04 Nov
Blog

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Review: Farkin’ Fun

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy launches with NVIDIA DLSS and ray tracing

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy

RRP $ 60.00

"Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy has some rough edges, but its solo team play mechanics fit the dysfunctional superhero family perfectly."

advantages

  • Effective decisions

  • Intelligent team management

  • Deep story

  • Well developed characters

  • Great use of 80s tunes

disadvantage

  • Weak star-lord fight

  • Jokes galore

  • Lots of bugs at startup

Iron Man has armor. Thor has a magic hammer. The Guardians of the Galaxy have a huge ego.

In their first video game adventure, the aptly titled Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, the arrogance of the underdog superhero team comes into its own. They joke their way through the fight as if every fight is a company softball game. They argue over who is better at killing sentient gelatin cubes. The focus is on Star-Lord, who is given the most difficult task a manager can face: team management.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is a clever superhero game that abandons the genre's expectations in favor of gameplay mechanics that better fit its strange roster. "Solo team play" is a well executed riff on Mass Effect that works both in and out of combat. An unpolished, bug-riddled package is dragging the team down, but Guardians fans will be amazed at how many details the game is in its story.

Manage egos

On paper, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a tough sell. A Guardians game where you can only play as the Star-Lord while giving commands to seemingly funnier heroes like Rocket Raccoon and Groot? The fact that this is a single player game with no co-op sounds like a misstep at first glance. Fortunately, Eidos-Montréal made the right call here – and it's an inspired one at that. This is not a game about replicating Hollywood power fantasies, but rather showing how difficult it can be to manage oversized personalities.

The game successfully borrows ideas from the titles of Mass Effect and Telltale to develop intelligent team management mechanics. For example, crew conversations are filled with dialog trees that make effective decisions across the board. In one sequence, Star-Lord Rocket has to buy enough time to hack a system by distracting a villain with annoying questions. If I can do this successfully (I'm an expert at being annoying), I actually see later that it changes the mission and makes me feel like a successful team leader.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy launches with NVIDIA DLSS and ray tracing

Some of the decisions also have an emotional response. When Drax tries to throw Rocket over a cliff to extend a bridge, I have the option of cheering on Drax or defending Rocket. I choose the latter and am told Rocket will remember it. While I'm not sure how that will affect the story in the end (the ending is the same no matter what you choose), I feel like Rocket trusts me more after this moment. There is a real sense of team building throughout the adventure as I carefully navigate how to defuse tense situations and hurt feelings.

The team may argue and yell at each other, but as a dysfunctional family, they're stronger together – and the game itself plays better if you accept that too.

Team leadership in combat is just as well thought out. Star-Lord can essentially direct traffic during battles by opening a menu and ordering each of his four teammates to make moves that have cooldowns. Each character has their own specialty; Groot is a kind of defensive character who uses his roots to hold enemies in place while Gamora makes heavy attacks at close range. When I have unlocked everyone's skills (each character gets four skills), I know the role of each individual and can control the action according to their strengths.

Star-Lord fights in Guardians of the Galaxy against a member of NOVA Corp.

Fortunately, piloting other characters is fun, because Star-Lord's own movement set isn't particularly exciting. He can shoot guns or hit enemies with weightless melee attacks that would make Spider-Man mockery. There's a bit more depth when he has elementary weapon skills, like an electric shot that can stun enemies on the spot, but his strengths are more as a conductor than as a soloist.

But that's the point, and that's exactly why Guardians work. If you ignore the other characters and treat their skills as optional, Star-Lord will be absolutely destroyed in battle. He needs Gamora, Rocket, Drax and Groot just as they need him. The team may argue and yell at each other, but as a dysfunctional family, they're stronger together – and the game itself plays better if you accept that too.

Inspired by comics

While the game probably wouldn't exist if it hadn't been for the 2014 hit Guardians of the Galaxy, the video game version is much more indebted to the team's comic book origins. It tells a loaded, galaxy-spanning story full of characters, locations, and outfits from the comic. It's almost like developer Eidos-Montréal assumed there wasn't going to be a sequel and tried to fit in as much story as possible so that it feels like a final customization (complete with talking cosmonaut dogs).

All the Easter eggs don't stand in the way of this surprisingly touching story, in which every hero gets a full bow. While there are plenty of ironic jokes, the story shines in the sincere moments. In one storyline, Rocket Raccoon has to overcome his fear of water. It starts out as a running gag the team uses to poke fun at Rocket, but it turns into a pivotal moment in character development. The Guardians have always had a brave underdog vibe and it's really new to play a superhero game that puts personality above power.

The heroes of Guardians of the Galaxy are handcuffed.

The character arcs work particularly well thanks to the game's strong voices. While the actors orientate themselves towards their film colleagues, it doesn't feel like someone is making an impression here. Nolan North effortlessly balances comedy and tragedy in his portrayal of Rocket Racoon, while Adam Harrington draws a whole range of emotions from the phrase "I am Groot".

The game's comedic moments are more mixed than the delicate ones. Not because the script isn't funny, but because there are just so many jokes. The guards are always joking no matter what they do. There is seldom a moment in which there is no dialogue; conversations often collide and end abruptly because someone else has triggered it. It's impressive that there is so much unique dialogue in the game – I've rarely encountered repeated lines during my playthrough – but the barrage of one-liners of characters constantly screaming can be gritty. The first Guardians film is a riot of laughter, but imagine if it went on at this pace for over 16 hours.

It's almost like developer Eidos-Montréal assumed there wasn't going to be a sequel and tried to fit in as much story as possible so it felt like a final customization.

One movie influence that works is the game's reliance on '80s music. If a special gauge fills up in battle, Star-Lord can call the team together for a group meeting and create a motivational speech based on the team's needs. This gives everyone a temporary boost in damage, but it also causes a song to play over the fight. It's a real pleasure to be in the middle of a tense battle against a towering boss, only to have the dramatic score replaced with Don't Worry, Be Happy.

Star-lord jumps on an enemy in Guardians of the galaxy.

While the whole experience can feel like sensory overload at times with the dial constantly turned to 11, it's exciting to see a superhero game with such a unique sense of style. There's a clear reverence for the source material here, and the game feels as much like a historic celebration of the franchise as it does a fitting introduction to its ever-growing lore.

The last-gen experience

The Guardians fight many menacing supervillains throughout their adventure, but they cannot defeat the most powerful villain of them all: bugs. Not like insects – they kill a lot of them. But Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a disappointingly unstable proposition. From graphical hiccups to bugs requiring checkpoint reloading, there is a feeling that Square Enix should perhaps have taken the lead in every other 2021 game and delayed this one a little.

Some bugs are ridiculous, but not groundbreaking. In a cutscene I walk through a prison cell from the first person perspective. I push against the bars and suddenly my very realistically rendered eyeballs pop out of my head in front of me. Disturbing, but minor. Other problems are more serious. Sometimes dialog boxes stay on screen until I reload the game. Other times, I'm trapped in a fight because an enemy disappeared, but the game still thinks he's alive. A day-one patch will fix some of its more serious issues, but there's no doubt the game needs some fine-tuning before it becomes a smooth experience.

The Guardians of the Galaxy stare at a giant spore.

Bugs aside, it's also a visually inconsistent title. It can be a real treat at times, with vibrant alien planets bathed in a bright pink and purple color palette. At other times, it seems clear that the game is some kind of awkward holder of the current transition in console generation. Faces can look a little creepy, while large visual effects like explosions can be rough around the edges. It's not a deal breaker, but the superhero genre lives and dies by the spectacle. Guardians of the Galaxy offers some Hollywood thrills, but the budget feels thin in other moments.

From graphical hiccups to bugs requiring checkpoint reloading, there is a feeling that Square Enix should perhaps have taken the lead in every other 2021 game and delayed this one a little.

The best comparison I can make here is Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. This game had an arc that I imagine will happen with Guardians. The main game was great fun, but it started in a buggy state that players wrote off. Nowadays, it is the type of game that players will highly recommend to others when it is for sale. I can imagine that this will also be the case here. You can ignore Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy at launch, but there's enough heart, charm, and creativity here to make it an underdog for the holiday season. Suitable, don't you think?

Our opinion

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy isn't doing what players might expect – and that's for the best. By focusing on team management, Eidos-Montréal is able to creatively extend games like Mass Effect. Driving traffic in battles is a rewarding experience, and dialogue decisions actually have an emotional meaning. It's not the cleanest experience. Bugs, graphical issues, and weak Star-Lord combat make it feel like it could have used more time in the oven, but it's exciting to see a Marvel game that thinks a lot about which mechanic best suits its heroes .

Is there a better alternative?

Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales is a really close superhero story that is way cleaner on a technical level. If you want multiplayer, Marvel's Avengers is now available in Xbox Game Pass.

How long it will take?

There are a total of 16 chapters, each of which lasts about an hour on average. The whole adventure takes between 15 and 20 hours, depending on how thoroughly you look for collectibles.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. Though rough around the edges, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy is a charming superhero game with lots of fresh ideas – and lots of Easter eggs to keep Marvel fans busy.

Editor's recommendations



27 Aug
Blog

No More Heroes 3 Review: Fewer Heroes and More Fun!

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No More Heroes 3 Review: Less Heroes, More Fun!

RRP $ 60.00

"No More Heroes 3 is a jewel for the Nintendo Switch that no action fan should be without in his collection."

advantages

  • Unique and fun writing

  • Lots of fan service

  • Great music

  • Fulfilling struggle

  • Good performance

disadvantage

  • Repeating sections

  • Some empty hub locations

Goichi "SUDA51" Suda is one of the most unique and creative video game designers, directors and writers on the market. His best-known works include Killer7, The Silver Case, Fire Pro Wrestling and the No More Heroes series. His newest game, No More Heroes 3, is another Suda homerun that shows off his talent for a thought-provoking, high-octane adventure.

No More Heroes 3 is a sequel to two earlier games in the series, No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle and Travis Strikes Again: No More Heroes. After playing 2019 Travis Strikes Again and being very impressed, my expectations for the next numbered entry in the series were sky high. With hopes so high, I'm stunned that No More Heroes 3 is actually delivering them – and more so – on every imaginable front.

No More Heroes 3 is an action-packed good time with strong writing and loads of fan service as the icing on the cake. Fans of No More Heroes, Suda51, and Hack-and-Slashes wouldn't do themselves any favors by missing out on this Nintendo Switch gem.

Suda strikes again

The game begins in classic No More Heroes fashion, with Travis immediately thrown into a new war and with the chance to climb the killer rankings. This time his enemies are not killers from Earth, but aliens from different planets that the alien prince and self-proclaimed "Goddamn Superhero" FU has gathered.

They find out that FU was once an adorable little creature who made a connection with a human boy, Damon, whom Travis Strikes Again players can instantly recognize. Upon returning to Earth to meet his friend again, he not only wears a new humanoid look, but also his own private army of alien fighters and a new goal to conquer the planet. It's a shame he didn't expect a tough otaku assassin to have the power to defeat them all one by one.

No More Heroes 3, Travis Touchdown does a victory pose.

As in previous No More Heroes entries, Travis faces these fighters as he climbs the killer rankings and encounters some surprises in the process. Of course, it's not cut and dried as it may seem; Suda's writing makes the adventure a lot more unique than the gameplay premise seems to allow.

As a fan of the series, I felt a variety of emotions as I went through the story – from joyful joy to sadness. We see Travis go through more than ever, and for the first time we see him accept the fact that he is the hero of a world where (wait for it) there are no heroes left. Players will really want to play through Travis Strikes Again to get the full impact of this character growth. That makes the story of this game even more impressive.

Travis Touchdown shakes hands with a new masked ally in No More Heroes 3.

Travis isn't the only character in the spotlight in No More Heroes 3. Sudaverse characters pop up in abundance throughout the game, with tons of surprising faces left and right. Each of these characters offers something new, and I couldn't get enough of any of them. It really feels like a wonderland for fans of each of Suda's past games. And yes, that includes games like Fire Pro Wrestling.

The action increases

No More Heroes is not just defined by its writing; The action here really takes the series to the next level. The hack-and-slash battles are a mix of the classic battle from the numbered titles on the Wii and the series’s Switch spinoff. Ripped right off Travis Strikes Again, Travis can now perform light and heavy attacks instead of just having access to a beam katana button and punch / kick melee attacks. This already offers players a wider variety of fighting options than in previous titles, but there is a lot more on the agenda.

Holding the joystick forward, backward, or neutral will allow players to perform different attack strings with their respective light and heavy attack buttons. For the first time in a numbered entry, Travis can also jump. This gives players access to a forward moving, airy blow and an airborne attack that drops Travis like a stone.

Travis Touchdown is attacking an enemy.

Offense isn't everything in this game; Players can block and dodge to go around the enemy. The Dark Step mechanic, which acts as a parade, also returns with a new twist. If Travis dodges before an enemy hits him, he will immediately move behind them and become invincible to attack for a short time. He can either unleash a barrage of beam katana attacks or grapple with enemies and instantly recharge his katana (you can also shake the Joy-Con as you walk to recharge it for the first time in the series).

As if that wasn't enough, there's the Death Glove attacks returning from Travis Strikes Again. Players begin with a harmful "death blow" that can put a great distance between them and their enemy. As players progress, they will unlock more death attacks, including Death Force, a power surge that pushes enemies farther away and damages everyone they come in contact with. There is also "Death Slow", a field that slows down anyone who comes in contact with it, and "Death Shower," another field that dousers everyone in the vicinity with harmful one-bit pellets.

Although the fight may be clunky at first for anyone unfamiliar with No More Heroes, I found it to be best implemented on the series. Players can get creative and use their Death Glove attacks to tackle challenging enemies in a unique way that suits their play style.

Travis uses a wrestling move against an enemy in No More Heroes 3.

Do you want to play super lame and keep your enemies away? Use Death Kick or Death Force to push them away and attack if you want. Do you want to pile the damage and get rid of a pesky enemy quickly? Knock them down, use Death Slow and Death Shower in conjunction with your heavy attacks to end them faster than ever. The possibilities are endless and make for a game that never ceases to be fun even with later playthroughs.

Trust me, I played three times before writing this review.

What's all the fuss?

After fans demanded their return in every game since No More Heroes, Suda has finally delivered by recreating the GTA-esque hub world everyone remembers the original. Players ride their very different Kaneda-von-Akiras motorcycle through Santa Destroy and neighboring towns to advance in the game, collect missions, and earn money doing odd jobs.

Travis Touchdown is riding his motorcycle through town.

While some of these areas can be a little bare, it seems like a deliberate design choice – especially in the Call of Battle section, which is a cheeky joke about the Call of Duty series. Even then, I enjoyed traveling through these areas looking for kittens, trading cards, new t-shirts, sushi stands, and toilets for diving. Yes, all of the side quest quality returns from No More Heroes 1 and 2. But for the first time, these missions are not needed to earn progress money.

No More Heroes 3 allows players to progress at will once they have completed three required battles to earn their chance to fight the next alien boss. Players can completely ignore the more mundane odd jobs like mowing the lawn and shooting kaiju alligators for the usual combat missions. Or they run around collecting scorpions for the sushi guy.

Travis Touchdown does the grass-mowing mini-game in No More Heroes 3.

As in the past, these missions can seem a bit intrusive and repetitive. In the combat missions, you are trapped in an area with a number of enemies that you must defeat, the only difference between them being the enemies and locations. This is doubly true for the shooter missions where you have to defeat a huge alien boss.

However, if you like the Combat and Shooter sections (like me) you will find that these sections are just another chance to test your skills against new enemies.

Our opinion

No More Heroes 3 is one of the best action games of the year and offers well-rounded fun. The writing, gameplay, performance, music, and virtually everything else come together to create a must-play game for the Nintendo Switch, just like the 2007 original on the Nintendo Wii. Fans of Suda51, No More Heroes, action games, and having a hilariously good time must try this game out. If you weren't a fan of developers Grasshopper Manufacture and Suda before, this is what you're looking for.

How long it will take?

My first playthrough on normal / easy difficulty took about 11 hours, but that was without me getting through all of the unlockable and side quests. When I returned to tackle the sharp / hard setting for New Game + and get it 100% complete, I hit about the 17 hour mark.

Is there an alternative?

There's no shortage of good hack-and-slash and character action games in the world, but No More Heroes is one of a kind. There is no comparable title in both the writing and action departments. The only alternatives out there would be past No More Heroes entries, which I recommend playing through before trying your hand at No More Heroes 3.

Should you buy it?

Yes sir. If you want a one-of-a-kind action experience like you've never had before, I recommend No More Heroes 3. Combat can be a little shaky at times and its methods of progression are not for everyone, but the game offers an adventure switch owners shouldn't get that miss.

Editor's recommendations



14 Oct
Blog

Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit Review: Fun For Some Ages

Mario Kart Live Home Circuit Review

Mario Kart Live: home track

"A full grid of annoyances is forcing Home Circuit from a sweet drift to a disappointing spin."

  • The kart is well done

  • It's a pleasure to set up (the first time)

  • The effects are visually fun

  • No shortage of content

  • AR tracking is mediocre

  • Limited course options

  • The gameplay lacks depth

The place for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit is wonderful. Perhaps the most popular racing franchise in the entire gaming space, Mario Kart brings it to your living room with a real, physical kart that can move under tables and around chairs. This kart has a camera that provides an AR racing experience through a wireless connection to your Nintendo Switch. Suddenly every room in your house is a race track.

Unfortunately, Home Circuit doesn't work as well as the promotional videos suggest, but it does provide a fun and engaging experience at times that is content for even the die-hard fans of the show. However, like many Nintendo peripherals, it will likely start collecting dust in memory soon after a handful of playthroughs.

Home Circuit is great for a while

Opening the Home Circuit Box was pure, nostalgic joy. The toy kart impressed me with its workmanship and compactness. It's a toy, yes, but one that justifies its $ 100 price tag, especially when you start driving with it.

Mario Kart toy car

After you've downloaded the software from the eShop and used an on-screen QR code to pair the kart with your Switch, you're good to go. Driving feels incredibly responsive and the tight turns required to navigate small distances are surprisingly possible even at higher speeds.

The game finally offers a use for leftover Labo cardboard as you have to set up four colored gates around your room to form control points on a track. According to Nintendo, the track size can extend to 15 by 15 feet. After trying to push the size and design to the limit for the week I had the game, I can confirm that you don't want to build any bigger circuits than that. They may look impressive, but they definitely affect the gameplay.

Once the gates have been placed, you can design the track between them as you wish and use the kart to lay out the layout. I have a pretty narrow but long apartment, so I split myself into two rooms and let the kart go under the couch and table for many stretches. The kart ran fine when you drove from the hardwood floor to the carpet under my table, although you need to make sure there are no creases or wrinkles on a similar surface. My carpet became an unintended obstruction if it was curled up too tightly.

Depending on the size of your room, you may need to adjust some directions and spacing of the gates, although you should be able to create a trail even in a very small space. Jumping and piloting the toy kart in the first few races was like any other modern Mario Kart game. Using items and using items against you is snappy and gratifying.

The longer you play, the worse it gets

It is undoubtedly awesome to have a miniature Mario flying around your house, but you may not notice it because your attention needs to be on the game. The spectators can watch the kart at work. I'm sure families will happily get together to see the kart (at least once or twice). However, I quickly discovered that the kart was becoming invisible to the player.

Elemental Effects and Gate Modifiers add enhancements to the gameplay that attempt to reproduce the thrill of other Mario Kart titles, but the races are short and the consequences are not varied. Mario could be frozen by blocks of ice, stuck in puddles of lava, or snapped up by a piranha plant, but in all cases the result is the same: the kart stops. I kept stalling, and it didn't matter how it actually happened.

There are more sophisticated effects such as: B. blowing around in a sandstorm or pulling in different directions through a chain chomp. However, since there is no penalty for leaving the track limits, they don't really hinder your progress. I've learned to ignore them.

It's good that the game doesn't penalize the racer for cornering or leaving the track limits, as the augmented reality circuit keeps shifting and adjusting while driving. The course you set up at the start of the race looks different than the one you take. The game's AR tracking isn't terrible, but it could certainly be better, and it's weird to see the tracks shift slightly as you play.

I drove the kart into bigger rooms, hoping that more light for the camera and more space for the vehicle would alleviate my problems, but it didn't help much. Neither my friend's spacious roof nor a colleague's large performance room provided the experience I was looking for. The races still ended too quickly even on the biggest tracks. The only benefit of shorter runs is that you are never too far ahead of the pack to take it easy, so the races will stay tense until the end.

I wondered if I could use some pieces of cardboard to ramps up to my coffee table and create circuits with height differences, but I ran into two problems. The first was that when changing elevation, AR tracking didn't work well because it could only be played on a flat plane, so the track shifted even more than usual during the game. Also, the kart itself doesn't have the power to do anything other than a very slight incline. I tried gradually building ramps to counter this issue but this quickly became a requirement.

Despite all of its problems, I still played a lot with the kart and hit the entire course of the cups at speeds of 50 and 100 cc. I am now making my way through 150cc, although sometimes depending on the course this can be too fast to navigate my space.

Our opinion

There's a solid Mario Kart game at its core here, and I hope the environment and gate effects for the correct ninth episode carry over to the main series, as I think these additions could add something to the franchise.

Even so, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit has too many small annoyances that can only be mitigated by a perfectly sized, perfectly lit room – like in Nintendo's promotional materials. This may still be a hit with kids, or anyone less interested in Home Circuit as a game than a toy, but anyone hoping for depth or repeating the game will be disappointed.

Is there a better alternative?

For those who don't have space and don't have a strong craving for the novelty of the toy kart, it's best to stick with Mario Kart 8: Deluxe until the next installment.

How long it will take?

Once you've run through the Grand Prix a few times, there's little incentive to keep playing.

Should you buy it?

If you have kids and a switch this will be a hit with them on this vacation. If you're hoping for a real AR game that will keep you entertained for hours, you've got your wallet in your pocket.

Editor's recommendations




02 Oct
Blog

Nasa Reveals the Fun Stuff You Can See in the Sky This Month

NASA is back with their monthly update for fans of the night sky.

October promises to be an exciting month with lots of interesting things. And you don't even need a telescope or binoculars to get involved.

Highlights for October are the appearance of a harvest moon and a blue moon. Mars will be bright in the night sky too, and there are tips for viewing the distant Andromeda Galaxy too.

First the moon. This month features two full moons. The first, the Harvest Moon, will appear on October 1st.

"The harvest moon is the name for the full moon that comes closest to the September equinox – one of two days a year on which day and night are the same," explains NASA in a post on its website. “For most years, the harvest moon falls in September, but it changes to October every few years. The name goes back to both Indian and European traditions, which, unsurprisingly, refer to the harvest time. "

At the end of the month, on October 31, you will see the second full moon. When we have two full moons in a month, we usually call the second occurrence a blue moon. This particular blue moon is special as it is the only one this year – in other words, it is the only two full moon month in 2020.

This month is also a great time to see Mars. The unique orbits of Earth and Mars bring the two planets to their closest points every 26 months. This year we will come closest to Mars on October 6th with a distance of 62 million kilometers between us and the red planet. A week later, on October 13th, the "Mars Opposition" will take place when Mars and the Sun are on directly opposite sides of the earth. However, you don't have to wait for these dates to see Mars. If you stick your head out the window every night this month you should be able to spot him. Its signature salmon pink color and brightness help it stand out. As you look at it, remember that NASA's Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter are heading for him at this moment.

NASA also says this month is a great time to look at Andromeda, a galaxy 2.5 million light years from Earth that contains hundreds of billions of stars and possibly billions of planets. While a telescope offers the best view of Andromeda, of course, it is also possible to see it with the naked eye if the conditions are right. Check out the video above to find out exactly where to look.

Editor's recommendations




06 May
Blog

Sony WF-XB700 Earbuds Review: Affordable, Quirky Fun

Sony WF-XB700 earphones

"The Sony WF-XB700 is a fun, quirky earphone that offers tremendous value."

  • Great battery life

  • IPX4 water resistance

  • Solid low-end sound

  • Pushy design

  • Limited codec support

There are any number of words you can use to describe Sony's latest earphones, the WF-XB700. A few – like fun, bulky, powerful, or affordable – come to mind immediately.

However, one word resonates the most. Value.

You may not look like much, but for $ 130, the WF-XB700 offers a range of features that far exceed its cost. If you can accept that these buds are not a substitute for their bigger sibling, the WF-1000XM3, and learn to tolerate a few quirks, you will be pleasantly surprised with Sony's latest real wireless offering.

Out of the box

The packaging of the WF-XB700 is as standard as possible and the contents of the box correspond to what we expect from earphones. There is a charging case with the buds themselves, a USB-C charging cable, additional earplugs and documentation that contains a user manual and warranty information.

Sony WF-XB700 earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

If you were previously connected to a pair of wireless earbuds, you may not need to read the manual before trying the WF-XB700. However, you may need to replace the earbuds for one of the three pairs of replacement options. Conveniently, the tips supplied with the earphones fit my ears well from the start.

Like most earphones these days, the WF-XB700 supports Bluetooth 5 technology. After more than a week, I have found no connection problems. For the reasons you might expect, I couldn't quite exceed the limits of the Bluetooth connection, but I didn't have to worry about any noticeable problems when I was moving around my house or garden.

design

I came into conflict over the design of the WF-XB700. To put it bluntly, it's a functional construction, even if at first glance they don't seem to be capable of such an achievement. Once I found the right fit in my ears, the buds stayed secure thanks to what Sony called a “tri-hold structure” based on contact with three different points on the ear. They created a good seal around my ear canals, which is good for the sound quality.

Sony WF-XB700 earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

At the same time, the structure of these buds is problematic. It's a strange word for this type of product, but the WF-XB700 is what I can only call "layered" with a pronounced footprint that extends well beyond your ear. In other words, be careful with these hoodies. These massive buds have to get caught, a quirk that gets annoying every time.

Two buttons are built into the buds, one on each side, and they have proven to be reasonably appealing. Similar to the buds themselves, which are black with a blue border, the charging case is not noticeable. Compared to other cases, it has a considerable depth to accommodate the size of the buds.

Function over shape in earbuds is not a bad thing. I would have liked a slimmer profile overall, but for most people, given the capabilities of these buds, it's a worthwhile compromise.

properties

IPX4 water resistance. Integration of the language assistant. Nine hours of playback on a single charge, with a quick charge feature that gives you an extra hour of audio after just 10 minutes in the case.

Sony WF-XB700 earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

A year ago, these functions could easily have been reserved for equipment in a much higher tax bracket. Since then, they have quickly dropped to a budget level for earphones that is much more palatable to the masses, i.e. H. The WF-XB700.

In the time I spent with these bulky buds, each of these features worked remarkably well. The buds would easily take me through a whole working day before I had to recharge. The earphone case only has an additional charge, which is less than ideal. However, if you can hear them all day and charge them at night, I don't see this as a major problem for most.

A couple of sweaty runs have proven that the IPX4 rating is correct. While the voice assistant isn't as easy as wake-word enabled products like Amazon Echo Buds or Google Pixel Buds 2, it still worked well when I called it up with the right earbud button.

The function I wanted for these buds, as simple as it is, would be the ability to automatically pause the sound when you take an earphone out of your ear. It's something I've gotten so used to with other earbuds, and that's why I've repeatedly missed parts of podcasts and music when I pulled out a bud to have a conversation.

Audio quality

If you think these buds are what they are, a pair of real $ 130 wireless earbuds that are supposed to be more fun than sophisticated, you will enjoy the new Sony product. If instead you're looking for excellent sound that matches Sony's flagship WF-1000XM3, the WF-XB700 may not be for you.

Sony WF-XB700 earphonesNick Woodard / Digital Trends

Sony has hit its Extra Bass brand on the WF-XB700, and for me that's "fun". The bottom end has a lot of punch, but doesn't sound bloated. If you regularly stream top hit playlists on Spotify, the WF-XB700 is an excellent addition to this listening experience.

The big bass has some drawbacks, however. The rest of the frequency range takes a back seat. If you take into account the lack of support for audio codecs like aptX, more experienced listeners will likely look for definitions that are not fully available. However, if you're looking for reference level audio, these are simply not the buds you're looking for.

The WF-XB700 has no noise cancellation technology that is not expected outside of Amazon's earbuds at this price (though I suspect this will change soon). The call quality is solid and contributes to what I think is above-average sound for the cost of these buds.

Our opinion

For the money, the WF-XB700 from Sony are fun, quirky earphones that are a lot more fun than quirky ones. Despite their shortcomings, including the size boss, the new earphones from Sony are just as valuable as they have positioned themselves on paper.

Are there any better alternatives?

The Amazon Echo Buds, valued at $ 130, have active noise reduction, but sacrifice battery life. If you're heavily invested in the Apple or Android ecosystem, the Apple AirPods or Google Pixel Buds 2 may be better, if more expensive.

How long will they last?

In addition to Sony's general reputation as a company that manufactures durable products, the WF-XB700 comes with a one-year warranty. You shouldn't have to worry about getting your money's worth with these earphones.

Should you buy them

Yes. I'm still not convinced of their design, but given the affordable price, the pleasant sound and the wealth of functions, the WF-XB700 is a bargain.

Editor's recommendations




18 Apr
Blog

2020 Toyota Avalon TRD Review: Are We Having Fun yet?

2020 Toyota Avalon TRD

2020 Toyota Avalon TRD rating: Big on space, short on hustle and bustle

"The 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD is a full-size entertaining sedan, but not a good value."

  • Powerful engine

  • Composite chassis

  • Spacious interior

  • Overwhelming technology

  • Inconspicuous interior materials

  • Performance increases don't go far enough

  • Bad value

It is hard to imagine that a car currently in production has a less exciting image than the Toyota Avalon. The largest sedan from Toyota is traditionally geared towards an older population group and attaches importance to comfort and space compared to sportiness and technology. Why does this new Avalon have a TRD emblem on the trunk? After all, TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development.

The Toyota Avalon TRD 2020 is an attempt to break out of a clumsy stereotype. Toyota hasn't changed anything under the hood of this sedan, but it did give the Avalon TRD stiffer suspension, bigger front brakes and other performance improvements, and a sportier design inside and out.

These upgrades are not cheap. Prices for the TRD model start at $ 43,330. That's $ 6,500 more than a basic Avalon XLE and puts the TRD at the top of the trim hierarchy. Given the limited performance improvements, the TRD had to work hard to justify its price and meet its bill as an exciting Avalon.

Design and interior

The current generation Avalon, launched for the 2019 model year, already had a rather extrovert design as part of Toyota's ongoing effort to make it more distinctive. The massive grille takes the Avalon XSE model, and the TRD adds a body kit with a new front splitter, side skirts, rear diffuser and tailgate spoiler. The TRD also gets model-specific 18-inch wheels. Overall, the car looks like it was designed by an Uber driver who watched too many Fast and Furious films. But unlike previous Avalons, it stands out.

We are used to seeing traditional wood and leather in Avalon interiors. So it was surprising to open the driver's door and find seats with suede inserts and red stitching, red seat belts, and aluminum pedal covers. This is the kind of thing you'd normally expect in a Honda Civic Type R, not a big sedan. That's not a bad thing as these boy racer elements give the Avalon TRD the sporty feel that Toyota wanted.

2020 Toyota Avalon TRD2020 Toyota Avalon TRD

It's just a shame that the materials look so cheap. Although this car cost over $ 40,000, it didn't have real leather seats and other materials weren't a significant step up from cheaper Toyota models.

When you buy an Avalon, you really pay for the space. The interior volume is a big step up from the medium-sized Toyota Camry and is cheap compared to other large sedans like the Dodge Charger, the Kia Cadenza and the Nissan Maxima. The Avalon has more rear legroom than the competition, although the Cadenza and Maxima have a little more space in the front. At 16.0 cubic feet, the trunk space is average for a large sedan, but the Kia Stinger hatchback offers 23.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Technology, infotainment and driver assistance

The Avalon is Toyota's flagship, but that doesn't happen technically. This car has a decent array of technical features, but Toyota could have gone further.

While some Toyota vehicles received both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for the 2020 model year, the Avalon is only available with CarPlay (along with Amazon Alexa connectivity). The standard 9.0-inch infotainment screen is easy to reach from the driver's seat and is supported by strategically placed analog controls. However, the integration into the dashboard is cumbersome.

2020 Toyota Avalon TRDStephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

The 7.0-inch screen, which is clamped between the analog speedometer and the tachometer, provides important information such as fuel consumption. However, the setup seems a bit dated, as other automakers offer fully digital instrument clusters. The TRD model is charged with Qi mobile phones as standard, but does not have the head-up display that is available in the Touring and Limited equipment variants.

The Avalon has the same standard Toyota Safety Sense-P bundle of driver aids as most of the automaker's models. These include autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning with steering assistant, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beam, blind spot monitoring and rear traffic warning.

2020 Toyota Avalon TRD

Experience behind the wheel

The TRD model has the same 3.5-liter V6, the eight-speed automatic transmission and the same front-wheel drive as the basic Avalon. Engine power remains unchanged at 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. That roughly corresponds to the closest rival of the Avalon TRD, the Nissan Maxima. Like the TRD, the Maxima is a light, sporty large sedan with front-wheel drive and a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 300 hp and 261 lb.-ft. accomplishes. The Maxima's continuously variable transmission (CVT) has nothing to do with the fast-switching eight-speed automatic transmission of the Avalon.

However, broaden your horizons and it is possible to get more horsepower per dollar. For around $ 6,000 less than the TRD, you can buy a Dodge Charger R / T with a 5.7-liter V8 that delivers 370 horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. accomplishes. The Kia Stinger GT is also a little cheaper than the Avalon TRD. It packs a 3.3-liter V6 with two turbochargers with 365 HP and 376 lb.-ft. The Dodge and Kia are both fitted with rear-wheel drive, and Kia offers all-wheel drive at an additional cost.

However, the Avalon still has a lot of power for a car of its size, and the cat-back exhaust system of the TRD model gives the V6 a nice growl. Toyota also threw more resources into the car's chassis.

The relatively small increases in performance work on the go, but only up to a point.

Most TRD upgrades relate to handling. Toyota added thicker underbody struts to increase torsional rigidity, TRD-specific shock absorbers, new stabilizers, and new springs that lower the car by 0.6 inches. According to Toyota, the stabilizers and springs increase the roll stiffness at the front by 44 percent and at the rear by 67 percent to prevent the car from fluttering around corners. The TRD also has larger front brakes than a standard Avalon.

Stephen Edelstein / Digital Trends

These relatively small changes work on the road, but only up to a point. The Avalon TRD feels much more relaxed on a winding road than such a big car. The brakes are fantastic too. But like a person with social fear at a party, you feel like the Avalon would rather do something different.

While the suspension keeps the body swaying at bay, the TRD doesn't feel as agile as a Nissan Maxima built with a similar template. This is probably due to the Avalon's longer wheelbase, which is great for space in the rear seats, but not for carving in corners. The front tires of the Toyota were also slightly overwhelmed by multitasking. Steering, braking, and channeling 301 horsepower is a big question as to why performance sedans typically have rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. Drive the Avalon back and forth with a Kia Stinger and you'll see why.

Fuel consumption and security

The TRD treatment has no influence on the fuel consumption values. This version of the Avalon has the same 25 mpg (22 mpg city, 31 mpg highway) as most other trim levels. Toyota also offers a hybrid powertrain up to 44 mpg, which however cannot be combined with the TRD upgrades. According to the car's on-board computer, we reached an average of 24.8 mpg over a week's drive.

The 2020 Avalon received the highest Top Safety Pick + rating from the Road Safety Insurance Institute (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Toyota offers a three-year warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles for the powertrain. The Avalon and other Toyota models enjoy an excellent reputation for reliability.

How DT would configure this car

Since the TRD is a specific equipment variant in the Avalon series, not many configuration decisions need to be made beyond the color. We thought the white color of our test car caused the black grille, the wheels and the body kit to burst well.

But is the TRD the best Avalon you can buy? It's worth noting that the Limited trim level offers more features (including leather seats and a 360-degree camera system) for about the same price. The Limited is also available with the hybrid powertrain. This combination shows the strengths of the Avalon better than the sporty TRD.

Our opinion

The Toyota Avalon TRD 2020 is a good idea with poor execution. It's possible to turn a large sedan into a high-performance car – just look at the BMW M5 – but Toyota hasn't gone far enough with the Avalon TRD. The TRD upgrades make the Avalon better to drive (and look at), but they don't transform it.

If you want four doors, lots of space, and a little fun, other cars offer more for the money. For the base price of the Avalon TRD, you could have the most expensive Nissan Maxima. The Nissan is not without its flaws, but it is a better implementation of the idea that Toyota was aiming for. The Maxima has less interior than the Avalon, but its interior also feels more upscale. While the Maxima is equipped with a slow-reacting CVT, it feels more comfortable on winding roads.

Similar money could also buy a Kia Stinger GT with more power and better handling than the Toyota or a Dodge Charger R / T, a real muscle car with a Hemi V8 under the hood. The Avalon TRD is cool and different, but so are these cars. They also have more substance to support their style.

The Toyota Avalon is simply not designed for aggressive driving, and no changes can fix that. If you want a really beautiful Avalon, the XLE model is the way to go. If you are looking for a large sedan that looks more aggressive and moves faster, you should buy another car.

Should you get one?

No, the price-performance ratio is bad.

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