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Ayaneo Pocket Micro review: a tiny Android tablet ideal for emulation
5:00 pm | January 11, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Mobile Gaming | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Ayaneo Pocket Micro: One-minute review

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro truly needs to be held in your hands to be believed. It’s an incredibly small Android tablet, weighing under 9oz / 250g and coming in at just 6.1 x 2.5 x 0.71in / 156 x 63 x 18mm, with in-built thumbsticks, D-pad, face buttons, and shoulder inputs. It sports a colorful 960 x 640 3.5in IPS touchscreen75, in a 3:2 aspect ratio that is perfect for playing Game Boy Advance games.

It’s no secret that this has been designed as an emulation handheld first and foremost, as it even comes with a custom Android launcher and Ayaneo app suite useful for importing a wide range of retro games - even if it is a bit jagged and unpolished at times. Links to top emulators on the Google Play Store, plus the easy-to-access microSD card slot, make it surprisingly simple to get a library full of games up and running.

Diving into Game Boy Advance classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Pokémon Ruby is a treat, thanks in no small part to the wonderfully responsive controls. If you’ve ever tried your hand at mobile emulation, you’ll know that touchscreen inputs feel nowhere near as good as the real thing. The buttons and D-pad here are pleasantly soft, with a spongy feel reminiscent of the Nintendo 2DS. GBA games run perfectly and look sublimely crisp. This even includes more demanding titles that skirted with 3D visuals, like the open-world crime caper Driver 3.

While Game Boy titles are the focus thanks to the size of the display, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro is also capable of emulating a wide range of other systems. Performance does begin to suffer if you attempt anything more advanced than a PSP, however, which is to be expected given the use of the more budget-oriented Helio G99 chipset.

This is also the story with native Android gaming. Simple 2D experiences like Stardew Valley or the Vampire Survivors-like 20 Minutes Till Dawn run superbly, while complex 3D worlds like those in Genshin Impact or Zenless Zone Zero cause frame rates to tumble. It’s also hard to ignore the quality of the speakers which are pretty poor. It’s reasonable to expect these kinds of cutbacks at this price point, but the muddy audio makes headphones almost a necessity even when you’re gaming at home.

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro viewed from the bottom right hand corner on a flat desk surface.

(Image credit: Future)

Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Price and availability

  • Currently available via IndieGogo
  • Prices start at $189 (around £153) via early bird pricing
  • Retail prices start at $219 (around £177)

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro is currently only available via IndieGogo.

A basic model with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage will set you back $189 (around £153) via early bird pricing, or $219 (around £177) at retail. You can also grab a more premium version with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage starting at $249 (around £202) via early bird pricing, or $279 (around £226) at retail. IndieGogo will ship to a wide range of regions, but just bear in mind that prices can vary depending on the current exchange rate.

Multiple colors are available for each version. The more affordable variant comes in a cute red or sleek black, while the more premium model is offered in black or a clearly Game & Watch-inspired gold and maroon.

This price is certainly not a huge amount to pay for an Android tablet, let alone one with a specialist design like this. It is roughly the same price as other modern Game Boy successors, like the premium Analogue Pocket which starts at $129.99 (around £174), so a pretty good value proposition on the whole.

Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Specs

Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Design and features

  • Very robust metal shell
  • Pleasant buttons and D-pad
  • Full Android functionality

When you take the Ayaneo Pocket Micro out of the box, the first thing you’ll probably notice is that it’s built like a tank. I tested an early production sample, but you wouldn’t know it from the quality of the overall feel. It’s constructed using a CNC aluminum alloy frame, lending the outside of the tablet an incredibly robust feel. It seems considerably more sturdy than the likes of the Nintendo Switch Lite, and could probably go head to head with the brick-like original Game Boy in a drop test - though for obvious reasons I wasn’t too keen to test that.

The back of the tablet is plastic, which helps keep the weight at a manageable 8.21oz / 233g. My model came in the black colorway, so the front is a clean black with a bezel-less 3.5-inch screen. To the left of the screen, you will find the well-sized D-pad and left thumbstick. On the right are the face buttons (in the traditional Nintendo layout) and the right thumbstick. Both thumbsticks are very small but are still capable of more than enough motion for 3D gaming.

Underneath all of that, there are two sets of small rectangular buttons. The first set serves as the start and select button in games, while the others are an ‘Aya Button’ (which calls up a floating settings menu) and a button that returns you to the system’s home screen.

On the top of the console, there are four shoulder buttons, a power button with an integrated fingerprint reader (an excellent feature that saves you from having to enter passwords on the tiny little screen), and a simple volume rocker. That’s not all, though, as the console’s flat right side features a dedicated home button and a mappable ‘RC’ button.

The top of the Ayaneo Pocket Micro.

(Image credit: Future)

If you want to expand your storage, there’s a microSD card slot on the left-hand side under a little rubber flap. No microSD card is included, so you will need to source your own. I found that it was incredibly tricky to insert a card on my model, as the flap was difficult to open and the card itself just didn’t seem to click into place properly. Thankfully, Ayaneo states that this is a known issue with pre-production versions of the device and should be ironed out by the time you get your hands on one.

As you might expect, there is your usual USB-C port for charging on the bottom of the system.

In terms of overall features, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro is a fully-fledged Android tablet. You can download apps using the Google Play Store, though the small screen will make it difficult to perform tasks like messaging, document editing, and so on. Gaming is definitely where this device shines, and the custom Ayaneo software is designed to ensure a simple gaming experience. Links to recommended emulators (both paid and free) are easy to access from the AyaSpace app and the system’s in-built controls were immediately recognized by every one that I tried.

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro in the hands.

(Image credit: Future)

Ayaneo Pocket Micro: Performance

  • Perfect for Game Boy emulation
  • Also plays basic mobile games
  • Speakers are poor

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro excels at Game Boy emulation. Every GB, GBC, and GBA game that I tested ran perfectly. Running at 4x the original Game Boy Advance resolution, the picture is incredibly crisp. While not OLED, the colors of the IPS screen are still very vibrant with great viewing angles that are well-suited to portable play. The screen is also bright enough to be used comfortably outdoors without any glare.

You will begin to encounter some performance issues if you attempt more intensive emulation, however. PlayStation 2 titles are hit-and-miss and I found that the screen size actually made it difficult to work out what was going on in detailed environments like the open world of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. PSP games ran acceptably too, but again the screen size made it difficult to read tutorial text in the likes of God of War: Chains of Olympus.

Attempting to emulate more recent consoles results in a stuttery, laggy mess but that’s to be expected given the relatively modest chipset here. This is definitely one to buy if you’re most keen to play Game Boy games.

Unlike a conventional mobile phone, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro has an in-built fan for active air cooling. It can get slightly loud when you crank it up to the maximum power in the settings menu, but it seems very effective at keeping the device cool while you play.

As an Android tablet, the Ayaneo Pocket Micro can also be used for native mobile titles but keep your expectations in check. This is not a high-spec gaming phone, so it’s going to struggle if you don’t stick to the simplest titles. Throughout my testing, I managed to consistently achieve 5-6 hours of battery life which is pretty solid given the tablet’s miniscule size. It should comfortably last for the duration of a commute, where its pocketable nature really shines.

That said, the rectangular shape did start to dig into my palms when I attempted longer sessions. The corners have been rounded off slightly, which definitely helps, but your palms are still going to get sore after a few hours.

There is one bigger problem with the Ayaneo Pocket Micro though: its speakers. They’re very poor, producing a weak, muddy sound that lacks any bass or real clarity. In-game music sounds tinny and sometimes even a little crackly.

It’s not massively noticeable when you’re playing Game Boy titles, as they have relatively limited audio capabilities in the first place, but is incredibly apparent when trying out more modern games. Headphones are an absolute must, which makes the lack of a 3.5mm headphone jack a real shame. Bluetooth is an option, but having to fiddle with headphone pairing is an obstacle every time you want to play.

The Ayaneo Pocket Micro being used to watch a video.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the Ayaneo Pocket Micro?

Buy it if...

You want a modern Game Boy
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro is ideal for emulating GB, GBC, and GBA games. They run flawlessly and look absolutely superb on the small 3:2 screen. The physical controls are also a joy to use.

You’re after a cheap tiny gaming tablet
The Ayaneo Pocket Micro might not be the most powerful tablet out there, but it’s incredibly small and easy to stash in your pocket.

Don't buy it if...

You want higher specs
The MediaTek Helio G99 is a modest mobile chipset. Dedicated gaming phones will offer significantly better performance in mobile games, while handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch Lite will run retro titles more smoothly at a similar price.

Also consider...

After a device like the Ayaneo Pocket Micro? Consider these two alternatives.

Modretro Chromatic
The Modretro Chromatic is capable of playing your favorite GB and GBC cartridges natively. It’s got excellent buttons, superb overall build quality, and a shape incredibly reminiscent of the original handheld.

For more information, check out our full Modretro Chromatic review

Nintendo Switch Lite
Plenty of GB, GBC, and GBC games are available on Nintendo Switch Lite as part of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription services or in various retro collections. It also benefits from a huge library of great exclusive games, plus a compact all-in-one design.

For more information, check out our full Nintendo Switch Lite review

The bottom right hand corner of the Ayaneo Pocket Micro.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Ayaneo Pocket Micro

  • Tested for three months
  • Played a wide variety of Game Boy games
  • Tried at home and out and about

I tested the Ayaneo Pocket Micro over a period of three months. I used the 8GB + 256GB model in its black colorway, accompanied by a case provided by the manufacturer. In addition to the built-in storage, I relied on a SanDisk Extreme microSD card to transfer game files from my PC.

I played a wide variety of Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games on the Ayaneo Pocket Micro. This included Tetris, Pokemon Red, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening, Wario Land 3, Pokemon Ruby, Driver 3, Metroid Zero Mission, and more. I also tested a small handful of PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Portable games in addition to a few other platforms. I was also careful to evaluate the handheld's performance in native mobile titles, such as the popular Call of Duty: Mobile.

Throughout my time with the handheld, I constantly compared the playing experience to my hands-on testing of gaming smartphones and a wide range of gaming handhelds. For audio, I relied on a pair of Beats Solo Buds.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed January 2024.

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack review: earns its place
7:00 pm | January 1, 2025
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack: one-minute review

When I sent a picture of my Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack review unit to my editor, he called it a “ridiculous product”. He meant it flatteringly, of course - how could anyone not want a chunk of a fighter jet’s cockpit ripped out and placed on their desk? That’s exactly what’s on offer with the catchily titled Mission Pack (which sounds like Flight Sim DLC as opposed to a peripheral).

To get the important thing out of the way, though, there’s no stick included here. You can, of course, connect up any traditional flight stick, but for $549.99 / £449.99, it’s worth remembering you’ll still need one.

That plus the price tag puts this firmly in ‘enthusiast’ territory for many, and yet as soon as you take the hefty unit out of the box, it’s hard not to let out a small gasp at just how neat it is. From the switches, to the throttle and its assorted inputs, it only gets cooler when you plug it in and engage the backlights throughout.

There are a staggering 64 buttons included on this 1:1 model, and it’s possible to get even more out of it with some remapping. It’s in a nice spot where it’s approachable (as long as you can afford it) because you can plug it in and most games will recognize it almost instantly, but there’s the potential for some light tweaking with adjustable lights and friction that mean it can be as smooth as you’d like.

The Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack won’t be for everyone, but if you’re in the target demographic, you’ll likely already have an order placed.

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack

(Image credit: Future)

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack: price and availability

  • List price: $529.99 / £449.99
  • Available worldwide
  • Very much in premium territory

The Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack, as mentioned above, doesn’t come with a flight stick but it does come in three different configurations if you’d like to keep costs down.

The first is the throttle, which is available solus, while the second is just the control panel of switches and the like. Finally, you can get the complete version that we’re reviewing here, but if you already have a throttle and just want some switches, or vice versa, the option is there.

Still, there’s no getting around that price tag, but there are much more affordable options available for newer pilots - we’ll come to those shortly.

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack: specs

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack

(Image credit: Future)

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack: design and features

  • Sturdy construction means it won’t move
  • Adjustable friction
  • Plenty of inputs

What struck me when removing the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack from its box was just how weighty it is. It’s not necessarily what I’d describe as heavy for heavy’s sake, but it’s got enough heft to it where you can tell it’s been made of materials that will last.

It arrives fully assembled, but with the option to adjust the friction. I found it a little too easy to push at first, and lacking in dramatic effect, but in order to engage afterburner or idle your in-game engine, you’ll need to lift the throttle over a sort of 'hard stop' which adds a fun mechanical feel. Once you then dial in the friction, it just feels right.

There’s even a 'slap button' which can trigger flares with your backhand, which is a nice touch, and then you have a whole bunch of buttons and knobs on the throttle handle. There’s comfortable, if overwhelming at first, and relative novices (that’s me) will likely not press them often, but we’ll come to mapping shortly.

For the panel, you get an adjustable green backlight once you plug it in (there’s a USB-C port at the front), and every switch has a satisfying click when engaged. Add to that the variety of knobs that are easy to turn but don’t get too close to the throttle, and there’s plenty of space for some quick maneuvers.

I also really like the landing gear switch, which you can’t accidentally nudge because it has to be lifted before it can be moved. When I started playing Elite Dangerous I was on Xbox, playing with a controller, fumbling with modifier buttons and all sorts to get my landing gear up. Having a bespoke switch now is a testament to how wide the gamut of flight sim control options are.

If the game you’re playing supports an eject button, you’ll find one of those, too - here’s hoping you never need it.

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack

(Image credit: Future)

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack: performance

  • Plug and play
  • Customizable elements
  • T.A.R.G.E.T software feels a little dated

Thrustmaster recommends using its T.A.R.G.E.T software, but I barely dabbled with it in my testing.

It’s a small install, but outside of using it to install drivers, I found the interface a little too dated to use for button remapping. Still, you can set up various premade layouts within it, mimicking the behaviour of real aircraft, if that’s your thing,

I’m more a space ace myself, so I was keen to test it at two ends of the spectrum: Star Wars Squadrons and Elite Dangerous.

The former was nice and easy, with the game instantly recognizing my stick as one input, and the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack as a secondary one. Within minutes I was chasing ‘Rebel scum’ in my TIE Fighter, locking on and looping the loop.

Elite Dangerous is a slower-paced space sim, but again it was easy enough to get going after switching my input method over in the settings. After a quick auto-launch procedure, I was out space trucking in comfort, safe in the knowledge I was able to react to any situation.

Naturally, sim-based games will have more use for many of the panel’s various switches and knobs. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 dropped during testing, and I found much more use for the array of inputs there than I did in more sci-fi settings.

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack?

Buy it if...

You want to take your flight sim setup to new heights
This is as close as you can get to flying a real aircraft at your desk, and could elevate your entire setup.View Deal

You’re happy to get your hands dirty
With customizable friction and lighting, as well as extensive button mapping.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You want a flight stick
The Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack is additive, but you’ll still need a stick.View Deal

Also consider...

Still not sold on the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack? Here’s how it compares to two similar products.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne
The Turtle Beach VelocityOne is a much more affordable stick, which might make it an ideal companion to the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack.

It has plenty of buttons and a nice OLED screen for data, while also offering a comfortable flight experience. We’d have liked it to be slightly heavier, though, so it’s less likely to move across a desk.

For more information, check out our full Turtle Beach VelocityOne reviewView Deal

Logitech T Flight Hotas One
Looking to get a throttle and stick combo that’s built for beginners? This option has a comfortable stick and detachable throttle.

It’s not as weighty, but it is a fantastic beginner product thanks to its competitive price and the ability to use it on PC and Xbox consoles.

For more information, check out our full T Flight Hotas One reviewView Deal

Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack

  • Tested over multiple weeks
  • Used on a gaming PC with an RTX 4070Ti
  • Tested using Elite Dangerous, Star Wars Squadrons and Microsoft Flight Simulator

I’ve been using the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack for a couple of weeks now, switching between multiple titles.

While I enjoyed using it for Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, I primarily tested it using Elite Dangerous, an expansive space sim, and Star Wars Squadrons for testing tight turns and dogfighting, as well as Microsoft Flight Simulator for longer, more realistic flying sessions.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh gaming chair review: right idea, wrong implementation
1:00 pm | December 30, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: | Comments: Off

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Two-minute review

AndaSeat's playing an intriguing game with this one. The X-Air Series Mesh line actually features two base models to choose from straight out of the gate, the X-Air and the X-Air Pro. The X-Air starts at $369 / around £290, and the X-Air Pro comes in at the $419 / around £329 mark. Both are only available from its store right now. The big difference between the two? Well, it's mostly down to colorways, the base, and the armrests.

With the Pro, you get 5D rests (more on that later), an aluminum base, and access to two additional colorways. The Celeste model, which I got to test, is a black mesh solution with a purple ombre back finish, and the Twilight, with a pinkish ombre back but with a white mesh rather than the black we see here.

The stock X-Air gets more traditional 4D armrests, along with a stock adjustable tilt system, plus an iron base, and is only available in black throughout. Yet, to be frank, that's still the one I'd recommend you pick up if you're torn between the two. Not only because of the savings but because those more traditional armrests are far superior to the 5D devils that you get on the X-Air Pro.

Why are they such an issue? Simply put, they're just too confusing. They slip, slide, and shunt in so many directions and rotate in so many different ways that it makes it incredibly hard for them to support you if you push against them. Rest your arms on top; sure, you'll be fine, but otherwise they've really lost some of that critical function that makes a good armrest; it's elements like this that really detract from the overall score, and keep it a step away from becoming one of the more comfortable gaming chairs available today.

The back of the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh in a home office.

(Image credit: Future)

As for its build process, well, you're going to absolutely want a second pair of hands to help out here, that's for sure. AndaSeat's manual is detailed enough, and the included bits and bolts are plenty abound, but the way it wants you to angle and align some of the (seriously heavy) parts just to secure them together is honestly mildly insane.

The ergonomics too are curious; it's got solid lumbar built-in and a decent headrest, and the mesh itself is supportive enough (even despite lacking any padding underneath), yet it's incredibly difficult to adjust or even know what you're doing when you start using it. That can make the initial experience with it quite a bit of a turn-off. There's an argument to be had that it is adjustable and with enough time, effort, energy, and reading the manual you'll get there, but this is something that should just be intuitive straight out of the box, which sadly it's not.

It might sound like I'm just wailing on this thing, but it's still an ok proposition if you're looking for a sleek, comfortable gaming chair that'll fit right into an office environment too. Alright, it might not make it as one of the best gaming chairs around, but credit where credit's due; comfort is impressive, and it does what it meant to: keep you cool over long gaming sessions while being ergonomically supportive. But, and it's a big but, there are still a number of better options out there at this price point.

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Price and availability

  • List price: $419
  • No Amazon or UK availability
  • Limited Colorways

Right now, if you're looking to pick up your own Mesh X-Air, you're likely going to find it a challenge if you're anywhere but the US. Stateside is the only place you can easily pick one of these up, and only directly from AndaSeat's website.

You can grab either the X-Air or the X-Air Pro in one of three colorways. The X-Air is limited to an all-black run, whereas the Pro also has access to a white mesh with an ombre back and a black mesh variation of that as well. The Pro also comes with AndaSeat's 5D Armrests, along with an aluminum base, and a self-adjusting tilt system, although I'll cover all that in a little more detail soon enough.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given how little physical material is involved in the Mesh line, the pricing of this compared to something like AndaSeat's Kaiser 4 is markedly less. The Kaiser 4 line starts at around $569, whereas the X-Air Mesh you can get as low as $369, making it seemingly good value by comparison.

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Specs

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Design and aesthetics

  • Office-esque feel
  • Challenging to configure
  • Light gaming "pop" to it

Ok, let me call it like it is here. From the front, this thing screams corporate office, and little else. It just does. It's got that new mid-level manager making an executive decision to buy in 20 new highly ergonomic office chairs while they're in their task force/project codename phase, feel to it.

There's nothing glamorous here, nothing obviously comforting, just semi-transparent woven mesh fabric strapped ergonomically to a metallic-plastic superstructure, combined with an all-black finish, and some rather funky-looking armrests.

Turn it around on the spot, however, and if you've grabbed yourself one of the more outlandish X-Air Pro variants, your eyes will immediately be drawn to the dramatic and ostentatious ombre gradient running from top to bottom on the rear support structure. It's bold, it's potent, and honestly, a little bit confusing.

Almost like the X-Air doesn't quite know what it wants to be. Is it the best gaming chair? The best office chair? It doesn't know, but to be honest, that's fine.

A close up of the front of the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh.

(Image credit: Future)

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Comfort and adjustability

  • 5D Armrests are a nightmare
  • No lumbar adjustment
  • Not intuitive to use

From a comfort perspective, the mesh material on the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh is far more impressive than you'd first think.

If you've not tried a mesh chair, and have sat your posterior down mostly on their slightly more expensive PU leather counterparts throughout your gaming career, complete with thick padded cushions and enough adjustable dials to make even the most avid of guitarists happy, then you might be surprised by just how spongy and supportive these things can be.

AndaSeat has nailed the mesh fabric on this. It's not anywhere near as abrasive, or unsupportive as you first might think; there's almost a bounce to it. That's not to say it's as soft as a labrador's ears, but nevertheless, if you're sitting on this for prolonged periods of time, you'll find it more than comfortable enough. Whether you're doing a nine-hour Elden Ring challenge run or writing out a 20-page feature, the X-Air Pro does have your back (quite literally).

Now onto the bad bits. Adjustability is there, but it's not intuitive. The lumbar support is fixed straight out of the gate and quite aggressive. If you're not a fan of that, there's little you can do to alleviate the pressure it puts on your lower spine. The headrest is adjustable, but again it does protrude quite aggressively, even with the best of adjustments, and the seat base does move back and forward too, giving you some level of control, but again, even with all the toggles you have at your disposal, knowing when you've actually moved it takes a great degree of awareness for your fine motor skills.

Then there's the 5D armrests. These things are a mess, sadly. They're effectively built on three moving parts. The main arm moves up and down on a ratchet system, a middle extended plinth attached to that that can rotate up to around 220 degrees, and then the final armrest on top of that, which can also rotate a full 360 degrees and also slide backwards and forwards as well.

There's a lot going on here, and although it's comfortable enough up top with plenty of sponge because it has all that movement, it means if you try and lean on it at any point or attempt to use it to reposition your sitting position on the chair, it's likely to slide out from under you in all manner of weird and wonderful ways. This is a marked design devolution, even compared to something like the Kaiser 4's 5D armrests, to the point that I'd actually recommend sticking with the X-Air if you're considering this chair, purely to avoid the 5D rests.

Final positive: the tilt mechanism is fantastic. The back of the chair itself tilts, rather than the base it's attached to as well. That gives you a much more sturdy seating position that lets you relax if you're a little on the anxious side. This was the first chair where I personally enjoyed having it set to that, and its self-adaptive tilt is top tier.

The armrests of the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh.

(Image credit: Future)

AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh: Assembly

Oh, why AndaSeat, why is the assembly on this thing so nightmarish? What is it that stops you from assembling some of this on-site and shipping it complete?

This is not an easy chair to put together. The instruction manual is good enough, and it tells you what to do, but you need to route and attach the wire cables for all of the adjustment elements, secure the toggles into position on the side of the seat base, and then cover the exposed cables with what has to be the most awkward plastic cover I've ever seen.

From there, it's a case of (if you're building it solo) precariously attaching the seat back to the chair base (which weighs a ton) with the arms already attached. That would be fine if it weren't balancing on those plastic 5D armrests. Finally, you can install the headrest, which again you're securing into position with two screws that you can't see. It's just a nightmare. I've built well over 50 gaming chairs over a decade during my time in this industry, and this was the most challenging one by far.

Assembling the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh?

Buy it if...

You want to be cool
The mesh fabric does an outstanding job of keeping you cool under pressure. It's easy to clean, doesn't feel that abrasive, and supports you well.

You love lumbar support
You just need solid lumbar support straight out of the gate. It might not be adjustable, but this thing is pronounced for the lumbar lovers.

Don't buy it if...

You haven't got a buddy
Building this thing is a real challenge. If you've got a spare pair of hands available, pull them into the fray to get you to the end, otherwise other chairs are way easier to assemble and will be more attractive as a result.

You shuffle about a lot
Those 5D armrests might sound cool on paper, but they do little to support you if you move around on the chair or sit cross-legged.

Also consider...

It's relatively cheap, relatively comfortable, but a bit of a nightmare. If, like me, you're not sold on the AndaSeat X-Air Pro, then try out one of these for size.

Steelcase Series 2 Task
One of the best office chairs around, it may be pricey, but it's simple, elegant, unsophisticated, surprisingly minimal, and endlessly customizable for your needs. That might feel a little niche compared to our pseudo-mesh gaming solution here, but it's well worth your time if you're already looking down this alley.

For more information, check out our full Steelcase Series 2 Task Chair review.

AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL
AndaSeat's bread and butter gaming chair, the Kaiser 3 XL, comes with a lot of the same features that you'll find in seats nearly twice the cost. It's widely available, and you can pick one up in an absolute armada of colorways to suit your style too. Only downside? The stitching's a little out.

For more information, check out our full AndaSeat Kaiser 3 XL review.

A look at the base of the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh from the rear.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh

  • Sat in all manner of positions
  • Tested over three weeks
  • Multiple butts in seat

I tested the AndaSeat X-Air Pro Mesh gaming chair rigorously over the course of several weeks, using it as my daily chair throughout all of my writing work, alongside gaming and other PC-oriented activities.

Additionally, I also took it to live in a hospitality environment for 1 week with multiple staff members of a variety of different shapes and sizes sitting in it, providing me with their own direct feedback as well, ensuring all manner of folk are catered for. I documented the entire build process and my time with the X-Air Pro, and also sat in for the duration of the review writing process.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024.

Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex review: a racing peripheral with impressive wireless tech, but not much else
8:00 pm | December 29, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: One-minute review

Look, it’s hard to make one of the best racing wheels at an affordable cost. Compromises have to be made in order to hit a lower price point, and there are no good options when it comes to what to jettison.

In the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex, Hori has managed to retain decent build quality and even an impressive wireless function that far pricier wheels don’t feature, but after a few hours of use it’s clear that this is a Pyrrhic victory - the driving experience makes you miss the features it’s gone without.

Specifically: a longer brake pedal actuation, a sturdier pedal base that stays in place, and - although it’s a stretch at the price - force feedback. With these elements missing, the fundamental fun and increased precision you gain from inputting via a wheel is unfortunately offset by too much fiddling and repositioning with the pedals, and an unsatisfying on/off feel to braking.

Of course, that’s the sim racer in me talking, with an awareness of how far more expensive direct drive setups feel in the best racing games. If you put this wheel in the hands of a younger gamer whose curiosity for racing might not warrant sinking two grand on a Fanatec direct-drive rig quite yet, they’ll likely just appreciate the pros and won’t miss the cons too much.

The same goes for casual players whose appetite for racing is infrequent and who just want to try a different style of controlling their vehicles in game. Ultimately, then? The Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex's quality hinges entirely on the use case, and the audience. Just know that there are dramatically better options out there for only a small amount of extra cash.

The side profile of the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex.

(Image credit: Future)

HORI Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: Price and availability

  • List price: $119.99 / £159.99 / around AU$319
  • As budget-friendly as you’ll find for a racing wheel
  • Logitech’s G29 is only £40 more now in UK, and offers force feedback

You can’t fault Hori’s ability to achieve a really attractive entry-level price point – in fact, you’ll struggle to find a cheaper model from a reputable brand. This pricing alone makes the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex worth considering.

It’s up against dominating competition from an old stalwart, the Logitech G29, in the UK which is now going for £199 and offers force feedback, superior build qualit,y and functionality. In the US, where the G29 still costs $299, the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex seems a lot more reasonable.

Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: Specs

Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: Design and features

  • Smart appearance
  • Ergonomic layout
  • Flawed pedal design

You’ll find even less metal here than at the Teen Choice Awards, but this wheel’s finish and aesthetic do a lot to flatter the plastic construction materials. This being a PlayStation wheel officially licensed by Sony, you’ll find all the buttons from a DualSense Wireless Controller mapped around the centre of the wheel in a sensible ergonomic layout. Behind them are two plastic paddle shifters, and above the central PlayStation logo are a couple of toggle switches for PS4 / PS5 / PC compatibility.

It’s an attractive peripheral for the price, and the chromed plastic on the lower half does a lot to elevate the look. The gold centre band is a useful touch that adds some motorsport cred to the design, and all the face buttons feel really nice to press – perhaps owing to Hori’s chops in the fight stick market.

I also appreciated the rubberized grips, which added a lot to the feel during a race and kept my hands exactly where I needed them, even in sweatier sessions.

The button layout of the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex.

(Image credit: Future)

Down at your feet though, the design fares less well. There’s no hiding how plasticky that throttle and brake are, nor how insubstantial they feel to operate.

A lot of this comes down to the design. The base just isn’t big enough to distribute your stamping force across a wide enough surface area to prevent the pedals from shifting or twisting under your feet. Even if you push the unit right up against a wall so it can’t move backwards, you still feel a twist if you brake hard. There’s not much that can be done about this - there are no mounting holes for a racing seat, and the rubber stays aren’t sticky enough to keep it in place on carpets or hard floors.

Time for the ace up the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex’s sleeve, though: wireless operation. Alright, not totally wireless - you still need to connect the wheel to the pedals, via an old-school modem-like input (like the ones Thrustmaster and Fanatec use in bases). But from wheel to console or PC, it’s cable-free.

Up to 10 hours of battery life is promised on the spec sheet, and pairing it to the USB-A dongle is a simple procedure. It’s a genuinely impressive addition, although you can’t help but wonder if the overall experience might have benefitted from that expense being spent on the driving feel instead.

Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex: Performance

  • Functional but basic
  • Limited steering angle and brake actuation
  • Centering spring hampers car feel

There are two ways to appraise this wheel. Given that it’s aimed squarely at the beginner end of the market, the first is to simply weigh up the merits of using a wheel input versus a controller – the increased precision offered, the way you can catch those spins quicker and correct them more easily. The advantage of holding a consistent steering angle through a corner is something that’s much trickier when you’re trying to be precise with a tiny analog stick. It won’t make you faster straight away, but in the long run, you’re always going to feel the benefits of a wheel peripheral over a pad.

The second approach – and this is where Hori is sweating – is to evaluate this wheel against similarly priced competitors. And that’s where it struggles to make a compelling argument.

Here are the elements that hamper your performance: firstly, the brake pedal. In addition to the issues with keeping the pedal base in place, the brake pedal itself has a tiny amount of actuation, and that creates the sensation that you’re pressing the brake button, rather than applying progressive pressure to the brakes. In other words, it negates the benefits of braking using a pedal instead of a trigger on a pad.

It’s not all bad, though. To the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex’s credit, there’s a decent amount of resistance to the spring on the brake, slightly more than on the throttle, which feels just about resistant enough. And which, crucially, has just about enough travel.

The pedals of the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex.

(Image credit: Future)

Next performance-limiting issue: the centering spring strength of the wheel. This is not a force feedback peripheral, so there’s no tarmac rumble, no dynamic resistance to turn-in, and no steering wheel snaps when your back end hits traction loss and steps out. That’s fair enough. This is a budget wheel, and implementing both the hardware and the software compatibility for force feedback aren’t cheap.

So in its place is a simple spring which brings the wheel back to its centre point when you’re not exerting steering inputs to the left or right. The amount of tension when you’re moving the wheel from centre to a degree of rotation feels fine, and likewise when you’re moving it back from that rotated position. But as it hits the centre point, the wheel snaps into position so aggressively that it affects a car’s stability in-game.

There’s also the 270-degree rotation range to consider. It’s enough angle to enjoy the feeling of sending a car through a corner in most scenarios, but it’s quite limited by the standards set by its peers and situations will crop up where you’ll wish for more angle. Taking the hairpin at Monaco in F1 24, for example, or trying to park in Euro Truck Simulator 2. Many wheels offer up to 900 degrees, and truthfully I’ve sometimes felt like I could get away with much less until I used this Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex.

And that leads to the final point about this wheel. It’s not to be knocked or ruled out of contention, because the build quality and features are decent for the price. But that caveat is crucially important. It’s the only context in which such a wheel makes sense.

And that means you should consider if this wheel is going to satisfy your needs in the long run, or whether you’ll probably end up buying a more expensive upgrade later down the line that adds in the features you’ll miss here.

Should I buy the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex?

The complete Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex setup.

(Image credit: Future)

Buy it if...

You’re new to racing peripherals
The pricing and feature set are aimed squarely at the entry level of the market, making the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex a low-cost way to see if wheel peripherals are for you.

You’re buying for a younger gamer
The smaller size of the pedals and wheel would suit a junior racer who’s newer to the genre.

You’re not going to upgrade later
Spending slightly more could unlock access to wheels with force feedback, more rotation, better pedals and sturdier construction, so be sure that this is all you’re going to need.

Don't buy it if...

You're an Xbox racer
The Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex is PS5, PS4, and PC-compatible, so if you want a Forza rig you’ll need to look elsewhere.

You want force feedback
You get a lot more information from a force feedback wheel which helps you to improve as a racer in the long run.

You’ve got a heavy foot
The small pedal base, plastic construction and limited brake actuation aren’t ideal for heavy brake or throttle inputs.

Also consider...

If the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex doesn’t meet your need (for speed), these similarly priced rivals are worth a look.

Thrustmaster T248
A decent all-rounder with sturdy build quality, gratifying magnetic shifter paddles and a lot of torque generated by a dual-motor force feedback servo.

For more information, check out our full Thrustmaster T248 review

Logitech G920
The elder statesman of racing wheels remains as dependable and feature-complete as ever, even if its position in the Logi G hierarchy is confusing following the G923’s arrival.

For more information, check out our full Logitech G920 review

How I tested the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex

  • One week of regular use during testing
  • Tested with PC and PS5
  • Racing sims and arcade titles tried

Since the Hori Wireless Racing Wheel Apex's pedal base can’t be mounted to a sim racing rig, my Playseat gathered dust for a week while I clamped this wireless rig to my desk and put in the hours with Gran Turismo 7, F1 24, and The Crew Motorfest.

I’ve been testing wheels since the early 2010s when the Logitech G27 sat resplendent on the sim racing throne, and in the intervening year,s I’ve taken hairpins and sent many a purple sector with high-end direct drive models and budget offerings alike.

As a point of comparison, I dug out Thrustmaster’s similarly priced T128 wheel for a feature, build quality and driving feel reference, setting aside my usual Thrustmaster T-GT II belt-driven wheel (and the sim rig it’s attached to) for a while

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024

WD Black SN850P review: one to grab on sale
5:00 pm | December 28, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: | Comments: Off

WD Black SN850P: One-minute review

As a big proponent of the WD Black SN850, I can’t deny that I’m a little disappointed with the WD Black SN850P. Although faster on paper, I found that the real-world performance of the SN850P actually lags behind that of the older SN850 - even scoring slightly lower in the PS5's internal storage benchmark. The design has taken a bit of a step back this time around too, as the SN850P ditches the cool, though admittedly slightly impractical, LED of its predecessor in favor of a much plainer, and presumably cheaper to manufacture, look.

This wouldn’t be a huge issue, but the SN850P comes in a little more expensive than not only the SN850 but also some of the best SSDs for PS5. When officially licensed alternatives like the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 can be found cheaper and will run a bit better, there’s no real reason to pick up the SN850P above the rest. That is unless you manage to find the 1TB or 2TB models on one of their fairly regular discounts, where price cuts of up to $50 / £30 make these products much more competitive.

There are also the larger capacity variants to consider. Seagate’s licensed drive doesn’t come in capacities above 2TB, so the SN850P is one of the only options if you want to keep things official at that size. The 8TB variant is also one of the few 8TB PS5 SSDs on the market right now from a major brand and is quite reasonably priced for what it is. If it’s either of these versions that you were considering, add half a star to the score above.

Otherwise, the WD Black SN850P is underwhelming on the whole. It’s a fine PS5 SSD that, thanks to its slightly overambitious price tag, fails to stand out.

The WD Black SN850P on a white surface.

(Image credit: Future)

WD Black SN850P: Price and availability

  • 1TB is $119.99 / £107.99
  • 2TB is $189.99 / £184.99
  • 4TB is $319.99 / £329.99
  • 8TB is $749.99 / £705.99

The 1TB WD Black SN850P retails for $119.99 / £107.99, though can be found hovering slightly below that price at online storefronts such as Amazon. The 2TB costs $189.99 / £184.99, though again you can expect to pay a little less if you buy online.

Outside of sales, both these models cost a bit more than the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 equivalents (the 1TB model goes for $99.99 / £99.90 while 2TB is $159.99 / £159.90) - again, a drive that performed slightly better in my testing.

The cost then increases substantially as you move towards the 4TB model, which is $319.99 / £329.99, or 8TB, which goes for a massive $749.99 / £705.99. Although the most recent arrival, the 8TB has already started receiving discounts of about $50 / £50 that put the price in line with most other 8TB PS5 compatible SSDs making it a solid option if you can afford it.

WD Black SN850P: Specs

WD Black SN850P: Design and features

  • Design is a step down from the SN850
  • Heatsink included out of the box
  • 5-year limited warranty

The design of the WD Black SN850P is, in my opinion, a step down from the SN850. It’s got a similar overall look, with a sleek black heatsink constructed from a very robust feeling metal but lacks the little LED that was on top of the SN850. This was never a huge selling point, after all, you can’t exactly see it when it’s been inserted inside a PS5. But it still makes for an SSD that looks a bit cheaper on the whole.

Otherwise, you have the same white WD Black branding, plus a little label stating the name of the product. One noticeable departure is the introduction of a white PlayStation logo on the right-hand side, which matches everything nicely.

Although it looks very similar from a distance, the heatsink has actually been redesigned with a slightly different shape and a few more gaps for dispersing heat. Given that I never experienced any noticeable thermal throttling on the SN850, I can’t say that this seems necessary but it definitely doesn’t hurt. It also fits perfectly in the PS5 or PS5 Pro.

In the box, you get the SSD in a little clamshell package, in addition to some warranty and service information. You’re covered by a five-year limited warranty here, which does offer some peace of mind and means that this drive will likely see you through the rest of the PS5’s life if you opt to get one.

The rear of the WD Black SN850P.

(Image credit: Future)

WD Black SN850P: Performance

  • Performance could be better for the price
  • Initial benchmark score was very poor
  • Reasonable results in real-world tests

When I first inserted the WD Black SN850P, the PS5’s internal benchmark measured it as a shockingly low 5,966 MB/s. This is still above the recommended SSD specs for the console, but nowhere near the advertised 7,300 MB/s or really what you would reasonably expect from a drive at this price. Luckily, when I reformatted the drive and ran the test again a little later it scored a more reasonable 6,338 MB/s so I’ll chalk that first number up to chance.

This second figure was still lower than I wanted, though, as the SN850, which is actually advertised with a 7,000 MB/s read speed, achieves figures in the 6,400 MB/s range on my machine. It also puts this behind the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5, which recorded 6,459 MB/s.

Thankfully, the WD Black SN850P did fairly well in a series of real-world tests. Moving to the drive from the PS5’s internal storage, a 23.24GB copy of Vampire the Masquerade: Swansong was copied in just 12.61 seconds. A 33.35GB installation of Lords of the Fallen then took 15.89 seconds, while a 45.98GB installation of The Crew Motorfest took 21.02 seconds.

Testing some larger files, 101.9GB of Far Cry 6 took 43.74 seconds to copy while a selection of multiple games totalling 226.9GB copied in 3 minutes and 14 seconds. These figures are all adequate and not more than a few seconds behind equivalent transfers on the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5.

Copying back to the PS5, the 21.30GB Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising was ready to play in 1 minute 27 seconds, while Stellar Blade, which is 32.41GB, took 2 minutes and 15 seconds. Finally, the 38.34GB Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands copied back in 2 minutes and 34 seconds. These figures are all perfectly adequate, and realistically more dependent on the PS5’s internal write speed than anything else.

Ultimately, you’re not going to run into any performance problems using the WD Black SN850P. Every game I tested was smooth, with decent loading times and no noticeable slowdown. Just bear in mind that, unless you buy on sale, you can get drives with more oomph for the price.

The logo on the front of the WD Black SN850P.

(Image credit: Future)

Should I buy the WD Black SN850P?

Buy it if...

You find it on sale
The WD Black SN850P frequently goes on sale and if you manage to find it with a decent discount, it could be a much better value PS5 SSD.

You want an 8TB drive
The WD Black SN850P is one of the few PS5 compatible SSD drives available from a big brand in an 8TB capacity. It’s worth picking up if you’re in the market for the biggest possible storage upgrade.

Don't buy it if...

You want the greatest value
The 1TB and 2TB models could be cheaper. When there’s such strong competition, there are plenty of alternatives you can pick up that save a few bucks and run a bit better.

Also consider...

Wondering what to choose instead of the WD Black SN850P? Check out these alternatives. You can also see our guide to the best PS5 external hard drives for some external options.

Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5
This officially licensed drive from Seagate comes in a bit cheaper than the WD Black SN850P, but performs slightly better in the real world. It’s the one to pick if you want an officially licensed drive.

For more information, check out our full Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5 review

Kingston Fury Renegade SSD
This model is cheaper than the WD Black SN850P and much faster, clocking an impressive 6,500 MB/s score on the internal PS5 benchmark. Choose this for more bang for your buck.

For more information, check out our full Kingston Fury Renegade SSD review

The WD Black SN850P in the hands.

(Image credit: Future)

How I tested the Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5

  • Used as primary PS5 SSD
  • Tested over the course of a week
  • Tested with a range of titles

I tested the WD Black SN850P over the course of a week, using it as my primary PS5 SSD drive and playing a wide variety of games from it. During my time with the drive, I was careful to look for any noticeable impacts on performance compared to the console’s internal storage.

I also assessed the drive’s performance using the built-in PS5 storage benchmark and by copying a large library of games in order to measure the time taken. I compared my experience to my hands-on testing of other PS5 SSD models including the Samsung 990 Pro, WD Black SN850, Seagate Game Drive M.2 SSD for PS5, and more.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024.

Marvel Rivals review: more than an Overwatch clone
2:09 pm | December 24, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off
Review info

Platforms reviewed: PS5 Pro
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
Release date: 6 December, 2024

Marvel Rivals has successfully landed, following a launch that’d make any live service game jealous. Positioning itself among the crowded free-to-play market, Marvel Rivals is a shockingly complete package, with a whopping 33 Heroes to choose from at launch. Narrowly avoiding the danger of spreading itself too thin, developer NetEase Games has somehow managed to offer up a mostly-balanced, quality experience that’s much more than a simple Overwatch clone.

To get this out of the way, I don’t play Overwatch. I’d wager that over the years, I’ve probably put five hours total into it, and most of that was in Overwatch 2. For me, the second people start telling me roles I should fill, tactics that I must focus on in an online game, my eyes glaze over. With limited time to sink into a live service game every night, I frankly couldn’t care less about what meta I need to be running in order to emerge victorious against an opposing team. Before loading up Marvel Rivals then, I was already fairly sure that it wouldn’t grab me completely.

The first night of play did nothing to dispel this feeling, with Marvel Rivals’ particular visual style being extremely difficult to read at times. But during night two, something clicked, and it’s largely down to the game’s wide range of playable Heroes. Split into three classes: Vanguard, Specialist, and Duelist, each of the 33 Heroes is entirely distinct from one another.

Any frustrations I was having with a particular Hero could quickly be remedied by trying someone else. New characters and play styles didn’t always click, but after a while, I had at least five go-tos that were all an absolute blast to play as.

From page to play

Promotional art of Peni Park from Marvel Rivals.

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

Visually, Marvel Rivals looks extremely high-budget and meticulously stylish. Somewhere between an anime and a comic book come to life, the game’s design language does a great job at distinguishing between each Hero in the roster. Broadly, everything from Most Valuable Player animations to pre-match loading screens pop with a confident flair. In motion, things are less successful, though characters do look great once the action kicks off.

The problem, for me at least, is how busy the screen can get once you have 10 characters, each with their own abilities and color schemes clashing together all at once. You do get used to it, but for a while I genuinely struggled to know exactly who I was being attacked by. Kill markers aren’t quite as punchy as they need to be, and the way abilities are labeled on screen can be difficult to parse during the heat of battle.

Best bit

Iron Fist gameplay in Marvel Rivals.

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

Playing as Iron Fist is fun, but does make you feel like a real scumbag. With his triple jump and wall run, it’s easy to sneak behind enemy lines and pick off unsuspecting opponents. Incoming damage? Not to worry, simply hit the parry and absorb it, before unleashing a flurry of fists and kicks that absolutely melt an enemy’s health bar.

Likely, this is just a natural consequence of having the game play out largely in third-person, and in trying to do every single character justice, while balancing how all of the disparate elements come together. On PS5 Pro, performance has been flawless, and the high degree of visual sharpness certainly does help keep things clearer and more readable, at least.

There aren’t too many maps in rotation at present in Marvel Rivals’ main modes, though each does have enough character of their own to stand out and make matches feel distinct from one another. Destructible objects are littered throughout maps, with towering stone columns crumbling after being hit by a stray Iron-Man rocket, and walkways falling away under the weight of an incoming Venom air-slam attack.

These objects do regenerate over the course of a match, but their placements make them interesting tactical propositions, with plenty of possibilities to remove cover from your enemy team.

Hero shooter

Scarlet Spider in Marvel Rivals.

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

Marvel Rivals starts off on much more advantageous footing than other games of its ilk thanks to the familiarity of its roster. Even the most casual gamer out there has some knowledge of Heroes like Spider-Man, Wolverine and Captain America, with some more out-there choices like Jeff the Land Shark being welcome surprises littered throughout the bunch.

It helps that, for the most part, each Hero plays exactly how you’d expect them to, though there are some neat subversions like Adam Warlock playing a healer focused on instant revivals of team members being the exception. Of the 33 Heroes I’ve now tried out, only a few have been complete non-starters, as I’ve been able to find the fun in the others almost instantly, even if their playstyles may not quite be my cup of tea.

Some Heroes specialize in managing character-specific gauges and effects, while others are much more straightforward, like The Punisher, whose move set revolves around a more standard third-person shooter design.

To spice things up, and I think, set its Heroes apart from being just clones of Overwatch characters, Marvel Rivals does feature a neat team-up system. Heroes like Rocket can ride on others like Groot, buffing shields and damage output. Other team ups are less direct, like how Adam Warlock will give Star-Lord and Mantis the option to revive themselves after dying via a rebirth mechanic.

So far, not all Heroes can team up with others, and not every Hero benefits from having others on the field. Venom is an example of this, though to compensate he does earn a massive max health boost thanks to an ongoing Seasonal Bonus. At their best, team-ups can sway the tide of battle. At their worst, they’re still fun passive effects to consider when picking a character.

So far, this has encouraged me to try out Heroes that I wouldn’t have done otherwise, and I’m interested to see how future Heroes will shake up Team Up abilities in the future. This isn’t to say that team-ups distract completely from the very obvious fact that characters like Black Widow are straight copies of Overwatch Heroes like Widowmaker, but it goes a long way to give Marvel Rivals a bit more of a USP.

Pick me

Promotional art of the environments in Marvel Rivals.

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

So why pick up Marvel Rivals, instead of a much more established series like Overwatch? Well, put simply, Marvel Rivals is newer, more engaging when in action, and takes itself much less seriously than its peers. Though some of the more niche corners of online gaming have already been crying out for balancing, nerfs to characters like Hela, and the addition of role queue, it’s hard to drown out what I believe to be the attitude of the main audience.

Many characters in Marvel Rivals could be considered overpowered, sometimes you join a team with no healers and get your butt handed to you, but ultimately, it simply doesn’t kill the fun. As the game continues to grow, I have no doubt that competitive modes will become more important, but for now, Marvel Rivals is a great thing to just pick up and play. Whether you choose a ‘broken’ character like Iron Fist, or someone less meta-focused like Wolverine, it’s possible to pull off some truly thrilling plays.

There’s an argument to be made that Marvel Rivals didn’t need to launch with so many Heroes, that 20 would have resulted in a better balanced product, but it’s difficult to say that the scrappy but exhilarating state of gameplay at the moment isn’t right where things should be. There are absolutely some issues with match balancing however, with some maps feeling unfairly weighted depending on which side your team starts at.

Similarly, some maps have choke points right from the first spawn point, leading to the feeling of throwing yourself into a meat grinder from the very moment a match begins. None of these issues are deal breakers, and this is Season 0 after all, so hopefully the first proper balancing patch will help smooth over some of the rougher edges present in the launch version.

Clearly, Marvel Rivals is striking the right chord with players, given the ever-growing player counts and social media dominance it is enjoying post-launch. For me, there’s plenty of room for Marvel Rivals to grow, hopefully with the addition of more modes, maps and Heroes, but for a free-to-play title launching during such a difficult time for live service games, it sure has come out of the gate swinging.

Should I play Marvel Rivals?

Venom gameplay in Marvel Rivals.

(Image credit: NetEase Games)

Play it if…

You want a new multiplayer game that’s easy to pick up
With a huge suite of Heroes to choose from Marvel Rivals offers players a variety of different play-styles to choose from. Unfortunately, the in-game tutorials aren’t quite good enough, but a star rating value is assigned to each character, helping you decide on which ones are aimed towards beginners, and which ones might have more complex designs.

You love Marvel
Even the most die-hard Marvel fans will be delighted to find deep-cut Heroes like Jeff the Land Shark included in Marvel Rivals. Both in and outside of matches, there’s a tonne of Easter Eggs from the comics, and an overarching seasonal story line to enjoy. My favorite part of this? Undoubtedly the brief character interactions that occur just before a match starts.

Don’t play it if…

You’re expecting a straight Overwatch clone
Marvel Rivals borrows a lot from Overwatch, but it feels like a very different game in action. There’s a lot more variety in the roster of Heroes, with some characters like Iron Fist offering a truly unique way to play. The stakes are a lot lower here too, meaning you can jump in and play how you want to, without the fear of having to run specific roles while juggling team compositions.

Accessibility

Marvel Rivals has a fairly standard suite of accessibility options, though they are limited when compared to other online shooters.

There’s a color blind mode, as well as the option to assign custom colors to elements like allies, shield HP bars, and other parts of the in-game UI.

In terms of controls, there’s very few accessibility options, besides button mapping, and the ability to assign specific control schemes to selected Heroes.

How I reviewed Marvel Rivals

I played Marvel Rivals for 25 hours on the PS5 Pro.

During that time I spent at least three matches with every Hero, but focused on maining Captain America, Iron Fist, Mantis, Venom and Punisher. In terms of modes, there aren’t many, so I tried them all. I purchased Season 0’s Battle Pass, and have worked through it while completing Daily, Weekly and Seasonal challenges.

I played the game using a 4K LG TV. I used a standard DualSense Wireless Controller, with the Razer Blackshark V2 headphones connected via the controller port.

First reviewed December 2024.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot review: neat ideas with some clumsy execution
5:00 pm | December 22, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , , | Comments: Off

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot: one-minute review

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot is an Xbox and PC controller that I want to love. It gets a ton right, from its solid build quality and impressive battery life to its drift-resistant thumbsticks and all-around great-feeling buttons, bumpers, and triggers. As a controller, it ticks all the right boxes on its way to being an easy recommendation.

I’m a big fan of that titular feature, too. The pad’s two ‘Pivot’ modules allow you to swap from that traditional two thumbstick layout to something well-suited to arcade and fighting games. As such, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot is impressively versatile and well-suited to both competitive and easy-going retro play.

There are some design flaws, however, that stop the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot from being a slam dunk. For one, the act of ‘pivoting’ those modules is a pretty cumbersome three-stage process that requires you to unlock those modules, swivel them manually, and then lock them back into place.

Furthermore, I’m a little baffled by the inclusion of a Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra-like display. It’s certainly nice to have and its intuitiveness makes customizing your controller experience a breeze. But it has almost certainly made the Stealth Pivot cost more than it would’ve been without and somewhat muddles the design of the controller overall.

I like the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot a lot. But I feel that its unique selling point could shine more at a lower price point without the on-board display and with some more refinement to the overall pivoting process.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot

(Image credit: Future)

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot: price and availability

  • $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95
  • Available from Turtle Beach and other major retailers
  • A price in between the Recon and Stealth Ultra

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot is available to buy now for $129.99 / £119.99 / AU$249.95. It can be bought from Turtle Beach directly or from retailers such as Best Buy in the US, Argos in the UK, and Amazon in all regions.

In the broader range of Turtle Beach controllers, the Stealth Pivot finds itself much pricier than the Turtle Beach Recon controller ($59.95 / £49.99 / AU$99.95) but also much cheaper than the premium Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra ($199.99 / £179.99 / around AU$329.95. Overall, the Stealth Pivot finds itself in roughly the same price bracket as the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core ($129.99 / £114.99 / AU$189.95).

The Stealth Pivot appears to come in at a pretty decent mid-range price, then. However I feel it could have been a more tempting option were it to be closer to the $100 / £100 mark and if it exclusively focused on the Pivot feature - saving that built-in screen solely for the Stealth Ultra instead.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot: specs

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot

(Image credit: Future)

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot: design and features

  • Overall excellent build quality
  • Pivot tech is the standout feature
  • Also features a built-in display, which doesn’t feel essential

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot largely impresses in the design department. It’s a largely plastic build here, but it’s all of a very high quality and feels nice in the hands - even if it’s a touch bulkier than most Xbox Wireless Controller-silhouetted gamepads.

While the rear of the grips isn’t textured here, the front features subtly textured pads that rest easy against the palms of your hands. Meanwhile, the bumpers, triggers, and rear remappable buttons have a more pronounced, bumpy texture that feels great overall. I’m also a huge fan of the smooth, circular d-pad which I found to be excellent for fighting games.

The Stealth Pivot suits the fighting game genre to a tee, actually. And that’s where we get into the pad’s standout feature: those bespoke Pivot modules. There’s one on each side of the controller, both kitted with two distinct layouts. By default, the controller’s pivots are set to the traditional two-thumbstick layout. The left module’s other side features a d-pad and two buttons, while the right bears a six-button layout.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot

(Image credit: Future)

It’s a neat feature that goes a long way to making the Stealth Pivot stand out from the crowd. It’s a shame, then, that the whole pivoting process can be quite awkward. For starters, you’ll need to unlock the pivots by toggling the unusually stiff switches on the rear of the pad. Then, you twist the thumbsticks clockwise to press them inwards, ensuring that they can be housed within the controller. Next comes the swivel itself before locking the Pivot modules again. It’s a pretty clumsy process overall and one I feel could use some refinement if the Stealth Pivot ever gets an improved follow-up.

Aside from some very effective trigger locks with distinct analog and digital settings, the remaining standout feature of the Stealth Pivot is its built-in display. It’s effective and unintrusive, activated by pressing a small ‘+’ button at the bottom of the controller. The Stealth Pivot’s inputs will then interact with the display’s options instead of your game until you hit that ‘+’ button again.

The display’s options are simple but have pretty much everything you’d want while gaming without overcomplicating things. You can switch between up to five button profiles (which you can create via the downloadable Control Center 2 app on Xbox and PC), monitor battery life, adjust headset volume should you have one plugged in via the 3.5mm port, and check for firmware updates.

It’s a nice addition, but one I feel isn’t much of a necessity, especially as it doesn’t really enhance the unique selling point of those Pivot modules. As mentioned, I wouldn’t have minded if the controller stuck to the Pivot modules as the one standout feature, which may have allowed it to come in at a slightly lower asking price while still maintaining what makes this controller special.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot: performance

  • Turtle Beach’s AntiDrift sticks are sharply responsive
  • Excellent feeling buttons, triggers, and bumpers
  • Excels at competitive shooters, fighting games, and retro titles

It’s much less of a mixed bag for the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot on the performance front. The Hall effect-like AntiDrift thumbsticks here are sublime, for starters. Not only are they seemingly long-lasting, but they’re also incredibly smooth and responsive, making them perfect for fast-paced competitive games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Marvel Rivals. The trigger stops work well here, too, with the option for quick-press digital triggers proving a boon in said shooters.

While I have issues with the implementation of those Pivot modules, they’re actually great in practice. If you’re a regular fighting game player, you’ve effectively got two controllers in one here, with the six-button setup on the right Pivot module being reminiscent of the Victrix Pro BFG’s dedicated fight pad module. I found this to be excellent for Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8 where having quick access to those extra buttons allowed for much smoother play overall.

This more arcade-like button layout also means the Stealth Pivot is a great fit for retro gaming. I tested various old-school compilations with the controller, including Marvel vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics, Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection, and UFO 50. The alternative controls presented by the Pivot modules allow for a very comfortable experience here for games that are largely better suited for d-pad controls and quick, responsive button presses.

In terms of battery life, I managed around 21-22 hours on a full charge here, which is in line with the quoted ‘20+ hours’ on Turtle Beach’s website. However, keep in mind that a wireless connection via the included 2.4GHz dongle only works on PC and mobile. For Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One, you’ll unfortunately need to rely on a wired connection.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot

(Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot?

Buy it if...

You play a wide variety of games
The Stealth Pivot really shines across a variety of specific genres, including shooters, fighting games, and retro titles. Thanks to the Pivot feature and button profile mapping, it’s easy to create a diverse range of setups for responsive and comfortable play.View Deal

You enjoy customizing controls to fit your style
You can create up to five distinct button layout profiles via the Control Center 2 app on Xbox and PC, then quick-switch through all of them via the controller’s built-in screen.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You wanted something less bulky
If you’ve got smaller hands, you might not get on with the Stealth Pivot’s relatively larger size compared to other third-party controllers. In this case, a sleeker controller like the GameSir Tarantula Pro or the Xbox Wireless Controller might be a better fit.View Deal

You want something more straightforward
The Stealth Pivot is swimming in features, which likely also has pushed its price upwards. If you’ve no need for gimmicks like the built-in screen or Pivot modules, a simpler and cheaper model may be better suited to your needs.View Deal

Also consider...

If the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot isn’t quite doing it for you, check out these comparisons with two other controllers that might be to your liking instead, including a budget and more premium option.

GameSir Tarantula Pro
One of my favorite gaming controllers of 2024, the GameSir Tarantula Pro is a marvelous controller with a symmetrical thumbstick layout. Its sublime drift-resistant sticks, excellent build quality, and quick-switch button feature make this one of the GameSir brand’s best controllers yet.

Read our full GameSir Tarantula Pro reviewView Deal

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
My vote for the best controller of 2024, there’s very little the Wolverine V3 Pro gets wrong. It’s a massive improvement over the pad’s V2 line, boasting superb build quality, Hall effect sticks, and Razer mouse click-powered buttons, triggers, and bumpers. While battery life could be better for the price, this is otherwise a masterwork of a gamepad.

For more information, read our full Razer Wolverine V3 Pro reviewView Deal

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot

(Image credit: Future)

How I reviewed the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot

  • Tested for a week and a half
  • Played a wide variety of games including shooters, fighting games, and retro titles
  • Frequent use of the Pivot modules for certain games

While it appears I’ve scored the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot quite harshly, I had a lot of fun testing the controller and playing a range of games with it. I absolutely loved using the Pivot modules for titles like Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, UFO 50, and Mega Man Zero/ZX Legacy Collection. I also got liberal use out of the standard thumbstick layout, loading up some Final Fantasy 14 Online, Marvel Rivals, and Path of Exile 2.

I largely played on PC, with some testing on the Xbox Series X Digital Edition paired with an LG CX OLED TV and Razer BlackShark V2 X gaming headset. Overall, I conclude that the Pivot modules give the controller a rather niche appeal due to their effective nature with certain game genres. However, for players who regularly play competitive shooters or fighting games, this could easily be a four-out-of-five or higher gamepad for you.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed December 2024

Alien: Rogue Incursion review: superb survival horror with monsters I wish were more terrifying
5:00 pm | December 18, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Virtual Reality Gaming | Tags: | Comments: Off

Alien: Rogue Incursion is a prime example of horror done well in a VR game. It doesn’t simply bung you in a pitch-black space and spook you with jumpscare after jumpscare, no, the whole title exudes an inescapable tension that’s an amalgam horror of its setting, sound design, and game mechanics.

The specific nature of the chaotic, labyrinthine Gemini Exoplanet Solutions facility your two-person party – Zula Hendricks and her synth companion Davis – is stranded in doesn't overly matter, but its design and decoration certainly do.

It boasts a jumbled network of crawlspaces that are perfect for Xenomorphs to exploit to sneak up on you, and even with the motion detector it can be a challenge to track them down before they break cover and launch an attack at you – with the sound of their clambering serving as a constant reminder that the monsters are close, even if you can’t see them.

Review Info

Platform reviewed: PSVR 2
Available on: PSVR 2, PC, and later Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S
Release date: December 19, 2024 (February 13, 2025 on Quest)

Sneaking around the facility yourself is advised then to avoid unnecessary combat, but what makes that a challenge is commonplace workplace debris. On any other day a few boxes, a creaky locker door, or a trash can would be mundane items you hardly consider, but they’re transformed into your enemy by Rogue Incursion as any noise has a chance to summon your alien foes.

This ties in perfectly with the intrinsic risk-reward structure which should be at the core of a survival horror campaign like this one. Yes, you can explore a few additional rooms to try to restock your dwindling supplies, but the noise you’ll create could mean you’ll spend more resources than you’ll regain if you aren't careful.

Davis weilding a shotgun in concept art

Concept art of Davis weilding his shotgun (Image credit: Survios / 20th Centuary Fox)

I also appreciated that, as someone who is relatively unfamiliar with the Alien universe – I know what a Xenomorph is, how their parasitic nature relies on facehuggers and chestbusters to violently reproduce, and I could pick one out in a lineup of sci-fi heels, but I’ve never seen an Alien movie, and the closest I’ve come to playing an Alien game before is eliminating Xenomoprophs and Ripley in Fortnite – I never felt locked-out of the story.

This was aided by the admittedly trope-heavy plot, but while there were clear references to characters and events who meant very little to me the well-crafted dialogue contained enough context clues that I could follow along without feeling lost. So don’t feel this isn’t a game for you if you’re new to the Alien franchise like I was.

Bark worse than their bite

Ironically, however, the least scary aspect of this whole scenario was the eponymous Aliens. As you’re well stocked with military-grade rifles, shotguns, and revolvers Xenomorphs can be dispatched by Zula and Davis with enough shots to the chest or head.

And there are no variants to keep you on your toes mechanically speaking. Once you’ve fought one Xenomorph, you’ve fought them all making otherwise tense fights feel a little repetitive.

Best Bit

The Motion Scanner picking up Aliens

(Image credit: Survios / 20th Centuary Fox)

Whenever Xenomorphs approach your motion detector lets off a whistle-like alert which never failed to put me on edge. The ending is also very strong, but I can’t talk about it in this spoiler-free medium.

As a result, the fear of combat comes not from its challenges but from resource management and unforgiving save points.

You can kill any alien, sure, provided you have ammo – the supply of which is far from endless. And if a group of Aliens does catch you off guard while you’re low on healing items you’ll be sent back to the last time you saved at a panic room – and from experience, I can say it’s not unlike having your college essay reset by a computer crash after not saving for over an hour.

Xenomprophs are frightening in a way, then, but it’s a little immersion-breaking as the in-universe monster isn’t what’s scary, instead it’s the metacontext of the monster as a video game foe that is terrifying.

Aliens crawl out of the dark murky water to attack Zula (Concept art)

Concept art of the Xenomorphs (Image credit: Survios / 20th Centuary Fox)

At the same time, while I feel Rogue Incursion would have done well to start you on a weaker footing to let you truly experience the threat Xenonorphs pose, or throw in a few variants (which the facility's Xenomorph experiments would have played into from a story perspective) I never once felt at ease in this world.

And at the end of the day, that's what you really want from a survival horror excursion. To that extent this title reminds me greatly of Resident Evil 7 which similarly suffers with enemy variety outside of boss fights, but that doesn’t ever mean you want to run into the Molded or feel safe on the Baker estate. So if that was a game you enjoyed like I did, I can see you also finding a lot to love about Rogue Incursion.

Alien's own Kobayashi Maru

Story-wise, Rogue Incursion doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but its plot serves as an excellent driving force for your adventure with the ideal balance of hope and despair to keep you pushing on without ever feeling too happy about your situation.

Additionally, I appreciated that the nuggets of world-building you can glean from email logs and audio recordings bring not only additional context to the facility’s SNAFU for lore fans to chew on, but directly tie into the ending which has left me desperately excited to dive into a sequel.

I will keep this review spoiler-lite, as we always do, but I want to quickly air my grievances at the only frustrating moment I faced: the story’s mid-game no-win scenario.

It’s certainly an interesting way to play on the world’s general sense of hopelessness as you’re outgunned in an epic fight against wave after wave of Xenomorph, but not knowing I couldn’t win I had actually manually reset a few times thinking a different strategy would serve me better – the first-person death animations are a bit much for me so I preferred to use the pause menu to return to a save point than let the death play out.

Zula points are rifle at the Xenomorphs

Going down with too much of a fight (Image credit: Survios / 20th Centuary Fox)

Eventually, after several failed attempts I did quickly loosen the headset to check the reviewer’s guide on my phone to see if there was a walkthrough that could tell me what I was missing, and while there wasn’t a walkthrough it did mean I had finally not reset manually, and instead of returning to a panic room save point, I discovered I had progressed the story as I was always meant to lose.

It then leads into a pivtol "oh damn" moment of the game which I was not expecting at all, but the impact was unfortunately a little lost in my irrattation.

Should you play Alien: Rogue Incursion?

Play it if…

You love Alien
Even as a newcomer, it’s clear this game is a love letter to the Alien series and will delight players who (for whatever reason) want to immerse themselves in the horror-filled setting.View Deal

You’re a fan of survival horror
This game is a very good example of the survival horror genre and one of the better in VR specifically as a solid blend of Metroid and Resident Evil 7.View Deal

Don’t play it if…

You want something unique
Rogue Incursion is fun, but a little bit too tropey and repetitive at times which could bother some gamers.View Deal

You want a relaxed experience
Even on its easiest difficulty there’s nothing relaxed about Alien: Rogue Incursion.View Deal

Accessibility

Alien: Rogue Incursion, like other VR games, requires a full range of upper body motion to be playable as you’ll need to be able to interact with door handles, wire puzzles, and weapon controls.

It also uses smooth motion which can be a challenge for VR newcomers, however, its strong suite of vignette options meant I was able to play for hours at a time without feeling like I was about to lose my lunch.

How I tested Alien: Rogue Incursion

I played through the whole Alien: Rogue Incursion campaign on a standard PSVR 2 setup using a regular PS5. I tried a few different difficulty settings to get a sense of the level of challenge they provided, and tried the game from both standing and seated positions to see if there were any major benefits of challenge to one style over another – there weren’t, so choose whichever you prefer.

Modretro Chromatic review: a great modern Game Boy
7:51 pm | December 17, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: , | Comments: Off

Modretro Chromatic: Two-minute review

The Modretro Chromatic is a 2024 take on the Game Boy Color and is an excellent portable handheld device that elevates the experience of using Nintendo’s 1998 iconic video game console.

The Chromatic is founded upon nostalgia, it’s a modern device that requires three AA batteries to run, doesn’t have Bluetooth for audio, and perfectly recreates the 160x144 pixels of its spiritual predecessor, improving it with gorgeous backlighting and a very durable sapphire crystal front. The console can run physical Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges, but there's no emulation, and it even has a volume wheel. With so many inconveniences, it’s still incredibly fascinating to use and takes you right back to the heyday of trading Pokemon with friends in your backyard through a link cable.

Make no mistake about it, the Chromatic is a product built for those of us who are nostalgic about the 90s, but it’s so well-made that its limitations are almost justifiable. With a supposedly indestructible magnesium alloy shell, a display that’s been built from the ground up to replicate and enhance your favorite childhood games, and excellent mono speakers, Modretro has captured the imaginations of those seeking the coziness of their youth. But in 2024, there are plenty of other devices that offer similar experiences, and the Chromatic’s confidence in what it is and who it’s for means that it’s an incredibly niche product.

I’ve been using the Modretro Chromatic for a month, and as someone who loves retro gaming from the 90s and early 2000s, I’ve got the expertise to assess the Chromatic’s biggest achievements and its shortcomings. This might be one of the most difficult products I’ve ever had to review, purely because its whole reason for existence is nostalgia. And nostalgia, as enjoyable as it can be, isn’t always worth your hard-earned cash.

I love the Modretro Chromatic, it’s a readily available Game Boy Color made in 2024 that’s stocked on shelves in GameStop. If you’d told me last year that I could buy a handheld in stores that plays my Pokemon Gold and Link’s Awakening cartridges from my youth I’d have been overcome with emotions. Ultimately, when it comes to spending $199 / £159 / $AU 316 a product needs to be more than just a time machine back to the past, and rising retro game console prices combined with a stagnant game library (even if Modretro is producing new cartridges based on new IP and old Game Boy titles) means the Chromatic is excellent for those who know exactly what they want from a device like this, but not necessarily for a mainstream audience.

Modretro Chromatic

Modretro Chromatic with its screen turned off (Image credit: Future)

Modretro Chromatic: Price and availability

  • List price: $199 / £159 / $AU 316
  • Comes in six colors based on original Game Boy Color options
  • Widely available in most regions and sold in GameStop stores in the US

The Modretro Chromatic is available now directly from modretro.com, and is also on shelves this holiday season in GameStop stores around the US. Priced at $199 / £159 / AU$316, the Chromatic comes bundled with a newly produced Tetris cartridge as part of Modretro's Chromatic First Edition release. The company hasn't disclosed whether the handheld will be sold without Tetris at a later date, but at the time of writing the only way to purchase a Chromatic is with a copy of the world's best-selling video game.

My review unit came in the Leaf color option, which is a similar green to my first-ever Game Boy Color and it's beautiful. The Chromatic also comes in Inferno, Bubblegum, Volt, Wave, and Midnight. All color options can be purchased with either English or Japanese markings for A, B, Start, and Select buttons.

One of the Chromatic's biggest strengths is how readily available it is. Competitors like the Analogue Pocket are often sold out online, and original Game Boy Colors can't be purchased in-store. Modretro, on the other hand, ships right away online and has teamed up with GameStop to offer the Chromatic to customers shopping in-store in one of nearly 3,000 retail locations.

Cartridge slot of Modretro Chromatic with Pokemon Gold

Cartridge slot of Modretro Chromatic with Pokemon Gold (Image credit: Future)

Modretro Chromatic: Specs

Modretro Chromatic with Modretro-produced cartridges and Zelda: Link's Awakening

Modretro Chromatic with Modretro-produced cartridges and Zelda: Link's Awakening (Image credit: Future)

Modretro Chromatic: Design and features

  • Magnesium alloy shell feels incredible in hand
  • Display built from the ground up with durable sapphire crystal cover
  • PBT buttons are excellent

Modretro has not cut any corners when it comes to producing the Chromatic. Make no mistake about it, this is a very premium product at an equally premium price point. The design is an ode to the original Game Boy Color with a volume wheel, AA batteries, a tactile sliding switch for power, and even a satisfying "thunk" when you pop in a game cartridge.

The Chromatic feels excellent in hand, with its magnesium alloy shell weighty but not uncomfortable, and its PBT buttons and d-pad every bit as nice to interact with. Modretro has also built a 160x144 pixel modern display with subpixel-level accuracy from the ground up. The company wanted to create the ultimate Game Boy Color screen without straying too far away from the original and they've definitely managed to do so. If you were to imagine a Game Boy Color built in 2024, this would be it.

Modretro Chromatic with Pokemon Gold on the screen

Modretro Chromatic with Pokemon Gold on the screen (Image credit: Future)

The Chromatic is very tricky to review, on one hand, it does everything it sets out to do in modernizing the Game Boy Color. On the other hand, however, it's so faithful to the original that it fits into a weird space in between the original hardware and the class-leading Analogue Pocket.

I've loved my time playing Pokemon Crystal on the Modretro Chromatic, it has felt like a warm hug every evening in bed as I explore Johto for the thousandth time. But that experience is expensive to recreate, especially considering games like Pokemon Crystal can cost upwards of $100 / £100 on sites like eBay. The Chromatic can't play any titles via emulation, so it relies on a large cartridge library and that could be a deterring factor for many people. While the screen is infinitely better than the original Game Boy Color's one that required direct light to really see it, there's no increase in resolution which feels authentic but limiting.

Modretro sells Modretro-published games for the Chromatic on its website and alongside Tetris there are excellent adaptations of games like Toki Tori as well as new IPs like Tales of Monsterland DX. That said, one of the Chromatic's most limiting elements is the Game Boy and Game Boy Color games library. Taking off my nostalgia glasses for a minute, the lack of Game Boy Advance compatibility really impacts the Chromatic. The Game Boy Advance offers a wide range of some of the best video games of all time, and I found myself yearning for games that can't be played on the Chromatic. While it might not be readily available, the Analogue Pocket can play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance cartridges, and so much more at a very similar price point.

If you're looking for a Game Boy Color with a better screen and better build quality then the Modretro Chromatic fits the bill. But for those people who want pure nostalgia, an original Game Boy Color and all its inconveniences is probably more up their street. For people who want a modern Game Boy experience as well as access to a larger game library, it's hard to not pick the Analogue Pocket's 1440p display.

Modretro Chromatic AA batteries

Modretro Chromatic AA batteries (Image credit: Future)

Modretro Chromatic: Performance

  • Faithful FPGA hardware emulation of Game Boy and Game Boy Color games
  • Excellent battery life (albeit inconvenient to refill)
  • Comfortable for long play sessions

In terms of performance, the Modretro Chromatic is excellent at recreating Game Boy and Game Boy Color games and had no issues running any of my cartridges. The display is bright and easy to see in all environments, including direct sunlight and the speaker is much, much better than its spiritual predecessor. The sapphire glass on the front of the display means you don't need to worry at all about scratches, and combined with the durable shell makes for a stress-free gaming experience where you're never worried about damaging the handheld.

Games run excellently from classics like the Game Boy Color's Pokemon Gold to original Game Boy games like Link's Awakening which see the FPGA hardware as a Game Boy Color, adding color palettes and filters just like it would on original hardware.

Modretro has decided to use AA batteries to power the Chromatic, an ode to the past when the inconvenience of swapping out batteries was absolutely not a fun time. Well, over 20 years later and using single-use batteries still sucks. Modretro, there are some nostalgic elements that are worth keeping in the past, and AAs are one of them.

Despite the fact that replacing batteries is very inconvenient, the battery life is stellar and in my time using the handheld I only needed to swap out AAs once. Modretro says it's working on a rechargeable battery pack, but you'd expect this will cost extra once it launches.

Modretro Chromatic (left) next to Analogue Pocket

Modretro Chromatic (left) next to Analogue Pocket (Image credit: Future)

I want to harken back to the display as aside from availability compared to sourcing second-hand hardware on sites like eBay, that's the real selling point here. The Chromatic's display is genuinely incredible, if you're looking for a faithful Game Boy experience with a little added oomph. The pixel lines from the low resolution are amazingly accurate and capture the joy of being a kid playing a Game Boy perfectly.

There were times during my time with the Modretro Chromatic that I genuinely felt transported back to my childhood, and that's something even products like the Analogue Pocket haven't been able to quite achieve. In that sense, the Chromatic's hardware and performance nails exactly what it's trying to achieve, it's just an excellent Game Boy Color Pro, a mid-console refresh if you will.

Modretro Chromatic display on left compared to Analogue Pocket display on right

Modretro Chromatic display on left compared to Analogue Pocket display on right (Image credit: Future)

Should you buy the Modretro Chromatic

Buy it if...

You want a better Game Boy Color
If you're looking for a Game Boy Color and want a better screen than the original then the Modretro Chromatic is for you. The display is gorgeous, it has excellent build quality, and the buttons are a joy to use. If you only want to play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games, this is the handheld for you.

You own a large Game Boy cartridge library
If you've still got all of your old Game Boy cartridges then the Chromatic will give you hours and hours of joy. The console can play any Game Boy or Game Boy Color cartridge, so dust off your favorites and jump back in where you left off all those years ago.

You want a handheld retro console for the holidays
The fact that GameStop is stocking the Modretro Chromatic is not to be scoffed at. The Analogue Pocket is an excellent competitor, but it's always sold out and can't be found in stores. So if you're looking to pick up a console to play Game Boy cartridges the Modretro Chromatic will be your best bet this holiday season.

Don't buy it if...

You don't own Game Boy cartridges
If you're thinking of starting a Game Boy cartridge collection then ignore this point. But if you don't own any games already, the Chromatic will quickly become a far more expensive purchase. Some Game Boy games go for hundreds of dollars and you need to be ready to invest that into an extinct gaming system. Modretro's cartridges somewhat solve this but they won't be publishing Pokemon and Zelda, so...

You want to play Game Boy Advance games
Only purchase the Chromatic if you love Game Boy and Game Boy Color. I found myself wishing I could play games on other systems like the Game Boy Advance which ultimately meant that I chose to play games on other hardware with more variety.

You want better resolution and flexibility
The Chromatic will replicate Game Boy games in a pixel-accurate 160x144 display. If you're looking for a handheld that enhances Game Boy games for a modern audience with increased resolution, you'll need to look elsewhere.

Also consider...

If you’re still not entirely sold on the Modretro Chromatic then check out these excellent similar products for comparison and consideration.

Analogue Pocket
The Analogue Pocket is a direct competitor to the Modretro Chromatic, offering more game libraries and a larger 1440p screen. The Chromatic feels more premium in hand and has sapphire glass to protect the 144p screen, but Analogue's offering gives you more bang for your buck and fewer restrictions. Do you want a reimagining of the Game Boy Color in the form of an Analogue Pocket or a modernization of it in the form of the Modretro Chromatic?

I've owned the Analogue Pocket for over a year and use it every day. My review of this direct competitor to the Modretro Chromatic is currently in progress and will be added here soon.

Nintendo Switch OLED
If you're just looking to casually play Game Boy and Game Boy Color games on the go, the Nintendo Switch offers a range of games on its Nintendo Switch Online service. Add to that the extensive Nintendo Switch library and a gorgeous OLED display, and this might be the best middle ground for those looking for the perfect handheld gaming console.

For more information, check out our full Nintendo Switch OLED review.

Super Pocket
The Super Pocket packs power, fantastic controls, and a strong selection of built-in games from either Capcom or Taito into an attractive pocket-size package. While it may not be as capable as the other recommended options, for such a low price you really can't go wrong with this handheld device.

For more information, check out our full Super Pocket review.

How I tested the Modretro Chromatic

  • Tested for a month
  • Compared it directly to other retro handhelds
  • Tested across game types and cartridge types

I've used the Modretro Chromatic for a month now, and have used it as my primary retro gaming handheld.

I've tested the console with all of my original Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges including Pokemon Gold, Pokemon Crystal, Pokemon Yellow, and Link's Awakening, just to name a few. I also played Modretro-produced games such as Tetris, Toki Tori – Ultimate Edition, and Tales of Monsterland DX.

The Modretro Chromatic has been my main handheld gaming console over the course of the last 30 days and I've made comparisons with my Analogue Pocket.

Read more about how we test

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered review: A more than worthy remaster
8:00 pm | December 9, 2024
Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: | Comments: Off

Developer Aspyr, fresh from remastering the first three Tomb Raider games, has cleaned off its brushes and given vampiric poster-boy Raziel his own substantial makeover in Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered. Every character from the main players in Crystal Dynamics' time and space-bending epic right down to the lowly grunts and creatures has received new, highly-detailed models.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: December 10, 2024

We’ve seen similar levels of uplift in Aspyr’s previous efforts but nothing on this scale. Raziel himself, as the character players will spend almost all of their time viewing, has obviously received the biggest overhaul. Raziel’s wraithlike figure now appears more tangible than before.

His previous skull-cap-like hair is now a thick black bonnet, complete with his trademark bangs that hang down before his glowing white eyes and his garb, the clan banner used to mask his horrific disfigurement sporting high-resolution textures while his exposed bones and muscles now protrude convincingly through his blue skin.

Raziel’s transformation, and that of everything in Legacy of Kain 1&2 Remastered, is easy to admire thanks to Aspyr’s use of the original source code, enabling players to instantly flick between new and classic visuals with a single press of the right analog stick.

Throughout my playthrough, I found myself frequently swapping graphics modes to see how extensive Aspyr’s remaster ventured and I was consistently impressed. The aforementioned assortment of grunts, the low-level enemies that Raziel dispatches along his blood-soaked vendetta, have received a remarkable level of reworking, with all new art assets that go above and beyond a simple texture swap.

This is also true of the collections’ pantheon of grotesque bosses with Raziel’s devilish foes now presented with reworked geometry, hair, skin, bone, and gore that revels in the dark and twisted nature of Nosgoth.

Speaking of the land of Nosgoth, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered decorates every surface with high-resolution textures that preserve the overall look and feel of the originals and adds a copious amount of details to intricate stone carvings around the gothic chambers, stained glass windows within strongholds and the twisted, haunting sinewy strands of the spectral realm.

Elevated Raziel… not reduced

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered showing the upgraded visuals in a side-by-side comparison

(Image credit: Aspyr)

While long-time fans will likely get a kick out of the new visuals, giving Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered a lick of paint is only half the battle when rereleasing these titles in 2024, with a revamp of the twenty-five-year-old control scheme requiring just as much attention.

Thankfully, the remaster brings a substantial improvement to the somewhat clunky controls of the original release and marries the new scheme with a welcome bump up to a solid 60fps.

While Soul Reaver 2 always had the cameras mapped to the right stick on controllers, its forebearer required players to rotate the camera around Raziel using the L2 and R2 buttons (on PS5). The original controls also meant that players couldn’t move the camera through the Y-axis, which often made looking for a way forward a cumbersome exercise in trial and error.

Aspyr has rightly corrected this issue with a camera now tied to the right stick and, to highlight just how much care and attention has gone into this remaster, they’ve even created new, moody sky boxes to accommodate Raziel’s newfound ability to look up.

Best bit

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered showing the player character in an expansive environment

(Image credit: Aspyr)

Hearing the late Tony Jay’s booming voice as the Elder God at the start of Raziel’s quest transported me back to 1999. Jay’s vocal performance here is one of the all-time greatest and the exceptional script gives him plenty of juicy lines to chew on, and the upgraded visuals make the Elder God seem that much more of an unsettling presence than before.

The vastly improved camera controls aren’t the only new feature that makes navigating Nosgoth a smoother experience. A brand-new map and onscreen compass remove the frustration of finding your way around the sprawling realms. Purists may be pleased to hear that the map and compass are optional and easily deactivated, however, the maps of Nosgoth, created in collaboration between Aspyr, Crystal Dynamics, and key members of the Legacy of Kain community are truly beautiful works of art that shouldn’t be ignored.

The only area that could benefit from further modernization is the combat. While Raziel must still dispatch vampiric foes, either by impalement, submerging in water, engulfing in fire or bathing in sunlight, before given these opportunities the actual hack-and-slash gameplay of hand-to-hand combat hasn’t aged particularly well and is faithful to a fault.

While the ability to lock on, block (in Soul Reaver 2), and perform dodges have all returned, there’s no way to cycle through targets when facing off against multiple foes. The modern control scheme also means Raziel always feels considerably overpowered against his adversaries from the get-go, making combat throughout both games a bit of a bore. Some of the unlockable powers and skills alleviate the monotony somewhat but it’s a shame we didn’t see some improvements to the basic scrapping.

Thankfully, brawling has always played second fiddle to exploration and puzzle solving in Soul Reaver and the intricate mind-benders are back and, thanks to the various control tweaks, easier to navigate than ever before.

A loving legacy

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered showing combat in action

(Image credit: Aspyr)

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered evolves beyond a simple visual touch-up in other ways too, adding new features and a heap of goodies for fans and newcomers to dig into.

For those who can’t resist getting a bit snap-happy during their gameplay sessions, a new photo mode is available, although it’s currently a little rudimentary. Pausing the action by pressing in on both analog sticks together gives players free control of the camera and some basic vignette options to toy around with.

It’s functional, but lacks the extensive options available in many other photo modes, with elements such as frames, filters, character poses, and changeable facial expressions all missing. Some of these options were also absent from the Tomb Raider Remastered photo mode at launch before being added in a post-launch patch so hopefully Soul Reaver will receive the same improvements down the line.

Performing much better though is the raft of extras available from the main menu. It’s frankly overwhelming how much high-quality content is on offer here. Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered packs in everything including galleries showcasing concept art, renders, and fan cosplays, a music player to listen to the soundtracks from both games, a movie viewer, and beautifully produced scripts for each title.

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered and the lost levels content

(Image credit: Aspyr)

The undeniable standout here though is the Lost Levels. Previously cut sections from the first game have been restored to a playable state and offer a glimpse into an alternative conclusion to Soul Reaver. Each of the small disconnected playable areas presents an interesting curio more than anything you’ll spend a lot of time in but it’s great to see what could have been and be able to poke around in levels that never saw the light of day.

Introduced by a written foreword from pillar of the Legacy of Kain community and creator of The Lost Worlds fansite, Ben Lincoln, the Lost Levels demonstrates the love and passion that has gone into remastering these classic titles. The Lost Levels acts as a reward of sorts for the fans who have supported the series and yearned for another entry since the last game in the franchise, Legacy of Kain – Defiance, released in 2003.

Whether you’re new to the franchise or a returning player, Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is an exceptional package that improves on almost every aspect of these classic titles and delivers two unmissable epics that every gamer should experience.

Should I play Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered?

Play it if...

You love the originals
The bonus content included with Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered is exceptional. Aspyr has gone the extra mile by harnessing the passion of key figures within the Legacy of Kain fanbase to provide an extensive, lovingly crafted treasure trove of bonus features for fans and newcomers to experience and enjoy.View Deal

You thirst for a powerful narrative
Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered brings together two of the most poetic narratives in gaming history. Every line in the script carries impressive heft, the characters are exceptionally well realized with best-in-class voice acting and the whole thing is wrapped up in a new, gorgeous skin.View Deal

Don't play it if...

You want thrilling combat
Boss encounters aside, scuffles in Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered remain painfully faithful to their gameplay origins from a quarter of a century ago.View Deal

Accessibility

Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered provides only a few, basic accessibility options for players. Subtitles are enabled by default in both games and are clear to read with a subtle grey background to them. Controller settings can be tweaked with optional vibrations and adjustable stick sensitivity.

Aspyr has included new in-game maps, a compass, and gameplay hints in both titles to make navigation through Nosgoth easier for players and all of these features are optional and easily disabled in the pause menu.

A screenshot from Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered showing the main character jumping

(Image credit: Aspyr)

How I reviewed Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered

I played through the campaigns of Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered over a week while seeking out as many secrets as I could find. I explored all of the newly curated bonus content including reading through the various scripts, viewing all of the gallery content, and playing around in the new Lost Levels.

I played Legacy of Kain Soul Reaver 1&2 Remastered on PS5 on a 4K Sony Bravia TV, with my DualSense controller and PS5 Pulse 3D Wireless Headset for the most part and occasionally through the built-in TV speakers.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve also played Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain after it was released on PS+ Premium and revisited the original PS1 and PS2 versions of both Soul Reaver games, enabling me to appreciate and analyze the differences in controls, visuals and playability to the new remaster.

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