We wrap our ears around SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova 5 Wireless headset to see what it’s packing, then check out 1000xRESIST and Surmount.
When it comes to gaming headsets, SteelSeries has been perfecting its craft for a while now. As a result, the Nova range has been carefully curated to serve every demographic – from the more budget friendly Nova 1, all the way to the premier Nova Pro wireless. Now we have the Nova 5, which does well to sit in the middle of the pack, with some new app-centric improvements that’ll likely draw your attention.
At a base level, the Nova 5 looks incredibly familiar. As a result you shouldn’t be surprised to learn that the design aesthetic follows that which came before. There’s the fabric plushy earcups, adjustable headband strap and retractable mic. That means the unit remains comfy on the head without any extra unwanted pressure. I also thankfully didn’t feel the drivers in the ear cup, which is a minor pet peeve of mine with some SteelSeries headsets.
On the unit itself there’s also plenty of physical controls that’ll help keep you in the game at all times. From volume and chat-mix sliders to Bluetooth and a mute option, they’re all easily accessible and equally easy to click… once you remember where they all are. There’s also the retractable microphone in the bottom of the left earcup, neatly tucked away until you fire up some multiplayer.
The Nova 5 comes in three different variants, the Nova 5P, the Nova 5X and the Nova 5, however if you’re lucky enough to own multiple systems then you’ll definitely want to invest in the Xbox variant. That’s because the Nova 5X is the only version that allows usage on both Xbox Series X/S and PS5 due to its compatibility with Xbox’s specific headset requirements, making it an easy purchase. You’ll just have to settle with a green-tinged headband versus the 5P’s blue and 5’s grey.
No matter which version you use though, you’ll want to make use of SteelSeries’ brand new Arctis Nova 5 companion app. Once you do, syncing up devices is a process of seconds and you’re off to the races. It’s a great change of pace for the company (which has mainly has restricted its headphone tinkering to PC software) and I loved the versatility of options it provided without having to ever leave my couch.
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Perhaps the biggest of these is the apps 100+ pre-set audio profiles, custom tailored to specific games. From Alan Wake 2 to Call of Duty Warzone and Fall Guys, there’s a truly bonkers amount of varied titles on offer here. Sure, not every game will be accounted for, but I was genuinely shocked at the scope on offer. What’s more, SteelSeries claims the profiles have been crafted & custom-tailored to each game by audio engineers, esports pros and game developers.
I obviously can’t test that claim, but what I can say is that each profile I tested really made games pop, like Alan Wake’s eerie and haunting score or the more detail-focused profile for COD. If you’re a true audiophile you’ll likely still want to endlessly tweak your audio settings, but for casual gamers, not having to fuss about with settings while still getting a more curated sound is an absolute winner.
Priced at $299, SteelSeries’ Arctis Nova 5 line-up is an appealing proposition indeed. It’s a sturdy, feature rich headset that’s packing respectable audio, multi-device compatibility and a whopping 60-hour battery life. Sure you’ll lack fancier inclusions like noise cancellation, but even without it SteelSeries has presented a great all-rounder perfect for those looking for their first unit or cheeky upgrade.
You can currently pre-order the Arctis Nova 5 Wireless headset from JB Hi-Fi for $299 here.
Also out now…
1000xRESIST (Switch, PC)
Let’s say this right off the bat. 1000xRESIST is certainly not going to be for everybody. It’s an experience that’s light on gameplay but incredibly deep with its almost-existential narrative that the developers use to tackle themes of identity, racism and more. It’s also truly exceptional and a must-play Switch title for 2024.
To say too much of 1000xRESIST’s narrative is a detriment to the game’s biggest hooks, but you’re thrust into a future where humanity is on the brink of extinction after an alien race sets down on the planet and brings an incredibly graphic disease that causes absolute chaos. As a Watcher (a clone of an invasion survivor), you quickly uncover some pretty nasty truths and things spiral considerably from there.
It’s a well written, well-acted tale that does well to capture your attention from the opening moments. In amongst the narrative you’ll be solving some light puzzles and jumping around timelines, but honestly none of it is particularly taxing and feels like a side dish to the narrative’s main course.
But although 1000xRESIST is unquestionably targeting a niche audience, if you are that audience you are bound to be incredibly impressed with this debut title. And for those looking for something outside their comfort zone, well this debut title is still worth a crack.
Surmount (Switch, PC)
For those who prefer to climb their mountains virtually over strapping in for the real deal, Surmount might be the perfect adventure for you. This charming physics-focused platformer will see you send your little climber up a variety of hand-crafted and procedurally-generated summits. But as you’d expect, it’s hardly ever a simple affair.
Instead, each climb requires careful management of your health and stamina, the latter of which depletes with each move and grab. It’s a fun balance that offers plenty of challenge, especially when you don’t entirely know what’s coming next (although the difficulty can be tweaked if you find things particularly tough).
Surprisingly though, Surmount offers much more depth in amongst the climbs, too. Exploring Mount Om will introduce you to a vast range of quirky characters, distract you with mini games and suck you side quests to tackle. There’s even a decent character creator and co-op should you want you have a tethered twosome with a friend.
This is a great little title to throw onto your Switch.
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