Author - Ripper71

magHANDL and HANDLstick Review

I was on the hunt for a better phone grip at the Consumer Electronics Show this year. My current setup – a plain, clear MagSafe case with a generic Chewbacca ring holder – was functional but not exactly stylish. Thankfully, I stumbled upon HANDL New York, and they transformed my phone-holding experience.

magHANDL:

I knew about MagSafe but hadn’t used it much. We chose a new case, and Mrs. Ripper kindly modeled the magHANDL once it was attached. I was worried about messing up the installation, but it was a breeze! The magHANDL held securely while I walked around and even during intense rounds of Call of Duty: Mobile.

The stretchy design also doubles as a convenient stand for watching videos. HANDL New York offers a wide variety of styles and colors, from faux crocodile to famous artwork. This system is perfect for anyone who likes to switch up their phone’s look and benefit from different grip options.

HANDLstick:

If you don’t use MagSafe or want a no-frills grip solution, the HANDLstick is a fantastic option. It’s incredibly secure – I could easily fit three or four fingers through the handle. Just find the ideal placement for the grip and the stand, which is sturdy and well-designed. I’m definitely planning on using the HANDLstick on my next cross-country flight so my phone sits comfortably on the tray table.

The Verdict

HANDL New York offers excellent solutions for improving your phone grip. The best choice depends on your needs and preferences. Either way, they prove that phone handles can be both functional and fashionable.

Banishers: Ghosts Of New Eden Review – Battle Spirits and Uncover A Haunting Mystery

We’re Halloween fanatics at GamingShogun.com, and when the season ends, we fall into a holiday funk that lasts the other ten and a half months of the year. One way we cope is by playing some deliciously creepy games. So, when Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden came along, I jumped at the chance to review it. The hardest challenge was pausing long enough to eat, sleep, and write – not necessarily in that order!

This is a game where the story matters, but the developers wanted to cater to a wide range of players. You can play on Story, Easy, Normal, Hard, or Extra Hard modes. It’s great that there’s a strong focus on the narrative, as that’s less common in this genre, whereas Extra Hard is definitely for those who like a serious challenge. The stories are well-crafted, offering a unique spin on haunted settings. We’re in an alternate 17th century in the Americas, and things are definitely not what they seem. After receiving a disturbing note from a dear friend, two Banishers – people who can banish spirits from our realm – set out to help him and his entire community. When they arrive, the Banishers discover their friend missing, spirits on the attack, and a terrifying new enemy lurking in the shadows. Without spoiling anything, let’s just say the story is engaging and kept me playing well into the night. There are some moments that will tug at your heartstrings!

The graphics are gorgeous and impressively detailed. For example, there’s a scene where two characters are talking, and it starts to rain. You can see the raindrops hitting and soaking into the fabric on one character’s shoulders – and that’s just background detail! The lighting is fantastic and adds to the realism of the visuals. Sound effects, music, and voice acting are all top-notch, enhancing the immersive experience.

Of course, beautiful environments wouldn’t mean much if the gameplay wasn’t good. Luckily, the combat is satisfying. Exploring and basic combat reminded me of classic third-person action games, which is a good thing here. It’s a familiar formula, made more exciting by the dark setting and spooky enemies. Be warned: some of the dialogue choices are timed, so don’t use them for bathroom breaks! When you’re not battling or in cutscenes, there’s gear to find, skills to unlock, and magical abilities to help with the challenges ahead.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (BGONE) is a fun and dark journey filled with mystery, terrifying spirits, and third-person combat. I’m hoping for more entries in the Banishers universe with the same quality of visuals, storytelling, and gameplay. Until then, it’s time for another playthrough!

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

CES Expo 2024 Wrap Up: 100 Years of the CTA

It was 1967, a year marked by tragedy and technological promise. The Vietnam War raged, the Apollo 1 fire claimed the lives of three astronauts, and the inaugural Consumer Electronics Show (CES) debuted in New York City. With 250 exhibitors and 17,500 attendees, it was the humble beginning of an event that would shape the future of electronics, bringing together innovators and enthusiasts from around the globe.

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) traces its roots back to 1924 when it was founded as the Radio Manufacturers Association. As technology evolved, so did its name – incorporating “television” and “electronics” before settling on its current title in 2015. Initially focused on standards and policies for radio, the CTA quickly expanded to encompass the rapidly growing world of television and, ultimately, the full spectrum of electronic technologies. Its flagship event, CES, blossomed into a massive, world-renowned showcase.

Photo Gallery

Like many live events, CES attendance plummeted due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hasn’t yet fully rebounded. However, it remains resilient, recovering even as other major shows, like E3, have faltered. In a post-pandemic landscape where many companies may opt for virtual events, CES stands as one of the few major conventions demonstrating strong recovery. While the days of packed Las Vegas hotels for CES might be a thing of the past, the industry is constantly changing, and new ways to host conventions could emerge.

For now, CES continues to highlight exciting advancements in consumer electronics. Car tech is booming, with innovations ranging from heads-up displays to flying vehicles. Drones of all sizes take center stage, from playful light-show toys to professional 4K models. Virtual reality, haptic feedback devices, cutting-edge farm equipment, and the latest LG screens all find their place at CES. While attendance may not have returned to peak levels, CES Las Vegas endures. As it gradually recovers, we can hope that the next major milestone will see a return to its pre-pandemic glory.

KiiBOOM Phantom 81 V2 Keyboard Review

Whether you’re a gamer, programmer, or just addicted to the internet, your keyboards and mice have a lifespan. Eventually, you may find yourself noticing certain parts stop working. It’s not unlike a car, and much like cars, you need to decide when it’s time for a replacement. You might even have a sentimental attachment that makes it hard to let go. My volume wheel stopped working, and WASD were down to just WS on the keys. Luckily, KiiBOOM came along to help keep me moving with the KiiBOOM Phantom 81 V2.

First, I came from the world of full-size keyboards, so the Phantom 81 V2’s compact size (330x150x35mm) took a little getting used to – especially the lack of a number pad. However, that wasn’t much of a challenge. The compact size is great for gaming, especially considering its weight. Usually, smaller keyboards have very light chassis, particularly when they offer both wired and wireless modes. KiiBOOM went the other way with the Phantom81 V2, creating the heaviest gaming keyboard I’ve ever reviewed. The acrylic body, polycarbonate parts, and a weight of 1430g give it a substantial feel. The weight doesn’t matter much when it’s on the desk, but it provides a wonderfully comfortable heft when using it wirelessly on a lap or tray – especially since it has a shorter form factor. It feels solid, unlike how many plastic keyboards can feel flimsy.

The acrylic build also serves as a showcase for the keyboard’s inner workings. The transparent body allows for lights around the outside and beneath the keys, with preprogrammed patterns available right out of the box – just like its plug-and-play functionality. Turning over the keyboard gives you a peek at the battery and all the connections running between the keys. I’ve done it multiple times just because of how cool it looks! You’ll want to check the instructions on how to access the different lighting effects, as it comes out of the box blazing like the spaceship at the end of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

When gaming on the PC, there’s lots of room on my desk for a full-size keyboard. However, the more room I have, the easier it is to keep review items, notes for character builds, and my usual clutter within reach. With my broad shoulders and large hands, my body position is most comfortable when my back is properly leaning against the back of my gaming chair. As a result, I easily wrote this review with the Phantom81 V2 before going back to testing it in Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden just to put it through its paces.

One of the biggest concerns about any keyboard, but especially wireless ones, is how much lag there is between input and the PC/laptop. Since I’m a game reviewer, this is crucial, so I played one of my games, BGONE, to see how it handles. The answer is that it handled superbly; when I had to make a quick reflex move to avoid getting cut down by a spirit, the keyboard responded perfectly. The mechanical keys helped me feel the action, as well as hear it with a satisfying click that many gamers prefer. However, if you play games in bed next to your partner, a different keyboard style might be a better fit. The Phantom 81 V2 offers both 5.0 Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz wireless dongle for reliable connectivity.

On the subject of customization, the Phantom 81 V2 includes tools to swap out any of its 82 hot-swappable keys. The instructions are straightforward, and if not, I’m sure there’s a video online. It’s reassuring to know I can replace a key myself should the need arise – that was an issue with my old keyboard. Also, the metal volume knob on the Phantom 81 V2 has a nice, firm seating, unlike the failing plastic one on my old keyboard.

The Phantom 81 V2 by KiiBOOM is both highly effective and enjoyable. It offers top-notch quality and versatility whether wired or wireless. The acrylic frame is eye-catching and the unusual weight keeps it firmly in place – perfect for a lap or a small desk. I wrote this entire review, played Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, and who knows how many more things are to come – all thanks to KiiBOOM.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Robocop: Rogue City Review – Dead or Alive You’re Playing this Game!

Today I rolled out of bed with some extra pep in my step knowing the day was going to be strictly Robocop. I put on my Robocop tshirt, fired up the first Robocop movie and settled for a long gaming session. I’ve already been playing the game for days but today I felt might finally be the time to talk about it, even if it means taking a break from saving Old Detroit.

Dead Or Alive, Your Coming With Me:
When it comes to Robocop, Detroit is a character all its own. Tall buildings and dark streets are introduced to you by smiling news anchors showing all the nasty day-to-day violence. Omni Consumer Products, known as OCP, has taken over policing the streets through corruption, funding, and lethal force for the smallest infraction. The idea is to clean up Detroit by destroying what’s left so they can build the city of the future. Due to this take on company politics, it’s almost as dangerous in the boardroom as in the streets. That’s where Robocop comes into play after the initial robotic urban pacifier ED209 makes a pink mist out of one of the board members. The idea of an officer’s knowledge and street smarts planted in a near indestructible casing comes into play after one of the most graphically gory shootings of cinema for its time takes out Officer Frank Murphy, leaving him little more than a head and torso full of holes. The character of the movie and its quotables are so famous that most of them can still be recognized after all these years, and many appear as fun easter eggs in the game.

We Killed You!
Going through the shooting quests are the strength of the game. You can spend quite a bit of time on side quests, which are nice and count toward level points, but if all you want is to cut a huge swath through the bad guys, popping their heads like in those zit videos on YouTube, then this game will rock you. You can go through only shooting knees or crotches or anything you want so that RoboCop can make interesting and slower deaths. Not sure I would highly recommend Robobop for younger kids due to the artery graffiti being splashed everywhere, but if they sat through the original movie, they could probably make it through the game.

Holding down one controller/keyboard button and your HUD has a horizontal and a vertical line that swings down to mark an enemy or other destructible place, just like Robo does in the movies. It also helps you locate stolen items, which count toward your crime-fighting score, added up at the end of each level. Collecting points allows you to enter skills adopting Robocop to different strengths to play. One build allows you to repair at certain locations, another will let you pick the lock on safes for bonus loot, they really put a lot of effort into the side missions and skill trees so that playing through multiple times for multiple builds is practically a given.

You can play the game with a controller or a keyboard or both, when it comes to holding the target button I think the controller edges out. It works well in all the options, so I found myself going with a combination of controller and keyboard without even thinking about it. Once I got going, I couldn’t stop playing. Just through one more checkpoint, I kept saying over and over. Suddenly, the dawn starts breaking through the windows… oops.

Officer Alex Murphy, Deceased:
The graphics are great and truly photo-realistic, particularly on Robocop’s chin. The sound is crisp, but hearing the Robocop theme is really one of the best things about the sound, and hearing it takes me back to the 80’s fast with its strange but memorable choice of having a hammer on anvil sound repeating throughout. One of the most famous stars of the movie was the Auto 9mm, which, when fired, has very particular and recognizable sounds that they lovingly recreated. Robocop can’t jump; he’s a slow-walking juggernaut whose robotic clunking-sounding walk became the standard for what heavy robots sound like, and it, to, is lovingly recreated. I was concerned they might clean up the gore in the game, which, at the time, these movies truly pushed the boundaries of acceptable gore when they came out, and the debate lives on. The game has a standard level of gore, but you can also increase it, creating a massive blood bath through your skill tree, which was appreciated.

Scanning:
In these days of scanning live actors into computers and the level of usage being a hot topic watching cutscenes, I found myself wondering about what contract was made for their likeness, which can now be programmed into anything they want. Some of the great news about the game was the return of Peter Weller to the iconic role of one of the ’80s most famous cyborgs (can’t forget the likes of good old Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was considered for the role but deemed too buff for a believable mechanical cop). Weller helps rekindle a love for Robo that was tarnished a bit with Weller leaving the titular character in the third film, which most fans and fanatics agree was a travesty of a movie even for its time (few can forgive Robo’s jetpack, which I often wonder if they were mocking in Kick-Ass). Combine that with the voices of the station captain and his partner Lois, and it feels like playing one of the movies.

Thank You For Your Cooperation, Goodnight:
Robobcop: Rogue City mixes the feel of an 80’s game with a modern FPS. The photorealistic graphics, especially on Robocop, are terrific, and the sound quality made it worth playing with headphones. The game can be hard to advance but usually returning to the last checkpoint and giving another run at it can get you there. The multiple ways to play it make it great for replayability. If I were you and had even the slightest enjoyment of the Robocop movies or comic books, I’d buy that for… well, you know the rest.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

STLV: 57 Year Mission Las Vegas Photo Gallery

Creation Entertainment has been continuing its SciFi convention for 57 years now and it shows no signs of slowing down! There is a particular scifi series that the convention is most know for, but very much like the universe its associated with, its extremely inclusive to whatever show or even genre is welcomed as part of their community. As a result you may find someone in a BSG uniform chatting with ToS Deadpool while ST and SW fans look on with smiles and laughter.

The show is also known for the diversity of actors from across the film and television industry who share the comradery of the event through great panels and lots of photo and autograph possiblities and this year was no exception. I saw an actor from one of my all time favorite horror movies on the same stage as actors who have played a character with the last name “Kirk” on various scifi shows. It’s a convention where fans and their heroes get a chance to be scifi nerds together.

It’s probably a bit obvious that names of shows and individual actors have been danced around and that is because that is how things were during the event. There is a very big strike going on at this time so Creation Entertainment and the members of film and television unions tried to avoid discussing bodies of artistic work they have done as part of the strike. Some moderators asked questions about how the entertainers had gotten into the business and any other things they would have wanted to be if not actors basically discussing personal rather than acting related work. Others addressed the elephant in the room and talked about the strike and why it was happening and why it is so very important.

Even with all of that the panels were informative and entertaining and definitely worth hitting every year. The convention floor always has a large mix of vendors with items from just about every major scifi series along with plenty of autograph/selfie tables for many of the scifi celebrities in attendance and the secondary stage hosts many panels on real life science and space subjects. STLV: 57 Year Mission Las Vegas was another rousing and well attended success. We can’t wait to see what’s talked about and seen next year at STLV: 58 Year Mission Las Vegas from Creation Entertainment.

Photo Gallery

Aiper Thor-S Gaming Speaker Review

I was walking around one of the night events at CES getting ready to call it a night knowing I was going to have a 13-hour day the next when I got a text that I won a raffle for a wireless speaker and to stop by the Aiper wireless pool cleaner booth. When I stopped by the booth I received an Aiper Thor-S Gaming Speaker and boy I definitely wanted to pass the word on about it.

Speaker or Martian War Machine?

The first thing that has to be mentioned about the Thor-S Gaming Speaker is that calling it a portable speaker is like calling a stealth fighter an airplane. Or in this case, calling War Of The World walking machines as some SciFi ship. That last one fits the best because this is a large portable speaker designed to look and sound like an alien ship with mechanical spider-like tripod legs and a front that looks like a part eye and part laser shooter. The back looks like it has an exhaust port and there are lights in multiple locations that can breathe or be music-responsive lighting to name a couple of settings. The legs are adjustable and the volume and bass knobs are built into the design to lend more to the alien ship design feel.

As if that is not already enough when turning the Thor-S on it plays a SciFi sounding machine noise, as well as when it connects to sources and powers down, and probably a couple of other sounds we haven’t even found yet. The speaker’s design and lighting are nice and the mechanical noises it makes going between settings is great but in the end, it needs to be more than that. It has to have a clean sound otherwise it’s not going to work as its primary function which is a quality sound experience. Luckily this is not a concern at all because this speaker rocks. It has Bluetooth 5.0 connection, TWS stereo sound, and X-Bass Technology combined with Insert Nuvoton DSP, 6+ hours of playback and a 10M device range just to name a few things. The Thor-S can also pair with another Thor-S to provide 360 surround sound as they chain together, if there is too much interference between the speakers you can always use a 3.5mm aux input to maintain your sound experience. It even has double passive radiators, eliminates resonance, and has knobs to make bass and volume adjustments that are built into the aesthetic design of the speaker. You can also adjust the playback controls on the speaker which is very handy when gaming.

They can pair up!

The Aiper Thor-S is a great speaker not just to listen to but to look at as well. Solid feeling quality across the board, it only shines more when it comes to accurate performance. When not in use I put it on a table in my hallway and pat it on the “head” like a pet whenever I walk by. Then when I want to play some Call Of Duty Mobile or listen to some music in bed it takes me less than 30 to make a connection to a new device, half that time once paired, and I can choose between listening to one or two speakers worth of sound giving either a 180-degree coverage or go for the two speakers 360 coverage. If your phone rings while you are gaming or whatever the Thor-S has a built-in microphone so you can still catch that important call then get right back to the action.

The Thor-S Gaming Speaker is not water resistant or proof so it’s not recommended for the bathtub or the pool. Considering Aiper specializes in wireless pool cleaners it would not surprise me if Aiper came out with a waterproof version eventually. Otherwise, the Thor-S does whatever you might want a personal speaker to do and does it with SciFi style.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Tribit AquaEase Bluetooth Shower Speaker Review

When you are in a full house you tend to time your shower water usage so no one starts a cold morning with a cold shower. My solution was to make a shower playlist and listen to a certain amount of music to help time my water instead of annoying alarms. I play them through a portable speaker across the room so it doesn’t get wet with my phone on the towel rack balanced close enough for me to adjust the volume between tunes and pause in case someone needs to talk to me. It’s a rather antiquated example of how to solve the problem and luckily Tribit came up with an upgrade in the shape of the AquaEase Bluetooth Shower Speaker.

At its core it’s exactly what it advertised, a water-resistant speaker with adjustable playback buttons. It takes only seconds to pair, just like anything else you might want to Bluetooth 5.3 connect to. You power on the speaker, check the device you are pairing too, and then select the speaker. What’s cool is what it does next. If the device you are pairing with, such as your phone, has a clock on it the speaker syncs up to it so that you know exactly what time you get in the shower and the time you reach up to turn it off. I have friends who have set their time ahead on devices so that they can avoid being late, well the speaker shows the time of whatever device it’s connected to so it should always match.

Shower with Music!

When it comes to a speaker you want to be able to change the sound levels to correspond to the levels on each tune. I’ve got one particular soundtrack that is crazy muddy and by bad luck I almost always have some high-quality studio mix right after it and suddenly the house is alive with the sound of my music… with someone sleeping in the room right next to the bathroom all day because they work the night shift. In the past, I would ready myself to reach out to my phone on the towel rack and adjust as the tracks require, which can suck when you have a headful of shampoo and you wind up letting too much heat out. Now I have the AquaEase hanging from my curtain rack by the included mini lanyard right next to where I stand and push the volume up and down buttons and if I need to talk to someone while in the shower I can pause and restart the music.

Two of my favorite features of the speaker are one that is just for fun and another that could prove very useful. I’m that gadget geek who loves things that are shiny. AquaEase has some great lighting patterns going around the outside that go nicely with the music. When glancing up for the time, adjusting tunes, or leaning back to wash out the conditioner it’s a kick to see the lighting going, it’s even cool to just use it as a light and shut the rest in the bathroom off. The other part which is actually very useful it is equipped with a microphone so if a call comes in you can talk to it without rushing to dry your hand and the side of your hair off. That alone makes it worth its money for those who need consistent contact with their phones. All in a speaker which can be far more directional by the sheer fact it’s water resistant and can be brought in the shower and pointed right at you.

So far we’ve been sticking to the shower uses of the speaker. I play A LOT of Call Of Duty: Mobile on my phone, to the point I have calluses at the spots of my 4-finger grip and one of my most consistent issues is keeping track of time when I’m playing it. No in-game clocks and my phone is the gaming console so times fly insanely fast. I’ve found I can listen well to the game through the speaker, check time at a glance and if I shut off the lights in the room I can game to the speaker’s colorful show. Music is important to me so if I can improve my ability to listen to it at any given time I go for it and the AquaEase fits those needs.

If there is anything I would add to the speaker is next or previous buttons in case you want to skip or re-listen and maybe a mirror but the music changing can be the one thing you reach out of the shower to do.

AquaEase makes aqua time easier to groove through, but it’s more than just a speaker it’s an audio/visual sidekick. It can be useful in watery environments and out, wait until pool season kicks in and we find a whole new list of uses.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5

Pros:

  • Built-in Clock
  • Play and Pause Ability
  • Bluetooth 5.3 Stable Connect
  • Microphone Built-in
  • Volume Control
  • Fun Lights

Cons:

  • No next or previous buttons

Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Review – Taking the Mechanical Keyboard Marvel to New Heights

The Razer BlackWidow series has been the company’s purely mechanical gaming keyboard line for quite some time. This in contrast to the more e-sports focused Huntsman line featuring Razer’s optical mechanical key switches. I had used the Huntsman Ultimate for quite some time, enjoying the robust construction and precise key movements. I thought more traditional mechanical key switches to be passé. After getting the chance to check out Razer’s newest BlackWidow offering, the BlackWidow V4 Pro, I could not have been more wrong about mechanical keys – especially Razer’s. Now I now have a new favorite keyboard, so read on to find out if this new BlackWidow V4 Pro keyboard is worth your valuable time and hard-earned money.

Razer’s new BlackWidow V4 Pro looks stunning – a mixture of classy and stylish vibes along with gamer-focused functionality. Its black aluminum housing has a pleasing semi-gloss shine while the detachable magnetic wrist rest is is super-comfortable and features a stylishly-integrated Razer logo in the carbon fiber style pattern. Razer’s Chroma RGB lighting is the best it has ever been with the BlackWidow V4 Pro thanks to its per-key lighting and transparent light windows under each Doubleshot ABS key cap allowing for maximum light transmission. The RGB is bright, vibrant, and fully-customizable as part of the Razer Chroma Studio. I recently played Hogwarts Legacy and loved how the keyboard would run through various Harry Potter specific color schemes. Setting up and using the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro is easy thanks to Razer’s Synapse software suite. All you have to do is plug it in via the included USB-C to USB-A braided cable and make sure the Synapse software is installed. It will automatically detect the new keyboard and add it to its peripheral list.

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro

The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro features the return of the five macro keys on the left perimeter of the keyboard as well as the addition of three buttons which run along the actual left side of the keyboard housing. These three dedicated macro keys are super-useful, although I did find myself hitting them by accident at times when, say, I put a water bottle next to the keyboard. Above the five macro keys sits the Command Dial. New for the BlackWidow V4 Pro, the Command Dial is a very cool macro control with eight default modes like web browser tab switching and zooming in and out. However, you can also do things like shuttle through video if, say, editing in Premiere Pro, or zoom in and out of images if you’re using Photoshop. It is worth noting that, while very cool and useful, I did accidentally hit it a few times when I was meaning to press the escape key. This is because that, while the BlackWidow V4 Pro is a full-size keyboard, its keys are actually spaced a little closer together than what I was used to with the Huntsman line. With a little use and practice, it became a non-issue, but don’t get frustrated if it happens to you a few times while acclimating to the keyboard. On the upper right quadrant of the keyboard is the dedicated media roller and four media keys which control things like play/pause, etc. The media roller has a nice, diamond texture allowing for smooth and controlled movements. The keyboard also comes equipped with a USB pass-through port. It requires you to plug a second USB cable into the keyboard and an additional USB port – but, once done, you’ll have an extra USB port on the keyboard to plug in a mouse, wireless dongle, etc.

On our desktop

The mechanical keys features on the BlackWidow V4 Pro come in two flavors: yellow (linear) and green (clicky). The linear yellow option is a quieter key switch offering a bit more smoother response while the clicky green switches offer a more audible rapport along with more precise actuation. I personally like the clicky green key switches but this is purely personal preference – either way the keyboard costs exactly the same amount. I mentioned Hogwarts Legacy earlier in this review and, while I did play the game through to its completion on the BlackWidow V4 Pro (and loved it), I also played Sons of the Forest, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Blood Bowl 3, and even edited some YouTube videos via Premier Pro. Suffice it to say, I put the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro through its paces and no matter what I threw at it, the keyboard kept performing splendidly.

Overall, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro has become my new favorite gaming keyboard. Its blend of form, function, and features is second-to-none. The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro gaming keyboard retails for $229.99 at Razer’s official website and is available now.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5

Warhammer 40,000: Darktide Review

Role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons have been around since the early 1970s and by the mid 1990s sci-fi table top properties such as D&D, Shadowrun and Warhammer 40k did well enough that several table top games crossover as popular video games to this day. A great example is Warhammer 40k: Darktide, the latest game from Fatshark the team that brought us Warhammer: Vermintide 2.

The hive city of Tertium has been taken hordes of monstrous enemies and by monstrous they are actually soldiers driven mad by war or plague or sinister forces that have resulted in nasty mutations and heretical fervor. You are a reject that has been imprisoned for one crime or another but given one last chance to serve the Inquisition by saving the city from the dark force corrupting the land. If you fail, the city falls.

An important thing to take note of in Darktide is the visual and sound quality is quite impressive and immersive. In a game of fantasy and technology colliding it can be hard to be immersive, so creating an amazing but somewhat believable world can be crucial. We definitely recommend using headphones for the deep, rich sound and good voice acting. Speaking of voice acting, over 85,000 lines of dialogue were recorded for the game! The video quality is apparent from the moment you open the game and in everything from the cut-scenes to the madness of battle against wave after wave of foes come charging at your team over and over, playing in the dark can draw you in more too.

Your team consist of 1-4 players playing co-op in matches chosen from a quest board. The higher you level the harder the maps that open up to you. In many 3rd or first person shooters you can pick up enemy weapons off the ground as you progress through the level but this game has it set up differently: you earn gold from missions then spend it on weapon upgrades. Each member of the party can choose between 4 classes that designed to match mostly common classes of shooters and RPGs. You can be a Skullbreaker (tank), Preacher (paladin), Psykenetic (mage), or Sharpshooter (sniper/warrior). If you like to run off on your own instead of sticking together you will probably get wiped out without a hand to help you. The game is designed to be co-op dependent, watching each others back is how you get through it. Share your resources as you come to them as well, if you hog all the ammo and health your teammates might think that you can just play on by yourself. You don’t each have to have a different class like some games do but it doesn’t hurt to mix it up either. If you have played Vermintide 2 or The Evil Dead or Hunt Showdown even a majority of team based games in recent years like Team Fortress or Resident Evil then you have a good idea about the gameplay.

Gameplay is an interesting hybrid of range and melee, it mostly seems to come down to thinning them out with range attacks and be ready to strike and defend with your weapon upclose and personal. As a result you defintely want to work on upgrading range and melee attacks as well as weapons and armor. Not all changes need to be upgrades though, you can take your time building your character from the ground up from back stories to voice and body decisions such as build, tattoos, even the colors of eyes and hairstyle. It’s nice to not only play the style you choose but the build you like. If you get the Imperial Edition you also get extra outfits, skins, headgear and cosmetic portrait frame as well as a special tattoo and some premium currency. You even get the digital soundtrack!

One concern is whether or not there will be enough of a presence on the servers for the games to be kept full. This is mostly a concern since there are a lot of shooter games out there right now from remastered titles to new titles that require a small squads and are relying on the same pool of players. Being Warhammer 40K with its prestige-laden pedigree, it should bring players from everywhere from P&P table top players to Call Of Duty fans. Plus Fatshark, the developer, has promised this is just the first taste of a long lasting title spanning years which should keep players coming back for more.

Warhammer 40K: Darktide is just beginning as a title and already it is an impressive game. There is a lot of play in the game already with great graphics and sound and a variety of missions with different difficulties. It doesn’t punish a new player but still challenges a veteran of co-op games which can be a hard balance to achieve. We look forward to seeing how the game evolves and the fight goes on. Long Live The Inquisition!

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5