Author: Alaisdair Leith

Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II is still worth picking up on the PS5

As you may have read in our original review for Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, the sequel to Ninja Theory’s acclaimed and highly praised 2017 psychological action-adventure doubles down on atmosphere and sensory immersion. It’s a haunting and technically dazzling experience that toes the line between game and interactive movie, but also one that too often…

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Two Point Museum ultimately shines on the Nintendo Switch 2

If there’s one thing Two Point Studios has mastered, it’s turning mundane institutions into gloriously chaotic management sims. From hospitals to universities, they’ve built worlds where humour meets spreadsheets, and stress is strangely fun. Two Point Museum continues this trend, letting players build, expand, and profit from their own museums. It’s packed with wit, charm,…

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Pokémon Legends: Z-A feels like a great step forward for the series

It’s been 29 years since Pokémon invaded our Game Boy consoles way back in 1998. For the majority of that time, the game has retained the tried-and-true formula that has made it a worldwide phenomenon and a billion-dollar franchise. The gameplay has retained the turn-style battles with subtle variations and improvements made as each generation…

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Everything announced at the Kirby Air Riders Nintendo Direct

Kirby Air Riders is shaping up to be one of the biggest racing games of the year. The long-awaited sequel races straight onto the Nintendo Switch 2 next month, so Nintendo dedicated another hour-long direct to give us MORE details on what is shaping up to be the best racing game of 2025 (and potentially…

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PAX Aus 2025: Hands-on with Lenovo’s new tech

PAX Aus 2025 might have come and gone, but the content just keeps on rolling. We got the chance to spend some time with Lenovo to check out all the gear and tech coming out in 2025 and beyond. Let’s dive in. The Legion 9i: Power Meets 3D Innovation At the heart of the booth…

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The Nanoleaf Matter Smart Multicolour Floor Lamp feels like an essential living room addition

Nanoleaf have become a leader in the lighting game in recent years. Their products are innovative and easy to install. They have managed to pinpoint the perfect product for their customer base. Everyone knows the stylish Nanoleaf shapes and lines that adorn many Twitch streams. The company’s latest venture into floor lighting is just as…

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Pax AUS 2025: Hands-on with Sony’s new INZONE gaming hardware

Sony made a strong first impression at PAX Australia 2025, with INZONE attending the event for the very first time — and they didn’t come quietly. Taking over a dedicated booth on the show floor, Sony was there to prove that INZONE is more than just a side-brand for PlayStation accessories. This was a full-scale…

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Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny feels like a competent, well-crafted action RPG

Nickelodeon hasn’t released a true crossover game in over a decade, and the return of the Nicktoons brand could have easily been a lazy nostalgia play. Instead, Nicktoons & The Dice of Destiny arrives as a surprisingly well-crafted action RPG, trading platforming roots for a top-down, Diablo-style combat format that’s far deeper and more engaging…

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The Zyron Powastellar 27000mAh 140W Power Bank is one of the best options money can buy

It’s not often a power bank genuinely impresses me. Most are either too small to be useful or too bulky to be practical. But after putting Zyron’s new Powastellar 27,000mAh 140W PD3.1 Power Bank through its paces at PAX Aus 2025, I can confidently say this is the best power bank I’ve ever used —…

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LEGO Party! proves you don’t need Mario to make a great party game

LEGO Party! is one of those games you expect to pick up for a quick session and suddenly realise you’ve sunk hours into. Taking the unmistakable structure of Mario Party — board traversal, mini-game mayhem and star collecting — it adds Lego’s signature charm and, more importantly, its precision. Where Nintendo leans into chaos and…

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PAX Aus 2025: Hands-on with the ROG Xbox Ally X

Have you ever sat in a massage chair and received a deep, intense tissue massage while playing a handheld? Thanks to the Xbox booth at PAX 2025, I can now say that I have. Whether it’s to ease us into those price hikes from Xbox Game Pass or just simply a gesture of goodwill, the…

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PAX Aus 2025: Hands-on with Borderlands 4 on the Nintendo Switch 2

Yes! It exists, and you can play it! Originally set for release on October 3rd, Gearbox Software announced that the game was delayed indefinitely and all pre-orders were able to be refunded. It wasn’t looking good for the future of this highly anticipated game on the Nintendo Switch 2 console. Surprisingly, tucked away in the…

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PAX Aus 2025 : Hands-on with Kirby Air Riders

Up until today, I was very confused as to why Nintendo was releasing Mario Kart World and Kirby Air Riders, two kart racers, in the first six months of the Nintendo Switch 2’s lifecycle. The Kirby Air Riders Nintendo Direct had me thinking that these games were very similar, just with a different character roster….

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PAX Aus 2025 : Hands-on with Pokémon Legends: Z-A

Pokémon jumps to the next generation with its first full game on the Nintendo Switch 2. Following the massive success of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, we get a game in the same style with a brand new gameplay mechanic and fabulous Paris setting to explore. Being confined to a city is a new thing for the series,…

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Sonic Racing: Crossworlds keeps things in the fast lane

For years, kart racing has been Nintendo’s home turf. Mario Kart World proved that Nintendo could still dominate the genre, but it also played things incredibly safe. This time around, SEGA has attempted to offer a decent Sonic counterpart, with highlights like Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing Transformed, but has struggled with games like Team…

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Touring Victoria’s Coast: Driving the MG4 Electric from Daylesford to the Great Ocean Road

It has been five years since COVID-19 stalled Victoria’s tourism sector. With borders shut and lockdowns dragging on, once-bustling regions like the Great Ocean Road saw visitor numbers plummet. But the rebound has been remarkable: 2.6 million visitors made the trip in 2023, climbing to 3.3 million in 2024, the highest on record. To see…

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PAX Australia 2025 brings Nintendo, Xbox, Bethesda, Ubisoft and more in a star-studded line-up

With less than a month to go, PAX Australia 2025 is shaping up to be one of the biggest celebrations of gaming culture in the country’s history. Returning to Melbourne this October, the three-day festival has revealed a blockbuster exhibitor line-up that brings together the biggest names in gaming, unmissable activations, exclusive demos, and a…

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Everything announced in the September Nintendo Direct

Nintendo’s September Direct came loaded with surprises — from long-awaited Switch 2 titles and a celebration of Super Mario Bros.’ upcoming 40th anniversary, to long-rumoured sequels finally stepping into the spotlight. Highlights included the return of both Super Mario Galaxy games on Switch 2, the reveal of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (set for April…

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Kirby and the Forgotten Land + Star-Crossed World is a stellar experience

Kirby is no stranger to reinvention. For over three decades, Nintendo’s pink hero has shape-shifted through 2D platformers, spin-offs, party games, and even pinball. Yet 2022’s Kirby and the Forgotten Land felt like a genuine breakthrough the moment when HAL Laboratory finally committed to a fully 3D Kirby adventure, blending classic charm with bold new…

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Gears of War: Reloaded sees the return of the iconic franchise

Gears of War: Reloaded is a strange beast; a remaster of a remaster, almost 20 years after the original defined an era of cover-based shooters on Xbox 360. For many, this was the game that shaped what third-person action could look and feel like. Its influence is undeniable, paving the way for the likes of…

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Shinobi: Art of Vengeance brings back Sega’s ninja with style and substance

Whenever a classic series like Shinobi makes a return, we are torn between excitement and anxiety. Will it honour its roots, or lean too heavily on nostalgia? Will it reinvent itself to the point of being unrecognisable? Or worse, will it simply be forgettable? Shinobi: Art of Vengeance, developed by Lizardcube, confidently cuts through those…

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Kirby Air Riders speeds onto the Nintendo Switch 2 this November

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…

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Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is flawed in parts and charming in others

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…

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Everything announced at Gamescom 2025 Opening Night Live

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…

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With Drag X Drive, Nintendo Rolls Out Its Most Unlikely Sports Hit Yet

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…

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Super Mario Party Jamboree: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV is the ultimate Mushroom Kingdom game night

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…

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Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a lovingly crafted JRPG for the Switch 2

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…

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The Tineco Carpet One Cruiser makes for a smarter, easier way to clean your carpets

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…

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The SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X Wireless gaming headset is a solid mid-tier contender

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,…

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Gaming stars align for PAX Aus 2025 with a stellar guest lineup

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…

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