We go hands-on with Razer’s new Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds, then check out Venba, Broforce Forever and more.
When it comes to Razer earbuds, we’re certainly no stranger, having spent quality time with various iterations of the Hammerhead line-up for the last couple of years. But now, after years of considered iteration, it’s time to meet the new kid on the block: the Razer Hammerhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds.
Iteration is indeed the key here. From the moment you pull the device out of its packaging, it’s clear how much the Pro Hyperspeed buds have evolved. Razer’s signature Chroma RGB, for example, is now present on this Pro model – first seen on the Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds. As a result, you can mix and match with a whole spectrum of colours on either side of the bud, which adds a degree of flair just not really possible with most other competitors.
It also just adds to the Hammherhead Pro Hyperspeed’s clean yet sleek aesthetic that Razer has been crafting for years. The matte black charging case only continues to accentuate that, while the buds themselves follow a similar design to Apple’s Airpods Pro, but with a glossy black finish just to create a stark point of difference.
Speaking of the case though, while it does allow USB-C charging at the bottom it’s also capable of wireless charging via a compatible pad, including Razer’s own nifty charging pad (which you can pick up on the Razer store for around $100).
You’ll want to keep these bad boys charged though, because Razer is really hoping the Hammherhead Pro Hyperspeeds will become your primary audio solution. That’s because much like the PlayStation-centric Hyperpeed buds that were released earlier this year, the Pros come bundled with a USB-C dongle that allows for 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity. Bluetooth is still absolutely an option, but this low latency option is perfect for gaming and worked a treat when we connected it to our Nintendo Switch and PS5. For either connection I was more than happy with the audio output and could clearly hear environmental cues with Pikmin 4 and clean dialogue during cutscenes in Final Fantasy XVI. Jump to music though and there’s still plenty of bass to get your head thumping.
There’s a hell of a lot to love about the Hammherhead Pro Hyperspeeds, but you do need to prepare yourself to make a couple of concessions. The Active Noise cancellation, for instance, is serviceable enough, but isn’t quite able to match the likes of Sony’s seemingly total block out technology. The touch controls can also feel a little bit spotty, meaning we did accidentally skip the odd song or register a different action than I intended.
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They’re not huge issues by any stretch, but could factor in considering the $369.95 price tag for the Hammherhead Pro Hyperspeed earbuds. Aside from that though, they’re an appealing option if you’re looking for a single audio solution to rule them all.
Also out now…
Venba (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)
Although you might be done with it in under two hours, that should not at all dissuade you from the utter delight that Venba offers. This food-focused narrative is less Masterchef and more multicultural narrative puzzler, as you follow the journey of the titular Venba as she tries to adjust to a new life after moving from Southern India to Canada.
As a result, there’s a lot of interesting and emotional themes in Venba, but it’s food that brings everything together, as you help her piece together incomplete family recipes. Once you’re done, each completed dish is as beautiful as Venba itself, which is well worth your attention, if only to delve into a culture not often explored by video games.
Broforce Forever (Switch, PS4, XBO, PC)
Eight years since its debut, Broforce is back and better than ever with this update-filled iteration.
At its core, the beloved 2D pixel shooting chaos remains unchanged as you take control of a wide assortment of classic action hero knockoffs (read: Rambro), then blast your way through a bunch of sidescrolling levels while doing away with pesky terrorists. It’s all laughably tongue-in-cheek, of course, and this updated version throws in extra baddies, bros and challenge levels.
The new content only strengthens an already solid offering that works perfectly on the Switch. You might even be able to nab it for a ludicrously low price (at time of writing is a mere $3!). That’s pretty rad, bro. (PS. If you already own the game, the good news is that the update is totally free).
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