Blasphemous 2 is poetically bloody and tragically beautiful, from the angelic scenery and golden light at the highest points of the Crown of Towers down to the hidden caverns found in the tangled and thorny groves of Repose of the Silent One. You’ll encounter twisted creatures around every corner of the classic Metroidvania, but even if they have skin dripping from their face, the environment is so beautiful that you’ll hardly notice. 

You play as The Penitent One forced awake from a deathly slumber to prevent the birth of a new prophetic miracle child destined to send the land back into an endless cycle of agony through its blessings and curses. The task is simple - hack, slash, and dodge your way through endless monstrosities plagued by the Miracle within a hidden map and finally live long enough to cast judgment on all who stand in your way. 

Even at its darkest moments, there’s always light to be found in this Metroidvania. Even when you’ve spent an hour trying to beat a boss with no success, whittling it down to its final hit point before succumbing to a fiery death yourself, it’ll all be worth it once you’ve finally secured the win with a gory finishing kill that’ll flood the screen with blood red shadows. There’s frustration, anger, and a lot of death embedded into Blasphemous 2’s DNA, but at the end of these classic Souls-like struggles, you’ll always be rewarded for your troubles. 

Tough love 

Blasphemous 2 beat me down until I was a mere shell of my self. I can’t say that many games have aggravated me to the point of lifelessly staring out my window just to calm myself down. However, even at its most frustrating moments, I never wanted to stop playing. 

After an hour of screaming, pleading, and bargaining with the pixels on my TV, I was still unable to beat the first boss tasked with protecting the Holy City and the Miracle. The fight took place in the lofty golden halls of the Crown of Towers. The once ornate halls had now been painted red with lashings of my blood as I began the fight yet again. 

I’ve never been known for my focus; as someone easily distracted, this boss fight pushed me to the edge. First tasked with fighting the fiery behemoth, you soon find out that he is not alone. Once you have depleted his health, a smaller, even more dangerous enemy jumps out from the boss’s weapon to begin yet another fight. If you manage to best this tricky creature, you’ll be forced to fight both of these bosses simultaneously. The attention to detail, focus, and pattern recognition needed here are second to none, with Blasphemous 2 punishing you for even the slightest misstep. Despite this fight dragging me to new lows, the feeling of finally mastering each step and standing on the corpse of this once-deadly boss gave me enough energy to forge further ahead on my sorrowful pilgrimage. 

If you’re a fan of challenging and methodical fights, then Blasphemous 2 will be a treat. While the bosses are definitely the main attraction with intricate set-pieces, even many common or regular enemies can send you to an early grave. You may get frustrated at the difficulty, but just as long as you act logically and don’t get too greedy for an extra hit, and keep learning as you go, you’ll fly through the levels. 

Poetry to my ears 

While the combat is excellent, it’s not the only draw in this Metroidvania. The script, story, and music complete and brilliantly round off what is already a very polished game. 

Souls-likes can sometimes fall victim to their own stereotypes as developers prioritize difficulty and combat over other features. While enemies are often wonderfully made, elements like story and setting can fall by the wayside in smaller titles. Luckily, Blasphemous 2 brilliantly executes its other elements as well.  

You’re immediately introduced to the poetic realm of this prophetic game as the oracle, in all her beauty, descends from the heavens to direct you on your path of penitence. While the script can be confusing at times, as the words are by no means simple and you can get slightly lost, most of the time, it doesn’t matter as the overarching story is clear. So just sit back, relax, and enjoy one of the most poetically stunning scripts I’ve experienced of late. 

Blasphemous 2 expertly builds off the first game's story but isn’t so dependent on it that new players will be confused. While I’d recommend playing the first game for context and to gather a wider knowledge of the deeply interesting lore and story behind this Metroidvania, it isn’t necessary. 

If you’ve been interested in Souls-likes or Metroidvanias but have been hesitant to jump into these, sometimes confusingly complicated, games, then Blasphemous 2 will answer your prayers as it’s a brilliant first stepping stone into both genres. The script, setting, and music will lift your spirits even when every enemy is crushing them, and as long as you remember not to be overly greedy with attacks and face every obstacle logically, you won’t get too stuck in this Souls-like. 

Accessibility 

Unfortunately, Blasphemous 2 has very minimal accessibility settings. These are limited to vibration and screen shake being turned on or off. While there’s not a lot of scope for more settings to be put in place, it would have been nice to have seen more visual or audio tools, even if this was simply changing the size of the subtitles. 

How we reviewed 

I played 15 hours of Blasphemous 2 to completion. While that doesn’t mean I’ve got all the items that you can find scattered around the map in chests, I have managed to defeat all of the Metroidvania’s main bosses (barely). 

Playing on the PS5 was a delight; I encountered no bugs, and the sound and visual quality were spectacular. It was a delight to play, even in its more trying moments. 

If you’re a fan of Souls-like games, then check out these brilliantly difficult titles for even more gut-wrenching fights, or take a look at our preview for Lords of the Fallen for something slightly easier. 

One-minute review

The Bot by SwitchBot is a matchbox-sized device with a robotic arm that moves up and down when triggered by a smartphone app or voice assistant. This means the little robot can press the buttons of devices and household appliances that wouldn't usually be "smart" or remotely controlled – including light switches.

Stick the Bot to the switch and, with a fair bit of trial-and-error, the motorized arm will push down the switch and pull it back up again. It does this using an attachment that sticks to the switch and hooks around the arm, making this an effective retrofit alternative to the best smart switches. The SwitchBot app can then be used to control the Bot and set schedules for when it activates.

It also works with Alexa Google Assistant, Apple HomeKit, and IFTTT for further smart home integration and automation (when connected to the SwitchBot Hub, sold separately), and has a claimed battery life of 600 days.

Working out exactly how to use the SwitchBot Bot can take some time, and it isn't immediately obvious how it operates standard UK light switches in both directions. But with a bit of experimentation, the Bot works exactly as intended. As well as light switches, it can be attached to heaters, fans and air-conditioning units, coffee machines, and anything else that's operated with a simple, physical switch.

The Bot certainly won't be the most attractive device in your smart home system, and it stands out considerably when stuck to a light switch. However, if you value functionality over aesthetics, it's a reliable, versatile and relatively affordable way to make dumb devices smart.

SwitchBot Bot smart light switch: Specifications

SwitchBot Bot smart light switch review: Price and availability

The SwitchBot Bot is available directly from SwitchBot or at Amazon in the UK and US for $29.99 / £29.99, as well as from some third-party retailers in Australia for roughly AU$44.40. 

IN the box you'll find two adhesive pads and plastic hooks for operating light switches, as well as the switch itself.

SwitchBot Bot smart light switch review: Design

• Matchbox-sized
• Small robotic arm requires careful positioning
• Spare plastic hoops and adhesive pads included

Around the size of a small matchbox, the Bot by SwitchBot is a gadget with a moving robotic arm. Protruding only slightly from the box itself, this arm is used to press the button of a light switch, air conditioning unit, heater, kettle, or just about anything to which the Bot can be attached.

As well as pushing buttons, the robotic arm can pull as well. This isn't necessary in all cases, but for rocker-style light switches it means the Bot can push and pull the switch, turning it on and off. The Bot comes with a couple of strong but thin, plastic wire hooks, which loop around the arm and stick with an integrated adhesive pad to the light switch you want to control. The arm can then turn the light on with a push and switch it off with a pull.

The Bot measures 43 x 37 x 24mm, making it fairly small, However, it still stands out quite significantly when fitted to a conventional light switch. A such, it might not be suitable for smart home builders who really value the aesthetics of their interior. The design also means it can't operate dimmer switches or toggle-style light switches. The Bot is powered by a replaceable CR2 battery.

SwitchBot Bot smart light switch review: performance

•  Fiddly setup process
•  Responds quickly to commands
•  Lots of versatility (if you put in the effort)

The SwitchBot Bot isn’t the simplest smart home product to set up, owing to a smartphone app that isn’t quite as slick as those of more mature rivals. That said, the SwitchBot encourages buyers to think outside the box. Instead of simply working as a smart light switch, the SwitchBot brings smartphone control to almost anything, so long as the robot’s little arm can press the button or switch you want to operate.

I used the SwitchBot on a conventional light switch, but it could also be used to press the power button on the back of an iMac, for example, or to fire up a kettle. The main unit attaches to any flat surface with an adhesive strip on its back, and the robotic arm then moves to press any button or switch within reach.

If you want the arm to pull when moving in the opposite direction – to operate a rocker switch in reverse, for example – then you’ll need to also attach the included secondary panel, which hooks onto the arm with a short loop of strong plastic wire.

The result is a robotic arm that can push with one motion, then pull when returning to its starting point.

As mentioned, it isn't a particularly attractive little gadget; but a bland and bulky aesthetic is the price you pay for the huge versatility on offer here.

It also takes a little while to understand the limitations of the SwitchBot. Initially, I thought it was incompatible with my conventional, UK rocker-style light switches, but soon realized it’s designed to push the switch on, in the normal way, then pull it to turn it off, instead of pressing the other half of the rocker.

The SwitchBot Bot is controlled via a Bluetooth connection to the SwitchBot smartphone app. The Bot can also be controlled over Wi–Fi, and therefore from outside of Bluetooth range. However, that requires the SwitchBot Hub Mini, which costs $39 / £35. Adding a hub also enables support for Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Shortcuts, IFTTT, and SmartThings.

The setup process takes time – and often a bit of creativity, too – but once everything is as you want it, the little robot can flick a switch or press a button with a tap of your phone, or with a user-defined schedule. The motor seems strong enough, but I wonder if the included adhesive pads might eventually lose their stick, especially on a Bot operated several times every day. Thankfully, a spare pad and plastic hook are included in the box.

SwitchBot Bot smart switch review: Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

SwitchBot Bot smart switch review: Also consider

If you want to add more smart lighting to your home, here are a couple of options to consider...

SwitchBot Bot smart switch review: How I tested

• I set up the bot and optional hub
• It was used on a bedroom light switch

I used the SwitchBot Bot with a conventional light switch on my bedroom wall. I attached the Bot so that it could control the switch in both directions (on and off), and also set up the optional SwitchBot Hub. Although not included in this review, the hub is required for voice control and to operate the Bot when away from home.

First reviewed August 2023

Read more about how we test

Two-minute review

Beginner drones are improving all the time, with less expensive models slowly beginning to enjoy more advanced features previously only seen in higher-end models. The Holy Stone HS720R is the first Holy Stone model to feature a 3-axis mechanical gimbal that works alongside Electronic Image Stabilisation to produce smoother video, making it the best Holy Stone drone to date.

The inescapable reality for companies in the drone world like Holy Stone, however, is that DJI reigns supreme, and offers some incredibly stiff competition. Even at this beginner level, the inexpensive Mini 2 SE that was launched earlier this year as DJI’s most basic drone, and costs just $339 / £309 / AU$599 for the basic kit with one battery, is less expensive than the HS720R. Then there's models such as the DJI Mini 3, which is one of the best beginner drones available, albeit much more expensive. 

The HS720R costs $360 / £350 and is available from Amazon in the United States and United Kingdom, while an Australia release is TBC. The kit includes the drone, a controller, one battery, a USB-C charging cable, a set of spare propellers, a screwdriver for changing propellers and a carry case, so everything you need to get started. But with this increased cost over the DJI Mini 2 SE, the only advantage the HS720R holds is the ability to shoot 4K video as opposed to 2.7K which the Mini 2 SE is capable of capturing.

The HS720R features a folding design, like most consumer drones these days, that takes the drone from a petite 6.6x3.9x2.8 in / 168x99x71 mm when folded to 12x9.3x2.8 in / 305x238x71 mm when it’s unfolded for flight. It also comes in at a weight of 13.72oz / 389g, so despite being a compact and reasonably lightweight model it, unfortunately, sits just outside of the regulator sub-249 g category.

Build quality is pretty good overall, but the HS720R certainly doesn’t ooze high quality, which is to be expected for the price. Having said that, the Mini 2 SE does enjoy the build quality and reliability we’ve come to enjoy with DJI drones and for a slightly lower price. I guess the main point here is that the DJI Mini 2 SE is the better model in most areas and less expensive, but the HS720R does provide an alternative option if you’d prefer not to use a DJI drone.

Battery life from the 2,950mAh LiPo battery is advertised as enabling a flight time of 26 minutes. Testing in summer weather, I was able to push a full battery to just under 24 minutes – a solid performance – at which point the drone landed thanks to auto Return to Home. When the battery level reaches 30-40%, altitude is limited to 120m, while distance is limited to 300m to ensure the drone can return to home, and to be fair this limitation doesn’t cause any issues when capturing photos and videos. Battery charging time is around five hours via USB-C, which is on the slow side, so buying additional batteries is essential.

In flight, the HS720R performs fairly well but lacks the finesse of more expensive drones. Controls are generally responsive and accurate, although there can sometimes be a lag between control input and drone movements when the drone is being flown at longer distances within legal limits. It also tends to drift a little when hovering, despite using GPS positioning, so with no collision avoidance, you have to take care when flying and hovering close to obstacles. In controlled flight, however, drifting isn’t an issue.

GPS positioning is an extremely useful feature, despite its imperfection with the HS720R, and with it comes Return to Home functionality (RTH) where the drone returns to the take-off location in certain situations and is useful for beginners and experienced drone pilots alike. Return to home can be activated manually by pressing the RTH button on the controller, when the transmitter loses signal with the drone for more than six seconds, or when the battery is low.

Other features include three flight speeds, Follow Me (subject tracking), Waypoint and Timelapse. These all work but as you’d expect, they’re not as refined, reliable or effective as more expensive drones. The timelapse feature does work well and is easy to set up with control over several variables, but it appears that timelapses captured by the HS720R are sped-up videos rather than a series of photos that have been converted to video. The results of both approaches look similar, if not identical, but for more control I'd like the ability to change the frequency that shots taken in.

Holy Stone HS720R video sample

The video above is 4K 30fps

Most people buy drones for their ability to capture aerial photos and videos, so the camera is an important feature. The image quality produced by the HS720R is OK for absolute beginners, but like other Holy Stone models, it’s not the drone’s strongest point. The camera offers a wide 130-degree field of view, but the gimbal only pitches between 0 to 70-degrees so it can’t face straight down at the ground. Strong barrel distortion also presents itself the more the camera it’s pitched downwards, while chromatic aberration (color fringing) can be seen along high-contrast subject edges at all gimbal pitches.

Video quality appears to be slightly better than photo quality, which is common with cheaper beginner drones. Photos are captured in JPEG format in 4K dimensions, which translates to 8.2MP images. Videos can be captured in 4K at 30fps and FHD (1080P) at 60fps, and the 3-axis gimbal – alongside Electronic Image Stabilisation – does indeed produce smooth video footage during flights.

Holy Stone HS720R photo samples

Camera control is extremely limited and it’s safe to say that the HS720R is a point-and-shoot drone only, limited to manual control over Brightness, Saturation, ISO and White Balance. There are also three creative effects – Grayscale, Bright and Nostalgic that can be applied – but in most situations, it’s best to shoot in standard colour and make adjustments to photos and videos in post-production to provide greater flexibility.

Should I buy the Holy Stone HS720R?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How I tested the Holy Stone HS720R

The Holy Stone HS720R was tested over several days of flying in a range of locations, environments and weather conditions (excluding rain) to test flight performance, flight features, overall handling and image quality for both photo and video capture. All testing is conducted in a way that meets local aviation laws and restrictions to ensure that all flights are safe and legal.

Drones are always tested using manual flight patterns for video that are typical of professional aerial video capture to shoot visually interesting footage. This also provides the opportunity to test aspects such as the connection between the drone and controller, latency between the two and the accuracy of the controls and flight in general.

With nearly 30 years of photographic experience and 15 years working as a photography journalist, I’ve been covering drones in terms of shooting and editing techniques, alongside writing drone reviews for many years. As well as flying most consumer and prosumer models, I’ve previously held a PfCO (Permission for Commercial Operations) issued by the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK, and now fly under an A2 CofC (A2 Certificate of Competency).

First reviewed August 2023

Adobe Document Cloud, equipped with the industry's leading PDF and electronic signature solutions, can transform manual document processes into efficient digital workflows. It can swiftly handle documents, workflows, and tasks seamlessly across various screens and devices, regardless of location or time, and within your preferred Microsoft and enterprise applications. 

You can access your PDFs from anywhere and effortlessly share them with anyone. Utilizing Acrobat Pro DC, you can conveniently review reports on your phone, edit proposals on your tablet, and provide feedback on presentations through your browser. Adobe Sign adds all-digital signature workflows, making it fast and effortless for anyone to create, route, and obtain legally binding agreements. 

We think Adobe Document Cloud is one of the best document management software solutions. Read on to find out why.

Adobe Document Cloud: Plans and pricing

Adobe Document Cloud offers flexible pricing plans, with a free trial of the Adobe Document Cloud. Plans start from $19.99 per month and offer comprehensive tools for document management, including all PDF options and esigning. 

Adobe Document Cloud: Features and utilities

Adobe Document Cloud provides a comprehensive suite of tools easily manage your document management processes. These include Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, Acrobat Sign, and Document Cloud apps and services. This means you can create, edit, sign, and manage PDF files with ease. The cloud-based infrastructure ensures seamless synchronization and collaboration, allowing you and your team to work together in real-time, no matter where you are. 

With Adobe's electronic signature solution, businesses can securely sign documents digitally, eliminating the need for physical paperwork. This feature not only saves time but also ensures the integrity and legality of agreements.

The audit trail feature provides a detailed record of all document activities, including who accessed, viewed, and modified the file. This allows businesses to track and monitor the progress of documents, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Adobe Document Cloud also enables users to set automatic reminders for document deadlines or pending actions. This feature helps businesses stay organized and ensures that important tasks are not overlooked or delayed.

To help with workflows, businesses can create and save customized templates for frequently used documents, such as contracts or forms. This streamlines the document creation process and maintains consistency across various departments or teams.

With document analytics, businesses can gain insights into how recipients interact with their documents. This feature provides valuable data on document engagement, allowing companies to optimize their workflows and improve collaboration.

Adobe Document Cloud enables businesses to track the progress of tasks associated with a document. This feature helps teams stay on top of their assignments, monitor deadlines, and ensure that projects are completed in a timely manner.

Adobe Document Cloud facilitates collaboration among team members by allowing real-time synchronization and sharing of documents. With the cloud-based nature of the software, all changes and updates made to files are instantly reflected across the entire team, ensuring everyone is on the same page. This eliminates the hassle of version control issues and enables teams to work together more effectively, regardless of their physical location.

Adobe Document Cloud: Setup

Adobe Document Cloud boasts a user-friendly interface that is intuitive and easy to navigate. The familiar design, akin to popular cloud storage platforms, ensures a smooth onboarding experience for users. Setting up Adobe Document Cloud is a quick and easy process. 

To get started visit the official Adobe Document Cloud website using a web browser. Then sign up for an Adobe ID by clicking on the "Sign In" button and selecting "Get an Adobe ID." Fill in the required information to create your Adobe ID.

Choose the Document Cloud plan that suits your needs from the available options. Review the plans and click on "Buy Now" or "Start free trial" to proceed.

If you opt for a paid plan, securely provide your payment information following the on-screen instructions. Download Adobe Acrobat DC, a powerful PDF editing and management software tightly integrated with Adobe Document Cloud. After purchase or free trial signup, access the Adobe Acrobat DC download page and click on the provided link to download the software and install Adobe Acrobat DC by running the installer file you downloaded. Follow the on-screen instructions, accepting the license agreement when prompted.

Launch Adobe Acrobat DC on your computer and enter your Adobe ID credentials to access Adobe Document Cloud.

Adobe Document Cloud: Ease of use

Adobe Document Cloud is known for its user-friendly design. Whether you're using Adobe Acrobat DC or Adobe Sign, the interfaces are intuitive and easy to navigate. Adobe Acrobat DC offers a standard toolset for efficient editing, scanning, and document creation, while Adobe Sign provides various e-signature solutions and automatic functions. The straightforward design ensures a smooth and trouble-free PDF handling experience.

Adobe Document Cloud: Security

Documents are encrypted both at rest and during transmission, preventing unauthorized access and interception of data. Adobe utilizes secure data centers with robust physical security measures, safeguarding the infrastructure and servers where user data is stored.

Strict access control mechanisms, including role-based access and strong authentication, ensure that only authorized individuals can access user data. Regular monitoring and auditing of access logs further enhance security.

Users can set document permissions, control viewing, editing, and downloading rights, and revoke access as needed. 

Privacy principles like data minimization, purpose limitation, and transparency are followed in data processing practices. User data ownership is respected, ensuring that Adobe does not utilize document content for advertising or other purposes without user consent.

Adobe Document Cloud: Support

You can access online support documentation, visit user forums for discussions and tips, or utilize 24/7 live chat support for immediate assistance. Phone support is also available during business hours. 

Adobe Document Cloud provides customer support for different types of customers, including businesses, and enterprise-level organizations:

Business customers can contact Adobe Customer Support directly for assistance with Adobe Document Cloud products. Support options include phone support, chat support, and email support. Adobe provides specific contact information for business customers based on their region and subscription plan. Business customers with an Adobe Admin Console account can access additional support resources, manage user accounts, and troubleshoot issues specific to their organization.

Enterprise customers receive dedicated support through Adobe Enterprise Support services. This includes a designated support team, prioritized response times, and access to specialized resources for enterprise-level deployments. Enterprise customers can leverage the Adobe Admin Console, which provides advanced management and support capabilities, including user provisioning, license management, and support case management.

In addition to these support options, Adobe also offers a comprehensive knowledge base, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and user forums to help customers find answers to common queries.

Adobe Document Cloud: Competitors

Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) primarily offers a suite of collaborative tools such as Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, along with communication and productivity features. On the other hand, Adobe Document Cloud is centered around document management and collaboration, providing features for creating, editing, signing, and sharing PDF documents, along with integration with Adobe Acrobat and other Adobe tools.

DocuSign and Adobe Document Cloud are both digital document management solutions, but they have different areas of emphasis. DocuSign specializes in electronic signature functionality, offering a secure and legally binding way to sign documents electronically. Adobe Document Cloud, on the other hand, provides a comprehensive suite of document management features, including creating, editing, signing, and sharing PDF documents.

Dropbox for Business and Adobe Document Cloud have different focuses and features. Dropbox is primarily a file storage and sharing platform that allows users to store and collaborate on various file types, including documents. Adobe Document Cloud, on the other hand, is specifically tailored for managing and working with PDF documents. Adobe Document Cloud is more specialized for document-centric workflows, while Dropbox provides a broader file storage and sharing solution. 

Adobe Document Cloud: Final verdict

Adobe Document Cloud is a top-notch software package for efficient document management and PDF handling. Although some users may experience a steep learning curve, Adobe Document Cloud with its extensive features, customizable pricing plans, user-friendly design, and robust security measures, it is a valuable tool for businesses of all sizes. 

Whether you're an office administrator, a human resource manager, or an individual dealing with PDF files, Adobe Document Cloud offers a convenient and effective solution to enhance your productivity and streamline your workflows.

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