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.

WWE 2K24 announced, will celebrate 40 years of WrestleMania

2K has announced this morning that the next instalment in the popular wresting series will be WWE 2K24. It will also highlight 40 years of WrestleMania, along with iconic superstars via a new 2K Showcase mode. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes has also been revealed as the cover star for the Standard Edition, while multi-time…

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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle got its first trailer, will be in both first and third-person

We might have gotten wind of a new Indiana Jones game from publisher Bethesda and developer MachineGames when it was teased back in 2021. But thanks to yesterday’s Xbox Developer Direct 2024 conference, we now have our first gameplay trailer, highlighting Indy’s iconic look and multiple gameplay perspectives. Titled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,…

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Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown excels as a fast and energetic platformer

The Prince of Persia franchise might have been in hibernation for the past few years, but there’s no doubt that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, the latest entry in the franchise, looked to bring things back to the old school. With the franchise beginning back in 1989 as a 2D side-scrolling adventure, it’s simply…

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Interview: Ubisoft Producer Abdelhak Elguess on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and its newest features

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is right around the corner, bringing with it the return of an age-old franchise with some new tricks up its sleeve. We got the chance to speak to Abdelhak Elguess, Producer at Ubisoft, about the upcoming game and its newest features. Thank you Abdelhak for taking the time to…

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Tech Review: The Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3 plays it safe

I’m all for Microsoft’s Surface range being a great Windows-based alternative for those looking for something either smaller, light or longer-lasting to take out on the go. However, over the years, Microsoft seems focused more so on refining its current range, rather than evolving it. We took a look at the latest Microsoft Surface Laptop…

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The Best Games of 2023

It’s that time of the year once again. The holiday season is upon us, Summer has hit down under, and the ever-expanding backlog of games has hit its peak. But at the end of the day, these must lay their claim to the game of the year conversation. As always, we’ve rounded up an honourable…

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Tech Review: Anker’s 10,000 mAh 30W Power Bank packs a punch when on the go

Power banks are becoming increasingly important not only when out and about, but when using multiple devices too. While my phone is inevitably with me wherever I go, I might decide to bring along a secondary device. But even when those devices are fully charged, longer trips away call for a larger battery, with a…

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Tech Review: The Anker 5,000 mAh USB-C Nano Power Bank is small but mighty

Power banks feel somewhat essential these days, with the ever-growing list of portable devices along for the ride when we’re on the go. While it’s always handy to leave the house with a full battery, sometimes it’s just nice to have that reassurance there, in that something as important as your phone, for example, doesn’t…

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Tech Review: The SteelSeries Alias is a solid premium contender for all types of content creation

SteelSeries has spent the better part of the past two years redesigning and reinvigorating its entire range, along with the introduction of the Alias; a new pro-grade PC microphone aimed at not only gamers but those interested in all types of content creation and streaming. While its price is admittedly a little steep at A$399,…

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Tech Review: The CRKD Nitro Deck is a must-have for any Nintendo Switch user

I use my Nintendo Switch quite often, and usually in handheld mode when I’m on the couch or out and about. And while I’ve put up with the standard joycons for several years now, there’s no denying that they’re not really the comfiest things to hold during longer play sessions. Enter the CRKD Nitro Deck….

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Here’s when and where you can watch The Game Awards in Australia

The Games Awards are once again upon us, with Geoff Keighley’s show becoming one of the most heralded and anticipated gaming events of the year. The event will crown the best game of the year, and reveal some hotly anticipated trailer and upcoming games for next year and beyond. The show will take place tomorrow…

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Game On Cancer launches largest gaming and entertainment giveaway to raise funds for cancer research

Cure Cancer and their Game on Cancer initiative have announced that they are running one of the largest gaming and entertainment giveaways with over 900 prizes up for grabs, valued at a whopping $58,000. Having already raised $ 1 million for cancer research, it’s a great way to get everyone on board to support a…

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Grand Theft Auto 6 has unveiled its first official trailer

We really can’t believe it either. The first official trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI might have dropped earlier than planned but has understatedly taken the internet by storm. As many would have guessed, the trailer showcases the return to Vice City and the long-rumoured protagonist duo. Lucia is indeed mentioned by name, while the…

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The first GTA 6 trailer is dropping next week and here’s when you can watch it

We knew it was coming. But now we know when. The first official trailer for the next Grand Theft Auto game will drop on the 6th of December next week. It’s a late one for most of us down under, but we’ve listed the times for each state around the country below: December 6 1.00…

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Game Review: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 relies on nostalgia as opposed to fresh, new ideas

For what it’s worth, I tend to enjoy the yearly Call of Duty, even if it’s just for a few months. The breakneck pace and punchy gameplay are generally enough, while some of the recent Modern Warfare entries have pretty much kept me around throughout the entire year.  Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 looks…

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Game Review: Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name feels fantastic to play, but a little too familiar

It’s a long title, but this is also a long franchise. With the Like a Dragon series heading in a new direction, we see the Gaiden games coming back to piece together some of the missing pieces. Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name picks up the story of the previous protagonist…

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Tech Review: The OPPO A58 is yet another impressive entry-level handset

OPPO is no slouch when it comes to providing a wide range of handsets, from entry-level value to premium competitors. While we recently reviewed the OPPO A78 5G, the newly released OPPO A58 might sit below in terms of outright specs, but is still an incredible alternative for the everyday user, given its lower price…

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

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…

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

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…

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

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…

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

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…

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

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…

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

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….

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

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…

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

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…

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

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…

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

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…

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

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…

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Game Review: Forza Motorsport consistently shines out on the track

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…

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Sony has announced new and slimmer PlayStation 5 models

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…

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