Death Stranding - Organizer

Astro A50 X review – near-perfect multi-platform audio

8:07 pm | March 19, 2024

If you have $379.99 / £359 / AU$749.95 to spend on a high-end wireless gaming headset, then the Astro A50 X is a fantastic choice. This is a supremely comfortable peripheral, with a lightweight headband and gorgeous plush ear cups that make it an absolute joy to wear over extended gaming sessions. It also offers by far the best audio quality of any of the wireless gaming headsets that I have ever tested, with rich bass, crystal clear mids, and dazzling high-end frequencies that are a perfect match for almost any game.

Cinematic adventures like The Last of Us Part 1 and Death Stranding: Directors Cut are elevated by superb clarity and a detailed sound stage, while intense first-person shooters like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 benefit from accurate spatial audio that makes it much easier to track enemy movement. Throw in an excellent microphone that enables you to communicate with friends or teammates clearly with little background noise and this is one seriously compelling package.

Unfortunately, while the use of 24-bit HDMI 2.1 audio does increase the sound quality, it also makes for a complicated setup process that requires multiple extra cables compared to other sets. The lack of active noise cancellation (ANC) is also a let-down at this lofty price point and I found that loud background noises can occasionally bleed through, disrupting the otherwise peerless immersion.

Design and features

The controls of the Astro A50 X. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood/Future)

The Astro A50 X boasts an eye-catching design that feels premium in the hands. It has large, almost square earcups that offer plenty of room for the onboard controls and sport magnetically attached plush cushions that sit snugly around the ears. A flexible rubberized microphone, which can be raised, lowered, and shaped into position, is attached to the left ear cup. The power switch, platform switch button, and Bluetooth connectivity button are then positioned on the back of the right ear cup, above a small volume dial.

The switches are all well-spaced and pleasantly tactile, while the volume dial has a satisfying notched motion and rubberized finish that lends it a high-end feel. The flat exterior of the right ear cup also functions as one large extra button, offering a handy way to control the balance between game and chat audio.

The headband is very lightweight, constructed from two thin flexible plastic strips that sandwich a small plush cushion. It is connected to each ear cup with robust metal tubes that can be slid up and down in order to adjust the fit. There are markings denoting various headband sizes, making it easy to keep at a consistent size once you’ve managed to find the perfect setting.

Small metal contacts are present on the bottom of each ear cup, which enables the Astro A50 X to dock into its included base station. This is a convenient storage solution that means the headset can be charged between uses, though the roughly 24-hour battery life means that you're well covered by a full charge. The base station has a good level of heft to it, just weighty enough to avoid slipping around on a surface but not too heavy to reposition easily if needed. It’s also a relatively compact size, with an overall width that’s about equal to the width of the headset itself.

While the front of the base station features a row of LED indicators (including a battery level indicator, a Bluetooth connectivity indicator, and illuminated text denoting your current platform) the rear has three HDMI 2.1 ports and three USB-C ports. These ports are all in service of the headset’s flagship feature: the ability to switch between multiple platforms.

This is accomplished with a quick tap of the headset’s platform switch button, which automatically changes the HDMI output over to your selected platform and seamlessly switches the audio to match. It’s impressively quick and convenient and makes this headset by far one of the easiest to use if you are often alternating between Xbox, PlayStation, and PC on the same display. It is worth bearing in mind that the headset does not feature power control functionality though, so each system needs to be switched on separately first.

The software of the Astro A50 X. — (Image credit: Logitech)

Like other premium wireless gaming headsets such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7X, the Astro A50 X features Bluetooth dual connectivity, allowing you to connect your mobile phone and take phone calls or chat via the Discord mobile app while still hearing game audio. It’s also compatible with Logitech G Hub PC software and the Logitech G mobile app that can both be used for firmware updates, alternating between preset equalizer profiles, or fully customizing the equalizer settings to your liking.

Performance

Connecting the base station to an Xbox or PlayStation requires at least two HDMI cables and one USB-C cable. The first HDMI cable connects the HDMI output of the console to the HDMI input of the base station, while the second connects the HDMI output of the base station to your gaming monitor or gaming TV. The USB-C cable then provides an additional connection between the base station and the console. You can add a second console to the same video output by hooking up another HDMI cable and a second USB-C cable. Connecting to a PC is then a little simpler, requiring only a USB-C connection which is conveniently attached to the base station’s USB-C power supply cable.

Once I had set the base station up with my Xbox Series S, PS5, and PC there were a grand total of six extra cables running through my desk. The sheer number of cables required makes setup a time-consuming task, especially if you want to make sure that they tidied away neatly. While the two USB-C cables are included in the box, alongside the power lead, the headset does not come with an extra HDMI cable for the video output so you’re either going to need to find a spare or buy one which could be a major annoyance.

It’s also important to note that, while the headset works with any old HDMI 2.0 cable, the newer HDMI 2.1 standard is recommended for the best audio experience, adding another hurdle. Including a single HDMI 2.1 cable in the box would massively reduce the hassle and is definitely not an unreasonable ask given the price.

The Astro A50 X base station. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood/Future)

Once the setup is completed correctly, however, you’re rewarded with incredible audio performance. In-game sound is perfectly balanced, with just the right level of bass to feel suitably punchy but never overpowering. Voices come through impressively clearly and the PS5 3D audio or Dolby Atmos spatial audio lends everything an incredibly cinematic feel - just make sure you enable it through your console settings or via the Dolby Access PC app.

The Astro A50 X also manages to hold its own when used outside of gaming. Every song I tested with the Apple Music app on PS5 sounded brilliant and I found the wireless range of the base station was more than enough to allow me to wear the headset around the house unimpeded. It also performed exceptionally well while watching movies and TV, delivering immersive, rich sound. While it doesn’t sound quite as good as leading dedicated music-listening headphones like the Apple AirPods Max or Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless, it’s still easy to recommend the Astro A50 X if you’re an audio enthusiast.

It also feels superb on the head, with the soft ear cups and headband offering an excellent level of support and comfort. Sadly, the lack of active noise cancellation can sometimes negatively impact the overall experience. While the padding largely does an excellent job of blocking out low-level outside noise like console fans or rain, I found that the occasional loud sound like a passing siren would bleed through. It’s by no means a dealbreaker but is still disappointing.

When it comes to microphone performance, the Astro A50 X is almost flawless. Even with loud background noise I found that my voice came through clearly in almost broadcast quality, though the mic does seem to produce a slightly sibilant sound with its out-of-the-box configuration. Luckily, this can be easily adjusted and is unlikely to pose a problem unless you intend to use the headset for streaming or podcasting.

In fact, the only other major issue I encountered was a very occasional screen flickering which saw my display turn black for a split second at very sporadic intervals. I can only assume that it has something to do with the base station, which functions as an HDMI pass-through. Thankfully, the headset received a firmware update during my testing period that seems to have solved the issue for good.

Should I buy the Astro A50 X?

The Astro A50 X in its docking station. — (Image credit: Dashiell Wood/Future)

With rich sound and support for Dolby Atmos and 3D audio, the Astro A50 X is a top choice if you want one of the absolute best sounding wireless gaming headsets on the market. The complicated setup process and lack of active noise cancellation are unfortunate given the high asking price, but they’re only small complaints in the face of a headset that performs so well elsewhere.

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

How we tested the Astro A50 X

I used the Astro A50 X as my primary gaming headset for over a month with a PC, Xbox Series S, and PlayStation 5. During that time I played a wide range of games, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, The Last of Us Part 1, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on PS5. On PC I played lots of matches of Counter-Strike 2 and a few hours of Death Stranding: Directors Cut, plus plenty of time in strategy games like Endless Space 2 and Civilization 6.

On Xbox, I played the opening of Hi-Fi Rush, not to mention a large chunk of Mirror’s Edge and Alice: Madness Returns via backwards compatibility. I was also careful to test the headset’s performance while listening to music via Apple Music on PS5 and YouTube on other platforms, in addition to enjoying the film Prey and the first season of Hazbin Hotel on Prime Video.

For more on gaming audio, see our guides to the best gaming headsets for Call of Duty or the best gaming earbuds.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) review: Bigger, bolder, faster, better

5:00 pm | March 7, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Computers Computing Gadgets Laptops Macbooks | Tags: AI, Death Stranding | Comments: Off

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3): Two-minute review

Sometimes I struggle to explain why someone might choose a larger, heavier MacBook Air 15-inch over the regular super light and thin MacBook Air. It's an especially difficult conversation because, aside from size, there are no functional differences between the new Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) and equally-new MacBook Air 13-inch (M3).

Aesthetically, they have the same design. MacBook Air left the wedge look behind a couple of years ago (and officially canceled it this year with the removal of the M1 MacBook Air) and now sports a flat and still pleasing slab look. Both MacBook Airs are made of recycled aluminum and an anodized midnight black finish that does a decent if imperfect job of repelling fingerprints (space black on the MacBook Pro hides the prints a little better).

The Magic Keyboards and trackpads are essentially the same, including the quite useful Touch ID/power/sleep button.

They have similar, spatial-audio-capable sound systems that I like (though I tend to use AirPod Pros with them so as not to disturb my office mates). Due to the larger size of the MacBook Air 15-inch, however, you get two extra speakers (six rather than four), and the 15-inch model's speakers include force-canceling woofers that offers decent bass without causing distracting vibrations.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M3 REVIEW — (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Ultimately, it all comes down to size. The MacBook Air 15-inch offers significantly larger palm rests, which makes my typing experience that much better. The screen, though no sharper than the MacBook Pro 13-inch's 224ppi Liquid Retina display, adds hundreds of pixels to make it the most expansive MacBook Air experience available.

And that's what it comes down to – more space. Is that worth an extra $200? Perhaps. I've been using the MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) for the better part of a week and already am a little spoiled by the extra screen real estate and roomy keyboard base.

It still bothers me that, despite the larger, thicker, and heavier chassis, the 15-inch MacBook Air offers no more battery life than its substantially smaller sibling. Still, having a powerful M3 chip inside makes this a big-screen workhorse that might turn a few heads from the pricier MacBook Pro 14-inch that can also be configured to feature an M3 chip. Sure, you give up an SD card slot, an HDMI port, a little bit of battery life, and that higher-resolution screen, but you get a larger screen, a slightly lighter system, and save $300.

Overall, I think for those who demand more screen real estate (without connecting it to up to two external displays – but while keeping the laptop closed), the 15-inch MacBook Air is the right choice.

Compared to the 15-inch laptop market, the MacBook Air 15-inch M3 will maintain its leadership position atop our best 15-inch Laptop buying guide. It's better looking, faster, and either comparable or more affordable than many of the top-tier models available from Dell, HP, and Razer (I'm not talking about heavy, bargain basement 15-inch models, by the way).

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) review: Price and availability

Announced on March 4, 2024
Shipping March 8
Base model is $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199

The Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024) begins shipping out globally to customers on March 8, 2024.

The base model starts at $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199 and ships with an M3 CPU (8-core CPU and 10-core GPU ), 8 GB of unified memory, and a 256GD SSD. The system is configurable to up to 24GB of memory, and 2TB SSD. My test unit arrived with 16GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, a configuration that would run you $1,499.

While it can be hard to directly compare Intel Core i7 systems with those running Apple silicon, the price of the MacBook Air 15-inch M3 base model still compares favorably to Core i7 systems like the Dell XPS 15.

Price score: 4.5/5

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) review: Specs

The Apple MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (2024) is available in three configurations that essentially add memory and storage but otherwise leave the base system unchanged.

You get your money's worth, but I do think it's time for the base model of all MacBook Airs to start with at least 512GB of storage.

Each of these options can be configured to add more memory (up to 24GB), and add storage up to 2TB.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) review: Design

Larger 15-inch screen
Design unchanged from M2 MacBook Air 15-inch
The Midnight finish rebuffs fingerprints

I know some people still mourn the loss of the MacBook Air's original wedge shape and like to imagine what that would look like on a 15-inch model, but the slab look of the new MacBook Airs (now on their second generation) has grown on me. The recycled aluminum chassis is all clean lines and buffed corners.

The dimensions of this M3-sporting MacBook Air match those of the last 15-inch model. It's still 0.45 (11.5mm) inches thick (a hair thicker than the 13-inch model, which is 11.3mm thick), 13.40 inches wide, and 9.35 inches deep. The portable weighs 3.3 lbs, which is a little more than half a pound heavier than the 13-inch model. That's still pretty lightweight for a 15-inch model. However, as much as I like this big screen, I still prefer carrying the lightest possible laptop and would probably choose the 2.7 lb. MacBook Air 13-inch over this one.

Apple offers the MacBook Air in a variety of colors (silver, starlight, space gray, and midnight) but my preference is for the new midnight, which like space black (available on the MacBook Pro 14 M3 Max I reviewed last year) is anodized to cut down on fingerprints. Because midnight is not as dark as the black, it's not quite as successful at hiding all of my fingerprints. I hope that future MacBook Airs get the awesome space black option.

Image 1 of 7

Image 2 of 7

Image 3 of 7

Image 4 of 7

Image 5 of 7

Image 6 of 7

Image 7 of 7

The MacBook Air 15-inch M3 design is, in some ways, cleaner than that of the MacBook Pro. Where the latter has fine speaker grills on either side of the keyboard, the MacBook Air 15 – which has room for speakers – is all smooth metal. I like the look of it.

Apple's Magic Keyboard remains one of my favorite ultraportable typing experiences. There's a pleasing amount of travel and response and, of course, lots of room to work. Similarly, the force touch trackpad is huge and responsive. I still wish Apple would offer an update where you could draw on the touchpad using an Apple Pencil (a guy can dream, can't he?).

As you might expect the MacBook Air 15-inch M3 is not packed with every port you can imagine or need. There is, however, a pair of Thunderbolt ports capable of driving up to two external displays (but only with the laptop closed). I used my test system with it connected to a Targus 7-port universal USB-C adapter, which was then connected to a 24-inch HD display. The ports are also useful for data and power. They both sit on one side of the laptop, next to the MagSafe charge port. On the other side is that vestigial 3.5mm headphone jack that audiophiles will appreciate. Apple should add one more USB-C port on this side of the laptop. Maybe they will the next time they redesign the MacBook Air.

One of the big (get it?) selling points of the 15-inch MacBook Air is the expansive Liquid Retina display. It's still 224ppi but where the 13-inch MacBook Air's 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display offers a resolution of 2560 x 1664 pixels, my 15-inch MacBook Air's 15.3-inch display offers a 2880 x 1864 resolution, which means hundreds more pixels and a lot more screen real estate

There is a lot to love about this display. It supports 1 billion colors and and the P3 wide color gamut. This means that everything from the depressing Netflix movie Spaceman to games like Death Stranding Directors Cut looks excellent. 500 nits is not necessarily the brightest screen, but I found the display viable in all manner of light situations.

I have grown used to the rather larger notch at the top of the screen, which accommodates the Facetime camera. That 1080p camera is also excellent for Google Meets, and Zoom conferences. One person told me I looked "crystal clear" during our one-on-one video meeting, while another, who was part of a more bandwidth-constrained group meeting, told me I looked a bit cartoonish.

Design score: 4.5/5

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) review: Performance

Powered by M3 chip
It does it all
All the power and intelligence you need for local AI tasks

Benchmarks

Here’s how the MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) performed in our suite of benchmark tests:

Geekbench 6.2.2 Single-Core: 3,102; Multi-Core: 12,052 Battery Life (Web Surfing test): 15 hours and 3 minutes

In Apple silicon's short history, there has yet to be a shred of disappointment. Every iteration builds on the last in spectacular fashion. I've tested every Apple silicon update from the initial M1 to this new class of M3 chips and, without exception, each one is as blindingly fast and as efficient as an SoC (System on Chip) can be.

Without Apple silicon, the MacBook Air 15-inch would be a relatively lightweight, big-screen laptop bursting with Apple's signature style but perhaps weighed down a bit by Intel's still underperforming desktop-class silicon.

With the M3, my MacBook Air 15-inch is fast, flexible, and ready for just about anything. Its Geekbench 6 numbers are noticeably higher than those of the previous-class M2 MacBook Air 15-inch.

In real-world use, the ultrabook is as effective an everyday browsing and information-gathering system as it is a platform for intense image editing and a wide array of onboard and in-the-cloud AI operations.

In Adobe Photoshop, I asked the Firefly Generative AI platform to create a whole picture based on a thumbnail of a house in the hills. The result came instantly and looked real but also dreamy.

Image 1 of 2

Running Adobe Firefly (Image credit: Future)

Image 2 of 2

When I asked the local AI engine Freechat for a presentation on horology, it quickly spit out an outline for all my slides. It would not, however, create the slide images. And when I asked Microsoft's Copilot for images, the cloud-based app took a bit longer but I eventually got a bunch of pictures of "A middle-aged bald guy with glasses using a laptop in the middle of a magical park".

I tried the same prompt with the local AI tool DiffusionBee (it lets you download the image models to the MacBook) and while it was a bit faster, the results were not nearly as good.

Image 1 of 2

local and cloud-based AI — A Microsoft Copilot test (Image credit: Future)

Image 2 of 2

If you're wondering why I'm suddenly talking about generative AI in the context of a MacBook Air, blame Apple. The company's been doing AI forever and has built every Apple Silicon SoC with an onboard Neural Egninge but only recently started touting its AI bona fides because, well, everyone else is doing it.

To be fair, it's clear to me that whatever generative AI skills Apple introduces at WWDC 2024 in June, the MacBook Air 15-inch M3 will be ready for it.

The MacBook Air 15-inch M3 is also an able gaming system. I played Death Stranding: Directors Cut and Asphalt 8 (with a connected PlayStation Controller). The M3 is well-equipped to handle HD-level gameplay on both games. I tried cranking the resolution up to the max on DeathStranding, but the frame rate sputters to well below 30fps. If you want to play AAA games on this laptop at a smooth 60fps, you'll want to keep the resolution at an HD level (1920x1080). In that setting, I could still see the texture of Léa Seydoux's skin.

On the connectivity front, Apple upgraded the WiFi from Wifi 6 to WiFi 6E. Bluetooth is the same as it was on the last model: 5.3.

Image 1 of 5

If you're wondering why I'm suddenly talking about generative AI in the context of a MacBook Air, blame Apple. The company's been doing AI forever and has built every Apple Silicon SoC with an onboard Neural Egninge but only recently started touting its AI bonafides because, well, everyone else is doing it. To be fair, it's clear to me that whatever generative AI skills Apple introduces at WWDC 2024 in June, the MacBook Air 15-inch M3 will be ready for it. The MacBook Air 15-inch M3 is also an able gaming system. I played Death Stranding: Directors Cut and Asphalt 8 (with a connected PlayStation Controller). The M3 is well-equipped to handle HD-level gameplay on both games. I tried cranking the resolution up to the max on DeathStranding, but the frame rate sputters to well below 30fps. If you want to play AAA games on this laptop at a smooth 60fps, you'll want to keep the resolution at an HD level (1920x1080). In that setting, I could still see the texture of Léa Seydoux's skin. On the connectivity front, Apple upgraded the WiFi from Wifi 6 to WiFi 6E. Bluetooth is the same as it was on the last model: 5.3. — Playing DeathStranding on a MacBook Air 15-inch M3 (Image credit: Future)

Image 2 of 5

Image 3 of 5

Image 4 of 5

Image 5 of 5

Part of the reason you want this (or really and MacBook) is because of the platform. MacOS is not only a mature operating system. it's one that manages to feel unencumbered by its years of existence. Apple's managed to marry its fast and efficient Apple silicon with a desktop-class OS without any noticeable compromises.

This is a system that works, is flexible, and never crashes. Better yet, all your favorite apps already work on it. Perhaps even more exciting is that macOS and Apple Silicon are slowly but surely becoming a viable platform for gaming. AAA titles like Lies of Pi feel perfectly at home and, I can tell you, they are a joy to play on the large 15.3-inch display.

Performance score: 4.5/5

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) review: Battery life

Lasts almost 18 hours
Still charges quickly

If you want to know why I love the current generation of MacBooks, it's not just because of their good looks and blazing performance: It's the battery life. I absolutely love a laptop that can deliver a full day of work without being plugged in.

Apple promises 15 hours of web browsing and 18 hours of video streaming. In our Future Labs tests and my anecdotal ones, the MacBook Air 15-inch M3 lives up to those promises. We got over 15 hours of continuous web browsing. I spent the better part of a day unplugged and only truly taxed the battery when I played Death Stranding, a game that can zap a full battery in a matter of a few hours (I had a similar experience when gaming on the MacBook Pro 14 M3 Max).

My only criticism is that I wish the larger MacBook Air 15-inch provided more battery life than the smaller MacBook Air 13-inch.

Battery score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)?

Buy it if...

You're looking to marry thin and light with a big screen
You won't get more battery life but all that screen real estate is enticing.

You want Apple Silicon without the price or heft
This 15-inch laptop is a great alternative to the pricier entry-level MacBook Pro.

You want the best-looking 15-inch laptop
No one makes laptops like Apple and macOS is one of the most reliable platforms on the planet.

Don't buy it if...

You value portability above all else
This is a MacBook Air that comes perilously close to blowing the "air" part of the name. It's light for 15 inches but also over 3 lbs.

You want more battery life for the size and money
Apple still can't figure out how to make a 15-inch MacBook Air that gets more battery life than its much smaller MacBook Air 13-inch sibling.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) review: Also consider

If our MacBook Air 15-inch (2023) review has you considering other options, here are two laptops to consider...

How I tested the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3)

I used the MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) for most of the week
I used it as my day-to-day work laptop
I ran a number of cloud and local Generative AI operations on it

I received the Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3) at the start of the week and, after quickly unboxing it, adopted the laptop as my work system.

I used it to produce stories, edit photos, play games, watch movies, read content, and generate AI-based images and text.

I've been testing laptops and technology for over 30 years.

Those who fight further

Yuffie and Cait Sith use a synergy attack — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Rebirth’s predecessor Final Fantasy 7 Remake famously dispensed with the original Final Fantasy 7’s turn-based battle system in favor of a hybrid setup that features pausable real-time combat. Rebirth doubles down on this change, offering battles that feel not only strategic but also fluid and responsive. Every aspect of the combat has been iterated upon. Characters move more deliberately, their dodges and parries feeling lifted from an action game proper rather than an RPG dressed up as one. A perfect parry will even render you immune to damage for a short time - a brave new mechanic that keeps players on their toes.

This dynamism makes customization more meaningful, a feat that Rebirth delivers by offering oodles of Materia, which can be equipped to give your characters access to different passive and active abilities. This fleshes out the strategic layer in combat. As you battle, you’ll build up ATB - action points that you can cash in for specific spells or abilities. With the touch of a button, combat is paused, allowing you to execute these moves. This is a source of endless meaningful decisions and helps create joyful friction, keeping things fresh and engaging even during more routine battles.

Best bit

Cissnei in Gongaga jungle — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Fighting a giant mech on top of a Mako reactor was particularly memorable, as were the pilot’s hammy monologues. Fraught with dramatic tension, stunning visuals, and nail-biting combat, this battle highlighted everything there is to love about Final Fantasy spectacle.

As you battle, you’re able to rapidly switch between different party members, taking control of Cloud’s companions with ease. Each playable character handles very differently in battle, helping not only to add a sense of variety but also to reinforce the characters’ own personalities.

The stalwart, reliable Barret is slow-moving. His dodge has a shorter range than his allies, but he makes up for this by being tough as nails, slowly but surely advancing as his gun arm spits hot lead. Red XIII moves rapidly, like a wild animal; his unique ‘Vengeance’ mechanic rewarding him for taking risks and successfully blocking attacks. Aerith is a deliberate and methodical spellcaster, placing glyphs on the ground to control the battlefield, and supporting her allies with consistent stability - much like she does outside of combat, too. In dialogue scenes, Aerith acts as the backbone of the party, guiding her friends with a sense of purposeful compassion. Seeing this mirrored in Rebirth’s combat is a real treat.

It’s the little things

Costa del Sol at dusk — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Unlike Final Fantasy 7 Remake which took place in the packed megapolis of Midgar, Rebirth has you travel beyond its walls, exploring an expansive semi-open world. However, rather than using this as a way to shoehorn in dozens of tedious sidequests and extraneous tasks, developer Square Enix designed Rebirth’s explorable zones with a sense of restraint. While there are plenty of side-quests, they tend to exist in short, sharp bursts, amounting to bite-sized mini-games or battles with optional objectives. Never do these diversions distract from the weight of the main storyline.

Some side-quests do seem dull on paper; you’ll sometimes be tracking down a missing item or escorting something across the map. What gives these missions texture, however, is how each of them focuses on a specific one of Cloud’s companions, using the side-quest as a pretext for meaningful character interactions.

A game of Queen's Blood in FF7 Remake — (Image credit: Square Enix)

What could be an uninspired escort quest in Junon quickly becomes something more when it causes Barret to raise concerns about his attitude toward parenthood and his anxieties around his daughter growing up. Parts of the conversation are played for laughs, with Barret comedically lamenting his daughter “flying the nest,” but there’s a real overtone of emotional sensitivity and nuance, too.

Accessibility features

Camera options menu in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is light on accessibility features but not without plenty of options for camera customization. Screen shake can be toggled and camera distance and responsiveness can all be adjusted to suit tastes. There are also multiple difficulty levels, including ‘Dynamic’ which adjusts automatically based on your performance.

Not every side activity benefits from Square Enix’s more restrained approach, though. The occasional task remains a chore. Though almost all of the mini-games make for amusing distractions, some fall flat. Highlights include the Chocobo racing game, a loving send-up of Mario Kart 8, and Queen’s Blood, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth’s deep and rewarding collectible card game.

Unfortunately, there are moments where the RPG overreaches. In one dire section, the player must use the DualSense controller touchpad to throw blocks around a dungeon to activate switches and solve puzzles. The section is derivative and torturous - a half-baked idea that is given center stage for a tedious half-hour due to the RPG’s unabashed (and occasionally misplaced) confidence.

Never-ending story

Cloud leaps towards Sephiroth with his giant sword swung over his head — (Image credit: Square Enix)

Rebirth shows similar confidence when it comes to storytelling, almost always with strong results. Like an industrial drill slowly breaking through layers of concrete, the RPG retells Final Fantasy 7’s second act with consistent momentum. Open-world sections are broken up by hub towns and dungeons, all of which give Rebirth a pleasing ebb and flow where tension can build and fall across an accommodating backdrop of varying environments and contexts.

Rebirth’s core characters grow and change throughout, their personalities reshaped under the deliberate weight of the RPG’s tightly constructed central story. For instance, as he did in the original, Cloud is forced to confront questions surrounding his identity and sense of self. What’s masterful about Rebirth is how seamlessly the stakes rise. As Sephiroth increasingly uses his supernatural influence to control Cloud, it feels like a frog slowly boiling in a pot, unaware that it’s overheating until it’s too late.

The remake trilogy is sticking to its guns - a move that’s worthy of respect

The tale Rebirth has to tell does differ from what’s offered in the original. While these differences seem minute for the vast majority of the story, the RPG’s final section is a high-concept set piece worthy of Kingdom Hearts 3 or Death Stranding in its simultaneous display of artistic bravery and obtuseness. The final act of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth will ignite the internet with fan theories. While some will find it distasteful, it’s clear that the remake trilogy is sticking to its guns - a move that’s worthy of respect.

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth proves that the remake trilogy isn’t a remake in the strictest sense. However, if you’re looking to go on another thrilling adventure with Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, Yuffie, and Red XIII, then you’ve come to the right place - just don’t expect it to be the adventure you’re used to.

Looking for other immersive titles? Check out our lists of the best RPGs and the best story games.

Death Stranding: Director’s Cut now available on iOS, iPadOS and macOS

7:01 pm | January 30, 2024

Author: admin | Category: Mobile phones news | Tags: Death Stranding | Comments: Off

Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is a video game by Hideo Kojima about a courier tasked with delivering supplies in a desolate post-apocalyptic world. The eerily beautiful game has been available on PlayStation and PC for some time, and starting today, it is also available for devices with Apple silicon - iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The Director’s Cut version was announced for Apple devices back at WWDC 2023 and was demoed on an iPhone 15 Pro during the phone’s launch in September. Now, it can be played on an iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPad with M1 or later (that’s the...

Crucial P5 Plus review – competitively priced but lacking in performance

7:46 pm | August 25, 2023

Author: admin | Category: Computers Gadgets | Tags: Death Stranding, Mortal Kombat | Comments: Off

The Crucial P5 Plus is a budget PS5 SSD that looks to rival some of the cheaper options for internal console storage in 2023. However, with sequential performance that falls behind the majority of the competition, this is one drive that can’t quite be considered one of the best SSDs for PS5 despite having a good heatsink.

At a time when the prices of Gen 4 models are continuing to fall, any major advantage that the Crucial P5 Plus would have is subdued. It isn’t fast enough or packed with leading features to rival the top-end brands, nor cheap enough to be considered in higher capacities than some of the budget picks I’ve had past my desk over the past couple of years.

Price and Availability

You can get your hands on the Crucial P5 Plus in the US and the UK for as low as $44.99 / £44.99 for 500GB, but things get more aggressive at the 1TB and 2TB variants at $55 / £57 and $97 / £98 being one of the cheapest PS5 SSDs available now. It’s not quite the cheapest on the market - that would be the Adata XPG Gammix S70 Blade, which performs a lot better - but for a Gen 4 NVMe in 2TB in the sub-$100 / £100 range, this value proposition cannot be ignored. With the heatsink models specifically, you’re looking at 1TB and 2TB variants for £65 / $62.99 and $199.99 / £104.99 respectively which is still incredibly competitive.