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Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedals review: a serviceable racing sim package, but one that’s priced too high

7:00 pm | April 7, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Forza Motorsport | Comments: Off

While Turtle Beach excels in and is famous for its prowess in the audio department, the brand also has numerous controllers on offer - and now they've expanded into the racing simulation market. Branded as the VelocityOne series of equipment, their flightdeck, flightstick, rudder, and control system are now joined by a racing wheel and pedals fit for any and all modern racing games on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.

However, $650 / £630 (about AU$950) is a hefty price tag when you consider other options such as the more reasonably priced Logitech G920/3, or the astoundingly expensive - but widely considered to be the best racing wheel on the market - Logitech G Pro.

I've spent a while putting the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedals through its paces in a variety of games, from F1 23 to EA WRC and Euro Truck Simulator 2 to find out if the peripheral brand is onto a pole position, or whether it's the black-and-white flag for their first outing.

Design & features

The racing wheel of the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedal set — (Image credit: Future/Ford James)

The VelocityOne Race features a D-shaped wheel with six face buttons, a directional stick for menu navigation, four dials, two buttons on the back, and four paddles. Turtle Beach hasn't tried to reinvent the wheel here, nor did they need to. The innovation comes in the form of the wheelbase, which is essentially a screen used for the ‘Race Management Display’ (RMD).

During setup and outside of races, this is an ingenious way to allow the user to tweak wheel and pedal settings without having to use an extra program on PC. On Xbox Series X, Series S, or Xbox One, it gives players an added level of customization you wouldn't find otherwise, as you can adjust sensitivity settings, button mappings, and the like, most of which are usually off-limits to those on console.

When you're racing is when it properly comes alive though, as it displays all manner of race info in supported games, such as your speed, current gear, lap times and delta, tire wear, and more. However, this comes with a big caveat: currently, no games support this functionality on Xbox, and getting it up and running on PC requires the SimHub third-party software.

While it's neat and looks impressive, its functionality is also limited, as your game of choice will likely display all of that information on the heads-up display (HUD), meaning you don’t have to not look away from the screen while hurtling down the track at ridiculous speeds. So, the display is, sadly, more of a gimmick than anything.

Close up of buttons on the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedal set — (Image credit: Future/Ford James)

Speaking of gimmicks, you can attach a button box to the wheelbase that sticks out of the right-hand side. This sports four buttons, four switches, and three dials, along with the engine start and a button to turn the device off, and an extra switch with a red plastic cover to ensure you don't knock it by mistake.

The problem is, outside of the hardcore sim racing games such as iRacing, dials and latched switches aren't ideal for most functions you'd need. Take F1 23, for example; there are far more functions in that game than there are assignable buttons on the VelocityOne because toggleable switches and dials aren't a good match for the game.

The shell of the button box itself also feels quite plasticky and tacky, and while the switches do feel clicky and tactile, it doesn't redeem the cheap quality of the surroundings. This carries over to the fabric and stitching on the wheel, as it feels a little spongy; if you squeeze and rotate it, you can feel it move in your grip. If you isolated the VelocityOne Race wheel and compared it directly to the Logitech G923, the latter has none of these issues and you'd likely assume the Turtle Beach offering is the one at less than half the price of the other.

Onto the pedals and there is one huge design flaw that makes it essentially unusable out of the box for anyone playing at a desk as opposed to a wheel stand or proper sim rig: the USB connector to link it to the wheelbase protrudes directly out of the back of the pedalbase.

This means that you cannot put the pedals against a wall or you'll damage the cable, and putting it against a wall is essential because, despite the inclusion of some sticky pads to place on the bottom of the pedalbase, it slides along the floor when you engage the gas or brake pedals with any force.

To hark back to the Logitech G923 again, the cable here goes under the pedals through a groove and is connected via a port in an indent in the bottom, so this issue doesn't occur. I fixed this problem with the VelocityOne pedals by placing two wooden blocks on either side of the USB, but it feels like something that should have been caught in the product’s design phase.

Performance

The pedals of the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedal set — (Image credit: Future/Ford James)

When it comes to performance, the VelocityOne performs well with only a few minor bugbears present. For example, one tiny frustration is that when you're not in a race, the RMD displays the position of the wheel, and my review model always rests one notch to the left, so it isn't truly straight. This isn't a big deal thanks to the deadzone, but it's noticeable enough to be annoying.

Another issue with the pedals is that the front of the pedalbase isn't weighted anywhere near enough. Again, this won't be as much of a problem for those with a wheel stand or a full rig, but sat in a chair with the pedals below your desk means braking firmly will usually flip the base up, making it impossible to brake or accelerate quickly with any consistency. My solution was to place two 6.6lbs / 3kg dumbbells on either side of the base and avoid knocking them off with my feet.

Perhaps the biggest issue, albeit not one exclusive to the VelocityOne, is the lack of games on PC with native support. However, this product has an alarmingly small number of games supported out of the box, with only two - EA Sports WRC and Forza Motorsport - offering plug-and-play. The official compatibility list confirms every other game requires mapping the controls yourself, and that often doesn't work exactly as it should.

In Euro Truck Simulator 2 for instance, the VelocityOne wouldn't recognize the lower paddles at all. There were also instances in every game where the connection would be lost, forcing an auto-pause, before randomly reconnecting after 10 seconds or so, making it impossible to play using this wheel in any online race in fear of it happening again.

The one thing this wheel has in its favor is the fact it's direct drive, as opposed to gear-driven or belt-driven like the oft-recommended Logitech G923 and other cheaper alternatives. This means the VelocityOne is more responsive and much more akin to driving a real racing car thanks to the torque on offer, but if you're after a direct drive wheel specifically, you can get much better products, such as the Simagic Alpha Mini or one of Moza's many products, a few of which are still cheaper than this.

Should I buy the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race wheel and pedal set?

The VelocityOne is a tough one to fully recommend. While it certainly works (most of the time), this product is unfortunately about double the price it should be - certainly when comparing it to its competitors. Generally, the performance is good, but it's no better than a wheel you can get for half the price, which makes it tough to endorse.

The Race Management Display is cool but is still ultimately a gimmick, and while the fact it sports direct drive may be a selling point to some, it doesn't do enough to compete in my eyes. If you're a beginner looking to dive into simracing for the first time, the Logitech G29 or G923 is a better fit and much easier to point you towards. If you're looking to upgrade from that to direct drive, then you might find better mileage in products such as the Moza R5 or Fanatec GT DD Pro.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Race Wheel and Pedals

I spent around five days using the VelocityOne in a variety of driving games on PC, including F1 23, Euro Truck Simulator 2, EA Sports WRC, and Forza Motorsport. I used it clamped on a desk with the wheels below. I also A-B tested the VelocityOne by returning to my other wheel, the Logitech G923, regularly to compare the two.

One-minute review

The GameSir X2s Type-C is a mobile controller that costs less than half the price of the Backbone One or the Razer Kishi V2. Despite this, it still manages to offer a comfortable gaming experience and plug-and-play compatibility with all major game streaming platforms and a wide selection of native mobile titles including Genshin Impact and Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile.

Its retro Nintendo 2DS-inspired aesthetic is charming and, while the plastic used across its construction feels cheap and hollow, the satisfying clicky buttons and Hall effect thumbsticks and triggers are excellent - and features that you'd normally expect to find on some of the best PC controllers. These controls not only feel great but also perform well no matter what kind of game you’re playing. The adjustable Type-C connector is itself a brilliant innovation, greatly reducing the frustration of trying to cram a phone into a retractable mobile controller. It simultaneously ensures compatibility with most phone cases, removing one of my biggest gripes with the Backbone One.

The lack of a headphone jack might be a deal-breaker if you intend to play with a wired pair of any of the best gaming earbuds, for example, but the GameSir X2s Type-C is otherwise an extremely compelling mobile controller that undercuts the competition with a great value price.

GameSir X2s Type-C — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood / Future)

Price and availability

$45.99 / £49 / AU$69
Cheaper than the competition
Widely available

The GameSir X2s Type-C is readily available via Amazon in the US, UK, and Australia for $45.99 / £49 / AU$69. It can also be purchased directly from the GameSir website, in addition to an official store on AliExpress. Although frequent discounts are available at AliExpress, you will have to contend with longer shipping times if you go with that option.

Even at full price, however, the GameSir X2s Type-C comes in considerably cheaper than its competition - namely, the Backbone One, which costs $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.99, and the Razer Kishi V2, which is $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$169.95. This positions it firmly as a budget alternative to these two controllers and, while it is lesser when it comes to overall build quality, it nevertheless offers excellent value for money.

Specs

Design and features

According to GameSir, the design of the X2s Type-C mobile controller was inspired by the appearance of the Nintendo 2DS. This is evident in the purple hue of its buttons, which are strikingly similar to buttons found on the White and Lavender Nintendo 2DS XL. Despite these surface-level similarities, however, the GameSir X2s Type-C actually shares a lot in common with most other mobile controllers.

Firstly, it features a spring-loaded back, which can be extended to accommodate a phone up to 6.6 in / 168 mm tall. While the extension mechanism operates considerably less smoothly than the one found on the Backbone One, producing quite a rough sound, the controller still fits snugly around most phones and feels very secure once everything is in place. As the name would suggest, the controller connects to your phone through a USB Type-C connector, so is only compatible with the iPhone 15 series or Android devices that feature the port.

On top of the ability to extend the controller, the GameSir X2s Type-C can accommodate an impressive range of phones thanks to the unique moveable nature of its Type-C connector. Unlike the fiddly, static connector of the Backbone One, the connector here can swivel both towards and away from the rest of the controller. This is a fantastic innovation and something that I believe should now become standard across all mobile controllers given just how much it improves the experience.

The added flexibility makes it far easier to attach or remove your phone safely, completely eliminating the risk of damaging your USB-C port or the controller itself if you pull your device away at an angle. It also means that the controller can be used in conjunction with a thin phone case, which is a welcome change. I find that having to remove my case to attach the Backbone One is inconvenient, leaving my phone exposed to potential damage.

Like the Backbone One, the rest of the GameSir X2s Type-C is effectively just two sides of a traditional controller that flanks your phone. There are asymmetrical thumbsticks, a d-pad, a set of face buttons labeled in the Xbox Wireless Controller layout, a screenshot button, a home button, two triggers, and two shoulder buttons. Rather than the conventional ‘Start’ or ‘Select’ though, each side of the controller has either a ‘G’ or ‘S’ button which performs those same functions.

A set of four thumbstick covers is also included in the box. These can be slipped onto the tips of the thumbsticks to give them a slightly larger surface area and a more tactile ribbed finish. Although I didn’t find the need to use them, it still makes for a neat little pack-in bonus.

You can then further customize the feel of the thumbsticks via the GameSir app, which allows you to tweak a range of settings. This includes thumbstick dead zones, trigger actuation depth, or even a toggle to switch to a Joy-Con controller button layout. In addition to a catalog of other GameSir products, there’s a tab containing a handy list of fully compatible mobile titles, with links to the relevant App Store, which could be a great way to source recommendations if you’re wondering what to play.

A Type-C charging port is located on the bottom of the left-hand side of the controller, allowing you to charge your phone while it’s in use. Two small LED lights are present on the right-hand side too, with one illuminating to show when it is connected to a phone and the other indicating whether your phone is charging. Despite ample space, there’s disappointingly no headphone jack to be seen anywhere.

Performance

When I took the GameSir X2s Type-C out of the box, my first impressions were mixed. There’s no avoiding the fact that the plastic used on this controller simply feels cheap in the hands, especially compared to the likes of the Backbone One or Razer Kishi V2. Sure, these are much more expensive controllers, but the hollow-feeling grips of the GameSir X2s Type-C undeniably detract from the experience. Even the rubberized pads that cover the rear of each grip feel cheap, being far too hard to offer any real cushioning. My model also sported quite a few prominent manufacturing seams that tarnish the otherwise clean purple and gray aesthetic.

Still, once you have a phone slotted into place it’s hard to fault the GameSir X2s Type-C in any other areas. Although the thumbsticks are smaller than a standard gamepad, they offer a generous level of motion and feel substantially more precise than the awkward, stubbier set found on the Backbone One. Likewise, the triggers are a very comfortable size and operate responsively. Better still, both the thumbsticks and the triggers make use of Hall effect technology, which should enable them to last considerably longer without developing dead zones or drift.

The micro switch buttons are well-spaced and pleasantly tactile, with engraved lettering like the buttons of the Nintendo 2DS. Similar micro switches are then used in the d-pad, which is a comfortable concave shape. The shoulder buttons are then large, responsive, and produce a very satisfying mechanical click. It’s an excellent set of controls, only further elevated by the fact that every single game I tested worked flawlessly with no tweaking. The native mobile version of Vampire Survivors felt just like I was playing on Nintendo Switch, while my K/D ratio in online Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile matches benefited hugely from the pinpoint accurate thumbsticks and triggers.

This strong performance carried over into game streaming. Jumping into some Far Cry 5 and a fair few matches of Fortnite on Amazon Luna, the controller was instantly recognized by the web app, and the correct controller prompts were automatically displayed. Likewise, Xbox Cloud Gaming via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate was a treat with Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Forza Horizon 5, and a handful of other titles playing wonderfully. If you’re searching for a budget-friendly mobile controller that’s perfect for cloud gaming, few perform better than this.

Should I buy the GameSir X2s Type-C?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

If you’ve got a bit more to spend on a mobile controller, here’s how the GameSir X2s Type-C stacks up against two more premium alternatives.

How I tested the GameSir X2s Type-C

Tested for over 15 hours
Tested with both native mobile titles and game streaming
Compared to other mobile controllers

I used the GameSir X2s Type-C for over 15 hours with a Samsung Galaxy S23+. During that time, I tried a selection of popular native mobile titles including Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, Vampire Survivors, Diablo Immortal, Minecraft, and Genshin Impact. I then used the controller with multiple game streaming services, including Xbox Cloud Streaming and Amazon Luna which I used to explore a wide variety of available games.

As an avid mobile gamer, I also directly compared my experience with the GameSir X2s Type-C with the Backbone One and Razer Kishi V2 in addition to other mobile controllers.

Encore

Combat in Hi-Fi Rush. — (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

At the core of Hi-Fi Rush is its brilliant combat system, which seamlessly blends fast-paced third-person melee action with the careful timing of rhythm games like Hatsune Miku: Project Diva or Guitar Hero. After getting an MP3 player stuck inside his chest, everything around aspiring rock star protagonist Chai is synced perfectly in time with the background music. This includes his own animations like his constant finger clicking and a walk cycle that sees his feet hit the floor just in time with the beat, but also the attack animations of the robotic legions that you face.

You battle through each encounter with a fairly standard mix of light attacks, heavy attacks, parries, and dodges, but everything is elevated by one key detail. Attacks deal significantly more damage and flow seamlessly into powerful combos if you tap the button to trigger them just in time with the rhythm. It takes a little bit of getting used to at first, but almost nothing compares to the feeling of satisfaction when you finally manage to get into the flow and find yourself beating robots senseless perfectly in time to the song.

Best bit

Chai from Hi-Fi Rush — (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

One incredible boss fight towards the end of the game sees you face off against a giant robotic wolf while an electronic rock cover of Beethoven's 5th Symphony blares. It’s an almost transcendental experience and the very first thing that I wanted to replay once I had finished the game.

Mechanics are introduced slowly over the first few stages in an easily digestible format but even if you’re not very experienced when it comes to rhythm games, several well-considered features make it easy to learn the ropes. Most obviously, there’s a large on-screen guide that displays all the upcoming beats and can toggled on or off at any moment with the quick tap of a button. Aside from slightly reduced visibility thanks to its presence on the screen, there’s absolutely no penalty for using this whenever you need it. As each of the 12 stages features a new background song, I found that turning it on for the first few minutes of each one made it much easier to learn the beat.

Chai is also soon joined by a cat-like drone controlled by his companion, Peppermint, which steadily pulses with blue waves at the exact moment you should be hitting your button inputs. There's also the matter of the background scenery, which also interacts with the music. Set in the sprawling production areas of the futuristic robotics company Vandelay, you’re almost always going to have some steam vent, production line, or flashing moving in time with the beat in view. This is not only a practical addition, but just an incredibly impressive visual effect that perfectly complements the stunningly smooth Saturday morning cartoon art style.

Feel the rhythm

In addition to the combat arenas, stages are punctuated by a varied selection of mechanics. There are traversal puzzles which involve jumping between rhythmically moving platforms, sections where you speed along railing dodging incoming hazards, and even a few moments where the camera is pulled to a side-on view for some 2D platforming. If this wasn’t enough, stages boast their own unique aesthetics to help keep things fresh, ranging from shiny high-tech office buildings to underground volcanic construction sites.

Even in the face of all of this, however, a few stages do start to drag. There’s a great degree of variety in the melee and ranged enemies, but an overreliance on basic sword-wielding grunts in the mid-point of the roughly 12-hour campaign leads to a couple of very samey encounters. It doesn't massively detract from the overall experience, but it holds Hi-Fi Rush back from perfection.

There’s also the matter of the story, which is conveyed through a seamless blend of lavish hand-drawn animation and subliminally smooth in-game cutscenes. I personally found the frequent fourth wall breaking, self-referential exchanges between Chai and the supporting cast quite charming and often very amusing, but it definitely won’t be for everyone. It’s not nearly as cringeworthy as dialogue from the likes of Borderlands 3 or Saints Row, but it’s in a similar vein.

Chai wearing a shark outfit. — (Image credit: Bethesda Softworks)

If that’s up your street then there’s plenty to love here and a fair amount of content to keep you playing after the credits have rolled. On top of a range of collectibles, special challenge rooms hidden across the campaign become unlocked on a second playthrough which, once completed, opens up a special area with even more to tackle. There are also additions like the endless arcade challenge mode, which were added to the Xbox and PC versions after launch but are available here right out of the gate.

Some PS5 exclusive features have been implemented with this release, which are fantastic inclusions too. On top of liberal use of the DualSense’s integrated speaker, which accentuates certain actions with punchy sound effects, haptic feedback has been employed to fantastic effect. With detailed vibration for everything from footsteps in cutscenes to song beats in boss battles, it’s a noticeable step up from playing with an Xbox Wireless Controller.

Hi-Fi Rush may have been a late arrival to the PS5 library, but it’s a brilliant experience that is still worth playing more than a year after its original release. With all of the post-launch content of the other versions, plus some PS5 exclusive additions, there’s never been a better time to get down to the beat.

Accessibility

In addition to its four difficulty settings (easy, normal, hard, and very hard) which can be changed at any point in the game, Hi-Fi Rush features a range of accessibility options. There are multiple subtitle settings for in-game dialogue and cutscenes that can change the text size, background colors, and transparency. There are also colorblind modes for deuteranopia, protanopia, and tritanopia, and options to enable combat assisting features such as automatic parries, and a mode that automatically chooses your attack type.

Should I play Hi-Fi Rush?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

How we tested Hi-Fi Rush

I completed Hi-Fi Rush on PS5 in just over twelve hours and then spent some extra time exploring a good amount of the extra content. On PS5, I played using a DualSense Wireless Controller and an Astro A50 X headset, the latter of which provided an absolutely brilliant audio experience. In addition to this, I played through some early sections on Xbox Series S using an Xbox Wireless Controller in order to directly compare the two versions.

JBL Quantum 910P review – a must-have premium PS5 headset with a price tag to match

5:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: PUBG | Comments: Off

If you’re on the hunt for a high-end PlayStation 5-compatible headset, you’d do well to have the JBL Quantum 910P in your sights. Offering wireless connectivity for Sony’s PS5 and PS4 consoles (as well as PC), it’s a masterclass in almost every respect and has earned a place in our guide to the best PS5 headsets.

From its superb build quality - including the easily adjustable headband and luxurious leatherette ear cups - to all-round phenomenal sound, spatial audio, and active noise canceling, the JBL Quantum 910P is easy to recommend. That is, of course, provided you can afford its high price tag of $299.99 / £218.99.

Design and features

The JBL Quantum 910P certainly looks the part of a premium gaming headset. Its sleek white chassis is complemented nicely by customizable lighting that illuminates the circumference of the ear cups and the JBL logo found on each. There’s some lovely texture work on the ear cups and headband too, showing that a good deal of thought has gone into the headset’s aesthetics.

It also helps that this is an exceptionally comfortable headset that’s well-suited to long sessions of play. The inner headband and ear cups feature thick leatherette padding that snugly secures the headset in place. The adjustable headband ensures the JBL Quantum 910P is suitable for a wide range of head sizes.

There’s a selection of on-headset buttons and dials for various functions. At first, these can appear quite busy, but thankfully their layout is intuitive. The right ear cup houses the on/off switch (which also allows for the switching from 2.4GHz to Bluetooth wireless connectivity) and a button that enables spatial audio and head tracking. The left ear cup features dials for volume and game/chat audio balance. There’s also a noise-canceling toggle button, a mic mute button, and a 3.5mm port for multiplatform wired connectivity (you can use the headset with Xbox and Nintendo Switch this way).

While the microphone isn’t detachable, it swivels into its on or off positions with ease and a subtle click lets the user know when it’s been adjusted as such. It’s also somewhat flexible, allowing you to slightly bend it towards or away from your head depending on your preferences.

Performance and battery life

The JBL Quantum 910P has the audio chops to back up its near-immaculate design. It’s absolutely remarkable for gaming, and right from the get-go, JBL’s proprietary QuantumSphere 360 surround sound excelled with some of the best PS5 games.

The headset is a superb fit for recently-released titles like Dragon’s Dogma 2. The bustling cities of Vernworth and Bakbattahl really come alive with the 910P’s spatial sound, especially when set to a wide dynamic range in the game’s audio settings. Directional audio here has pinpoint accuracy, able to register both close and distant noises without sounding overly muddy. It’s worth noting that the spatial audio does give spoken voices a bit of an echoey property, though I found this easy to get used to overall.

Naturally, the headset’s directional audio is a wonderful fit for online multiplayer games. In Gran Turismo 7, I was impressed with its accuracy in picking up cars approaching my flank. This made it much easier to give way, avoid collisions, and prepare for overtakes more efficiently. You’ll get similar performance in shooters like PUBG: Battlegrounds; the headset is able to pick up on footsteps, bullet whizzes, and approaching vehicles, allowing you to respond in a much more advanced manner.

The JBL Quantum 910P is excellent for music, too. By default, the headset provides a balanced, full-bodied soundscape that complements all genres. The thunderous power metal ballads of Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising and the more atmospheric, period-appropriate score found in Rise of the Ronin both shone here. Furthermore, robust EQ settings found in the PC app features presets for bass boost and cutting, a high-end focus, and more. You can also fully customize the equalizer to your liking should you prefer, and the settings carry over when you move from PC to PS5.

The microphone is similarly excellent, providing crystal clear and responsive voice chat for friends in your party. I did encounter an infrequent issue where the mic failed to turn on, though this was quickly remedied by simply turning the headset off and on again. Plus, this was only an issue on PC.

Lastly, another area where the JBL Quantum 910P impresses is its battery life. You’ll get roughly 40 hours of playtime (or 45 hours via Bluetooth) before needing to recharge. Be aware that the use of the headset’s lighting or spatial audio features will affect battery life, too, but I was still able to use it for an impressively long time with all these ancillary features enabled; around 25-30 hours give or take.

Should I buy the JBL Quantum 910P?

If your budget can stretch to it, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better PS5 headset than the JBL Quantum 910P. Its high-quality feature set, sublime design, and near-immaculate audio quality mean it rivals some of the best PS5 headsets around, including the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ and the Turtle Beach Stealth Pro.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the JBL Quantum 910P

A sample was provided to TechRadar Gaming by JBL for review. I tested the headset over the course of two weeks across a variety of PS5 and PC games, ensuring that I put it through its paces with titles featuring excellent sound design such as Gran Turismo 7, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and Rise of the Ronin.

I also aimed to test the headset’s various customization features, setting custom EQ and lighting profiles for various titles to ensure I was always getting the most fitting audio possible for a given game. In doing this, I found the JBL Quantum 910P to be an impressively robust headset that’s well-suited to a diverse range of games.

Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds review – premium buds with some notable flaws

6:00 pm | March 31, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off

The Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds give a fantastic first impression. The eye-catching RGB-on-black aesthetic of both the earbuds and the charging case lend them a premium feel. That goes for overall audio quality, too, where there’s an impressive level of detail that you won’t often find even among the best gaming earbuds. As such, we can highly recommend them as a strong alternative to the likes of the Sony Inzone Buds or the Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed.

That said, there are some missteps in terms of both design and performance. Despite coming with rubber tips of varying sizes, there’s a lack of comfort that makes the Speednova buds not best suited for longer sessions of play. They’re also not particularly great for multiplayer, with middling directional audio and some rather tinny voice quality. These could admittedly be dealbreakers when considering the earbuds cost $199.99 (and they’re yet to launch in territories beyond the US).

However, if you typically stick to single-player games or just want a rich music-listening experience, you’ll find that the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds seriously excel in these areas.

Design and features

The Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds come packaged in a smart little box that offers all the essentials. You’ve of course got the earbuds housed in their charging case, alongside three different pairs of tips of varying sizes, a USB 2.4GHz dongle, and a USB-C cable for charging.

The charging case itself might just be my favorite among the more premium earbud offerings. The outer shell only bears the ROG logo and a light strip to indicate charging. Opening it up reveals another ROG logo, this time illuminated by some lovely RGB lighting. The buds themselves also share this RGB logo effect, and they, along with the case, are built from sturdy, high-quality plastic.

Unfortunately, the buds don’t feel particularly great in the ears after a long period of time. I tested each of the three tip sizes (small, medium, and large) over extended sessions and there wasn’t much of an improvement to overall comfort. Your mileage may vary here, of course, but I did have to take them out after one to two hours of use and swap back to my wireless gaming headset instead.

There’s quite a lot of touch-based functionality to the earbuds, too. A single tap of either bud will either play or pause audio - but doing this during a call will mute your microphone. Other functions include double-tapping to toggle active noise canceling (ANC) or a quadruple press to adjust volume. There’s a lot here, but it’s all thankfully very responsive.

Performance and battery life

Unfortunately, the buds’ level of comfort - or lack thereof - is a real shame, because the audio quality presented by the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds is exceptional. The high-quality soundscape is bolstered by the use of Dirac Opteo technology which provides enhanced sound that’s able to really hone in on those finer details. This allows for overall much richer, detailed audio seldom heard in other gaming earbuds.

This was especially clear in busy single-player games like Rise of the Ronin. Here, the buds brought the bustling, winding streets of Yokohama and its various districts to life by enhancing background NPC chatter and ambient sounds, all without drowning out the wider soundscape. The in-depth sound of Tetris Effect: Connected was another highlight here, and I was super impressed with just how well the earbuds were able to catch even the subtlest details of the game’s remarkably layered soundtrack. In short, the Speednova earbuds allowed for an impressively immersive experience.

However, it is worth noting that the heightened audio quality provided by Dirac Opteo is only available via 2.4GHz connection. Over Bluetooth, while audio is still serviceable, noticeably flatter overall. The trade-off here, then, as you might expect, is that Bluetooth connectivity is much easier on the Speednova’s battery life. According to Asus, you’ll get up to 46 hours from the charging case via Bluetooth 5.3 here, and that’s with active noise canceling and RGB effects switched off.

You can expect this number to be roughly halved with these effects enabled, as per the description on the Speednova’s product page. And in my experience, I found this to be largely true if a bit on the generous side. On average, the earbuds themselves carry anywhere between 6-12 hours of charge based on the combinations of features enabled. Though, mostly opting for a 2.4GHz connection, I found a single charge to carry around 4-5 hours with RGB disabled and ANC switched on.

Unfortunately, the buds fall short of being absolutely perfect due to lackluster multiplayer performance. Directional audio isn’t the best here, and certainly not up to the level of some of the best PS5 headsets which are better able to hone in more accurately on footsteps and distant vehicles, for example. The built-in microphone is also lacking, rendering my voice with a pretty tinny register with an overall lower quality than some much cheaper buds on the market like the SteelSeries Tusq.

Should I buy the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds?

Despite some issues with comfort and call quality, the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds are among the most impressive when it comes to sheer audio quality, largely helped by the fantastic Dirac Opteo technology. If you’re after something for immersive single-player experiences or are something of an audiophile, these buds come highly recommended.

Buy them if...

Don't buy them if...

How we tested the Asus ROG Cetra True Wireless Speednova earbuds

I tested these earbuds for nearly two weeks across many of the best PS5 games, as well as titles on PC and Nintendo Switch. To put the earbuds through their paces, I largely elected to test them with all features enabled, including Dirac Opteo audio via 2.4GHz connection and active noise canceling.

The buds shone in single-player titles, and I found it very hard to pull myself away from titles like Rise of the Ronin, Dragon’s Dogma 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom as a result. While I did find the battery life to be rather inconsistent based on the number of features enabled, I eventually chose to disable the RGB effect to squeeze a couple more hours of use out of them before needing to charge them up again.

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile review – locked and loaded

6:07 pm | March 26, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off

Review information

Platform reviewed: iOS, Android
Available on: iOS, Android
Release date: March 21, 2024

Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile, the latest installment in the long-running first-person shooter (FPS) series, is the real deal. It offers a fully-fledged multiplayer experience that’s remarkably close to the latest console and PC release on your phone. Elevated by impressive visuals and full multi-platform cross-progression, it’s the perfect way to level up your weapons and battle pass in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 while you’re away from home.

Even if you’re not a dedicated fan, there’s still plenty to appreciate here, including an expansive arsenal of weapons, vehicles, and characters taken from across the series. The all-new 78-player Mobile Royale mode, which condenses the Call of Duty: Warzone experience into an easily digestible mobile-friendly format, is another highlight, offering all the thrills of a full battle royale in under ten minutes.

Paired with excellent returning maps and a solid selection of fan-favorite multiplayer modes, it’s a refreshingly generous offering for a free-to-play mobile game. While it easily ranks among the best iPhone games and the best Android games right now, the demanding hardware requirements, which practically necessitate a recent high-end phone or tablet to run the game smoothly, are going to prevent a large swathe of potential players from enjoying the best experience without a pricey upgrade.

Picture perfect

One of the most immediately impressive aspects of Warzone Mobile is its visuals, which I found to be remarkably comparable to Modern Warfare 3 on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. That’s not to say that there aren't some obvious cutbacks in terms of overall render distance, shadow quality, texture resolution, and model detail, but it’s easy to overlook these when everything is running on a small screen in the palm of your hands. Even on the modest medium quality preset, everything looks pleasantly crisp and clean on the 5.42-inch display of my iPhone 13 mini.

Bumped up to the high preset on the larger 6.6-inch display of a Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, the results look even better. Warzone Mobile appears to borrow many assets directly from the recent console games so, aside from a few minor omissions, you’re getting the same sizable arsenal of highly detailed weapons found in Modern Warfare 3, all complete with their punchy sound effects and intricate animations.

The handling of each weapon feels almost indistinguishable from their console counterparts too, making it easy to pick up and play if you’re already familiar with touch-screen FPS controls or prepared to hook up a compatible controller. All of your unlocks and purchases from that main game are automatically carried over and readily accessible in the mobile game, which is a huge bonus.

The selection of maps at launch has also been drawn from across the Modern Warfare sub-series, including the long-awaited revival of Verdansk - a fan-favorite battle royale arena from the first incarnation of Warzone. If you’re a returning player, each of these look almost exactly as you remember and there’s something magical about seeing such intricate environments running natively on a mobile phone.

Unfortunately, your visual experience is going to vary dramatically depending on the specifications of your device. Testing the game on a range of iOS and Android hardware, I found that the best results were invariably achieved on the most expensive recent phones or tablets. It’s not unplayable on models from a few years ago, like the iPhone 11, but you’re constantly fighting an uphill battle against an unsteady frame rate and the rapidly increasing temperature of your phone. The excellent visuals are also spoiled by the lower graphical presets which, while understandable, is a huge shame.

Even on the most powerful hardware, playing more than a few matches of Warzone Mobile rapidly drains your battery life. Playing over a thirty-five-minute train ride, I saw my phone drop from almost full to just over half charge. High battery consumption isn’t at all unusual while playing modern mobile games, but it definitely makes this one to avoid if you’re going to be away from a plug socket for a long time.

Your audio performance will also depend quite heavily on your choice of accessories. Unless you’re playing in a completely silent environment, there’s a strong chance that it’s going to be hard to discern key audio cues through your phone speakers. When you connect some wireless headphones or any of the best gaming earbuds, the sound quality is excellent with a fantastic level of depth. Even when the action begins to pick up, enemy footsteps remain clearly audible and small details like the click of your weapon whenever you switch firing modes come through well.

Head to head

Warzone Mobile currently offers three distinct battle royale modes: Battle Royale, Mobile Royale, and Rebirth Resurgence. Battle Royale follows the same general format as the mode in Warzone, albeit with the total player count increased from 100 to 120 per match. As a team of up to four players, you drop into an open world and duke it out for survival. There are a range of vehicles to help you traverse the large map quickly, while weapons and armor can be found inside buildings, by opening unlockable crates, or purchased from automated Buy Stations using cash.

You get cash by looting or completing contracts - bite-sized challenges that range from hunting down a specific target player to securing freshly dropped supply boxes - while a circle of toxic gas gradually closes in reducing the size of the map until the last squad standing wins. It’s a tried and tested formula, though matches do play out slightly differently in Warzone Mobile thanks to the constraints of the mobile format. I’m very experienced with competitive mobile FPS titles, but I still found that long-range confrontations were quite difficult thanks to the inherently imprecise nature of the touch controls.

Best bit

After successfully fighting your way through an onslaught enemy squads, nothing quite beats the feeling of success from your first big win in Mobile Royale.

This can be remedied with a controller, but I still found that the best strategy was often to covertly get close before engaging. It’s a new style of play that takes some getting used to, especially in Verdansk - a sprawling city dominated by rooftops with long sightlines that would otherwise be well-suited for taking distant potshots.

These controls are much better suited to the Warzone Mobile exclusive Mobile Royale mode, which shoves 78 players into a comparatively tiny section of the map and dramatically increases the spawn rate of powerful weapons and ammo. You can often go a good few minutes without so much of a glimpse at an enemy player in Battle Royale, but the average game of Mobile Royale is filled with near-constant close-range confrontation. A complete match generally lasts just under ten minutes, making it ideal if you’re looking for something bite-sized that you can enjoy on public transport or on a break at work.

Rebirth Resurgence is similarly strong, thanks to its small map and the fact the 36 players constantly respawn - a combination that leads to absolute chaos. I also enjoyed the suite of core multiplayer modes including Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, and Domination. They use an intense 6v6 format and take place exclusively on small maps like Shipment and Scrapyard from Modern Warfare 2. The pacing is absolutely perfect and allows the snappy gunplay and fast-movement speeds to shine. Although there are only five total maps for these modes at the moment, with the likes of Modern Warfare 3’s Rust already confirmed for a future update, it’s a very promising start.

It’s a huge amount of content in a download that currently sits at under 8GB and, as a free-to-play game, there’s practically no reason not to recommend trying it if you have enough storage space. The high system requirements are a shame, but it's almost an inevitability in a mobile game that looks and sounds this good.

Accessibility

Warzone Mobile features a range of accessibility options. This includes the ability to enable an auto pickup function that automatically equips nearby loot, a fully customizable touch-screen control layout, automated ranged or melee attacks, the option to enable a prominent outline around enemies or allies, and much more.

The game is also compatible with a good selection of peripherals, such as the Xbox Wireless Controller or dedicated mobile controllers like the Backbone One.

Should I play Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile?

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

How we tested Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile

I spent over ten hours in Warzone Mobile across a range of devices including an iPhone 13 Mini, Samsung S23 Plus, iPad Mini, and iPad Pro. I played using both touch controls and compatible controllers, such as the Xbox Wireless Controller and Backbone One. In addition to the native audio of each phone or tablet, I tried the game with wireless headphones including the Beats Studio Buds Plus and wired gaming earbuds such as the SteelSeries Tusq gaming headset.

During my time with the game, I tried out all of the available modes and maps at least a handful of times to ensure I tested all that the game currently has to offer. As an almost daily Modern Warfare 3 player, I was able to directly compare the game to its PC and console equivalent.

Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox review – the best high-end Xbox controller

7:33 pm | March 22, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Consoles & PC Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off

I have a new favorite premium Xbox controller, and its name is the Victrix Pro BFG. While it’s true the PS5 version of the controller has been around for a good while now (and we loved it in our original Victrix Pro BFG review), a version of the gamepad supporting Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and Xbox One consoles (as well as PC) is now available, too.

Fundamentally, the Xbox version of the Victrix Pro BFG is identical in all but brand-specific iconography. PlayStation shapes have been swapped with Xbox lettering, and the central home button takes the form of that familiar Xbox logo. The Xbox version of the controller keeps up all the winning combinations, but do be aware that the $179.99 / £179.99 / AU$269 price tag holds firm still. Outside of sales events, it’s a staunchly premium purchase, but it’s certainly one of the best Xbox controllers and well worth your hard-earned cash.

Design and features

While the Victrix Pro BFG bears a similar silhouette to that of the standard Xbox Wireless Controller, it certainly looks a lot busier thanks to its front-facing textured grips, larger central buttons and triggers, and those screwed-in modules. However, this isn’t to say the controller is in any way complex or difficult to use.

Included in the box is a miniature screwdriver for use when swapping out those modules. There’s also a set of swappable thumbsticks (two extra here - one with a longer shaft and one shorter), two additional d-pads, and two analog stick gates should you prefer more precise inputs here. Also packaged are a USB-C cable for wired play, a 2.4GHz wireless dongle that works on both Xbox and PC and a carry case.

There’s also a unique fightpad module featuring a six-button layout. This is exceptional for some of the best fighting games like Street Fighter 6 or Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. The other two modules, affixed to the controller by default, assume the familiar Xbox layout. However, you’re free to swap these around if, say, you prefer the symmetrical stick layout found on the DualSense, for example.

From almost top to bottom, the Victrix Pro BFG has a very premium feel. Overall build quality is fantastic, and it rests comfortably in the hands thanks to those front and rear-facing textured grips. And while the stark black finish is quite understated, I’m a big fan of the purple accents and light around the Home button that certainly lends the controller some flair.

Performance and battery life

The Victrix Pro BFG seriously delivers as a premium Xbox controller. The analog sticks feel simply sublime, and you have a good deal of control over them thanks to a tight deadzone. The d-pad and face buttons are similarly responsive, and I was especially impressed with the fightpad module’s mechanical buttons that register with an ever-so-satisfying clickiness.

I will say that by default, the rear triggers are quite sensitive, often registering inputs with just the slightest tap. This can be adjusted with the trigger locks which allow you to customize their travel distance, but it often led to me performing inputs I hadn’t intended just because my fingers rested a little too heavily on them.

Similarly, the Victrix Pro BFG doesn’t feature drift-eliminating Hall effect sticks by default. This may see you run into stick drift if you use the controller frequently enough. However, the gamepad is compatible with Hall effect sticks, and modules for this are sold separately on PDP’s website.

Battery life remains a win for the Xbox version of the Victrix Pro BFG. You’ll get roughly 20 hours on a single charge. While this is practically half of the enormous battery life found with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, it’s still an admirable amount and is more than made up for by the sheer quality of the controller overall.

Should I buy the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox?

The Victrix Pro BFG is our new favorite premium Xbox controller. The exceptional build quality, paired with intuitive swappable modules and a wealth of Pro-level features make it absolutely essential for players looking for the most robust gamepad experience they can get on Xbox hardware.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox

I spent a week with the Victrix Pro BFG, playing a range of games on both Xbox Series X and PC. I found the fightpad module to be a fantastic option for fighting games on both platforms. It’s especially great for online shooter titles, too, like PUBG Battlegrounds and Halo Infinite thanks to features like remappable buttons and customizable trigger locks.

PDP Riffmaster review – rock’s back on the menu

6:30 pm | March 21, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Comments: Off

PDP Riffmaster: One-minute review

The PDP Riffmaster looks to shake up a peripheral market that’s long been dormant. In fact, we haven’t really seen a dedicated guitar controller in nearly the decade since Rock Band 4’s release and its pack-in peripheral. In the years since this, finding a guitar controller for use with Harmonix’s rhythm game or similar titles has proven to be an expensive and frankly exhausting endeavor searching the second-hand market.

The Riffmaster puts an end to that. Manufacturer PDP has made a relatively affordable guitar controller that, at launch, is compatible with both Rock Band 4 and Fortnite Festival. This makes the Riffmaster the only official peripheral in town if you’ve been wanting to play the Fortnite side game with something more fitting than a traditional gamepad.

What’s more, PDP almost nails its first attempt with this controller. If you’ve got a hankering for some Rock Band 4, then it’ll be one of the best Xbox controllers for you. The Riffmaster is responsive, features all the buttons you’d expect in order to play these games comfortably (and more, as you will see), and has some smart design choices that boost its convenience factor. Sadly, the build quality here falls behind even what we expected during those halcyon Rock Band/Guitar Hero days, thus making its price tag a little tough to stomach.

PDP Riffmaster: Price and availability

$129.99 / £129.99
Available from PDP's website, though is currently sold out (April 2024)
More stock is due to arrive in June

The PDP Riffmaster retails for $129.99 / £129.99 and can be bought from PDP's own website. In the US, it can also be purchased from retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. UK shoppers, meanwhile, will need to rely on Game.

Unfortunately, at time of publication, the PDP Riffmaster is currently out of stock across all major retailers and PDP's website. This is because stock has largely gone to folks who pre-ordered the controller before release. However, PDP has told TechRadar Gaming that stock will be more readily available around June of this year.

PDP Riffmaster: Specs

PDP Riffmaster: Design and features

The PDP Riffmaster comes in two configurations: one for PlayStation (PS5 and PS4), and one for Xbox (Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One) consoles, so make sure that you’re purchasing the right model for your platform before jumping in. Both are identical in design aside from some brand-relevant buttons and, thankfully, both models are also guitar-shaped PC controllers too, music to the ears of those not on the main two consoles.

The guitar itself has a collapsible fretboard, deviating from the detachable models of old. This is a smart design change, making it considerably easier to store and offering great portability. Packed in the box with the guitar controller, you get a USB dongle for wireless connectivity, a USB-C charging cable (also usable for wired play), and crucially, an adjustable strap for the peripheral itself.

The strap is of good quality and rests on the shoulder comfortably. It’s blissfully simple to adjust its length to suit your preferences, too. However, the Riffmaster itself falls short in the build quality department. The chassis or body is made of lightweight plastic, giving it a somewhat flimsy feel. The glossy finish also makes the device a fingerprint magnet. In fairness, its overall lightness is something of a boon for longer sessions and it’s never taxing on the shoulders while standing.

In terms of the Riffmaster’s controls, there’s a handy analog stick on the top rear of the neck, as well as a d-pad, Home, and sharing buttons on the guitar’s pickguard. Furthermore, the buttons on the fretboard (which are used to play notes in-game) can also be used for menu navigation. Overall, the buttons do feel of decent quality too which goes some way to offset the disappointing body.

Rounding out the feature set is the whammy bar which is responsive in-game, but does feel slightly loose. It’s also a little too close to the strum bar and often ends up getting in the way during play. The strum bar is easily the weakest aspect of the product, sadly. It’s missing the clickiness of older Guitar Hero and Rock Band peripherals. This does mean it’s much quieter, but it feels rather loose and mushy when pressed.

One last thing I’m not especially impressed by is the Riffmaster’s aesthetic. While it certainly looks the part as a guitar, the plain all-black look is a little bland. Some optional faceplates or pickguards wouldn’t go amiss in the future if PDP wants to support the peripheral in the long term.

PDP Riffmaster: Performance

On the whole, the PDP Riffmaster performs brilliantly. The device’s responsiveness is pin-sharp, even when used wirelessly. You can rest assured that no matter your difficulty selection or the intensity of any given song, the Riffmaster won’t let you down.

I also love the addition of five optional buttons at the bottom end of the fretboard, near the body. You don’t need to use these, but they’re there if you fancy a bit of showboating when playing through a nail-biting guitar solo. This is a really nice touch that I feel lends the Riffmaster some much-needed character.

Another area where the Riffmaster excels is in its battery life. You’ll get around 36 hours on a full charge, which is pretty exceptional and puts it in the same ballpark as the Xbox Wireless Controller. It charges pretty swiftly too; it takes just a handful of hours to charge back up to full.

The only real sticking point for this controller that is a potential deal breaker is the aforementioned unsatisfying strum bar. It does function perfectly well, but the lack of mechanical register means you may miss the odd note during particularly fast-paced shreds as it’s in instances like this that it’s not always easy to discern whether the Riffmaster has registered your input or not. This lack of feedback, as a result, may make it harder for you to get a full 100% combo on more challenging tracks.

Should I buy the PDP Riffmaster?

PDP’s first attempt at a bespoke, wireless guitar controller for Rock Band 4 and similar games is certainly an admirable one. While the manufacturer has nailed responsiveness and included impressive features like a foldable design and superb battery life, its bland aesthetic and listless strum bar means there’s plenty of room for improvement.

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

How we tested the PDP Riffmaster

PDP provided TechRadar Gaming with the Xbox version of the Riffmaster for testing. Over a period of two weeks, I used it to play with Rock Band 4 and its hundreds of songs. I endeavored to test songs of all difficulties, genres, and intensities to get a feel for the controller, its responsiveness, and ease of use during long sessions.

Princess Peach: Showtime! review – princess peak

2:00 pm |

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Super Mario Odyssey | Comments: Off

Review information

Platform reviewed: Nintendo Switch
Available on: Nintendo Switch
Release date: March 22, 2024

Princess Peach: Showtime! is an action-adventure game that’s overflowing with the boundless creativity and charm characteristic of some of the best recent mainline Super Mario outings like Super Mario Odyssey and Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Despite its more linear design and basic control scheme compared to those games, it’s packed with memorable stages and mechanics that make the most of the charming theatrical theme in truly imaginative ways.

The simplicity means that it’s one of the most approachable first-party games on Nintendo Switch making it a super choice for younger or more casual players, though seasoned gamers will still find plenty to enjoy in its brilliant boss fights and tricky challenge modes. Wrap it all up in an attractive art direction and throw in a raft of collectibles hidden throughout each stage and you’ve got an impressively well-rounded package that ranks among some of the best Nintendo Switch games available to play right now.

Setting the stage

Princess Peach in Princess Peach: Showtime! — (Image credit: Nintendo)

The action kicks off in the sprawling Sparkle Theater, nestled in the little bay far from the Mushroom Kingdom where Princess Peach has been trapped by the malevolent Madame Grape and her legion of purple minions. Grape has corrupted the theater’s plays with her malign influence and caused all of the lead actors to disappear, leaving it up to Peach and the theater’s magical guardian Stella to save the day. It’s a simple setup that is conveyed through an introductory cutscene that is lavishly animated but rather jarringly relies on text dialogue rather than any kind of audio narration.

Still, it’s only a minor omission that is quickly forgotten once you’re thrust into the hub world of the theater’s foyer. It’s divided into five floors, each containing doors leading to different levels, and sits above a mysterious basement. There are thirty main stages in total, arranged into groups of three with each trio representing the entirety of a specific play. They’re spread out evenly across the floors, though each ends with a final stage that is accessed through the basement.

The plays all follow unique themes, ranging from a lighthearted Wild West romp to more unconventional additions like a sci-fi action thriller. They’re all brought to life by the cartoon-like visuals that are filled to the brim with theatrical details and flourishes. The scenery has a distinctly hand-crafted look, with floating clouds that are suspended from visible wires. They cast prominent shadows on the backdrops behind them which, while a simple effect, helps lend everything a wonderful sense of depth.

Despite the side-on perspective, stages are also fully three dimensional and allow for back-and-forth movement in addition to side-scrolling traversal. Bright cones of stage lighting highlight important objectives and follow Peach as you explore - likely to be a huge help for players who are less experienced in traversing 3D environments. This, in addition to an optional item that grants three extra lives and can be obtained from a non-player character (NPC) in the foyer, intelligently incorporates more forgiving elements in a manner that feels both natural and unintrusive.

Dress rehearsal

A Mighty Peach stage in Princess Peach: Showtime!. — (Image credit: Nintendo)

Aside from the rare brief platforming segment, the overall pace of Princess Peach: Showtime! is more pedestrian than more traditional Super Mario adventures. Peach has slow movement speed and all of her actions are controlled entirely with just three buttons. You tap the A button to jump, hit the B button to interact, and occasionally press ZL or ZR in order to travel to secret areas when you’re standing on special spots hidden throughout each level.

In her default getup, Peach is armed with a magical ribbon that can defeat Grape’s minions, trigger key items like lamps or doors to progress, or inspire any dejected supporting actors that you stumble across. Running around mindlessly tapping that button on almost everything that you see isn’t the most engaging or subtle formula and the very early sections of the first few stages suffer as a result.

You’re soon given a transformation, however, which is where Princess Peach: Showtime! is at its absolute best. Modeled after the costumes of the missing lead actors, each play has its own unique transformation that grants Peach a wide range of special abilities. Every new arrival feels remarkably distinct, spicing up the basic formula with elements drawn from entirely different genres. The Ninja Peach transformation, for example, incorporates elements of stealth games, allowing you to hide in tall grass and quietly take down unsuspecting foes with a quick kunai slash.

Detective Peach in Princess Peach: Showtime!. — (Image credit: Nintendo)

The Detective Peach transformation plays much more like a story-driven adventure, where you solve crimes by chatting to NPCs and using your magnifying glass to track down hidden clues. The Mermaid Peach transformation is something akin to a puzzle game, as you guide schools of fish through maze-like gauntlets under increasingly strict time limits. Although I enjoyed my time with each and every transformation, the button-mashing cookie baking and rapid cake decoration challenges of the Patissiere Peach transformation were a personal highlight that absolutely oozed that Mario Party minigame charm.

Unfortunately, some transformations do push the game’s uneven technical performance to the fore. Loading times are long and a few levels suffer from noticeable framerate dips in busy moments. By far the worst example was one particular Figure Skater Peach stage that involved careful timing to pull off ice skating tricks. The choppy framerate made it frustratingly difficult to get into a definite rhythm and caused me to miss a fair few jumps the first time around which is disappointing, especially in a first-party release.

Best bit

A stage in Princess Peach: Showtime!. — (Image credit: Nintendo)

Not only are the appearances of each of Peach’s transformations very cutely designed, but they feature distinct animations that further help set them apart. I especially appreciate Patissiere Peach’s adorable little back-and-forth skip whenever you stand still.

This shortcoming aside, each floor concludes with a boss fight, all of which are definite highlights. The boss designs are memorable and each encounter involves some strong mechanics. One sees you defeating a genuinely quite creepy projector-themed cat as it tries to swat you away with attacks that are represented by 2D projected images, while another has a giant disco-ball bird that can flip the entire stage into its mirror image in order to crush you with falling blocks. There are also separate challenge levels, called rehearsals, that offer reimagined versions of past stages with difficult special conditions. These are some of the hardest challenges in the game and make for a delightful diversion.

The same is true of the unlockable outfits for both Peach and Stella, which can be purchased from a small stall in the foyer using hidden stars collected from each level, obtained by rescuing a top-hat-wearing character hidden in each level, or are awarded for finishing certain stages. There are loads to discover, giving you plenty of reasons to comb over past environments for anything that you might have missed.

It’s a fantastic way to round out an overall package that’s already got plenty to offer. Whether you’re a long-time Super Mario fan or a complete newcomer to the series, Princess Peach: Showtime! is an excellent adventure that’s easy to recommend.

Accessibility

Princess Peach: Showtime! has some limited accessibility features, including the option to reduce the intensity of controller vibration or reverse the button layout. As there is no voiced dialogue, information is conveyed through text throughout though its size or overall appearance cannot be adjusted. An optional item that decreases the difficulty is also readily available from the beginning of the game.

Should I play Princess Peach: Showtime!?

Figure Skater Peach in Princess Peach: Showtime! — (Image credit: Nintendo)

Play it if…

Don’t play it if…

How we tested Princess Peach: Showtime!

I played Princess Peach: Showtime! on a Nintendo Switch OLED console for over ten hours using a copy of the game provided by Nintendo. During that time I reached the end credits and completed almost all of the available side content. Although I played predominantly in handheld mode using a pair of Joy-Con controllers, I was also careful to test the game’s performance in docked mode where I played with a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.

Dragon’s Dogma 2 review – Arisen again

6:00 pm | March 20, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets Gaming | Tags: Resident Evil | Comments: Off

Review information

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release date: March 22, 2024

There was one particular journey in my time with Dragon’s Dogma 2, Capcom’s long-awaited sequel in the action role-playing game (RPG) series, that left an indelible mark on me. I found myself faced with a long trek through the arid canyons of the kingdom of Battahl.

Scanning for potential shortcuts, I came across a lever-operated cart - suspended in the air by a ropeway - that could safely and quickly carry me to my destination. Or so I thought. As I reached the halfway point of the trip, a griffin swooped in and instantly destroyed the cart, sending me and my party of AI-controlled companions plummeting to the cragged floor below, killing us all instantly.

I bring this up not to declare that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is too difficult or unfair - even if that particular moment did leave me in a state of flabbergasted disbelief. Instead, this is just one of many anecdotes that formed during my time with Dragon’s Dogma 2 that demonstrate just how dynamic and unpredictable the game’s world can be.

And it’s not all hilarious woes such as my demise at the hand of a bird the size of a house. Dragon’s Dogma 2’s open world is full to the brim with quests, dangers, treasures, and secrets of all kinds. If you’re willing to acknowledge the game’s near-complete lack of hand-holding, then what awaits you here is one of the most compelling action RPG experiences since the series’ 2012 original.

Rise up

Dragon's Dogma 2 character creation process — (Image credit: Capcom)

As was the case in that original game, Dragon’s Dogma 2 places you in the well-trodden boots of the Arisen - a character who has been chosen by the titular Dragon to best it in combat in order to free the world from its endless cycle of conflict between it and society’s various factions.

But getting there is much easier said than done, and you may find one of your biggest challenges right at the start in the initial character creation process. Dragon’s Dogma 2’s character creator is easily one of the best and most in-depth ever made. You’ll find all manner of sliders for tweaking your face and body, as well as a litany of hairstyles, skin complexions, and muscle tones.

Creation goes much further than aesthetics, though. Your character’s height and weight can affect movement speed and how much you can carry by default. Dragon’s Dogma 2 also introduces the Beastren, a cat-like race that, should you choose to be one, can drastically alter your options during quests and affects how some NPCs can interact with you.

Pawnshop

Dragon's Dogma 2 Warfarer fighting a cyclops — (Image credit: Capcom)

This level of depth is consistent across most of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s systems. As Arisen, you have command over a party of AI-controlled Pawns, which aid you in battle as well as exploration. You’ll have a Main Pawn, which you’ll also get to create, as well as up to two support Pawns that have been created by other players.

For the most part, by default, entries in your quest log will only give the bare minimum of information.

What’s genius about the Pawn system is that it’s all based on their knowledge and experience in others’ playthroughs. If a Pawn has discovered a cave or treasure chest in another player’s game, for example, they can then tell you about it when recruited. The same goes for quest completion and enemy encounters; if a Pawn has undergone a quest before, they can help guide you through it when inhabiting your own party.

Often, having that guidance is crucial in the world of Dragon’s Dogma 2. For the most part, by default, entries in your quest log will only give the bare minimum of information. You’ll also be given no quest markers guiding you to a destination unless a Pawn has sufficient knowledge of it. And as support pawns don’t level up, you’ll benefit from turning them over throughout the game, dismissing and hiring new ones as you progress. It also helps that Pawns here are significantly smarter in the sequel, doing a better job of reacting to pressing matters during combat and exploration.

This isn’t to say they’re entirely perfect, mind. When fighting enemies, Pawns often seem completely averse to getting out of the way of enemy attacks. This is especially true when facing harpies - flying enemies that can pick up party members in their talons and drop them back down, often off the edge of a cliff. This ended up being the primary way my Pawns died in Dragon’s Dogma 2, and it was always infuriating. Thankfully, riftstones - large stones you can hire new Pawns from - are plentiful, dotted around the open world just enough that replenishing your ranks is never a problem.

Stay-at-home vocation

Dragon's Dogma 2 — (Image credit: Capcom)

Pawns are undoubtedly incredibly useful, then, but if they’re the homemade ciabatta roll that gives foundation to the party, it’s you - the Arisen and your chosen vocation (read: class) that forms the delicious filling. Your vocation will dictate how you approach combat in Dragon’s Dogma 2, as well as which armor and weapons you can equip.

The game starts you out with a choice of four basic vocations: Fighter, Thief, Archer, and Mage. They’re all more or less self-explanatory. The Fighter equips a sword and shield and acts as the bulwark, protecting the party from harm while providing some support. Thieves are swift-but-fragile damage dealers, Archers control battlefields from a distance, and Mages can charge up powerful spells and offer healing aids.

Best bit

Dragon's Dogma 2 open world — (Image credit: Capcom)

The unpredictability of Dragon’s Dogma 2’s vast open world is simply exhilarating. Whether it’s stumbling across a cave that escaped your eye before, or dealing with a sudden griffin attack that appears out of nowhere, there’s rarely such a thing as a straightforward trip between destinations.

You’ll eventually unlock more vocations to try out as you progress or fulfill certain quests. New to Dragon’s Dogma 2 is the Mystic Spearhand, which in my preview last month, was described to me by Capcom as “the Devil May Cry class.” It has a versatile projectile that can slow or stun enemies, as well as allow you to instantly teleport to those enemies it hits, then lets you follow up with damage-dealing combos and counters. It’s fantastic fun, but its complete lack of a dodge or meaningful evasive abilities makes it a tough one to master.

Then there’s the Trickster, another new vocation that’s largely unable to deal damage at all. What use is that? Well, instead of going on the offensive, the Trickster employs abilities that can confuse enemies or turn them against each other. The confusion you sow in the enemy’s ranks - such as conjuring fake platforms over cliff edges or possessing foes to fight their friends - allows the rest of your party to take advantage of the chaos. While tough to get to grips with, Trickster became my new favorite vocation for its unorthodox but highly effective nature.

The more you play a single vocation, the more it’ll increase in rank, thus unlocking new abilities and augments which can be purchased at vocation guilds. You’re not locked to one vocation throughout the game, and you can freely switch at these guilds if you fancy a change. Dragon’s Dogma 2 highly encourages ranking up all vocations, too, as the unlockable augments of each can be equipped by any of them.

Giant killer

Combat is utterly fantastic in Dragon’s Dogma 2, which is a blessing as you’ll be doing a lot of it. Encounters are more frequent than they ever were in the original game, so much so that you’re likely to fight enemies around every other corner. This lends exploration in the game a high degree of danger and challenge, especially when you dare to stray from the beaten path.

Basic enemies like goblins, bandits, harpies, and the amphibious saurians are all diverse and have structured chains of command. For example, there’s a venomous variant of the harpy that - unlike the basic type - is resistant to fire and can tear through your party if you’re ill-prepared. Meanwhile, hobgoblins are much beefier than the spindly regular mobs, and can easily knock you out with strong blunt strikes.

Once again, however, it’s the larger beasts that steal the show. Some, like chimeras, minotaurs, and cyclopes, have predefined habitats and usually show up in the same places. Much more dangerous are beasts like griffins and ogres that are unpredictable and roam the map at their leisure. Many times I witnessed an ogre dropkick me from off-screen or had a griffin instantly destroy an oxcart I was traveling in. But it’s moments like these that, once again, help Dragon’s Dogma 2’s open world feel dynamic, emergent, and constantly thrilling.

What a wonderful world

Dragon's Dogma 2 Sacred Arbor location — (Image credit: Capcom)

This open world is absolutely massive and utterly breathtaking to behold. You’ll rarely go five minutes without stumbling across a captivating vista, or an enticing new path you’ve yet to explore. And the best part is that because there’s very little in the way of guidance or limitation (you can go pretty much anywhere right from the get-go), each new discovery feels earned.

Don’t expect to blitz through Dragon’s Dogma 2’s open world, however, as options for fast travel are limited. Doing so requires you to place a Portcrystal (an item that acts as a fast travel destination) and use a Ferrystone (a somewhat rare consumable item that’s used upon travel).

Herein lies another layer of depth; the convenience of fast travel comes at a cost, thus incentivizing you to travel by foot instead. The benefits of this are clear, though; that’s more time you get to explore this gorgeous world and uncover secrets you simply wouldn’t have seen or known about by using fast travel.

Alternatively, you can pay for an oxcart to ferry you to major settlements - but you’ll still be at risk of being ambushed by all manner of creatures. Better still, enterprising players can ride the back of a griffin and be swept off to parts unknown. Faster travel options exist, then, but, as the saying goes, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Overall, Dragon’s Dogma 2 is one of the most ambitious games Capcom has ever made. Its myriad systems weave together effortlessly, and its exploration proves so bountiful, that it makes for a game that’s fiendishly difficult to put down. Even after I’d rolled credits, it’s not a world I was eager to leave.

Accessibility

Unfortunately, there’s little in the way of dedicated accessibility options in Dragon’s Dogma 2, beyond the option to toggle subtitles and their background opacity (though even this is a basic binary option). This is a shame, as other Capcom titles like Resident Evil 4 and especially Street Fighter 6 feature plenty of accessibility options to suit players of all kinds, so it’s not as if Capcom has no experience in this department. Hopefully, more accessibility options can be introduced via post-launch support.

Should I play Dragon's Dogma 2?

Dragon's Dogma 2 lesser dragon — (Image credit: Capcom)

Play it if...

Don't play it if...

How we tested Dragon's Dogma 2

Capcom provided a review code for the PlayStation 5 version of Dragon’s Dogma 2, and it took me roughly 60 hours to finish the game. This entailed a mixture of completing main and side quests, ranking up vocations, exploring the world for better equipment and loot, and taking on extremely powerful foes like drakes, lesser dragons, dullahans, and more. I should note that your own playtime may vary, as I hadn’t even gotten close to exploring absolutely everything the game has to offer in those 60 hours.

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