The Deseret News has spent the last few months reviewing a number of video games and tech products ahead of the holiday season. We’ve compiled all the information and shared it below.
VIDEO GAMES
NBA 2K20
- ESRB rating: E for mild language
- Platform: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows
- Price: $59.99
Another year, another NBA video game. But NBA 2K20 might be the smoothest version of the game to date.
NBA 2K20 aims to bring you right into the fold of being an NBA player, offering a unique experience unlike previous years.
The mechanics of the game work well. Shooting takes a little more precision this time around but it’s not a major overhaul like in previous renditions of the game. Dribbling through the court is improved, allowing you cut by your opponents. Dunking and layups are solid as well, though sometimes you don’t dunk as often as you might have in last year’s version of the game.
That said, playing defense in NBA 2K20 leaves something to be desired. Players will often backtrack and switch their position so that their backs face the forthcoming player, which is a bit of an awkward experience in the game.
Similarly, downloading updates to NBA 2K20 is an experience in itself. Sometimes you have to basically download the entire game again — which could be 30 gigabytes, if not more. It’s a hard experience for sure.
But all the MyLeague, MyGM and online functions are there to play around with. So if you’ve liked previous years versions, you’ll enjoy this one.
NBA 2K20 also includes the most updated roster to date. And given all the roster changes in the NBA season for this year, buying this game is a must for any NBA fan out there,
FIFA 20
- ESRB rating: E
- Platform: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows
- Price: $59.99
FIFA 20 brings back all the fun from previous FIFA games with an added twist — new mini-games that make this new game a worthwhile purchase.
FIFA 20 brings back exciting ball physics and mechanics that help you enjoy the on-the-field work you put in. A new speed system allows you to experience a game with a more realistic feel. Soccer fans will appreciate how much this game feels like real life.
But let’s get to the best part of FIFA 20 — the addition of new mini-games that will keep you entertained for hours. Yes, it’s fun to play the traditional soccer game. But the mini-games are where it’s at.
Enjoy games like King of the Hill and Mystery Ball, which are both street soccer games. There’s also a Volta mode, which lets you play one of the most popular versions of futsal and street soccer.
These mini-games offer plenty to entertain you. Definitely consider it.
Madden NFL 20
- ESRB rating: E for mild lyrics
- Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Price: $59.99
Any football fan will be happy to play Madden NFL 20, especially since it’s such a fluid experience, and one that can give you a chance at some NCAA football madness, too.
Madden has little reason to improve itself. The game has been a stalwart every Christmas season. It’s back again, so it’s not like it needs to make many changes to stay relevant.
But this year’s Madden creates a free-flowing offense experience that allows you to feel more connected to the field when you’re playing. What used to be a lot of grit and grinding through the gridiron becomes something more open. Playing as Lamar Jackson could not be a more enjoyable experience because of the offensive flow. Madden NFL has really honed its mechanics, allowing you to play realistically based on the players you choose.
All the fixings from previous renditions of the game are here, including the new story mode, which certainly makes this game worth the buy for any NCAA football fan. The story mode, called Face of the Franchise, allows you to build your career, starting as a college player. You get to choose between Clemson, Oregon, Oklahoma, and USC, among other schools. You get to play a few games in the college football system before moving up to the NFL.
From there, the story mode becomes like franchise mode. You control your QB. But that’s it. That leaves something to be desired. But it is fun to play for a college team, right?
Madden NFL isn’t an essential buy if you have previous versions of the game. But the chances to play with Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes in this year’s game given its offensive mechanics is a certainly worthwhile experience.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- ESRB rating: M for blood and gore, intense violence, strong language, suggestive themes, use of drugs
- Platform: Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Price: $59.99
“Call of Duty” figured it would be clever with its recent reboot and bring forth a new game with an old game’s title. OK, sure.
But only 10 minutes of gameplay showed me that this game is uncomfortable, even though the mechanics of it have vastly improved from previous years.
One major criticism of “Call of Duty” was that it moved too fast. You would go to handle your weapon and the screen would move so fast you wouldn’t see any opponent. This year’s game improves that big time. You move slower, more methodical, allowing you to see your opponents and really hone in on where you plan to strike.
That said, “Call of Duty” is super uncomfortable. I haven’t played it for a few years, opting to play games like “Fortnite” as far as shooters go. And man, it’s tough to play “Call of Duty” because the game is so realistic. You see opponents pop up and they look just like real humans. Having to kill Russians and other enemies that look so real is difficult. Not to mention, blood splatters across the screen.
“Call of Duty” may have improved its experience. But I can’t say it’s an enjoyable game for families, children or anyone left uncomfortable by violence.
Link’s Awakening
- ESRB rating: E for mild fantasy violence
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Price: $59.99
“Link’s Awakening” is a remake of the Gameboy classic of the same name, and is just as weird — just with gorgeous presentation values. The game bucks some tradition while remaining familiar to most classic “Zelda” fans — Link wakes up on a strange island without his sword and must explore his surroundings.
Along the way you’ll collect cool tools, musical instruments, bananas and chain chomps (yes, the ones from the “Mario” series) in order to wake up the Wind Fish, who is trapped in a giant egg at the top of the island. Each tool feels unique and snappy, but some of them — like quite a few mechanics in the game — follow outdated video game logic, which often means fiddling around until you figure out what they do.
While the whole game isn’t as grand as “Breath of the Wild” and its staggering scale, Nintendo plays with it as a literal micro-adventure where everything looks like it’s been pulled out of a toy box. Trees, enemies and Link himself each have a tactile feel that makes them look like little wooden figures. The effect is striking, and makes for one of the more unique entries in a series known for experimenting with art direction
The game also includes a limited dungeon builder — Think “Super Mario Maker” but with “Zelda” dungeons. It’s a cool tool to play around with, but it can be a little disappointing that you can only shuffle around pre-built rooms. Creativity is limited in order to prevent any frustration a broken, confusing puzzle layout would cause.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
- ESRB: E for comic mischief and mild cartoon violence.
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Price: $59.99
Luigi isn’t a notable superstar like his older brother, but he is a fantastic ghost hunter. “Luigi’s Mansion 3” is the third installment in the series in the last 20 years, and it wastes no time setting a fun but spooky tone and letting you loose on a haunted hotel’s undead guests.
Mechanically, the game remains the same — Luigi uses a flashlight and souped-up vacuum cleaner to surprise and suck up mischievous ghosts who have no issues with trapping Luigi in a magic painting. While the ghost-catching combat is simple to understand and a ton of fun, the game’s exploration and puzzles are the highlights of the game.
Each room in the hotel feels like a puzzle box full of hidden chests, light sensors, insects and troves of coins and cold hard cash. Luigi’s arsenal includes a strobe light, a magic blacklight, a pastiche of Nintendo’s failed Virtual Boy VR headset (“It’ll fly off the shelves!” claims Professor E. Gadd, a returning character) and a controllable ghostly companion named Gooigi, who can do pretty much anything his less-slimy namesake can. Each element plays a hand in exploring intricate environments scattered throughout the hotel’s expansive floors.
The game also features some cooperative and competitive modes. The story mode can be tackled by two aspiring ghost hunters who control Luigi and Gooigi, respectively. While the game doesn’t get any easier, ghostly encounters go a lot faster thanks to the added firepower. The game also features ScreamPark and ScareScraper modes, which accommodate up to eight players. ScareScraper challenges players to catch ghosts quickly, while the ScreamPark features mini-games similar to what you’d find in a “Mario Party” game.
Gears 5
- ESRB: M for blood and gore, intense violence and strong language.
- Platform: Xbox One, Windows PC
- Price: $59.99 (standard edition), $79.99 (ultimate edition, also available with Xbox Game Pass)
“Gears 5” might be the sixth installment in Microsoft’s long-running cover-based bug blaster series, but it manages to breathe new life into its characters and setting thanks to new protagonists and strong storytelling risks. While the ESRB rates the game M it should be noted up front that a content filter can be activated that puts the game on the same violence level as something like “Fortnite.”
The game follows Delta Squadron, an elite team of soldiers tasked with defending humanity against the Swarm, an evolved version of the series’ longtime enemies, the Locust. The story focuses specifically on returning character Kait Diaz, who is tasked with exploring her mysterious ties to the Swarm and Locust. Joining her are Del, a fellow soldier, and Jack, a multipurpose robot that can unlock doors, collect weapons and hijack enemy units.
“Gears’” cover-based shooter gameplay returns in this installment and feels better than it has in the past, but the true focus of the game is on its focused storytelling and gorgeous environments. An open world structure means players will spend a good part of the game freely exploring frozen wastelands and windswept deserts for side quests and secret locations. Each area has an impressive sense of scale and offers more varied locations for combat encounters when compared to the series’ previous hallways.
The story and its characters are also well-acted and written. Returning and new characters are given new motivations and side stories that flesh them out into lifelike characters capable of showing more emotions than just rage and anger. The story’s focus on Kait’s self-discovery is also relatable, and offers plenty of interesting reveals and thrills for fans of the series.
Besides a standard story campaign, “Gears 5” also offers a refreshing take on the series’ esports-level multiplayer modes. The game brings back player-versus-player combat and defining horde mode, where teams can work together to defeat oncoming waves of enemies. The new Escape mode also challenges a team of three players with escaping an enemy stronghold before it explodes. Each playable character offers different strengths and abilities that work well together and can be crucial to completing each run.
Overall, “Gears 5” offers great, engaging content for players of all ages.
Jedi Fallen Order
- ESRB rating: T for mild violence and language
- Platform: PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Price: $59.99 (standard edition), $69.99 (gold edition)
“Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order” excels in making you feel like a Jedi without overloading you with power. As Cal Kestis, a Padawan in hiding following the great Jedi Purge seen in “Revenge of the Sith,” you’ll fight through alien creatures, stormtroopers and Imperial Inquisitors, each of which pose an intimidating challenge.
“Fallen Order” takes a lot of elements from the “Dark Souls” series while offering some welcome improvements on combat and exploration. The game’s combat relies heavily on dodging and parrying enemy attacks to create an opening. Despite using a lightsaber as a primary weapon, you’ll always feel like a skilled master rather than an overpowered bruiser.
Each planet in the game, which includes the Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk and Dathomir, the birthplace of Darth Maul, offers dozens of puzzles and collectibles that can be obtained with force abilities and through BD-1, the new cutest droid in “Star Wars.” And while collectibles include health upgrades and ship cosmetics, you’ll also find a wide array of lightsaber parts, which Polygon notes include many of the designs featured at the lightsaber forge at “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.”
The game also features an excellent “Star Wars” story that goes deep into the series’ lore and references dozens of people, places and events seen in other spinoff properties, like the animated “Clone Wars” and “Rebels” series. While you won’t have to hear about cold, coarse sand or midichlorian counts (There are plenty of stormtroopers announcing “I have the high ground”), expect to see the darker, weirder sides of the Force throughout the game’s 30-hour campaign.
Ultimately, the biggest compliment “Fallen Order” can be given is that it looks, sounds and feels like an authentic “Star Wars,” in some ways more so than movies like “Solo: A Star Wars Story.” Cal’s adventure feels deeply authentic, which only helps elevate the excellent exploration and gameplay.
“Jedi: Fallen Order” is the best, most satisfyingly challenging “Star Wars” game to date and one of the best action games out this year. Fans of the series should definitely check this masterpiece out in between waiting for new episodes of “The Mandalorian” or “Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker.”
Pokemon Sword/Shield
- ESRB rating: E for comic mischief, mild cartoon violence
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Price: $59.99 (each) $119.99 (combination pack)
Another year, another Pokemon. … Fortunately, this year’s title adds a ton of new monsters and elements to make this a journey worth taking through the United Kingdom-inspired Galar region. “Pokemon Sword and Shield” manages to stay true to what makes the RPG series work while adding in cool new improvements to the series’ first console game.
While the core loop of battling, catching and training Pokemon is still in place and as good as ever, this year’s new hooks are a new Wild Area social space and Dynamaxing. The latter allows each Pokemon to grow to colossal proportions, which overpowers attacks for up to three turns. The overpowered move can only be used once against gym leaders to counter their own giant Pokemon.
The Wild Area also replaces most of the series’ traditional routes. Trainers can run around the wide-open map to encounter wild Pokemon, which now appear directly on the map instead of in random encounters. This revision limits tedious grinding seen in other RPGs, since you can easily identify which Pokemon you want to catch.
The relatively empty Wild Area also feels alive thanks to the visible wildlife and the presence of other online players. Anyone logged in online can see other real-world trainers playing around in the open area and can talk to each avatar for a chance at good items. You can also visit camps set up by other trainers to play with their Pokemon, cook stat-boosting curry and trade, which has always been a hallmark of the series.
While the story is fairly commonplace, the HD presentation and minimalist menus keep Pokemon visually appealing. The simple Pokemon and anime-inspired human characters all look great on both the Nintendo Switch’s smaller screen and a television. Overall, fans of the series and younger players will likely have a great time in this newest adventure.
TECH DEVICES
AirPods Pro
AirPods Pro are the latest addition to Apple’s popular AirPods line, and they’re easily the best new addition to the tech company’s wearables line — with some exceptions. Unlike the original AirPods, which just sit in the ear canal and blast sound into your ear, the Pro version features silicon tips, which offer better sound, true noise cancelling and an improved fit.
Of course, they aren’t perfect. Apple includes three sizes of ear tips, which should ideally fit most ears. I’ve had some issues with the AirPod seal slipping a bit, but for the most part they hang in there well.
OnePlus 7T Pro
The OnePlus 7T Pro may seem like an oddball choice for a phone in 2019. Samsung and Apple run the market, so why would you step outside the traditional bounds for the phone?
Well, it turns out it’s a perfectly suitable replacement that is certainly under your radar.
The OnePlus 7T is an Android-based device that works with exceptional speed and quickness. You’ll find yourself spinning through apps and text messages. The keyboard is smooth, too, and a welcomed change to this reporter, who typically uses an iPhone.
The phone comes with a new macro camera mode and a longer-lasting battery than its predecessor. The phone has a refreshingly fast graphics speed, allowing you watch videos or open apps with quickness.
The screen’s OLED display is bright and crisp, better than most iPhone screens by this reporter’s eye. The 90Hz 6.67-inch display fills your entire screen, too, without a notch. And the cheaper $599 is a welcomed price for the phone, too. It definitely is a cheaper option compared to the current $1,000 phones out there, too.
But the phone does come with some hiccups, including no wireless charging, which seems to be an obvious feature in 2019. The packaging isn’t ideal either. This reporter filmed a TikTok video of the phone’s unboxing. Hundreds of commenters were surprised by how much paper and plastic went into the box, which you can see below.
