window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-9851146-2');

Author: Matthew Arcari

Matthew Arcari is the games and technology editor at The AU Review. You can find him on Twitter at @sirchunkee, or at the Dagobah System, chilling with Luke and Yoda.

Game Review: EA Sports UFC 5 builds upon its strong foundation

November 14, 2023

I’m a somewhat casual UFC fan when it comes to the real-life sport. But I’ve rather enjoyed the past few EA Sports UFC games for their balanced gameplay and variety of modes. If our UFC 4 review had anything to say about the context and position of the MMA franchise in video game form, it’s […]

Read More

GTA 6 has officially been announced, trailer to follow in December

November 9, 2023

It feels like an eternity, but throughout various leaks, reports and general speculation, Rockstar has finally announced that the next Grand Theft Auto is well and truly on the way. That’s not all, however, Rockstar Games announced via their X (Twitter) post this morning, that a trailer will be dropping sometime early next month in […]

Read More

Help raise money for animal rescue charities when Santa Paws hits Sydney in November

November 9, 2023

Ozzie Tails of Hope Ltd is bringing their pet and family-friendly fundraising event, Santa Paws, to Sydney to help raise money for animal rescue charities across the nation this November. The event will be held on Sunday the 26th of November at Centennial Park (Federation Drive) in Paddington, Sydney. Starting at 9.00 a.m. and concluding at […]

Read More

Tech Review: The Tineco Floor One S5 Combo provides some solid versatility

November 8, 2023

Up until now, I’ve never really questioned how to make cleaning my floors easier. Sure, I’ve got a decent stick vac that cleans my entire house. I’ve even got multiple mops to ensure the floors are regularly clean, particularly when the pets are running about. But I’m not quite sure how I never thought to […]

Read More

Game Review: Ghostrunner 2 recaptures the quality and spirit of its predecessor

November 7, 2023

The first Ghostrunner admittedly caught me off guard. While I had managed to get around to it and finish it multiple times since its release, I had always been waiting on something to follow up on the parkour-infused action of Mirror’s Edge. Ghostrunner 2 is a solid extension in this regard, providing many of those […]

Read More

Game Review: Hellboy Web of Wyrd is a visual delight but falters in its shallow combat

November 2, 2023

I’m going to come out swinging. Mike Mignola’s Hellboy is simply one of the best comic book characters ever made. While I’m not an avid reader of comics in general, I’ve certainly read most of these, complete with a unique, yet unmistakable art style, complex and diverse themes and some impressive writing across the board. […]

Read More

Game Review: Gargoyles Remastered serves up stellar visuals but falters with shallow gameplay

October 31, 2023

I grew up in the late 90s watching most of these animated Disney shows, but Gargoyles seemingly evaded me. Be it the limited exposure here in Australia, or my own ignorance, I never really had much of a connection to it. While I’ve certainly watched a few episodes of the series since then, my knowledge […]

Read More

Game Review: Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 is still a worthy package

October 30, 2023

Providing some of the most memorable titles across nine generations of consoles, from the NES to the PlayStation 5, Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 wraps up a significant portion of this franchise’s history in one convenient package. While there are plenty of reasons to return for the ride, this collection feels like a missed […]

Read More

Game Review: Lords of the Fallen brings yet another solid action-RPG to the mix

October 20, 2023

If you feel like you’ve heard of Lords of the Fallen before, you’re not going crazy. Its predecessor was released back in 2014 under the exact same name. While this Lords of the Fallen is technically a sequel, set 1000 years after the original, it feels like more of a traditional reboot, managing to rectify […]

Read More

Game Review: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is everything a near-perfect sequel should be

October 17, 2023

Upon its release in 2018, Marvel’s Spider-Man did an incredible job of portraying the web-slinging hero in a new light, complete with an emotional story, slick visuals, and addictive traversal mechanics. Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales followed suit by expanding on Miles’ story, as a competent side-sequel and one of the most gorgeous games to exist […]

Read More

Tech Review: Kogan’s 65-inch R94K LED 4K Smart Roku TV provides some solid value for money

October 13, 2023

I’m around TVs all the time and am constantly admiring the various specs, price points and features of each new model to see how I can upgrade the various panels in each of my viewing areas. The Kogan R94K Roku TV might sit closer towards the entry-level end of the spectrum in terms of both […]

Read More

Game Review: Forza Motorsport consistently shines out on the track

October 12, 2023

I’ve been a fan of the Forza franchise ever since I first played Forza Motorsport 4 on the Xbox 360. Since then, my love of racing simulators has only grown. While I also love the Forza Horizon series for its slick visuals and arcade-style mechanics, I’ve longed for a solid follow-up to the mainline long-running […]

Read More

Sony has announced new and slimmer PlayStation 5 models

October 12, 2023

While it felt inevitable, it is now official; Sony has announced that they will be releasing a new, slimmer version of the PlayStation 5. While it’s right around the corner in the US, hitting store shelves in November, we won’t see these down under until early next year. These new models will bear the same […]

Read More

Tech Review: The Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar Mini SB02S and additional SW02 subwoofer pack some serious punch

October 11, 2023

I’ll be completely honest; upon getting the opportunity to review the AMBEO Soundbar Mini and AMBEO Sub, it surprised me just how little I knew about Sennheiser’s latest offerings, in which their new range looks seemingly set to challenge the best that both Sonos and Bose have to offer in the Hi-Fi audio department. While […]

Read More

Game Review: Payday 3 learns from the past and sticks to what works

October 10, 2023

I don’t want this review to feel like a cop-out, given we checked out the closed beta only a couple of months ago. But in the same breath, Payday 3 feels very much the same at launch, albeit now with the added variety of additional locations, gear and load-outs. Payday 3 is in many ways […]

Read More

PAX AUS 2023: We played Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name

October 9, 2023

I got the chance to try Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name later in the day, and I’m glad that I did. While it still retains much of the insanity and variety that the series has been known for so far, it also retains many of the string combat mechanics that have […]

Read More

PAX AUS 2023: We played Sonic Superstars

October 9, 2023

It wasn’t long after Super Mario Bros. Wonder, that I caught the SEGA booth and the offering to try out the upcoming Sonic Superstars. I’m certainly a fan of both the character and the broader franchise, but haven’t seen as much of this leading up to PAX AUS 2023 as I would have liked. With […]

Read More

PAX AUS 2023: We played Super Mario Bros. Wonder

October 9, 2023

While it’s always great to be at PAX AUS, some of my fondest memories of the show came from 2017. It was my first PAX AUS with The AU Review, and Super Mario Odyssey was out that weekend. While it had actually come out that Friday, the first day of the PAX AUS weekend, I […]

Read More

Game Review: Baldur’s Gate 3 is nothing short of an RPG masterpiece

October 9, 2023

For as much hype as Baldur’s Gate 3 had been building in the months leading up to its release, to its strong early days on PC and now to its release on console, it never really interested me. Allow me to explain. Although I’m a fan of certain titles within the genre, I’m generally not […]

Read More

Game Review: EA Sports FC 24 justifies its next chapter with small, yet solid adjustments

October 5, 2023

We’re finally here. EA Sports FC 24 is now living and breathing in its own space, having parted from the FIFA branding, seemingly for good. While EA FC 24 might bear a fresh name, there are many things to note about its next chapter, that would appeal to new and old fans alike. While EA […]

Read More

Tech Review: The Asus ROG Swift PG27AQN gaming monitor feels like a huge step forward for competitive gamers

October 4, 2023

As much as it can be a mouthful to pronounce, the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQN gaming monitor also feels like a lot for most gamers. Almost too much, if we’re being honest. When you break it down, this 27-inch IPS monitor provides a native 2560 x 1440p resolution, along with HDR10 and a Variable Refresh […]

Read More

Tech Review: The Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe charging stand is a fantastic 3-in-1 option

October 3, 2023

Earlier this year, we reviewed Twelve South’s HiRise 3 charging stand, which was fantastic for simply being one of the most minimal and sleek 3-in-1 options at the time on the market. But in just under a year, Twelve South has come quite a long way in developing a new and superior charging stand, in […]

Read More

Why you should add Robotic Vacuums to your shopping list this Spring

September 29, 2023

Spring cleaning feels inevitable, as we shed the colder months for a warmer breeze and begin anew. With that being said, the growing popularity of the ‘smart home’ has led many to seek out new and inventive ways to stay on top of everyday household activities. While vacuuming isn’t necessarily the most exciting activity when […]

Read More

Game Review: Mortal Kombat 1 builds upon its strong formula

September 28, 2023

I consider myself a casual fighting game fan. But for one reason or another, I find myself drawn to each and every Mortal Kombat iteration. Is it the gore? The unique and iconic characters? The wacky stories and alternate modes? It might just be all of them. Mortal Kombat 1 decides to reset the timeline […]

Read More

Tech Review: The BlueAnt X3i Bluetooth speaker provides both quality and value

September 27, 2023

I’ve checked out a few BlueAnt products over the years, including both Bluetooth speakers and soundbars alike, and can safely say that the brand is squarely focused on bridging the gap between affordable price points and competitive levels of quality. It is with that sentiment, that BlueAnt’s latest X3i Bluetooth speaker, comes out swinging, providing […]

Read More

Game Review: NBA 2K24 takes smaller, yet confident steps forward

September 21, 2023

While I appreciate each yearly NBA 2K iteration, it’s usually for something different each and every time. Be it a new and exclusive mode, deeper customisation and progression or new and enhanced gameplay mechanics, there’s generally something that keeps me around for the year to come. NBA 2K24 certainly provides enough in terms of variety […]

Read More

The first ever Bluey game is coming later this year

September 20, 2023

Developer Outright Games has announced that in partnership with BBC Studios, they will be bringing the first ever Bluey video game to consoles and PC later this year on the 17th of November. Aptly titled Bluey: The Videogame, players will be able to take control of the titular Blue Heeler dog Bluey, along with Mum, […]

Read More

Game Review: Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun is a solid, yet shallow retro shooter

September 19, 2023

I’ve never really been into the Warhammer 40,000 universe, aside from a few video game entries here and there; but would be lying if I said I wasn’t interested in the lore. Big, hulking soldiers equipped with chainswords, battling waves of enemy aliens? Sign me up. It is in that same thought that Warhammer 40,000: […]

Read More

Here’s every announcement from PlayStation’s September State of Play

September 15, 2023

While PlayStation’s September State of Play felt a little shorter than what we’re used to, the lineup of quality content on the way is certainly not slowing down. We’ve compiled all the latest trailers and announcements from this morning’s show below. Enjoy! FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH LOOKS FANTASTIC WE GOT ANOTHER LOOK AT NEW YORK […]

Read More

Here’s everything announced at September’s 2023 Nintendo Direct

September 15, 2023

September’s Nintendo Direct certainly did not disappoint, throwing trailers for some of their biggest upcoming exclusives and tried party titles. We’ve covered all the trailers for everything announced in the 40-minute stream below. Enjoy! PRINCESS PEACH: SHOWTIME! REVEALED AS THE TITLE FOR HER NEW SOLO GAME PAPER MARIO: THE THOUSAND YEAR DOOR IS BEING REMADE […]

Read More