The very first time I booted up Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S on Nintendo Switch 2, I had to look up a list of what had actually been changed.
This is a port of one of my favorite puzzle games ever, the original Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 from 2020 - a title that I’ve sunk more than a hundred hours into across PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Still, the tweaks present in this new version are so slight that even I struggled to see them at first.
Review info
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2 Available on: Nintendo Switch 2 Release date: June 5, 2025
You’re basically getting a single new mode here: the co-op Puyo Tetris Double Mode which features fast 2v2 battles. It’s a fun way to play for sure, but it’s not a necessary addition in a game that is already overflowing with content. If you own the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera accessory, you have the option of showing your face as you play too - another ultimately superfluous extra.
There’s also support for the mouse controls of the Joy-Con 2, though they’re disappointingly awkward to use. Playing Tetris or Puyo Puyo with a cursor is considerably slower than button inputs, making matches more fiddly thus putting you at a clear disadvantage.
At least GameShare is well implemented, giving you an easy way to play with friends on either Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2.
Bursting at the seams
(Image credit: Sega)
The original version of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 offers so many modes that it’s almost hard to keep track of them, so here’s quick run-down of the most significant ones so you know what you’re in for before I get into the new stuff:
Versus - a traditional competitive match of either Puyo Puyo or Tetris
Big Bang - clear a board of existing pieces faster than your opponent
Party - competitive Puyo Puyo or Tetris with special items added in
Skill Battle - play Puyo Puyo or Tetris as a character with special skills and items
Fusion - Puyos and Tetris pieces fall at the same time
Swap - Swap between Puyo Puyo and Tetris every 25 seconds
These can either be played solo against bots or as part of a robust online offering that’s complete with a basic competitive ranking system.
This is on top of loads of unique challenge modes, a detailed ‘Lessons’ tutorial mode, and a full-on RPG style single-player campaign with cute artwork and fully voiced dialogue scenes packed with charming moments.
This all results in what is without a doubt one of the most comprehensive and content-rich puzzle games of all time. Seriously, after more than a hundred hours, there are still some modes that I’ve barely touched.
Mix and match
(Image credit: Sega)
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S adds just one new mode, available as an option when you select the Versus mode. It splits four players into two teams of two, with each team sharing their own board.
It’s nothing particularly wild in comparison to the modes found in the base game, but still very entertaining as you desperately try to coordinate placing pieces with your partner in high-speed matches. As good as it is, however, it sits in a sea of other excellent modes so doesn't justify much of the $39.99 / £34.99 asking price.
Best bit
(Image credit: Sega)
The game has a wide range of colorful characters that you can play as, including some crossovers like Sonic the Hedgehog. The artwork for all of them looks great and there are plenty of voice acted lines as you play.
The same is true of the new mouse controls, which allow you to browse the menus with a cursor or drag the Joy-Con 2 around to position falling pieces on the board.
The latter implementation is awkward though, proving significantly slower than just using the buttons, so it’s something that anybody would probably never want to use. The Nintendo Switch 2 Camera support is lackluster too, simply allowing you to show your face in matches instead of the usual character portrait.
GameShare is great at least, and, in my testing, proved impressively responsive when I paired my Nintendo Switch 2 up with my Nintendo Switch Lite. If this all was sold as a $9.99 / £9.99 or so Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade rather than a more pricey standalone release, then I could see this feature alone being well worth the cost.
Ghost town
(Image credit: Sega)
In the graphics department, things haven’t changed as much as you might think. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 was already a great looking game on Nintendo Switch and, while the picture quality of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is a smidge sharper, it’s not a noticeable upgrade unless you directly compare the images side by side.
Loading times seem extremely similar too, which is to say that they’re still good but not substantially improved.
This apparent lack of technical differences leaves me wondering why Sega has made the baffling choice to split multiplayer matchmaking pools between Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 and Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S.
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 still has a very active online scene, even after all these years, so you can reliably find matches at almost any time. Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S, on the other hand, seems deserted after just a few weeks.
I have managed to get into a couple of games here and there, but waiting times are significantly longer than the original game. It’s a huge shame and means that existing Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 owners have no real reason to splash out for this release, as it comes at the cost of online play.
If you’ve never experienced Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 before, then the purchase is a bit more justifiable. You’re still getting a great game here at the end of the day with hundreds of hours of quality puzzle action and a handful of new features designed to take advantage of the capabilities of your brand new console.
This is technically the most definitive version of the game so far, so it’s not a bad starting point if you’re a newcomer.
Should I play Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S?
Play it if…
You’ve never tried Puyo Puyo Tetris If you’re completely new to the Puyo Puyo Tetris series, then Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S isn’t a bad place to start. It’s the most complete version of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 yet thanks to its new mode and additional features.View Deal
You’re scrambling for a great puzzle game Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S is still a fantastic puzzle game. It has heaps of content for both solo and online players, plus local play options if you’re looking for something to bring to a party or family gathering.View Deal
Don’t play it if…
You already own the original version If you already own Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 on Nintendo Switch, then it’s hard to justify Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S. If you desperately want to try the new mode, make sure to wait for a steep discount.View Deal
You want something that makes better use of mouse controls The mouse controls in Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S are a let down. If you want a title that makes better use of the Joy-Con 2 hardware feature, try something like Drag x Drive.View Deal
Accessibility features
Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S doesn’t feature any dedicated accessibility settings. It has a limited settings menu, with options like turning off auto save, disabling controller vibration, and tweaking the language. The game is fully voice acted, but subtitles are still featured throughout.
How I reviewed Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S
I played just under five hours of Puyo Puyo Tetris 2S on Nintendo Switch 2, having played a significant amount more of the original Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 on Nintendo Switch, PC, and PS5.
During my time with the game, I compared my experience with that of the original release, making careful note of any differences. I endeavored to test every one of the new features, plus the new mode extensively.
It’s official: direct drive PC racing wheels have entered the affordable mainstream. While the prices of your groceries continue to skyrocket, simultaneously, sim racing hardware manufacturers have found a way to package high-quality, high-torque bundles together for south of $1,000, and newcomer Nacon introduces a new level of build quality and construction materials in that sub-$1,000 price point with its debut Revosim bundle.
The wheelbase can exert up to 9Nm of torque (translation: loads), which is notably more than the Thrustmaster T598, the no-brainer entry-level direct drive wheel. It’s cheaper than Moza’s R9 bundle while offering very similar build quality. It’s also more affordable than most variations of Fanatec’s CSL DD 8Nm bundles, and while Fanatec generally has the edge with the wheels it produces, Nacon’s pedals are superior to the ones Fanatec bundles in its sub-$1,000 CSL packages and it includes a strong and sturdy quick-release mechanism.
All that talk of prices and rival offerings is abstracting the headline news, though: driving feels good with this bundle. Although it’s still missing some default force feedback profiles and control assignment schemes in some titles (like F1 24, for example), there’s power and articulation right out of the box, with no need to tweak alpha values in the accompanying software.
And in the likes of Rennsport, Assetto Corsa Evo, The Crew Motorfest, and Le Mans Ultimate, which support it natively already, it feels right as soon as you hit the track. Extras like the phone mount attachment and swappable button fronts with custom stickers are also a very impressive value-add.
There’s a caveat: while it’s a fantastic option to add to a sim racing cockpit, it’s wholly impractical for desktop use. The pedals move around on the floor and will tip over when you hit the brake, and the desktop clamps protrude so far below the desk that they’re bound to hit your knees.
It’s for Playseat setups only, but in that context, Nacon’s bundled together a winning combo of powerful wheelbase, nicely finished wheel with customizable buttons, and smart and solid pedals with adjustable load cells so you can adjust the required stamping force to taste.
(Image credit: Future)
Nacon Revosim: Price and availability
List price: $799.99 / £699.99 (around AU$1,435)
Priced higher than Thrustmaster’s T598 but lower than Moza and Fanatec 8Nm and 9Nm bundles
Considering features and quality, it hits the price sweet spot
Price is a huge factor in this bundle. Nacon’s hit a really competitive point while adding extra features like a phone mount and customizable buttons, and with no signs of having cut corners on construction materials. Plastic is not prevalent in this bundle, and all the weighty, brushed aluminum used throughout is impressive for the price.
Thrustmaster’s T598 is the chief rival, since it’s currently the best affordable DD wheel bundle on the market, but Moza’s R5 and R9 bundles, along with Fanatec’s various CSL DD bundle configurations, are also in similar price territory.
Nacon Revosim: Specs
Price
$799.99 / £699.99 (around AU$1,435)
Weight
52.9lb / 24kg
Peak torque
9Nm
Features
Direct drive, customizable button covers, quick release wheel, two-pedal base, phone mount attachment
Connection type
USB-A
Compatibility
PC
Software
Revosim Software
(Image credit: Future)
Nacon Revosim: Design & features
Great finish quality on wheel and pedals
Wheelbase looks like Fanatec or Moza’s designs
Customizable details
The simplest terms you can use to appraise the design of a piece of sim racing hardware are these: does it look like it came out of a racing car, and does it feel like you’re driving a racing car when you use it? You don’t see RGB light zones on sim wheels for that reason. It’s supposed to immerse you in a virtual cockpit.
I’m really impressed by how well Nacon has managed to nail this aesthetic with its debut sim racing product. The wheelbase is compact and no-frills like Moza and Fanatec’s direct drive servos, but the wheel, quick release, and pedals all look and feel admirably automotive.
The wheel is the star of the show here. The wheel itself is finished in stitched pleather with a mixture of grippy perforated texture around the contact points and a smooth finish at six and twelve o’clock, with a white centering stripe at the very top. The quality of the stitching is extremely neat and tidy with zero loose threads on my review sample, and there’s a satisfying amount of cushioning to the wheel that I appreciated when the base was giving me jolts of feedback at full force to indicate collisions.
The input layout includes 12 face buttons, 11 of which have swappable keycaps with different color options and supplied stickers, one scroll wheel, a POV hat switch, and two magnetic switches on the back. Additionally, the scroller and hat switch can be pushed in to register a separate input binding.
That’s plenty for any racing sim. Personally, the most demanding title I play in terms of inputs is Assetto Corsa Competizione, and generally, I prefer to have two on-wheel dials to adjust TC and engine maps. That’s achieved easily enough on the Revosim, though, since the hat switch also has a rotational dial input. That leaves plenty of button inputs free for lights and wiper controls, menu commands, pit controls, and a view change.
The wheel shape and size is round, with less of a flat bar bottom than Moza’s R5 or R9 wheels, but neither is it perfectly round like the Thrustmaster T598. That means it’s just about applicable for any racing discipline from open wheeler stuff to rally and drift, though being a round wheel, it’s better suited to the latter two.
Nacon doesn’t currently make any other wheels to swap in its place, so if you’re a hardcore F1 racer, you might be better served by the likes of Fanatec’s CSL F1 bundle with its smaller F1-shaped wheel, though let’s be honest – in terms of lap times, there’s going to be very little difference.
(Image credit: Future)
I love the feel of the face buttons. They feel almost like mechanical switches (they’re not), and although there’s a tiny bit of lateral play, they feel of far superior quality to the input buttons on most sub-$1,000 wheels. The fact that their faces can be swapped out in different colors and stickers can be added to them from a supplied sheet is, I’m surprised to note, quite a big deal to me. It’s intrinsically enjoyable to set the wheel up with buttons particular to a specific game. The rotary dial and hat switch are less spectacular in how they feel, but they do the job reliably.
And if you’re going to install this into a cockpit, that’s all you need to know. There’s no ‘but’. For desktop users, though, the ‘but’ is considerable. This isn’t really a desktop-use wheel.
Some might argue that it’s priced high enough that the vast majority of its end users will have race seats anyway, but the fact that it’s bundled with desk clamps and marketed as being compatible for use on a desk means I have to judge it on those terms too, and the fact is it’s very awkward to use this base when clamped to your desk. The clamps will secure it tightly enough to withstand that 9Nm of force, but the clamps’ positioning and length mean you’re very likely to bang your knees against them, or else have to sit in a strange position to avoid them.
Down at ground level, the design of the pedal modules themselves is problem-free. Nice big contact patches with your feet, a variety of elastomers for the brake pedal’s load cell, so you can adjust stiffness. But the base design is once again not really fit for use outside of a cockpit.
The grip surfaces on the base don’t grip hard enough, and there’s nowhere near enough weight at the bottom of the pedal base to prevent it from tipping when you hit the brake, even when using the weakest elastomer. When you screw this directly to a cockpit pedal mount, it’s rock-solid and feels fantastic to use… but only then.
Let’s finish with a positive, though, to underline that poor desktop use is the only negative about this bundle. The quick-release mechanism is really exemplary stuff. Fanatec owners will probably break into a sweat at the mere mention of quick releases, since the company’s move from the QR1 to QR2 standards was nothing short of a debacle due to stock issues and the consumer experience is still confusing since several different tiers of QR2 mechanism are available for purchase, separate from the wheels themselves, and both wheel-side and base-side components need to be bought. Nacon’s mechanism creates a wonderfully tight, secure feel with no rattle or play between the wheel and base, and taking the wheel on and off is a smooth operation.
(Image credit: Future)
Nacon Revosim: Performance
Smooth, powerful torque delivery
Low latency articulation in games
Not all games have default mappings yet
Yes, it feels great to drive a lap with the Revosim. But to quantify exactly how good, we need to break it down in context.
First, direct drive versus belt-driven wheels. Belt-driven was the prevalent technology during force feedback wheels’ emergence in gaming, and it can give you plenty of feeling and a meaty jolt when it needs to. But inherent to the technology is a grainy feeling when rotating the wheel, a noisy motor, and ‘cogging’ – a sensation of the wheel snapping between tons of resistance and none, because the motor can’t keep up with the information being fed into it to articulate the feedback quickly and precisely enough.
Direct drive is a pricier alternative that articulates the force feedback without any belts, gears, or pulleys, and that means it’s faster, smoother, and feels closer to the real thing. Until very recently – the last 2-3 years – it’s been a prohibitively expensive tech which only enthusiasts have invested in, but following the lockdown sim racing boom, manufacturers including Thrustmaster, Logitech G, Fanatec, and the major industry disruptor Moza have all brought affordable, sub-$1,000 direct drive wheels to market.
So, firstly, in the most fundamental terms, Nacon’s Revosim wheel feels like a big step up compared to any belt-driven wheel, like the Logitech G923, or even Thrustmaster’s T-GT II, the Rolls-Royce of conventional belt-driven models.
(Image credit: Future)
So the real question is how it compares to those other direct drive bundles in the same price bracket. Most enthusiasts who follow the market will look straight to the 9Nm of torque, since on paper it’s a big selling point.
Thrustmaster’s T598 offers just 5Nm on the spec sheet, though the wheelbase uses a new axial drive tech which seems to be able to effectively ‘overclock’ torque and generate a much more muscular sensation than the number suggests. Moza’s R9 bundle offers 9Nm but sells for around $1,000, while Fanatec’s CSL DD QR2 base will get you to 8Nm for under $400, but that’s just for the base, not a bundle with a wheel or pedals.
However, after spending many hours with both the T598 and this wheel, I’m less of a stickler for the power numbers. The Thrustmaster is capable of outputting enough resistance to make my hands feel like they’re in a Tough Mudder after five laps, and let’s not forget that turning the steering wheel of a real car is not a feat of strength, even at speed and during traction loss. Articulation is what matters, and while max torque output is a part of that equation, it’s not as simple as looking for the higher number and deciding that’s better.
Back to the opening statement, then: it feels good to drive a lap with the Revosim because it’s capable of conveying weight transfer, traction loss, the unsettling floatiness of a car under heavy braking, and the quick spasms your wheel can make in complaint when you try to put a lot of power down in a low gear. For their part, the pedals both feel comfortable and offer the right amount of resistance, particularly so for the adjustable load cell brake pedal.
A final word should go to the inclusion of a phone mount, so that you can use a smartphone app like Simhub to turn your phone into a digital cockpit display. In real terms, this is just an extra piece of plastic in the box, but it’s a small inclusion that elevates the driving experience so much. That tells the story of the overall package: little details and additions that turn a good bundle into a great one.
(Image credit: Future)
Should I buy the Nacon Revosim?
Buy it if...
You race in a cockpit Look at other options if you race at your desktop, but if you’re mounting to a cockpit, this is as sturdy as it is comfortable.
You’re considering your first direct drive wheel What a great price this is for an entry-level DD wheel. You don’t need to make a big fiscal commitment to enjoy smoother driving.
You’re not going to upgrade piece by piece The Revosim ecosystem is small so far – in fact, it’s really just this bundle, plus a handbrake and sequential gearbox – so look elsewhere if you want a base that you’ll keep adding to.
Don't buy it if...
You’re already racing a direct drive wheel As great as this package is, you don’t need to worry that you’ve lost the competitive advantage that your Fanatec, Moza, or Thrustmaster wheel offered; now this one’s come along.
You need an F1-style wheel Despite the nice, quick-release mechanism, there aren’t currently any other first-party wheel shapes besides this round wheel.
You race on consoles The Revosim is PC only for now, so Gran Turismo 7 pros need not apply.
Nacon Revosim: also consider...
If the Nacon Revosim doesn’t turn your head, try these similarly priced rivals.
Nacon Revosim
Thrustmaster T598
Thrustmaster T-GT II
Price
$799.99 / £699.99 (around AU$1435)
$499.99 / £449.99 (around AU$899.99)
$799.99 / £699.99 (around AU$1,211.99)
Weight
52.9lbs / 24kg
14.1lbs / 6.4kg
29lbs / 13.2kg
Peak torque
9Nm
5Nm
Around 6Nm
Features
Direct drive, customizable button covers, quick release wheel, two-pedal base, phone mount attachment
Direct drive, modular pedal base, detachable rim, 100% torque overshoot
Detachable wheel, three-pedal base
Connection type
USB-A
USB-A
USB-A
Compatibility
PC
PS5, PS4, PC
PS5, PC
Thrustmaster T598 For a slightly more affordable entry point into direct drive racing, the T598 has a wonderfully smooth wheel actuation and tons more power than its Nm output suggests. Odd wheelbase shape and size, though.
Thrustmaster T-GT II Priced similarly but featuring older belt-driven tech, the T-GT II nonetheless offers a great experience for desktop users with minimal grainy sensation or cogging.
Tested in F1 24, F1 25, Rennsport, ACC, and AC Evo
Two weeks of testing in a cockpit and on a desktop
Variety of elastomers used, custom FFB profiles tested
Although it’s cheap for a direct drive wheel, this is still a big financial outlay, so the intended audience is the sim racer who goes where the serious competition lies. With that in mind, I headed to various racing sims where the hotlap leaderboards are fiercely contested and where PvP racing is (usually) conducted with a degree of sporting consideration. I also played F1 24 and F1 25.
Those titles run the gamut of supported and non-supported games, but even in the non-supported ones, I didn’t run into any major difficulties besides having to set my input binds button by button. Force feedback response was convincing and useful in every game.
I swapped out the elastomers to try a variety of braking stiffness levels, and while everyone has a preference, the important thing is that there’s sufficient variance out of the box that most racers will be able to find their preferred feel.
The same goes for force feedback strength – I tweaked a few values in all the games I played, to get a sense of where the min and max are for its feedback types, and found that both the floaty (cheaty) super-low FFB feel and the muscular, jolty response types are possible here with minimal tweaks.
Light spoilers follow for Peacemaker season 2 episodes 1 through 5. Full spoilers also follow for Peacemaker season 1 and The Suicide Squad.
It's incredibly rare to see a C-tier comic book anti-hero star in his own show. It's even less likely that such an individual, who's now arguably one of DC Comics' hottest commodities, would be positioned as the most important cog in a nascent cinematic franchise.
Few eyebrows are being raised about Peacemaker being that person, though. With season 1 of the titular character's TV series receiving critical and commercial acclaim in early 2022, it was a case of when, not if, a sophomore outing would arrive.
Over three years later, Peacemaker season 2 is not only ready to be unleashed, but also become a core component of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe (DCU). The fact that this chaotic tragicomedy's next installment is as super as its first, and sets the stage for future DCU and DCU-adjacent projects, proves they made the right decision to use it as a key building block for their burgeoning shared universe.
Hero to zero
Whether it's saving the world or being grilled by school kids, Chris Smith can't catch a break (Image credit: HBO Max)
Set a few months after Gunn's Superman movie, Peacemaker season 2 reunites us with Chris Smith (John Cena), aka the eponymous anti-hero, as he continues to struggle with reconciling his past.
Things aren't much better in the present, either. A failed job interview to join The Justice Gang, the corporately owned team of metahumans introduced in Superman, coupled with Emilia Harcourt (Jennifer Holland) continually rejecting his romantic advances, leaves Smith longing for a better life.
I really got a kick out of Cena plumbing the depths of Smith's inner turmoil
As fate would have it, such an opportunity presents itself to Smith via the secret Quantum Unfolding Chamber (QUC), an inter-dimensional location outside of normal space that exists in the home of his deceased father, Auggie Smith (Robert Patrick). Inebriated one night, Smith stumbles onto a parallel world where his dead dad and brother are alive, and the Peacemaker of this world is a celebrated hero who's in a relationship with this universe's Harcourt. Hypnotized by this idyllic reality, Smith is drawn to it time and again – but, as the saying goes, the grass isn't always greener on the other side.
If the hit HBO Max show's second season sounds like it's putting a multiversal spin on introspective movies like It's a Wonderful Life with a Sliding Doors-style narrative, that's intentional.
Indeed, if season 1 trained its lens on Smith's superhuman alter-ego and his attempts to redeem the 'Peacemaker' name, its sequel is all about the man himself reflecting on the choices he's made and, if he had a do-over, how he'd handle things differently. I really got a kick out of Cena plumbing the depths of Smith's inner turmoil and, despite Smith's efforts to deal with them more maturely, his deeply flawed approach to handling his demons with external vices and increasingly regular trips to an alternate dimension that allow him to live a double life.
Harcourt and Smith's relationship is put through the wringer this season (Image credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/Max)
Parallels can be drawn between Smith's methodology and that of his perennial love interest, Harcourt. Harcourt's sense of self is rattled after she's fired by ARGUS and blacklisted by every US intelligence agency for apparently helping to expose former ARGUS chief Amanda Waller's role in Project Butterfly and Task Force X last season.
Two sides of the same coin, this impulsive pair uses physical pleasure and pain to numb themselves to their deep-seated trauma, and continues the show's exploration of the nature versus nurture debate in engrossing fashion through their individual arcs. Meanwhile, surprise-laden flashbacks to events that occur after 2021's The Suicide Squad, but before season 1, add a fascinating extra layer of complexity to their dynamic.
John Economos' (left) loyalties are split between his job and his friends this season (Image credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/Max)
The rest of Peacemaker's primary ensemble – who, alongside Smith and Harcourt, are collectively known as the 11th Street Kids – also face similar soul-searching experiences as part of their season 2 arcs.
Indeed, the six-month time jump between Smith chancing upon another universe and this season's main storyline is sufficient enough to show how Leota Adebayo (Danielle Brooks), John Economos (Steve Agee), and Adrian Chase/Vigilante's (Freddie Stroma) lives have changed.
The fascinating regression of some friendships... gives Peacemaker 2 a more pronounced soap opera edge than its forebear.
There's a greater emphasis on what makes each character tick and how they deal with setbacks, too, through their more substantial individual arcs this season. The pleasing progression of certain core dynamics and nascent character pairings gives rise to new kinds of awkward, albeit heart-warming, camaraderie. Equally, the fascinating regression of some friendships adds more than a pinch of melodrama, giving Peacemaker 2 a more pronounced soap opera edge than its forebear.
Admittedly, some characters get more to do than others. I was pleased to see the often underappreciated Agee shine in a much bigger role this season, and even Eagly, Smith's rambunctious White Eagle pet/sidekick, gets a funny, though quickly resolved, subplot this time around. However, I wish Stroma's scene-stealing sociopath wasn't relegated to the sidelines as much as he is. Hopefully, season 2 will rectify this glaring oversight in its final three episodes.
Careful what you wish for
Langston Fleury and Sasha Bordeaux are two of numerous new additions to Peacemaker's cast (Image credit: Curtis Bonds Baker/HBO Max)
With numerous supporting cast members killed off in season 1, there are plenty of vacancies to fill on its follow-up's roster.
So, how do they fare in the DCU Chapter One show? They're all terrific, but Tim Meadows' Langston Fleury and Michael Rooker's Red St. Wild are the pick of the bunch. The former – a greasy, smug, and misogynistic sycophant – picks up the cocksure slack that Cena's Smith discards this season, while the latter plays to Rooker's character strengths as a delightfully unhinged individual who's drafted in by ARGUS director Rick Flag Sr (Frank Grillo) and his deputy Sasha Bordeaux (Sol Rodriguez) to track down Eagly for reasons I won't spoil.
Frank Grillo returns as Rick Flag Sr after appearing in Superman and Creature Commandos season 1 (Image credit: Jessica Miglio/Max)
Like Stroma's Chase, I was initially disappointed over the use of Grillo's Flag Sr. Apart from a couple of scenes, including one of the flashbacks I mentioned earlier, Waller's recently-installed replacement – he was hired by ARGUS eight months before season 2's primary story begins – mostly takes a backseat in this season's first four episodes.
Like Stroma's Chase, I was initially disappointed over the use of Grillo's Flag Sr
Okay, Grillo's active role in proceedings is dictated by how the plot unfolds. However, considering Grillo told me that Flag Sr would be "on a mission" for justice in Peacemaker 2 – remember, the titular anti-hero killed his son in The Suicide Squad – I'd hope this storyline would've featured more heavily in earlier entries. Thankfully, once season 2 refocuses its efforts on the Flag Sr portion of the plot, the full weight and impact of Peacemaker's actions in that 2021 Gunn-directed film reverberate through episode 5 and, hopefully, in its final three chapters.
Leota Adebayo and Adrian Chase spend more time together this season compared to its predecessor (Image credit: HBO Max)
While we're on the topic of The Suicide Squad, season 2 does a mostly good job of confirming what parts of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), i.e., Warner Bros' previous superhero-packed cinematic franchise, are officially canon in the DCU.
Ever since Gunn confirmed Peacemaker's second season would be part of his new-look shared universe, fans have wondered how it would handle this. Season 1 and The Suicide Squad were technically part of the DCEU – learn more about it via my DC movies in order guide – before Gunn and Safran's reboot. Smith's surprising but crowd-pleasing cameo in Superman, as well as Peacemaker season 2's official trailer, did little to answer fans' biggest questions. Fortunately, all is revealed through a handy 'previously on...' segment just minutes into this season's premiere. No spoilers, but I think the vast majority of fans will be pleased with the way that Gunn humorously retcons a particular scene from last season's finale – one that was the biggest canonical headache for many.
Michael Rooker's Red St. Wild is the primary antagonist of this season's Eagly-led subplot (Image credit: HBO Max)
Expected though they are, it's marvellous to see events and characters from the wider DCU play active roles in Peacemaker 2. Whether it's references to Superman's story, or episode 1's brilliantly dysfunctional interview scene involving The Justice Gang, I was heartened to see these narrative yarns spun out further and prove that, unlike Marvel's cinematic juggernaut, events on the big screen can and should be felt keenly in their small screen counterparts.
I'll admit season 2's new title sequence steadily grew on me to the point where I was actively singing along to it
And what of the most anticipated part of the show's return – i.e., this season's new title sequence. Last season's opening credits went viral in early 2022, with Gunn telling Entertainment Weekly it was watched four billion times on TikTok. No pressure, then, to make it as good, if not better.
Initially, I wasn't a fan of season 2's glam-rock-inspired dance number. With each episode that passed, though, I'll admit it steadily grew on me to the point where I was actively singing along to 'Oh Lord' by Foxy Shazam, aka the licensed song this season's ambitious choreographed sequence is set to. Don't be surprised if you feel the same way after re-watching it multiple times.
My verdict
Peacemaker season 2 is an impressive, entertaining, and startlingly thought-provoking continuation of its predecessor. A series packed with the usual trappings of a James Gunn project – dark and awkward humor, heart-wrenching moments, action-heavy sequences, a banging soundtrack, reams of melodrama, and broken characters you can't help but adore – it's must-see TV for DC comic book devotees, nascent DCU fans, and casual observers alike.
There are blemishes, some of which I've outlined above and others, like the occasionally jarring tonal shift, ruin its chances of earning a better rating. However, those flaws are comparatively minor in the grand scheme of things.
As I mentioned up top, not many DC Comics characters could carry their own series and be an integral part of the DCU storytelling machine. And yet, Peacemaker proves that, with the right cast and crew, and a creator who understands the material, anything is possible. If Chris Smith existed in the real world, I'm convinced the high regard he's held in by viewers would finally help him to *ahem* make peace with his past.
Peacemaker's second season launches with a two-episode premiere on August 21 (North and South America) and August 22 (everywhere else). Read my dedicated guide for Peacemaker season 2 before it arrives.
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X isn’t just a “cut-down” version of the flagship AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X—it’s a deliberately tuned, high-clocked, 32-core workstation CPU that hits a sweet spot for many professionals.
By halving the core count from 64 to 32 while boosting base frequency to 4.0 GHz (and up to 5.4 GHz on single-core boost), AMD has created a chip that is easier to cool, faster in certain lightly threaded scenarios, and considerably more affordable.
When I first unboxed it, the 9970X didn’t feel like all that different proposition from the 9980X. The packaging, socket installation, and TRX50 platform requirements are the same, but it’s only after I spent two weeks extensively testing both HEDT chips that the performance story for the 9970X revealed itself.
(Image credit: AMD)
In heavily threaded workloads like Blender Cycles and Cinebench multi-core, it delivers S-tier throughput in absolute terms—my Cinebench R23 multi-core score averaged 76,136, which is closer to the 9980X’s 115,098 than it is to the third-best result from my test group, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D with an average score of 42,100. That’s because the higher sustained clocks and reduced cross-die latency help the 9970X punch above its core count.
Where the difference becomes even more apparent is in day-to-day interactivity. Complex CAD assemblies, large Photoshop and Premiere projects, Unreal Engine scene editing, and other workloads with bursts of single-threaded or lightly threaded activity feel snappier than on the 9980X, a chip that feels purpose-built to maximize multi-core performance above any other consideration. That’s because the 9970X’s smaller core count means fewer CCDs to coordinate and a higher per-core thermal limit, allowing for faster frequency off the line. This will also pay dividends in applications that can sometimes scale unevenly across cores, such as large database server operations or multiple multi-threaded tasks running concurrently.
The 9970X’s power and thermals also proved more manageable in my testing. Under sustained all-core load, the chip’s maximum power draw hovered around 300W, but this was managed easily enough by the 360mm AIO cooler on the test bench. This kept the chip’s maximum tdie temperature at a balmy 74℃. For those who want to keep chip cooling simple in the form of a high-end AIO, this could make a tangible difference.
(Image credit: AMD)
Platform benefits are unchanged from the rest of the Threadripper 7000 Pro lineup: you still get quad-channel DDR5-6400 ECC memory support, up to 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes, and motherboard designs built for multiple GPUs, high-bandwidth storage, and add-in accelerators. That means it can serve as the central brain for a machine-learning workstation, a film-editing suite with multiple GPU accelerators, or a high-end simulation box without compromise.
Like earlier Threadrippers before it, the 9970X’s gaming performance is at best a distant secondary consideration—and like the 9980X, the 9970X won’t match the best processors on the consumer market, like the Core i9-14900K or Ryzen 9 9950X3D, in pure gaming FPS.
(Image credit: AMD)
However, with an average of over 240 FPS at 1080p in my tests, it’s more than capable of handling games competently between work sessions, especially when paired with one of the best graphics cards like the Nvidia RTX 5090.
The real magic of the 9970X, though, is how it blends workstation-class parallel compute with desktop-class responsiveness. For many pros, this chip will actually feel faster than the 9980X in mixed workloads, all while costing $2,499.99 / £2,299.99 / AU$4,199.
This is literally half the cost of AMD’s “best” HEDT processor. It’s still a major investment, but in the right pipeline, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X delivers a better return on both performance per dollar and performance per watt than its bigger sibling, making it the best AMD processor for just about every workstation PC that can run it.
How much does it cost? $2,499.99 / £2,299.99 / AU$4,199
When is it available? It is available now
Where can you get it? You can get it in the US, UK, and Australia
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is available now for $2,499.99 / £2,299.99 / AU$4,199 in the US, UK, and Australia, respectively.
From a prosumer, enthusiast, and industry perspective, though, the price of the 9970X is going to be much cheaper than the 9980X, not to mention the Threadripper Pro 9000-series chips. So while its hard to call something costing more than a couple grand "cheap", for this class of product, this isn't that bad, especially considering that there's no increase in price from the Ryzen Threadripper 7970X.
Meanwhile, for many professionals, the 50% difference in price between the 9970X and 9980X—for what can often feels like 75–99% of the real-world performance of the 9980X—has to weigh heavily in its favor.
It’s important to note that Threadripper chips aren’t typically sold through mainstream retailers, so availability will be more limited than with high-end consumer CPUs. You’ll need to check with specialty component retailers, workstation-oriented e-tailers, and system integrators building high-end rigs for creative, engineering, or research applications in your region if you’re looking to upgrade to the 9970X.
It’s also worth noting that a total platform investment might be necessary as well. A TRX50 motherboard, high-bandwidth DDR5 ECC memory kit, and capable cooling are all required for the 9970X, and these can easily add a couple of grand to a build. That said, for buyers who rely on multi-core compute and high I/O throughput to make a living, the 9970X offers excellent return on investment.
Value: 4 / 5
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X: Specs & Features
(Image credit: AMD)
AMD Zen 5 architecture
Higher base clock than 9980X
32-cores/64-threads for excellent multi-core throughput
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X specs
Socket
sTR5 (TRX50)
Architecture
AMD Zen 5
Cores
32
Threads
64
Base Clock
4.0 GHz
Boost Clock
5.4 GHz
L3 Cache
128MB
PCIe Lanes
Up to 80 PCIe 5.0
Memory Support
Up to 1TB Quad-channel DDR5‑6400 ECC
TDP
350W
Tjmax
95℃
The Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is built on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture, manufactured using a MCM design with the TSMC’s advanced N4P process for the main compute die and TSMC’s N6 proccess for chip I/O.
It combines 32 high-performance cores for 64 total threads, offering strong parallel compute capabilities while maintaining high per-core speeds that benefit lightly threaded workloads.
With a 4.0 GHz base and up to 5.4 GHz boost, it delivers both sustained throughput and the snappy responsiveness that closely parallels mainstream consumer CPUs.
A major strength of the Threadripper 9000-series is its quad-channel DDR5 memory controller, supporting ECC DDR5-6400, up from ECC DDR5-5200 from the Threadripper 7000-series, for higher data bandwidth and integrity, which are key for high-resolution video editing, scientific computation, and large-scale 3D rendering.
(Image credit: AMD)
PCIe connectivity is equally formidable, with up to 80 lanes of PCIe 5.0 for GPUs and NVMe drives (up from 48 with the 7000-series), plus an additional 8 PCIe 4.0 lanes for legacy devices. This level of I/O capacity is ideal for multi-GPU render farms, expansive storage arrays, or specialized accelerator cards.
Its 350W TDP highlights the need for serious cooling (I would not recommend anything less than a 360mm AIO cooler), but it also enables sustained all-core performance without throttling when thermals are under control. The chip is fully unlocked as well, allowing fine-grained tuning for workloads that benefit from higher clocks.
Combined with the TRX50 platform’s durability and expandability, the 9970X’s specs make it a workstation CPU that can anchor a system for years of demanding use.
Specs & features: 5 / 5
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X: Installation & test setup
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Installing the Ryzen Threadripper 9970X is more involved than seating a standard desktop CPU. It uses AMD’s sTR5 socket, which is physically massive and requires a specific installation process.
AMD includes a torque-limiting wrench with the processor to ensure even pressure across the integrated heat spreader, an important step for both thermal performance and long-term reliability. Skipping proper installation can lead to uneven contact or even bent pins on the TRX50 motherboard, so definitely watch some installation videos on YouTube and read the instructions carefully before touching anything.
For testing, I used an ASUS Pro WS TRX50-SAGE board, paired with an Nvidia RTX 5090, G.Skill 128GB DDR5-6400 ECC memory (4x32GB), and a Crucial T705 PCIe 5.0 SSD as the primary system drive running a fresh copy of Windows 11. Cooling was handled by a Silverstone XE360-TR5 AIO cooler, and power was supplied by a Thermaltake Toughpower PF3 1050W Platinum PSU.
This configuration is more or less what a professional workstation or enthusiast HEDT rig might look like, and definitely exceeds what you might find in a typical gaming PC (this will be important in a bit). Every component—from the motherboard’s VRM design to the memory configuration—was selected to match the demands of a CPU built for long, heavy, and complex computing tasks.
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X: Performance
(Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)
Phenomenal multi-core performance
Very responsive
Gaming performance is unimpressive
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X’s performance reflects its 32-core, 64-thread design and high clock speeds, as demonstrated by my various benchmark data.
Everything from Geekbench 6.4 and Cinebench R23 to V-Ray, Blender Benchmark, and HandBrake 1.9 shows that it delivers exceptional throughput across professional workloads while maintaining strong single-core responsiveness.
In Geekbench 6.4, the 9970X scored a 3,010 in single-core and a 27,567 in multi-core performance, for example. This puts its single-core performance in the neighborhood of mainstream desktop CPUs like the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, though it’s about 10% slower than the fastest processor I tested, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X, in Geekbench’s benchmark. Notably, the 9970X is about 1% faster in this test, on average, than the Threadripper 9980X.
For multi-core performance, however, the only real competition for the 9970X is the 9980X. In Geekbench 6.4, the 9970X is about 31% faster than the Core Ultra 9 285K, the third-fastest chip on this benchmark in my test group.
Meanwhile, the 9970X comes in about 4% slower than the 9980X in this test. Before you go thinking the 9970X can hang with the 9980X in overall multi-core performance, though, in Cinebench R23, the 9970X scored an astounding 76,136 points in multi-core performance, which is about 81% faster than the next chip on the podium, the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, score of 42,098 (followed very closely by the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K with 41,281).
The 9980X, meanwhile, clocked in 115,098 points in Cinebench R23 multi-core, which puts the 9970X about 34% slower than the 9980X. The story is essentially the same in Cinebench R24, with some tightening in the 3DMark CPU Profile (Max Thread) and PassMark CPU tests. Overall, the 9970X is the second-best multi-core performer, coming in about 54% faster than the third-place Core Ultra 9 285K, and about 25% slower than the multi-core champ 9980X.
The faster clock speeds in the 9970X give it a responsiveness edge over the slower 9980X, which you can see play out in system benchmarks like CrossMark. Here, the 9970X beat or roughly matched the productivity performance and responsiveness of the 9980X, Core Ultra 9 285K, and Ryzen 9 9950X. It’s only real competition here is the Intel Core i9-14900K, which has a noticeably higher boost frequency for its performance cores, which is vital to app performance and responsiveness.
In creative workloads, the 9970X outperformed nearly all of the chips in my testing, save for the 9980X, though there are some notable quirks in the results that might point to poor optimization for certain tests, like PugetBench for Creators.
Here both Threadripper chips fell way behind their client-grade competition in Adobe Photoshop, or essentially tying with them in PugetBench’s Premiere test—as the 9970X did—or only slightly beating the competition—hats off to the 9980X for the win there.
Other workloads, however, show that the 9970X is substantially better suited for these workflows than consumer-class chips. The 9970X takes the top spot in the CrossMark Creativity and Handbrake encoding tests overall, and loses only to the 9980X in Blender Benchmark 4.3 and V-Ray 6’s CPU test while nearly lapping its next closest rival on the consumer side on all four benchmarks.
Since the 9970X is classified as an HEDT chip rather than a full-on industrial workstation CPU, there are a lot of non-pro enthusiasts out there who like Threadrippers for the elite performance on offer, but I’ll warn you now that gaming is not where this chip is going to excel.
In my gaming benchmarks, the 9970X consistently came in at the bottom of the rankings, averaging about 241 FPS at 1080p on low settings (with a 1% FPS average of about 169). Every other chip besides the 9980X cleared 340 FPS on average, with 1% FPS averaging at least 40 FPS better. On the bright side, the 9970X did manage to beat out the 9980X, which came in dead last on every game I tested it with.
In terms of game AI performance, its also a bit of a mixed bag, with the 9970X doing very well in Civilization VII’s AI benchmark, but coming in a good deal behind in the mainstream consumer chips in the group in the Stellaris 1-year, 42 empire autoplay duration tests.
Of course, that’s not all there is to be said about gaming, since few with this kind of chip will be playing at 1080p with the lowest graphics settings on a cheap graphics card. If you’ve got the money for a Threadripper 9970X, you’re likely going to be able to swing a 4K graphics card like the Nvidia RTX 5080 or better; and gaming at higher resolutions shifts the FPS bottleneck from the CPU to the GPU, so the difference in actual framerates while playing might not be nearly so dramatic.
Thermals and power consumption were in line with what I was expecting from a 350W TDP chip. I recorded power draw ranging from 6.77W while idle to 300.6W peak, with temperatures between 37°C when idle and 74°C under sustained load using a 360mm AIO— an excellent result given the chip’s capabilities.
Overall, then, the 9970X really strikes a phenomenal balance between the responsiveness and everyday capability of the best consumer-market CPUs and the high-end performance required from a workstation-level processor.
Of course, given its price, I cannot imagine anyone who isn’t doing serious, heavy-duty 3D design, video production, or scientific simulation work needing a chip like this. If you’ve somehow stumbled into this review wondering if you should go through the ridiculous amount of expense to upgrade from a Core i9, Core Ultra 9, or Ryzen 9 system that you mostly use for gaming and prosumer-level content creation, don’t do it.
The payoff just isn’t worth the expense for anyone other than creative, AI, or scientific professionals. If you’re in a field that demands this kind of multi-core performance for your day-to-day work, however, the 9970X delivers close to flagship throughput with better responsiveness, making it one of the most balanced HEDT CPUs you’re going to find anywhere.
Should you buy the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X?
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X Scorecard
Value
For a chip this expensive, 'value' is definitely a relative term here. But for a workstation chip, this is a great value.
4 / 5
Specs & features
With high clock speeds, lots of CPU cores, and support for up to 1TB ECC DDR5 and 80 PCIe 5.0 lanes, this chips brings the latest and greatest to the table.
5 / 5
Performance
While this isn't the most powerful chip for every use case, for professional workloads, the performance on offer is incredible.
5 / 5
Final Score
The AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X offers a perfect balance of performance, responsiveness, and price that is impossible to beat.
4.67 / 5
Buy the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X if...
You need strong multi-core performance Of the non-Threadripper Pro 9000-chips, the 9970X outperforms everything on the market other than the 9980X, but it isn't that far behind.
You want excellent responsiveness and single-core performance While the multi-core performance is the big selling point of this chip, it offers comparable system responsiveness and single-core performance as many of the best consumer-class processors.
You want workstation performance on a 'budget' No one is calling this processor cheap, but compared to other workstation-class processors, the 9970X isn't terrible on price.
Don't buy it if...
You aren't running professional creative, academic, or enterprise workloads This chip brings fantastic performance for key professional workloads, but it's general computing and gaming performance isn't as good as substantially cheaper consumer processors.
You're on an actual budget The Threadripper 9970X, and the platform required to run it, will run you several grand at least. Many of the best consumer PCs for professional workloads are almost certainly a better value.
You are looking for a true, industrial-class workstation chip While the Threadripper 9970X is a powerful processor, for serious industrial-grade workloads (such as rendering the Gargantua approach sequence at the end of Interstellar, let's say), you should only consider this chip if you've purchased all of the available stock of the Threadripper Pro 9000-series and 9980X and still need more compute.
Also consider
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X You get twice the cores for extreme parallel workloads, but at nearly twice the cost and with much lower sustained clock speeds for less responsive single-core or lightly-threaded tasks. But if you really need that heavy, all-cores-on-deck performance for your work, only the Threadripper Pro chips will give you better results.
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K OK, seriously, hear me out. If you're looking for a responsive prosumer-grade chip with excellent multi-core performance, the Core Ultra 9 285K is as good as you'll find in a consumer system, even if it falls well short of where the 9970X lands. It's also substantially cheaper.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D If you're an enthusiast who is looking for the best processor for gaming, prosumer-level content creation, and excellent all-around performance, this is the chip you actually need, not the 9970X.
I spent about two weeks testing the Threadripper 9970X
I put the chip through my standard suite of CPU benchmarks, with special attention on professional workloads and multi-core performance
I used it for content creation, gaming, and day-to-day work
I used the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X in my day-to-day work PC, using it for general productivity, content creation for work, and a healthy dose of CPU experimentation. I also used it for gaming while running benchmarks on other systems, but that was not my primary focus.
While there are a lot of specialized workloads that this CPU will be running, most of those workflows or applications don't have readily accessible benchmarks, so I used my standard CPU testing suite to inform the potential performance for those I could not benchmark directly, and put special emphasis and attention on those benchmarks, like V-Ray 6 and Handbrake 1.9 Encoding, that directly relate to the intended market for this chip.
I've reviewed dozens of processors over my time at TechRadar, and have spent hundreds of hours of testing processors for features, special projects, and general maintenance of my benchmark score database, so I know how to push a processor to its limits and assess its quality and value, an expertise I bring to all of my reviews to ensure that you find the right chip for your needs and budget.
If you’re searching for a network monitoring platform that can handle hybrid, cloud, and on-premises IT environments without breaking a sweat, LogicMonitor deserves some serious consideration. We’ve spent weeks comparing the best network monitoring tools of 2025 and LogicMonitor consistently leads the pack for the enterprise crowd.
At TechRadar Pro, our reviewers dive deep into every major IT platform, evaluating features, integrations, and real-world usability. We look for the things that IT teams actually need, beyond the elevator pitch and the blown-up promises.
For 2025, LogicMonitor is our pick among network monitoring tools. Its AI-powered suite can automate many day-to-day IT workflows, reducing manual effort and helping teams focus on what matters. If your organization values proactive issue detection, automated insights, and seamless scalability, LogicMonitor is well worth a closer look.
LogicMonitor: Features
LogicMonitor is loaded with features for modern IT teams managing complex hybrid environments. It’s best suited for medium-to-large organizations that need precise visibility, automation, and scalability. Execution is generally excellent, with AI-driven insights and 3000+ integrations being a major upside.
But we’d still like to see more intuitive onboarding for new users and some advanced analytics that competitors like Datadog already offer. Given its features, the price feels justified, but only if you plan to use all the features.
Infrastructure monitoring
LogicMonitor tracks the health and performance of all your devices, like servers, storage, VMs, and more, across both on-premise and cloud environments. It automatically discovers devices and provides detailed metrics for each one.
Network monitoring
Their platform continuously monitors network traffic, device status, and bandwidth usage. It auto-discovers devices, maps network topology, and uses intelligent alerting to notify you of anomalies in real time.
Log analysis
LogicMonitor centralizes log data from across your infrastructure, correlating it with metrics to give you context for troubleshooting. Flexible retention options let you choose how long to keep your data.
Synthetic monitoring
You can simulate user interactions and monitor website uptime and performance, helping ensure a smooth end-user experience.
AI and automation
LogicMonitor’s AI features automate anomaly detection, event correlation, and alert prioritization. This reduces alert fatigue and helps teams focus on what matters most.
Dashboards and reporting
Customizable dashboards and automated reports make it easy to visualize trends, share insights, and keep stakeholders informed.
Integrations
With over 3,000 integrations as of right now, LogicMonitor works with nearly every major device and cloud service, so you can monitor your entire stack from one place.
(Image credit: LogicMonitor)
LogicMonitor: Ease of use
LogicMonitor’s interface is modern and intuitive, especially after its recent UI overhaul. The new design focuses on usability, with resource-level dashboards, streamlined navigation, and a consistent look across the platform. The resource explorer and enhanced topology mapping make it easier to manage complex environments and troubleshoot issues quickly.
However, there’s still a learning curve, especially for users new to network monitoring. Some advanced features and customizations require time to master, and a few UI elements can feel clunky or buried under menus. While onboarding guidance has improved, junior engineers may still need extra training to get comfortable. On the plus side, LogicMonitor offers live training webinars and plenty of documentation to help teams ramp up faster.
LogicMonitor: Pricing
Plan
Starting price (paid annually)
What’s included
Infrastructure Monitoring
$22/resource/month
Standard events and metrics, 900+ integrations, servers, VMs, SD-WAN, storage, network devices, cloud
Cloud IaaS Monitoring
$22/resource/month
AWS EC2, Azure VM, cloud infrastructure, standard integrations
*All prices USD/month, billed annually. “Per resource” means each monitored device or instance.
LogicMonitor’s pricing is resource-based, which can add up quickly for large environments. The entry-level plans cover most standard monitoring needs, but advanced features (like AI automation or extended log retention) may require add-ons or higher-tier plans.
Compared to competitors, LogicMonitor is on the expensive side, but the depth and breadth of features help justify the investment for organizations that need them.
LogicMonitor: Customer support
LogicMonitor is known for responsive, knowledgeable customer support. Most users consistently praise the team for proactive communication, regular check-ins, and genuine advice. Support is available via live chat, email, and phone, and there are live training webinars every other week for ongoing education.
Support packages come in tiers: Standard support is included for all customers, while Premier and FedRAMP plans add proactive monitoring, health checks, and remediation assistance. Premier customers get regular account reviews and early alerts about potential issues, plus priority access to senior engineers. The main caveat is that some advanced support features are only available at higher tiers, so small teams may not get the same level of hands-on help.
LogicMonitor: The competition
LogicMonitor sits at the high end of the network monitoring market, best suited for organizations that need deep, automated insights across hybrid and cloud environments. It’s a top pick for enterprises, managed service providers, and fast-growing IT teams who want to future-proof their monitoring stack.
Main competitors include Datadog, Dynatrace, and New Relic. Datadog offers similar AI-powered monitoring and a broader analytics suite, but at a comparable or higher price. Dynatrace is praised for ease of use and tight cloud integrations, making it a good fit for teams focused on cloud-native infrastructure. New Relic stands out for its flexible pricing and developer-friendly tools, but may lack some of LogicMonitor’s enterprise features. For smaller organizations or those with simpler needs, these alternatives might offer a better balance of features and cost.
LogicMonitor: Final verdict
LogicMonitor is a powerhouse for network monitoring, offering unrivaled visibility, automation, and AI-driven insights. Its real-time alerting, deep integrations, and automated topology mapping make it an invaluable tool for IT teams managing complex environments. While the learning curve and premium pricing may give some pause, the overall value is hard to beat if you need best-in-class monitoring.
For 2025, LogicMonitor is our pick for the best network monitoring tool, especially for organizations ready to invest more for reliability and consistency. If you want to automate IT workflows with full transparency, LogicMonitor is well worth the investment.
FAQs
Is LogicMonitor suitable for small businesses?
LogicMonitor is designed for mid-sized to large organizations. Its pricing and feature set may be overkill for small businesses, but it can be scaled down if you only need to monitor a handful of resources.
What kinds of devices can LogicMonitor monitor?
LogicMonitor supports a wide range of devices, including routers, switches, firewalls, servers, wireless access points, storage systems, and cloud resources. It integrates with over 3,000 vendors and protocols.
Does LogicMonitor offer a free trial?
Yes, LogicMonitor offers a free trial so you can test the platform before committing. This lets you explore features and see how it fits your environment.
How does LogicMonitor’s AI help IT teams?
LogicMonitor’s AI automates anomaly detection, alert prioritization, and event correlation. This reduces manual effort, cuts down on alert noise, and helps teams focus on critical issues.
What support options are available?
Standard support is included, with live chat, email, and webinars. Premier and FedRAMP customers get proactive monitoring, health checks, and priority access to senior engineers.
How does one elevate something already flawless? Razer has answered that question through the latest iteration of their flagship wireless mouse, the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro.
We loved the previous iteration for the otherworldly balance of ergonomics, performance and long lasting battery life, which is why we named it the best mouse for first-person shooters in our best gaming mouse round-up. For the DeathAdder V4 Pro, Razer takes things even further, adding more features that feel like a generational leap.
Starting with the design that feels even more refined in its sleekness and pure functionality. Not only is the gaming mouse lighter than ever but more comfortable for palm and thumb placement as well.
That’s not even counting the redesigned wireless dongle, which now features a sleek dome-shaped design accented by three customizable LED lights that display key info like battery life and polling rate.
Beyond just looking great on any desk, it’s a major upgrade from the previous add-on dongle used with the last DeathAdder Pro. This new version isn’t just more stylish—it delivers a true 8000 Hz polling rate with 37% lower latency, making it significantly more efficient.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
Whether you’re browsing the web or diving into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, cursor movement feels noticeably smoother thanks to the upgraded optical sensor, now capable of up to 45,000 DPI, 900 IPS, and 85G acceleration.
It also offers precise, customizable control through the Razer Synapse app, giving users pitch-perfect personalization for any task or playstyle.
Beyond movement smoothness, the smaller yet much improved mouse clicks not only feel even more responsive and crisp but lighter and more durable with a click lifecycle of over 100 million clicks.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
The scroll wheel even sees the most interesting improvement thanks to using an optical sensor instead of a traditional mechanical rotary encoder.
This makes scrolling down webpages and weapons while playing shooters feel better than ever. When it comes to competitive gaming at an optimal level, the DeathAdder V4 Pro manages to do the most.
Adding to all of that greatness is a 150-hour battery life, which means players will go a long time between charges.
Though this device excels its job, some potential buyers may have a few problems. For the colorful gamers who like RGB on everything, the DeathAdder V4 Pro continues the line’s black and green colorway without any customizable lighting options.
Meanwhile, the retail price of $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95 makes this slightly more expensive than the previous V3 Pro, though the v3 Pro required a special dongle attachment, which was sold seperately, to reach an 8K Polling rate.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
Eventually, Razer would sell a $159 edition V3 Pro that featured both. However, the DeathAdder V4 Pro costing $10 bucks more could rub folks the wrong way.
From my perspective, the price is more than worth it as the added features on the DeathAdder V4 Pro offer a fantastic nice bang for the buck.
That said, it's not the cheapest mouse on the market, so buyers on a budget might want to look elsewhere (like our best cheap mouse guide) as this is a premium product with premium price.
The Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro builds on an already exceptional foundation, delivering meaningful upgrades in precision, comfort and performance that make it a true standout for serious gamers. While its premium price and lack of RGB may give some pause, those seeking top-tier functionality will find this mouse more than earns its place at the top.
Razer DeathAdder v4 Pro: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
How much does it cost? $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia from Razer’s online store and other retailers
The Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro is available now in the US, UK, and Australia for $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95.
Outside of Razer’s online store, it’ll also be available at major retailers including Best Buy, Amazon and the like. While the price may feel a bit extreme, there is value in paying for the best wireless gaming mouse for esports that money can buy.
Most importantly, the mouse and wireless dongle come packed in together, which means that buyers won’t have to pay extra. For anyone who just wants to compete at a high level, the price won’t matter much.
Casual or even aspiring competitive gamers with a limited budget still have options for quality wireless gaming mice. This includes at the lowest, the Cooler Master MM311, which has a 1,000Hz max polling rate and can reach as high as 10,000 DPI.
Those who treat the price point as a drop in the bucket but can’t get past the lack of customizable lighting on the DeathAdder V4 Pro may appreciate the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K. Though it lacks the lightweightness of the DeathAdder, its performance and battery life is admirable when it comes to high-level competitive play.
Should you buy the Razer DeathAdder v4 Pro?
Razer DeathAdder v4 Pro Scorecard
Value
The $169 price point is worth every penny; even if it's slightly more expensive than the previous generation.
5 / 5
Design
Razer’s classic black and green colorway looks better than ever with a lighter chassis and smaller improvements like separated side buttons.
5 / 5
Performance
Everything about the performance of the DeathAdder V4 Pro improves on the previous generation in terms of connection speed, polling rate, DPI, and battery life. That doesn’t even count additions like the optical scroll wheel.
5 / 5
Final score
Some say that it’s hard to improve upon perfection but Razer surely figured it out with the DeathAdder V4 Pro.
5 / 5
Buy the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro if...
You want the best esports-level mouse money can buy If you have the $169 to spend, the Razer DeathAdder V4 improves on ergonomics, performance and battery life while also making significant additions like the optical scroll wheel.
You require a blend of standard-setting ergonomics and performance More comfortable than ever, the gaming mouse is also lighter at 56g and features better-placed side buttons. Meanwhile, wireless performance sees enhancements with a reduction in latency, improved optical sensor allowing 45,000 DPI.
You need a long battery life This high-level performance gaming mouse manages to have excellent battery life that can go up to 150 hours between charges.
Don't buy it if...
You want a little RGB flair Though the Razer DeathAdder V4 has the look and feel of a performance-oriented gaming mouse, more colorful gamers who need RGB lighting are going to be disappointed.
You're on a tight budget The price might be a bit much for the casual gamer looking for a quality gaming mouse.
Also consider
The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K If you want to tone down the high-end esports-level performance a bit for some RGB lighting options, then Razer’s Basilisk V3 Pro may be a fine option.
Corsair M75 Wireless Mouse The Corsair M75 Wireless Mouse is an excellent performer, plus it’s lightweight, and, most importantly for lefties, has an ambidextrous design with buttons on both sides.
I used it to play games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, FBC: Firebreak, Splitgate 2, and Marvel Rivals
Given that the previous generation of the Razer DeathAdder Pro earned our top pick for best FPS mouse in our gaming mouse roundup, I put its successor through the wringer with a heavy dose of first-person shooters.
My test lineup included Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, FBC: Firebreak, Splitgate 2, and Marvel Rivals, offering a solid understanding of speed, precision, and reaction-based capabilities.
Beyond the battlefield, I also assessed how the mouse handled everyday tasks—browsing the web, managing playlists on music streaming platforms, and navigating between applications—to get a full picture of its performance in both gaming and daily use.
How does one elevate something already flawless? Razer has answered that question through the latest iteration of their flagship wireless mouse, the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro.
We loved the previous iteration for the otherworldly balance of ergonomics, performance and long lasting battery life, which is why we named it the best mouse for first-person shooters in our best gaming mouse round-up. For the DeathAdder V4 Pro, Razer takes things even further, adding more features that feel like a generational leap.
Starting with the design that feels even more refined in its sleekness and pure functionality. Not only is the gaming mouse lighter than ever but more comfortable for palm and thumb placement as well.
That’s not even counting the redesigned wireless dongle, which now features a sleek dome-shaped design accented by three customizable LED lights that display key info like battery life and polling rate.
Beyond just looking great on any desk, it’s a major upgrade from the previous add-on dongle used with the last DeathAdder Pro. This new version isn’t just more stylish—it delivers a true 8000 Hz polling rate with 37% lower latency, making it significantly more efficient.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
Whether you’re browsing the web or diving into Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, cursor movement feels noticeably smoother thanks to the upgraded optical sensor, now capable of up to 45,000 DPI, 900 IPS, and 85G acceleration.
It also offers precise, customizable control through the Razer Synapse app, giving users pitch-perfect personalization for any task or playstyle.
Beyond movement smoothness, the smaller yet much improved mouse clicks not only feel even more responsive and crisp but lighter and more durable with a click lifecycle of over 100 million clicks.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
The scroll wheel even sees the most interesting improvement thanks to using an optical sensor instead of a traditional mechanical rotary encoder.
This makes scrolling down webpages and weapons while playing shooters feel better than ever. When it comes to competitive gaming at an optimal level, the DeathAdder V4 Pro manages to do the most.
Adding to all of that greatness is a 150-hour battery life, which means players will go a long time between charges.
Though this device excels its job, some potential buyers may have a few problems. For the colorful gamers who like RGB on everything, the DeathAdder V4 Pro continues the line’s black and green colorway without any customizable lighting options.
Meanwhile, the retail price of $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95 makes this slightly more expensive than the previous V3 Pro, though the v3 Pro required a special dongle attachment, which was sold seperately, to reach an 8K Polling rate.
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
Eventually, Razer would sell a $159 edition V3 Pro that featured both. However, the DeathAdder V4 Pro costing $10 bucks more could rub folks the wrong way.
From my perspective, the price is more than worth it as the added features on the DeathAdder V4 Pro offer a fantastic nice bang for the buck.
That said, it's not the cheapest mouse on the market, so buyers on a budget might want to look elsewhere (like our best cheap mouse guide) as this is a premium product with premium price.
The Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro builds on an already exceptional foundation, delivering meaningful upgrades in precision, comfort and performance that make it a true standout for serious gamers. While its premium price and lack of RGB may give some pause, those seeking top-tier functionality will find this mouse more than earns its place at the top.
Razer DeathAdder v4 Pro: Price & availability
(Image credit: Future / Ural Garrett)
How much does it cost? $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95
When is it available? Available now
Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, and Australia from Razer’s online store and other retailers
The Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro is available now in the US, UK, and Australia for $169.99 / £169.99 / AU$299.95.
Outside of Razer’s online store, it’ll also be available at major retailers including Best Buy, Amazon and the like. While the price may feel a bit extreme, there is value in paying for the best wireless gaming mouse for esports that money can buy.
Most importantly, the mouse and wireless dongle come packed in together, which means that buyers won’t have to pay extra. For anyone who just wants to compete at a high level, the price won’t matter much.
Casual or even aspiring competitive gamers with a limited budget still have options for quality wireless gaming mice. This includes at the lowest, the Cooler Master MM311, which has a 1,000Hz max polling rate and can reach as high as 10,000 DPI.
Those who treat the price point as a drop in the bucket but can’t get past the lack of customizable lighting on the DeathAdder V4 Pro may appreciate the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K. Though it lacks the lightweightness of the DeathAdder, its performance and battery life is admirable when it comes to high-level competitive play.
Should you buy the Razer DeathAdder v4 Pro?
Razer DeathAdder v4 Pro Scorecard
Value
The $169 price point is worth every penny; even if it's slightly more expensive than the previous generation.
5 / 5
Design
Razer’s classic black and green colorway looks better than ever with a lighter chassis and smaller improvements like separated side buttons.
5 / 5
Performance
Everything about the performance of the DeathAdder V4 Pro improves on the previous generation in terms of connection speed, polling rate, DPI, and battery life. That doesn’t even count additions like the optical scroll wheel.
5 / 5
Final score
Some say that it’s hard to improve upon perfection but Razer surely figured it out with the DeathAdder V4 Pro.
5 / 5
Buy the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro if...
You want the best esports-level mouse money can buy If you have the $169 to spend, the Razer DeathAdder V4 improves on ergonomics, performance and battery life while also making significant additions like the optical scroll wheel.
You require a blend of standard-setting ergonomics and performance More comfortable than ever, the gaming mouse is also lighter at 56g and features better-placed side buttons. Meanwhile, wireless performance sees enhancements with a reduction in latency, improved optical sensor allowing 45,000 DPI.
You need a long battery life This high-level performance gaming mouse manages to have excellent battery life that can go up to 150 hours between charges.
Don't buy it if...
You want a little RGB flair Though the Razer DeathAdder V4 has the look and feel of a performance-oriented gaming mouse, more colorful gamers who need RGB lighting are going to be disappointed.
You're on a tight budget The price might be a bit much for the casual gamer looking for a quality gaming mouse.
Also consider
The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K If you want to tone down the high-end esports-level performance a bit for some RGB lighting options, then Razer’s Basilisk V3 Pro may be a fine option.
Corsair M75 Wireless Mouse The Corsair M75 Wireless Mouse is an excellent performer, plus it’s lightweight, and, most importantly for lefties, has an ambidextrous design with buttons on both sides.
I used it to play games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, FBC: Firebreak, Splitgate 2, and Marvel Rivals
Given that the previous generation of the Razer DeathAdder Pro earned our top pick for best FPS mouse in our gaming mouse roundup, I put its successor through the wringer with a heavy dose of first-person shooters.
My test lineup included Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, FBC: Firebreak, Splitgate 2, and Marvel Rivals, offering a solid understanding of speed, precision, and reaction-based capabilities.
Beyond the battlefield, I also assessed how the mouse handled everyday tasks—browsing the web, managing playlists on music streaming platforms, and navigating between applications—to get a full picture of its performance in both gaming and daily use.
Nobody 2 is a far cry from being one of the best new movies of the year so far. Before I dig a little deeper into what went wrong, I must stress that I cannot think of a single word more apt to describe it than ‘naff’.
For anyone unfamiliar with UK slang, the dictionary definition tells us the word ‘naff’ is “something that lacks taste or style,” and you’d generally use it to describe something that’s a little cringeworthy in its rubbishness. If you went to see a musical put on by a local amateur dramatics society, if your mum ordered something off of eBay that’s arrived looking nothing like its picture, if you’ve watched a total comedic flop like Nobody 2… they’re all excellent times to use it as a descriptor.
Four years after the original Nobody film – which was one of the most-watched movies on Netflix – took place, Bob Odenkirk’s oddball hitman Hutch Mansell is back, and this time, he just wants to catch a break. Taking his family on holiday to Plummerville – a quaint Midwestern town where his dad took him on his one and only vacation as a kid – Hutch unknowingly walks into the middle of a crime syndicate operated between the local cops and boss Lendina (Sharon Stone). From there, it’s outright chaos to get the freedom to be left alone, and it comes at a price for almost everyone involved. That, my friends, is more interesting than watching it. Better Call Saul, it is not.
It blows my mind that an action movie that’s so incredibly gory can be as simultaneously mundane as Nobody 2. If you took away the (genuinely impressive) kills, standoffs, and fluke accidents, you’re left with an end product that’s so forgettable, it wouldn’t even live up to being a satisfying movie to watch on the plane. Weirdly, it’s difficult to decide who or what is at fault, with everything blending together in one homogenous blur that if it was a spice, it would be flour.
Nobody 2 has managed to make violence boring with no laughs to boot
The main takeaway from Nobody 2 is that it’s just not funny. Odenkirk tries his best with a plain Jane script to land some comedic blows, but even his sharp and wry wit doesn’t really get very far. The concept of a hitman taking his family on vacation unknowingly to a criminal hotspot should be a slam dunk, but once you’ve seen the reality blow up in Hutch’s face once, you’ve seen the whole narrative arc. We don’t really move on from the “I don’t know what I’m doing here, but I’m going to take every wrong’un I see on to hopefully be left alone” mentality, which means structurally, Nobody 2 is more of a small hill than a giant rollercoaster. Which in itself is ironic, as there are some excruciatingly brilliant deaths involving various fairground rides.
So, where does the problem come from? For me, it’s a combination of script, general story direction, and a tendency to rely on gimmicks. Why do we need to properly unpack relationships and motives when we can just watch Odenkirk punch people, set money on fire (yes, something we saw the first time, big shock) and watch Stone’s villain stab people over a game of poker. Stone herself is introduced way too late in the game, making Plummerville’s criminal hierarchy convoluted and difficult to follow. We don’t really care about who she is (which apparently has no more substance than just ‘being crazy’) by the time we see her as we’ve been led to believe someone else is the main antagonist… but despite an objectively cool tonal switch, it’s hard to be invested in the stakes.
Of course, good is going to triumph over evil and a lot of bad guys are going down in the interim. Of course, our leads will fix their romantic family problems, and fall more in love with each other than they ever have been in their fractured little lives. If a film is going to hit so many expected plot points, it has to have something else to offer. Aside from bombastic violence choices – and more on that in a moment – Nobody 2 fails to check this box (although I’ll give it the surprise pipeline of Queen Vic landlord to M-style mafioso, but that probably only chimes a chord with the Brits).
It’s not all bad news… it’s just mostly bad news
Bob Odenkirk as Hutch in Nobody 2. (Image credit: Universal Pictures)
I’m not that mean, though… Nobody 2 does have a few redeeming qualities. For starters, our cast put in solid ensemble performances, with Connie Nielsen’ Becca particularly stealing the spotlight while rightly putting Hutch in his place. It’s light-hearted fun to follow the family as they get in a few successful holiday frolics, and this is largely where the few laughs that do translate pay off. What really steals the show is the fight scenes. I know I’ve slated them a bit here, but boy, are they something to behold.
I do have to give it to the team for coming up with such creative ways for somebody to meet their maker. Faces get sliced horizontally in half, men are impaled on surfboards, and one even gets his head cut open on a table saw. Hutch kills people with the apologetic bumbling of a dad who just can’t help getting in the way, and the contrast works well in the heat of the moment. You’re probably going to dry heave, bring your hands to your mouth or gasp out loud in sudden shock. I did all three, and I’m feeling queasy just thinking back to those moments.
There might not be a method in the madness, but there is some fun. Nobody 2 is a pretty poor follow-up to an already pretty poor original action movie, though as my friends and I discussed after watching, the sequel (despite its dullness) is a definite improvement. We should all quit while we’re ahead and not make this a trilogy… Hutch said he wanted a rest, so let’s give him one.
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced is the version of the game I’ve been wanting to play ever since I completed the original release of the third-person narrative game last year on Xbox Series X.
Review info
Platform reviewed: PS5 (and PS5 Pro) Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC Release date: August 12, 2025
Developer Ninja Theory’s sequel to the powerful Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice from 2017 has been enhanced and added to for this release, and the game shines on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Pro, feeling right at home on Sony’s console.
The adventure is, of course, identical to the original release, and my main gripes with the game remain on the whole, but the upgrade in graphics in particular means this is a game worthy of revisiting, and one that excels technically.
It’s a miserable and bleak exploration of the human psyche once again, but it’s a powerful one that features exquisite performances, an intriguing story, and a level of immersion that wasn’t quite there on the first release.
(Image credit: Ninja Theory)
A familiar journey
For those unfamiliar with the Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 game, you play as Senua, an Orkney warrior who allows herself to be captured by Icelandic slavers in order to confront them and put an end to the abduction of her people. However, things soon take a turn, and a grim and bleak story unfolds.
I once again found the narrative of giants, misery, and mystery a deeply compelling one, with an overarching storyline that constantly intrigues, while each particular beat provides memorable moments and background context.
The voice acting, motion performances, and realism of the people in the game further invest you in the story once again, and the character models have never looked better, with each expression captured in beautiful detail, and every line delivered with power.
One of my absolute favorite parts of the initial release remains, as good as ever, and perhaps even more so given the graphics boost. The world of Viking Iceland is one of the best of recent times in games - it’s a true spectacle, and I’ve not been able to stop taking screenshots and exploring the beefy photo mode to capture my favorite vistas.
Each topography and landscape is captured beautifully, and, from the miserable rain-soaked coast at the beginning, right through to the open, lush-green vistas, carved through by rivers and waterfalls, everything is brilliantly represented.
(Image credit: Ninja Theory)
Also, while some places in the game are overly empty and quiet, the landscapes and vistas never fail to wow and absorb; exploring every nook and cranny to find new views, and indeed the game’s lore in the form of faces in rocks, and the totems and trees which tell their own stories bit by bit, is a joy.
The above factors combine successfully, once again, to make a setting that is rich in atmosphere and sense of place, and one that brings its own power and character to the game.
Familiar grievances remain, however; after all, in terms of gameplay and content, it is the same game. Combat is still the same simplistic set of repeated moves (though I feel I was less bored with enemies and their variety this time around), and some of those aforementioned places in the landscape, and thus, the story, really are a bit too empty, too.
(Image credit: Ninja Theory/Xbox)
A new minor issue, however, is the vibration in the DualSense when Senua focuses on one of the trees or totems. It’s far too intense and harms the immersion, sadly. This is especially the case when revisiting the first game, as there, the vibration is more measured, and ties into Senua’s feeling of concentration more.
(Image credit: Ninja Theory)
A new take
Familiarity aside, this is still a re-release, so what of the new stuff?
In brief, I'd say that this is the kind of re-release that hits all the right notes. The boost to the game’s graphics is certainly worthwhile, the extra play modes add depth and new experiences, the developer commentary enriches your knowledge of the game and its creation, and the wonderful photo mode and update to the first game (if you get the deluxe version) are all sterling.
I particularly enjoyed the excellent graphical updates to the game and playing it at 60 frames per second in the new performance mode. Said mode is also - and I tested this repeatedly, over and over in different places - near identical to the quality or resolution mode. Upon each inspection and comparison, the sacrifice on particles, light, and reflections in the performance mode compared to the quality mode, on both PS5 Pro and PS5 Slim, was negligible.
The update to the first game’s graphics (included in the Deluxe Edition or free for existing owners) is also incredibly well executed. Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice now has three graphics modes - performance, resolution, and enriched - all of which are extremely close in terms of quality - and ran identically at 60 frames per second on my Samsung Q6F QLED TV. The enriched mode looks extra fantastic, mind, and has definitely earned a replay of the first game, a place in my 2025 to-play plans.
Elsewhere, the developer commentary is deeply interesting, and the aforementioned photo mode offers an awful lot of features too that are worth getting stuck into if you’re keen on digital photography.
Best Bit
(Image credit: Ninja Theory)
Reliving the awesome fire and lava section tied to one of the game’s giants was a particular standout moment and joy on PS5 Pro, and the superb nature of the game’s Performance mode made it all the smoother and immersive.
The Dark Rot Challenge Mode is a very on-brand and perfectly fitting inclusion, however. Introduced in Senua’s first adventure, this mode has its own level of high difficulty and offers a permadeath challenge for players looking for the most punishing test. Simply put, with each death, a dark rot will make its way up Senua’s arm, and if you die too many times, all your progress will be lost. It’s such a Hellblade game mode that it makes sense that it’s there, but I am sad that the PS5 platinum trophy is locked behind it.
(Image credit: Ninja Theory)
All in all, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced, as a game, is still just as powerful, gripping, and harrowing as I remember. It is, perhaps even more so than ever, a video game demonstration of excellence in misery, bleakness, and sorrow.
Much like parts of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and its somber storytelling or The Last of Us Part 2and that game’s exploration of hatred and the cycle of violence, for me, the heavy themes and bleakness of Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced are done so well that it’s constantly engrossing and creates something truly memorable, and one of the best PS5 Pro games you can play now.
Should you play Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced?
Play it if...
You’re a fan of the game and series, eager to replay an enhanced version of the game It’s an easy answer to give, but if you’re a huge fan like me and were looking for a reason to dive back in, then this is the perfect way to do so. The game is the same powerful experience, and the new experiences
You want to play one of the technically best games on PS5 Pro Technically, in its audio and visual presentation, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced on PS5 and PS5 Pro feels like the definitive way to play the game, offering a brilliant, beautiful, and immersive audio-visual experience, augmented by the new graphics modes available. This then also extends to the first game’s upgrades, too, which you’ll get with the Deluxe version of Hellblade 2.
You want to embrace the misery and immerse yourself in one of the best game worlds of recent years As I’ve said above, there is a distinct attraction in sombre games such as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced, and if bleakness and darkness are your thing, as well as an incredibly powerful sense of place, then you’ll be right at home here.
Don't play it if...
You value speed and dynamism in your action and combat One of my small criticisms of the original release was some pacing in the game where it’s very quiet and limited, as well as the simple combat. Both are present in this version of the game again, and while they broadly feel at home for this particular game, if you desire multi-faceted action from your games, then you still won’t find it here.
You rarely revisit games you’ve already finished As much as I personally loved revisiting this game, for those who have strong memories of the original release, you won’t find much new here aside from the Dark Rot mode and the upgraded visuals.
You’re looking for a cheery or chill game Relaxing, happy, and cheerful, this is very much not - arguably even more so now with the graphical enhancements on show that give its violence in particular another edge. Elsewhere, it is still the same harrowing, bleak, miserable - yet incredibly engrossing and absorbing tale - that touches on many dark and deep themes of the human psyche.
Accessibility
The same bank of accessibility features in the original release remain present in Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced. These include three color blind modes - Deuteranope, Protanope, and Tritanope - as well as other graphical features such as motion blur and camera bob. In audio, you can alter menu narration settings, make adjustments to the audio presentation and device you’re using, while you can once again change text size, some animations, and UI color schemes.
The excellent gameplay accessibility options remain, too, with settings enabling you to change overall combat difficulty, as well as initiate auto-input for Senua’s offensive and/or defensive combat actions.
How I reviewed Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced
I played Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2 Enhanced for roughly 10 hours, replaying the entire main story, finding each and every collectible, and watching each and every absorbing cutscene. I played the game on my PS5 Pro on a Samsung Q6F 4K QLED TV using a Samsung sound bar and a Drop + EPOS PC38X and Sound BlasterX G6 sound card for audio. I was also able to briefly test the game on my PS5 Slim and Acer Predator X32QFS 4K gaming monitor, using a DualSense controller, and my Sennheiser HD 550 headphones, and Creative Sound Blast X4 sound card.
I spent several minutes in almost every chapter checking the differences between the game’s quality and performance modes, and I also tested all the game’s various extras and modes, ensuring I explored all of what this release of the game has to offer. I tried to engage in the enhanced version of the first one that is included in the deluxe edition of the game, but, unfortunately, I could not get this to work or even find it at the time of writing.
Annual sports game releases tend to get their fair share of stick across all platforms, and wrestling game series WWE 2K is no exception. Just a few years ago, the response to the buggy mess that was WWE 2K20 was so bad, the team behind the franchise went back to the drawing board and skipped 2021’s release altogether.
Review info
Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2 Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, PC Release date: July 23, 2025
Since then, the WWE 2K franchise has gone from strength to strength with just enough polishing every year to warrant an annual release. This year is no different, with my colleague Scott McCrae calling WWE 2K25 “the best wrestling game of the modern era.”
Now, if you’re reading this review, it’s likely that you’ve not only been burnt by the annual sports title release in the past (2K isn’t the only culprit, EA’s sports franchises like FC suffer a similar fate), but you’ve also been burnt by continuously poor ports of sports games to Nintendo platforms.
It brings me great joy to write that WWE 2K25 is the wrestling experience Nintendo fans have wanted for a very long time, offering an almost identical experience to WWE 2K25 on PS5 and Xbox Series X, albeit with some small caveats.
In this review, I’m going to focus on the core experience of playing WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2. While I’ll be discussing aspects of the game, I’d also advise you to read TechRadar Gaming’s full WWE 2K25 review from earlier this year, as I’m going to touch less on gameplay mechanics and modes than the original write-up.
Time to play the game
In our original review, we praised the improvements to the core gameplay mechanics, such as chain wrestling, as well as the long-anticipated addition of intergender wrestling matches. Some of the Game modes have received lots of love this year, such as the best 2K Showcase to date, based on the Samoan wrestling dynasty, The Bloodline. For fans of Roman Reigns and co, the documentary-style game mode is a genuine blast to play, giving you a history lesson in wrestling while offering fans the chance to relive the moments themselves.
(Image credit: 2K/WWE)
Universe mode, which lets you direct a wrestling show from start to finish, now has in-ring promos, and while still fairly limited, it adds much-needed depth to what I think is the best game mode for a handheld device. Being able to take your fantasy-booked show on the go adds a whole new dimension to the way fans can experience WWE 2K25, and because of it, this Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game might just be my favorite way to play.
You see, while the negatives mentioned in our original review still stand, such as a heavy focus on trying to get players to spend more of their hard-earned cash on unlockable items in the brand new online mode, The Island. Or buying downloadable content (DLC) to access wrestlers that probably should’ve been in the roster to begin with, the Nintendo Switch 2 version of WWE 2K25 unlocks the ability to take a fully-fledged wrestling game on your next vacation, on your next long-haul flight, or even just to the couch while your significant other watches TV.
(Image credit: 2K/WWE)
In terms of the game itself, the best praise I can give it is that it’s essentially identical in content and gameplay to the PS5 and Xbox Series X releases of the game, and that’s not been something sports fans have been able to say about Nintendo ports for a very long time.
Where the Nintendo Switch 2 version does fall short, however, is in graphical fidelity. WWE 2K25 looks like a PS4 game, and while that’s impressive on the go, it feels like you’ve gone back in time when you try to play in docked mode. Considering just how gorgeous WWE 2K25 is on home consoles, the Nintendo Switch 2 version feels a bit lifeless, lacking textures, and in general just not up to par graphically with the game wrestling fans have been enjoying since March.
Pocket combat
If docked mode on Nintendo Switch 2 is your preferred way of playing, and you have access to another current-gen console, I’d advise you to buy this game elsewhere. If, however, you only have access to the Nintendo Switch 2 or you want to take Wrestlemania on the go, WWE 2K25 hits all the right notes.
I’ve been waiting since the Stone Cold Steve Austin glory days for a wrestling game that’s as good in handheld as it is on a big screen, and with WWE 2K25, developers Visual Concepts have nailed it.
Best bit
(Image credit: 2K)
Handheld mode shines, giving wrestling fans the portable fighting game they've always dreamed of. Universe mode is the perfect way to delve into the ring, allowing you to fantasy book shows on the go.
There’s something quite magical about being able to take a sports video game on the go, and I hope WWE 2K25 is a sign of the future for Nintendo Switch 2. While it might not be on par graphically with the competition, it is gameplay-wise, and ultimately, that’s the most important thing for fans of any gaming series.
With EA FC 26 set to release in the coming months, Madden 2026 already available on the Nintendo eShop, and more annual release sports games coming to the Switch 2, I really hope these other developers have taken a page out of WWE 2K25’s book. Give me the same game with less graphical fidelity for small bursts of action while travelling, and the Nintendo Switch 2 might just become my favorite console of all time. Please, developers, don’t let WWE 2K25 be the outlier.
Should you play WWE 2K25?
Play it if...
You want to immerse yourself in wrestling WWE 2K25 is the best wrestling game I've played in years, and despite some game modes being cash grabs, you can opt to focus on the complete experiences, such as 2K Showcase, MyRise, and Universe mode.
You want to play on the go The game really shines in handheld mode, where it gives players the opportunity to take the full WWE 2K25 with them wherever they go. It's just as good on the Nintendo Switch 2's 7.9-inch LCD panel as it is on a 60-inch OLED TV.
Don't play it if...
You care about graphics If you're looking for the best-looking wrestling game, then you should look elsewhere, as WWE 2K25 on Nintendo Switch 2 doesn't come close to the fidelity of other consoles on the market. Ultimately, the trade-off is worth it for handheld gameplay, but the flat textures can take away from the experience in docked mode.
How I reviewed WWE 2K25
I played 25 hours of WWE 2K25 between handheld and docked modes on Nintendo Switch 2. Around 15 hours were spent playing the game on the go during a week of travelling across Europe, connected to my SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
During this time, I played all of the game modes on offer, comparing them to my experience of playing WWE 2K25 on PS5 Pro. On the PS5 Pro, I have over 100 hours on the game this year with my Samsung S90D, one of the best OLED TVs on the market. With over 125 hours played of WWE 2K25 combined between Nintendo Switch 2 and PS5 Pro, I have a deep understanding of how the Nintendo Switch 2 version compares to the other consoles on the market.
