'Tis the gaming season
Highly-anticipated games coming this summer
Gamers are in for a treat this summer. The games are coming fast and furious, including some of 2023’s most anticipated titles. In just over a week, we’ll finally get to play the sequel to one of the best games ever made — The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (May 12). Based on the trailers and gameplay reveals, the new Zelda feels even more open-ended in its gameplay, and gives players unprecedented flexibility when it comes to puzzle solving. Just beware of the leaks if you don’t want spoilers.
Perhaps EA will have fixed the bugs in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor by June. If not, there’s a trio of big hitters to look forward to. First up is Street Fighter 6 (June 2), which adds a new “modern” control scheme to make it more accessible to newbies. Also available on June 2 — if you had bought the Deluxe or Ultimate Edition — is Diablo 4 (otherwise it’s June 6). The latest installment of this action RPG series switches from the instanced zones of previous games to an open world. Check out the open beta test coming up on May 12 if you’re still on the fence.
While Diablo 4 supports cross-play for consoles and PCs, the upcoming Final Fantasy 16 (June 22) is exclusive to the PlayStation 5. Its new real-time combat system promises to be more dynamic, including epic kaiju-like battles with powerful summons. The game is also set in a more traditional medieval setting, unlike recent Final Fantasy games.
If you have a PS Plus Deluxe or Extra subscription, be sure also to check out Humanity (free, May 16), an interesting hybrid platformer and puzzle game where you play as a Shiba Inu that guides hordes of people through a level. The trailer is a hoot. It will also be available on Steam.
In our reviews this week, we tested a large ebook reader, an affordable handheld stick vacuum, and a massive 18-inch gaming notebook.
Designed for those who like to jot or scribble notes on their books, the 10-inch Kobo Elipsa 2E comes with a stylus that attaches to its back. It takes some time to get used to its size, but it’s snappy, and the screen is sharp and crisp. It can also play audiobooks — paired with Bluetooth headphones.
The Acerpure V1 is priced to compete at S$268. This cordless stick vacuum also includes a bunch of cleaner attachments, such as a roller for hard floors with LED. But you do lose out on some extras, like being able to automatically adjust suction power.
The massive 18-inch Asus ROG Strix G18 will handle all your games without a hitch — despite not having the most powerful graphics chip. But this also means that it’s cheaper than other 17- or 18-inch models. It also runs pretty cool, too.