Final Fantasy - Organizer

I’ve spent 20 hours in Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster on Nintendo Switch 2, and not much has changed, but that’s okay

4:00 pm | June 15, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Tags: Final Fantasy, Nintendo Switch | Comments: Off

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a weird Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, something of a time capsule in every manner the phrase could imply. As a game, it’s stubbornly unchanged, and yet by being so familiar, it remains just as enjoyable as it was on its initial Nintendo 3DS release.

Review info

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: June 5, 2025

As the game’s producer Tomoya Asano noted ahead of this remaster’s release, Bravely Default was designed as a throwback to the classic 2D and 16-bit era of RPGs.

Its success both at home and abroad inspired the company to develop its HD-2D titles, such as Octopath Traveler and the Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake. It emulates classic Final Fantasy with a grand globe-trotting adventure to save the world, wonderfully representative of the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment System eras of the storied franchise.

One day, a great chasm suddenly opens in the earth underneath the village of Norende, with Tiz the sole survivor. The four crystals driving the natural balance of the world have been plunged into darkness. When he runs into one of the Vestals (priestesses of the crystals), Agnes Oblige, he is inspired to protect her and seek a way to reawaken them. Over time, you are joined in your travels by Edea Lee and Ringabel, and these four warriors of light set out to rejuvenate the world.

This is a turn-based RPG, enhanced by a deep job system and much more. The result evolves this basic framework into something highly engaging and, even all these years later, wholly unique. The titular Brave and Default mechanics bring a fascinating risk-reward thrill to difficult combat: you begin with 0 BP in each battle, with any action consuming one point. You can act multiple times in a single term by using Brave, consuming extra BP, but you’ll be unable to act again until you recover to at least zero.

Default is this game’s term for defending: you won’t act, but you’ll gain an extra BP and take less damage, allowing you to act twice next time without skipping a turn. By building up BP across multiple characters and tying it to special moves it allows for some intense all-out attacks if you strategize correctly.

Fairy-ly Strategic

Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster — (Image credit: Square Enix)

And strategize you must. Success against bosses hinges on correctly utilizing this system, as well as the jobs. These are the various classes you may already be familiar with, such as mages, thieves, and knights, alongside more exotic jobs like merchants.

Mastery of these classes allows you to inherit some of their abilities to other classes, essentially allowing a character to embody the best of two jobs at once. Battles require not just good strategy but knowing your limits, all while taking advantage of this job system to craft a mage with the speed of a thief, and so on.

One typical frustration when it comes to turn-based RPGs is that combat can soon feel slow or repetitive. These systems combine to avoid that. If you do feel the need to grind to increase your level, earn money, or improve a character’s class proficiency, you can assign actions for characters to take in auto-battles or change encounter rates and battle speed.

Best bit

After first struggling to beat a boss, stepping back to adjust your jobs and equipment before tackling it with the right balance of offense and defense takes advantage of every aspect of the battle system, and makes victory feel oh-so sweet.

It’s hard to find much to complain about when it comes to Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. It was praised in its time for being one of the best RPGs, and that remains true today. The script and characters charm, the battles thrill, just as they did before. Next to nothing has changed.

The character models and world are the same low-polygon 3D models as the 3DS release, bar a few upgraded textures, a fact only more apparent in the models for minor characters or the stiff, limited animations in cutscenes. It’s a testament to the timeless art style of the original game that the towns and select areas remain at times stunning and never feel garish when blown up on a larger screen.

A lingering legacy

The only real differences in Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster are more of a necessity than anything else: the old game made heavy use of the network features of the 3DS, encouraging players to send combat support to other players while walking out in the world via StreetPass, or linking the abilities of your party with friends. These have been adapted to the Nintendo Switch Online ecosystem somewhat awkwardly, the joy of encountering strangers while walking outside replaced with much less interesting ghosts in towns.

There are two new minigames, but these feel like they exist primarily as an excuse to justify Nintendo Switch 2 exclusivity. They each use mouse controls, but not very effectively. Luxencheer Rhythm Catch is a rhythm game timed to a few iconic songs from the game’s soundtrack while a character of your choice dances along. It’s serviceable, but doesn't feel as natural as a proper rhythm game should.

Ringabel’s Panic Cruise is easily the more involved and interesting of the pair, putting you behind the controls of an airship as you steer around a course and react to commands by pulling switches and knobs or blowing whistles. I could imagine myself enjoying a full game with this concept and controls, but here it feels like little more than a tech demo. With both hidden in submenus, these will be forgotten almost immediately.

Take these minimal bonus features away, and this is almost exactly the same game as it was before. Excluding a few quality of life changes and an adaptation from a two-screen handheld to a single-screen hybrid console, this is identical to the original release. Often, titles like Bravely Default may receive a new translation ahead of a new release, but even that remains unchanged here.

This, at least for me, is fine. In retaining as much of this 3DS experience as possible, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster stands apart from its contemporaries as something unlike other RPGs on the market right now, faithfully making a classic of the genre accessible to a new generation.

While it’s a tough sell to those who played the original game upon its release due to the unchanged nature of this story and gameplay, I’ve personally enjoyed the excuse to revisit it, exactly as I remember.

For all it isn’t pushing the new hardware to the limits while the limited new features are more of an excuse and obligation to test new hardware than enhance the experience, it’s hard to complain when you have one of the best RPGs of the last 15 years on the largest or smallest screen you could desire.

Should I play Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster?

Play it if...

You never tried the original game
An adventure inspired by the classics but updated into something singular, Bravely Default is still not only timeless, it’s one of the best RPGs of the past 15 years

You love to strategize
No matter your level or job, an overly offensive or poorly strategized boss fight can leave you vulnerable to defeat in any fight. You’re always on your toes in your journey to save the world.

Characters and story drive your play
Bravely Default has such a charming core cast of characters whose chemistry will leave you laughing from the moment you meet. Their jokes and spirit alone can keep the adventure going.

Don't play it if...

You’re a returning player wanting something new
There’s nothing here you haven’t seen before if you played the original game. While Bravely Default is an enjoyable enough experience worth replaying, don’t come expecting a new perspective on this classic.

You want to push your new Switch 2 to the limits
This is a Nintendo 3DS game at its core, and the title has been given minimal visual upgrades. New content is limited to two minigames. This won’t test the power of the device or push all the new features of Nintendo Switch 2.

Accessibility features

While it’s possible to adjust language and subtitle options in Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster, and there is hardware-level limited button remapping for those using the Switch 2 Charging Grip or Pro Controller, there are no other accessibility features for those needing features such as colorblind mode.

How I reviewed Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster

I played 20 hours of Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster and tried all features, including town rebuilding and bonus minigames.

This brought me partway into the second chapter of the game, although I did complete the game upon its initial release on Nintendo 3DS and compared the experience between the two titles.

Much of the game was played on a Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld or tabletop mode, as well as on an ASUS VG27AQL1A gaming monitor. Audio was utilized in a mix of the system’s internal speakers, Apple AirPods Max connected wirelessly to the device, as well as Denon speakers connected to the monitor via a Yamaha A-S301 Amplifier.

First reviewed June 2025

Mario Kart World just about makes the podium, but some strange design decisions have left me scratching my head

2:28 pm | June 13, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming Nintendo | Tags: Final Fantasy, Mario Kart | Comments: Off

Review information

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
Available on: Nintendo Switch 2
Release date: June 5, 2025

Mario Kart World has launched alongside the arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2. And with it, the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe curse has finally been broken. Of course, it’s reasonable to expect Nintendo to have supported its 68 million+ selling Switch game for as long as it did, but the time certainly felt right for something new.

And Mario Kart World absolutely feels new. Not in the literal sense, of course - that’s a given. Rather, it genuinely takes Mario Kart to fresh new heights with utterly stunning visuals and transformative racing techniques that feel so much more tactile than the underwater or anti-gravity gimmicks of the series' past.

The big draw to Mario Kart World? Well, the clue’s in the name. The game offers a gigantic open world for players to explore in Free Roam mode - either solo or in local or online multiplayer. The game’s circuits are also integrated into this map, as are hundreds of mini-challenges and collectibles.

World also introduces Knockout Tour, a non-stop endurance race from one end of the map to another, in which the goal is to remain above a constantly dwindling placement threshold to avoid being eliminated. It’s hands down the best mode in the game and really comes to life online, where races are almost impossibly chaotic.

While Mario Kart World does offer the most exceptionally satisfying driving model the series has ever seen, I can’t quite bring myself to say it beats out the excellence of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just yet. Its main Grand Prix mode actually does the game’s otherwise wonderful circuits a bit of a disservice, and there’s a pile of frustrating design decisions that all add up to muddy the overall experience to a degree.

Namely, Nintendo has fumbled the bag somewhat with its open world here. While the act of simply driving about and unlocking outfits for your favorite characters can be a lot of fun in and of itself, there’s little in the way of actual content here outside of short challenge missions. Even the main form of collectible here - stickers you can place on your kart - falls flat. But more on that in the review proper.

Overall, Mario Kart World has moments where it’s easily the best game in the series. The handling of the karts here is sublime, and learning courses and routes with the new rail grind and wall ride techniques is endlessly fulfilling. There aren’t even any major issues with online play, which, for Nintendo, is an accomplishment. It’s just such a shame that certain design decisions lead to a game that feels lacking in some crucial areas.

There’s a whole world out there, but is it worth seeing?

The big draw to Mario Kart World is, as mentioned, its Free Roam mode. For the first time ever, Nintendo has created a fully explorable Mushroom Kingdom without any load times. Even pressing the ‘+’ button from the main menu will seamlessly transition you into Free Roam, which is super impressive and is a strong indicator of how much more powerful the Switch 2 is compared to its predecessor.

The only load times you’ll experience in Free Roam come from switching characters or fast traveling to a named location on the map, and even these are extremely brisk. Pair this with impressive draw distance, rock-solid 60fps performance, and simply stunning visual fidelity, and you have a mode that acts as a real showcase of the console’s hardware chops.

It’s a massive open space, dotted with the game’s many circuits and plenty of scenic routes to travel between them. It’s also exceptionally varied, featuring everything from lush forests and arid dunes to a haunted swamp and an industrial space port. There’s a great amount of fun to be had in simply driving around, taking in some breathtaking sights, and vibing to World’s eclectic soundtrack.

That said, Free Roam leaves a lot on the table. Don’t get me wrong, going on a drive with your friends (Free Roam is also playable in multiplayer) is joyous, and I can see it being a wonderful experience for groups of friends and families. But once the novelty wears off, there actually isn’t all that much to do here.

Best bit

Mario Kart World’s driving is sublime. Drifting feels more fine-tuned than ever, while new techniques like wall riding and rail grinding offer an incredibly high skill ceiling and avenues for creativity during any given moment out on track.

Aside from character costumes, which you can unlock by picking up Dash Food items at various drive-thrus dotted throughout the map, your main collectible in Free Roam is stickers. This irks me on so many levels.

The stickers themselves are inoffensive, and many have very cool and eye-catching designs. It’s their implementation that’ll leave you wanting more. You can choose a single sticker, which will be placed on your kart of choice, and they also act as a miniature icon during online play. However, the stickers simply don’t show up on half the karts in the roster, and on most, they’re far too tiny to be noticeable.

Furthermore, stickers are pretty much the main form of collectible in this game. Completing one of many P-Switch challenges dotted around the Free Roam map? While these are fun little distractions, all you’re getting for your troubles is a sticker. Running over a hidden Question Block panel found tucked away in the map’s circuits? Sticker. Collecting Peach Medallions? For that, you’ll at least get a cool alternate kart livery! Nope, I’m joking, it’s stickers.

As a result, the joy of driving around in Free Roam can quickly diminish if you’re not racing about with friends. It does feel like what we have now, at least, is a foundation on which Nintendo can build upon with more activities and potentially new areas. We’ll have to see how things pan out in the future, but for now, don’t be surprised if Free Roam starts to feel a little vacuous for you over time.

Catch my drift

So the open world in Mario Kart World leaves a lot to be desired, but I’d be a fool to completely write the game off because of it. What saves World for me, and why I still consider it to be my new favorite game in the series, is that its driving and racing feel so, so good.

Previous Mario Kart games had gimmicks like gliding, underwater, and anti-gravity racing. All of which were cute and fun, but little more than fluff that was broadly used for set-piece purposes. There’s nothing wrong with that at face value, but World’s additions do genuinely feel transformative.

World introduces charge jumping, rail grinding, and wall riding to the karting mix, and all work in tandem with one another to actively raise this game’s skill ceiling compared to previous entries. By themselves, these individual mechanics don’t necessarily make you faster, but when chained together to take advantage of a circuit’s level design and shortcuts, they’ll make you feel like Nintendo injected some of that Neversoft Tony Hawk game goodness into Mario Kart World.

It helps that Mario Kart World rewards skillful driving a good deal more. Drifting has also been fine-tuned, feeling more precise and satisfying than ever. Drafting a kart in front of you for a quick slipstream boost has also been greatly enhanced, feeling much faster and a more viable tactic for getting ahead.

The whole thing feels very carefully balanced, which is where items come in. The iconic Spiny Shell - which makes a beeline for the player in first and explodes on contact with them - is still devastating, but you maintain some forward momentum after getting hit, making the punishment slightly less severe. Common ‘last to first’ items like the Bullet Bill and Lightning have been considerably nerfed, with their benefits and debuffs having less of an effect on the overall race.

There’s a smattering of new items to help keep things fresh, too. The Coin Shell follows a set path down the track, dropping coins for other players to pick up, thus increasing their top speeds. Kamek can be summoned to transform players into other characters and place random obstacles at the front of the pack. There’s also the Ice Flower, which is a bit of a dud, being practically identical to the Fire Flower in effect.

Then there’s the Feather, which hasn’t been seen in the series (outside of Battle modes) since the SNES original - so long as you’re not counting Mario Kart Tour. The Feather simply makes your kart jump into the air, which seems underwhelming, but write it off at your peril. In truth, the Feather can be extremely useful for accessing loftier parts of a track or initiating a grind or wall ride without needing to take a few seconds to rev up a charge jump. They’re also great for accessing various shortcuts on any given circuit.

At the races

Let’s talk about modes, then. Outside of Free Roam, you’ve got the expected appearance of Grand Prix mode, which comprises eight cups - all featuring four races each. It’s joined by other mainstays, including Time Trial and Battle modes.

Grand Prix is something I have pretty mixed feelings on in Mario Kart World. That’s because the bulk of each event is made up of intermission segments where you race along a portion of the open world map, with your destination being a single lap of the featured circuit.

Needing to drive from one circuit to the next is something Nintendo made a big deal of in World’s marketing. I do like their inclusion, and they lead to some interesting and unique racing. However, they’re far better suited to the excellent Knockout Tour mode, where the whole point is driving a route from A to B across the entire map, OutRun style.

In Grand Prix, while you’ll get to do a three-lap race of the first track on the docket, you actually end up doing very little racing on the tracks themselves. This makes it harder to learn each circuit at first, and also means they don’t live very long in the memory.

And that’s a huge shame, because again, track design is some of the best the series has ever seen. The winding alleyways and shortcuts of Shy Guy Bazaar. The spectacle of being transported into a movie world in Boo Cinema. And the sheer moment-to-moment set piece that is Bowser’s Castle. They all have the wind taken out of their sails somewhat, as we simply don’t get much racing time on them.

There does exist a workaround here, though. By selecting VS Race from the menu, you can set up custom race rules. By setting the track selection rule to ‘open’, only then can you do a full-length race on each circuit. The absence of a traditional Grand Prix setup, then, is baffling. Especially as those intermission routes really shine in the Knockout Tour mode.

Speaking of Knockout Tour, it’s another highlight in Mario Kart World, and easily the best way to play the game, especially in an online 24-player race. Each of the eight Knockout Tour events smartly blends open roads with segments of circuits, going from ascending steep mountains to weaving through busy traffic in a matter of minutes.

The goal of Knockout Tour is in its name. Each checkpoint will eliminate the racers in the back four places, eventually whittling the grid down to just four for the final stretch. It’s constantly thrilling and rewards skillful driving, clever usage of shortcuts, and an understanding of rail grinds and wall rides for quick bursts of speed.

Needs a few upgrades

While I have greatly enjoyed my time with Mario Kart World so far - in both solo and multiplayer environments - it still can feel rushed or incomplete in certain areas. I’ve already spoken about my frustrations with the Grand Prix format and lack of meaningful activities in Free Roam, but those, unfortunately, aren’t my only issues.

It’s not the end of the world, but the character selection screen is objectively a total mess. Things aren’t too bad at first, but you’ll soon realize that each unlocked costume acts as its own slot on the roster. There’s no dropdown list here, letting you choose an outfit after selecting a character. It’s all just one large jumble with only rudimentary organization.

This is actually something Nintendo has gone backwards on since its last game in the series. In Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, certain characters like Yoshi, Inkling, and Shy Guy let you choose an alternate look or color after picking them. There’s nothing like that in Mario Kart World, so I seriously hope this gets patched in soon.

Furthermore, the unlocking process for some characters is frustratingly random. A handful are tied to beating cups in Grand Prix mode, which is completely fine. The rest, though, are tied to the Kamek item transforming you into a random character, meaning you genuinely might not complete the roster for weeks if not months, based on how much you play.

These gripes aside, I still really do love Mario Kart World. Its driving is sublime, Knockout Tour is a fantastically chaotic new mode, and I’m so serious when I say the game’s massive soundtrack is worth the price of admission alone. Outside of Final Fantasy 14 Online, I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a soundtrack this varied and of this quality. It covers everything from jazz and techno to rock and ska, classical, big band, and everything in between. Even after 30 or so hours, I don’t believe I’ve come close to hearing the entire track list. There’s just so much here, especially if you’re nostalgic for the wider Super Mario franchise.

Should I buy Mario Kart World?

Buy it if...

You want a kart racer that’s as fun as it is chaotic
The best driving in the series, paired with hilarious items and the new Knockout Tour mode, makes Mario Kart World a chaotic blast in both single and multiplayer.

You’re playing with family and friends regularly
Mario Kart World’s Free Roam mode is excellent for parents who want some simple racing fun with their kids, or even as a casual pick-up-and-play mode with friends.

Don't buy it if...

You were hoping for more meaningful unlocks
Aside from characters and costumes, the main form of unlockables is stickers. When you realize this is much of what Free Roam has to offer, it may be enough to turn you away.

You’re not keen on randomness or items
The Kamek item tied to unlocking some characters aside, getting three red shells up your rear end on the final corner of a race remains uniquely infuriating.

Accessibility

While there are no accessibility options in the traditional sense, such as colorblind filters, Mario Kart World does offer some driving options to make things easier in some regards. These include smart steering, which veers you away from track edges, as well as auto-accelerate and auto-item use options.

It's also quite strange and frustrating that there are no dedicated volume control options - nothing for either music, voices or sound effects. This isn't uncommon for Nintendo games, but the omission of such audio options continues to be utterly baffling.

How I reviewed Mario Kart World

I played Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2 for around 30 hours for this review. I tested more or less everything the game has to offer, including Grand Prix, Knockout Tour, Free Roam, VS Battles, and online play. During that time, I also unlocked the majority of characters and outfits and completed close to 100 P-Switch challenges in Free Roam.

During my playtime, I primarily used the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller in docked mode on an LG CX OLED TV which allowed me to enjoy Mario Kart World at its native 1440p resolution, transitioning to the Joy-Con 2 during handheld play on the Switch 2’s 1080p vivid LCD display.

First reviewed June 2025

The RIG 900 Max HS is easily my new favorite PS5 gaming headset thanks to its impeccable audio quality and comfort factor

4:00 pm | May 25, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Final Fantasy, PC, Resident Evil | Comments: Off

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS: one-minute review

If you’re looking to buy a brand new PS5 or PC compatible gaming headset, then the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS will likely be a notable upgrade over your current peripheral. You’d probably expect that given its premium price tag, but the 900 Max HS still manages to go above and beyond.

Going through the checklist, I found that the RIG 900 Max HS ticks almost every box. It’s remarkably durable, and those plush ear cups are tailor-made for gaming the hours away in comfort - never did the headset begin to chafe the sides of my head or become uncomfortably warm, even during 5-6 hour gaming sessions.

And that’s great, because the RIG 900 Max HS is an incredibly difficult headset to take off. Not in a weird ‘cursed helmet’ kind of way - rather, its audio quality is so pristine that I couldn’t imagine playing immersive single-player games like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered or Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 without it.

You can expect impressively detailed audio here that accurately picks up on a wide range of sounds - loud, quiet, and everything in between. Its bass profile is also highly satisfying, which can be further enhanced by accessing the equalizer in the wonderfully easy-to-use companion app. Multiplayer gamers are well-served here, too, with an impeccable flip-to-mute mic that - according to my friends and colleagues - sounded much clearer over calls than even some of the best PS5 headsets I’ve used.

If I had to levy any complaints, one would be that the build - like other Nacon products - still relies somewhat on cheap-feeling plastic. The durable metal headband is a notable improvement here, but the sides of the band as well as the cup exteriors are a little hollow. Turning the headset on and off, as well as pairing, also isn’t as immediate as I’m used to with other headsets.

But otherwise, the RIG 900 Max HS is an excellent premium gaming headset that’s well worth the price of admission.

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: price and availability

The Nacon RIG 900 Max HS is available now and should retail at $249 / £215, but at the time of writing, stock appears to be quite limited in the US and the UK.

It is widely available in Europe, however, and is listed on Nacon’s website for €249.90.

I will return to update this section as and when US and UK availability becomes more widespread.

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Specs

Price	$249.99 / £215 (tentative while availability is limited)
Weight	10.37oz / 294g
Dimensions	7.6 x 8.0 x 3.7in / 194 x 204 x 94mm
Compatibility	PS5, PS4, PC
Connection type	Wireless (2.4Ghz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)
Battery life	20-30 hours

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: design and features

Nacon hasn’t done much to bolster the overall build quality of its headset line-up here, but one crucial change does make a big difference. The 900 Max HS features a durable, metallic headband that not only looks nice, but its flexibility makes for a more durable build overall.

This headset line-up has also always featured unbelievably comfy plush ear cups, and that’s the case here, too. These allow the 900 Max HS to sit on your head snugly, remaining comfy and unintrusive for longer gaming sessions. There are no issues with the headset feeling overly warm, nor did it ever start to chafe my ears even during longer stints.

Onboard buttons here are also very simple and straightforward. You naturally have the power button, as well as a USB-C slot for charging purposes (though this can also be done with the included charging dock). A multi-function button lets you quickly pause or unpause videos and music. It also lets you accept calls if also connected to Bluetooth via the supported dual input mode (that’s Bluetooth and 2.4GHz at the same time). Handy.

Lastly is the Mode button, which lets you cycle through different pairing options including a ‘do not disturb’ Game Mode (available through 2.4GHz only), Dual and Bluetooth modes.

On the left of the headset is the flip-to-mute microphone. This unfortunately cannot be removed and feels built from rather cheap plastic, but - as I’ll get into later - it’s nonetheless an excellent mic that’ll serve you well on multiplayer comms.

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Performance

Performance is really where the RIG 900 Max HS shines. As far as gaming headsets go, it has some of the cleanest, most robust audio around. The headset deploys powerful 40mm drivers to produce a rich soundstage, capable of covering an impressively wide range. In Monster Hunter Wilds, for example, I could make out streams of rushing water in the distance even while a vicious Rathalos was trying to make me its next lunch.

There is a dedicated bass boost mode, too, and it’s as strong here as it was on the RIG 600 Pro HS - if not moreso. Once I activated bass boost, I simply couldn’t play without it in single-player games. The added oomph to the explosive soundscapes of the Resident Evil 4 remake and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 only helped make those play experiences to be even more enjoyable.

But as mentioned earlier, multiplayer games aren’t being left out. That’s because the 900 Max HS’s flip-to-mute microphone is incredible. Whether it was gaming online with friends on Discord, or talking during a work meeting, my voice came through crystal clear. My colleagues noted it was a step up from my other go-to headset; the JBL Quantum 910P.

You can also expect a glorious multiplayer gaming experience thanks to accurate directional audio. That’s a real boon for when you need to call out distant shots or vehicle sounds to teammates in shooters like Call of Duty: Warzone or Fortnite.

Battery life is an improvement over previous RIG models, though I must say I didn’t get Nacon’s quoted 50-60 hours on a single charge here. On a full charge, I managed around 20-30 hours before needing to top up again. That’s still not bad at all, and in fairness I was regularly switching pairing modes across both PS5 and PC, so your mileage may vary here depending on your use case.

I also have to mention the excellent software that is the RIG 900 Max HS companion app. While it does take a few seconds to connect to the app via Dual or Bluetooth modes, the app itself is simple to use yet still quite powerful.

The app lets you create up to three individual sound profiles. There are equalizer presets like the aforementioned bass boost, as well as ones tailored to first-person shooters and overall voice clarity. You can also activate an ‘Expert’ mode here, giving you access to a more robust equalizer with 10 sliders.

You can also adjust mic gain, monitoring, and a volume level protection option that prevents the headset’s audio from becoming overly loud.

Should I buy the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS?

Buy it if...

You want immersive, customizable audio
Audio quality is fantastic out of the box, but you can really fine-tune equalizer settings that suit you best via the excellent companion app. Its expert mode also lets you tinker to an even more granular degree.

You’re an endurance gamer
You probably want a comfortable headset for your hours-long gaming sessions and the RIG 900 Max HS absolutely delivers here. The plush ear cups are perfectly suited to lazy weekends or burning the midnight oil with pals online.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
This is another very expensive premium product from Nacon’s RIG department. I think it’s worth the money if you can afford it, but if all you need is a simple way to chat with friends online or if you prefer gaming without a headset, you’ll be saving yourself a lot of cash.

You’re an Xbox player
Put simply, the RIG 900 Max HS is not compatible with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S or Xbox One consoles. For that, there is a separate HX model available which you may want to check out instead.

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Also consider

If the RIG 900 Max HS isn’t quite up your alley or out of your price range, you may wish to consider these excellent RIG brand alternatives.

	RIG 900 Max HS	RIG 600 Pro HS	RIG 800 Pro HX
Price	$249 / £215	$99 / £89.99	$149 / £199
Weight	10.37oz / 294g	8.47oz / 240g	10.7oz / 308g
Dimensions	7.6 x 8.0 x 3.7in / 194 x 204 x 94mm	7.5 x 7.9 x 3.5in / 191 x 200 x 89mm	7.7 x 7.8 x 3.7in / 196 x 198 x 94mm
Compatibility	PS5, PS4, PC	PS5, PS4, PC	Xbox, PC
Connection type	Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)	Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)	Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth)
Battery life	20-30 hours	Around 18 hours	18-24 hours

RIG 600 Pro HS
A real mid-range wonder, the RIG 600 Pro HS is my recommendation for those after a PS5 or PC gaming headset without breaking the bank. I prefer this to the official PS5 Pulse 3D gaming headset, and you can expect similar high quality audio and comfort factor here.

Read our full RIG 600 Pro HS review

RIG 800 Pro HX
Essentially an Xbox-compatible version of the above, the RIG 800 Pro HX is slightly older and thus falters relatively in terms of overall build quality. But still, you can expect excellent gaming audio, an awesome mic and comfortable ear cups.

Read our full RIG 800 Pro HX review

How I tested the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS

Tested for one week
Tested across PS5 and PC
Played single and multiplayer games, as well as general music listening

I tested the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS over the course of roughly a week, during which time it’s been my go-to audio device for both PS5 and PC. In my spare time, I typically don’t wear gaming headsets while playing, but I honestly haven’t been able to play without the RIG 900 Max HS whenever I’ve got a free hour or two. It may have converted me.

I played a whole bunch of single and multiplayer games with the headset on. These include recent releases like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Monster Hunter Wilds, Blue Prince and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. I selected these games because they all have diverse and unique soundscapes that really came alive when passed through this gaming headset.

For multiplayer, I hopped online with friends for Final Fantasy 14 Online, Fortnite, and a few rounds of Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6. This was largely to test out the headset’s immaculate microphone, as well as get a feel for how well it handles directional audio.

First reviewed April 2025

Read more about how we test

The RIG 900 Max HS is easily my new favorite PS5 gaming headset thanks to its impeccable audio quality and comfort factor

4:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Final Fantasy, PC, Resident Evil | Comments: Off

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS: one-minute review

But otherwise, the RIG 900 Max HS is an excellent premium gaming headset that’s well worth the price of admission.

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: price and availability

The Nacon RIG 900 Max HS is available now and should retail at $249 / £215, but at the time of writing, stock appears to be quite limited in the US and the UK.

It is widely available in Europe, however, and is listed on Nacon’s website for €249.90.

I will return to update this section as and when US and UK availability becomes more widespread.

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Specs

Price	$249.99 / £215 (tentative while availability is limited)
Weight	10.37oz / 294g
Dimensions	7.6 x 8.0 x 3.7in / 194 x 204 x 94mm
Compatibility	PS5, PS4, PC
Connection type	Wireless (2.4Ghz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)
Battery life	20-30 hours

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: design and features

Lastly is the Mode button, which lets you cycle through different pairing options including a ‘do not disturb’ Game Mode (available through 2.4GHz only), Dual and Bluetooth modes.

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Performance

You can also adjust mic gain, monitoring, and a volume level protection option that prevents the headset’s audio from becoming overly loud.

Should I buy the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Nacon RIG 900 Max HS review: Also consider

If the RIG 900 Max HS isn’t quite up your alley or out of your price range, you may wish to consider these excellent RIG brand alternatives.

	RIG 900 Max HS	RIG 600 Pro HS	RIG 800 Pro HX
Price	$249 / £215	$99 / £89.99	$149 / £199
Weight	10.37oz / 294g	8.47oz / 240g	10.7oz / 308g
Dimensions	7.6 x 8.0 x 3.7in / 194 x 204 x 94mm	7.5 x 7.9 x 3.5in / 191 x 200 x 89mm	7.7 x 7.8 x 3.7in / 196 x 198 x 94mm
Compatibility	PS5, PS4, PC	PS5, PS4, PC	Xbox, PC
Connection type	Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)	Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth), Wired (USB-C)	Wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth)
Battery life	20-30 hours	Around 18 hours	18-24 hours

Read our full RIG 600 Pro HS review

Read our full RIG 800 Pro HX review

How I tested the Nacon RIG 900 Max HS

Tested for one week
Tested across PS5 and PC
Played single and multiplayer games, as well as general music listening

First reviewed April 2025

Read more about how we test

The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited is the first controller with a built-in screen that I actually like

4:00 pm | April 30, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Final Fantasy, PC | Comments: Off

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: one-minute review

The Nacon Revolution X Unlimited is the latest premium Xbox controller from the gaming brand, and I think it’s the company’s best effort yet. Essentially an upgrade over the PS5-compatible Revolution 5 Pro (though sadly, there’s no PlayStation compatibility to be had with this new gamepad), the Unlimited offers a similar experience with some notable new features.

Your eyes will immediately be drawn to the Unlimited’s built-in LCD display. Typically, I’m not a fan of these on gamepads, as I feel they can often overcomplicate the play experience. On the Unlimited, though, the display is very intuitive. It trims the fat, strictly offering options for button mapping, connected gaming headsets, wireless pairing, and battery saving. As such, I find this to be a direct upgrade over the Revolution 5 Pro.

The Revolution X Unlimited does pack a premium price tag, but to sweeten the deal, Nacon has included a selection of swappable parts as well as a charging dock for quick and easy battery top-up. Throw in a pair of sublimely smooth Hall effect thumbsticks, tactile micro-switch face buttons, trigger locks, and a set of four remappable buttons, and you have a premium suite that’s worth the investment.

There are, sadly, some drawbacks that keep it outside of contention for the premium spot in our best Xbox controllers and best PC controllers guides. For one, it’s quite a bulky controller, and an over-reliance on plastic means that build quality isn’t quite what you’d expect from a luxury pad.

But overall, if you’re in the market for a high-end Xbox controller or PC controller with tons of features and intuitive on-the-fly customization for your favorite games, I still highly recommend considering the Revolution X Unlimited.

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: Price and availability

As a premium pad, the Revolution X Unlimited commands a price tag of $199.99 / £179.99. You can purchase one for yourself at Nacon’s own website as well as Amazon in the US and Argos in the UK. This is similar to the Revolution 5 Pro which retails at $199.99 / £199.99, albeit the X Unlimited is £20 cheaper in the UK.

That price puts the Unlimited in the ballpark of other premium Xbox controllers such as the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro ($199.99 / £179.99), the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 ($169.99 / £149.99), and the official Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 ($179.99 / £159.99).

All offer similar feature sets, including swappable stick and button modules, remappable keys, and controller layout profile creation.

I think the Revolution X Unlimited has the edge over the eSwap X2 and Elite Series 2, thanks to its inclusion of Hall effect sticks (they’re sold separately for Thrustmaster’s pad) and that built-in display that I found genuinely useful here. However, I do prefer the near-perfect build quality offered by the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: specs

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: design and features

Aside from the controller itself, you’re getting quite a lot of goodies in the Revolution X Unlimited box. The pad is housed in a tidy carry case, where you’ll also find a charging dock, 2.4GHz USB dongle for wireless connectivity, a 3m USB-C cable, a thin dust cloth, and a small box that stores swappable accessories.

Said accessories include two D-pads (a four-way and an eight-way with the latter on the controller by default), six thumbstick caps (two concave, four convex of varying sizes), two metal stick rings for placing around the thumbsticks, and a set of six weights (two 0.35oz / 10g, two 0.49oz / 14g, and two 0.56oz / 16g) which can be slotted into the controller’s grips for some additional heft if you need the pad to rest in your hands a little more firmly.

The Unlimited itself has that recognizable Xbox Wireless Controller-esque silhouette, but it is ever so slightly wider and taller than Microsoft’s gamepad. This results in the Unlimited being better suited to players with larger hands.

Meanwhile, overall build quality certainly isn’t terrible, but I’ve never been a fan of the use of cheap-feeling plastic on Nacon’s controllers that’s also present here. I did get used to it, but it definitely feels less robust in the hands than my go-to Razer Wolverine V3 Pro.

The standout feature this time is undoubtedly the built-in LCD display. As mentioned, I’m typically not keen to see these on controllers like the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra or the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot. They’re usually quite sluggish and aren’t particularly intuitive in a pinch.

Nacon has nailed it here, though. A quick press of a button found next to the left bumper activates the display’s menu. The UI is incredibly responsive and limits options to the essentials: audio for gaming headsets (including volume, mic monitoring, and a game/chat mixer), button mapping, and wireless pairing options.

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller: performance

I’m seriously impressed with the Revolution X Unlimited when it comes to overall gaming performance and play experience. I’m glad that Nacon has opted for Hall effect sticks here, of course, but the sticks themselves are some of the smoothest in the business. If you’ve read my Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller impressions, it’s a similar story to that, where the sticks feel hyper-tuned for accuracy and responsiveness. Certainly, it’ll be a boon for the best FPS games where carefully-placed shots mean everything.

Micro-switch buttons are becoming increasingly common with contemporary gamepads, with even cheaper models like the GameSir T4 Kaleid offering them. They’re also present on the Revolution X Unlimited, and they’re satisfyingly tactile.

This is another element that positions the Unlimited as a competitive-focused controller. Don’t get me wrong, it’s wonderful for any kind of game, and I had a blast testing it with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered on Xbox Series X as well as A Hat in Time and Final Fantasy 14 Online on PC. But it really comes alive with multiplayer-oriented games like Tekken 8 and Fortnite, thanks to those buttery smooth thumbsticks and rapid button actuation.

Battery life is a slight letdown as you’re only getting around 10 hours on a full charge. It does charge up fairly quickly in around two and a half hours with the included charging dock, but do expect to have to top up the controller regularly if you prefer wireless play.

Should I buy the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller?

Buy it if...

You want a full premium controller package
Additions like a charging dock, multiple thumbstick and D-pad configurations, and that built-in display all make for a comfortable and robust play experience.

You’re primarily an online multiplayer gamer
The Revolution X Unlimited’s slick performance - from its friction-free sticks to tactile micro-switch buttons and trigger locks - makes it an excellent choice for competitive players in fighting games or shooters.

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
It may seem obvious, but the Unlimited is absolutely a ‘money no object’ purchase at $200 / £180. I can only really recommend it if you’ve got the cash to spend or if you’ve been saving for a pad like this.

You want more battery life
At around 10 hours, the Revolution X Unlimited’s battery life pales when compared to the likes of the Xbox Wireless Controller (around 20-30 hours) or similar built-in display pads like the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot (22 hours).

Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller review: Also consider

If the Revolution X Unlimited isn’t quite doing it for you, have a look at these Xbox and PC controller alternatives.

Razer Wolverine V3 Pro
Right now, the V3 Pro is the final say in premium Xbox and PC controllers, and has a price tag to match. But if you do take the plunge, you’ll find a gamepad that simply does not miss, with it featuring best-in-class build quality and Razer mouse-click tech allowing for speedy button actuation. An absolute stunner of a controller.

Read our Razer Wolverine V3 Pro review

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot
One to consider if you’re looking for a feature-rich controller in a more mid-range-friendly price bracket. While certainly not as impressive as the Unlimited, it also features a built-in display, great build quality, and a novel module pivot feature that lets you swap button layouts on the controller itself.

Read our Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot review

How I tested the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited controller

Tested for one week
Tested across Xbox Series X Digital Edition and PC
Compared directly to the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro

I tested the Revolution X Unlimited controller over the course of a week, playing both single and multiplayer games across Xbox and PC. On my Xbox Series X Digital Edition, I took the controller for a spin with The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered and Avowed. I went more multiplayer-focused on PC, with titles like Tekken 8, Final Fantasy 14 Online, and Street Fighter 6 filling up much of my playtime with the controller.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed April 2025

The Acer Nitro NGR300 is hard to recommend today thanks to its reliance on AA batteries and complete lack of console compatibility

3:00 pm | March 23, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming Gaming Accessories | Tags: AA, Final Fantasy, PC | Comments: Off

Acer Nitro NGR300: One-minute review

This is going to be a quick one because there just isn’t much to say about the Acer Nitro NGR300. As a PC and mobile controller, it probably would’ve made a decent purchase had it been released close to a decade ago. Around that time, there was much less in the way of wireless controller options, and they didn’t nearly have the feature sets we take for granted today.

At face value, it isn’t a horrible controller. I quite like its aesthetic, and it performs perfectly well while gaming - feeling responsive whether you’re wired via USB-C or wireless via Bluetooth. A word of warning, though; Bluetooth is the only wireless option here, so you may need to source a Bluetooth adapter separately in the case your setup doesn't have it built in.

In 2025, however, there isn’t much of a reason to purchase the Acer Nitro NGR300. And perhaps the brand knows this, too, as it only seems to be available in the UK (at least at the time of writing). When it comes to the best PC controllers, there are so many options that cost the same or are cheaper than the Nitro - while simultaneously offering contemporary features like Hall effect sticks, 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, and more.

Acer Nitro NGR300: Price and availability

List price: £49.99
Limited to UK-only availability
There are cheaper options available with more features

Much like the Acer Predator controller, the Acer Nitro NGR300 only appears to be available in the UK. However, it’s £20 cheaper than the Predator, coming in at £49.99. If you’re purchasing from abroad, you’re looking at roughly $64.99 / AU$100. The trade-off here is that the Nitro lacks the 2.4GHz connectivity and Nintendo Switch compatibility of its counterpart.

That being said, it’s still very difficult to recommend the Nitro when competing models like the GameSir T4 Kaleid ($41.99 / £41.99) and the 8BitDo Ultimate C Bluetooth controller ($29.99 / £24.99) come in much cheaper. With these, you’re also getting more features. In the Kaleid’s case, you’ve got drift-resistant Hall effect sticks and tactile microswitch buttons. For the Ultimate C, while lacking Hall effect, it makes up for it with 2.4GHz connectivity and Nintendo Switch compatibility as well as PC and mobile.

Acer Nitro NGR300: Specs

Acer Nitro NGR300: Design and features

Simple, yet cool look
Cheap-feeling build quality
Turbo button function works as you’d expect

I do quite like the look of the Acer Nitro NGR300. While certainly an understated design, the subtly textured pattern bearing the ‘Nitro’ emblem is a really nice touch. Acer clearly knows how to do a lot with a little when it comes to overall looks, and it’s easily my favorite thing about this gamepad.

That’s about where the positives end when it comes to design and features, sadly. Overall build quality feels cheap and overly plasticky; a letdown even with that relatively budget-friendly price tag.

Sticks and face buttons both feel solid, in fairness, but I’m not at all a fan of the incredibly mushy D-pad that leads to some imprecise inputs. The bumpers and triggers are also relatively wide, with the latter also feeling quite listless when pressed.

The standout feature here is certainly the dedicated Turbo button. If you’ve used the feature on other controllers - which lets you assign a button to hold for continuous inputs - then it’s the same here. It’s certainly handy for old-school beat ‘em ups and action RPGs (role-playing games), but by no means is it the unique selling point it may have been all those years ago.

Acer Nitro NGR300: Performance

Performs adequately in both wired and wireless modes
It’s a Bluetooth controller, but it’s not compatible with Switch
Relies on AA batteries for wireless play

Once more, there’s not much to write home about in terms of performance with the Acer Nitro NGR300. As a standard controller experience, it is comparable to similarly basic pads like the Xbox Wireless Controller, albeit lacking the strong comfort factor of that model.

In my testing, which included PC and mobile games like Final Fantasy 14 Online, RoboCop: Rogue City, and Zenless Zone Zero, I found the Nitro to be perfectly suitable for a variety of genres. It was also impressively responsive when used wirelessly over Bluetooth connection on mobile. I’d still argue that the best mobile controllers are better suited to gaming on the go, but the Nitro is serviceable in this regard.

The big sticking point for me - besides the lack of 2.4GHz connectivity - is that the Nitro relies on AA batteries for power. While not entirely unheard of in the present day (it’s also the default option for the Xbox Wireless Controller), I much prefer having a built-in battery that can charge up via USB-C.

Acer claims you’ll get up to 25 hours of battery life (as it did with the Predator), but this will naturally vary depending on the brand. With the included Energizer batteries, I managed to get around 15-20 hours of play.

Should I buy the Acer Nitro NGR300?

Buy it if...

You have an abundance of AA batteries lying around
On average, the Nitro’s battery life is actually quite decent, lasting longer than some models including the 8BitDo Ultimate C. If you regularly use AA batteries for various devices and have a lot of them, then the Acer Nitro is a decent pickup.

Don't buy it if...

You’d prefer a controller with more modern features
The Acer Nitro lacks several features we take for granted today, such as Hall effect sticks, remappable buttons, Switch / console compatibility, a built-in charging solution, or 2.4GHz connectivity.

Also consider...

Not sold on the Acer Nitro NGR300? There are at least a couple of better and more affordable alternatives out there, such as…

Horipad Turbo
A solid alternative to the Acer Nitro that offers most of its features for less. You’re getting a Turbo button here and, while not wireless, has Nintendo Switch compatibility and comes in a range of fun designs.

Read our full Horipad Turbo review

GameSir Nova Lite
Simply one of the best budget controllers on the market today. The Nova Lite offers a range of connection types as well as Hall effect thumbsticks, a beautiful design and Switch compatibility alongside mobile and PC.

Read our full GameSir Nova Lite review

How I tested the Acer Nitro NGR300

Tested for 15-20 hours (the time it took for the AA batteries to run out of juice)
Tested across PC and mobile games
Compared to the GameSir Nova Lite and Horipad Turbo

I tested the Acer Nitro NGR300 controller over a period of about 15-20 hours in total, after which the included Energizer AA batteries ran out. I primarily played on PC, which is its primary platform, having been unable to connect the controller to my Nintendo Switch. That said, Acer does not list the Switch as a supported platform, but as a Bluetooth device, I figured it was worth a try.

I compared my time with the Acer Nitro to that of its companion controller, the Acer Predator, as well as the GameSir Nova Lite and Horipad Turbo - all three of which I ended up preferring over this model. That’s due to a range of factors, including better features, compatibility, and connectivity options being available in the competition.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed March 2025

I was already sold on Atelier Yumia as an RPG, but I wasn’t expecting it to have my favorite crafting system in all of gaming

4:00 pm | March 14, 2025

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Final Fantasy, RPG | Comments: Off

I’ll be the first to admit games that heavily feature crafting as a key component are typically a huge turn-off for me, so I was initially wary of Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Envisioned Land’s focus on it. Be it in survival games like Minecraft or Sons of the Forest, or even other RPGs like Final Fantasy 14 Online, I usually find it hard to engage with crafting systems; the tedium of it all quickly sets in, making me very eager to get back to gameplay that’s just a bit more exciting.

Review info

Platform reviewed: PC (Steam)
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
Release date: March 21, 2025

This, surprisingly, has not been the case with developer Gust’s Atelier Yumia. From equipment and accessories to helpful items and placeable furniture, so much of this RPG’s (role-playing game) gameplay revolves around its alchemical crafting system.

But that became the exact reason why I grew to love the game. In Atelier Yumia, you’re not just crafting things for small, temporarily helpful gains. Each item you synthesize provides meaningful game and character progression. Whether that’s increasing the potency of a healing item by using higher-quality gatherables or creating a version of a weapon that lets you slot in extra traits, there are always multiple avenues of customization and outfitting your party members with tools that suit your playstyle.

Pair this with an incredibly slick and stylish battle system and an open world that greatly incentivizes exploration, and in Atelier Yumia, you have a game that can easily be considered one of the best RPGs of 2025. Barring some presentational issues and the occasional bit of obtuse map design, the game is simply a near-constant joy to play.

The not-so-wicked witch

While not an exclusively dark narrative by any means, Atelier Yumia grounds things in a world where alchemy is greatly feared and shunned, having been responsible for a great many accidents throughout history.

Our titular protagonist, Yumia, is one such alchemist and, despite only wanting the best for the world and its people, is typically met with distrust. Even when she uses alchemy for the benefit of others.

Thus, Yumia sets out on a journey of truth and discovery with a party of trusted comrades. With the goal of discovering the secrets of the fallen land that once thrived beforehand, Yumia aims to prove that alchemy can be used for good and doesn’t have to be something that’s inherently destructive.

From start to finish, Atelier Yumia’s story is a pretty straightforward ride, but one that’s nonetheless enjoyable. Elements of maturity are present, especially when exploring Yumia’s past. But the game often keeps the tone light-hearted and there’s plenty of bubbly dialogue and humor to enjoy. Overall, it’s an easygoing, often cozy tale, but one that isn’t afraid to get serious as the situation demands.

A walk in the park

What Atelier Yumia gets right for the majority of its runtime is pacing - something that’s usually pretty rare in the open-world space. The game’s story rarely drags its heels, allowing players to truly take things at their own pace.

That pace, between all the game’s systems and mechanics, is usually very brisk. That’s especially true of exploration in Atelier Yumia. While you might initially balk at the abundance of Ubisoft-style question marks dotting the map, in reality, these are almost all extremely quick diversions. Optional points of interest like this include small ruins to explore, monster breeding grounds or hubs for particular materials, caves containing treasures, and boxes you can quickly nab skill points from.

While there’s certainly much to do in each of Yumia’s four main regions, you’re able to explore it at a relatively quick pace. Darting between undiscovered points of interest on the way to the next story objective always felt natural, and never like I had to seriously go out of my way unless I expressly wanted to.

Best bit

Atelier Yumia’s take on the series’ alchemy system is arguably its best yet. While certainly very deep and boasting an amalgamation of its own mechanics, it’s nonetheless incredibly straightforward. Crafting high-quality items like weapons, accessories, restoratives and more is a moreish endeavor, especially as you continue to refine and make them more effective as you progress through the game.

That same snappiness applies to Atelier Yumia’s battle system. Like alchemy, there’s a lot to the battle system, but it’s all very easy to pick up and learn. The basics are that your party of three can engage enemies with combo attacks, set to each of the four face buttons. These combos can be used to put enemies in a weakened state, at which point you can use battle items and partner attacks to exploit elemental weaknesses for massive damage.

Battle items are also a much more integral part of the experience, and have been streamlined to a degree. They can become permanent additions to your combat loadout, only limited by a cooldown timer between uses. You’ll only need to replace them if you wish to craft better versions of them with more properties and more damage or healing potency.

As a result, while party members have their own weapons and base stats, how you can set them up is impressively flexible. For example, kitting Yumia out with elemental battle items can turn her into a robust mage, while the shield-bearing Viktor might hold a variety of stat-boosting items, essentially making him a stalwart support unit. It’s a bit Xenoblade-esque in that regard, giving you the tools necessary to build and equip characters in a way that works for you.

I require your strongest potions

As I mentioned at the top, alchemy is the system that ties everything together in Atelier Yumia. While at your atelier - or within a designated building zone in the world - you’re free to perform synthesis to create anything from battle items to benches. You will of course need materials to craft these items, but you’ll find plentiful gathering spots throughout the world and you’ll naturally collect an abundance of ingredients by simply exploring.

All synthesis projects begin by selecting an Alchemy Core as your base item, of which there are various types - including one that provides an overall quality boost or another that lets you slot in traits for additional modifiers. You’ll then add materials to help expand the core’s resonance area. The larger this area, the more drifting mana will be captured within its influence. The more mana you collect, the greater the item’s quality, thus boosting its overall potency. Plus, using materials of a higher grade will extend the ceiling of any given item’s potential power.

What makes alchemy so great is that it really is up to you in regards to how you shape these items. Materials have their own unique properties, and using specific ones can provide secondary or tertiary bonuses. A hard-hitting battle item may provide other bonuses this way, such as healing or providing various buffs. Or, you can just go all-in on power, making items that hit as hard as possible.

As you progress through the game, you’ll gradually unlock new recipes for synthesizing entirely new items. These ‘recall recipes’ can be created and upgraded at your atelier using different types of Memory Vials you can find in the world. Upgrading recipes can make them even more powerful, such as increasing their number of uses before going on cooldown, or increasing their base quality.

As I said, you’re not just limited to battle-oriented items. Synthesis can be done to create potions, armor, accessories, and more. And if you don’t want to get too lost in the weeds, handy quick synthesis options exist where the game will smartly assign materials automatically based on your preferences - whether that be the bare minimum, or going for as much quality as possible.

Synthesis doesn’t stop there, either. Workbenches will allow you to create housing items like benches, plants, or archways. These can then be freely placed as designated building spots throughout the world, letting you create your own bases or homesteads. There are so many options here, and it feels great being able to leave your own marks on the world to a greatly personal degree. Sure, it’s not quite Minecraft levels of freedom, but there’s plenty here that’ll allow you to get lost in hours of creativity.

A brave new frontier

In my Atelier Yumia playthrough, really the only thing that bugged me was the game’s overall visuals and presentation. They’re by no means bad, but I do feel like developer Gust often went a touch overboard when it comes to post-processing effects. Bloom during sunrise and sunset can be eye-searingly bright, washing out the world to an occasionally uncomfortable degree. Weather effects also aren’t particularly convincing, with an example being rainfall immediately coating the world in an overly wet and shiny look.

In better news, performance in Atelier Yumia is fantastic. On PC, I was able to maintain a rock-solid 60fps (frames per second), and load times are phenomenally fast - even when fast traveling from one end of the map to another. I found this to be crucial given the relatively fast-paced nature of the game, and I’m glad that Gust really took the time to optimize its world with this in mind.

Should you play Atelier Yumia?

Play it if...

You want an intricate and moreish crafting system
Synthesizing items in Atelier Yumia is extremely enjoyable, and there are so many ways to create items for any playstyle and occasion.

You love a game that respects your time
It may be a lengthy RPG, but Atelier Yumia doesn’t bog you down with an hours-long intro. Meanwhile, battle and exploration are both remarkably brisk, making for an experience that’s easy and fulfilling to play if you don’t have a ton of free time to spare.

Don't play it if...

You’re averse to poorly implemented post-processing
Atelier Yumia’s biggest issue is its reliance on intrusive effects like overdone bloom and unconvincing weather effects. While not enough to be a deal breaker for me personally, such effects can be quite distracting during exploration.

Accessibility

There’s a decent amount of accessibility features found within Atelier Yumia’s options menu. Text size and background opacity can be adjusted, as well as have three colorblind settings (deuteranopia, tritanopia, and protanopia) applied to them.

Various battle options exist that can make hitting certain commands easier, too. These include an auto-guard function for incoming attacks and an ‘easy precision counter’ that swaps you to a random character after successfully guarding or evading at the right time.

How I reviewed Atelier Yumia

My playthrough of Atelier Yumia lasted around 35 hours, taking me through the main quest line, a ton of optional map exploration, and a handful of side quests.

I spent much of that time getting absorbed by item synthesis, finding it to be the game’s crowning achievement and something I was willing to put much time into in order to craft high-quality battle items and gear. I played the game on PC via Steam with an Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060 Ti graphics card, an AOC Gaming 24G2SP monitor, and the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller.

First reviewed March 2025

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot review: neat ideas with some clumsy execution

5:00 pm | December 22, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Final Fantasy, Turtle Beach, UFO | 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: 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: 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.

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.

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

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

Thrustmaster Heart controller review: a competent Hall effect gamepad that fails to stand out in a competitive space

4:00 pm | November 23, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Apex Legends, Final Fantasy, PC | Comments: Off

Thrustmaster Heart: one-minute review

The Thrustmaster Heart is being positioned by the Oregon-based hardware specialist as an entry-level, performance-focused controller for Xbox consoles and PC. But ‘entry-level’ is more of a half-truth. It’s certainly very simple and straightforward but comes in at a rather lofty price tag that betrays that description somewhat.

That’s not to say the Thrustmaster Heart isn’t necessarily a controller you should avoid; there’s really a lot to like about it. From its comfortable Hall effect thumbsticks and tactile buttons to that lovely juxtaposed aesthetic dividing black and white colors with a strip of LED lighting, it could be one of the best PC controllers or best Xbox controllers for you if you’re looking for a simple gamepad that’s a cut above the standard Xbox Wireless Controller.

On the other hand, the Thrustmaster Heart doesn’t do a whole lot to justify its price. Cheaper controllers from competing brands like GameSir and Turtle Beach have the Heart beaten on features, and the complete lack of a wireless connectivity option is genuinely quite baffling at this price point - as it is with the brand’s even more expensive eSwap range.

That being said, the things the Heart does well, it does very well. It’s an impressively responsive controller that (aside from the disappointingly spongy feel of the triggers) provides rapid actuation. The face buttons and mechanical d-pad both feel fantastic, and the Hall effect sticks are exceptionally well-designed and comfortable to rest your thumbs on.

All in all, the Thrustmaster Heart is a very solid controller, but not an absolute must when other products are offering more at significantly lower prices.

Thrustmaster Heart: price and availability

Retails at $99.99 / £89.99
Available from October 2024
Fairly pricey given its relative lack of features

The Thrustmaster Heart is available to buy now for $99.99 / £89.99. It’s purchasable at Thrustmaster’s own website, as well as Best Buy, Amazon US, and Amazon UK. It appears that it currently is not available for purchase in Australia, though.

On the overall price spectrum, the Thrustmaster Heart finds itself in a pretty awkward spot. It’s not a premium product, but certainly not budget-friendly by any means. And when you consider that other PC controllers like the GameSir Tarantula Pro are doing more for less at $69.99 / £69.99, the Thrustmaster Heart becomes a tough sell.

That said, if Thrustmaster is a go-to brand for you, then the Heart is one of its cheaper options available. Especially when you factor in the likes of the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 and its $169.99 / £169.99 sticker price. The eSwap controllers also don’t ship with Hall effect controls; you’ll need to buy a separate module for that. In that regard, the Thrustmaster Heart provides decent value over its premium siblings.

Thrustmaster Heart: specs

Thrustmaster Heart: design and features

Incredibly pleasing in the aesthetics department
Convenient on-board multifunction options
ThrustmapperX software is simple, convenient, and available on console and PC

On the design front, the Thrustmaster Heart really impresses. I’m a huge fan of the divided black-and-white look, separated down the middle by a strip of LED lighting. That strip tapers off to the left about halfway up, giving the controller’s aesthetic a stylish uneven split.

I don’t particularly care for the Thrustmaster and ‘H.E.A.R.T.’ (which stands for Hall Effect AccuRate Technology) logos plastered onto either side of the controller, but they don’t overpower the overall design here. The controller is then accentuated with some lovely textured grips that offer a comfortable fit in your hands. That said, the Heart is an extremely light controller, which lends it a hollow feel.

Otherwise, you’re getting a fairly standard Xbox Wireless Controller-esque layout with some key differences. Flanking the Menu and Share buttons are two unique buttons. One of these is a multifunction button used to switch profiles and adjust LED color and brightness. The other is a mapping button used to assign the two rear remappable buttons. The bottom of the controller has a 3.5mm headphone jack and a mic mute button which is a welcome addition.

The Thrustmaster Heart lacks any on-board trigger lock settings. However, trigger travel time as well as stick sensitivity can be adjusted in the ThrustmapperX software which can be downloaded for free on PC and Xbox consoles. You can also set individual profiles here which you can swap between with that aforementioned profile button.

Thrustmaster Heart: performance

Overall pin-sharp responsiveness
D-pad, face buttons, and sticks all feel fantastic
Triggers are a letdown with a bit of a spongy feel

While I’ve had some issues with the Thrustmaster Heart’s feature set and price point, few such frustrations exist with its overall performance. Thrustmaster has nailed what it sets out to do here, offering a sublime play experience with some of the best feeling Hall effect thumbsticks in the business. The amount of concavity on each stick feels just right, and there’s not even a pinch of stiffness to be found. If you’re looking for a controller with immensely precise stick movement, then the Thrustmaster Heart is it.

That same high level of quality applies to the mechanical buttons and satisfyingly tactile d-pad. The latter is quite simple in its design, but extremely effective thanks to its clicky and speedy feedback. The buttons and bumpers are similar here, with lightning-quick travel time that again will be a boon to players after utmost precision.

It’s a slight shame that the triggers are the weakest aspect of the performance package. They’re fully analog which isn’t a problem in and of itself. It’s more in how they feel - in this case, they’re a touch on the loose side, lacking that feeling of precision shared by other elements of the play experience. I think the lack of trigger locks (especially at this price) compounds this issue; it would’ve been great to have them for the option to switch to instant, digital trigger input which also would offset that overly spongy feel.

It’s also a shame that there’s no option for wireless connectivity with the Thrustmaster Heart. Like the Thrustmaster eSwap X2 - an otherwise excellent controller - the Heart is strictly wired via USB Type-C connectivity. Obviously, this is in line with the objective of peak responsiveness, but when even cheap pads like the 8BitDo Ultimate C Bluetooth controller are offering wireless connectivity for less, I don’t see any real reason why Thrustmaster can’t either.

Should you buy the Thrustmaster Heart controller?

Buy it if...

You’re a multiplayer gamer after peak performance
It’s a joy to play online with the Thrustmaster Heart thanks to its high responsiveness and lightning-fast actuation. Titles like Fortnite, Apex Legends, and PUBG Battlegrounds really shine with the Heart because of this.View Deal

You enjoy tactile button feedback
The Thrustmaster Heart’s d-pad and buttons simply feel excellent to press due to their mechanical nature, offering satisfyingly clicky and responsive feedback that’s seriously tough to beat.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You’re on a budget
The Thrustmaster Heart is very expensive for what you’re getting. It provides a great play experience, but its lack of features and no wireless connectivity hurt its value proposition.View Deal

You like controllers with lots of extra features
If you enjoy features like trigger locks, multiple remappable buttons, and so on, then you’ll want to look elsewhere. Even cheaper gamepads like the GameSir Tarantula Pro seriously excel in this regard. The Heart also lacks the modular design of the eSwap range, so I’d consider that one if you’re after something more customizable.View Deal

Also consider...

If the Thrustmaster Heart isn’t quite what you’re looking for, you should also consider these other two excellent controller options.

GameSir Tarantula Pro
With a symmetrical thumbstick layout, Hall effect, tons of remappable buttons, great build quality, and a nifty button layout-switch feature, the Tarantula Pro is the full PC controller package. And it’s cheaper than the Thrustmaster Heart.

Read our full GameSir Tarantula Pro reviewView Deal

Thrustmaster eSwap X2
Thrustmaster’s premium modular controller is absolutely fantastic, and superbly accessible thanks to its swappable module layout. It is pricey, but a brilliant option for those who like to tinker with their overall controller layout in an accessible manner while retaining premium features.

Read our full Thrustmaster eSwap X2 reviewView Deal

How I tested the Thrustmaster Heart

Tested for one week
Platforms tested: Xbox Series X, PC
Played a mixture of single-player and multiplayer titles

I tested the Thrustmaster Heart controller over the course of a week across Xbox Series X and PC. On console, I played a wide variety of multiplayer games including Fortnite and PUBG Battlegrounds, finding that the controller’s pinpoint responsiveness is a perfect fit for intense multiplayer environments. Over on PC, I extensively played games like Final Fantasy 14 Online, Slitterhead, and Ys Origin to get a feel for the controller’s sublime Hall effect sticks.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed November 2024

PowerA OPS v1 review: a cheaper v3 Pro alternative that gets the job done

4:56 pm | September 27, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Final Fantasy, PC, UK, US | Comments: Off

PowerA OPS v1: One-minute review

The PowerA OPS v1 is a wireless PC controller that's also compatible with mobile devices and cloud gaming services. Being a cheaper alternative to the PowerA OPS v3 Pro, it understandably misses out on some of that controller's standout features. Those include Lumectra RGB lighting, 'quick-twist' thumbsticks and the remappable bumper buttons.

That said, the OPS v1 is still a decent option if you're on a budget. Drift-resistant Hall effect thumbsticks are present here, as well as four remappable buttons on the rear which can be programmed on the controller itself with a dedicated button. You're also getting a Turbo button function and support for 2.4Ghz, Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity.

One particularly impressive aspect of the OPS v1 is that the textured grips on this controller actually feel nicer than on the OPS v3 Pro. On the more expensive gamepad, I found the textured grips to be a touch too rough over longer play sessions. Here, they are unintrusive and provide the perfect amount of grip for comfortable sessions of any length.

The controller itself - and its various buttons, bumpers and triggers - do feel quite cheap overall with some rather flimsy-feeling plastic being used. It's not horrendous by any means, but certainly a downgrade when compared to the v3 Pro and many of the best PC controllers out there today.

PowerA OPS v1: Price and availability

$49.99 / £49.99 for the standard model
Special Fortnite edition for $54.99 / £54.99
Available at PowerA in the US and Amazon in the UK

The PowerA OPS v1 launched in August 2024, and is available to purchase for $49.99 / £49.99. It's available at PowerA's own website in the US, but those in the UK will need to rely on retailers like Amazon to secure the bag there. A Fortnite edition is also available (pictured throughout the review) which features a distinct livery. This one comes in slightly pricier at $54.99 / £54.99.

This is significantly cheaper than the PowerA OPS v3 Pro which costs $99.99 / £99.99 and is a solid alternative at half the price. As mentioned, the lower price point does mean that the OPS v1 is pared back when it comes to features, so you may wish to keep that in mind when comparing the two models.

Admittedly, at this price point, the OPS v1 has some very stiff competition in the form of the GameSir T4 Kaleid which goes for $41.99 / £41.99. You are losing out on wireless connectivity with GameSir's pad, but it's more than made up for in excellent build quality, superb micro switch buttons, and a lovely RGB profile.

PowerA OPS v1: Specs

PowerA OPS v1: Design and features

Cheap-feeling build
Textured grips are preferable compared to the OPS v3 Pro
Rather plain, all-black aesthetic

As a more budget-friendly controller, you can expect the PowerA OPS v1 to be slightly pared back in terms of design and feature set, especially compared to the OPS v3 Pro. Firstly, build quality on the OPS v1 is lacking in comparison, with a cheaper plastic presumably to keep the gamepad's costs down.

Much like with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, I'm also not a fan of the plain, all-black aesthetic for the OPS v1's standard model. The special edition Fortnite version is certainly more eye-catching, though, and is the model I'd recommend going with if you're willing to spend 5 bucks extra (and, naturally, if you're a fan of the free-to-play shooter).

One aspect of the OPS v1's design I do really like is the texture on the rear of the grips themselves, and on the bumpers and triggers. The textured grips on the OPS v3 Pro were a little too rough for my liking. Here, though, they're a comparatively light touch and actually feel far more comfortable as a result. The added texture on the bumpers and triggers is also a really nice touch.

As for features, the OPS v1 shows up with the Hall effect thumbsticks that are swiftly becoming the standard for third-party controllers. It's now quite rare that I test a controller that lacks Hall effect, but it is great to see more affordable gamepads adopt the technology. Sony and Nintendo, please take notes.

The OPS v1 also shares some features with its pricier counterpart. You're still getting four remappable buttons on the rear of the pad, as well as three-stage trigger locks and three types of connectivity (2.4GHz, Bluetooth and wired via USB-C). The box includes a USB-C cable, too. But unlike the v3 Pro, there's sadly no charging dock bundled with the OPS v1.

PowerA OPS v1: Performance

Perfectly responsive during wireless play
A decent 20 hours of battery life
Like the OPS v3 Pro, trigger locks don't work great

There's really not much to complain about when it comes to the PowerA OPS v1's performance while actually gaming. I tested games across a wide variety of genres in my Steam library, including Street Fighter 6, Final Fantasy 14 Online, Cyberpunk 2077 and Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance. All that is to say the OPS v1 is a perfectly adequate controller no matter what kind of single-player games you're into.

A 2.4GHz wireless adapter is included in the box, offering 500Hz polling rate which is solidly responsive for wireless play. I'd still recommend going wired if you're interested in playing the best fighting games or the best FPS games for peak responsiveness, but you can't go wrong either way here.

Unfortunately, as was the case with the v3 Pro, the OPS v1's trigger locks are hit-and-miss. When unlocked, or set to lock halfway, the triggers work perfectly fine. However, I found that the highest notch simply didn't work for any of the games I tested. That's a huge shame as it's a feature that's always nice to see on cheaper gamepads.

As for battery life, you're getting around 20 hours here according to the manufacturer. I did find this to be accurate during my time testing the controller, as I did have to charge up from empty after around a week of play that consisted of 2-3 hour sessions each day. Expect the OPS v1 to take a few hours to charge back to full, too, when hooked up via USB-C. For optimum efficiency here, I'd recommend charging with the cable included and potentially leaving it hooked up overnight so you don't have to wait.

Should I buy the PowerA OPS v1?

Buy it if...

You’re looking for a solid and affordable PC controller
Coming in below the $50 / £50 mark, the PowerA OPS v1 offers good value and a decent feature set given its price tag.

You’re after a versatile and customizable PC controller
With Hall effect sticks, remappable buttons and trigger locks, there's plenty of options for customization on the OPS v1.

Don't buy it if...

You're hoping for better build quality
The PowerA OPS v1 sadly falters in the build quality department, with cheap-feeling plastic for its casing, buttons, and triggers.

Also consider...

If the PowerA OPS v1 misses the mark for you, we’ve got a couple of other suggestions that we’ve tested and reviewed for your consideration below.

PowerA OPS v3 Pro
This smartly-priced Pro controller locks in with Hall effect sticks and gorgeous Lumectra RGB lighting, making it worth checking out at the sub-$100 / £100 price tag. There are some design frustrations here, but it's still a very capable gamepad.

For more information, read our full PowerA OPS v3 Pro review.

GameSir T4 Kaleid
This is still my favorite budget-priced PC controller that's also compatible with Nintendo Switch. It's wired only, but comes in slightly cheaper than the OPS v1 and offers excellent build quality, sublime micro switch buttons and a lovely RGB profile.

For more information, read our full GameSir T4 Kaleid controller review.

How I tested the PowerA OPS v1

Tested for one week, 2-3 hour sessions each day
Played primarily on PC across a wide variety of games
Compared and contrasted to the pricier PowerA OPS v3 Pro

I tested the PowerA OPS v1 over the course of about a week, tackling 2-3 hour gaming sessions each day. During my time with the gamepad, I found I only needed to charge it up once. That total time lasted around 20 hours, lining up with PowerA's battery life claim.

I made sure to test a wide variety of games on PC, including Cyberpunk 2077, Fields of Mistria, Vampire Survivors, Street Fighter 6 and Final Fantasy 14 Online. This is a mix of my go-to games and some I determined to be a great fit for the budget OPS v1.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed September 2024

« Previous Page — Next Page »