Tag: 2023 Gaming Haul

FANTAVISION 202X, a Gorgeous PS5 Fireworks Puzzle Game With Not Much Underneath

Games · Purchased February 25, 2023 · $18.89 via PSN

FANTAVISION 202X
Photo: PlayStation Studios

The Setup

A remake of the PS2 launch title FantaVision, PS5-exclusive. It’s a puzzle/strategy game where you select and detonate chains of same-colored firework "flares" for chain-reaction combo scores — think Missile Command with fireworks.

The Review

Visually this is a showcase piece — dense, gorgeous particle effects that make good use of the PS5. The chain-combo puzzle loop is satisfying in short bursts and it’s a strong nostalgia hit for PS2-era fans. There just isn’t much depth underneath the spectacle; a few reviewers called it more tech demo than game, and I get why.

What I Liked

  • Gorgeous, dense particle/fireworks effects
  • Satisfying, meditative chain-combo loop
  • Strong PS2-era nostalgia factor

What I Didn’t

  • Shallow depth of mechanics for a full-price release
  • Limited replayability once combos are mastered
  • No cross-gen version

The Verdict

Rating: 3/5

Where to Buy

Sony’s PSVR2: A Genuinely Great Headset Tethered to a Genuinely Annoying Cable

Hardware · Purchased February 22, 2023 · $918.27 via EbGames

Sony PlayStation VR2
Photo: GameStop

The Setup

Launch day. I lined up a PSVR2 the moment EbGames opened on February 22nd, and immediately followed it with a small pile of launch titles (more on those in separate posts). The headset has dual OLED panels, eye tracking, inside-out tracking with no external cameras needed, and the Sense controllers with adaptive triggers and haptics.

The Review

The display is sharp enough that I stopped noticing the screen-door effect within an hour, and the eye tracking genuinely changes how some games render and play. The Sense controllers with their adaptive triggers are the best VR controllers I’ve used. The single tether cable, though, is a constant low-grade annoyance — there’s no wireless option, and I’ve caught it on my chair more than once mid-session.

What I Liked

  • Sharp OLED panels with strong HDR
  • No external tracking cameras to set up
  • Eye tracking enables genuinely novel gameplay
  • Sense controllers feel excellent

What I Didn’t

  • Wired only — no wireless option
  • Can feel front-heavy on long sessions
  • Smaller launch library than I’d like

The Verdict

Rating: 4/5

Where to Buy

An Xbox Rechargeable Battery Pack, Finally Ditching AAs

Hardware · Purchased January 20, 2023 · $32.47 via Amazon

PowerA Rechargeable Battery Pack for Xbox
Photo: PowerA

The Setup

An officially licensed rechargeable battery solution that replaces AA batteries in an Xbox Series X controller via a swappable battery door, charged over USB-C. I’d been burning through AAs for long enough that this felt overdue.

The Review

Simple drop-in swap for the AA door and decent battery life for casual play, at a more affordable price than some third-party charging-dock bundles. Capacity is noticeably lower than higher-end rechargeable packs, and you do have to pop the controller open to swap the door and battery — a charging cable/dock is sold separately from the bare pack, which feels like a minor cash grab.

What I Liked

  • Officially licensed, simple drop-in swap
  • Decent battery life for casual play
  • Affordable, convenient USB-C charging

What I Didn’t

  • Lower capacity than higher-end third-party packs
  • Requires opening the controller to swap the door/battery
  • Charging dock/cable often sold separately

The Verdict

Rating: 3/5

Where to Buy

TP-Link’s AX3000 Range Extender, Fixing My Wi-Fi Dead Zone for Under $120

Hardware · Purchased January 15, 2023 · $119.86 via Amazon

TP-Link AX3000 WiFi 6 Range Extender (RE700X)
Photo: TP-Link

The Setup

A plug-in dual-band Wi-Fi 6 range extender (the RE700X) with a Gigabit Ethernet port, OFDMA, beamforming, and OneMesh compatibility for extending my existing TP-Link router’s network into the one corner of the house that always struggled for signal.

The Review

It solved the dead zone immediately, and setup through the TP-Link Tether app was painless. OneMesh support means devices roam between the router and extender without me thinking about it most of the time. Like any extender it roughly halves throughput on the extended segment, and placement took a bit of trial and error to find the sweet spot.

What I Liked

  • Solid Wi-Fi 6 speed/range boost for the price
  • Easy app-based setup
  • OneMesh gives near-seamless roaming
  • Compact plug-in design

What I Didn’t

  • Roughly halves throughput on the extended segment
  • Placement is finicky — needs a decent signal from the router first
  • Some devices need to manually reconnect when moving between zones

The Verdict

Rating: 4/5

Where to Buy