Craig Peterson

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Set in 1603 and built as a native PS5 title with PS5 Pro enhancements, this standalone follow-up swaps Jin Sakai’s crisis of conscience for Atsu, a lone mercenary who has long since made peace with being the monster in someone else’s folktale.

The result is an open-world action adventure that will instantly click with anyone who roamed Tsushima, but there are enough mechanical and tonal shifts for Yōtei to stand on its own. 

The swordplay is nastier, the world is wilder, and the line between ghost story and historical drama blurs in ways that suit the northern setting. Rather than trying to reinvent everything, the game refines and deepens the template, and on both PS5 and PS5 Pro it leans hard into cinematic presentation and DualSense-driven immersion.

From the first hours, it makes an incredibly strong initial impression. Combat builds on Tsushima in smart ways, giving Atsu a broader, more expressive arsenal and replacing the stance system with something more tactile and readable. 

The story hits many familiar revenge beats but plays them with a darker, more personal edge. The open world, meanwhile, is full of exquisite vistas, reactive weather and a strong sense of place. 

The downside is that the underlying structure still leans heavily on familiar checklists, and if you treat every icon as mandatory, the pacing can sag. With that caveat in mind, this is still one of the PS5 catalogue’s standout first-party exclusives – find out all the details in our Ghost of Yotei review.

Story

Ghost of Yōtei opens with a nightmare and a massacre. Sixteen years earlier, Atsu’s family home at the foot of Mount Yōtei was attacked by a group of masked samurai. She remembers flames licking up the ginkgo tree in the courtyard, remembers the six figures who butchered everyone she loved, and remembers waking pinned to that burning trunk with her father’s katana through her shoulder. Those men become the “Yōtei Six” in local legend. For Atsu, they remain a list of names and faces to erase.

In the present day she is a bounty hunter and blade for hire, drifting through Ezo with a battered cloak, a scar that runs like a fault line across her back, and a reputation that has already seen her likeness printed on wanted posters. When a new lead surfaces on Lord Saito and his lieutenants, she heads north and the game finally lets you steer. Structurally, it is a straightforward revenge tale: six lieutenants, one architect behind them, and a long road of bodies between here and closure.

The twist lies in scale and perspective. Tsushima was the story of a nobleman caught between ideals and necessity. Yōtei centres on someone who abandoned that framework long ago. Atsu is introduced as a blunt instrument, closer to a wandering horror than a knight, and much of the story is spent testing whether anything of the person pinned to that tree is still intact. 

As you clear bandit camps, dismantle Saito’s network and resolve side stories, her legend grows in-universe. Tavern tales and bounty posters change to reflect the kind of Ghost you have chosen to be, and NPCs react accordingly.

The Yōtei Six themselves are initially drawn as clear archetypes: the calculating Snake, the brutal Oni, the elusive Kitsune, Saito’s sons known as the Spider and the Dragon, and Saito himself. 

Some of them get enough screen time and side material to feel like people rather than themed boss fights; others remain strong silhouettes with a handful of motives sketched in. The narrative is at its best when it narrows the focus to Atsu’s relationships with a small circle of allies and accomplices, particularly figures like Oyuki, Jubei and Kiku, whose fates intersect with both her past and Saito’s brutal present.

Sucker Punch leans harder than before into player choice in how you progress. After the opening sequence, you can pursue most members of the Yōtei Six in different orders. The world reacts to who has fallen and who remains: patrols shift, rumours at inns change, and some side quests resolve differently depending on which lieutenants are still breathing. Certain encounters and flashbacks are fixed, so everyone still experiences the same narrative spine, but the route you carve through Ezo shapes the pacing and tone. Pursuing Saito’s inner circle with minimal detours produces a tighter, almost linear path. Letting every rumour, bounty and personal tale pull you off course stretches Atsu’s quest into something more fragmented and melancholic.

That flexibility comes with the usual open-world trade-offs. The central story hits some superb highs, particularly in the prologue, mid-game revelations and the final stretch, but it is easy to blunt that momentum if you insist on clearing every marker between major beats. Some supporting villains never quite escape their archetypes. 

A handful of late-game emotional turns land harder if you have followed specific side threads and can feel a little abrupt if you have not. Even so, Atsu is a strong enough protagonist to hold the whole structure together. Her journey is more intimate, more openly angry and more willing to flirt with outright horror than Jin’s, and that tonal shift suits the setting and the passage of time.

Gameplay

Moment to moment, Ghost of Yōtei builds directly on Tsushima’s foundation: third-person movement, open regions, a blend of stealth and confrontation, and a light layer of progression via gear, techniques and charms. The most significant change is in how combat is framed. Where Tsushima revolved around stances, Yōtei centres combat around weapons and a new counter-focused system.

Atsu begins with a single katana, and the feel of that blade will be immediately familiar to returning players: fast slashes, clean parries, deadly ripostes if your timing is good. As the story advances, she expands that arsenal with a yari spear, a heavy ōdachi, a kusarigama and eventually the ability to dual-wield swords. Each weapon has its own timing, reach, strengths and weaknesses. Enemies telegraph different attack types with clear visual cues, and you are encouraged to switch not just for damage numbers but to answer intent.

Broad, sweeping strikes are safest to meet with the katana’s classic parry and counter. Linear thrusts are better handled by planting the spear and turning defence into a sweep. Slow, crushing overhead blows can be absorbed and reversed with the ōdachi, which chunks through armour and shields. The kusarigama excels at hooking shields, tangling legs and creating openings in a crowd. Dual-wielding trades safety for aggression, letting you shred staggered foes before they can recover. Instead of memorising which stance breaks which weapon, you are reading attack tells and choosing the right tool on the fly.

That sounds intricate, but it feels like a natural evolution of what Tsushima started. Early encounters restrict enemy variety and layer the system in gently. Tutorials and generous slowdown support you as you learn the rhythms. 

Later, mixed groups of ronin, spearmen, shield-bearers, archers and elite foes force you to constantly reassess positioning, options and priorities. When it works, combat has a brutal, expressive flow: closing the distance with a dodge, swapping to the appropriate weapon, catching an attack at just the right moment and turning it into a dismembering counter or a shove into a campfire.

Stealth remains a parallel route rather than a secondary concern. Atsu can crouch in pampas grass, use rooftops, ledges and the grappling hook to control elevation, and chain assassinations if she plans well. Enemies are a little quicker than Tsushima’s to investigate lost comrades and suspicious noises, and vision cones feel less forgiving. That nudges stealth into a more deliberate space. You can still clear entire camps without being seen, but sloppy play is punished more swiftly and recovery often involves committing fully to open combat.

Ranged options expand alongside melee. The hankyu and yumi bows return, with unlockable skills that emphasise quick target switching and satisfying multi-headshot opportunities. Tanegashima and tanzutsu matchlock weapons give you limited but powerful ways to delete a priority target at range, at the cost of noise and attention. Throwables like kunai, smoke bombs and explosives complete the toolkit, and the control scheme does a decent job of keeping all of this accessible without turning the pad into a finger-twister.

Outside combat, Atsu can establish camps. These serve as rest points where she can restore health and spirit, cook simple meals for short-term buffs, craft ammunition and interact with certain allies between main missions. Camps slot neatly into the game’s rhythm. Ride hard until resources and focus run low, make camp to reset and chat, then plan the next push into hostile territory.

The open world wraps around this core. Exploration is still guided not by a cluttered HUD but by the guiding wind, which can be called with a touchpad swipe or reshaped by playing the shamisen. Foxes dart out of the undergrowth and lead you to shrines where new charms can be earned. Hot springs offer quiet moments of reflection and permanent health boosts. Bamboo stands test your reflexes and reward stamina. Dynamic weather and time-of-day transitions help keep familiar routes interesting; one ride across a valley at dawn, in clear air, can feel very different to the same route under heavy snowfall or beneath shifting aurora.

New activities sit comfortably alongside returning ones. Sumi-e brush painting replaces haiku composition, giving Atsu stiller, more introspective moments. Gambling at zeni hajiki tables offers a low-key diversion in inns and villages. 

Bounty hunting quests and weapon mastery challenges add more structure for those who want to be guided rather than simply wander. Some side missions are tightly written character pieces that loop back into the main plot or Atsu’s past; a few are more perfunctory errands. Taken as a whole, the world feels dense without being suffocating, though players who insist on completing everything before pushing the story forward will feel the familiar fatigue of any busy open-world map.

Difficulty is flexible. You can adjust base challenge and various assist settings independently, softening timing windows or clarifying UI cues without entirely neutering the game. Armour sets and charms support distinct playstyles, whether that is high-risk, high-reward counterplay, archery from a distance, stealthy attrition or relentless aggression. The weapon counter system nudges you towards a balanced build, but it is possible to lean heavily into one approach and still succeed, especially on mid-range settings.

Yōtei also introduces three cinematic modes that double as tone control. Kurosawa mode brings back stark black-and-white visuals and a grainier soundscape that evokes mid-century samurai cinema. Miike mode tightens the camera, heightens gore and grime, and makes battles feel more claustrophobic and intense. Watanabe mode relaxes colour grading and overlays lo-fi adjacent music during exploration, giving long rides and quiet moments a very different mood. Each mode is optional and trade-offs in visibility or readability mean they are not ideal for all situations, but they are thoughtfully implemented and give the game a welcome range of flavours.

Multiplayer, for now, remains prospective. Ghost of Yōtei: Legends, a follow-up to Tsushima’s co-op mode, has been announced as a free update with two-player story missions and four-player survival maps against horror-inflected versions of the Yōtei Six and other mythological foes. At launch, however, the focus is entirely on single-player, and that narrower scope shows in how tightly the main systems and narrative beats are interwoven.

Audio

Much of Yōtei’s impact comes from sound. The world is alive with small details: grasses rustling in the wind, wolves calling in the distance, prayer flags snapping under sudden gusts, the crunch of fresh snow underfoot. Weather changes are not only visible; you can hear rain rattling on Atsu’s hat and armour, hear how a rising wind masks or reveals enemy movements. The audio mix makes simply standing still and listening in a forest, on a cliff path or outside a village surprisingly rewarding.

The score, by Toma Otowa, blends traditional Japanese instruments with more modern textures. Low drums, shamisen and shakuhachi flutes underscore duels, while more melancholic pieces follow Atsu through moments of quiet or reflection with her allies. Watanabe mode gives the soundtrack room to experiment, bringing in laid-back beats for exploration that recall the energy of shows like Samurai Champloo without feeling out of place. It’s a soundtrack that supports the drama rather than overwhelming it.

Combat audio is both dramatic and functional. Each weapon sounds distinct: the katana’s clean cuts, the heavier drag of an ōdachi swing, the whistle of a spear thrust, the metallic rasp of a kusarigama’s chain. Successful parries are punctuated by crisp audio cues that make timing feel more intuitive. Arrows have a threatening hiss as they pass near, and firearm reports are rare but thunderously loud when they do occur.

Voice acting anchors the story. Atsu’s performance balances menace and vulnerability, letting her shift from dry humour to genuine anger or grief without losing coherence. Key members of her “wolf pack” are equally well drawn. Some minor quest givers and incidental NPCs come off flatter, especially in the English track, but the main cast is strong in both languages. Lip-syncing is tailored to Japanese, as you would expect, though English holds up well.

This is also one of the better adverts for the DualSense. Haptic feedback reflects terrain, weather and impact: the granular sensation of moving through deep snow, the patter of rain, the impact of steel on steel, the judder of a blocked heavy attack. Adaptive triggers stiffen when drawing a bow and snap under firearm recoil. The touchpad and built-in speaker are used more than tokenistically. Painting sumi-e scenes or directing the wind via the shamisen feels satisfying in the hands, and small sounds-from Atsu’s breathing to the rasp of a blade being sheathed-relayed through the controller help tie you more closely to her perspective.

With a decent headset, 3D audio does at least as much work as the on-screen HUD in keeping you oriented. The direction of distant patrols, animals, streams and village chatter is easy to read, and that in turn makes it easier to rely on environmental cues instead of staring at an on-screen compass.

Performance

As a native PS5 title, Ghost of Yōtei offers multiple graphics modes, and with PS5 Pro now in the mix there is a clear split in how the game behaves on each console.

On a standard PlayStation 5 there are three primary options. The first is a quality-focused mode that prioritises resolution and image stability at 30 frames per second. Internal resolution targets are just under full 4K, and the result is a very sharp picture with dense foliage, detailed distant mountains and stable volumetric effects. For people who play slowly, treat the game like an interactive film and are less sensitive to frame rate, this mode has obvious appeal.

Alongside that sits a performance mode, which drops internal resolution down towards 1080p to reach a 60fps target. The image is noticeably softer, especially on large 4K displays, and fine geometry can shimmer a little as you move. In return, combat feels wonderfully responsive, camera movement is smoother and horse riding across open fields and forest tracks has a flow that flatters the game’s traversal and counter-driven fighting system. For many this will be the default choice.

The third main mode on base hardware introduces ray tracing. It retains a 30fps target but enables ray-traced global illumination and improved shadowing, with internal resolution sitting between the two other modes. The upgrades are most obvious in interiors, dense woodland and scenes lit by lanterns, fires or low sun, where indirect light and deeper shadow gradients add a lot to the atmosphere. On a standard PS5 this is the best-looking mode in static screenshots, though some will still prefer the feel of 60fps in motion and happily give up the extra lighting fidelity.

On PS5 Pro, all three of those modes benefit from higher internal resolutions and more stable image quality, but the more interesting change is the addition of a fourth option built specifically for the newer console. The Pro-only ray-traced performance mode combines 60fps gameplay with ray-traced lighting, leaning on Sony’s upscaling to keep the image sharp despite a lower native resolution. 

In practice, it offers a very compelling compromise: combat and traversal feel as fluid as in the standard performance mode, while reflections, shadows and indirect light behave more like they do in the 30fps ray tracing mode on base hardware. There are occasional artefacts if you go hunting for them, but it is easy to see why many PS5 Pro owners describe this as the definitive way to play.

Across both consoles and all modes, loading times are short. Fast travel is close to instant, flashbacks slide in and out without obvious loading breaks, and respawns after failure are quick enough that tough encounters invite one more attempt. Streaming as you gallop across Ezo’s larger regions is generally solid. You will occasionally catch a pop-in if you are really looking for it, but it is rare and fleeting.

Technically, Yōtei is not flawless if you probe its edges. Some background geometry and incidental props are fairly simple once you get close, and in stark midday light a few scenes can look flatter than the dramatic lighting elsewhere suggests. Overall stability, however, is strong. Extended sessions do not reveal glaring memory or performance issues, and there is no widespread reporting of broken quests or progress-blocking bugs.

Verdict

Ghost of Yōtei is a confident, often beautiful continuation of Sucker Punch’s samurai saga. It reuses the bones of Ghost of Tsushima where that still makes sense-the guiding wind, fox dens, hot springs and understated HUD and lays a darker, more personal story over the top. Atsu is a compelling lead whose anger and trauma give the familiar revenge structure some real bite. The expanded arsenal and weapon-based counter system make fights feel more expressive and deliberate. Ezo, with its dynamic weather, mountain ascents and frozen forests, is a memorable place to inhabit.

The caveats are familiar too. The open world still leans on camps to clear, icons to tick and side missions that range from quietly affecting to entirely forgettable. If you let yourself be distracted by everything, the pace of the central story can sag. Look too closely at certain assets and you can see the seams. None of that, though, significantly undermines what the game gets right. Moment to moment, drawing steel, reading an opponent’s intentions and punishing them with the right weapon remains gripping. The use of DualSense and 3D audio is among the best on the platform. Performance options on both PS5 and PS5 Pro give you plenty of control over how you want it to look and feel.

Taken on its own terms, Ghost of Yōtei is a worthy successor to Tsushima and yet another of the PS5 catalogue’s standout exclusives, regardless of whether it’s played on the original PlayStation 5 or enjoying the Pro’s visual embellishments – it’s nothing short of a masterpiece.

Craig Peterson

The post Ghost of Yotei Review – PlayStation 5 Pro appeared first on CRISP..

For those unfamiliar, what is the Hydroflyer — and how does it redefine the water sports experience?

The Hydroflyer is an electric hydrofoil personal watercraft that I often explain as being a cross between an efoil and a jet ski.

It uses an electric motor and a hydrofoil wing to lift out of the water and fly smoothly above the surface. When a look of confusion comes over their face, I usually pull up thehydroflyer.com and show them, as a picture or video does a much better job than I can.

Where did the original idea for the Hydroflyer come from, and what problem were you aiming to solve in the market?

The original idea for Hydroflyer started as a passion project of mine. I saw someone foiling in a magazine and immediately knew I needed to do this, and started building my own foils and later electric foiling surfboards.

I kept trying to make these boards smaller and lighter, but I found that the weight of the batteries, motors, and computers made them feel heavy for something I was controlling with just my feet.

I grew up on dirt bikes, snowmobiles and used to race mountain bikes competitively, so the idea of a switch to a “handlebar-based set-up” for more control made a lot of sense to me, and I built the original prototype from an old bike frame. The first day I got it working, I immediately new this was a whole new sport and to me it was better in every way.  

Hydrofoiling is a rapidly growing category — what makes the Hydroflyer stand out from traditional e-foils or boards?

Unlike other eFoils on the market, the Hydroflyer was built from the ground up to be ridden like a bike or motorcycle.

The internal structure of the board needed to be much stronger to handle the extra force that could be applied. The board shape was refined to give a seamless transition of coming on and off foil, and a dual antenna system was developed to keep the rider in control at all times.

How did you approach designing a product that feels both futuristic and intuitive for new users?

From there, the next step was to make it adjustable and user-friendly so everyone could set it up to their liking. Coming from a mountain biking background, I knew how important handlebar setup was and how different some people like it.

People also like to ride in different styles, so it was crucial to have a craft that could be adjusted to the rider’s preferences with an upper mast that moves forward and back, adjustable shims and multiple power levels that allow you to ride in a casual way or a very sporty way.

What were some of the biggest technical or engineering challenges in developing the Hydroflyer, and how did your team overcome them? 

Salt water is probably one of the most challenging environments to make a device for, so this was always at the forefront of design challenges.

Having something that both heats up and cools down in the water accentuates this problem, so the first principle was triple redundancy on all waterproofing solutions. Take, for instance, the computer on the Hydroflyer. This starts off as a water-resistant piece, is then potted in a waterproof material hidden inside a waterproof compartment with double layers of waterproof gaskets, and then sealed again from the outside.

From a business standpoint, what has been your go-to-market strategy — and how has the market responded so far?

Our original go-to-market strategy was to follow the Tesla model of releasing a high-end premium product to early adopters while we work towards a mass market model. Hydroflyer 1.0 is full carbon fiber and titanium – a top-of-the-line craft that people love but definitely isn’t in everyone’s budget.

Innovation is often about timing — why do you think now is the right time for a product like the Hydroflyer to take off?

I totally agree with the timing part, and to be honest, I think people were not ready for the Hydroflyer when we launched, and lots of people saw the handlebar-focused craft as a learning tool and not the performance machine it was.

It’s only after a couple of years of media and press that people are now seeing the advantages of the Hydroflyer.

How do you see the Hydroflyer changing the landscape of leisure, luxury, and marine tourism industries globally?

Hydroflyer 1.0 enables everyone to learn to foil safely without the fear of injury. It’s an excellent device for rental centres or anyone who enjoys spending time on the water. Our guiding principle, however, is to become the personal watercraft of the future. 

Future Hydroflyers will allow someone with zero experience to hop on and glide across the water for the first time without ever getting wet. This will introduce a micromobility aspect to all waterways, just as electric scooters have transformed city transportation.

What types of customers or communities have most embraced the Hydroflyer, and were there any surprises there?

Resorts like Club Med have been a great place to explore the Hydroflyer, as it lets guests experience learning to foil without the typical dangers associated with a regular eFoil. 

As a CEO, what’s your long-term vision for the brand — is the Hydroflyer the start of a broader lifestyle or product ecosystem?

The plan is to build Hydroflyer into an ecosystem of products. We will always have the high-performance, recreational product as part of it, but future products will be micromobility solutions for people to navigate waterways, autonomous last-mile delivery devices and tools that parties like the Coast Guard can use to explore the coast. 

Sustainability is a growing priority for consumers. How does the Hydroflyer align with that shift in values?

Sustainability has always been foundational to Hydroflyer, and we see it as a clean, quiet and green alternative to the traditional jet ski. 

Lastly, if you could sum up the Hydroflyer experience in one sentence, what would it be — and why should our readers try it for themselves?

Riding a Hydroflyer is my favourite thing in the world, it’s exciting and rewarding whether you’re getting on it for the first time or the thousandth time! 

The Hydroflyer is undoubtedly going places, and you’ll likely see one on a beach near you very soon and maybe even in a future James Bond flick one day. You can keep up with all of their news and updates by following their social channels below.

• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• TikTok
• YouTube

Craig Peterson

The post CRISP. Talks – Interview with Jerry McArthur, CEO of The Hydroflyer appeared first on CRISP..

Eufy, part of the Anker Innovations family, has steadily become one of the most recognisable names in the smart home space. Its presence in the UK has grown with confidence, offering feature-rich devices that balance practicality with polish and keen pricing.

Best known for its early success with RoboVac cleaners and smart home security systems, Eufy now brings that same maturity to its higher-tier vacuum lineup.

While legacy players like Roomba still hold household-name status, Eufy’s approach feels more modern, more nimble, and increasingly hard to ignore, with the E25 reflecting that momentum. It arrives fully formed, clearly built with a deep understanding of how people actually live with technology.

Positioned just beneath the flagship Omni S1 Pro in terms of pricing and features, the E25 sits at the heart of Eufy’s growing robot vacuum range.

It offers much of the same automation and intelligence as the top-tier, but at a relatively accessible – but still very much premium – price, making it a tempting upgrade for seasoned users and a compelling starting point for newcomers.

After two weeks with the Eufy E25, the handheld vacuum has barely been touched and the old Roomba is no longer part of the weekly cleaning routine. This robot handles cleaning with a sense of order that fits easily into family life.

Having used a Roomba 650 for over ten years, I came into this expecting a few familiar quirks. The E25 doesn’t follow that pattern. It maps the home with accuracy, adapts to floor types without asking, and simply gets on with the task at hand.

Each run (we’re on #25 at the moment – each clean’s duration, distance and even the number of edges attended to is recorded in the app) leaves floors looking that much more cared for. The E25 works with a calm efficiency that you begin to notice most when it stops, not while it’s going around the house.

Floors stay cleaner for longer, and schedules run on time with it rarely getting snarled up in cables or furniture (although it does happen on occasion). There’s a quiet satisfaction to it all!

Designed to be seen

The E25 has a clean, deliberate design. It arrives with a reflective piano-black and matte two-tone finish, with a LiDAR turret on the top that lends it real presence. When the light catches it just right, the whole unit feels more like a premium appliance than a functional tool.

At 353mm wide, 353mm deep and standing 105mm tall (13.9 x 13.9 x 4.1 inches), the E25 is slightly chunkier than some rivals. It weighs just over 3.2 kilograms, light enough to move between floors, but built to remain in one place once stationed. The lack of a dedicated handle and the ease with which the transparent cover on the top can be removed does mean each transportation by hand does need to be done delicately.

That added height caused by the raised turret also means it cannot slide under low furniture, so sofas with close-to-floor designs or deep-set shelving units remain untouched unless cleaned manually.

The base station measures approximately 362mm tall by 450mm wide and 410mm deep (14.2 x 17.7 x 16.1 inches), making for a large, but not unwieldy addition to the set-up.

More importantly, it houses serious functionality as inside you’ll find separate tanks for clean and dirty water, a mop cleaning tray, and a sealed 2.5L dust bag compartment. After each cleaning session, the robot returns to the base and automatically transfers the collected dust and debris into this compartment – although this can also be customised to your preference, as well as avoiding it being done during the night (more on this later).

This means you’re not needing to empty the onboard dustbin manually every time, as the base handles that part for you and leaves the room dust-free. The base also features warm air drying for the mop pad, which prevents musty smells and bacterial build-up.

In terms of packaging, the box includes the robot vacuum and mop, the base station, one mop roller, one replacement dust bag, a small cleaning tool and a power cable. A printed quick-start guide walks you through setup, but the app provides step-by-step guidance with visuals.

Initial setup takes less than 10 minutes. Plug in the dock, insert the mop roller, add water to the clean tank and pair it with the Eufy Clean app. Once connected to Wi-Fi, the robot automatically begins its first mapping run, after a quick firmware update.

The base station is as considered as the robot itself. It holds two water tanks and a generous dust compartment, and it carries out the mop-cleaning process between jobs. There’s a sense of purpose in how the E25 docks. One of the photos captures it perfectly: wheels aligned, pad rinsed, ready to go again. It looks substantial, but every centimetre of footprint earns its keep.

A smart, home companion

The Eufy Clean app is where things get personal. Pairing is quick, the interface is intuitive, and the map-building feature is genuinely impressive. Watching the robot crawl methodically through each room while scanning a digital twin of your home feels decidedly cyberpunk…a far cry from the ‘bump into it and see’ nature of robot vacuums of the past.

That said, the mapping process did require a little human guidance. On the first attempts, it got a bit turned around scanning upstairs. I learned to manually select rooms like the bathroom instead of carrying the unit and expecting it to just crack on. One time, I asked it to clean the bathroom after moving it there, but it skipped mopping altogether and reverted to a vacuum-only mode.

I later realised it hadn’t done its mop-washing ritual at the base, so was understandably reluctant to smear unclean pads around the floor. The robot currently lacks a mop-only mode, which means that triggering a standalone session requires a bit of manual setup for a particular room with a compliant surface – lesson learned.

Once everything clicked, it was off! You can create schedules, label individual rooms and spaces, highlight no-go areas and adjust suction and water levels with an absurd level of detail – naturally with AI-assisted options, if you so desire.

I now have a mid-morning vacuum pass, a full vacuum and mop combo after dinner and a stealthy overnight sweep that leaves the hallway spotless by morning – pair that with the hypnotic watching of the little line of travel on the app, showing its paths around obstacles and best efforts to leave no corner unclean – and it quickly becomes a bit addictive to keep your rooms spotless!

The indicator light on the base is striking. At night, it glows like a beacon. Helpful if you want a floor-level lighthouse, less so if it lives in a bedroom or open-plan space where you’re trying to unwind.

Mopping worth praising

The mopping system stands out. The HydroJet roller spins at up to 180 RPM, scrubbing the floor with 1.5 kilograms of downward pressure and a consistent stream of clean water. At the same time, dirty water is lifted into a separate tank. This isn’t just surface wiping. It lifts grime and leaves the floor with a refreshed, dry finish.

It deals well with everyday mess. Spilt milk, cooking splashes, muddy footprints and sticky marks all clear up in a single session. The base station rinses the mop with clean water and dries it with warm air. You don’t have to intervene, just see the results once complete, which dry quickly.

Unlike some hybrid cleaners, this robot does not require pad swapping or extra setup to switch between vacuuming and mopping. It handles both tasks at once, adapting automatically depending on the surface beneath it. There’s also a cleaning solution which is poppped into the base unit, meaning the mop isn’t just using clean water to sort your floors – although this is a piece of kit which is proprietary on the E25 (althought interestingly not on the E28, where you can bring your own suds), and therefore needs to be purchased every few months.

Reliable, powerful vacuuming

When it switches to vacuum mode, the E25 proves itself again. The 20,000Pa suction is no idle spec-sheet number. On low-pile carpet, it pulls up fine dust that traditional vacuums can miss. Crumbs, lint, pet hair and debris lift easily.

The robot adapts as it moves. On carpet, suction intensifies. On hard flooring, it reduces for longer battery life. Transitions are seamless. You can see it climb from a rug onto tile in one of the images, pausing briefly before gliding forward.

Hair tangle is minimal. The DuoSpiral brushes feed everything cleanly into the suction chamber. After multiple daily cleans, I checked for build-up and found next to nothing. The CornerRover side arm sweeps along skirting boards and corners, reaching areas other robots often miss.

Cleaning noise is impressively low. The E25 emits a steady hum during operation, similar to a desk fan. The sound is probably closest to gentle airflow or one of those white noise machines for sleep – tending to not fluctuate in pitch too often, and making it easy to share a room with.

The dock, however, is louder. Significantly louder. Rinsing the mop is a little bit noisy, but emptying debris creates a noticeable burst of air not too dissimilar to a turbine or a particularly unruly console fan during a hard session – due to the sheer amount of suction it uses to extract rubbish from the E25. It doesn’t last long, but it does stand out and might cause the odd bit of worry to kids or animals nearby.

As mentioned, scheduling those cycles outside of rest hours keeps everything running smoothly, and thankfully the E25 has no shortage of alerts, punctuated by digital speech in one of many languages, letting you know exactly what it’s up to. Out of the home or on the move, these are also relayed to you via notifications on the app.

If you find it isn’t pulling the dirt from the unit into the base or your bin is looking a little empty, check the app. I once discovered that a cleaning duration setting was active, meaning that it was meant to empty every thirty minutes, but never did so because every clean lasted only twenty.

Another time, the cleaning duration hadn’t been set long enough to complete the mapped area. A bit of a learning curve, but the app makes adjustments both big and small quite easy.

Everyday intelligence

The E25 handles navigation well. It turns with purpose, avoids obstacles, and adapts as it moves from hard floor to carpet. Sensors prevent it from tumbling down stairs, although it did peer a little too far over one time during mapping orientation and became quite stuck.

A subtle but impressive feature is how the robot aligns itself with the dock. As it approaches, a soft light projects from the unit to help it locate and reverse cleanly into position. This glow only appears during the final seconds of docking and gives the whole process a sense of machine-level elegance. Once docked, charging begins automatically.

You’ll also notice the small label on the front of the vacuum: AI.See. This is Eufy’s onboard camera-based object recognition system, which enables the E25 to identify and navigate around obstacles like socks, cables and pet mess with improved precision.

It doesn’t offer full object labelling or voice warnings like the S1 Pro, but it’s effective at keeping things moving in real homes without manual rescues.

Battery life is solid. In vacuum-only mode, the E25 runs for up to 3 and a half hours. With both vacuum and mop functions active, the runtime averages around 2 hours. When power runs low mid-session, the robot returns to the dock, recharges, and resumes from where it left off. A full recharge typically takes just over three hours.

Maintenance and usage tracking are also well covered. The Eufy app tracks the lifespan of consumables like the dust bag, filter, mop roller and brushes. You can see exactly how many hours or cycles remain, with reminders when replacements are due. The app estimates each 3-litre dust bag lasts about 75 days, depending on usage.

After my first few cleans, I received a offer out of the blue from Eufy: three replacement dust bags worth £15 for just £1, delivered free. That kind of aftercare turns a good product into a reliable household partner.

One area that surprised me was the master bedroom. The carpet is deep black – something my old Roomba always misread as a drop-off, refusing to cross it.

That model relied on infrared sensors, which struggle with dark fibres due to their low reflectivity. The Eufy E25 had no such hesitation, as its LiDAR and AI.See camera handled the space confidently, navigating the room without error or false alarms. For the first time in years, that carpet gets a full clean without workarounds or lugging the vacuum upstairs – bonus points here!

Support that sets a standard

A few days into use, I received another message from Eufy. They were aware that some early units had a mop reservoir design that could leak slightly into the floor of the base unit, and a replacement was already on its way. I hadn’t contacted support – they reached out first.

The replacement (left in the image below) arrived within the week. It slotted into place easily and resolved the issue – and that kind of proactive service is rare and a deeply appreciated gesture, reflective of a company that wants its products to keep delivering long after the sale.

Pricing and value

In the UK, the Eufy E25 currently retails for £849 on the official Eufy website.

Promotions on Amazon or Eufy’s own store can drop this as low as £719, depending on the timing and bundle. The official Eufy store regularly provides new customer codes, while students and seniors can access additional percentage-based discounts.

It is a significant investment, but for this you’re getting a cleaner that vacuums and mops simultaneously, empties itself, washes and dries its own mop, maps multi-floor layouts, and works with your schedule. It does all of that quietly, reliably, and with almost no input required after setup.

In the photos, the E25 moves between flooring types without pause. It understands thresholds and adapts instantly. Docked, it rests clean and ready. The routines run quietly. The home stays clean. You stop thinking about the floors, and that alone feels like you’re living in the future!

Final verdict

The Eufy E25 is a genuine leap forward in smart home cleaning. From its powerful vacuuming and thorough mopping to the thoughtful software and low-maintenance design, everything works as it should – and often better than expected.

This cleaning robot seamlessly integrates into daily life with consistent, swift self-care, meaning one less thing to think about as long as your floors are relatively clear – and if they are, it navigates its way around.

The app provides clear oversight of scheduling and requirements to sort out multiple rooms in the home, without meddling or micromanagement. The E25’s robust build quality is entirely reflective of the cost, inspiring confidence in its ability to last another ten years for me, as well as becoming a common conversation starter for visitors – Eufy’s base station is hard to ignore!

For anyone ready to retire the Dyson and go fully automatic, the E25 is a complete and capable cleaning replacement – reliable, intelligent and quietly impressive in all the ways that matter.

Craig Peterson

The post CRISP. Tech – Eufy E25 Review: The Best Vacuum Cleaner You’ll (Almost) Never Touch appeared first on CRISP..

MercurySteam, the Madrid-based studio behind Castlevania: Lords of Shadow and the award-winning Metroid Dread, returns to melee-focused action with Blades of Fire. This dark fantasy RPG blends visceral combat with a unique forging system. Players are invited into a realm steeped in myth, ruin, and metal.

With a visually haunting world and deep mechanical ambition, Blades of Fire aims to satisfy fans of challenging, character-driven action games.

Steel and souls

In a world once ruled by the mythical Forgers – giants who gifted humanity the secret of The Steel – Queen Nerea now twists their legacy, petrifying enemy weapons through ancient magic.

Players step into the role of Aran de Lira, a blacksmith of noble blood, burdened by loss yet driven by duty. Aran’s journey to reclaim the legacy of The Steel is supported by Adso de Zelk, a sharp-witted student from the Abbey of Egion whom you save from a grim fate in the story’s opening moments.

The lore is dense and engaging. Adso contributes beyond exposition, updating a bestiary, decoding ruins, and offering real-time combat analysis. His advice becomes increasingly useful as enemy complexity grows. Despite the rich setting, the emotional core of Aran and Adso’s relationship doesn’t always reach its full potential. Their shared history is hinted at but rarely explored in depth, which makes some key moments feel underdeveloped.

Playing with fire

Forging lies at the heart of Blades of Fire. Instead of finding superior weapons in the wild, players gather materials and blueprints to craft them. Every blade is built from components that define its stats and elemental strengths. Aran’s hammer is more than symbolic – it’s the player’s primary tool. The forging process requires precise timing to strike glowing nodes and manage heat levels.

Each weapon’s Forge Star rating determines how many times it can be repaired. Repairs use crafting materials, not just currency, so long-term planning is essential. This system fosters careful inventory management and rewards thoughtful crafting.

Early on, weapon durability can be punishing. New players may find themselves short on usable blades mid-combat. However, as resources improve and players master the forge, this pressure eases. Losing a weapon when Aran dies adds tension to every fight, as it must be retrieved from the battlefield.

This mechanic enhances the game’s high-stakes approach, treading in the well-worn footsteps of Soulslike gameplay without aping its frustrations.

Tactical swordplay

Combat in Blades of Fire is deliberate and tactical. Instead of button-mashing, players must target specific enemy zones: head, torso, left or right side. Each enemy type responds differently to slashing, piercing, or blunt attacks. A clear colour-coded UI guides players: green means effective, yellow is neutral, and red indicates resistance.

The variety in weapon types and enemy behaviours encourages experimentation. Boss fights often demand a mix of movement, pattern recognition, and smart weapon pairing. The thrill of landing a well-timed strike with a nearly broken sword – or clutching victory before your weapon shatters – makes combat feel consistently tense and rewarding.

However, mid-game repetition does surface. While new enemy designs appear, others are reused with minor variations. The game’s interconnected world leans into a Metroidvania structure, but the map system lacks clarity. Navigation can be frustrating, with unclear pathways leading to unnecessary backtracking.

Sound and fury

Stalwart soundsmith Óscar Araujo’s score is a standout. Orchestral swells elevate climactic battles, while choral layers and ambient textures create a sense of unease in quieter zones. The music serves the dual role of enhancing emotion and maintaining tension.

Sound design complements the visuals. Clangs, strikes, and elemental effects resonate with weight. Whether in the forge or on the field, every impact is felt. Voice acting is generally solid, particularly Adso, whose dry wit adds levity. However, repeated dialogue lines can undercut immersion during longer sessions.

Ash and ember

Visually, Blades of Fire is arresting. MercurySteam crafts a gothic world of ruined splendour and forgotten power. From glowing forges to crumbling towers, the game presents a consistent and evocative art style.

The level design features verticality and layered environments, though traversal occasionally feels clunky. Enemy design is similarly detailed, with grotesque bosses that feel intimidating before they even move.

Performance on Xbox Series X is strong. The game holds a steady 60fps with minimal dips. Load times are brief, fast travel is responsive, and dynamic resolution scaling (from 1080p to 2160p) ensures visual fidelity remains high throughout.

Accessibility gaps

The game offers three difficulty settings: Easy, Normal, and Hard. However, choosing Easy disables achievements – a questionable trade-off. Subtitles are adjustable in size and colour. Players can toggle camera shake and motion blur.

Unfortunately, Blades of Fire lacks features like colourblind modes, full control remapping, and audio description. In 2025, such omissions stand out. The current options are a solid start but fall short of comprehensive accessibility.

Final verdict

Blades of Fire is an atmospheric, rewarding, and at times brutal experience. With its deep forging system, satisfying combat, and stunning visual design, it’s a testament to MercurySteam’s strengths. While its storytelling and accessibility options could improve, the game’s core systems are finely honed.

For action RPG fans seeking challenge, craft, and a world steeped in shadow and flame, Blades of Fire delivers a distinctive and rewarding adventure, forged with style and purpose. Rough edges remain, but the weapon holds true.

Craig Peterson

The post Blades of Fire Review – Xbox Series X appeared first on CRISP..

If you’ve been on social media recently getting ready for a trip, you would have no doubt seen the Airback Backpack pop up on your feed with its innovative vacuum packing system.

The company, based out of Amsterdam, is known for its dedication to blending functionality and convenience and the Airback backpack specialises in creating luggage that simplifies the travel experience. With patented features like a vacuum compression system and smart compartmentalisation, they focus on helping travellers maximize packing efficiency without sacrificing comfort or style.

After taking the Airback Bag with Weight Handle for a spin on two recent trips, I can confidently say this bag embodies everything Airback stands for. Innovation, quality, and traveller-focused design.

Design and Build Quality

First impressions matter, and the Airback Bag delivers. Its sleek, modern design and robust materials strike a perfect balance between style and durability. Whether you’re hopping between cities or embarking on an outdoor adventure, this bag feels built to last. The water-resistant fabric keeps your belongings safe from sudden downpours, and the extra strong and well built zippers glide smoothly. A small but crucial detail for frequent travellers.

When first inspecting the bag, the zippers and clips were the one part of the design, we were a bit hesitant about before using the product. Given the nature of the bags purpose, there would have been a lot of stress being put on it however it’s safe to say we put it through some hardcore packing and it passed the test without breaking.

There are so many clever inclusions that Airback have taken into account when designing this bag. The front quick pocket is a gamechanger for putting all of your items that need quick access and a tiny detail we loved is the quick key clip. Just leave this on your set of keys and clip them right on.

The hidden passport pocket is conveniently placed on the back of the backpack for quick access and extra security and is also big enough to slip in your mobile phone.

Inside there is a section to connect your power bank which can be charged from the outside of your bag and accepts both USB A and C.

Laptops and electronics have their own section that separates themselves from your weekend packing and each has its own compartment for notebooks, tablets and laptops, all of which carry more than adequate padding for protection. Rest assured you can throw this bag around and you’ll be ok.

Each bag also comes with its TSA approved locked to ensure nobody can get into easily if you did ever want to check the bag in or had to leave it unattended in an emergency.

Vacuum Packing / No More Extra Luggage Fees

One of the most surprising aspects of the Airback Bag is how much it can hold without exceeding airline carry-on limits. Thanks to its spacious main compartment and clever use of space, you can pack for a whole weekend—or even longer—without needing an additional suitcase.

The built-in vacuum compression system allows you to reduce the volume of clothing, freeing up space for other essentials while ensuring you remain within airline weight limits.

Some of you may not be strangers to vacuum bags when packing suitcases and have probably experienced them ripping or letting in air over time. That’s not the case with Airback’s design. Its zip and vacuum seal takes a surprising amount of effort to open and close which mirrors the build quality of the rest of the bag, and whilst the vacuum bag itself may look small, you can really get into every corner to pack it to the brim.

To make the most out of the space, we found the best things to pack would be softer bulky items like sweatshirts and knitwear and then pack the corners with your t-shirts etc.

With this bag, overpacking doesn’t lead to unexpected fees at the check-in counter, saving you money and stress.

Confession, I did get stopped an one easyjet flight when boarding and got asked to put my back into their bag check frame and just about passed the test for a heavily loaded bag and took me around 3 tries to really push it in. Keep this in mind for other airlines for sure.

The Weight Handle: A Stroke of Genius

What truly sets this bag apart is its weight handle feature. No more guessing whether your carry-on will pass airport weight checks! The integrated weight handle gives a quick and accurate reading, making it invaluable for frequent flyers juggling weight restrictions or souvenir-loving shoppers.

The Air Pump: Custom Comfort

Adding to its innovation, the Airback Bag comes with an optional air pump. The pump itself comes with its very own carry case and charger and can easily fit into any pocket in the bag. It’s also charged via a USB so you’ll be able to inflate and deflate with ease and whats more it even comes with attachments if you ever needed to quickly blow up a swimming float whilst away.

Comfort and Functionality

Beyond its signature features, the Airback Bag offers everyday practicality. Ergonomic, padded shoulder straps and a ventilated back panel ensure comfort, even on long treks. Inside, the bag excels in organization, with compartments for everything: a laptop sleeve, hidden pockets for valuables, and easy-access sections for travel essentials.

Why Travelers Will Love It

• Smart Packing: The expandable, compression-ready main compartment adapts to your needs, making overpacking a thing of the past.

• Compact: Despite its advanced features, the Airback Bag remains fairly compact and travel-friendly and can still fit under the seat in front of you.

• Expandable Capacity and Organisation: Adjustable from 22 to 48 litres, the backpack includes multiple compartments for meticulous organization, ensuring easy access and tidiness.

• Universal Appeal: Perfect for every traveller, from backpackers to business professionals.

• Custom Comfort: The air pump ensures tailored support, reducing fatigue.

Final Thoughts

The Airback Bag with Weight Handle and it’s pump is more than a backpack—it’s a travel companion. Airback’s dedication to innovation shines through in every detail, offering travellers the tools to pack smarter, travel lighter, and move more comfortably.

For those seeking stress-free adventures, the Airback Bag earns a well-deserved spot on your packing list. Whilst some may find it pricey at over £200 you can rest assured you’ll definitely be making that money back having saved it on additional baggage fees for weekend trips.

Visit the Airback site now for its Christmas sales and get 20% Off the bag and items.

Craig Peterson

The post Airback Backpack Review appeared first on CRISP..

Known for weaving complex narratives and character-driven plots, Atlus brings its mastery to a fresh yet distinctly challenging realm that could be a genre-defining experience—or a test of patience.

With a playtime of approximately 50-70 hours for the main story alone and potentially 100+ hours for completionists, ReFantazio is designed to fully immerse players in the intricate details of its world. But does it succeed in creating a gripping fantasy experience, or does it leave players struggling to unravel its myriad mysteries? Let’s explore how ReFantazio holds up.

Story

In Metaphor: ReFantazio, players are transported to the United Kingdom of Euchronia, a kingdom on the brink of chaos following the assassination of its king.

The story revolves around a tournament for the throne, where different factions vie for power while the kingdom falls prey to deadly beasts and supernatural threats. The protagonist, a young member of the Elda tribe, takes on a journey to lift a curse on his childhood friend, the prince, alongside his fairy companion, Gallica. The protagonist’s tribe, the Elda, is one of eight within Euchronia and is ostracised due to its association with mysterious, “heretical” magic.

This dynamic forms the heart of ReFantazio, blending the protagonist’s personal quest with a larger political and mystical plot. The royal tournament, in which participants undergo perilous tasks for a chance at the throne, provides the setting for numerous conflicts. As players progress, they uncover the deeper mystery surrounding Euchronia’s ruling magic—a unique ability known as “Royal Magic” that has long been wielded by the royal family to maintain order. The protagonist’s journey reveals that this magic might be connected to his tribe’s mysterious past, exposing hidden truths that shape Euchronia’s society and challenge the kingdom’s power structure.

Euchronia’s setting is steeped in lore, with each tribe contributing to its rich cultural fabric. The Clemar, for instance, are known for their intelligence and distinct horned appearance, while the Mustari, recognisable by a third eye and ritualistic garb, are feared for their mysticism and shunned as “pagans.”

These diverse groups add complexity to the protagonist’s journey, as they interact with individuals who hold varied perspectives and motives. Encounters with different tribes often come with moral decisions, influencing alliances and shifting the protagonist’s path through the kingdom’s unfolding crisis.

Alongside tribal differences, the kingdom faces another threat: monstrous entities called “humans.” These creatures, with grotesque forms inspired by Renaissance artist Hieronymus Bosch, appear throughout the land, indiscriminately attacking anything in their path. Described as manifestations of human anxiety, these monsters add an eerie layer to the game’s themes, serving as both physical and psychological obstacles that the protagonist and his party must overcome. As players delve deeper into Euchronia’s history, they discover unsettling secrets about these “humans” and their connection to the world’s lore, including revelations about their origins and connection to the Elda tribe’s past.

Graphics and Audio

Visually, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a standout experience. Each environment, from the opulent capital city of Grand Trad to desolate ruins and mysterious forests, is rendered with impressive detail and a unique aesthetic that blends Gothic architecture with vibrant, fantasy-inspired designs.

The settings shift from beautiful to foreboding, capturing the grandeur and tension of a kingdom on the edge of collapse. Each region of Euchronia feels distinct, whether it’s the mountainous Paripus villages or the archipelagic homeland of the Mustari. This diversity in landscapes and architectural styles creates a visually immersive experience that keeps exploration fresh and rewarding.

Character designs also shine, combining Atlus’s signature stylised look with fantasy elements that make each tribe unique. Characters from the Paripus tribe sport beast-like ears and tails, while the Ishkia are known for their iridescent eyes and noble bearing. These design choices deepen the story, reinforcing each tribe’s identity and their place in the social hierarchy. Atlus has employed an art team led by celebrated designers like Shigenori Soejima, ensuring that every detail—from clothing to magical effects—enhances the storytelling.

The audio complements this visual experience beautifully. Shoji Meguro’s soundtrack blends orchestral compositions with thematic musical cues that add emotional weight to the game’s events.

The soundtrack shifts seamlessly between grand battle anthems and haunting, contemplative pieces that underscore the protagonist’s personal journey. Voice acting brings further depth, especially in moments where characters grapple with their own motivations, backgrounds, and complex relationships with one another. This attention to sound and music creates an atmosphere that makes Euchronia feel like a living, breathing world.

Gameplay

Atlus has built Metaphor: ReFantazio around a traditional turn-based combat system but introduced unique mechanics that make battles feel both strategic and dynamic.

Central to combat is the “Synergy” system, which allows players to combine skills and abilities among party members for powerful effects. This encourages experimentation with party composition, as finding the right synergy can make a decisive difference in tougher encounters. The combat system rewards players who take time to learn the strengths and weaknesses of each tribe’s archetypes, adding layers of strategy that keep battles engaging.

Combat is influenced heavily by elemental affinities and weaknesses, a hallmark of Atlus games. Players need to carefully manage resources, balancing offensive attacks with defensive maneuvers to survive against increasingly challenging foes. The monstrous “humans,” for instance, bring unpredictable and often devastating attacks to encounters, forcing players to adjust tactics on the fly. These encounters can be punishing, especially for those unaccustomed to strategic combat, but mastering them is rewarding and adds a satisfying challenge to the overall experience.

Exploration complements the battle system, as players traverse a sprawling kingdom filled with dungeons, cities, and hidden areas. Each dungeon presents its own set of challenges, from combat-heavy areas to puzzle-laden environments that require observation and critical thinking. Many dungeons are tied directly to the game’s lore, revealing background details about the region or its people, often providing context that makes each quest feel meaningful. Side quests are similarly rich in lore, often introducing new characters or moral choices that influence the protagonist’s journey. With a main story playtime of 50-70 hours, exploration and side quests can add dozens more, encouraging players to fully engage with Euchronia’s world and lore.

Verdict

Metaphor: ReFantazio is a powerful entry into the JRPG genre, marrying Atlus’s distinctive storytelling with an ambitious, high-fantasy setting. Its complex narrative, visually immersive world, and deeply strategic combat create a compelling experience that both challenges and rewards players willing to invest the time to uncover its layers. While its dense lore and intricate mechanics may feel daunting for newcomers, fans of lore-rich RPGs will find a lot to appreciate here.

The game’s narrative approach, balancing personal stakes with political intrigue, gives players a sense of purpose that goes beyond mere quests and battles.

The protagonist’s journey to break the prince’s curse and uncover the secrets of Royal Magic feels epic yet personal, woven together by the relationships he builds with his party and the alliances he forges with the kingdom’s diverse tribes. Each interaction in ReFantazio is laden with meaning, ensuring that players feel the weight of their choices and the impact they have on Euchronia.

For those who love immersive, challenging RPGs, Metaphor: ReFantazio is a journey that’s as thought-provoking as it is beautiful. It’s an experience that demands patience, attention to detail, and a willingness to explore every facet of its complex world, but it’s one that rewards players with a rich, unforgettable adventure.

Craig Peterson

The post Metaphor: ReFantazio Review – Xbox Series X appeared first on CRISP..

The Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, born from the collaboration between Meta and EssilorLuxottica, present the second-gen smart glasses iteration. These camera-fitted glasses offer upgrades, boasting an improved 12MP camera, amplified audio output, new smart features, and notably, a much more comfortable design that Ray-ban fans are familiar with.

While not the futuristic AR glasses of tomorrow, the £299 Ray-Ban Meta Glasses offer a lot for the fashion-forward content creator or anyone craving a touch of James Bond’s spy tech flair.

Unboxing

Design

Sporting Ray-Ban’s signature design, the Meta Glasses feature the iconic big-lens Wayfarer style. Additionally, the new Headliner style offers a rounded shape and high-hinge design, adding a fresh element to Ray-Ban’s repertoire.

The glasses exhibit the trademark Ray-Ban design elements, including the brand logo on the frame arms and lenses. The pair we reviewed were black frames with black lenses but the new Meta glasses also come in some cool new colourways, notably, a semi-transparent finish, available in Caramel and Jeans, reveals the tech components within. This, coupled with diverse lens options via the Ray-Ban Remix online storefront, offers over 150 potential style combinations.

The comfort of these glasses stands out significantly compared to their predecessors. The new design, especially the Wayfarer Large finish, ensures a more adaptable and less rigid frame, accommodating diverse head sizes comfortably.

On the front of frames, you’ll be able to see both where the camera and the halo ring LED are placed. Discreet enough for the quick eye not to know they’re overbearingly smart.

Durability is emphasized with an IPX4 splash resistance rating, allowing usage even during light rain showers, although complete submersion should be avoided.

Features

Enhanced virtual assistant capabilities with expanded integration across Meta-owned apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and Threads, offer seamless interaction.

The Meta view app was pretty simple and straightforward to set up and use and we loved the capcut type “creation” app to pull all your daily videos and shots into one quick small project ready to post straight out of the gate.

At times it did get pretty fiddly trying sync and import content as glasses need to be connected via a local wifi connection, however, we found that the Import while charging feature a great addition to counter this.

The glasses’ five built-in microphones enable hands-free calling with decent background noise reduction, although challenging environments might affect call quality.

Integrating tightly with Meta services, these glasses also allow seamless live streaming on Instagram and Facebook, ideal for creators seeking POV-style content creation.

However, limitations arise with the virtual assistant’s support restricted to Meta apps, overlooking third-party apps like TikTok and Snapchat.

Cameras

Upgraded to a 12MP ultrawide camera, the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses capture stunning photos with vibrant colors and impressive detail, especially in well-lit environments. However, low-light scenarios exhibit more noise and softness, a common challenge with small camera sensors.

Improved electronic image stabilization ensures smoother video recording, although extreme movements might cause occasional shudders, especially in low light. The incorporation of five microphones enhances audio capture for a 3D-like effect, enriching the video recording experience.

Privacy concerns are addressed with a more prominent and brighter LED indicator, signaling when the glasses are recording or taking photos. A hidden depth sensor prevents recording or photography if the LED is covered, easing potential discomfort among others nearby.

Audio

The Ray-Ban Meta Glasses offer louder audio output, catering well to casual music listening and navigation without disturbing the surroundings, however don’t expect any deep bass to come through. The call quality however is absolutely superb and crystal clear and sound leakage is notably reduced compared to previous iterations, minimizing audio spillage to the environment.

Automatic play/pause technology and gesture controls on the glasses’ arms add convenience to volume and playback control making it truly a thing of the future.

Image Examples

Verdict

Ray-Ban Meta Glasses may not represent the future of AR glasses, but they offer a unique perspective for capturing moments hands-free. Enhanced audio, remarkable camera capabilities, and refined design make them a standout among smart glasses, especially for style-conscious users seeking premium functionalities.

Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer - Black

£299.00  out of stock

BUY NOW

Currys.co.uk

as of April 19, 2026 5:40 pm

Craig Peterson

The post Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer Review appeared first on CRISP..

If you’re serious about improving your golf game and sinking those crucial putts, the L.A.B. Golf Mezz 1 Max Putter might be the game-changer you’ve been waiting for. This innovative putter is designed to enhance your putting performance with its unique technology, and in this review, we’ll take a closer look at the key features that make it stand out.

Design and Build Quality

The L.A.B. Golf Mezz 1 Max Putter boasts a sleek and modern design that’s sure to turn heads on the golf course. The clubhead is beautifully crafted and exudes quality in a form factor never really seen before in traditional putters. It may not be for the purist but you soon get used to the look, design and feel of the Mezz.1 Max.

Naturally, you can expect a lot of banter and commentary from playing partners but we assure you that soon changes when they see your putts roll.

The putter is well-balanced and feels comfortable in your hands, which is essential for a smooth and controlled putting stroke.

Lie Angle Balance Technology

The standout feature of the Mezz 1 Max Putter is its Lie Angle Balance (L.A.B.) technology. This innovative concept reimagines the way putters are designed, intending to help golfers make more accurate and consistent putts.

The L.A.B. technology shifts the balance point of the putter closer to the shaft axis, reducing the face angle rotation during the stroke. This results in a more stable and consistent putting stroke, helping you keep the putter face square to your target line.

You may or may not have seen videos circulating on L.A.B. Golf’s “Revealer tool” which show a visual representation of how much a putter turns during the putt vs putters from L.A.B.

Take a look at an example below :

Performance on the Greens

The true test of any putter is its performance on the greens, and the Mezz 1 Max Putter does not disappoint.

At first, the bold block-like design might put you off and the “press” of the grip and shaft into the middle of the club head is unlike any other putter you’ve held before but that all changes on your takeaway as this is all designed with physics in mind.

The Lie Angle Balance technology translates to a more balanced, pendulum-like stroke that minimizes the potential for mishits. The moment you take your first putt with this club, you’ll notice the difference in stability and control.

On our first round alone we dropped our putting percentages a whopping 3 percentage points over 18 holes and in future rounds, it’s almost guaranteed to turn any 3’s into 2’s and 1’s.

Remote Fitting

If you don’t live near a fitter (which we didn’t) L.A.B. Golf also provide a unique Remote fitting service whereby you send in a video of your putting stroke with some instruction and within a few days, the team at L.A.B Golf will send you back a full specification tailored to you so you can continue with your build and customisation.

Press Grips and Customisation

With all putters in the range, L.A.B. Golf provides its very own choice of three proprietary “Press Grips” that can be set at 3 different angles that enable an integrated forward press at the address. Whilst the grip still feels straight the shaft is installed at a slight degree inside the grip allowing the putter to do all of the work for you.

The Mezz 1 Max Putter can also be bought as stock or made fully custom. The custom version features a choice of 11 different alignment aids, 8 different colours, different shaft colours, press grip degrees and weights. You can also choose your putter to be made into a standard putter, armlock or a broomstick putter. Whatever your choice you can ensure that the putter you make will be tailored to your style whilst also delivering consistency regardless of your choice.

Feel and Feedback

Golfers who appreciate feedback from their putters will find the Mezz 1 Max Putter satisfying. The feel of the putter is responsive and allows you to gauge the quality of your stroke. The solid, soft feel delivers a “clink” at impact and gives you the confidence to make those crucial putts under pressure.

We found that to get the most out of the MEZZ.1 Max was to try and grip it with no thumbs at all or very little thumb pressure. This ensured an even more consistent face control allowing you to concentrate fully on distance control only instead of start lines.

Verdict

The L.A.B. Golf Mezz 1 Max Putter is a game-changer in the world of golf putters. Its Lie Angle Balance technology, coupled with its exceptional design and build quality, makes it a top contender for golfers looking to improve their putting game.

We’ll go as far as to say that this might be Golf’s ultimate cheat code.

If you’re seeking a putter that can help you achieve more consistent putts and lower your scores, the Mezz 1 Max Putter is definitely worth a try.

Whether you’re a high-handicap golfer looking to improve your putting or a seasoned pro searching for an edge on the greens, the L.A.B. Golf Mezz 1 Max Putter could be the key to unlocking your full putting potential. Give it a try, and you may find yourself sinking more birdie putts and enjoying a more confident and successful putting game.

MEZZ.1 MAX Custom

$559.00

BUY NOW

Labgolf.com

as of April 14, 2026 1:35 am

Outrageous stability. Now available for Standard-Length, ArmLock, and Broomstick builds.

Craig Peterson

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Returning for a retelling on modern consoles and computers – complete with bonafide acting talent in the form of Jodie Comer and Stranger Things’ David Barbour in the lead roles – can this 2024 blend of nostalgia and innovation frighten another generation?

Read on for our review of the latest instalment on the Xbox Series X to find out more!

Story

The narrative is where Alone in the Dark has always shone, and this version is no different. Weaving a complex tale of occult mysteries and personal demons against the backdrop of the ‘roaring 20s’, this thematically rich tale explores the nature of insanity as well as the thin line between reality and the supernatural.

Penned by the writer of acclaimed, thought-provoking horror classic ‘Soma’, players of Alone in the Dark will find themselves engrossed in the story of Derceto Manor, its sprawling rooms and passageways almost becoming another character as you uncover the truth both behind its dark legacy, and those who roam its halls.

The dual protagonists of Emily Hartwood – in search of her missing relative – and Edward Carnby as the gumshoe assigned to the case, are both well-rounded as you walk through the game’s chapters. Whilst slightly heavy-handed on the symbolism and with some well-telegraphed twists and turns, it is an interesting story on the whole.

By the end of the roughly eight-hour runtime, you’ll certainly have been through a tangled web of intrigue, with plenty of lore consigned to missable clues and audio logs which fill in a huge amount of the gaps and heavily reward those inclined to pay attention.

Even then, the story’s not over as both protagonists have slightly different tellings of proceedings, meaning multiple playthroughs to collect the many collectables strewn around the manor and learn the full gory tale.

Graphics

The visual style of the game is a play of light and shadow, which perfectly suits the horror theme. Thanks to the Xbox Series X’s powerful hardware, Derceto Manor is brought to life in breathtaking detail. From the tiny dust particles floating in a beam of moonlight to the ominous silhouettes lurking in the corners, every aspect of the game is incredibly detailed.

The main characters in the game are impressively designed, capturing the emotions and expressions of their real-life counterparts with great realism.

However, the other denizens of the manor – a particularly eerie child named Grace springs to mind – aren’t quite lavished with the same level of detail, and some lower-quality textures affect the overall immersive experience. The environment is eerie and unsettling, filled with ominous locations which succeed in making the player feel truly uneasy throughout the game.

The game takes advantage of the advanced capabilities of the Xbox Series X, with a selection of graphic and performance-led options depending on whether players are looking for fluidity or fidelity. The developers are committed to improving the game post-launch, addressing a litany of technical issues that players may have encountered in a recent patch.

Gameplay

The gameplay of ‘Alone in the Dark’ is an intriguing balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat. The game remains faithful to the mechanics that defined the original but with a modern, Resident Evil 4-inspired twist. Players navigate the manor’s labyrinthine corridors, uncovering secrets and piecing together the narrative through environmental clues and classic puzzle-solving. Combat is deliberate and tense, with a focus on resource management and strategic engagement over brute force.

Another interesting facet of combat is that it’s clearly and cleanly divorced from exploration segments, with each often occurring in distinct alternating sections. This does defuse tension somewhat, as it becomes quite apparent on which side you’re currently navigating, and allows for extended periods where the game remains spooky, but falls decidedly short of scary.

Puzzle-solving is a core component of the exploration gameplay, with challenges that range from simple lock combinations to elaborate riddles that need a bit of lateral thinking on occasion. The manor itself is a puzzle, with hidden rooms and secret passages that reward thorough exploration…but the game loves a sliding block puzzle to the point of distraction.

Simply too many brain-teasers involve stitching and rotating pieces of a puzzle, and as such those do wear out their welcome. However, there are some elements which feel a little more like true detective work, and require a keen eye and some dedication to figure out.

The combat side of the coin in ‘Alone in the Dark’ is a tense affair, but one where you do find yourself fighting with slightly stiff controls in addition to the psychologically unsettling enemies on occasion.

With only three or four enemy types and a fairly effective dodge alongside increasingly powerful guns and inventive melee weapons (albeit with limited durability), foes remain an inconvenience rather than a source of fear.

Audio

The sounds in the game are a perfect example of auditory horror. The creaking of a floorboard, the distant echoes of a storm swelling over the bayou, and the sudden crescendo of the orchestral score all work together to increase tension. The voice performances are generally strong, with both Joide and David earning their fees in delivering convincing portrayals that add to the storytelling. The occasional audio bug saw the vocals fall out of sync on occasion, but not too much as to detract from the overall polished sheen in the audio department.

Verdict

‘Alone in the Dark’ for the Xbox Series X marks an effective – if not triumphant – comeback for the franchise. The game successfully captures the essence of the original that made it so beloved among fans, while also making updates to cater to a modern audience.

It offers a captivating – and refreshingly period – mix of horror, mystery, and gameplay that is both challenging and gratifying. Although it might not revolutionize the genre and boasts a few more things to be ironed out, it stands as a robust addition that pays homage to its roots, is chock full of surprises and delivers a solid experience for survival horror enthusiasts.

Craig Peterson

Currys.co.uk

XBOX Alone in the Dark - Xbox Series X

£16.97

out of stock

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Currys.co.uk

PLAYSTATION Alone in the Dark - PS5

£19.97

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