharpener.
A Closer Look
Final Thoughts
If you use pencils then at some point you are going to need a pencil sharpener. The Camera Pencil Sharpener from Kikkerland looks like an old style camera.
The place you put the pencil to sharpener it can be extended to fit any size pencil.
All the pencil shavings are collected in the base of the camera and the drawer easily pulls out to empty them in a bin.
If you are looking for a cool gift for a birthday or even Christmas present then take a look at this!
I, like most people, have dabbled in content creation. As such, I’ve fallen into the normal pitfalls, and I’ve experimented with an array of video editors. My go-to option was Adobe Premiere, but this professional editor was wasted on me. Instead, I wanted something that was intuitive, easy to use, and quick to pick up. This is where ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 comes into play. It’s an incredible piece of software that is great for beginners and more advanced users.
Furthermore, it won’t break the bank and has three price points to select from. First, there is the free option which has everything included, but there is a catch. A small intro and outro for the product is included in everything you create. If this isn’t for you, there is a one-time payment option. For around $80, you have a perpetual licence with every upgrade for version 6. However, any new programs will have to be purchased separately. Finally, there is a yearly payment plan. For about $30 a year, you get every upgrade and the latest version of the software. The latter two options don’t have the intro and outro videos, so your final product isn’t tainted by unnecessary advertising.
Whichever one is suitable for you, you know you’ll be rewarded with an excellent editing program. What’s more, there is a screen capture mode, standalone voice recording, and much more. As such, it is an incredibly versatile tool that will tick many would-be content creators’ must-have boxes.
ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 blew my mind.
My aforementioned use of Adobe Premiere has prepared me for complex and often convoluted experiences. Accordingly, I was expecting a harsh learning curve and many hours of trial and error. However, instead, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 blew my mind because of how simple it is to use. With straightforward guides to follow, and obvious tiles to work with, you can get straight to work. Yes, there are some advanced options missing that Adobe offers, but many people won’t miss these.
Instead, you can get to grips with trimming, adjusting, filtering, and transitioning whatever clips you want. Furthermore, there are an array of excellent filters to use to alter your final product. Thankfully, to make things easier, each layer you’ve created can be added to each clip to ensure continuity is consistent throughout. Alongside this, the audio and video can be split to play with each element. What’s more, you can adjust or mute the volume altogether if you so wish.
This leads me to one of my minor issues with the software. Where Adobe Premiere excels is its audio balancing technology. Sadly, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 doesn’t have this option. Consequently, if you have many small clips, you have to merge and balance each one manually. This is a key area that needs to be worked on in the future. This is especially important as there is no dB indicator. Subsequently, getting voice and video levels right takes some effort.
Make your videos pop.
Being able to place two clips together is all well and good. However, for a professional finish, you’ll want slick transitions, overlays, animations, unique text, and so forth. Luckily, many of these options are free to download or included from the off. What’s more, placing the transitional elements between clips is straightforward and worry-free.
If you are familiar with editing, you’ll like some of the regular choices available. However, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 also has some unusual ideas. Consequently, your videos will pop and stand out from the crowd. Thanks to the excellent UI, it is easy to edit the transparency and length of effect. As such, you feel in total control of every video you create.
ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 is easy to use.
What was particularly great was the drag-and-drop functionality. Clips are imported into a separate window and you are free to place them however you like. Accordingly, swapping clips around and changing your movie is incredibly easy. Alongside this, you’ll enjoy up to 60 FPS, frame-by-frame scrolling, limitless tracks for video, audio, and images, and much, much more.
So, we know that the editing side is excellent. But, how about the exporting elements? Well, these were phenomenal as well. Thanks to an easy pop-up design, you can quickly select from an array of choices. Upload to YouTube or Vimeo, select a file-specific device such as a mobile phone or games console or store the file on your computer. Whatever you decide, it’s as simple as that.
Of course, you can delve deeper by improving the quality and the compression size. Word of warning, however, the file size can be quite large when using 4k. Yet, you needn’t worry too much when uploading to YouTube as their system compresses the hell out of it, anyway.
Mere mortals can access it.
When video editing is mentioned, the words high-performance PC normally follow. Fortunately, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 doesn’t require a beast of a machine to run. That being said, the better the animal, the greater the performance. Yet, I understand high-end tech isn’t within everyone’s reach and this software works on moderately powerful machines.
Your specs are as follows. Intel Core i3 or AMD Ryzen (2GHz or faster) processor, 8GB Ram (16GB Ram recommended), a DirectX 10 compatible graphics adapter, a 1024x768px display (1920x1080px recommended) and just 4GB of available hard disk space. As you can see, these aren’t top-notch specs by any means, and subsequently, most “average” users can run this program. Sadly, though, Mac owners are out of luck as this is a Windows-only piece of software.
ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 is designed for amateurs.
Video editing isn’t traditionally aimed at the amateur market. However, ACDsee Luxea Video Editor 6 has broken this mould. Accordingly, it allows more would-be creators a chance to show off their skills and video content. Moreover, it is ridiculously easy to get to grips with. On top of this, its finished product is up with the market-leading programs at a quarter of the price. It is for these reasons that I recommend you to buy it here!
The great thing about Apple TV is that you can add apps and make various alterations to the digital sign and/or TV that you are using. This gives you a degree of flexibility and adaptability that makes it easy to set up digital signs and run them the way you want.
Set Up Your Digital Sign and Your Apple TV Device
This is pretty simple since the Apple TV (or set-top device) tells you how to set it all up. You need it up and running so that you can see the menu working on your screen. You then need to connect it to the Internet.
Will you need a permanent Internet connection for your digital sign? That really depends on the type of setup you want. For example, if you want live updates or the ability to change your content live and over the Internet, then you are going to need a permanent Internet connection. However, that subject is better saved for when you decide how you want your digital signs to operate.
Add the Digital Sign Software
Since you are running an Apple TV system, you are able to add apps to your set top box and/or to the Apple TV device (smart TV) itself. If this is all set up and you are able to do it correctly, then you need to download your Kitcast Apple TV app and install it.
Installing your digital sign app is not that different from installing an app on your Smartphone. You download it, and it installs almost on its own. You agree to a few privacy agreements and so forth, and you are up and running. Now, at this point you will need your digital sign connected to the Internet so you can continue with the next part.
Add Your Digital Sign Software To Your PC or Laptop
You now need a device from which you may operate your digital devices. If you had several digital signs set up, you would control them all from this single device. In truth, the device you use can be a Smartphone or a tablet, but most people prefer a Mac or Windows computer simply because it is more powerful and they can use other more powerful programs while using the digital sign software.
You install your software on your PC or laptop, and then you add your digital signs to the system. If your digital sign is connected to the Internet, you should be able to connect it to your PC/Laptop software. There are several ways to do this, but one of the most common (perhaps the most easiest) is to generate a security code with your digital sign and then enter it into your PC/Laptop software. It is a little like when you pair two devices and use a pass code so that other people cannot pair into that connection.
Adding Content To Your Signs
You will need to learn how to use the digital sign software on your PC or laptop. You will need to learn how to add content, how to alter your content, and how to send it to different digital signs. There are also issues like if you want to send the same content to all your digital signs, or if you want each sign to have its own content. It isn’t really that difficult, it is just a lot of micromanaging as you set each digital sign going. However, once you have set them up, there is need to keep fiddling with them. You can just leave them running, and you can even save the settings so that every time you set up your digital signs they will run the same content until told otherwise.
When it comes to certain franchises, you know exactly what to expect. GTA is gory and violent, Forza is mind-blowingly realistic, and COD is competitive and full of hackers. However, what if you want a deep but amusing game instead? Well, you turn to the likes of Saints Row or Destroy all Humans! Luckily, the sequel remake to the latter is released in August, so the long anticipated wait is almost over. Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed is a zany adventure that is full of innuendo, smut, toilet humour, and more. Consequently, it is aimed firmly at an adult audience, though younger gamers will enjoy it at a shallow level.
Developed by Black Forest Games and published by THQ Nordic, this is a sci-fi adventure title. What’s more, it has a vast open world that is traversed with the use of an alien spaceship. As such, each smallish location is manageable, interesting, in-depth, and full of collectables. On top of this, there is a whacky and amusing story to enjoy, a bunch of eccentric characters to encounter, and plenty of crazy action. In short, it evolves nicely from its predecessor and will entertain you from one hour to the next.
Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed tells an amusing tale.
In this revisited sequel, you’ll enjoy a similarly zany and bizarre plot. Moreover, the witty one-liners and sexually charged innuendo will have you belly laughing throughout. On top of this, the wicked range of alien weaponry and dastardly tools at your disposal add a cruel twist. With a high degree of open-world action and the freedom to choose side quests, you are left to your own devices. This was fantastic as there are plenty of minor tasks, collectables, and people to toy with.
The story revolves around Cryptosporidium 138. Unfortunately, 137 dropped dead, so his clone steps up to take the reins. Our new hero is made from purer DNA and is the only Furon to have genitalia. This “special” gift is known as “The Package” and it’s causing quite the stir. The KGB sees the Furons as a threat and decides to blow up Crypto’s mothership. This sends Crypto into a spin as his boss, Orthopox 13, is killed and his home is destroyed. Luckily, though, Orthopox 13 infuses his consciousness into a HoloPox unit. Subsequently, he can still bark orders and insists that Crypto get revenge. Accordingly, an unusual adventure begins, and lots of death, destruction, and anal probing unfold in the aftermath.
Fly like a bird with your handy jetpack.
Familiar gameplay mechanics.
If you love the open-world genre, then much of Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed will feel familiar. With the usual plot progressing missions and a range of random side quests, it keeps you busy at all times. Alongside this, you must find collectables to improve your equipment, cores to unlock lost gear, and Arkvoodle sites to open landing spots. On top of this, you are free to fly a saucer, bodysnatch unwitting humans, or blow their brains out to collect DNA.
If none of those things takes your fancy, you can spread some hippy-free love and begin a dance craze. Whatever you decide to do, Crypto delivers with cynical wit and a razor-sharp tongue. What was particularly great was the introduction of new mechanics as the game evolves. These plot-specific entities increase Crypto’s arsenal of guns while increasing the childish humour. I mean, who doesn’t like probing a fat policeman or crushing someone with a tractor beam?
However, what is important is upgrading your tools to give you a fighting chance. Every piece of equipment you own can be improved by Furotech and reactors. These essential resources are found dotted around each level and are awarded during each mission (more on that shortly). As your gear is enhanced, you’ll be able to shoot for longer, lift heavier weights, and take more damage. This results in a badass extraterrestrial with a cocky and appalling attitude.
Take to the sky and fry whatever you fancy.
Great locations and excellent quests.
With 5 locations to explore, and an increasingly bizarre plot to enjoy, Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed doesn’t disappoint. You’ll explore America, England, Japan, Russia, and finally the moon. In each of these locations, there is an array of ghastly creatures, special agents, and a top-secret twist to enjoy. During each encounter, you must use every tool on hand and master your Psi abilities if you wish to survive. Throwing cops or agents miles into the air never gets old, nor does evaporating them on the spot. Sometimes, a sneaky undercover approach is essential. However, if you so wish, you can go in all guns blazing.
At times, though, the choice is out of your hands. During every mission, you have a set goal and a list of additional optional targets. These range from not being detected, to blowing up agents with explosives. Whatever they are, they are normally manageable but add a degree of difficulty to each encounter. Furthermore, the more tasks you complete, the more Furotech you are awarded. Accordingly, ticking off every additional goal is essential if you wish to upgrade everything.
The childish and often simple story won’t disappoint. Whether you are trying to woo a hot Russian agent, tricking a stinking hippy, or destroying some whacky drug supplies, it’ll make you smile. What’s more, the crass writing style and deliberately rude approach will make you chuckle repeatedly.
Do you need to be so destructive?
Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed looks incredible.
I enjoyed the recent remake of Destroy all Humans! However, I couldn’t imagine how great the remade sequel would be. Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed looks incredible because of its polished cinematic and steady frame rate. Moreover, the fantastic city designs and varied character models add life to each location. Furthermore, the movement is slick, and I noted no glitches or bugs. This was pretty impressive when you consider the size of the entire package. With plenty of action unfolding, and explosives going off regularly, I expected there to be issues. Fortunately, I was wrong, and this exceeded my expectations.
My high praise must be put on hold for one moment. The reason for this is the loading speeds are mind-numbingly long. For a modern title, this is totally unacceptable as it breaks up the action and frustrates you. In the grand scheme of things, it is minor. But, compared to the other elements, it really isn’t good enough.
Moaning complete, let’s look at the excellent audio. Quite frankly, if you don’t love the phenomenal and witty acting, there is something wrong with you. You’ll adore the amusing script and the stereotypical take on each country. In an era where being offended is just around the corner, the developers step dangerously close to the line. However, I’m glad they did as the result is spectacular. On top of this, the sound effects are loud, in your face, and wonderfully stupid. They are then complemented nicely by an array of songs that match the timeline and culture of each location.
What are you looking at Crypto?
The controls could have been more intuitive.
On the surface, the controls are pretty easy to understand. As effectively, it’s a case of point-and-shoot. Yet, when you get into it, there are so many tools at your disposal that it gets messy. What’s more, remembering each option when the action is hectic can be hard work. Luckily, the excellent UI and radial submenus take some of the brunt. But, for me, it could have been more intuitive and easy to work with. These issues aside, you’ll enjoy a responsive and accurate setup that somewhat masks the other issues I encountered.
The open-world genre is loaded with longevity and replay value. Of course, Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed maintains this standard. With a large list of quests, plenty of collectables, and multiplayer action to enjoy, it’ll keep you going. Unfortunately, I didn’t experience the multiplayer mode, but I’m sure it won’t disappoint.
Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed is a witty, must-play remade sequel.
Now, I know that some sequels are disappointing. Fortunately, Destroy all Humans 2 – Reprobed is a witty, must-play remade sequel. Thanks to its awesome script, excellent acting, and childish humour, you’ll be entertained throughout. Then, there are the great graphics, zany characters, and brutal arsenal of weapons to enjoy. Yes, the controls could have been better, and the loading times were tedious, but these things don’t detract from its brilliance. Accordingly, I adored it and I recommend you to buy it here! Is revenge a good enough reason for annihilation? Who cares? Grab your gun, repair your saucer, and destroy all humans!
It’s been a while since I’ve been able to look at a Crunching Koalas title. However, this Polish publishing house is renowned for some incredible and touching games. Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, Darkwood, and This War of Mine are just a few they’ve been involved with. Therefore, when news about The Gap landed in my inbox, I got very giddy, indeed.
If this latest title is anything like the others they’ve worked on, we’re in for a treat. Yesterday, at the Future Games Show, a new trailer had its exclusive world premiere. Below, you can witness a snippet of what to expect.
What’s The Gap about?
Developed by LABEL THIS Studio and published by Crunching Koalas, this is a dark and ominous sci-fi journey. What’s more, it covers some tough subjects and has images that are intended for a mature audience. Consequently, I can’t wait to see how the plot unfolds and the lengths the developers will go to.
The Gap follows Joshua Hayes and his struggles in life. His family is inflicted by a rare illness that eats away at your mind. As such, your sanity and memories are stripped, and your identity begins to vanish. However, while Joshua attempts to unravel the mystery, he must delve into his psyche to explore his memories and salvage his life.
What is this?
Core mechanics.
Though there will be a glimpse of puzzles and problem solving, the gameplay focuses on its narrative and melancholy atmosphere. Furthermore, there are cryptic messages to locate that offer an insight into each vision. I expect the action to be slow and contemplative, with surreal surroundings and a high degree of unnerving moments. What’s more, the characters will be secretive and aloof to enhance the mysterious nature of the plot.
With such a fine pedigree, I’m certain that The Gap will deliver on every promise. It’ll be available on PC (Steam), Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. If this announcement has tickled your fancy, more information can be found here!
(More information on Crunching Koalas can be found here!)
As an adult, we like to think that we know everything. Sadly, this isn’t the way, as the younger generation is usually better informed. Now, I’m not talking about advanced specialist subjects, I mean general knowledge and junior school education. This is where Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? holds its own. Based on the popular TV show, you get to prove your intelligence while defeating the kids in your life.
Developed by Massive Miniteam and published by HandyGames, this is a family-friendly trivia title. What’s more, it has a fun, competitive edge and can be enjoyed solo or locally with up to 8 players. Consequently, it is a great game to play with friends or loved ones.
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is a classic quiz game.
Though, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? lacks any type of story, it’s entertaining, nonetheless. Every playthrough follows a traditional TV quiz format where you are the contestant supported by a group of kids. Moreover, there are rounds of questions to get right, mini-games to overcome, and true or false problems to solve.
Playing this is as simple as picking your avatar and starting the action. What isn’t easy, however, is the vast selection of questions on offer. With 6800 questions to answer across 24 different subjects, your mind and knowledge will be tested. Furthermore, the real kicker is the all-or-nothing attitude.
Progress is dependent on you getting your answers right. If you are successful, you’ll proceed from 1st grade up to the 6th. However, if at any point you get an answer wrong, it is game over and you must start again.
Would you know the answer?
Harsh penalties, but the kids can help, as can the cheats.
Failing on a question intended for a 3rd grader is tough to swallow. Yet, this is the harsh reality of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? But there are tools in place to help you to overcome these issues. If you are stumped for an answer, you can cheat your way to victory!
With 3 cheats available per playthrough, they can be a real-life saver. During every round, you are assisted by a child who excels in certain subjects. These little munchkins don’t influence the game unless you decide to cheat. You can opt to copy their answer, ask the class their opinion, or ask for a new question altogether. If you choose the latter, you cannot cheat again during that question. Consequently, you are on your own.
Alongside the cheating, there is a minor tactical element. Each child has strengths and weaknesses in each subject. Therefore, they may be as clueless as you are. Subsequently, asking them for help will be useless. As such, you must think wisely before you request their help.
Your classmates are happy with your performance.
Multiplayer is the king!
Though I enjoyed my solo endeavours, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? excels as a multiplayer title. The developers have allowed every player to share a controller if they so wish. This was an excellent choice as few people have 8 controllers lying around their house.
Taking on your friends was fantastic, as the action was genuinely competitive. Accordingly, it was amusing to watch each individual flunk the answers to the most rudimentary questions. Consequently, each playthrough is laced with banter, bragging rights, and a torrent of abuse. I mean, who doesn’t like to watch their intelligent friends crash and burn?
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is vivid and well-polished.
Though, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? isn’t a visual masterpiece, it looks nice, regardless. Thanks to its cartoon style, vivid colours, and polished finish, it’s easy on the eye. Moreover, the animations are smooth; the characters are fun, and the blend of questions and mini-games keeps things interesting.
The audio is both fun and full of energy. With two OTT presenters and an array of excitable children, there is plenty of noise. Furthermore, I loved the cliché one-liners and the cheesy puns that aligned with every category. However, the glitz and glam nature of the action becomes tedious pretty quickly. Subsequently, this is best enjoyed casually.
Get to know your future classmates.
Simple controls = no problems.
It is easy to play because of the UI and minimalist button layout. With no effort at all, you’ll understand the fundamentals immediately. What is also good is the pinpoint accuracy during mini-games. Fortunately, the precise and responsive nature of the controls ensured that unnecessary mistakes were rarely made.
The multiplayer option unsurprisingly enhances the longevity and replay value. However, if you are a completionist, or you like to unlock custom goods, then this has you covered. Potentially, there are hours upon hours of action if you wish to tick off every box.
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? delivers what’s promised.
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? is a niche-market game. Yet, it can be phenomenal with the right group of friends. I loved the range of questions, the competitive edge, and the custom avatars. Yet, I know it won’t be for everyone, but I liked it nevertheless. As such, I recommend you to buy it here! Why not prove your mental prowess and defeat the children in your life?
Thriller movies are some of the best pieces of cinema you can see, and one of the best types of thriller movies are ones involving creatures. Most creature-flicks are horror films with the creature being a nasty, grotesque, nightmare-inducing abomination looking for humans to terrorize. But in my opinion, the scariest type of creature-flicks are ones with real-world animals, with events that could/do happen to people.
This film is about one of the scariest predators in the wild, the lion, and star Idris Elba finds himself going face to face with one to protect his daughters in ‘Beast’.
How We Got Here
Idris Elba’s character plans a trip to Africa, to spend some much needed time with his daughters, who are coming off the painful loss of their mother to cancer. He wanted to reconnect with his daughters after being somewhat absent in their lives for some time, and to also show them some of their mother’s heritage in the area in she grew up in. All goes awry when a Lion attacks their lone jeep in the wild, and what follows is an action packed 90 minute thrill ride.
Hope Amidst the Chaos
The locations in which the film was shit were outstanding, and the acting is simply incredible, from the always outstanding Idris, to his daughters who give convincing and real performances. Seeing Elba’s desperation and desire to not let his girls die was very powerful, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Closing Thoughts
Although we live in a digital age with many skipping the theaters and opting to watch movies at home, I still believe in the power of cinemas. Some movies are best experienced with your loved ones and this is one of them. One of my few complaints of the film, is that the CGI is quite noticeable.
The tension is so high, you’ll be clinging on to your loved ones with anticipation, with a heart full of fear every time the lion is on screen. I highly recommend everyone watch Beast, especially if you’re looking for a fun summer blockbuster that doesn’t waste a second of your 90 minute viewing experience.
PlayStation gamers have been rather spoiled when it comes to 1st party titles. God of War, The Last of Us and Uncharted, are all, deservingly, critically acclaimed masterpieces. As such, when Sony started porting their exclusive titles over to PC, I eagerly waited for my opportunity to finally play Marvel’s Spider-Man. And thankfully, my prayers have been answered in the form of Spider-Man Remastered!
Spider-Man Remastered doesn’t waste any time on our hero’s origin story. In fact, it firmly places us 8 years deep into his superhero career. For many of us, including myself, this is a welcomed choice due to how overexposed his genesis story is.
The game begins in proper with our hero capturing and imprisoning Wilson Fisk, a criminal overlord better known as Kingpin. With him out of the picture, its assumed that his gang will diminish, ultimately reducing the number of unlawful activities in Manhattan.
In reality, the demise of Fisk allows a new and mysterious gang called ‘The Inner Demons’ to step up and seize control. Exactly who they are or where they came from isn’t entirely clear. As always, it’s up to our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man, and his merry band of allies, to figure this out and put a stop to them before they destroy all of New York.
The narrative rivals much of what you’d see in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s a standard superhero affair. Not quite on the level of Infinity War or Guardians of the Galaxy 1, but captivating enough that you’ll want to see it through to the end.
Days in the life of Peter Parker.
Of course, there is no Spider-Man without Peter Parker himself. – Yes, I know there are other iterations of the Webhead, but let’s disregard those for now. – We get to explore his career and personal relationships, including how difficult it is to balance it all alongside his alter ego. Narratively, this helps humanise Peter, making you root for his success.
Yet, the way this has been implemented into the game is, mostly, less than ideal. Certain gameplay sequences involve you controlling Peter to explore locations like Aunt May’s shelter, or Dr. Octavius’s lab. In theory, this might seem like a great idea. But in practice, it’s largely slow, boring and pointless.
Why? Well, 50% of these sequences boil down to finding an NPC to trigger a cutscene. Once the cutscene has transpired, the game instantly places you back in control of Spider-Man. Why they didn’t decide to cut the filler sections out and simply play the cutscenes is beyond me. Don’t get me wrong though, I still thoroughly enjoyed Peter’s character progression, and the voice actor portrayal of him was beyond excellent.
Does whatever a spider can!
Combat in Spider-Man Remastered is based around a 3 buttons system. One for striking, one for web abilities, and lastly, one for dodging. Inputting specific button combinations will allow you to perform various special moves. For instance, you can slam into the ground to create a large shock blast, or swing an enemy continuously around you. Many of these are locked behind an upgrade system, but I’ll touch more on that later.
Leaning into Peter’s inventive nature, Spidey also has several different gadgets at his disposal. These allow you to gain the upper hand in tricky or challenging situations. For example, the trip mines come in handy whilst you are trying to be stealthy, and the Concussive Bombs are great as a diversion tool.
Intertwined with all of this is the combo system. Successfully chaining attacks together will fill up the Focus gauge. This is a mechanic which allows Spider-Man to heal on the fly, or, once the Focus bar is full, execute a finishing move which immediately knocks out an opponent.
Altogether, the combat has a surprising amount of depth and complexity to it. It’s astoundingly smooth and robust, sharing a similar concept to the Arkham series. You can spend hours trying to figure out an optimal combo, or try to discover something in the heat of the moment. It’s undeniably a lot of fun, but it did become somewhat samey quicker than anticipated.
More on the man behind the mask.
As mentioned earlier, there are moments in the game that involve controlling Peter Parker. While most of these are a complete waste of time, there are some sequences that actually have a gameplay purpose. These come in the form of minigame puzzles, akin to the Bioshock series. It’s just a shame there weren’t more of these in Peter’s gameplay scenarios.
Fortunately, there are a plethora of extra activities to engage in as Spider-Man, which help to keep things feeling fresh. You’ve got side missions, street crimes, gang headquarters, research facilities, photography tasks, collectable gathering, and, bizarrely, pigeon catching. And yes, the latter of which is as funny as it sounds.
Swinging around the concrete jungle.
Navigating around the map in Spider-Man Remastered is as seamless as it is entertaining. With the push of a button, you’ll be able to launch out a web and start swinging from building to building. Depending on where you swing from will influence the animation that plays, and I cannot begin to stress how awesome it is to see these transpire in real time. Moreover, you also have the ability to perform mid-air tricks, wall run, leap over obstacles, and utilise launching points. These are all particularly useful when trying to garner, or maintain high speeds.
If you’ve played the old PS2 games, then this will feel very familiar to you. For those that haven’t, be prepared to experience one of the best traversal systems of all time. If your concerned that it sounds rather repetitive, then you need not worry. You’ll quickly unlock the ability to fast travel early on into the campaign. Honestly though, I can’t imagine that anyone would ever get tired of this mechanic.
Taking things to the next level.
There are a lot of ways that you’ll be able to upgrade Spidey throughout the course of your playthrough. Firstly, we have skill trees that are separated out into 3 distinctive categories. Innovator, Defender, and Webslinger. Inside each tree you’ll find perks, traits and extra abilities which you can use to maximise your playstyle. This is also how you unlock the special moves that I discussed earlier on.
Next up are the gadgets. These can be improved upon in minor ways, from lowering their recharge rate, increasing the amount at your disposal, or raising their overall potency. Some gadgets also have to be purchased manually before you gain access to them, which you can do here.
Finally, we have the suits themselves. Unlocking a new suit will sometimes provide you with a unique ‘Suit Power.’ Effectively, these are ultimate abilities which massively impact the course of a fight. There are far too many to mention, but one of my personal favourites was the EMP suit which stuns enemies and disables their weapons. Suits also have special modifiers, called ‘Suit Mods’, which give Spider-Man additional passives.
Truth be told, these systems are ridiculously flexible. Theory crafters will have a great time dissecting these to uncover which paths they’d like to take. It’s also one reason that I’m considering doing subsequent playthroughs, despite feeling drained by the gameplay itself.
New York has never looked so good!
Spider-Man Remastered has a lot going for it in the graphics department. To start with, the entire landscape of New York City has been expertly crafted, from the sprawling skyscrapers, down to the luscious parks. It’s truly jaw dropping just how beautiful the region is, and you’ll find yourself wanting to manual navigate the city to experience it.
Although they largely designed the city after its real-life counterpart, Marvel fans will be happy to discover that it’s also influenced by the MCU. This means you can visit locales like the famous Madison Square Garden, as well as iconic film sets such as the Avengers Tower. There are some structures which have been omitted, such as the Dakota Building, but it’s unnoticeable in the grand scheme of things.
On top of this, the remaster also adds RTX capabilities into the conversation, elevating the visual presentation to an entirely new level. The lighting, reflections, and shadows are all highlighted in defined and lifelike ways. It truly feels like a next gen title when playing this on the highest settings.
Outside the environments, the character models also have a shocking amount of realism to them. The facial tracking on the eye movements and lips are near unparalleled, something that seems to be the norm for Sony’s 1st party titles. Spidey’s suits are another massive high point. Things like frayed and stretched fabrics are all noticeable when zooming in on our webbed hero.
The combination of the environments, lighting and character models easily solidifies this title as one of the most gorgeous games on the market today. Like Parker’s former photography career, Spider-Man Remastered is truly picturesque.
Audio design worthy of a Daily Bugle headline.
As one might expect, the SFX have been recorded and implemented with expert precision. However, it’s the manner in which they’ve been used which really caught me off guard. Whether intentional or not, the audio team has done an immaculately job of portraying the conflicting principles of our hero against his enemies. While this may sound rather pompous, I do have an explanation to back it up.
The cartoonish SFX are solely reserved for Spidey himself. Deciding to forgo any realism serves to substantiate his ‘no killing’ policies, and frame him in a positive light. On the flip side, the villains’ firearms and explosives sound as authentic as the latest Call of Duty release, firmly cementing their cruel and brash disposition.
Although it’s subtle, this audibly showcases the differing ideologies between the sides of good and evil. As a former designer, it’s something I personally found to be truly remarkable, and I commend the developers for their intuitiveness.
The Spider-Man Remastered soundtrack smartly borrows elements from Danny Elfman. For those that don’t know, he was the composer of the 1st and 2nd Sam Raimi films from the early 2000s. The orchestral arrangements, although obvious, embody the superhero ambience to perfection. This is achieved through fast paced percussion, and the bombastic up-front brass instrumentation. It truly makes you feel like you’ve taken over Toby Maguire’s role in the original movies.
Admittedly, I wouldn’t be confident in saying that “I found the Spider-Man Remastered soundtrack to be memorable.” I would however be fine with stating that “the OST works incredibly well within the confines of the game.”
Conclusion
Spider-Man Remastered is another superb PC port from the PlayStation catalogue. Its combat and traversal systems flawlessly capture the feeling of playing as Spider-Man, but it does become somewhat repetitive quicker than you’d expect. Graphically, the game looks absolutely stunning, especially when utilising the RTX options. And while the audio design is remarkably well crafted, the games soundtrack does suffer from being unmemorable. Overall though, Spider-Man Remastered is massively entertaining. If you’re a fan of the Webhead, the MCU, or the Arkham games series, then this is a title worthy of checking out.
