Author: Alaisdair Leith

Nintendo has officially unveiled Kirby Air Riders , the long-awaited follow-up to 2004’s Kirby Air Ride, and it looks like we are in for a treat. Revealed during yesterday’s Kirby Air Riders Direct, legendary director Masahiro Sakurai walked through the game’s new features, returning favourites, and expanded modes. The game launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2…

It’s almost impossible to overstate the cultural weight of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. From the moment The Hobbit was first published in 1937, the world he built has continued to capture imaginations, inspiring countless adaptations, games, and creative works. Most video games based on The Lord of the Rings have followed a fairly predictable formula, epic…

One of the biggest gaming events of the year Gamescom is back upon us. The next four days will have gaming studios and hardware makers make big announcements, world premieres and updates on their projects. The opening night started at 4am AEST this morning, bringing with it a ton of new games and updates on…

Nintendo has a long history of taking sports games in unexpected directions. They turned tennis into a Mushroom Kingdom showdown, turned kart racing into an all-out weaponised brawl, and made golf somehow involve chain chomps. Now, with Drag X Drive, they’ve taken one of the most technical, fast-paced adaptive sports — wheelchair basketball — and…

When Super Mario Party Jamboree launched on the original Switch, it genuinely surprised me. What looked like another family-friendly board game romp turned out to be one of the most fun and fully-realised party games Nintendo has ever made. Fast-forward to its new incarnation on the Switch 2, bundled with the shiny new Jamboree TV…

Nothing could have prepared me for the full weight of Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster on Nintendo Switch 2. I knew going in that it was an enhanced re-release of a cult-favourite Square Enix RPG originally on the 3DS. I knew there would be tactical turn-based battles, branching strategies, and a Job system built…

When it comes to home cleaning tech, we’re constantly asking for devices that are smarter, lighter, and less of a pain to maintain. Enter the Tineco Carpet One Cruiser, a sleek and intelligent carpet cleaner that might just make you rethink how often you deep-clean your floors (in my case, definitely not enough!). Retailing at…

SteelSeries has long been a staple in the gaming audio space, and the Arctis Nova 3X Wireless slots neatly into their growing Nova lineup as a feature-packed, affordable option for gamers seeking wireless freedom without breaking the bank. Priced at just A$199, it nestles between the entry-level wired Nova 1 and the premium Nova 5,…

PAX Aus 2025 is shaping up to be a must-attend event for gamers and pop culture fans alike, with a stacked guest list that spans award-winning voice actors, renowned tabletop designers, comedy legends, and beloved content creators from across the globe. Leading the charge is Amelia Tyler, the ethereal voice behind the Narrator in Baldur’s…

In a market saturated with high-performance gaming monitors, Dell’s Alienware AW2725DM quietly enters the scene as a wallet-friendly option aimed at gamers who want solid specs without splurging on OLED or full HDR600-level features. I have had this monitor for a few weeks and been able to test everything from the PS5 Pro, a 4K…

Motorola is quietly making waves again in the mid-range smartphone market, and the Edge 60 Fusion is proof that you don’t need to fork out a fortune for a premium experience. Arriving a year after the well-received Edge 50 Fusion, this update keeps the stylish design but packs in some hefty upgrades, without bumping up…

Yesterday, Nintendo Australia hosted an exclusive event in Melbourne, offering us a first look at the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2. Alongside some other select media and content creators, we were allowed four hours with some of the most anticipated titles coming to the Switch 2, including Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza and Metroid…

The Doom franchise charges into new territory with Doom: The Dark Ages, delivering a fresh take on its signature demon-slaying mayhem. Set against a medieval backdrop, this latest instalment maintains the series’ core identity while introducing innovative elements that breathe new life into the formula. The Doom Slayer returns, now armed with period-appropriate weaponry alongside…

Tinā is the feature debut from writer/director Miki Magasiva.  The film might appear on the surface a classic underdog tale, but it quickly proves itself to be something richer and more resonant; coming off earlier contributions to Teine Sā and We Are Still Here, Magasiva brings a fresh, heartfelt perspective to this deeply communal story….

South of Midnight is a bold, haunting, and beautiful journey into the heart of the American South, it is one that few games have ever dared to explore, let alone with this much soul and a level of attention to detail that most games aspire to reach. Developed by Compulsion Games, South of Midnight blends…

The Handmaid’s Tale has always meant different things to different people; a cautionary tale, a grim prophecy, or a dramatised echo of historical truths. Over its run it’s drawn praise and criticism in equal measure, and now, as it enters its final season, it faces the daunting task of delivering a satisfying conclusion, while also…

It’s been two years since The Last of Us Season 1 became a cultural phenomenon on HBO. The second season of the show is adapting the video game “The Last of Us Part II”, and strangely enough in the first 5 minutes of the season opener, the show just randomly spoils the big twist from…

Last year was big for 27-inch OLED gaming monitors. Standouts like the Asus ROG Strix OLED XG27AQDMG, MSI MPG 271QRX QD-OLED, and Alienware’s own AW2725DF delivered top-tier performance, though they were all limited to QHD (2560 x 1440) resolution. Now, Alienware has kicked off 2025 by pushing the pixel envelope. Meet the Alienware AW2725Q, a…

Nintendo revealed all the details of their upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 console in a direct that went live at midnight. The one-hour direct showcase dived deep into the console specs while also giving us a release date, pricing, and a slew of third-party support and first-party games, including the new Mario Kart and an open-world…

Premium laptops often struggle to justify their high price tags when it comes to build quality and design. At this price point of A$1999, consumers should expect an exceptional user experience. Fortunately, the Asus Zenbook A14 delivers on that front. With its sleek design, compact form factor, and stunning display, there’s a lot to appreciate…

Originally released on the Wii U in 2015, Xenoblade Chronicles X is one of the final games from Nintendo’s previous console before the release of the Nintendo Switch. After a slew of successes with Donkey Koney Country Tropical Freeze, Bayonetta 2, Super Mario 3D World and New Super Mario Bros. U having made their way…

It’s time to start planning your trip to PAX Aus 2025 with Early Bird Badges on sale now. PAX Aus has solidified itself as the biggest and best gaming convention in Australia, packing together three massive days at the Melbourne Convention Centre, the event brings together the best of gaming, tech, pop culture and cosplay…

The Netgear Nighthawk RS600 strikes a balance between affordability and performance in the expanding world of Wi-Fi 7 routers. Priced at A$799, it admittedly sits on the higher end of standalone routers, before delving into premium mesh systems that exceed $800. That being said, the enhanced performance can handle more connected devices and provide much…

When Marvel’s Spider-Man was released in 218, developer Insomniac Games nailed the sensation of being super-powered, with exceptional web-swinging and agile combat. However, it faltered in providing engaging content within its visually stunning yet empty open world. Unfortunately, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, while great in terms of its story and presentation, repeated those lingering missteps. While…

As a newcomer to the Monster Hunter franchise, I approached Monster Hunter Wilds with fresh eyes and an eagerness to understand the phenomenon that has captivated players for two decades. While the game didn’t disappoint in delivering epic battles and immersive lore, some aspects kept it from achieving true perfection. I couldn’t help but feel…

Alienware announced today its latest range of QD-OLED monitors, including the new Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED Monitor, which won the Innovation Award at CES earlier this year. The three new models will all include Dell’s QD-OLED, extending their range to five, bringing HD and a better quality of picture for gamers everywhere. Concerns about burn-in…

Animation studio Pixar take on their first Disney+ original animated television show with Win or Lose. In the eight episode series, Pixar return to their roots with a story following a middle-school softball championship league told in an anthology style, with each episode told from a different kid and adult that affects the baseball team’s…

Wandin is about to turn up the heat with the 2025 Herb + Chilli Festival returning with a fresh lineup of flavours and fun. Set in beautiful Wandin, the two-day festival runs from March 15th to 16th and promises a mouth-tingling experience for every chilli lover. It offers spicy competitions, innovative food offerings, and nonstop…

RGG Studio’s latest spin-off, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, takes a bold leap into the high seas, blending classic Yakuza chaos with the swashbuckling adventure of Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. While it’s not quite as expansive as Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, it still manages delivers a decent experience packed with explosive…

Compulsion Games are no strangers to bringing something fresh to the gaming landscape. With massive hits like Contract and We Happy Few bringing stylish graphics with eccentric characters and compelling storylines, it was no surprise that Microsoft snapped the studio up in 2018 and started development on South of Midnight – a stop-motion style game…