One tool that helped me quite a bit during this ongoing period of uncertainty and trepidation — taking care of my mother who got hit by a motorcycle — is the EDC flashlight. In my case, I got two of the most popular models in 2024 out of fascination, and then was put in a situation where I really had to use them extensively on a daily basis. While most would scoff at the thought of a fancy flashlight which has more features than just shining a white light in one direction, there’s something to an everyday carry flashlight that was designed for intensive use. (more…)
Reviews Archives
Diablo IV Game Review
When Blizzard started having its controversies, one of the only titles left that could give the now-embattled company hope for salvaging its once-stellar reputation was Diablo. However, Diablo III was a disappointment due to an incohesive and insensible storyline, as well as gameplay that tries a lot of new things and misses on a lot of them. Also, that launch was a complete disaster, from what I can remember. It looks like they’ve done the opposite with Diablo IV — the last game I’ll likely ever buy from the undead remnants of Blizzard Entertainment. (more…)
Steam Deck Handheld Console Review
After having lived with it for two whole months, I can report that the Steam Deck isn’t only a great gaming machine, but it’s also a pretty good portable computer. While it’s not a GPD WIN Max, it provides a great way to spend your breaks in between bursts of productivity during the work day (if your work allows for that). While I was hesitant at first in deciding on purchasing it, along with upgrades and accessories, I certainly don’t regret going ahead with it. (more…)
Maono AU-AM100 Maonocaster Audio Interface Review
For the longest time, I’ve coveted famous streamers for their setups, especially their audio gear. I would yearn for a camera with good enough visual fidelity to take advantage of Nvidia Broadcast, as well as a dynamic microphone fit for professional voice work and an audio interface to match. This year, I gained the ability to obtain all the gear I ever wanted, and I did. While it didn’t make me a better content creator, I get to figure out whichever piece of gear is truly great and which is overrated. I also got to try the Maono AU-AM100 Maonocaster — something I had high expectations for, but ended up being disappointed. (more…)
Akko 5075S Barebone Kit Custom Keyboard Review
After customizing my Keychron K2 V2, I thought I was done with keyboards. Perhaps I should’ve known that it wasn’t yet my endgame and I would soon yearn for more. It took almost half a year for me to feel the itch again, but I did eventually get the urge again to look for something new, especially one with a knob. I also wanted to try using a new switch since I wanted to see if there was something even more tactile than the Akko CS Jelly Blue switches I had on my Keychron. I ended up getting an Akko 5075S, and it turned out pretty amazing. (more…)
Elden Ring Game Review: A Flawed Masterpiece
While it’s four months later since release as of this writing, I still felt compelled to publish my review of Elden Ring due to how much it has enriched my life. This is the very first game by FromSoftware that I actually got into. It made me relive the wonder I last felt over a decade ago with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. However, this game has what Skyrim lacks, which are fun and engaging combat and a story that didn’t make me feel empty upon completion. My Elden Ring experience didn’t diminish over time like my Skyrim experience, making this FromSoftware game a better open world experience than that Bethesda game. (more…)
Keychron K2 V2 Keyboard Review
One day, I bought beef noodles for takeout. I later spilled some of the hot soup over my old keyboard and my hasty attempts at remedying it left me with a useless (but not completely broken) keyboard and a need to replace it. While browsing Shopee, I found what I thought would be a suitable replacement. It was a 75% keyboard that will give me more desk space and a hotswappable board to try out different switches. After some thought, I got myself a Keychron K2 V2. (more…)
Tecware EXO L+ Mouse Review
This is the first “gaming” mouse I’ve bought in years that’s more than ₱500. The last “expensive” mouse I bought was a second Logitech G102 with yet another wonky Omron microswitch in its left button which went on a fritz after six months. After that, I bought a Rakk Alti for ₱350 and took out the lead weight inside it to make it lighter. However, that wasn’t light enough for me to keep using it, so I bought the Tecware EXO L+ upon a friend’s recommendation. (more…)
Rapoo C270L Webcam Review
Welcome to the first product review on this blog. I’m still learning how to properly pull off the format, but it has been fun so far. I’ll be doing this for whatever stuff I buy from now on. In this case, I bought a new webcam for streaming and filming overhead shots, and I chose to buy a fairly affordable one from a Chinese brand on Shopee instead of Logitech or Razer. So far, I think I made the right choice with the Rapoo C270L webcam. (more…)
DOOM Eternal Game Review: It’s Such a Video Game
My COVID-19 quarantine experience so far has been dominated by this game. Through all the anxiety, forced seclusion, and helplessness, I’ve spent much of that time killing demons and traversing obstacles in a game that was made to feel like a game. It’s undeniably a strong Game of the Year candidate for 2020, even if it’s not as perfect as I had hoped. (more…)
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker — Let’s Get It Over With
Going to watch this in a block screening was me “getting it over with” as the trilogy had been questionable in execution thus far. I had already given up on it bearing the weight of the original trilogy’s legacy due to what the previous two films had established. I didn’t have expectations of a satisfying conclusion, but still have a mindset of wanting to enjoy it. What I got was a Star Wars film I somewhat liked, albeit with plenty of caveats.
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Superliminal Game Review: Bend Your Perception Like a Crazy Straw
There’s something about first-person puzzle games that makes them compelling. I like puzzle games, but I like first-person ones even more as they require more careful and thorough observation to solve. The first-person perspective also paves way for more creative puzzle designs, which Superliminal does quite well. (more…)