Author: Matthew Arcari

Matthew Arcari is the games and technology editor at The AU Review. You can find him on Twitter at @sirchunkee, or at the Dagobah System, chilling with Luke and Yoda.

Tech Review: The Samsung MX-ST50B Sound Tower packs the punch to match its size

June 1, 2023

I’ll be honest, I’ve owned and reviewed plenty of Bluetooth speakers, but have never owned a more prominent sound tower. I never thought I really needed one. But after a few weeks with the Samsung MX-ST50B Sound Tower, I’m starting to rethink how I’ve ever gone without one for so long. Be it the seamless […]

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Game Review: Lego 2K Drive is both a fun and functional arcade racer

May 23, 2023

Lego 2K Drive came as a surprise to me when it was revealed. I had admittedly never expected Lego to pair up Forza Horizon’s arcade racing mechanics and vast open world with a wealth of customisation that only those little bricks can provide. But after a few hours with Lego 2K Drive, I was stunned […]

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PlayStation’s accessibility controller now has a name

May 19, 2023

Initially revealed at CES this year as “Project Leonardo”, this latest PlayStation peripheral has found an official name; the Access Controller. Ahead of Global Accessibility Awareness Day, Sony has revealed an additional list of included features, highlighting how this new controller will propel general audience inclusivity to new heights in 2023 and beyond. The flat, […]

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PlayStation is holding a massive hour-long showcase next week

May 19, 2023

In the wake of E3 2023’s recent cancellation, major publishers and developers have stepped up in their own ways to provide the hype for upcoming releases. The newest PlayStation Showcase will take place on Thursday, May 25th, and run for just over an hour, highlighting the hottest first and third-party titles that both the PlayStation […]

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Tech Review: The OPPO A78 5G feels like a solid step forward for entry-level handsets

May 16, 2023

It’s no secret that with tech evolving at its current pace, new and popular features once exclusive to flagship mobile handsets, would eventually make their way down to both mid-range and entry level options. While the OPPO A78 5G lacks in certain areas, it still manages to compete strongly with certain mid-range offerings, thanks to […]

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Game Review: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom stands as one of the best video game sequels ever made

May 11, 2023

I will admit that it’s been a while since I last played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But in many ways, after all these years, it still held the title of the best game I had played on the Nintendo Switch; until now. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom simply […]

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Game Review: Ravenlok looks gorgeous, but lacks depth

May 11, 2023

Ravenlok wastes no time in showing off a gorgeous world, highlighted by vibrant colours, unique environments and a charming art style. Unfortunately, it’s lacking in almost all other departments. From shallow gameplay to frustrating camera control and simplistic story, Ravenlok leaves little reason for most older audiences to give it a try, even if younger […]

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Game Review: Redfall provides potential, but largely misses the (bite)mark

May 8, 2023

Developer Arkane Studios’ return always feels like a welcome one, packed with both anticipation and fond memories of previous titles. From Dishonored to Deathloop, we’ve understandably become accustomed to a certain level of creativity and quality from the developer. That being said, Redfall feels like a missed opportunity. It’s a world full of lore and intrigue, […]

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Game Review: Crime Boss: Rockay City is as cheesy as it is messy

May 4, 2023

Crime Boss: Rockay City’s reveal felt like a nail being hit on the head. Between the stellar cast, featuring Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Chuck Norris (Walker Texas Ranger), Kim Basinger (Batman), Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead) and even rapper Vanilla Ice, and the satiric nature of a crime-ridden beach city in […]

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Tech Review: Anker Soundcore VR P10 earphones provide a slim and feature-packed gaming alternative

May 3, 2023

Anker’s Soundcore range of both headphones and earphones continues to grow, with the newest VR P10 earphones offering a slim and feature-packed alternative for gamers. For those looking to take the weight off their heads during longer gaming sessions, the VR P10’s light and comfortable design makes this a breeze for connecting between multiple devices, […]

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Tech Review: The Roccat Kone Air gaming mouse prides itself on quality and comfort

May 2, 2023

Roccat’s mainline mouse offers yet another alternative for the more understated gamer who appreciates a comfortable and responsive mouse, without the extra bells and whistles. Unlike the admittedly solid Kone Pro Air and Kone XP Air gaming mice, the Kone Air opts out of any RGB support, while providing stellar battery life, solid build quality […]

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Game Review: Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is nothing short of a tremendous sequel

May 1, 2023

I’ve been a Star Wars fan for almost as long as I can remember. While it started with a love for the original trilogy of films, it soon extend to books, TV shows and most importantly, games. While I won’t run through that entire list of top Star Wars games (let’s save that for another […]

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Game Review: Dead Island 2 brings the fun, yet feels a little dated

April 27, 2023

The time has finally arrived. After what feels like an eternity, Dead Island 2 has finally made its way to our homes, bringing with it waves of zombies to dismember in gory fashion. In many ways, Dead Island 2 is a solid action title, packing in brutal melee combat and a consistent sense of humour. […]

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Game Review: Minecraft Legends provides a solid strategy spinoff

April 24, 2023

For everything that Minecraft has done over the past decade or so, it’s surprising top realise that the franchise has not yet touched the strategy genre. That is, until now. Minecraft Legends looks to fill that gap, providing fans and newcomers alike with an RTS spinoff that feels accessible to both younger and older gamers […]

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Game Review: EA Sports PGA Tour returns as a contender

April 21, 2023

I had only gotten into golfing as a sport in recent years, but had always admired the EA Sports PGA Tour games (or Tiger Woods PGA Tour games as they were known back then) for a fun and laidback approach to what is otherwise an incredibly tactical and nuanced activity. While I couldn’t get a […]

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Early Access Game Preview: Undisputed feels like a promising return for boxing games

April 4, 2023

Originally announced as eSports Boxing Club, Undisputed looks to fill a large hole in the sporting games market. With certain games like Big Rumble Boxing and the Creed Champions spin-off trying their best, it’s been over a decade since a traditional boxing game has graced any platform. Fight Night Champion still scratches that itch for […]

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Simulation game Park Beyond will launch on PC and next-gen consoles in June

April 4, 2023

Bandai Namco Europe and Limbic Entertainment have recently revealed their new simulation game, which allows players to create the theme park of their dreams. Park Beyond got a brand new trailer at the Future Game Show, complete with some new details and an official release date. The trailer also features some iconic Namco video game characters […]

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Oz Comic-Con to bring The Mandalorian star to Adelaide and Melbourne

March 30, 2023

Oz Comic-Con is set to return in June, bringing three new guests to Australian shores. Emily Swallow (known as the Armourer in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett), Abby Trott (known as Nezuko Kamado in Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba), and JusZ Cosplay will serve as the first guests in an otherwise growing […]

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Game Preview: Hands on with Diablo IV’s open beta

March 30, 2023

I must admit, for as popular as Diablo III has been since its launch, it had never managed to grab me, nor keep me around for more than a couple of months after its release. That being said, Diablo IV’s open beta seemed like the perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with the franchise that might […]

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Game Review: Resident Evil 4 returns in the form of a masterful remake

March 24, 2023

If previous remakes of Resident Evil games taught us anything, it’s that you can in fact teach an old dog new tricks. But unlike older games that experienced newer visuals and revamped gameplay, Resident Evil 4’s more recent tropes and mechanics bring it closer to what many expect from both the broader franchise and aforementioned […]

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Counter-Strike 2 announced as free update for CS: GO

March 23, 2023

After multiple circulating rumours, Valve announced earlier this morning that Counter-Strike 2 is officially on the way. Touted as a free upgrade for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, this sequel will look to overhaul most major systems, while utilising the latest version of the Source 2 engine. As a result, Counter-Strike 2 will feature newer and cleaner […]

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Game Review: WWE 2K23 remains the king of the ring

March 23, 2023

If you’ve fallen out of love with the WWE 2K series in recent years, we don’t blame you. Aside from the inconsistent performance and rampant bugs and glitches, the franchise certainly seemed to be heading toward a breaking point of sorts. Thankfully, WWE 2K22’s fresh showcase mode and steady performance yanked the franchise away from […]

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5 things to know before playing the Resident Evil 4 Remake

March 15, 2023

With a brand-spanking new version of Resident Evil 4 right around the corner, we simply can’t wait to see what the remake holds in store for new and existing fans alike. With new gameplay details and a free demo available to download as you’re reading this, we thought we would dive in and highlight 5 […]

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Game Review: Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty feels both fresh and familiar at the same time

March 14, 2023

Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty comes to us from developer Team Ninja; yes, the same Team Ninja behind both Nioh and Nioh 2. Much like those games, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty is a challenging and satisfying romp that largely succeeds at providing consistently cohesive combat mechanics and confident pacing. While its boss battles serve as the […]

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Twelve South HiRise 3 Review: Sleek and functional

February 27, 2023

The third generation of Twelve South’s HiRise chargers has landed, complete with a sleek and sexy new design, and MagSafe charging. Made specially for iPhones and accompanying Apple products like AirPods and the Apple Watch, the HiRise 3 provides up to 10W charging which feels rather standard, considering newer iPhones have the capability for faster […]

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Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe Review: A welcome improvement

February 24, 2023

Originally releasing on the Nintendo Wii back in 2011, Kirby’s Return to Dreamland served as a safe and memorable entry in the franchise, featuring the titular and ever lovable pink icon. While Kirby’s Return to Dreamland Deluxe is certainly better than the original, it’s still very much the same game at its core, short of […]

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Here’s when and how you can watch PlayStation’s February State of Play stream

February 23, 2023

PlayStation will stream its first State of Play for the year tomorrow morning, with some new and exciting announcements on the way. As with previous streams, PlayStation have always given some indicator as to the focus of the upcoming State of Play. This time around, we will be receiving a look at some new third-party […]

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Like a Dragon: Ishin! Review: Fresh setting, familiar faces

February 22, 2023

For as much as I have enjoyed almost every entry in the Yakuza series (known in Japan as Like a Dragon), I was surprised to find I had never encountered Like a Dragon: Ishin! Funnily enough, western fans might have felt the same way, upon realising that this entry is actually a remake of a […]

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Wild Hearts Review: The hunt is on

February 21, 2023

It’s admittedly been a while since I had touched base with the Monster Hunter series. And then I saw it; the reveal of Wild Hearts, developer Omega Force and Koei Tecmo’s answer to an existing breed of hunting game, that draws on many of the techniques and mechanics of the aforementioned franchise, while adding satisfying combat, […]

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Oppo A17 Review: An entry-level alternative

February 17, 2023

OPPO has long provided mobile phone users with a range of options, from the premium Reno8 Pro and Find X5 Pro models, to lower priced models like the A76 and A96. OPPO have recently decided to redefine their entry-level range with release of the A17. Featuring a premium look and feel, the A17 will provide […]

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