How the NYXI Warrior taps into classic nostalgia, plus hands-on with Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD, Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure and the Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED.
The Nintendo GameCube is a fascinating beast. Released in an error where the tiny wonder was handedly beaten by both the PS2 and Xbox, the one thing that has resonated with fans some 20 years later is its controller. Often hailed as one of the comfiest controllers ever released, it’s a unit that has been reborn a number of times already. It’s that exact nostalgic touchstone NYXI is hoping to tap into with the NYXI Warrior, and the company has done a darn good job at that.
Available in three colours (black, purple and orange) the NYXI Warrior’s design actually seems more centred around the beloved WaveBird – Nintendo’s foray into more premium wireless controllers. As a result, there’s a bit more girth towards the middle of the unit, but that never comes at the expense of comfort meaning it feels as comfortable as the inspiration it’s clearly trying to emulate. It also comes packing Hall Effect sensors and microswitched buttons for an especially clickly feel should that be your thing. The one downside is the D-pad, which feels a little floaty and spongey compared to Nintendo’s own pro-controller. I didn’t find it to be a major issue, but can imagine it’d be a sticking point with fighting-focused fans.
Being a modern controller though, should you want to customise your Warrior, NYXI has offered a few bits and pieces that’ll help you out. Your back paddle, for example, can be easily popped out and replaced with an alternative that rises out the back a bit more, while your analogue sticks can also be swapped out – a big win if you’re not a fan of Nintendo’s smaller C-stick nub. In a nice touch even the stick surrounds can be swapped out on the NYXI Warrior, allowing for either an octagonal or circular design (the former being more suited to fighting games).
Yet what totally flawed me was comparability. The ability to use the NYXI Warrior for both Nintendo Switch and PC gaming was simple and quite speedy. It immediately worked flawlessly for my Switch titles, and after some button mapping tinkering was equally admirable for anybody looking to delve into some PC-based emulation.
But what I wasn’t expecting was an additional dongle in the box, that upon checking the manual, was surprised to discover enables GameCube comparability. It’s one thing for NYXI to faithfully replicate the design and ergonomics of Nintendo’s classic cube, but to actually design a wireless dongle that plugs into, and works, with the controller is remarkable. Needless to say, I blew the dust of my personal unit and the NYXI Warrior performed admirably during my return to the likes of Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Mario Sunshine.
It’s just another feather in the NYXI Warrior’s cap, which has helped it skyrocket towards the top of my favourite Switch controllers on the market. The Gamecube’s inherent button layout may not jive with everyone, but if it does the $105 asking price is relatively competitive and would serve as a great addition to your Switch setup.
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You can pick up the NYXI Warrior now from NYXI’s online store here.
Also out now…
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD (Switch)
Originally released for the 3DS, this remake is an absolute stunner on the switch. The visuals have received a significant overhaul and certainly provide an adequately spooky vibe, even without the previous 3D effects. If you’re fresh off a replay of Luigi’s Mansion 3 that means it’ll be an easy transition here.
For those who missed it the first time around, Luigi’s Mansion 2 (known in 2013 as Dark Moon) follows the events from the first game and sees Luigi being unceremoniously pulled from his comfiest chair by Professor E. Gadd to help stop the ghastly King Boo after he escapes from his painted prison. This time though, our mustachioed hero has to visit 5 different mansions in more bite-sized adventures.
Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD strictly adherence to the original game’s design is perhaps its one downside. While it made sense for the 3DS, it means that even today you will likely be pulled out of levels by Gadd before you’ve had a chance to properly explore. It never made me want to put the game down, but it can be frustrating considering you’re never entirely sure when that might happen.
Outside of that niggle, Luigi’s Mansion 2 HD is a well-made trip down memory lane, and it’s great to see both of the Mario Bros. score a little bit of limelight.
Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure (Switch, PS5, PC, Netflix)
If you feel like big budget video games have lost some of their originality and creativity, Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure might just be the game you’re looking for. This hidden gem’s real winner is its central hook – the only way you can control main charter Jemma is by shifting the tile she rests on, be that back and forth or up and down.
It sounds quirky but operates incredibly smoothly in practice and opens the door for all sorts of creative puzzle and level design. That’s because you don’t only have to worry about moving Jemma, but critical items as well. Be it shifting swords to take down monsters or keys to unlock doors, there’s a wide range of brain teasers at play in Arranger. Throw in static-covered elements that don’t move and you’ve got even more spice in the mix.
Despite the constantly shifting landscape though I never felt as though Arranger’s difficulty hit an impenetrable wall, allowing for steady progress that kept me engaged throughout.
I also loved the game’s painterly art style, which isn’t entirely surprising considering its art director also worked on the exceptional Braid. Worth rearranging your library to give this one a shot.
Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED wireless mouse
When it comes to gaming mice it’s hard not to feel spoilt for choice, but finding a device that easily transitions from work horse to gaming godsend without breaking the bank is slightly more difficult. Cue the Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED which does an admirable job at ticking all right boxes.
The design of the G309 is clearly less flashy than a lot of its competitors or even some of Logitech’s own line-up. There’s no RGB lighting, there are only 6 programable buttons and the colourways are relatively understated (especially the all black model). If you didn’t know any better, you could be forgiven for mistaking it as an office mouse and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that – underpinning the core flexibility that the G309 offers.
How you choose to power the unit is just another example. Slide open the top shell and you’ll be able to insert a single AA battery (one of which is included in the box – a nice touch) for up to 300 hours of life. Alternatively, should you happen to already own one of Logitech’s Powerplay pads, you can ditch the AAs entirely and enjoy an endless charge, also dropping the weight from 86g to 68g at the same time.
Mouse weight has become a prime concern for many gamers over the last few years, so it’s smart of Logitech to allow for multiple options, and while it might not be as featherweight as the likes of the Razer V2 Pro I still found it perfectly comfortable in my hand in either setup. The ergonomics worked well for my medium-sized mits and each of the buttons were easily accessible.
I was equally happy with performance across the board, which makes use of its hybrid switches and HERO 25K sensor to deliver no detectable latency and super responsive clicks whether I was scrolling though emails or trying to nail the perfect shot in Splitgate. Sure the clicks themselves were a little nosier than I prefer, but I got used to it pretty quickly.
Should you wish to tinker with the G309’s nitty gritty specs you can utilise Logitech’s G Hub software. I especially appreciated the ability to choose from a range of pre-set genre-specific DPI settings that I wouldn’t have had time to fine-tune myself.
At $149.95 the Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED mightn’t be the cheapest mouse on the market, but this new kid on the block is still worth your attention. It looks good, performs well and could just be the hybrid device you’re looking for.
The Logitech G309 LIGHTSPEED is available now for $149.95 via the Logitech store.
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