Nintendo Wii U, 3DS News & Features

Stairs lead down to the ballroom below, which was packed with booths to play the Princess Peach: Showtime! demo and further activities for guests to enjoy. We first started out by giving the full game a go to get an even better impression of what we can expect. Lilly especially enjoyed the Ninja level, whereas Sandy had a hard time deciding which part he preferred most: Cowgirl or Pastry Chef? As expected, the game runs smoothly and is surprisingly varied. The different costumes come with different abilities and gameplay styles, while still keeping controls simple. This means that Princess Peach: Showtime! is fun for adults and children alike, and we are looking forward to playing the full game!

Playing the game was only the core part of this launch event. Indeed, there was a host of activities to complete, and every guest received a stamp card to collect stamps at each activity, which in the end could be submitted for the chance to win a game bundle. While enjoying everything that was going on, there were wonderful people walking around with trays full of drinks and food, all tasting fantastic (the food and drinks that is). Apart from the normal choice of soft drinks, there were Princess Peach themed mocktails, which were absolutely amazing. For anyone with a sweet tooth, there was also a whole stall full of Princess Peach themed cupcakes.

The different activities ensured that guests were kept on their toes. Throwing rings onto cacti could win you a cowboy/girl hat or a bandanna. A photo booth with props to dress up like Princess Peach in the game allowed guests to slip into different roles, such as thief, detective, pastry chef or ninja, with photos being both emailed and printed immediately to take home. There was also an opportunity to get a polaroid photo taken in front of a photo wall. Finally, there was of course the opportunity for some much needed networking with others in the industry, and running into old friends.

Naturally, after playing the game (and enjoying one or two mocktails), we went straight to throwing rings onto cacti - and failed embarrassingly. It being much harder than it looked, we walked away only with stamps on our little activity card and a broken ego - however we were determined to return later to try again. And again. And Again. Until we finally won a bandanna. It was so hard, but fun nonetheless!

Our next adventure took us to the photo booth, all while grabbing tasty snacks here and there. The choice of dress-up items was extensive, and it wasn't easy to decide what to wear! In the end, Lilly went for the Dashing Thief outfit, while Sandy chose the Sword Fighter outfit! One stamp and a memorable photograph richer, we then decided we needed a break from the hustle and bustle on the ballroom floor, so up the stairs again we went. Sitting down on one of the sofas, we decided on a quick round of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, where Sandy just about won (it was all luck!). That little reset was enough to retrieve the energy for another venture downstairs to retrieve a sweet cupcake and more food and drink.

Throughout the whole evening, both venue and Nintendo staff were fantastic - extremely helpful and friendly, and always available for questions. It was a whirlwind of impressions, in every sense of the word, all mixed into the excitement of being able to try out the brand-new game we're looking forward to.

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I've been waiting, Cloud.

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Logiart Grimoire, developed by Jupiter, has been in early access since September 2023. Since then, Jupiter has worked closely with players to improve the title and has since successfully funded the full version via Kickstarter. Now, Logiart Grimoire is scheduled to release on Steam on the 15th of March 2024, with a release for Nintendo Switch scheduled for April this year.
In Logiart Grimoire, players can solve number puzzles referred to as "Logiart" (also known as "Picross" from the Picross series) and word puzzles called "Fusion", which in turn create new Logiarts.
The full version of the title comes with new additions, including a new set of languages, new screens and puzzles, enhancements of certain customisation features, and further features and elements that were unavailable in early access. Puzzles lovers can look forward to brand-new challenge!

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Elite wrestling for all.

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I'd buy that for a quid.

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Can style, sound and environmentally friendly design be combined? Skullcandy says "Yes!" with its release of the EcoBuds True Wireless Earbuds. Made with 65% certified recycled plastics and 57% fewer heavy metals, the battery-free charging case comes in a sleek, minimalistic 'Glacier' style design that is open-case to reduce the use of plastic even further. By eliminating the need for lithium batteries in the case, these earbuds reduce their carbon footprint by 50%, while still allowing for 8 hours of use and featuring rapid charge technology. The EcoBuds are now available for purchase on the Skullcandy website for £29.99.

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Dead on Arrival.

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It is not uncommon that packaging of items can make the difference in buyer behaviour - after all, the majority of humankind is very visually coded, and there must be a reason that companies readily spend lots of money to research package design. When it comes to the box for the HyperX Cloud II Core Wireless Gaming Headset, this seems to have been money well spent. The design looks professional in the main colours of black with red, it looks modern and lists the most important features of the headset. Once opened, it is clear that the space is utilised in a very effective manner. The headset is immediately visible, and underneath a cardboard flap every other included item can be found. It looks quite neat and organised, which makes a great first impression.

Starting with the look, the headset looks simple and unassuming, coming in black with only the red 'X' motif on the earpiece. This allows for a professional look, but otherwise could come across as a tad boring - it really depends on whether one prefers this type of style or not.

Immediately, it becomes clear that there is no visible microphone attached. That is because the microphone is detachable, and can be plugged in on a need-to basis. This has the advantage that the headset is minimally lighter when used for listening only, and that a replacement microphone can be ordered in the case of loss or damage. On the other hand, this means that, if one prefers to use the headset without a microphone sticking into the face, the mic must be stored somewhere separately and is easy to lose. The microphone itself comes with a foam cover to reduce popping sounds, and it is also slightly bendy, allowing for ideal placement for any face. The microphone picks sound up very clear and crisp - including background noise, as well.
 
Popping the headset on, one is immediately pleasantly surprised by how light the headset feels. It fits very comfortably covers the ears, and of course the headband can be expanded to accommodate larger heads if needed. The lightness is definitely a big plus, allowing it to be worn for hours on end. The only downside is that the control buttons are a little difficult to find when feeling around for them; there's a power button, a microphone mute button and a volume wheel.

While the two buttons do feel different, they are a bit small, making it harder to find them. The mute button especially could be improved by including a tactile indicator of whether the mic is muted or not - as of right now, there is no way to tell whether the mic is muted or not by the feel of the button.
This type of headset relies on a wireless 2.4Ghz connection via a USB stick that can be plugged into a console or PC. This means it is not possible to use it on handheld devices or machines without a USB port, unless an adapter is available. As such, it is an at-home kind of device, and there is no use in carrying it for on-the-go playtime or music.

Unfortunately, this headset isn't a simple case of plug-and-play - in fact, the instructions for setup have to be followed very carefully and it seems necessary to have access to a PC in the first instance. The instructions do an adequate job of explaining the setup process, but it wasn't as straightforward as hoped and took a few attempts before it finally connected. Another downside is that for the pairing of headset and USB stick, a small pin-like object is needed to reset the USB stick, similar to that used on many smartphones to open the SIM card compartment. Not everyone necessarily has one of those readily lying around, and it was a bit of a downer having to look for one such item before being able to experience the new headset. It would have made sense to send the devices out being already paired.

Moving on to the most important part - the sound - the headset does a great job of providing a clear and crisp listening experience. Nothing is too loud or too quiet, everything is mixed in a very comfortable balance. Unfortunately, however, the headset is not very noise-cancelling. Outside noise is dampened a little bit by the ear cups, but not very much compared with headphones that use ANC.

Testing the headset, it came in handy for both playing games and work video calls, therefore allowing for a variety of uses.

The HyperX Cloud II Core Wireless Gaming Headset has a lot going for itself. It is comfortable, the sound is great and it comes in handy for both leisure (AKA gaming) and work. There could be a few improvements but overall, it works very well and is an adequate piece of equipment to enhance both gaming and work.

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Can this title steal your heart?

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It's shuffle time in this remixed and modernised Persona 3 remake!

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The Curiosity box made a long journey - all the way from the US to the UK! Generally speaking, the price of $55 to $60 a box is not uncommon for subscription boxes, but the questions is whether the contents reflect the price. The journey left the box a little battered...  but every item inside was more or less intact - only the book suffered a little.

Upon opening, a box packed tight with wonders awaited. A little booklet not only provided an overview of the items, but also information and interesting science facts about everything in the box. 

One of the most interesting items in this box was definitely the diamond hourglass. This simple hourglass is filled with none other than 100 carats of diamonds (with a certificate of authenticity) and measures the time of 1 minute. The diamonds are lab grown and the little booklet provides some fascinating facts, not only about natural and lab grown diamonds, but also on hourglasses as well. This is not only a cool gadget, but also a great decorative item and conversation starter. 

The next big item that made an impression was the mysterious transparent lock that was locking a box with the keys to said lock inside. Confusing at first, the booklet quickly explained that the wooden mallet also included in the box was the key (hehe) to this puzzle. As it turns out, it is possible to pick this simple pin-and-tumbler lock with the help of the wooden mallet, allowing the user to open the box and retrieve the keys, which now that it is known how to open the lock with the mallet, seem a bit unnecessary… Nevertheless, it was fascinating to see how picking the lock worked and then using the key (as intended) to get an insight into how a lock like this works on the inside. 

The next item came in a long tube - what could it be? It was a knit, one-size-fits-most, Curiosity Box branded beanie. This item seemed a little bit random but is used to explain the concept of infinite heat. In fact, the beanie's colour is what would be seen (in infrared) on a black body object that was infinitely hot. The beanie is not infinitely hot, but it is nice and warm, and soft, too, so it is nice to wear, and the colour is actually a pretty nice pale purple-y blue, too. The booklet again provided more information on the concept, and also a fun fact of beanies in general, so while this item was somewhat unexpected in a science box, it was not unappreciated and really quite useful. 

What would science be without books? As such, this box included a book from Minute Earth, exploring science-y questions. To go with the book are a set of plastic tentacle book marks, which are a all really funny shapes and will definitely come in handy. There are quite a few of them which are very handy to use for cookbooks, as well! 

Finally, the last item included in the box is a small charming keychain that can be used to be attached to the brand new lock keys or any other keys people may have lying around. There are no science facts about this one, but it is a cute little accessory, and who doesn't like those? 

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Choose between furthering your career or fuelling your love life!

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