I first discovered Need for Speed : Hot Pursuit around ten years ago.
It came in an unmarked padded bag and was a surprise review.
Knowing nothing about the game I went in blind, it was early in my ButtonmasherNZ days and I was keen.
Out of that came an overlong and excitable review, the game was good and had its turbo boosted hooks in me.
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If you’ve been living under a rock, you won’t know Cyberpunk 2077 is coming in hot.
Currently slated for December 10th launch and it seems this is the one the game will hit, which is a relief. New Generation updates will be following in the new year for free, but take a look at the latest trailers. Its running very nicely anyway.
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I’ll come straight out with this, Microsoft and Xbox ANZ very kindly supplied us with an XBOX SERIES X in their review window. That means we’ve had it for about a week and a half. What follows are my thoughts after unboxing and those first steps with the next generation of gaming.
Don’t judge an Xbox Series X by its cover.
At least until you’ve read a bit.
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Today we had the opportunity to get a PS5 hands on, in Auckland. Personally Sydney would have been handy, but you know Covid year, travel restrictions and, well, stuff.
However while the team was otherwise engaged occasional contributor Nick (@nguns on Twitter) stepped in and had a very nice morning indeed.
Thanks to PlaystationNZ for giving us the opportunity. Over to you, Nick.
The PS5 hands On Experience.
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PES 21 or more accurately Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 has arrived in an unusual year.
Historically 2020 is going down in flames and across the world sport is no stranger to lockdowns, delays and cancellations. What better way to get the rush of live soccer when you can’t, than to fire up a crisp new game and kick a virtual ball?
This year’s Season Update to last years very good PES is the answer.
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With the release of Mafia Definitive Edition last month, 2K’s Mafia trilogy is now complete.
When I reviewed Mafia 2 in August this year, I ended my review (based on the lacklustre Mafia 2 remaster) by saying: “I can’t recommend this package right now, especially given it’s incomplete until Mafia is released in August.”
Well, now that I have finished Mafia Definitive Edition, my verdict is easy: It’s definitely worth your time. Especially with the love that has been lavished in updating the original Mafia for today’s modern gamer.
A game that tells the rise [then fall] of Lost Heaven (New York) taxi driver Tommy Angelo through the ranks of a feared crime family during the 1930s.
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Kingdoms of Amalur on the xbox360 was a cult hit before it stopped being mainstream. Action RPG fans loved it and even with rough edges, it had popular appeal. There weren’t many gamers of that age that didn’t glass over and have nice things to say about it.
There’s always a game you regret selling or trading, for me this was it.
When I heard that KoA: Reckoning was getting the HD treatment, I was over the moon. One of those games that guided us out of the last generation with fond memories. I thought I knew it fairly well, but the first couple of hours were not lodged in my memory.
I selected my character, for some reason a shapely dark elf (again) and set off.
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Street Power Football is a mixed bag of soccer stuff. Delivering six distinctly different game modes to a pumping beat, while they are somewhat linked it feels at times like an identity crisis.
It’s soccer Jim, but not as we know it.
That’s the crux of it, the core of the game is about 3 vs 3 Street Soccer, end to end short and snappy games. Most often decided by who made the fewer mistakes, like NBA Street the game is quick, chock full of power-ups and “character”.
I love a good soccer game, having spent my formative years in the U.K. it goes without saying. While I can appreciate the niche for flashy moves, lycra and the odd Panna. I find the game lacks subtlety and doesn’t hit my sweet spot, which is obviously touch slower.
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JBL ANZ very kindly supplied us with a set of Wireless 600 headphones to celebrate their Australian launch last week. Over the course of this year they have made a big impact in New Zealand with their gaming range and we have been able to review some of the range previously.
Of course JBL are not only known for their Gaming Headsets, as part of the Harman Karman Group they are responsible for a range of lifestyle audio devices too. Some of which will be finding their way to Australasia soon.
The Wireless 600 is a set that is easy to put on, the packaged (braided) cables make it simple to swap out from PS4, to Mac, to Xbox to Switch. I am happy with it and will be making the most of them.
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The Top 10 annoying things in video games.
There are Top 10 lists for all sorts of things, but today it hit me there’s a list we don’t speak of. So here it is, in no particular order.
01: Pointless Boss Fights.
02: Non dodge-able Attacks.
03: The End of Level vehicle run.
04: Choices, choices, annoying choices.
05: Buying Loot from an NPC, then finding something better.
06: Busy Work.
07: Racing in non-racing games is annoying.
08: Learning the ropes with an established character.
09: The A.I. never drives.
10: Backtracking by design.
The Fitbit Family has been something of a revelation in wearables over the last two years. Especially for those of us without Apple phones. Falling neatly into our Tech area we’ve had the opportunity to get Guy in a sweat with a couple of them. His recent feature on Active Zone Minutes (AZM) was well worth a look.
As a spectator of Fitbit in my family, I’ve been impressed. Now FitBit have launched three new models. No doubt after such an unprecedented year they’ll be on a lot of virtual Christmas Lists come December.
I haven’t worn a watch in decades. However there is enough tech squeezed into this series to make it damn sexy again!
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