As Christmas rapidly approaches, so too does the struggle of narrowing down the dreaded shopping list. But whether you’re looking out for a loved one, or just want to treat yourself to some holiday cheer, here are a handful of goodies we’d be more than happy for Santa to leave under our tree:
Venom Nintendo Switch Power Pack & Stand
$69.99 / ebgames.com.au
For all the wonders the Nintendo Switch provides, battery life is not one of them. Enter the Venom Power Pack and Stand. This beastly unit comes with a whopping 10,000 mAh rechargeable battery designed to double or even triple your game time (this will vary largely based on what you’re playing). Understandably, this addition means there will be a bit of extra weight added on to your system, so Venom has smartly placed a built in kickstand at the rear of its unit that thankfully adds more stability than the Switch’s own solution, making it perfect for multiplayer sessions on the go, or long flights. If you’re a hardcore Switch owner, add this one to the top of your list.
Fallout – Pip-Boy 2000 Mk VI Self-Assembly Construction Kit
$248.00 / www.ebgames.com.au
For the Fallout fan that has it all comes the Pip-Boy 2000 Mk VI Self-Assembly Construction Kit – a seriously hardcore replica of the series’ famous accessory that features working mechanisms and over 100 parts to try and assemble. This officially licenced kit has been designed to mimic the look and feel of the kits that that Vault-Tec may have actually supplied to vault dwellers, so you can rest assured this is as close as you’re likely to ever get to the real thing. The best part is that it all comes with an easy-to-read step- by-step instruction manual that should avoid any potential horror stories.
Pokémon Let’s Go! Pikachu/Eevee with Pokeball Plus
$119.00 / www.bigw.com.au
Few franchises can capture the hearts of older and younger alike, but such is the power of Pokémon. As a result, that makes Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! for Nintendo Switch the perfect present. Based loosely on the 1998 Pokémon Yellow, Let’s Go! offers wannabe Pokémon masters the opportunity to return to the Kanto region and experience a classic journey with a few new twists. The biggest of these is deciding between the two versions – the choice of which dictates which pocket monster will be the first to join you. The Pokémon catching mechanic made famous in Pokémon Go has also been transplanted into this reimagining. For the full experience, though, make sure you nab yourself a Pokéball Plus device, and if you have yet to buy yourself a Switch, there’s even a Let’s Go!-branded console that’ll beg you for your money.
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Playstation Classic Console
$149.99 / www.ebgames.com.au
‘90s gamers listen up, because Sony is following Nintendo’s lead with the PlayStation Classic, an adorably sized system designed to bring back those nostalgic feels. 45% smaller than the 1994 original, this miniaturised wonder comes complete with two wired controllers, a HDMI cable and a virtual memory card. More importantly, there’s 20 classic titles to enjoy, ranging from Grand Theft Auto, Final Fantasy VII, Tekken 3, R4 Ridge Racer Type 4, Syphon Filter and Metal Gear Solid.
When in Rome
$49.99 / www.amazon.com.au
Fans of old-school VHS-based board games are bound to get a kick out of When in Rome – the first voice augmented board game designed for Amazon Alexa that gives the classic concept a new-age twist. The basic premise is simple: grab some friends, choose your teams and then let Alexa guide you around up to 20 cities where you’ll face questions from real locales to earn points. Topics range from food and drink, to language, to the straight up bizarre. From London to Mumbai, we enjoyed plenty of laughs while learning a number of unexpected worldly facts. It’s worth stressing though that you must have an Alexa-powered device to play.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Collector’s Box
$159.00 / www.ebgames.com.au
Are you knee-deep in Red Dead Redemption 2 but want to surround yourself in its wonder even more? Well look no further than the Red Dead Redemption 2 Collector’s Box. This is one seriously amazing bunch of treats, all housed within a metallic tithing box with a lock and key – inspired by the lockbox used by the Van der Linde gang within the actual game. That’s just the start, however, with a double-sized puzzle, pin set, playing cards, six shooter bandanna and more. We should point out this is a limited edition product, so if you’re keen on adding it to your gaming collection, act sooner rather than later in case stocks sell out. If they do, well then the physical game is still an amazing stocking-stuffer!
Turtle Beach Recon 200 Headset
$99.00 / www.jbhifi.com.au
Finding a quality headset for your gaming console can often be a painful experience, especially if you have more than one. Turtle Beach wants to alleviate some of that stress with its new Recon 200 line, by allowing you to use the same headphones for both Xbox One and PlayStation 4. Even better is that switching between the two is as easy as flicking a switch. Having already put them through their paces, these are definitely some of the best valued headphones on the market, with significant bass, a capable microphone, incredibly comfortable form factor and a rechargeable battery that can last over 12 hours. Some friendly advice, though: just remember to turn them off when you’re done. We foolishly accidentally drained the batteries a handful of times before learning our lesson.
For more gaming content, read our review of Red Dead Redemption 2 here.
