16 Sep
Blog

Lost Judgment Review: Yakuza Spin-off Loses the Plot

Yagami slide kicks an enemy in Lost Judgment.

Lost Judgment Review: Yakuza spin-off loses plot

RRP $ 60.00

"Lost Judgment is a mechanically solid Yakuza spin-off, but its tangled story makes it feel like a TV show that ran a few seasons too long."

advantages

  • Polished yakuza gameplay

  • Faster fight

  • Healthy side stories

  • Tons of activities

disadvantage

  • Simplified investigation

  • Inconvenient property

  • Lack of ease

If Yakuza is a goofy soap opera, Lost Judgment is hardened procedural drama. Both genres have similarities, especially when it comes to melodramas, but the difference lies in how seriously they take themselves. Soap operas tend to be naughty, really indulge in their exaggerated emotions, and take it to the edge of comedy. Procedures like Law and Order aren't quite as tongue-in-cheek. It's not easy to make fun of a grizzly murder.

It's an important distinction that yakuza fans should keep in mind. Lost Judgment is a mechanically well-known spin-off of the long-running action RPG series, but it has a completely different tone. We no longer see Kamurocho through the eyes of an adorable Himbo or a bright-eyed outsider, but rather a die-hard detective investigating a disgusting array of crimes. Kamurocho may look the same, but the streets feel a little darker this time.

Lost Judgment exacerbates Yakuza's traditional beat-em-up battle and adds a lot more game variety thanks to its detective premise. However, its story is much more chaotic and deals with a bevy of sensitive subjects that are not always handled with grace.

Go out on the street

While Lost Judgment is classified as a spin-off, it's actually a replacement for the traditional yakuza experience. Like its predecessor, Judgment from 2018, the story takes place in Takayuki Nagami, an independent detective who works on the same criminal streets we've seen in almost every yakuza game. As in these titles, Nagami jumps back and forth between a few small, open cities that are densely populated with missions, side quests, and mini-games. I am always amazed how much I don't mind going back to Kamurocho thanks to the clever use of space. No road feels useless; There are enough attractions to make it feel like a living space.

For those who found Yakuza: How a Dragon's Leap into Turn-Based Combat disappointing, Lost Judgment is a return to the good old days. That is, the good old days when you beat the snot out of people in real time. The fight here is an upgrade as fights feel faster and more fluid than games like Yakuza Kiwami. A faster fighter than Kiryu, Nagami uses three different styles to defeat enemies. With a slew of move upgrades to choose from and loads of tough contextual specialty attacks, combat feels more complex than ever. Kiryu was a cumbersome powerhouse, but Nagami is a force of nature that ricochets off walls and emerges from the ground to hit surprising Hurricanranas.

Yagami slide kicks an enemy in Lost Judgment.

It's not just the fight that feels different from Nagami's perspective. Since he's a detective, more happens in the gameplay. He can park walls to sneak into buildings, use gadgets to investigate crime scenes, and sneakily track suspects. The beat-to-beat gameplay in Lost Judgment adds a lot more variety and prevents it from feeling like a beat-em-up button tamper. When it comes to fighting, they have a little extra weight. After all, when Nagami has to get his hands dirty, Nagami prefers to go quiet so you know something has gone wrong.

Despite this simplicity, Lost Judgment feels like a better use of the Yakuza framework in many ways.

Many of the side systems are simplified which makes them unobtrusive but not always exciting to play. Investigation Sections are little more than a point-and-click mini-game for finding clues. When players are asked to sift through accumulated evidence to solve a loose ending, all they have to do is click through a list of documents until they find the right one. There is no consequence in saying something ridiculous in court or showing someone a completely independent piece of evidence.

Despite this simplicity, Lost Judgment feels like a better use of the Yakuza framework in many ways. Strolling the streets of the city and examining every little alley narrative makes a lot of sense here. Something as basic as side quests feels more motivated because they're designed to have Nagami pick up cases instead of getting unhappy into a goofy conflict on the street. Everything feels more conscious, which makes the game feel like a smart replacement for the main yakuza games (which will reflect Like a Dragon in the future).

law and order

While the game is mechanically solid, it wades into tricky narrative territory. And since a large part of the game is spent with dialog-heavy cutscenes, that stands out in the end. The story begins when a rotting corpse is discovered in a warehouse, covered in blood and covered in insects. This is not just a simple murder case. Multiple storylines entwine, including a bullying crisis at a local school and a pull button.

The latter is sure to generate a lot of backlash. The crime itself is inconvenient, but the role it plays in the main story becomes confusing and grotesque. I won't go into that there, but it's a moment where I wonder if Lost Judgment bites off more than it can thematically chew. It covers sensitive topics like bullying and sexual harassment, but is not always graceful in presentation.

The Lost Judgment story ultimately feels like a good show that goes on a few seasons too long.

The story is ultimately about the tangled webs that form when our judicial systems fail. The different players all fall victim to the system to different degrees. Everyone struggles to find solutions to problems that courts simply cannot solve. It's less black and white than yakuza's sometimes caricatured portrayal of organized crime in which thugs are thugs and sometimes poignant for it.

The main character of Judgment shows someone a picture on their cell phone.

The problem here is that Lost Judgment is a little too invested in a twisted TV series plot to cover these ambitious topics. Major revelations end up feeling like the kind of cheap cliffhangers designed to keep audiences busy. Sacrifice becomes a slippery subject as the characters' power dynamics keep changing, turning meaningful, real-world commentary into pulp fiction.

The Lost Judgment story ultimately feels like a good show that goes on a few seasons too long. The plot twists as if a studio had ordered two unexpected seasons just before the last one. Characters spin more than a WWE wrestler, which makes Nagami look like an amateur who trusts everyone. Yakuza's soap opera shocks are still there, but they are out of place in a much more serious story.

Night on the town

As with yakuza games, the main storyline is only one aspect of Lost Judgment. Its cities are full of smaller stories and activities. Nagami can play a game of shogi in the street, drive drone races, or play fully emulated classic Sega games in his office. These little additional details have always given Yakuza its special charm and are not lost here. It's just wonderful to take a break from a tense story and relax in the batting cages with well-designed mini-games.

While some of the activities are well known, others bring new energy to cities. There are a few surprisingly entertaining "VR" games out there, including a neon-filled version of Mario Party. There's a silly rhythm-based dance mini-game that replaces karaoke. Most noticeable is that Nagami always has a skateboard with which he can cruise around town. It's not particularly complex, but it's both stylish and practical as a locomotive tool.

Nagami dances with high school students in Lost Judgment.

In addition, there are some impressive side missions this time around. The game essentially features an entire side campaign in which Nagami helps a school's mystery club solve a number of cases. Given how heavy and messy the main story is, it's a healthier series of stories that steal the show. I wish the whole game was more of an '80s school comedy with a self-serious Nagami who became an ignorant mentor to kids.

… The verdict may loosen up a little in future installments.

It's one of the few places that Lost Judgment is rightly funny, and that's the biggest let down here. Yakuza tells serious crime stories, but that is always offset by noisy, funny side quests that plunge into the absurd. No side quest here is as fun as helping a man safely cross a bridge while wearing a jacket that will make everyone beat him up. Nothing made me laugh like Kiryu, who was accidentally tricked into buying dirty magazines for a child. In comparison, everything here is a little more grounded. You wouldn't call Nagami a fool.

For me, this lightness is really the heart of Yakuza. Comedy adds depth to its story and characters. Kiryu would be a boring protagonist if it weren't for the sitcom side quests that highlight his sillier side. The rift in the Yakuza franchise created by Like a Dragon isn't all about real-time vs. turn-based combat. If Like a Dragon and Lost Judgment are any clue, the main Yakuza games will retain their sense of humor, while the Judgment titles tend more towards weighty drama (i.e., if the series still exists). Players can choose whichever they like more, but Judgment could be a little looser in future installments.

Our opinion

Lost Judgment is a fitting replacement for the traditional yakuza style, even if it doesn't share the same heart or humor. The fight feels better than ever and there's just more to do thanks to various detective mechanics that keep everything from getting too boring. This strong gameplay ultimately disappoints with a tangled and sometimes insensitive story that fails to quite fulfill its thematic ambitions. The bones are still there, however, which makes this another great excuse to see what's going on in Kamurocho.

Is there a better alternative?

I would recommend starting with the main line of the Yakuza series before getting into it. Yakuza 0 or the Kiwami games don't play as well, but they feel more structured.

How long it will take?

The game lasts up to 30 hours and that number increases quite a bit thanks to the optional school missions, 42 side quests and various mini-games.

Should you buy it?

No. If you haven't shopped into the franchise yet, this is unlikely to change your mind. This game is more for hardcore yakuza fans who miss its traditional fighting style, although by and large it's not quite as satisfying.

Editor's recommendations



11 Sep
Blog

Lost in Random Review: A Soulslike in a Charming Disguise

Even dicey dice to start the fight.

Lost in Random Review: Don't let the adorable exterior of this Soulslike fool you

"Lost in Random is like a living storybook, but that's not enough to get it through its struggles."

advantages

  • Fine art and animation

  • Great characters

  • Interesting central secret

  • Occasionally satisfying fight

disadvantage

  • Frustrating struggle

  • Too much dialogue

  • Lots of bugs

It's late, it's dark and I'm lost. I run through the streets of Threedom chasing a ghost I'm not even sure it's real. Strange, twisted creatures call out to me along the way, promoting their wares and warning me not to wander too far. I shut her out as I run, determined to save my sister – and maybe end Threedom's eternal civil war while I'm at it. The whole time a monster is whispering in my ear, reminding me that I only have until sunset or that my search will be in vain.

This is the world of Lost in Random, the latest project from the Swedish studio Zoink Games. Released by Thunderful Games as part of the EA Originals program, Lost in Random is an indie action-adventure game with a distinctive Tim Burton-like aesthetic. In the world of random, the fortunes of the citizens are decided by throwing a six-sided die. A mad queen rules the six kingdoms of the world, each with a unique number as its theme. When children turn 12, the queen rolls the die and the number she lands on determines which kingdom they are sent to. The main character Even was born to the inhabitants of Onecroft, the lowest and most unfortunate kingdom. When Even's beloved sister Odd rolls a six on her birthday and is taken to the Queen's palace, Even sets out to find her. On the way she meets Dicey, a sentient cube with a surprising amount of power. Armed with Dicey and a deck of cards, Even sets out to save Odd.

Lost in Random is a lush, beautiful adventure through an interesting world full of unique characters. At the same time, it's also a tough action game with relatively limited resources and a strong focus on evasion mechanics. The more I played, the more I felt like this wasn't your average action-adventure game – instead, it's actually soulslike in disguise, or a game that takes its fighting cues from the infamous Dark Souls series. Unfortunately, this reveal came with all of the frustration Soulslikes bring with it.

Places to go, meet people

The best thing about Lost in Random is its world. Every setting is a feast for the eyes, from the strange teapot-shaped buildings of Onecroft to the majestic pink sunset of Threedom. Each area has its share of strange, disturbing characters, many of which have a story to tell. Playing the game really made me feel like I was back in my childhood. Many of the designs are based on creatures that rumble at night, the monsters under your bed that your picture books have warned you about.

The central search is so mysterious and interesting that it kept bothering me. Combined with strong voice acting and narration, the overall package is just creepy and adorable enough that I was always curious to see what I would discover in each new kingdom. I especially liked the short sections with Odd which are creative and gorgeous in the best possible way.

As fun as it is to hear the story of each random resident, the dialogues get a little boring at times. Many of the characters are extremely lengthy and speak exceptionally slowly. After a while I found myself struggling through the dialogues, desperate to just get to the point. I also found a couple of audio bugs that resulted in dialogs being skipped or not playing.

The whole package is just creepy and adorable enough that I was always curious to see what I would discover in each new kingdom.

Even so, the game's writing style is strong and each character feels unique. There are more dialogue options than you'd expect, though they're more about taste and color than about real decisions. Even often, she has a variety of snappy responses available, and I enjoyed hearing the characters' responses to their derogatory comments.

Even and Dicey walk across a bridge.

The only downside to the environments is the difficulty of traversing them. Every street looks similar after a while and the game's map is mostly useless. (It urgently needs a "You are here" token.) The angular nature of battle arenas resulted in my getting stuck on walls quite often in fights, making it impossible for me to dodge enemy attacks. The camera often gets caught behind walls and structures in these arenas too, especially if you throw Dicey near a wall.

Random rules

Lost in Randoms linear exploration and conversation simulator segments are broken up by arena-style battles. After even leaving Onecroft and meeting Dicey, she often finds herself in small, vaguely circular areas with a group of enemies that she must fight. In any battle, the battle begins with a relative impotence: even dodging enemy attacks and using their slingshot to remove crystals from the bodies of enemies. Once she has collected enough crystals, she can throw Dicey to roll a number and stop the flow of time. The number determines which cards from her hand she can use. Each card is assigned a number and an effect, such as making a potion that heals even or takes the form of a sword so that it can defend itself. After making your selection, you can manually restart the time and fight back.

Even attack an enemy.

The whole process feels clunky (especially at the beginning when Dicey can only roll one or two, which limits resources), but it's definitely unique. Even if you have the opportunity to fight back, the game focuses more on precise dodging and mobility than a sense of power. Even's sprint doesn't go very far, but jumping right in front of an enemy attacking grants an extra thrust that propels them further and allows players to turn around and strike while an enemy has their backs on their backs. Timing it right is extremely satisfying, and the game rewards players for luring enemies into other enemies' attacks as they can and will harm each other if they try to reach Even.

Like the dialogues, many of the battles just go on for way too long, which makes it frustrating as you near the end and get knocked out by an enemy spear for dodging the wrong way.

I wish there was a greater variety of cards – I've been using the same ones over and over, and the game's card vendor usually just gives players the option to buy more of what they have. There is also a lack of hostile diversity; By halfway through the game I had only seen four different guys. There are a handful of board game style fights that shake up the combat environments a bit, but they don't add anything particularly interesting to the game.

The arenas themselves can be frustrating. Most of them are circular, which makes it easier to drag enemies around and give room to dodge, but they're still angular enough that I often crashed into walls and other objects and got trapped. The difficulty level increases pretty quickly and the sheer number of enemies in some arenas can make battles a slow blow.

Like the dialogues, many of the battles just go on for way too long, which makes it frustrating as you near the end and get knocked out by an enemy spear for dodging the wrong way. That's the nature of a soul-like.

Choose your poison

Aside from design issues, I've encountered a surprising number of bugs during my time playing the game. Aside from the audio issues mentioned above, every time I started the game, I kept getting “Controller not found” message. I was playing on the pc so it was a strange message to get. I also encountered a breakthrough bug and crash that required me to restart the game to continue. Lost in random autosaves, so it wasn't too big a deal either way, but experiences like this drive the frustration factor higher than it should be. The game will receive a day-one patch at launch that will hopefully fix some of these more egregious issues.

Even goes over another bridge in Onecroft.

Although my review key was for the PC, I would undeniably recommend playing the game with a controller or on a console. There are some very weird default key bindings, and the game felt both too tricky and clunky with the mouse and keyboard. Soulslikes are traditionally best played with a controller, and this game definitely belongs to this group.

Our opinion

Lost in Random is like a living storybook, but that's not enough to carry it through its struggles. I said to myself, I wish a lot: I wish there was more variety of opponents and cards. I wish there weren't that many mistakes. I wish the dialogue wasn't so lengthy. The game has so much promise and succeeds in many things it imagines, but its shortcomings are too numerous and too great to prevent a six.

How long it will take?

The main story itself lasts around 20 hours, although there are plenty of side quests for dedicated players. There are a few collectibles to be found too, so completeers will have a reason to extend their gaming session. The story is linear and unique, so there's no need to replay it.

Is there an alternative?

Players looking for even more hardcore experience should check out the Dark Souls and Bloodborne franchises for a cleaner, more straightforward version of this fighting style. Although it's pretty old at this point, the hack-and-slash game Alice: Madness Returns has a similar visual aesthetic that feels "more grown-up" than Lost in Random.

Should you buy it?

Yes – if you're a gamer who loves storybook-style adventures and conversational games, then you should check out Lost in Random. (For those who just want to see the story, the game's difficulty level can be reduced.) It's also worth a look for players looking to dip their toes in Soulslike games. Everyone else can probably skip it.

Lost in Random is available now for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PS5, Xbox One and Series X / S.

Editor's recommendations



28 Oct
Blog

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming Review: Lost In Translation

bose quietcomfort 35 ii gaming review boseqc35iigaming1

Bose QuietComfort 35 II Play

"Bose is a noob in gaming audio, and it shows."

  • Pleasant, balanced sound

  • Light and comfortable

  • Excellent active noise cancellation

  • Lack of virtual surround sound

  • Lacks audio punch in action games

  • Not wireless when gaming

  • Bad value

I have four headphones. That may sound silly, but I suspect you're not far behind me. Here is my list:

  • Wireless PC gaming headset
  • Sony PlayStation 4 wireless headset
  • Wireless earbuds
  • Wired headphones

I blame this absurd situation with the clutter of audio compatibility that can be found on different devices. My PC gaming headset works great for my PC, but not well with the PlayStation 4, and not at all with something that lacks USB-A. My Sony PS4 headset is only useful for the PS4. My wireless earbuds technically connect to anything I own. However, due to their short battery life, I am reserving them for use with my phone. And my wired headphones, now 12 years old, are still the best choices for music, but they require a 3.5mm headphone jack and are too big to be used from the comfort of a desk.

Obviously, my life would be less cluttered with just one device to get it all done. Enter the Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming. Based on the popular QC 35 II wireless noise-canceling headphones, the gaming model has a wired microphone for lag-free PC games. They connect to everything I own and can even connect two devices at the same time.

At $ 330, however, the promise of all-round connectivity doesn't come cheap. Can QC 35 II Gaming keep its promise?

Audio quality

Crystal clear audio is the main goal of this headset. It is a conversion of a wireless headset that is usually aimed at audiophiles. So I was expecting an excellent experience.

I'll start with the bad news. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming begins its life as wireless headphones, so they lack the taste in sound that I expect from a wireless gaming headset. They're balanced and crystal clear, but lack surround sound virtualization, a feature that is now combined with games like butter on toast.

Matthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

Simply put, the QC 35 II Gaming is not trying to take your socks off. They're great for Final Fantasy XIV, where the game's amazing soundtrack can take center stage, or Microsoft Flight Simulator, where clear sound makes air traffic control chatter easier to hear and modest bass rewinding an airplane engine drone.

However, in Call of Duty: Warzone, the lack of punch was so noticeable that at first I thought my audio settings were wrong. It wasn't you. The QC 35 II Gaming can't keep up with the impressive virtual surround sound of headsets like the Logitech G733 or the SteelSeries Arctis 7.

The tradeoff for this is the great audio quality everywhere else, which is important. Modern gaming headsets are big bucks, but usually have a muddy sound that strips away details and nuances.

Matthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

Switching from a Logitech G733 to the QC 35 II is a day versus night difference – and I really enjoy the G733. The headset from Logitech is flawless in almost every situation. But put them against Bose on my Spotify Rewind playlist, and Bose will train the Logitech.

Your opinion on the sound of the QC 35 II Gaming depends on what you are playing. If all you want to do is gamble and play games that make adequate use of virtual surround mode, a dedicated gaming headset is better for you. If you're looking to listen to a wide variety of media or play games that have great soundtracks and audio design above volume, the Bose QC 35 II might make sense.

Microphone performance

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II games are defined by an additional microphone that is connected to the audio jack on the headset. The microphone is then connected to a puck using a 3.5mm audio jack. And this puck, which also functions as a volume control, is then connected to your PC via USB.

Confused? Here's the real head scratcher. The QC 35 II Gaming already has a built-in microphone. So why another corded microphone?

The answer to that question – which hardcore gamers have already guessed – is lag. Bluetooth is not a perfect solution for gaming due to latency. It is not ideal to hear an opponent's rifle 200 milliseconds after firing. Because of this, wireless gaming headsets come with proprietary wireless dongles instead of using Bluetooth. However, the QC 35 II Gaming already has Bluetooth, so Bose taps on a wired microphone that is also used to connect the headphones.

Matthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

It's not a good solution. At $ 330, the QC 35 II Gaming is at the high end of wireless gaming headsets. They're not actually wireless when playing games, however. More precisely, the QC 35 II Gaming are wireless Bluetooth headphones that can be converted into a wired gaming headset.

The company makes this clear in its marketing out of fairness to Bose. The QC 35 II Gaming is designed as a gaming headset that also has a "wireless lifestyle mode". Bose doesn't lead anyone astray. However, that doesn't make the wired microphone any less annoying.

At least the wired microphone is excellent. I compared it back to back to the Logitech G733, the Logitech G533, and the Razer Kraken. The QC 35 II Gaming was the clear winner. All four headsets are sufficient, but the QC 35 II Gaming has a clean, crisp quality that is a step above the norm.

Comfort and design

Alright. I've been banging on this evil for a while now – and rightly so. It's a cumbersome attempt to turn a great pair of wireless headphones into a gaming headset, and it doesn't quite work. The Bose QC 35 II Gaming, however, remains at its core the Bose QC 35 II. You can read our Bose QC 35 II review to get the expert perspective of our A / V editor, but I'll summarize the benefits.

The QC 35 II Gaming are compact, foldable for mobility and come with a travel bag. They are light and comfortable to wear. The ear cups, while still an over-ear design, are smaller than most gaming headsets and breathe well. The processing quality is excellent. The phone app that manages wireless connections (the QC 35 II Gaming can connect to two Bluetooth sources at the same time) is simple, but works well enough.

Matthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

It is in the so-called "lifestyle mode" that these advantages are most important to the gaming version, and this is not an unattractive pitch. You can use the QC 35 II Gaming at home with a gaming rig, listen to music on your phone while doing housework, or take them for a walk around the neighborhood.

You can now buy gaming headsets with lag-free wireless connectivity and built-in bluetooth like the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless. Just like the QC 35 II Gaming, these headsets can also serve as all-in-one audio devices. However, they're bigger, heavier, often don't work as well with mobile devices, and usually have a retractable (rather than detachable) microphone.

Don't forget the QC 35 II Gaming's active noise cancellation either. It's effective, eliminating most repetitive sounds, and making everything else much less loud. This is less useful for gaming than it is for traveling. Bose is the master of ANC and the ANC quality of the QC 35 II Gaming is superior to any gaming headset or wireless headphones I have used.

Battery life

The battery life of the QC 35 II Gaming underlines the cumbersome conversion of the headset. Bose claims up to 40 hours in wired game mode and up to 20 hours in wireless lifestyle mode.

That's right. Battery life is limited in wired mode. Forty hours is a long, long time. I usually don't play more than two hours a day, so the QC 35 II would theoretically last three weeks and I've never compromised its endurance while wiring it. On the other hand, gamblers who gamble a lot will eat through a fee in two or three days.

Bose quotes 20 hours of wireless battery life. They seem close to that number. The QC 35 II QC gaming headphones are so comfortable that I wore them more than usual. That's a good sign, although I charged it once every two to three days – more often than the less comfortable Logitech G533, which is my usual daily driver. Still, I can't knock on Bose for wanting to wear the QC 35 II Gaming.

Additional functions

The QC 35 II Gaming has a customizable button that can be used to control ANC. It can also call Alexa or Google Assistant. This is an important function for the QC 35 II wireless headphones, but irrelevant for a gaming headset. This can be useful when using the QC 35 II Gaming as wireless headphones. The built-in microphone is preferable to telephoning from anywhere in the room.

As already mentioned, the QC 35 II Gaming comes with a volume puck. Inclusion is a wise decision by Bose as it will ease the annoyance of using cables. Without the puck, you'd have to plug the headset directly into your desktop's 3.5mm audio, and that would be a chore. Adjusting the volume by rotating the puck is also more convenient than using the headphones' volume buttons.

However, wire length was still a problem. A short 3-foot 3.5mm audio cable connects the microphone to the puck. It's barely long enough for the job. I usually run the audio cable from my wired headphones on the side of my desk so it doesn't get caught on my keyboard or the HOTAS (Hands on Throttle-and-Stick) I use for Microsoft Flight Simulator. However, this is not possible here.

Our opinion

The Bose QuietComfort 35 II Gaming are great wireless headphones that are built into a disappointing gaming headset. They look great, sound great, and have an excellent ANC. The wired implementation of gaming connectivity isn't ideal, however, and it's difficult to balance that with the $ 330 price tag.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, Sennheiser GSP 670 and HyperX Cloud Flight S are examples of great gaming headsets that can connect via WiFi or Bluetooth. If all you want is a gaming headset, solid entries like the Logitech G733 start at $ 130.

The Bose QC 35 II Gaming beat them as everyday headphones. But when you buy a gaming headset, gaming is a priority. Other gaming headsets are easier to use, support wireless gaming, and have 7.1 virtual surround sound.

How long it will take?

The QC 35 II Gaming are exceptionally well built and personally I have never broken a headset or headphones (despite washing my AirPods). Accidents aside, you can assume that the QC 35 II Gaming will last as long as the battery life lasts. Heavy users might want a new pair in three years, but I think most owners will be in use for at least five years.

Should you buy it?

No. The Bose QuietComfort 35 II are great wireless headphones, but disappointing as a gaming headset. Gamers should stick to headsets that are designed from the ground up for gaming.

Editor's recommendations




21 Sep
Blog

Skullcandy Sesh Evo Review: No More Lost Wireless Earbuds

Skullcandy Sesh Evo

"With convenient tile tracking, these sporty earbuds can justify their $ 60 price tag."

  • Inexpensive

  • Handy tile tracking

  • Multiple colors

  • Bad call quality

  • Mediocre battery life

Skullcandy has done an admirable job of providing affordable and stylish true wireless earbuds for those who refuse to pay the Apple premium – or just want something different from those ubiquitous white earbuds.

The latest offering is the $ 60 Sesh Evo – one step from his $ 50 Sesh – a no-nonsense set of true wireless earbuds aimed at the tricky middle ground where people want just the right combination of features and price.

Thanks to an ongoing partnership with Tile, they have a feature that no other brand of true radio buds can claim: the ability to track and find them in case you misplace them.

Is it enough to tell the Sesh Evo apart from an Amazon-sized tsunami with $ 60 earbuds?

Let's look at them.

What's in the box?

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Skullcandy's packaging needs to be improved from a sustainability perspective. In the outer cardboard box there is a black plastic shell with black foam padding. Even if the plastic on the roadside were easy to recycle, the foam would have to be removed and discarded first.

When you sit in the shelf, you'll find the Sesh Evo buds (equipped with the middle earbuds) and their charging case. A resealable polybag contains a 9-inch USB-C charging cable, two additional sizes for earbuds and a small printed quick guide.

design

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Skullcandy Sesh Evo "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/skullcandy-sesh-evo-00008-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

Skullcandy Sesh Evo "class =" m-Karussell - Bild dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn4.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/skullcandy-sesh-evo-00011-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP//yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Simon Cohen / Digital Trends

The Sesh Evo is available in four colors: black, red, light blue and light green. This is a refreshing change from the usual white or black options most companies offer.

A satin-like plastic is used for both the earbuds and the charging case – it's practically the same finish you find on all true non-Apple-made wireless earbuds.

Several seams are visible on the earphone cups. Even so, they have an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, which is more than enough to cope with the most strenuous training sessions – and far more protection than Apple's AirPods. or Samsung Galaxy Buds.

The earbuds have an asymmetrical oval shape with a discreet skull logo on a rubber membrane outer surface that you press to trigger physical button controls.

An LED on the sides of the earbuds will glow red when they are in the charging case to let you know they are properly seated and charging. You will also be informed when the buds are in pairing mode.

The charging case isn't the largest I've seen, but its wide, box-like shape makes it awkward to plug in. If you have a handbag, backpack, or other bag, at least it will be easy to find.

The hinged lid is easy to open and can be closed tightly thanks to a strong magnet. The charging sockets themselves also have very good magnetic contacts. However, you need to make sure that the red charge indicator is on. Especially when using the larger earplugs, the Sesh Evo does not always fit perfectly without help.

You can find the USB-C charging port on the back, while a small button on the front can briefly trigger the four-LED charge indicator to see how much juice is left in the case.

Overall, the Sesh Evo are well designed and functional true wireless earbuds.

Convenience, control and connections

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

I found the Sesh Evo to be average for a set of true wireless in-ear headphones in terms of fit and comfort. If you've used in-ear earphones before and found them to be comfortable to wear for a few hours, the Sesh Evo doesn't present any suitable challenges.

Activating the buttons requires adequate pressure, which is not ideal.

The three sizes of earbuds are below average, and while this will likely give most people the range they need for a good seal, it can feel like the worst place to cut costs for the particularly sensitive or small ear canals. We would like to see at least four earplug options available from each manufacturer in the future.

As with most in-ear designs, some amount of twist is required. You are supposed to sit in your ear with the skull logo upright – if the models on the Skullcandy website indicate it.

For me, the most comfortable position was a slightly sloping angle.

As soon as they were wedged in my ear canal, they sat very securely – I didn't need any additional ear fins or other supports at all.

Using the controls on the earbuds was a little less satisfactory, however. Regular readers of Digital Trends know that I prefer physical buttons over touch-based controls on real wireless earbuds, and the Sesh Evo are physical. It's good. However, they do require adequate pressure to activate, which is not so ideal.

The button mechanism sits under a membrane that protects it from dust and water, but also makes it difficult to press. After some trial and error, I found that the easiest way to use them was to press a finger against the diaphragm and then press a little harder until the mechanism triggered. It is similar to the system where the camera is pressed halfway to focus.

It still has all of the benefits of physical buttons (no accidental triggering and a noticeable click for feedback). However, if you do a lot of these printing operations, you are likely to get sore over time.

On the positive side, the control scheme is very intuitive and covers all important aspects: increase / decrease volume, play / pause, skip tracks forwards / backwards, answer / end a call and access to voice assistants (Siri / Google Assistant).

You can also use the buds to turn the buds on or off regardless of their charging case.

The Sesh Evo use Bluetooth 5.0, which has proven very reliable for both pairing and overall connection quality. You can pair the Buds with multiple devices, but only one device can be paired at a time.

The quick charge function is excellent: 10 minutes of socket time gives back two hours of gaming time.

It is also possible to use the earphones individually. Note, however, that some controls like volume up / down and track skipping forward / back depend on using two earbuds.

Battery life

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

The battery life of the Sesh Evo is a bit disappointing by today's standards. They have five hours of play time between trips back to the charging case, which is on the lower end of the spectrum. In the meantime, three full charges are carried out in the charging case for a total of 20 hours – some hours less than expected.

The good news is that the quick charge feature is great. 10 minutes of socket time returns two hours of gaming time.

So while you can find plenty of other models that offer longer battery life, the Sesh Evo will still last you a full day unless you use it for more than five hours at a time.

Sound quality

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Within its price range, the Sesh Evo offers an acceptable sound performance. They won't blow you away, but they won't let you down either, especially if you're not expecting audiophile quality.

The most important thing is to get a good seal with the earplugs available. Without this, the earbuds sound downright terrible – both hollow and thin.

It's harder than it seems. I found that what initially felt very good wasn't enough when I started playing music. A bit of extra twisting and turning until you find the right angle is likely to be required.

You'll know you've got it right when you hear bass that feels full rather than hollow. Keep trying until you get there.

The overall frequency response is decent – you get the lows, mids, and highs at a sufficient level that it feels like nothing is missing. However, the separation between these frequencies is not as clearly defined as it is with some of the best performers at this price point.

They also lack a bit of liveliness, especially when it comes to the vocals. If your taste is towards hard rock, punk or metal, these genres can overcome this limitation by sheer force alone. But music that requires a skilful touch like jazz, folk, or classical is not going to reach its full potential.

Accessing the Sesh Evo's built-in three-mode EQ (music, movie, podcast) can help liven up the highs – especially in podcast mode – but only at the cost of losing some of the low-end bass .

Are you looking for a training companion or something that makes commuting a little less painful? The Sesh Evo are more than suitable. But for a more loyal music partner, I would check out the $ 79 Earfun Air, which you can usually find for around $ 50.

Tile tracking

Skullcandy Sesh Evo tiles appSkullcandy has started rolling out tile-based object tracking for several of its wireless headphones, including the Crusher Evo and now the Sesh Evo.

While I'm not that convinced that a large number of cans like the Crushers will benefit from this feature, true wireless earbuds like the Sesh Evo are perfect candidates.

Even when stowed in their charging case, they're small enough to get lost between sofa cushions or accidentally sit on a restaurant table. Just trying to remember where you last set them up in your own house could prove to be challenging.

The tile functionality works fine. As soon as you have registered the Sesh Evo with the Tile app – a quick and painless process – you can use the "Search" button on the app to trigger a high-pitched whistle from the earphones, which gets louder the longer it runs.

Better still, as long as the left earbud still has some battery power (it keeps the tile connection), you can trigger the position sound, regardless of whether the earbuds are on or off, are in their charging case or lying around alone.

The tile functionality works fine.

As long as you're not in a particularly noisy environment, you should be able to hear the distinctive whistle from up to 20 feet away – possibly more if the buds aren't in their case.

The tiling feature can't guarantee that your lost earbuds will always come back to you, but it does significantly increase the chances.

Call quality

Call quality on the Sesh Evo is all about what you can expect from a set of inexpensive earbuds. You can certainly use them to make and receive calls, but you need to speak very clearly and perhaps a little louder than you would like to make sure your voice is heard.

Skullcandy Sesh EvoSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

You'll likely speak louder anyway as there is no transparency / ambient mode that lets you route your voice into the earbuds to break the eardrum seal on the silicone tips.

Even then, you regularly drown out nearby noises like traffic – especially heavy traffic or noisy commercial vehicles – making it difficult for your callers to hear you.

Indoor calls are reasonable, but overall, I wouldn't rely on these earbuds for mission critical business calls.

Our opinion

The Sesh Evo offer a good true wireless experience for the price, but their unique and convenient tile tracking feature helps them (literally) stand out from the crowd.

Is there a better alternative?

Skullcandy found a sweet spot in terms of the price of the Sesh Evo – there aren't a lot of true wireless earbuds out there at this exact price, and those close to each other certainly don't have the Sesh Evo's tile chase.

If you like the design of the Sesh Evo and don't mind foregoing tile tracking and battery life, this is the normal one Skullcandy Sesh are now $ 50 or less.

The Earfun Free are also $ 50 or less and offer slightly better sound and wireless charging.

For a much better sound and only a few dollars more, the Earfun Air are an excellent alternative.

How long will they last?

Skullcandy products are generally quite durable and the Sesh Evo looks great. The protection class IP55 and a healthy two-year guarantee from Skullcandy ensure safety in any case.

It's also worth noting that Skullcandy's Fearless Use Promise allows you to purchase replacement earbuds at a discounted price in case you should ever lose or damage one or both.

Should you buy it?

Yes. For $ 60, the Sesh Evo offers a good mix of features and performance.

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