We check out Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition and go hands-on with Sony’s WF-1000XM4 headphones.
In case you’ve been thinking grabbing Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition in time for Christmas, we offer up our recent experience with the game. We also go hands-on with Inscryption, Disco Elysium – The Final Cut and Sony’s Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones. Get amongst it.
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, XBO, Switch, PC)
To say there was a lot of hype behind the revamped Grand Theft Auto trilogy is an understatement. Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City and San Andreas were all huge releases that not only helped define the PS2 generation, but shaped the future of the video game industry forevermore. They also developed a steady legion of dedicated fans, which it’s such a shame to report that the release of Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition has been pretty darn borked.
From performance issues to truly questionable character models, this Definitive Edition has been through the absolute wringer. That’s especially true for the Switch iteration which, although packing the appeal portable play, unfortunately feels a bit underdone – plagued with a strange hazy blur effect that seems to persist across all three games.
It’s worth noting that since the trilogy’s release Rockstar has openly acknowledged the issues and already issued a few patches, but it remains to be seen what the end result of all that work will produce.
Fingers crossed it does the trick, because even despite all the woes, Grand Theft Auto III, Vice City and San Andreas are still an absolute delight to play to this day. From their quirky characters to biting social commentary, all three games offer up sandboxes filled with chaotic potential that we really want to fall in love with all over again.
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This Definitive Edition has the makings of a wonderful nostalgia-soaked trip down memory lane… eventually. It’s just still not there yet.
Also out…
Inscryption (PC)
Talking about Inscryption is a difficult task indeed, for if you say too much you run the risk of losing some of the game’s absorbing magic. So we’re not going to take that chance.
All you need to know is that you wake up in a dark cabin with a creepy dude across from you demanding to play a card game for your life. Sounds fair. But while the game starts simple, new layers continue to build strategy and complexity.
The whole experience is backed up by a truly unsettling atmosphere, creepy soundtrack and haunting art style. Inscryption’s twists and turns are unexpected and memorable, cementing it as one of the best games of 2021.
Do yourself a favour and play this one if you can. We’re quietly hoping it gets ported to more systems pronto.
Disco Elysium – The Final Cut (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, XBO, Switch, PC)
Initially released in 2019, Disco Elysium wowed gamers and critics with its rich characters, engaging world and incredibly deep narrative. It’s an RPG that although not for everybody, was a masterclass of its genre.
If you missed it, the game sees you fill the shoes of a police detective on the hunt for a murderer. Only trouble with that is a big night out has given you amnesia leaving you to piece everything together again. Disco Elysium’s beauty is in its focus on developing its lead, allowing you to shape a wealth stats and characteristics into a completely unique individual. Every player’s journey will follow a slightly different path, but what remains a constant is some truly exceptional writing. This Final Cut also adds full voice acting as well, with enhances the experience even more.
Intelligent and thought-provoking, Disco Elysium – The Final Cut is well worth a look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bTk_NeRKX8&ab_channel=Sony
Hands-on with the Sony WF-1000XM4 Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling In-Ear Headphones
Despite facing a heavily competitive market Sony has re-entered the wireless earbud battlefield with its WF-1000XM4 Headphones. The good news for the tech giant is that after spending a few weeks with a pair of our own, we can happily admit they’re something special indeed.
Sleek yet subtle, the first thing you’ll probably notice about the WF-1000XM4’s is that they are pretty chunky buds, so if your ear is on the smaller side they may have some difficulty properly fitting. We swapped out the tips for the smallest option available and still felt like we could go a size down, but they just managed to squeeze into place.
Speaking of the tips though, they are without question the most comfortable in-ear experience we’ve felt so far. The silicone and foam hybrid material not only manages to create the perfect seal – it manages to do so without feeling like your head has been dunked underwater.
Once you have the seal in place, the noise cancellation of the WF -1000XM4s is truly exceptional. We barely heard any traffic during outdoor walks or the random chatter of passengers on trains, making this our default buds for anytime we really need to block out some background noise.
It’s not at the expense of sound quality either, which is also solid. That news shouldn’t come as a surprise to all the fans of Sony’s over-ear headphones, but bass comes in heavy while the rest of the sound stage was clear and free from distortion. Should you want to tinker with the nitty-gritty, Sony’s smartphone app should help do the trick.
The WF-1000XM4’s biggest hurdle is its almost $400 price tag. But rest assured you get what you pay for here, so if you’re looking for exceptional noise cancellation and sound, these buds are a worthy investment. We just suggest making sure they’ll be a comfy fit first if you can.
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