Metroid Dread might be the hottest title for Nintendo Switch but we also check out Back 4 Blood and Lost in Random on PS5.
We then wrap our head (and eyes) around TCL’s NXTWEAR G Smart Glasses which are looking to bring the cinema experience to your home.
Let’s get started…
Metroid Dread (Switch)
While Metroid might be one of Nintendo’s more niche franchises, Metroid Dread finally gives the chance for bad-arse bounty hunter Samus Aran to score some limelight on the Switch and the result is something special indeed. Touted as the conclusion to the epic Metroid lore, Dread sees Samus descend upon planet ZDR to investigate a mysterious transmission. Naturally bad things ensue, stripping her of her gear and abilities.
It’s a formula many fans have seen before, but the journey that follows is so darn enjoyable that it’s hard to care. This is 2D action at some of its finest, with plenty of collectibles to find, foes to best and places to explore. Plus the introduction of E.M.M.I.s – a new robotic enemy that has to be evaded at all costs – does well to ratchet up the tension in some of the game’s rooms. Each sprint for safety had us on the edge of our seat, and thankfully even when you do stuff it up the last save point is never too far away.
It’s worth noting there has been a fair bit of discussion about whether or not Metroid Dread might be too difficult, but honestly we enjoyed the challenge the game presented and enjoyed immense glee any time we managed to overcome one of its many bosses. Just be aware that some of the bosses will take a fair number of attempts before you properly learn the pattern.
Metroid Dread is well worth a spot in any Switch owner’s library, especially if you’ve splashed out on the new Nintendo Switch OLED model. The updated screen helps the game pop even more than it does otherwise. Now where is Metroid Prime 4, Nintendo?
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Also Out…
Back 4 Blood (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)
Let’s call a spade a spade here. Back 4 Blood is as close as we’re going to get to a Left 4 Dead 3 and we’re okay with that. After all this co-op zombie shooter is the brain child of the team behind the classic series, so much of this spiritual sequel feels the same.
Most levels will have you running between objectives as you try to hack, slash and shoot your way through a varying number of the undead. If you’re going at it alone that might sound like a slightly repetitive slog, but with a group of friends it’s an absolute bloody riot.
We even enjoyed messing around with the game’s card system, which sees you build decks that spec out your character to suit a specific playstyle.
Back 4 Blood isn’t perfect – the difficulty can be wildly uneven in places and you’ll still cop the occasional glitch – but they’re never frequent enough to derail the fun. We’d also like a few more ‘continues’ here and there, but rest assured you won’t go wrong if you decide to pick this one up.
Lost in Random (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, Switch, PC)
While on the one hand EA is known for pumping out their annualised sporting moneymakers, they are also building a reputation for releasing smaller quirky adventures as well.
Lost in Random is the latest in these efforts and it’s quite the enjoyably quirky adventure. It all takes place in the kingdom of Random where a roll of the dice determines which realm a child shall be sent to. Without ruining too much of the charm you follow the plights of a young girl who sets out on a journey to find her sister after being separated for a year.
What follows is an engaging story backed up by some unique real-time combat that engages both card and dice-based strategic elements. Honestly this is an incredibly difficult game to explain so let us just say this: if you’re after a highly-polished, beautiful action adventure that is brimming with creativity, we can’t recommend Lost in Random enough.
Alan Wake Remastered (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, XBO, PC)
When it comes to cult classic video games, you don’t get much bigger than Alan Wake. The terrifying tale of a writer lost in his stories while his wife is missing in action amassed a dedicated legion of fans when in first launched in 2010.
This considered remaster does well to enhance the Twin Peaks-inspired adventure, and is also the first opportunity for PlayStation gamers to experience it. The visuals have received a respectable upgrade to 4K while the soundtrack remains as atmospheric as ever. Utilising your flashlight to weaken enemies before you can attack them also remains suitably tense, even if it can get a little repetitive by today’s standards.
At the end of the day though this is a remaster well worth checking out, especially with rumour mill suggesting we’ll finally get a proper sequel soon enough.
Hands-on with TCL’s NXTWEAR G Smart Glasses
If you’re desperate to consume content in bed, your choices are pretty limited. Most people attempt to hold up their phone or tablet in mid-air, but all it takes is an unexpected power nap to see that set up literally tumbling down. Trust us, our heads are all the sorer for it.
Cue TCL stepping in with its new NXTWEAR G Smart Glasses. The device (which looks and feels like a bulkier pair of sunglasses) boasts two 1080p high-definition Sony FHD Micro OLED panels in each eye to offer a 16:9 aspect ratio that emulates a 140-inch display. In essence, the NXTWEAR G wants to bring the cinema experience to your home. And for the most part it works.
While it takes a little getting used to, you really do start to get a sense of scale, and having speakers located in the arms does well to simulate stereo sound. We were also impressed with both the picture quality and the fact that because the glasses draw power from your phone, they never need to be charged.
Are they as good as going to a proper cinema? Of course not, but it’s a fascinating first step that we truly commend.
Our biggest gripe is that, at least for us, they weren’t particularly comfy to use. The arms were quite tight and pressed into the sides of our head, while the bridge for the nose never quite rested right, meaning we were constantly fidgeting, which constantly moved the image.
We should also point out that the NXTWEAR G Smart Glasses come with a recommended retail price of $899, meaning they certainly won’t be for everybody. However if you’re really desperate to boost your home-cinema game or a big lover of new tech, they’re well worth a look.
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