Ben Sheene

8.3

Great

Rainbow Six Extraction

Tom Clancy’s name has been stretched in a multitude of ways. The franchises attached to the Tom Clancy’s brand have been equally stretched. Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon, The Division… XDefiant? The worlds inspired by the author’s works have often been relatively grounded, if not a bit out of the realm of belief. Years ago I read the massive tome that was Rainbow Six because I...[Read More]

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8

Great

Solar Ash

My time with Solar Ash is crystalized by the two opposing forces of fun and frustration. Throughout Heart Machine’s second game, I was thrilled with the sense of serene beauty and speed as main character Rei skated across clouds and gravity-defying landscapes. Solar Ash proudly wears inspiration on its sleeve. Much like Hyper Light Drifter paid tribute to The Legend of Zelda yet remained sin...[Read More]

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8.5

Great

JBL Quantum 350 Wireless Headset

When I reviewed JBL’s Quantum 800 Wireless Headset last year, I considered it to be one of the best gaming headsets I’ve used in quite some time. Considering how busy the market is, the $200 price point was completely fair with the amount of features and quality sound the Quantum 800 produced. It was the second-most expensive headset in JBL’s new Quantum line to push their brand ...[Read More]

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9

Amazing

Reopening Death’s Door

Death’s Door is not afraid to proudly wear inspiration on its sleeve. When I reviewed the game on the PC earlier this year, the comparisons to classics were not lost on me. But Death’s Door had an indescribable charm, due in no small part to its tiny crow protagonist. An impeccable art style and murmurings the game had any shred of Dark Souls in it further poised the game for success. ...[Read More]

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JBL Quantum Cup Levels Up in Second Annual Tournament

Three days of action, two new titles, and more opportunities for viewers and players to win big. STAMFORD, Conn. – November 17, 2021 – This December, the JBL Quantum Cup gaming tournament returns, and is bigger than ever. Hosted December 17-19, the JBL Quantum Cup invites gaming fans across the world to watch, play and win. JBL has once again partnered with ESL, the largest esports organization in...[Read More]

8.5

Great

Riders Republic

Riders Republic is at its best in the midst of chaos. Often that chaos is controlled as players seek out numerous racing and trick events that send them careening downhill on bikes and skis or across wide canyons in a wingsuit. Riders Republic is fun because it rarely takes itself too seriously. Even when trudging through the strange and forcibly hip dialog, it’s hard not to laugh at the abs...[Read More]

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9.5

Amazing

5.9
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Call of Duty: Vanguard

Early in the evening on November 3, 2021 I patiently waited to load into a multiplayer lobby in Call of Duty: Vanguard. A few short minutes before, I had wrapped up an 11-round session of Zombies with fellow Vanguard reviewer Nathan Stevens. We had a great time. Not only did we pass the hours literally and figuratively shooting the shit, we indulged in one of Call of Duty‘s simple pleasures:...[Read More]

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ROCCAT Torch

You have aspirations of being a streamer or content creator worth a damn. Looking for the right equipment to get you started, you naturally become a bit overwhelmed. The market is flooded with any amount of gaming peripherals and streaming accessories meant to somehow elevate your gameplay and personality into a higher echelon. As someone who has spent years tip-toeing into the streaming world, fi...[Read More]

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9.5

Amazing

Tetris Effect: Connected (Switch)

Nintendo’s Game Boy was a revelation. Those of us who were hardwired to a television were able to finally delight in gaming on the go. I received the original Game Boy on my sixth birthday as a final gift from my father who had passed away a few weeks prior. As a young child, I was already keen on the bright colors and addictive platforming from the likes of Mario and Ninja Gaiden. But I kne...[Read More]

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9.5

Amazing

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

Batman: Arkham Asylum drew me in years ago to the point where I became intoxicated by the lore surrounding the world’s greatest detective. As a video game setting, Arkham is packed with a strange and detailed history of Batman, one been detailed in decades of comics but one I regardless had avoided. For fans of DC, it was a treasure trove of referential collectibles and discoveries. Despite ...[Read More]

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8.5

Great

Back 4 Blood

In my Diablo 2: Resurrected review, I lamented the lack of Diablo 2 in my gaming lexicon. Somehow I had eluded such a classic game for over 20 years but relished in the opportunity to play what I consider to be the best version of the title. Please forgive me dear reader, as I must confess to another egregious sin. Left 4 Dead and its sequel are equally massive gaps in my gaming knowledge. But per...[Read More]

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8

Great

Antonball Deluxe (Switch)

There’s a joyous simplicity to Antonball Deluxe. If you’ve ever played a block or brick breaking game like Breakout, Arkanoid, or the hundreds of other permutations, you’ve sort of played Antonball Deluxe. There’s always a paddle of some sort at the edge of the screen, usually at the bottom. A ball drops, the paddle hits it, the ball jettisons upwards towards some blocks to...[Read More]

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