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Elden Ring: Forsaken Hollows Review

After beating all the new Nightlords in Elden Ring: Nightreign’s Forsaken Hollows DLC, what stands out for me is its challenging encounters, intricate level design, and immersive atmosphere.

06/12/2025

The Forsaken Hollows peels back the floorboards of The Lands Between and reveals a labyrinth of forgotten chambers, choked mausoleums, and bone-dry catacombs stitched together in a single, massive, semi-open zone. It’s classic Nightreign at heart, but with a new focus on verticality and traversal.

The Forsaken Hollows are contiguous, sprawling, and interconnected in a totally new way. Every shortcut feels like a small secret you’ve uncovered and every site of grace a gift from a god who has grown tired of watching you die.

And you will die. A lot.

Combat here doubles down on attrition. Some enemies, like the Claymen, are slower than above-ground foes, but they hit with brutal intent. Paired with killer crustaceans and other warped denizens, it’s a real mixed bag down there, one that keeps you constantly off balance.

But giant enemy crabs aren’t the only thing you need to worry about in the Forsaken Hollows. Tight tunnels undermine your ability to dodge, while echoing chambers and unexpected cliff edges often spell the end for new players.

Abandonment defines the Forsaken Hollows. Exploring it feels like arriving long after everything important has already happened. It’s all incredibly atmospheric, even by FromSoft standards. The soundtrack leans into eerie minimalism, with long stretches of quiet punctuated by choral stabs and metallic groans that feel like they’re coming from a creepy, forgotten realm.

Exploration is still the driving force, though it’s a different flavour from the wide-open Lands Between. The Hollows favour layered routes, hidden drop-offs, and long-delayed payoffs. You’ll find new spells and ash of war variants — all with enough novelty to justify the trek. A few reworked legacy bosses return as optional encounters, but they’re twisted enough to feel fresh and interesting.

Forsaken Hollows also adds two new Nightfarers — the Scholar and the Undertaker. The Scholar is described as an academic whose strength lies in arcane prowess and battlefield observation, allowing him to gain tactical advantages with spells and strategic buffs. While the Undertaker is all about heavy hits and close-range pressure. Both shake up how you approach fights, giving you fresh ways to tackle the DLC’s toughest encounters, whether you’re going it solo or teaming up with friends.

The main flaws? Familiarity creeps in. I noted the same issue in my original Nightreign review, and it’s mostly a consequence of the core gameplay mechanics rather than any creative decision by FromSoftware. Although a few new maps would be nice.

After enough hours, the surprises slow, the patterns become clearer, and gameplay can start to feel a little routine.

If Steam reviews are any indication, Nightreign’s latest DLC has divided the fanbase like never before, and some players are feeling the sting of disappointment. Shadow of the Erdtree set expectations high with its lavish arsenal of new gear and weapon types, and Forsaken Hollows simply doesn’t match that scale. What’s here is solid and thematically fitting, but noticeably smaller in scope. If you were hoping for another wave of toybox-expanding weapons, you won’t find it in The Hollows.

Still, the wins outweigh the stumbles. The Hollows’ new Nightlords —The Balancers and the final encounter, The Dreglord — are some of FromSoftware’s best work: beautiful, punishing, and fair once you decipher their rhythms.

Verdict

Elden Ring: Forsaken Hollows is a dense, beautifully miserable plunge into a forgotten underworld. It expands the world meaningfully without bloating it, delivering a focused, atmospheric adventure full of memorable encounters and haunting imagery. It’s not as ambitious as Shadow of the Erdtree, but it doesn’t need to be, and for the reasonable price of 23 AUD, it delivers solid value. This is the kind of expansion that rewards exploration, lore-hunting, and players who enjoy the feeling of plunging head-first off sheer cliffs over and over again.

Score: 4/5 ★★★★☆

Rating Summary

Visuals ★★★★★

Gameplay ★★★★☆

Variety ★★★☆☆

Level Design ★★★★☆

Challenge ★★★★★

Should You Play It?

If you love Elden Ring’s atmosphere, meticulous exploration, and tough-but-fair boss design — absolutely.

If you prefer wide-open spaces, faster pacing, or more experimental mechanics you may find the Hollows too suffocating.

I also think it’s worth mentioning again that a large part of the enjoyment for me came from playing online with friends. Going in with strangers can be unpredictable and occasionally frustrating.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

Valve’s Steam Machine Is Finally Coming to Australia

Choo Choo Chugga Chugga, Little Grey Box

12/11/2025

Valve recently announced the Steam Machine: a compact, SteamOS-powered PC/console hybrid designed for living-room gaming. It boasts power roughly six times that of the handheld Steam Deck, supports 4K gaming at 60 FPS, and comes in storage configurations of 512 GB or 2 TB.

Crucially for Australian gamers, Valve confirmed that the Steam Machine — along with its associated hardware, including the new controller and VR headset — will be sold in the same regions as the Steam Deck, which includes Australia. That means this time Valve appears to be avoiding the long delays or region-locking that plagued earlier hardware launches here.

For local players, that alone marks a major shift. Australian consumers are used to getting new tech months after larger markets, if it arrives at all. Valve’s past hardware efforts weren’t exactly reliable here — the original Steam Machines skipped the region entirely, and even accessories like the Steam Controller had limited, inconsistent distribution. A simultaneous Australian launch signals a rare moment where local players aren’t left behind, and it immediately positions the Steam Machine as something to take seriously.

The device itself lands at an interesting moment in the local market. With PC parts often costing significantly more in Australia than overseas, a compact, prebuilt system that functions as both a living-room console and a full PC has clear appeal. Many Australian gamers live in smaller apartments, share TVs, or prefer the simplicity of plug-and-play devices over traditional desk setups. A system that can sit under the TV while still running a full Steam library — with access to mods, desktop apps, and general computing — fits neatly into that space.

The unanswered question, though, is price. Valve has said the Steam Machine won’t be sold at a loss like traditional consoles, and instead will be priced similarly to a PC with equivalent specs. In Australia, where hardware often carries a premium due to shipping, GST, and exchange rates, that could make or break its appeal. If it lands too close to the price of a mid-range gaming PC, many players may simply stick to building or upgrading their own rigs.

Still, even with that uncertainty, the broader significance is clear. Valve treating Australia as a first-tier region for hardware launches is unusual — and welcome. It means local players will finally be in step with global conversations from day one, not months later. If the Steam Machine delivers on performance and lands at a reasonable price, it could become a strong option for Australians who want PC flexibility without the bulk or complexity of a full tower setup.

For now, all eyes are on the local price tag. But at the very least, Australian gamers are finally on Valve’s radar — and for once, they’re not waiting in the queue.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

The Tale of Princess Kaguya Revisited

A quiet evening's viewing.

21/11/2025

I’m still walking on clouds after the Joe Hisaishi concert the other week, and I’ve been revisiting some of my favourite Studio Ghibli films to keep the feeling alive. In the process, I stumbled across a movie I hadn’t thought about in a while — it’s a lesser-known Ghibli film that I think doesn’t get the praise it deserves.

The Tale of Princess Kaguya is a strange yet beautiful story about a young princess whose life unfolds in unexpected ways. It’s a tale of love and destiny, told in a way that feels both poetic and haunting. And of course, the music of Joe Hisaishi backs it up the whole way with those soft, aching melodies he does so well.

The film is based on a 10th-century Japanese folktale written by an unknown author — the oldest surviving work in the monogatari tradition — which gives the movie this timeless, storybook feeling.

If you’re a fan of animated films or have a secret passion for Heian-period art, I would highly recommend it.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

Why I Love Dragon Quest

Come closer and I’ll tell you.

09/11/2025

With the recent release of Dragon Quest I & II HD-3D Remake, I wanted to look back over the series’ history, and talk a little bit about why I love Dragon Quest so much.

I’ll start by saying: I don’t particularly like turn-based RPGs. I would classify the majority of the genre as ‘Press A to beat the game’. They often lack the freedom that makes gaming so great to me. You might as well be playing an interactive cutscene in the special features menu of a DVD or reading a choose-your-own-adventure book.

I get it, though. Not every game has to involve split-second reactions and challenging boss fights. But to make a game like that appealing to somebody who doesn’t usually play that sort of thing, it’s got to have some razzle-dazzle. And in this case, some Zing, Sizzle, and Kafrizzle as well.

So, what makes Dragon Quest different? It all comes down to two things: sound and visuals.

Sound first. Koichi Sugiyama’s orchestral suite absolutely floors you from the get-go. If I could focus on just the title music (which remains largely the same across every iteration), the variety of instruments you hear from moment to moment makes it instantly unique. It opens with a triumphant horn section, then the strings kick in and the marching band creeps up behind the lot of it. Whenever I hear the plucking of violin strings, I’m instantly reminded of that quiet section in the opening theme; and I shall be forever more. It’s a slow build-up but it makes for epic listening. The entire soundtrack is fantastic and I’d recommend everybody listen to the orchestral version, even if you’ve never played the games before.

The music of Dragon Quest could be described as campy or even quaint, but that’s exactly the point. The sound, the visuals, the gameplay — they all share this sense of cheerful simplicity. It’s a fantasy adventure in the most classic, storybook sense, and it embraces that happily. That’s partly why I love Dragon Quest; it doesn’t take itself as seriously as all the other dark and brooding JRPGs. It’s here for a laugh and a bit of whimsical fun.

And then there’s the visuals. Akira Toriyama’s unique art style is instantly recognisable in a sea of manga and anime. For many people, Dragon Ball was their introduction to Toriyama’s work; for me it was Dragon Quest. My first game in the series was Sentinels of the Starry Skies on DS. I remember being instantly mesmerised by the cover art and game manual – back when game manuals were still a thing. The game itself, however, suffered from being limited to the capabilities of the Nintendo DS hardware, which struggled to capture Toriyama’s art fully. It left a lasting impression on me, nevertheless.

Toriyama’s characters and monsters have this warmth to them — even the slimes, bats, and dragons look like they’d be fun to have a chat with. His designs give the world a sense of charm and homeliness that few games have achieved.

Dragon Quest doesn’t need to reinvent itself. It’s already perfected a certain kind of cosy adventure — the feeling of setting out from your hometown, sword in hand, ready to see the world. If the HD-3D remake can keep that magic intact, then I’ll happily ride off into the sunset, mashing that A button as I go.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

Caz’s Top 10 Australian Songs Of All Time

02/11/2025

Picking my all-time ten favourite songs by Australian artists was never going to be an easy task. It was a long, nostalgia-driven inward journey that ended with me saying, ‘Why don’t I just pick the songs I like the most?’

It ended up looking more like one of my Spotify playlists than an official Top 10 list. That being said, I didn’t make this list without careful consideration.

After taking a dip in the ocean of Aussie music, I’ve come to realise how vast a body of water it really is. The further I strayed from land, the more I was at risk of stumbling off a sea cliff into the massive underwater trenches that are Australian nu-metal and indie prog rock. But I made it back to shore safe and sound, with a haul of ten of my favourite fish of all time. I mean songs. Let’s just get into it:

10. King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard – Crumbling Castle

There’s no other band on earth quite like King Gizz. The sheer amount of music they put out in 2017 left me and my friends in total awe. We actually discovered them by accident — they happened to be playing at a local pub my friend was working at, back before they really hit the big time.

Sketches of Brunswick East, Four Quarters, and Murder of the Universe are also incredible albums worth listening to. There are so many Gizz songs that could’ve made it onto this list, but this one feels like the perfect distillation of everything that makes them great.

‘Crumbling Castle’ is a ten-minute prog-rock fever dream that sounds like it was recorded inside an erupting volcano. You wouldn’t think this many time signatures could work, and yet it absolutely does. It kills it. It’s like necking eight pints and trying to build a medieval fortress out of pillows. Ah, good times.

9. Wolfmother – Joker and the Thief

“Today we’re going to learn about hammer-ons,” my guitar teacher said, and then proceeded to play one of the most insane riffs my 14-year-old ears had ever been privy to hear. I then went home to give it a go myself and subsequently gave up on my dreams of being an international rockstar. I did get it eventually, though. The song is basically made up of one incredibly fast guitar lick and some stripped-down power chords. Though I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all.

Andrew Stockdale is a legend on the guitar. He’s got nothing to prove in my eyes.

8. AC/DC – It’s a Long Way to the Top

‘It’s a Long Way to the Top’ is a time capsule of pure, working-class grit — sweaty, loud, and full of jeux de vie. It’s impossible not to grin when you hear Bon Scott belt it out, especially knowing he probably recorded it in a single take after a beer or three.

If anyone asks you, ‘What is Australian music?’, you could just play them this. Bagpipes and all.

7. Yothu Yindi – Treaty

‘Treaty’ is a song that holds a lot of cultural significance, primarily for being the first predominantly Aboriginal band to chart in Australia. For that reason alone, it deserves a place on this list. It’s rare for a political message to hit the dancefloor, but Yothu Yindi did it with heart and timeless conviction. Decades later, the lyrics still sting with relevance.

6. Babe Rainbow – Johnny Says Stay Cool

This one has always been my favourite Babe Rainbow track. It’s that fast, upbeat tempo — you can’t help but bounce along to it.

The lyrics are a trippy diaphragmatic exercise. It’s like if The Wiggles decided to move to the Sunshine Coast and started experimenting with medicinal horticulture. Every time I listen to it, I feel like I’m in a sunnier version of Australia, sitting on a beach in a technicolour dream.

5. The Veronicas – Untouched

As soon as I hear that violin intro, I can’t help getting knots in my stomach. It takes me back to a time of awkward encounters with my cousin’s friends in the summers of my youth. An utterly mortifying time no person should ever have to revisit.

But if we’re judging songs on this list based on their staying power, you’ve got to give it up to The Veronicas. It’s instantly recognisable and very catchy. I was only 8 years old when this song came out, but I can confidently trace my fear of black eyeliner back to this song.

4. Kylie Minogue – Love At First Sight

Kylie dancing her way through an early-2000s cyberspace still gives me life. What’s not to love? It’s pure Y2K-infused magic. Nothing comes close to being this iconic. All other artists are just pale imitations of our queen. Take that, Delta. Sorry, Natalie.

3. Hunters & Collectors – Throw Your Arms Around Me

It feels good to love one another. Not the filthy, smutty kind of love that you're thinking of, but the wholesome and strictly clothes-on kind. Like the way one person can appreciate and treasure another person for their internal beauty.

Lonely, crotchety old bastards and one-hit-wonders ‘The Ferrets’ will tell you ‘Don’t Fall In Love’ – but any sensible person would ignore this advice. What’s the point of any of this if we don’t get to climb the highs and lows of human experience for ourselves? Mark Seymour was loved up to the eyeballs when he wrote this song. It’s a sad, pining kind of song with an overall uplifting message: ‘We’re all gonna die one day, so hurry up and be yourself. Somebody’s gotta love you.’

2. Divinyls – I Touch Myself

Australia really peaked when one of our greatest cultural exports turned out to be a song about pleasuring yourself. ‘I Touch Myself’ is a cheeky pop masterpiece wrapped in provocative delight.

It’s so unapologetically Aussie in its refusal to take itself too seriously. Chrissy Amphlett’s performance is pure electricity, and that confidence still feels ahead of its time.

1. Midnight Oil – Beds Are Burning

All rise for our national anthem. Seriously though, what a song. It’s righteously vehement in its message of justice for Aboriginal people. Strong vocals from Peter Garrett, delivered in an almost sermon-like manner, elevate it to an almost religious icon of Aussie rock.

To a young and politically unenlightened person like me, it always evoked images of a harsh Australian outback – hot tin roofs on a dry, dusty plain and frilled-neck lizards scuttling through cool desert sands at night. ‘The time has come, to say fair’s fair,’ and it’s only fair that this song takes the number one spot.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

DanceX Retrospective

30/10/2025

After two weeks of exhilarating shows, DanceX has come to a close. It’s been an incredible effort from some of Australia and New Zealand’s finest dance companies – a huge undertaking that brought so much life and artistry into our venues. Everybody who took part, from performers and choreographers to the production and front-of-house teams, played a role in making it a festival to remember.

I was fortunate to attend DanceX: Playhouse Show 1, and the performances were absolutely electrifying. The precision, emotion, and sheer physicality on display were something to behold. Each piece felt distinct in its mood and message, and the whole program came together beautifully, showing just how diverse and innovative our local dance scene is right now.

As a team member, hosting DanceX at Arts Centre Melbourne once again has been a real privilege. It’s not every day we get to see this much talent gathered under one roof. A huge congratulations to everyone involved – and here’s to the next DanceX festival lighting up our stages soon.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

Review

Elden Ring: Nightreign

It’s like Elden Ring, but purplier.

21/09/2025

FromSoftware has always walked the tightrope between punishing difficulty and transcendent joy. With Elden Ring: Nightreign, they’ve turned up the speed, and invited squads of three to tango in the dark. The result is a bold experiment: familiar Dark Souls combat and stylistic trappings, but compressed into a roguelike multiplayer format that rarely gives you a moment to breathe. It’s thrilling, occasionally frustrating, sometimes dazzling — and it works, for the most part.

Nightreign is not a full sequel or traditional DLC. It’s more of a spin-off title. It exists in a parallel reality of the Lands Between — Limveld — that shares many visuals, monsters, and ideas with Elden Ring. You play as Nightfarers, preset heroes (six at first, expanding to eight), each with unique kits rather than building from scratch. Exploration is dialed back; instead, the focus is on fast, tactical decision-making, loot, and surviving three in-game days before facing off with the final boss — The Nightlord.

One of Nightreign’s biggest departures from classic Dark Souls pacing is its urgency. Movement and combat feels familiar — you still dodge, roll, and manage stamina — but there’s a constant fear that it could all be over at any moment. If you like methodical exploration and leisurely inventory management, this is the opposite of Elden Ring.

That said, it’s still an interesting game. There’s enough new content to warrant the price tag, and some old bosses have been given a fresh new twist. Repetition does creep in after several runs, since there’s only one main map and limited mini-bosses and castles.

Meta-progression comes through Relics and permanent upgrades unlocked between runs. While not as deep as Elden Ring’s build system, they feel meaningful enough, and some relic effects are fun to experiment with.

The option to play solo exists, but co-op elevates the experience. Different Nightfarer roles — tank, damage dealer, support — really matter in tougher fights, especially in “Deep of Night” endgame content. Solo runs are viable, but it’s clear the design favours group play.

True to FromSoftware heritage, Nightreign doesn’t skimp on atmosphere. Landscapes are glorious, creatures horrifying, and magic wondrously colourful. Twisted versions of Limgrave deliver well, while music and boss themes punctuate tension. Performance is solid on modern hardware, though hectic battles sometimes cause frame dips.

Still, variety is a weak point. Camps, enemies, and layouts repeat too often, dulling the experience. Certain bosses can feel unfairly harsh and punishing for newcomers. And in a game so reliant on teamwork, bad random teammates or unlucky loot can ruin a run.

Fans of Elden Ring’s deep build customization may also feel restricted. If you loved the open-world freedom, Nightreign’s constraints might feel too tight.

Verdict

Elden Ring: Nightreign is not Elden Ring. It doesn’t try to be. It’s a furious, fast-paced roguelike co-op distilled from FromSoftware’s purest DNA. For those who embrace speed, risk, and repetition, it delivers high payoff — moments of triumph, dynamic boss fights, and plenty of loot. For others, the lack of depth and variety may leave a sour aftertaste.

Score: 4/5 ★★★★☆

Rating Summary

Visuals ★★★★★
Gameplay ★★★★☆
Variety ★★★☆☆
Multiplayer ★★★★☆
Progression ★★★★☆

Should You Play It?

If you are a fan of Elden Ring, Dark Souls, and enjoy tight combat, teamwork, and roguelike challenges — yes, this is for you.
If you prefer exploration, story pacing, deep customization, or solo adventuring — you may find it lacking.
Playing with friends is the best experience, while random matchmaking can be frustrating.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

Melbourne’s oldest internet café celebrates it's 25th birthday

Calling all players.

14/08/2025

It’s estimated there are over 20,000 internet cafés worldwide, with 65 in Melbourne. Among them, Cydus stands out. First opened in 2000, it is the longest-running internet café in the city — and it’s about to celebrate it's 25th birthday.

But before we leap into celebrations, a quick look at the history of internet cafés...

Originally designed as places to meet friends, surf the web, and enjoy a cup of coffee, internet cafés have since become increasingly game-focused.

When they first appeared, most people had no way of checking their emails outside of homes and offices. The introduction of free web-based services like Hotmail sent their popularity soaring.

PCs nowadays are the undisputed champions of modern hardware, capable of processing billions of instructions per second and rendering immense, detailed environments at lightning-fast speeds. Enough to do your taxes, map the human genome, and be home in time for dinner.

In Melbourne, internet cafés are a nexus for late-night activity and rambunctious outings with friends. Often open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, they provide respite from the bustling pubs and clubs usually associated with a night on the town. For many, they are like a home away from home.

“It’s a great place to unwind. I come here at least once a week” said Henry Li, a teenager who travelled to Cydus from Brunswick. “Elden Ring: Nightrein is awesome — every decision counts, and the stakes are high. But it’s also a really beautiful world to explore.”

Cydus has been open for 25 years. After two and a half decades of being open to the public, this is what owner Michael Chan had to say about his business:

“When we first started, people came in just to check emails or browse the web. Now it’s all about gaming, and the social side of it. People come here because they want to share that experience.”

Video games are often painted as an anti-social pastime. There is some truth to the stereotype, but Cydus’s history suggests otherwise.

“Internet cafés actually bring people together,” Chan said. “You might be sitting next to someone you’ve never met, but you end up on the same team and walk out as friends. That doesn’t happen when you’re playing alone at home.”

Over 25 years, Chan has watched his customer base expand and evolve. “Our demographic is wide. We get uni students after lectures, people coming in after work, and groups of friends meeting up late at night. It’s become a second home for a lot of people.”

Cydus regularly updates its PCs and offers deals for regulars, something Chan sees as crucial to staying relevant. “Other cafés can feel transactional. Here, we run competitions, host events, and make sure the place feels welcoming. That’s what keeps people coming back.”

From email terminals to eSports hubs, Cydus has endured by adapting to change while keeping its doors open to the community. And according to Chan, the mission hasn’t changed.

“As long as people love gaming together in the same space, cafés like this will survive,” he said.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

Summer Game Fest 2025

07/06/2025

Summer Game Fest 2025 just aired with an exciting flurry of game announcements. Here are some of the games that we're most excited for:

Sonic Racing Cross Worlds
Sonic returns to the track with a chaotic new twist. Cross Worlds merges high-speed racing with multiverse mechanics, throwing characters from different Sonic timelines into neon-soaked circuits that warp mid-race. With a mix of classic drift-heavy kart racing and dimension-bending hazards, it’s one of the most visually ambitious Sonic spin-offs to date.

Lego Voyagers
A fresh IP from the Lego games team, Lego Voyagers trades traditional brick-breaking for galaxy-spanning exploration. It’s an open-world sci-fi adventure where players build and pilot customizable starships, recruit quirky crew members, and visit procedurally-generated planets. The tone is lighthearted, but the scope is surprisingly vast.

Mina the Hollower
Yacht Club’s retro love letter to Game Boy Color action titles is finally nearing release. Mina the Hollower blends gothic horror with fast-paced top-down combat, featuring tight dungeons, whip-based action, and a moody chiptune soundtrack. It looks and plays like a lost classic, with all the polish of modern design.

Stranger Than Heaven
This mysterious new narrative game from Annapurna had one of the most talked-about trailers at SGF. Blending surreal dreamscapes, romantic drama, and light puzzle mechanics, Stranger Than Heaven looks like a spiritual successor to What Remains of Edith Finch—but weirder, more experimental, and unapologetically emotional.

Resident Evil 9
Capcom pulls back the curtain on Resident Evil 9, the chilling conclusion to the Winters saga. Set in a cursed island off the coast of the Pacific Northwest, the game leans into psychological horror, with new enemies inspired by urban legends and folklore. The gameplay looks slower and more atmospheric than RE Village, but no less terrifying.

Written by Casmir Yiontis

Modding My 8BitDo Arcade Stick

12/05/2025

I've added some different-coloured Sanwa buttons to my 8BitDo Xbox Arcade Stick!! I picked these up the last time I was in Japan and they look and feel great. Definitely an improvement over the original buttons.

The replacement was fairly simple and just involved unscrewing the base plate and unplugging the old buttons. I took me longer than I expected to find the correct size screwdriver though haha.

Nintendo Switch 2 Announced

03/04/2025

Nintendo has officially announced the Nintendo Switch 2, set to launch on June 5, 2025, with a starting price of $449.99 AUD. This next-generation hybrid console builds upon the success of its predecessor, introducing significant hardware upgrades and new features designed to enhance the gaming experience.

The Switch 2 boasts a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD touchscreen with HDR10 support and a 120Hz refresh rate, offering sharper visuals and smoother gameplay. Powered by a custom Nvidia Tegra processor, the console supports 4K resolution when docked, providing a substantial performance boost over the original Switch.

Storage capacity has been increased to 256GB, expandable via microSD Express cards. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth support, ensuring faster and more stable connections. The console also features improved battery life, catering to gamers on the go.

The new Joy-Con 2 controllers attach magnetically and introduce optical mouse-sensor functionality, allowing for precise control in compatible games. These controllers also support a new feature called GameChat, enabling voice and video communication during gameplay.

At launch, the Switch 2 will be accompanied by titles such as Mario Kart World. The console maintains backward compatibility with most Nintendo Switch games, ensuring a seamless transition for existing users. Additionally, select titles will receive performance enhancements when played on the new hardware.

Pre-orders for the Switch 2 began on April 24, 2025, and were met with overwhelming demand, leading to rapid sellouts and website crashes at major retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and GameStop. Nintendo has implemented an invitation-based pre-order system through the My Nintendo Store, prioritizing users with active Nintendo Switch Online memberships and significant playtime history. Despite these measures, the company has acknowledged potential delays in order fulfillment due to high demand.

The standard Switch 2 is priced at $449.99 AUD, while a bundle including Mario Kart World is available for $499.99 AUD. Accessory prices have seen increases, attributed in part to new tariffs affecting manufacturing costs.

The Nintendo Switch 2 represents a significant advancement in hybrid gaming, offering enhanced performance, innovative features, and a huge game library. While pre-order challenges persist, the console's launch is primed to be a major event in gaming this year.

Written by Casimir Yiontis

Making a Video Game

12/11/2024

My progress so far on "Line Void" (Title work in progress), a space shmup game. Right now I'm just following a tutorial on YouTube that's teaching me how to make Asteroids, which is why the project is called "Asteroids".

Currently I'm able to accelerate and rotate the ship.

I'm excited to start working on the ship sprites. Hopefully will be easy to import them into Unity.

Behind The Scenes: HTML

01/11/2024

This is the code I used to make this website.

The one you're looking at right now.

Positioning GIFs

01/11/2024

I moved my Kirby Floating Gif so now it's next to the Page Title :D Lookin' good, Kirby. Hang in there, buddy.

Monster Hunter GU Save Transfer

20/08/2024

This week I made a return to Monster Hunter, one of my all time favourite franchises. Specifically Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, a 1080p high resolution remake of the game originally released on the 3DS. Because the eShop closed down in April, I was unable to make use of the Save data transfer tool that was designed specifically to port your save from the 3DS to the Switch. However, I managed to track down a Save Editor online and through a ridiculously laborious process that took me over two days, I managed to get my old save onto the Switch with a little help from my old friend Hex Editor. In summary, cross-platform save transfers are a nightmare.

Review

The Typing of the Dead

01/07/2024

Maybe you’re a fan of the original games and you’re looking to relive old memories with a new twist. Or maybe, like me, you’re trying to brush up on your typing skills.

Either way you look at it, The Typing of the Dead is a fast-paced, thrilling adventure back through one of the greatest on-rail shooters to ever hit the horror genre.

It’s a bit jarring at first when you’re thrown into a world of zombies with only your keyboard to protect yourself. But that’s what makes The Typing of the Dead all the more engaging.

On a technical level, the game runs very smoothly and the inputs have lightning-fast response time, which makes laying out zombies with your trusty keyboard all the more enjoyable.

Typing out words or phrases to dispatch zombies adds an unexpectedly satisfying layer of challenge and skill. The game cleverly integrates its typing mechanics into the familiar on-rails shooting format, requiring quick thinking and accurate typing under pressure.

I found that some of the boss fights were quite challenging in the later stages. These encounters require not only typing speed but also strategic thinking, as each boss presents unique patterns and weaknesses.

It’s a refreshing twist on traditional boss battles, where victory hinges on how well you can type out commands while dodging attacks.

Making Music in The Twilight Zone

20/02/2024

In this project I used voice samples from the episode "What You Need" (Season 1 Episode 12) of The Twlight Zone to make a dance track.

It was a very enjoyable process and I had a lot of fun getting to know how to use Ableton.

Review

Elden Ring

05/08/2023

Looking back over my 200 hours with Elden Ring, it’s hard not smile when I reminisce about the time spent in the vast and haunting world of Elden Ring. If you’re a long-time fan of FromSoftware like I am, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Miyazaki has truly outdone himself in this latest entry of the Souls series.

To those who have played previous titles such as the Dark Souls games and Bloodborne, Elden Ring will feel like slipping into a pair of well-worn denims, feeling and handling very much like its predecessors; a style fans know all too well.

Elden Ring transports players to the mythical land of the Lands Between, a sprawling open-world setting that exudes both beauty and desolation. From verdant forests to towering mountains and eerie ruins, every corner of this world is meticulously crafted to evoke a sense of wonder and danger. The landscape is teeming with formidable enemies, hidden treasures, and secrets waiting to be unearthed.

True to FromSoftware’s legacy, Elden Ring offers challenging gameplay that rewards perseverance and strategic thinking. Players can create their character, choosing from a variety of classes and abilities that cater to different playstyles.

Combat is intense and methodical, requiring precise timing, careful observation of enemy patterns, and utilization of a wide array of weapons and magic.

The introduction of new mechanics adds fresh layers to gameplay, granting players access to powerful abilities and enhancing their combat prowess. This system encourages exploration and experimentation, as uncovering the mysteries surrounding the Elden Ring is key to unlocking its full potential.

The ability to jump is a revolutionary mechanic in FromSoft games and one that left players dumbfounded in the original gameplay trailers.

One of the most striking aspects of Elden Ring is its storytelling, heavily influenced by George R.R. Martin’s touch. The narrative depth and world-building are impressive, with lore intricately woven into the fabric of the game. Each location, character, and item contributes to a larger tapestry of mythology and history. The storytelling is often cryptic yet compelling, inviting players to piece together fragments of the world’s past and present. The atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, enhanced by a dynamic day-night cycle and weather system that subtly shifts the mood of the environment.

From serene sunsets to ominous storms, each moment in Elden Ring feels alive and immersive, drawing players deeper into its enigmatic world. The game captures a sense of scale and grandeur that elevates every encounter, making even the smallest discovery feel monumental.

The rustling leaves, distant howls, and the echo of footsteps in abandoned ruins—create a soundscape that adds layers to the experience, pulling players into the story. This immersive atmosphere is further enriched by the use of symbolism throughout the game, where visual motifs and recurring themes reflect the struggles between light and darkness, hope and despair, enhancing the emotional weight of the narrative and making each player’s journey feel uniquely personal. As players delve deeper into the Lands Between, they are not merely observers of a story; they become integral parts of a living legend, where their choices echo through the intricate web of fate that binds the world together.

Beyond the individual experience, Elden Ring fosters a vibrant community of players. The shared experiences of triumph and defeat create a sense of camaraderie, as players discuss strategies, lore, and discoveries. The game’s rich lore and intricate mechanics inspire countless theories and discussions, enhancing the overall experience.

Replayability is another significant aspect of Elden Ring. With various classes, playstyles, and choices impacting the narrative and world, players are encouraged to embark on multiple journeys. Each playthrough offers the opportunity to uncover new secrets and experience the game from different perspectives, ensuring that the adventure remains fresh and engaging.

Prepare yourself for an epic journey through the Lands Between, where danger and discovery await at every turn. Elden Ring is not just a game; it’s an adventure that will test your skills, ignite your imagination, and leave you craving more. The legacy of FromSoftware continues to shine bright.

Written by Casimir Yiontis