The PS5 DualSense in Midnight Black, a Small Upgrade That Makes a Big Difference

Hardware | Bought June 12, 2021 | $110 CAD from Walmart

PS5 DualSense controller in Midnight Black — Photo credit: PlayStation.com

Why I Bought It

My launch-day white DualSense was starting to look a little grimy no matter how much I cleaned it, and Walmart had the Midnight Black version in stock, which felt like reason enough. I’d been eyeing a second controller anyway for couch co-op, so instead of grabbing another white one I picked up the black to mix things up and give the white one a break from being the only option.

Living With It

It’s the same excellent DualSense underneath the paint job — adaptive triggers and haptic feedback still feel like a genuine step up from the DualShock 4 — but the black finish hides fingerprints and grime dramatically better than the white one ever did. It also just looks sharper sitting next to a black PS5 stand. Nothing about the actual feel or function changed, which is exactly what I wanted.

The Good

Adaptive triggers and haptics are still the best controller feature this generation
Midnight Black hides fingerprints and wear far better than white
Great as a second controller for local co-op

The Bad

Battery life is still mediocre compared to the DualShock 4
No functional difference from the white version, so it’s a style purchase and nothing more

Final Call

Rating: 4/5. Same great controller, better at hiding grime. Worth it if you want a second one anyway.

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LEGO’s Stormtrooper Helmet, the One That Started My Whole Helmet Collection

Lego | Bought April 28, 2021 | $80 CAD from The Lego Store

LEGO Stormtrooper Helmet 75276 — Photo: LEGO

Why I Bought It

A 647-piece buildable Stormtrooper helmet replica, about 7 inches tall with a display stand and nameplate, and one of the original three sets that launched LEGO’s Star Wars Helmet Collection. This is the one that got me into the whole helmet-collecting habit in the first place.

Living With It

The crisp white-and-black paneling genuinely looks great on a shelf, and the piece count/detail feels well justified for the price. It’s an obvious nostalgia hit as an original-trilogy icon. The all-white colour scheme shows fingerprints and dust embarrassingly fast, and there are a few visible panel gaps if you look closely.

The Good

Crisp white/black paneling looks great on a shelf
Strong nostalgia factor as an original-trilogy icon
Solid piece count/detail for the price
Sturdy display stand

The Bad

All-white colour shows fingerprints/dust easily
Some visible panel gaps up close
No opening visor feature

Final Call

Rating: 4/5

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LEGO’s Scout Trooper Helmet, the Underdog of the Star Wars Helmet Collection

Lego | Bought April 28, 2021 | $80 CAD from The Lego Store

LEGO Scout Trooper Helmet 75305 — Photo: LEGO

Why I Bought It

A 471-piece buildable display helmet from Return of the Jedi’s Scout (Biker) Trooper, about 7 inches tall with a display stand and nameplate, part of LEGO’s adult-oriented Helmet Collection. I’d already grabbed the Stormtrooper helmet the same day and figured I might as well round out the pair.

Living With It

The texture and paneling detail through clever piece use is genuinely impressive, and it’s a compact, lightweight shelf piece that doesn’t demand much real estate. The tan/olive colour scheme is a lot less visually striking than the Vader or Stormtrooper helmets sitting next to it, and a few of the finer details rely on stickers rather than printed pieces.

The Good

Clever piece use captures the texture/paneling detail well
Compact, lightweight for shelf display
Good value against other Star Wars helmets
Distinct battle-worn look nicely captured

The Bad

Less visually striking than the white/black helmets
Some details rely on stickers
No visor/face opening feature

Final Call

Rating: 4/5

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LEGO’s Iron Man Helmet, Proof the Helmet Collection Works Outside Star Wars Too

Lego | Bought April 29, 2021 | $80 CAD from The Lego Store

LEGO Marvel Iron Man Helmet set 76165 — Photo credit: LEGO.com

Why I Bought It

My helmet shelf had turned into an unofficial Star Wars shrine by this point, and honestly it was starting to feel one-note. The LEGO Marvel Iron Man Helmet (76165) had been out since the summer of 2020, and every time I walked past it at The Lego Store I told myself I didn’t need another display piece. Late April finally broke me. It’s a 480-piece build that comes together into a roughly 7.5-inch tall helmet on its own little stand, and it was the perfect excuse to prove the collection could survive outside a galaxy far, far away.

Living With It

The build itself is a relaxing hour or so, and LEGO’s designers clearly put real effort into the faceplate shaping to get that classic Mark III silhouette right. Once it’s on the stand next to the Stormtrooper and Scout Trooper helmets, it does exactly what I wanted: breaks up the red-and-white monotony with some gold and crimson. The only knock is that the color palette is almost entirely red and gold, so up close it reads a little flatter and less textured than the Star Wars helmets, which get more visual variety from their panel lines and grey plastic.

The Good

Screen-accurate Mark III silhouette that reads instantly as Iron Man from across the room
Satisfying, fiddly build with good part variety for the piece count
Compact footprint compared to the bigger Star Wars helmets, so it’s easy to slot onto a crowded shelf

The Bad

Almost entirely red and gold, so it looks a bit flat next to helmets with more color variety
The display stand is plain plastic and feels like an afterthought compared to the helmet itself

Final Call

Rating: 4/5. A great palate-cleanser for the helmet collection and a genuinely fun build, just don’t expect the same panel-line detail you get from the Star Wars sets.

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A Mega Construx Master Chief Helmet, LEGO’s Halo-Shaped Blind Spot Filled by Someone Else

Collectibles | Bought May 1, 2021 | $50 CAD from Toys R Us

Mega Construx Halo Infinite Master Chief Helmet replica — Photo credit: eBay listing photo

Why I Bought It

After the Iron Man helmet proved my shelf could handle more than Star Wars, I went looking for a Halo piece to match, and ran straight into a gap: LEGO doesn’t make one. Mega Construx does, though — the 414-piece Halo Infinite Master Chief Helmet replica (GVN33) is basically the brick-built answer to the LEGO helmets, just from a different company. I picked it up at Toys R Us right on the heels of the Iron Man build, mostly out of curiosity about how a non-LEGO brand handles the same idea.

Living With It

Mega Construx’s bricks are compatible-ish with LEGO but noticeably less refined — the clutch power is looser and the tolerances aren’t as tight, so the finished helmet has a slightly less premium feel in the hand. That said, the sculpting on the visor and the angular Mark VI plating is genuinely well done for the piece count, and it captures the Halo Infinite look better than I expected from a third-party set. It’s earned a spot right next to the Iron Man helmet as proof my collection isn’t a one-franchise operation anymore.

The Good

Fills a real gap — there’s no official LEGO Halo helmet to compete with
Good detail on the visor and plating for a 414-piece set
Affordable relative to the LEGO helmets at a similar piece count

The Bad

Looser clutch power than LEGO — pieces don’t feel quite as locked in
Plastic quality feels a notch below LEGO and I’d worry about yellowing over the years

Final Call

Rating: 3.5/5. Not LEGO-quality, but it’s the only game in town for a brick-built Halo helmet, and it looks great once it’s on the shelf.

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It Takes Two, a Co-Op Game That Reinvents Its Own Rules Every Ten Minutes

Games | Bought March 27, 2021 | $65 CAD from Eb Games

Why I Bought It

A split-screen co-op action-adventure/platformer from Hazelight, where separated parents Cody and May get magically turned into dolls and have to work together to solve puzzles and fight through a wildly inventive series of household-themed worlds. I grabbed the physical copy at launch specifically to play through with a friend.

Living With It

It constantly reinvents its own mechanics almost every level, and none of the gimmicks overstay their welcome. The forced co-op design genuinely rewards communication rather than just tolerating it, and the built-in Friend’s Pass meant my co-op partner didn’t even need to buy a copy. The dialogue about the parents’ relationship gets heavy-handed at times, and a couple of boss fights run longer than they should.

The Good

Constantly reinvents its mechanics without overstaying any gimmick
Genuinely rewarding forced co-op design
Gorgeous, imaginative art direction
Friend’s Pass lets a friend play free

The Bad

Dialogue about the parents’ relationship can be heavy-handed
Strictly requires a second player, no solo mode
A few boss fights run a bit long

Final Call

Rating: 5/5

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LEGO Roses, a Valentine’s Gift That’s Still Standing Long After Real Flowers Would Be Dead

Lego | Bought February 10, 2021 | $40 CAD from The Lego Store

Why I Bought It

I grabbed two boxes of LEGO’s Botanicals Roses set right before Valentine’s Day — each one builds two poseable red roses with leaves, about 26cm long, and two boxes felt like the right amount to actually look like a bouquet instead of an afterthought.

Living With It

These have been sitting in a vase since February and look exactly the same as the day I built them, which is the whole pitch. The build itself is quick and simple, almost too simple if you’re an experienced builder looking for a challenge. They only come in red, so don’t expect a varied bouquet unless you mix in other Botanicals sets.

The Good

Never wilts, unlike the real thing
Quick, satisfying build
Poseable stems for display
Cheap entry point into the Botanicals line

The Bad

Only available in red
Very simple build for experienced builders
Needed two boxes to feel like a proper bouquet

Final Call

Rating: 4/5

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Little Nightmares II, an Unsettling Puzzle-Platformer With Nothing But Great Art Direction

Games | Bought February 13, 2021 | $30 CAD from Amazon

Why I Bought It

A puzzle-platformer/survival-horror sequel where you play Mono, a boy trapped in a corrupted world twisted by a mysterious signal, teaming up with Six from the first game to solve environmental puzzles and evade grotesque, oversized adults. I loved the first game’s atmosphere and this was a day-one pickup for me.

Living With It

The art direction is incredible and genuinely unsettling without relying on jump scares, and the puzzle-platforming is tight and clever throughout. It’s short enough to finish over a weekend, which I actually consider a strength here. Checkpoint placement in a few sections led to some frustrating trial-and-error deaths, and the story is intentionally cryptic in a way that will bother anyone wanting clear answers.

The Good

Incredible, genuinely unsettling art direction
Tight, clever puzzle-platforming
Strong sound design
Doesn’t overstay its welcome

The Bad

Frustrating checkpoint placement in spots
Stealth sections can feel imprecise
Intentionally cryptic story won’t satisfy everyone

Final Call

Rating: 4/5

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Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury, an Old Favourite Plus a Genuinely Fresh Bonus Mode

Games | Bought February 14, 2021 | $70 CAD from Eb Games

Why I Bought It

A Switch port of the Wii U’s Super Mario 3D World, a 3-4 player co-op 3D platformer, bundled with an all-new mode called Bowser’s Fury — an open-hub, semi-sandbox take on 3D Mario where a giant corrupted Bowser periodically rampages across the map and you team up with Bowser Jr. to stop him. I never owned a Wii U, so this was my first time playing 3D World at all.

Living With It

3D World’s level design is some of the tightest, most creative platforming Nintendo has ever made, and it’s genuinely chaotic fun in 4-player co-op. Bowser’s Fury is a fresh, atmospheric little experiment that I wasn’t expecting to like as much as I did. Bowser’s Fury is fairly short as a standalone mode, and the 3D World multiplayer camera can get chaotic enough to cause a few cheap deaths.

The Good

Some of Nintendo’s tightest, most creative 3D platforming
Genuinely chaotic fun in 4-player co-op
Bowser’s Fury is a fresh, atmospheric bonus mode
Big visual/performance upgrade over the Wii U original

The Bad

Bowser’s Fury is fairly short as a standalone mode
Multiplayer camera gets chaotic and causes cheap deaths
Not much new for anyone who already owned it on Wii U

Final Call

Rating: 5/5

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LEGO’s Bonsai Tree, a Genuinely Calming Build That Doubles as Actual Decor

Lego | Bought January 20, 2021 | $70 CAD from The Lego Store

Why I Bought It

This is an 878-piece adult display model of a bonsai tree from LEGO’s Botanical Collection, with swappable leaf pieces so it can look like either green foliage or pink cherry blossoms. I wanted something to build that wasn’t tied to a movie or game license, and this seemed like the calmest possible entry point.

Living With It

It’s exactly as meditative as advertised, and it’s become a legitimate piece of shelf decor rather than something I built once and boxed up. The trunk and branch construction is sturdier than I expected. The leaf placement gets repetitive by the back half of the build, and the pot itself is a fairly plain design for what you’re paying.

The Good

Genuinely relaxing, low-pressure build
Attractive enough to double as real home decor
Swappable green/blossom leaves add some variety
Sturdy trunk and branch construction

The Bad

Leaf-piece placement gets repetitive
Plain pot design for the price
No minifigs or extra content

Final Call

Rating: 4/5