Christmas Gift Ideas
Logitech G933 Artemis Spectrum Wireless Gaming Headset ($299.95)
Buying a gaming headset can present a frustratingly difficult choice, but the G933 takes all that indecision away with a slew of nifty features. Not only can it be used across PC, mobile devices, PS4 and Xbox One, but you also have the option to play either wirelessly with zero lag, or wired to avoid using battery power. Customisable lighting and advanced sound drivers only solidify this as the one to beat.
NES Classic ($99)
The hot ticket item this Christmas is without question the NES Classic Edition. A miniature version of the beloved 1995 NES console, this tiny wonder packs in 30 classic games for you to enjoy on the big screen. Plus, it utilises HDMI and USB cables to run, making installation an absolute breeze. Every gamer should have this bad boy resting on their shelf, if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on one.
PlayStation 4 Pro/Xbox One S ($559/$399)
Whether you have yet to jump on the next-gen console bandwagon, or are looking for a sneaky upgrade, you can’t look past Sony and Microsoft’s latest offerings. The PS4 Pro offers 4K resolution (provided you have the right television for the job), while the Xbox One S is capable of HDR gaming and 4K Blu-ray playback. The price tag might be a little hefty, but if you’re serious about your gaming, these systems will pump out the prettiest console visuals on the market thus far.
Review:
Watch Dogs 2 (PS4, XBO, PC)
★★★★
Creating a brand new IP is by no means an easy task, let alone a new IP that features a sprawling open world and ambitious new mechanics. That’s exactly what Ubisoft set out to do two years ago with Watch Dogs, and though it was a promising initial offering, there was a lot of room for improvement. Enter Watch Dogs 2, a game that replaces both its main location and its lead protagonist in an attempt to do just that. Thankfully it succeeds, allowing Watch Dogs 2 to transform itself into a much stronger offering.
Picking up after the trials and tribulations of Aiden Pearce, Watch Dogs 2 sees the shady Blume Corporation setting up shop in San Francisco to install CTOS 2.0. It doesn’t take long, however, for a new hacker to arise in the form of Marcus Holloway, who was wrongly profiled as a criminal by the smart city. Soon Marcus joins up with hacking group DedSec in an effort to take on Blume once and for all.
To do so, you’ll need to make use of Marcus’ whole arsenal, which has been given a little more love this time around. Hacking, for example, is not solely limited to one option, allowing for some creative diversions and deeper gameplay. Whether you’re taking hold of large structures or enemy phones for minor distractions, your options aren’t as linear as they once were. Marcus can even set up proximity traps and lure enemies towards death by hacking.
Similarly, driving, while still not perfect, has had a dramatic handling upgrade, making car chases far less infuriating than before. That means less restarts and even fewer rage quits. When you’re not hitting breakneck speeds, you’ll also notice that San Francisco is a far less drab and lifeless environment than Chicago once was.
Not everything works, though. Firefights lack creativity, particularly in terms of weapons which can be mass-produced via a 3D printer, yet cannot be customised to your whims outside of skins, which is pretty disappointing. Meanwhile, enemy AI are hardly the sharpest tools in the shed and some external characters can irritate.
Yet as a whole, Watch Dogs 2 feels like the refined beast it needs to be if this series wants to continue. Each adjustment is welcomed and beneficial – meaning it shouldn’t have to hack its way to the top of your Christmas list.
Review:
Dishonored 2 (PS4, XBO, PC)
★★★★
The original Dishonored was a surprise hit, mixing a dark and twisted steampunk world with a wonderful amount of player choice. Its sequel takes all these good qualities and builds upon them – leaving one hell of a second chapter.
While Corvo plays largely the same, the addition of Emily into the mix adds great depth to proceedings with some impressive new abilities – Domino in particular. Meanwhile, Arkane’s world is decidedly less one-note and level design is constantly creative. The story might start to feel a little too close to that of its predecessor, but gameplay certainly reigns supreme here.
Review:
Assassin’s Creed: The Ezio Collection (PS4, XBO)
★★★
With no chief Assassin’s Creed title scheduled for this year, Ubisoft has decided to allow the historic stabbings to continue via its most universally beloved character so far, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. As a result, Assassin’s Creed II, Brotherhood and Revelations are all at your disposal, but while re-entering the smooth Italian’s world once again is prettier via a visual upgrade, the whole experience does feel a tad dated. Facial animations fare the worst, while strange voice acting also rips you straight out of the three games. They’re issues you’ll eventually be able to move past, however, and if you’re either a serious devotee of the Creed, or looking to experience the series for the first time, it’s hard to look past such a good value deal.
