The Big Bad Wolf

The developer, Cyanide Studio, has ambitiously crafted a fun experience here for werewolf fans.  I’ll admit, I’m a huge one myself and absolutely love Underworld and An American Werewolf in London for example.  The first trailer released for this title had my full attention.

Cahal is the game’s protagonist, a true soldier and member of the Caern pack.  The action kicks off quickly within the first mission, showcasing what he is capable of after shapeshifting into a formidable beast.  Once rage mode is tapped into, you can tear into enemies with brutalizing power and devastation.

Tragedy however,  is just around the corner; leaving Cahal gutted and lost.  He was unable to reign in his rage while in werewolf form and the consequences were fatal to one of his very own pack members.  This leads to his temporary exile, leaving not only from the Caern, but even his own daughter in fear this could happen again to someone he loved dearly.  After several years, he is reunited; to protect and reclaim his spot within the pack.  Together they face off against Endron and look to wipe them off the map for good.

Gameplay and Visuals

There is a nice mix of gameplay present here, including sections where Cahal can use stealth instead of brute force.  Players can take out security cameras and turrets with a crossbow while human (be sure to inspect around each area to collect more ammo), plus sabotage the enemies way of calling in reinforcements.  Morphing into wolf form is excellent for covering ground quickly and for sneaking through air vents to flank the opposition.  You can also hit the rage button and go head on against armed guards, super soldiers and mechs.  This will also automatically happen when you have been spotted and the alarm is sounded.  A “Frenzy” meter will slowly build as you take out more enemies, allowing players to up the carnage factor even further.

Cahal uses a combination of light and heavy attacks in werewolf form, in conjunction with special abilities.  New attacks and healing buffs can be acquired through Spirit Points that are scattered throughout the game.  There are also two stances that can activated during the action, including Agile and Heavy.  I primarily stuck with Agile based attacks to keep my movement quick and precise; only breaking out the Heavy stance against shielded enemies, super soldiers and the larger imposing mechs.  If you stay still at any point during combat, you’ll get wiped out quickly.

Silver is also used in some of their guns and you’ll want to dodge these shots; as they drop your health temporarily with each hit direct hit.  Once all enemies are cleared, you can heal up however.  It’s a fun brawler at heart, with optional stealth mechanics.  I really do hope to see a sequel, as I enjoyed my time with this new IP.  I would however like to see more variety in combat and missions on the next venture.

The graphics and performance are solid.  Aside from some questionable facial animations during cut scenes, it’s a good looking game on the Xbox Series X that runs smoothly, even during complete chaos.  This is where the game shines, for those that enjoy this style of beat ’em up action.  The heavy soundtrack is also worthy of mentioning, as it contains some great riffs to let your inner wolf out.

Conclusion

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, delivers a nice mix of action and stealth within its campaign, combined with a story that pulls from the popular World of Darkness tabletop role-playing games.  The ability to shapeshift from human to wolf and then to a towering beast at any point is a blast.  While there are some rough edges and repetitiveness along the journey, fans of Lycans and full moons will find plenty to sink their fangs into here.

Review Copy provided by Nacon and Cyanide Studio

The post Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood Review (Xbox Series X) appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

Premium parts and Technology

The E-WIN 2.0 Edition RGB Gaming Desk is absolutely eye-catching with its attractive modern design and built-in tech.  This will steal the show in any room when powered on.  It stands on high strength brushed aluminum legs that come to a sharpened edge at the end, which connects to circular metal plates across all four corners for excellent stability on carpet or hardwood floors.  Two metal bars cross from one side to the other, holding up a gorgeous leather banner sporting E-WIN’s logo.  It not only looks nice, but also conveniently hides your cables and wires behind the desk.

Found within each aluminum leg and across each side of the desktop are high quality RGB lights.  They are controlled through a tabletop touch screen panel on the far right side of the desk.  Through this panel, you can you lower or raise the brightness, plus scroll through all the different pre-programmed light patterns.  The RGB lights are bright and look incredible in action.  There are wiring harnesses and a USB cable tucked away within one of the metal support beams underneath the desk.  Simply connect the harnesses and then plug the USB cable into your gaming PC or video game console.  Let the show begin!

The desktop is very hefty and solid, showcasing impressive build quality.  It is wrapped in a carbon fiber like texture, providing a excellent surface for a high performance gaming mouse.  The HyperX RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard and the Creative Katana RGB Soundbar illuminate beautifully across this textured finish.  When you have everything turned on and running, it just looks stunning.

Ergonomics and Layout

The E-WIN 2.0 Edition RGB Gaming Desk has a 5 degree incline for the keyboard and mouse area, keeping your arms and wrists comfortable as possible for those long play sessions.  It stands 30″ tall, has a depth of just over 26″ and the textured desktop features 48″ of space for your monitor/s, keyboard, mouse, speakers and PC.  It even comes with a cup holder that attaches to either side of the desk for your favorite beverage.

Sitting on top of the E-WIN’s new RGB Desk is the GN32DA QHD Curved Gaming Monitor from Viotek, an under-monitor Katana RGB Soundbar from Creative, a HyperX Mechanical RGB Keyboard, a RGB gaming mouse, Philips Hue light bars and the CyberPowerPC Syber Cube packing the latest technology.  That’s a lot of gear to accommodate, but it all fits comfortably and with ease here.

“After assembling E-WIN’s RGB Desk and getting our gear all properly setup and configured, it looked absolutely phenomenal.”

Even with our monstrous Gaming PC, 32″ monitor and all supporting gear, everything fit perfectly!  A dual monitor setup would be ideal here as well for those that prefer that setup.  We would recommend two 27″ screens, like the ViewSonic VX2758-2KP-MHD that we covered earlier this month.  Our one and only minor gripe on this newest model from E-WIN came during the assembling process.  The instructions and diagrams would benefit from better details and diagrams.  It is definitely a bit difficult to put together by yourself.  With a team of two however, you can knock it out in 30-40 minutes.

Conclusion

It’s evident that E-WIN has put a lot of time and effort into their 2.0 Edition RGB Gaming Desk.  The modern design with aluminum legs, carbon fiber like finish and built-in dynamic RGB lights simply look rad.  Even with our large gaming rig, soundbar and 32″monitor on the desktop, there was ample room.  The build quality is tremendous, with everything feeling absolutely rock solid.  The textured surface radiates all the RGB lighting in a soft wavering glow.  It’s an outstanding showing on all fronts and one of the most impressive gaming desks currently on the market.

For Black Friday, E-WIN has several specials, including 30% any order over $250.  This is the perfect time to snatch one of the coolest gaming desks available at a killer price.  If you happen to need a gaming chair, the first 19 customers can score the Ergonomic Computer Gaming Office Chair with Pillows for $129.  This model usually sells for $359!  Be quick if you want to secure yours, as there are less than 20 available at this price in Grey.

Review Sample provided by E-WIN

The post E-WIN 2.0 Edition RGB Gaming Desk Review appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

First Impressions

It is always an exciting experience opening up a package from Bitmap Books and this is no exception.  I was one of many that grew up collecting these and imagining myself driving each and every one after a highly anticipated trip to Toys “R” Us or K·B Toys.  There was something special about this product line and it no doubt helped spark my love for the Motorsport scene that is still one of my biggest hobbies to date.

Upon opening the package, the lenticular animated front fascia will likely be the first thing that grabs your attention.  Over 60 Micro Machines change in color or position on front cover depending on the angle you view it at.  This particular hardback book is presented in a longer landscape based design, rather than the typical portrait sized dimensions.  Inside you’ll find 400 gorgeous pages in lithographic print with sewn binding and four colored bookmark ribbons.  Another neat bonus is the Logo sticker and handy foiled bookmark highlighting the Pontiac Stinger Micro Machine model from 1993 (with specs on Top Speed, Acceleration, Production Year and Scale which was 1:125).

The Foreword for this release was provided by no other than the Micro Machines Man, John Moschitta Jr.  On top of talking incredibly fast (we are talking Guinness world record holder here), John was the star in over 100 commercials that promoted this brand to kids on televisions all across the country.

He would always end with, “Remember, if it doesn’t say Micro Machines, it’s not the real thing!”

John recalled how passionate the designers were behind each car, truck, plane, boat and model that was painstakingly created for both kids and the avid collectors who had one time personally owned the real version of these brilliant mini replicas.  Bitmap Books has worked feverishly to include over 1,000 photographs of the incredible collection that Micro Machines amassed over the years.  Each image showcases insane detail, allowing you to really appreciate the tremendous effort, skill, design and love that went into every machine manufactured.

How it All Started

With inspiration from How Wheels and Matchbox cars, Clem Hedeen and his wife Jo set out on a goal to produce something on the market that has never been seen before.  They had envisioned miniaturized cars that would feature greater detail and style than the leading toy competitors; half the size, twice the wow factor!  They owned Fun City USA and began mocking up what they would eventually take to the New York Toy Fair.  They presented their idea to Galoob. This initial run consisted of 24 cars that were complete with factory packaging.  Galoob was sold and in quick order began mass production of the very first Micro Machines in 1987.

With high energy commercials, thanks to fast talking John Moschitta Jr. and unique collections where you could get 5 rides for the price of one Hot Wheels car, this new brand skyrocketed with sales.  By 1989, over 302 million Micro Machines were sold!  This was just the beginning, as many changes were to come to both design and leadership.  The first years of production used one die-cast metal chassis for all models, limiting their potential for truly unique designs, regardless of how much detail their designers put into them.  This was rectified in 1993, when Tony Miller took over as VP of Design, implementing three more chassis platforms to accommodate a wider range of styles and looks.

Trials and Changes

Even amidst this soaring success initially, Galoob had to weather some serious financial storms in the ’90s.  Some of their other toy lines weren’t doing as well and manufacturing problems almost led them to bankruptcy.  Things began to turn around though, as they pushed through the difficult times and people took notice; notably ex-employees from Hot Wheels and Mattel that actually jumped ship to push the Micro Machine brand.  Within the book,  you’ll read there was a specific team (The Core Four), who truly believed in what they were doing and demanded success from not only themselves, but their entire company.  They knew how special these little machines were and the following they had acquired in the toy industry…there truly was nothing like them and never would be again.  As they continued to grow, they would also branch out with special licensed collections themed from the likes of Star Trek and Star Wars.  I was devastated to hear that many other huge collections reached the prototype stages, but sadly never made production.  These never to be seen collections were from Godzilla, Blade Runner, Alien, Predator and Terminator.

To further grow the brand, Russ Masson invented transforming playsets.  This allowed you to race your collection around a colorful city and when not in use, it folded up into a case for portability.  What really sent sales into the stratosphere, was the continued efforts in delivering amazing replicas of cars from the ’90s.  They saw sales go from $22 million to $100 million by 1996.  Micro Machines had officially become an American icon at this point, with notable scenes in the movie “Home Alone” and getting licensed by George Lucas for a Star Wars line.  Rumors have it, that this is initially a big part of what led him to start filming Star Wars: Episode One.

The next big change took place when Hasbro acquired Galoob.  The core team slowly but surely left, leaving the brand’s future in question.  The book notes how Hasbro actually took loads of factory samples and supplies to an undisclosed location and literally ran over them with a steam roller.  A crushing blow to those that adored this product line and what was destroyed that day.  All was not lost though.  Knowing this tragedy was soon to come, several were stashed and saved from extinction and is the sole reason they were able to be featured in this special book.  The much smaller team mostly worked on Star Wars specific collections moving forward.  The excitement behind the brand was no longer there from the manufacturer and the San Francisco Micro Machines office was eventually closed for good.  In Europe, production still continued for a short time thanks to their love for the brand.  The same fate was to come for them as well though, as inferior parts and designs were being implemented into the product line, which in time flat lined consumer interest and sales.  Now these little machines are highly sought after and collected by many, letting this iconic product line live on after being discontinued.  Thanks to Bitmap Books, you’ll be able to see how truly incredible this collection became over the 20 plus years of production.

How They Were Made

This part of the book is one of my favorites.  It goes deep into the process of how they chose which models were produced.  It had to be brought up with sketches and slides and reasoning for each pick.  A debate would follow and eventually wrap up with a final vote if it would get the official green light from “The Core Four”.  If passed, the next phase would be intricate drawings on drafting tables to nail down the look they wanted.  Actual prototypes followed with models sculpted by hand from clay or plastic; but the scale for these were 3:1 or 5:1 to make it easier to mimic all the designs and details in place for the final piece.

Painting schemes were up next, where they experimented with different looks and patterns.  Not all prototypes made it to production, but the ones that did were handed off after this stage to a third party factory in China for the tooling and injection processes.  Workers then used a stencil spraying method for putting down the intricate paintwork (the Rad Paint Job Chapter covers their wildest designs).  Fans will really enjoy reading every part of this chapter, as it gives a truly exclusive look into how Micro Machines were made from start to finish.

There is a Playsets Chapter that goes into great depth on these ingenious portable creations.  This includes auto centers, navy ships, fire houses, motocross tracks and an Indy race course.  There are detailed sketches and prototype molds, showcasing how they went from an idea on paper to actual production.

Micro Machine Marketing

Bitmap Books also covers how Micro Machines were successfully promoted globally.  Here you’ll learn more about the one and only Micro Machine Man John Moschitta Jr. and his wild TV commercials; plus other advertising angles such as appearing on cereal boxes, special edition collections and much more.

Unique Europeans

This section of the book covers all the amazing European based cars Micro Machines produced.  This includes classics from Jaguar, BMW, VW, Audi, Renault, Lotus, Ferrari and  more.

Awesome Americans

Within this chapter, you’ll get to check out the raddest American cars and vehicles ever made.  It features all time classics from Ford, Chevrolet, Lincoln, Pontiac, Shelby and Cadillac.

Cool Classics

This part focuses on absolute icons in the auto industry.  Some examples include the Ford Model T, ’27 Bugatti, ’62 Shelby Cobra, Mercedes -Benz W125, Ford ’56 F-100 Pickup, Rolls-Royce Phantom and ’27 Bentley.

Cute Couples

As the name suggests, this chapter showcases two vehicles which share similarities in aspects such as an identical chassis, powerplant or platform.  It’s a fun one to go through, as you’ll discover many models that you never knew shared the same parts in one way or another.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Check out the sleekest jets, locomotives and unique machines that made it into production.  This is a diverse lineup that features tanks, biplanes, speedboats, snowmobiles and much more.

The Galoob Old Days

This incredible book wraps up with a in depth look at the people that poured their hearts and souls into the Micro Machines brand.  This of course includes more on “The Core Four” and “The Five Guys” from Galoob.  There are some awesome pictures of the crew, their shop and work spaces where all this magic took place.  You can tell from these shots how much they enjoyed their jobs.  Thanks to their passion and talent, they were able to make Micro Machines one of the most popular toys on the market and to this day they are widely collected and revered.

Conclusion

The Micro but Many: an unofficial Micro Machines Collection is another absolute masterpiece from Bitmap Books.  There is so much content, photography and history packed into this highly polished book.  Fans of these incredibly detailed mini replicas will absolutely adore the love and immense work that went into making this possible.  It’s 400 pages of nostalgic joy for collectors and fans of this very special brand that took the world by storm.

Review Sample provided by Bitmap Books

The post Micro but Many: an unofficial Micro Machines Collection Review appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

The Nightmare Begins

The game’s story revolves around three core characters, alongside a supporting cast for some clever plot twists.  You’ll see how the deadly events play out from different perspectives and timelines, where all paths eventually lead to a climactic showdown and gripping ending.  The protagonists in the campaign include multiple members from the special forces team cleverly known as H.A.D.E.S and a local forest ranger that is at first glance, just appears to be caught in the middle of the madness.  Sam’s connections to this horrific event however, goes way deeper than he could have ever imagined.  His hometown Keen Sight in Idaho is ground zero for a contagion that turns the peaceful rural countryside population into monstrosities that only mutate into worse creations as time presses forward.  With every minute that passes, the level of danger grows exponentially.

Classic Survival Horror

In place for this adventure is the beloved third person perspective, that is an absolute staple for this specific genre and era.  Your movement is deliberate and slowly paced, where each decision must be strongly calculated.  There are steep repercussions for carelessly charging forward and getting caught off guard from what lurks within the shadows.  The undead will attack you with unpredictable speed and erratic movement, quickly bringing you to the Game Over screen.

Health and ammo are scarce.  You won’t be running and gunning through this one.  Keep close tabs on what you have and only use health and stamina packs when absolutely warranted.  Accessing these and the rest of the game’s fundamental data in-game is accomplished through a interactive wrist band with LCD screen.  You’ll source your inventory here, view the area map, note your health condition and most notably load your firearms through your device.  This is a new gaming mechanic that absolutely heightens the tension with every new room and enemy encounter.  Players will have to manually load each clip and its corresponding clip.  No easy reload button here unless you are lucky enough to be packing multiple fully loaded clips.  On top of that, the game does not pause as you are making these adjustments, upping the difficulty even further.

It makes you face every encounter as tactically as possible.  When you are swarmed by more than one enemy, you can go from being in total control into a state of pure chaos; leaving you running for your life.  Often you will have to do just that to survive.  Evading your enemies strategically, allowing you just enough time to load those last few remaining bullets are what slowly advance you through this story.  Be precise, aim for the head, keep your clips loaded and don’t be surprised when the undead get back up.

Exploration is key, as it’s mandatory in finding supplies and also uncovering more details about the disturbing events unfolding before you.  There are several nightmarish sections within the city of Keen Sight and each one features fantastic lighting, haunting sound and great level design.  This includes a creepy hospital that’s a perfect fit for this premise.  You’ll also be exploring downtown where the city is ablaze and utterly consumed by the undead.  Later you’ll have to escape treacherous sewers that are crawling with villainous creatures, where fight or flight are the only two options.

Each level presents players with unique puzzles to solve that is another extremely nostalgic element RE fans will really enjoy.  Some are really tough too, with one involving replicating a Morse code transmission.  Near the end of each chapter, there will be either a boss or immense challenge awaiting you before proceeding further into the game and character arcs.  The difficulty is without a doubt steep at times and there is no hand holding of any kind in place.  Know this beforehand and prepare accordingly, and you’ll find a truly rewarding survival horror experience.  As you advance, you’ll gain further insight into each of the protagonists roles, personality and background within this exciting 20 hour campaign.

Graphically the game is obviously not a huge budget AAA release in terms of effects and polish.  For the goal of this project though, this isn’t a negative aspect in my opinion.  I honestly felt the arty style, animations and overall presentation delivered here helped tremendously in giving this game the classic RE vibe that the team has spent so much time honing in on.  It’s gritty, dark and visceral, which certainly draws you into this delightful retro horror throwback.  It’s full of cheesy dialog and cutscenes; I wouldn’t have it any other way for this title.  If you manage to beat the game (and I strongly urge all to persevere to completion), make sure to wait for the credits to finish, as there is something extra special waiting for gamers after that point.  Another really nice touch by the dev team.

Conclusion

Daymare: 1998 by Invader Studios brings back that feeling of dread, where behind every door and around each dark corner something terrifying is patiently waiting for you; instilling that distinct fear and excitement that only true survival horror games are able to produce.  This game was crafted with care for those who especially love the classic Resident Evil games from the 90s and their distinct gameplay elements.  If you are a member of this club, don’t dare miss out on this venture.

Review Copy provided by Destructive Creations

The post Daymare: 1998 Review (PS4) appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

The German Engineered Gaming Keyboard

The Vulcan 122 AIMO is the latest model in the ROCCAT gaming keyboard lineup.  First impressions draw your eyes to the brushed anodized aluminum backplate that provides excellent structural rigidity to this keyboard.  Secondly, I noticed the rubberized buttons for audio and effects; which are placed right beside a large solid volume knob that features great rotational feedback.  It also comes with a wrist pad, sporting a high gloss white finish with the ROCCAT logo embossed on the far right side.  It snaps into place magnetically.  The Vulcan’s aesthetics and overall design are stunning.

The profile of the Vulvan 122 AIMO is slim, giving the elevated keys a really unique and upscale look.  You’ll be typing on ROCCAT’s very own in-house Titan Switches, capable of 16.8 million colors per key.  These were designed for gamers that appreciate tactile switches with a focus on precision.  They feature an actuation point of 1.8mm and 3.6mm of total travel distance.

The firmware in place, powered by a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 based processor, has been programmed to register these inputs 20% faster than your typical tactile based mechanical keyboard.  They have also managed to reduce weight by 50% on their custom Switches, providing silky smooth performance with each and every keystroke.

We fired up Doom Eternal to see just how well it performed on the latest FPS from id Software.  First off, this game is sensational and it’s absolutely best played with a premium keyboard and mouse.  Inputs were quickly registered and as expected, slaying hordes of demons across this punishing 20 hour action packed campaign felt fantastic on the Vulcan 122 AIMO.  It excelled in precision and comfort.  We have a review coming up soon on the ROCCAT Kain 202 AIMO gaming mouse, in which we’ll be covering how crucial this gaming component is for dominating in online shooters.

AIMO Light Engine

The Swarm software by ROCCAT is a robust platform to truly customize your Vulcan gaming keyboard.  You can save up to 4 different profiles.  Here you can select sound feedback from each input if you wish, that range from click, typewriter, Sci-Fi and more.  Add your custom Macros in the Key Assignment area.  Lastly, customize your RGB effects with preset modes such as Wave, Breathing, Snake, Fade, Ripple, Heartbeat or go fully custom.  Saving the best for last, I highly suggest you try out AIMO for your light show mode.  This is controlled by an AI system developed by ROCCAT that reacts organically to your typing and inputs.  It will glow, highlight and stream all sorts of effects across the keyboard, delivering a one of a kind RGB experience as you game or work.

Conclusion

The ROCCAT Vulcan 122 AIMO has proven to be an absolute all star in the mechanical gaming keyboard market.  The German engineering shines here with incredible fit and finish, alongside stellar performance on the custom Titan Switches.  The RGB presence on this model is the brightest we have ever seen and the Swarm Software offers impressive customization and feedback with just a few clicks.  I’m incredibly impressed after spending weeks with this keyboard and it’s now very easy to see how it has won multiple awards for its design, features and proficiency.  ROCCAT is a force to be reckoned with in this segment and I can’t wait to see what they come out with next.

Review Sample provided by ROCCAT

The post ROCCAT Vulcan 122 AIMO Gaming Keyboard Review appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

Tower of Power

Deliveries are always fun being a reviewer, but I get especially excited when covering high end home theater equipment.  On this particular day, we had several shipments arrive, but two larger boxes with Aperion Audio logos on each side stole my immediate attention.  I’ve been eager for several months at this point to test these out and the time had finally arrived.  For those new to the brand, Aperion Audio is a very exciting company that continues to make serious waves in the home theater sector, whether it be excellent entry level bookshelf speakers to complete elite sound systems for even the most demanding audiophiles.  They have slowly but surely developed a cult following and this branches out from the obvious elite grade speakers and systems they develop and engineer in house.

Aperion Audio gives every customer 60 days to try out their latest gear.  They offer a trade-up program within 1 year of the initial purchase to make the jump to their next level of performance if you so desire, all in an attempt to make it more economically feasible on your part.  Lastly they feature up to a 10 year warranty on select lines in combination with lifetime customer support (with actual audio professionals picking up your call).  There are no pushy sales or pressure to purchase anything, quite the opposite.  They will help you design the perfect system for your environment and your specific budget, regardless if this is something you plan on doing next week or a year from now.  They take care of their customers first and foremost, personally over the phone and here in the US.  They simply have an immense passion for home audio equipment and will sincerely do all they can to help build your dream system.

I was actually new to their brand till last year.  I ran across their site online and started chatting a couple times about their products, latest speakers and goals for the year.  That first friendly chat has now lead us to where we are today and Collin has been just awesome to deal with on every occasion.  His enthusiasm for what he does is undeniable and he’s always a pleasure to speak with.  We eventually settled on covering their Allaire series last year and that in quick order won us over.  This time however they sent over something with a bit more finesse and punch that is far more capable of causing an entirely new level of ruckus.  Let me introduce you to the Novus Towers.  This is one of their latest offerings that sits between the Intimus product line and their flagship Versus speakers in terms of price and performance capabilities.  Let’s just be clear all three series can quickly get you evicted or slapped with noise ordinances if you are unfortunate enough to deal with those matters.  So play nicely…or plan on budgeting for a DIY soundproofing project if you like to bang.  Bait your friends with payment in the form of pizza, cold beverages and a showing of their favorite movie once everything is installed.  Doesn’t get any simpler than that.

Gorgeous Design

The Novus line is sleek and absolutely gorgeous from every angle.  Our pair came in a satin Pure White finish and the contrasting woofers and tweeters look phenomenal.  Each tower comes with acoustically transparent magnetic grilles, but it would be an absolute tragedy to cover up what’s behind them.  It’s comprised of two 5.25″ woofers that are split with a 1″ silk dome tweeter in the middle.  You’ll notice a slotted reflex port at the front that features a recessed slope design, giving this impressive tower cabinet even more character.  Work your way down from there and you’ll spot a well braced gunmetal foot stand that comes pre-installed at the bottom of the base.  This not only looks awesome, but provides excellent stability.  They also include floor spikes, if these are going to be placed on carpet versus hardwood floors.  Bean the cat supervised this setup and approved final inspection.

Aperion Audio chose to go with slimmer dimensions for this particular line; a different approach when compared to some of the behemoth sized cabinets you see from some of the competition.  Yet, each Novus Tower still weighs in close to 30 pounds.  These things are certainly built with longevity in mind and feel near bullet proof in structural integrity.  The build quality that Aperion Audio enforces across their product line is just astounding.  Their smaller profile make it perfect for small to medium sized rooms, delivering big sound with a modest footprint.

“Don’t be fooled into thinking that the smaller size of these Novus towers are indicative of the sound they can produce…that’s actually far from the truth as they pack a punch several times their size.  Thanks to ingenious design and next level engineering, this pair is ready to go to war.”

Exceptional Parts and Elite Performance

As recommended, we ran these non-stop for close to 24 hours prior to the day of testing.  This will properly break them in and return the best performance overall.  Aperion Audio has certainly nailed the look of the Novus Towers, but what’s going on inside this beautifully designed cabinet?  Enclosed within each tower are dual long-throw 5.25″ Woofers with linear excursion that produce a wide range of powerful mid and sharp low level notes.  Each Woofer is made out of aramid-fiber, which is heat resistant for extreme durability and their known for incredible strength that enables each speaker to withstand even the loudest settings for prolonged sessions without fatigue.  These synthetic fibers are also used in ballistic rated body armor.  I love when a company over engineers their products!  Custom tooled rubber surround make the mounting screws invisible, adding to the super clean look this tower has going for it.  The sloped front baffle and slotted reflex port were constructed to provide maximum bass performance and minimum air-leak noise when pushed hard.

Are you catching a theme here.  These towers are like a high revving sport’s cars that was engineered to produce max power in the upper RPMs.  The real treat from this type of design is hearing that epic exhaust note just grow louder, more violent and menacing by the second.  These were built in the same manner for those that not only love music, cinema and games; but especially for those that get a huge grin every time they push their systems, creating the most exhilarating experience possible from their favorite entertainment medium.  The good news is these can take your best effort and wink back at you while not even breaking a sweat.

These woofers are simply midrange kings.  This is their crowning achievement and this is the range where they truly excel.  As discussed above, they seem to thrive on being pushed hard, in which we are always more than happy to oblige.  For those seeking lower frequencies and deep impactful bass that is both heard and genuinely felt, adding a high powered subwoofer to this setup is key.  To see how these paired with a suitable home theater sub, we invited our 700+ watt SVS-SB1000 to the party.  Even with the sub set at high and the receiver at near peak volume (providing 140W per channel), the Novus towers delivered by far some of the most dynamic and visceral sound I’ve heard at this price point; now paired with a sub to dish out those low guttural bass notes that shake your very core.

“Listening to ‘A New Color’ by Astronoid was eye opening in just how capable the Novus Towers are.  The atmospheric melodic metal riffs gave me chills, as these speakers ripped with definition and clarity.  The sound effects present in Resident Evil 3 absolutely shined when channeled through this system.  It creates an entirely new layer of immersion, heightening all your senses and making the game’s campaign that much more nightmarish.  It allows this survival horror remake to provide one of the most terrifying gaming experiences of 2020, combining mind blowing visuals alongside profound, stunningly accurate audio that is all but guaranteed to leave you with your hairs standing on end.”

For crystal clear highs, a brand new 1″ silk dome tweeter is at center stage.  This is not just any regular silk dome tweeter though, it’s comprised with a special fiber sourced from Germany that has been found to be of the highest quality available.  It’s attached to a neodymium motor with a ferrofluid cooled voicecoil.  With two decades of experience behind this team now and loads of R&D under their belt, they were able to identify and set the best overall frequency response that can reach up to 30 kHz.  But wait…we haven’t even got to the coolest part of this tweeter.  You can manually adjust it from the back of the cabinet for better performance based off your environment and room setup, now that’s innovation!  It ships with a post on the tuning inputs that lock in the stock settings.  Remove this post to reduce tweeter levels by 3dB.  We personally preferred the stock setting in our loft staging environment and haven’t looked back.  None the less, this is just another way Aperion Audio sets them self apart from the crowd.

Let’s dive right into Tweeter performance.  The vocals in “Jig Is Up” by Ice Nine Kills screamed with absolute ferocity through the high performance silk dome tweeter.  Once again the high quality materials and parts sourced by Aperion Audio more than proved their worth with amazing precision and range present here.  Multiplayer matches in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare were especially thrilling.  Bullets, grenades and rockets came through both towers with tremendous authority.  From downstairs, it sounded like a war documentary was being put on blast up in the loft area.  The realism of each rifle, shotgun and fired shot was captured with such authenticity.  I now noticed distinct differences in how the game processed sound in different environments.  Whether you were in the open, sprinting down a corridor in an attempt to outrun incoming gunfire or if you happened to get pinned down inside a bunker for an intense standoff, each weapon exhibited unique audio qualities.  This was the case when breaking out the close quarter shotgun, firing a high caliber sniper rifle for long range tactics and the constant ricochets from all the close calls of hot metal pounding against the environment around you. I can’t imagine the time that was spent on creating so many audio variances.  Simply put, when playing this through the Novus Towers, each effect was immensely unique in overall sound complexity and execution.  It was as if I was experiencing this game almost for the first time in many ways and you can’t really give any speaker a greater compliment than that.

Conclusion

The Novus 5.25″ 2-Way Tower Floorstanding Speakers from Aperion Audio make a serious statement with their elegant aesthetics and cutting edge engineering.  The twin aramid-fiber woofers in combination with the slotted reflex port refuse to distort no matter how hard you push them, while the adjustable German sourced silk dome tweeter is wonderfully matched for near perfection in sound delivery.  They excel at providing intense midrange performance alongside crisp unfaltering highs.  If you are looking for the best tower speakers for your home theater under $1,500, these are it.

I do recommend pairing these with a strong powered subwoofer for the absolute best experience.  Aperion Audio offer some absolute bruisers in this department too and we’ll be covering their new model upon release later this year…so stay tuned!

Note:  This may also be your best bet to snag an incredible deal over at Aperion Audio, as they are running a Spring Promotion for 20% off the entire Novus and Versus III lines.

Media Sample provided by Aperion Audio

The post Aperion Audio Novus Floorstanding Speaker Review appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

This is what it means…to be a Leader

Call of Duty: Vanguard delivers everything players have come to expect from this blockbuster franchise.  The single player campaign is set within the 2nd World War, with stories staged from various points of the war.  The game kicks off with a wicked train heist in the year 1945, followed by an incredible paratrooper scene that looks like it scene straight from the big screen.  These two missions alone already show off the capabilities of the latest version of the IW 8.0 graphic’s engine on next gen consoles and powerful gaming PC’s.  The wind, rain, lighting, fire and environments have true next gen visuals and spectacular effects.  The Series X really shows off its stellar hardware on this title.

The action displayed has never been so polished and detailed; whether it’s an aerial combat mission over the Pacific ocean or a tense sniper standoff within the city of Stalingrad.  There is even a 120 FPS mode within the options for compatible TVs and monitors.

There are some really incredible missions that span across the stories of 4 veteran heroes that unite to become one of the world’s very first special forces team.

” Their high octane adventures led to moments left me in awe at the insane amount of gorgeous chaos and cinematic mayhem presented on screen.  These new consoles are really hitting well above their price tags.  I can only imagine what is in store with more development time behind this hardware moving forward. “

Multiplayer Madness

To no surprise, there is a wealth of content here to MP fans.  There are a host a modes and game types to choose from, including 20 maps and 10 modes.  You can jump right in and start having fun here.

Multiplayer Options:

• Quick Play (Team Deathmatch, Domination, Kill Confirmed, Search and Destroy, Patrol, Free-For-All and Hardpoint)
• Western Front
• Champion Hill – Duos
• Champion Hill – Trios
• Private Match

From the MP menu, you can customize your Weapon Loadouts, Killstreaks, Field Upgrades and visit the Armory for any weapon blueprints you may have acquired.  The Ultimate Edition comes with some fantastic digital goodies for those interested.

• 24-hours of exclusive first play access to the new Warzone Pacific map
• Task Force One Pack — 3 Operator Skins
• 3 Weapon Blueprints with Tracer Rounds
• Battle Pass Bundle (1 season Battle Pass + 20 Tier Skips)*
• 10 hours of 2XP (5 hours of 2XP and 5 hours of weapons 2XP)
• Digital Exclusive – Frontline Weapons Pack

The Ultimate Edition also gives players access to the Pre-season BattlePass. Vanguard’s Preseason runs from November 5 to December 2, where at that point the first season officially kicks off.

There is a Challenges list for those completionists out there.  Visit this tab to display what you have completed and to see a percentage on the other challenges left to be finished.  Lastly, visit the Barracks to see your overall progress, customize your player identity and Clan Tag, plus view a history record of your time in game (such as total time spent, wins and losses, etc.)

Pros:

-Smashing Nazis

-Intense Battles across the World

-Excellent Stealth Segments

-Incredible Visuals and Effects (tested on the Xbox Series X)

-Feature rich competitive Multiplayer

-Destructive environments adds a new dynamic to each battle

-Overhauled Zombies Mode for Vanguard, delivered by Treyarch

Cons:

-Delivers what we have come to expect from the Call of Duty franchise.  A true refresh with some truly innovative changes would be great.

-Occasional stuttering performance-wise during the campaign

-Odd ending animations and poorly optimized and repetitious “MVP” cutscenes at the end of MP matches

Conclusion

Call of Duty: Vanguard – Ultimate Edition on the Xbox Series X does a great job showcasing the technical prowess from Microsoft’s impressive console.  It looks absolutely stunning and the campaign will no doubt leave your jaw dropped on multiple occasions.  The visuals and effects light up the screen with immense detail and accuracy.

The multiplayer options are wickedly stacked and should provide hundreds of hours of exciting competitive gameplay.  They have nearly perfected this formula and with that comes some predictability.  I’d love to see more innovation and surprises we never saw coming on the next outing.  With that said, this is still a must have purchase for any fan of the series and one of the best looking titles yet on the Series X.  It also has some of the best replay value (as their MP components always does) and is an absolute blast to play online with some friends.

Review Copy provided by Activision

The post Call of Duty: Vanguard – Ultimate Edition Review (Xbox Series X) appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

Let’s go Cruis’n

For those new to the franchise, this is an arcade racer with licensed cars, where you travel to different areas in the world and race for that coveted checkered flag finish.  Cruis’n Blast kicks things up several notches in practically every aspect, that include over 30 tracks and 23 rides to choose from (including a firetruck and dinosaur too…you read that correctly).

Easy and Normal modes are available from the start, with Hard and Extreme difficulty unlocked as you progress.  Single player, Multiplayer, Local Play and Extras are the main offerings.  Extras include your progress, your garage, Best Time on each Track, Controls and a Credits screen.  Would have loved to see the OST here.

Single player has a very healthy roster that features Cruis’n Tour (Night, Escape, Storm, Chopper and several other themed courses), Classic Arcade, Time Trials and a Single Race option.  Multiplayer is in place for local play up to 4 players, but online MP is MIA.  I think that’s literally my only complaint from this title.

There are several exciting cars to choose from including: GT-R, C8, 59 Cadillac, Camaro ZL1, Police Cruiser, Superbike, Firetruck and yes…a freaking Triceratops.  This over the top foolishness actually fits extremely well alongside the insanely chaotic and blissful arcade gameplay that gamers today just rarely see anymore; and that’s a shame.

Once you select your ride, you’ll be able to customize it in may ways.  Change up the paint, earn upgrades such as decals, install a wicked looking body kit, purchase engine upgrades or brighten up your car with a glowing neon kit underneath the chassis.  Don’t forget to purchase some NOS if you wanna increase your chances of snagging a first place finish.  It can really help you pull off some razor close wins.

You can also drift and buildup a short bursts of speed (similar to Mario Kart).  Double tapping the gas pedal will make you pop a wheelie, go on 2 wheels around corners and you can even flip over other cars with this tactic.  The game is still focused on outrageous speed and they have certainly cranked up the environmental mayhem on each track, making it a absolute blast from start to finish.  Tornados, UFO’s, Helicopters and giant Yeti’s are just a fraction of the action found within each course.  It is delightfully crazy in the best way possible.

Conclusion

Cruis’n Blast from Raw Thrills is an absolute gem for Nintendo Switch owners.  If you blended up Burnout, Need for Speed and MotorStorm Apocalypse, this would be the likely outcome.  It’s a wonderfully chaotic arcade racer.  The action, effects and overall performance achieved here is really impressive; as it runs beautifully docked or on the go.  This genre has been absent for far too long and seeing this IP back up exclusively on the Nintendo Switch is a real treat.  Whether you put in serious time with the original game on the N64 like I did, or this is your introduction to the series…you are in for some serious smiles and fun.

Review Copy provided by Raw Thrills

The post Cruis’n Blast Review (Nintendo Switch) appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

Knights of the Round Table

This story kicks off with a battle taking place between the Knights and an enemy group who call themselves The Purge.  Their name is quite fitting, as they are looking to destroy and wipe out the once peaceful civilization of Neo Utopia.  The two heroes leading the charge are Lancelot and Galahad, two of the fiercest knights in existence.

• Lancelot gives the player options in difficulty and the ability to achieve various endings depending on what type of approach you take during the campaign’s 6 levels.  I highly recommend starting the game with the Casual Setting, as the bosses trigger a large difficulty spike.

• Galahad is targeting hardcore gamers.  Those that select this knight, will have one life and no checkpoints.  A great test for those seeking a punishing Roguelike challenge.  A Boss Rush mode awaits only the greatest warriors.

I spent the majority of time with Lancelot’s campaign.  You’ll start off with a tutorial and learn new moves and abilities after beating each stage.

Players can jump, double jump, dash and slash their foes to oblivion with a cold steel blade.  Parrying is a big part of the game and it enables players to disarm or assassinate their foes.

There are enemies on the ground, in the air, one’s with a shields, drones, helicopters and bosses that will absolutely make you earn the win.  With each stage you beat, you’ll earn points that can go towards upgrades for health and skills (such as being able to regenerate a small portion of your life bar).

The combat and controls felt great overall.  While I couldn’t ever parry a boss successfully, I was however still able to rip around most levels at a frantic rate, which is really fun.  The platforming side felt responsive and solid as well; as we were running and jumping off of walls with ease after just a few attempts.

The graphics and presentation were impressive as well.  I particular enjoyed the visuals, music and art style created by the team; it’s very retro and fitting.  It highly resembles some of the gems from the 16-bit era in many ways and that’s a big plus for me.  I would have liked to have seen more levels, but it’s still a really good value and delivers fun engaging content; competitively priced at $14.99.

Conclusion

Fallen Knight has a lot going for it.  Retro gamers or those fond of Mega Man, will no doubt be drawn to this action-platformer.  Each stage is action packed and while some areas can be challenging at times, the 6 Boss Fights are the real gem here.  This is where you’ll get punished for any little mistake.  You’ll have to master their movements, attacks and discover weak points,  if you wish to come out victorious.  As always, it’s a awesome feeling when you finally slay the Boss and clear the Stage!

I hope we see some future DLC with more levels, bigger Bosses and maybe a new playable character or weapons to keep the action going strong.  This is a great start for the new IP by Fairplay Studios and with any luck, we’ll see a bigger and bolder sequel.

Review Copy provided by Fairplay Studios

The post Fallen Knight Review (Xbox Series X) appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.

It wouldn’t be summer, without picking up a brand new game for my beloved Nintendo NES.  Many may be wondering how this is possible, as this 8-bit legend was discontinued in 1995.  The great news for collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts, is that it’s still possible to acquire brand new, glorious 8 and 16-bit games to keep that retro gaming collection going strong with new adventures.  All due in part to passionate studios that are still actively producing new games for the NES and many other classic retro consoles.

Mega Cat Studios is the top dog, excuse my language…the Top Cat in this gaming sector.  Their passion is derived from the magic that lit up every local arcade of the ’80s and ’90s eras; and later console ports where many of us found our love for video games.

They develop and manufacture brand new NES 8-bit cartridges, that comes in an old school game box and yes…an actual manual.  It’s probably hard to remember now, but gamers use to get thick, colored highly detailed instructions manuals that were such a joy to read through before jumping into a game.  It was the equivalent of a pre-game show or launch trailer to get you hyped up for what’s to come.  All these things are guaranteed to pull on your favorite retro gamer’s heart strings.

Today, we are going over our first impressions of their latest venture titled “Roniu’s Tale”.  This is a joint effort between Kunjee Studio and Mega Cat Studios, currently active on Kickstarter.

Roniu’s Tale

Roniu’s Tale quickly met its financial goals on Kickstarter and has now received nearly 4 times the initial project target (actually fully funded in a mere 6 hours).  After getting some time in with the preview rom, it’s very easy to see why!

Roniu is an adventurous magician and you’ll need to use his powers and your wit to get through each of the 43 levels, located deep within a dungeon.  It uses a top-down view that is perfect for the gameplay style and genre found here.  You first have to figure out how to reach each orb and key; at this point the exit will be unlocked and the next challenge will be getting Roniu safely to that point and onto the next level.  There are several dangers to contend with, including the perilous tiles you walk on; plus dodging all the goblins, worms, ghosts, skulls and skeletons that call this underworld their home.

It’s an addicting and challenging Puzzle Action Adventure.  This one will really make gamers think carefully, as they will have to formulate their plans of escape strategically; all while avoiding deadly pitfalls, barriers and deadly enemies.  It has that classic NES gameplay baked in, that allows players to pick up a controller and just start having fun immediately.

My first attempt lasted all of maybe 15 seconds.  I discovered if you generated enough speed it made it possible to cross one too many tiles (each tile crumbles away as you walk over it), often putting you face-to-face with a wretched ghoul or stuck in a corner with nowhere to go. Roniu however, has some tricks up his sleeve.  He can shoot fireballs, become a ghost and even levitate.  Another neat ability is the power to rewind time, erasing that fatal mistake.

Roniu’s Tale is all about strategic plans of movement, puzzle solving and even some combat sprinkled in for a very engaging experience.  The devs have found that sweet spot of providing excellent depth and immersion, all while not burying the player with mountains of instruction screens, cramped menus and a sheer overload of information to analyze and digest upon starting your adventure.  I can’t be the only person that has nodded off during during unusually long tutorials.

Roniu’s Tale forgoes all that bloat with a couple of beautifully animated pixelated screens, showing players the game’s characters, the controls and a short story to get you up to speed and ready to play!

Key Features:

• Over 40 Levels of Dangerous Pathways to Solve
• Head Scratching Puzzles
• A Whirlwind of Enemies and Epic Bosses
• Limbo, Lava, Jungle & Cross-dimensional Pixel-Immersive Mechanics
• Intuitive & Precise Controls
• Gorgeous pixelated graphics
• OST composed by Diogo Bazante and produced using Famitracker

First Impressions

Our introduction to Roniu’s Tale shows tremendous potential.  The gameplay is already impressively balanced and precise, offering excellent challenges on each level.  The graphics, music and overall presentation are top notch.  We absolutely cannot wait to see the final game from Mega Cat Studios and the Kunjee team, as this has all the ingredients in place to be a huge hit with retro gamers, collectors and for anyone that enjoy the Puzzle Action Adventure genre.

Prototype NES cart and Demo ROM provided by Mega Cat Studios

The post Roniu’s Tale – First Impressions (NES) appeared first on Pixelated Gamer.