Xbox One Digital TV Tuner Review

One of the problems we’ve seen with the Xbox One since its launch late last year is the release of products and features that haven’t really been wanted or appreciated by the community. The obvious example of course is Kinect, which since June when it became a standalone peripheral has practically disappeared from new big budget games.

The latest hardware release for Microsoft’s console is a digital TV tuner, allowing European users to stream, pause and catch up with free-to-view channels directly through your Xbox One. In the words of Microsoft, ‘our fans in Europe have been asking for this functionality’. However, at £25 a go, a direct line through the Xbox may to seem to many another option that can just be given a miss as TV is so accessible without the console.

Of course the TV tuner does have its benefits: free HD channels that aren’t accessible through all TV boxes suddenly become available, as do the aforementioned catch up and live pause functions. Snap functionality is also included so playing and watching suddenly becomes a lot easier for those that were originally reluctant to connect their digital boxes to their Xbox One.

Undoubtedly then a digital tuner is a useful device. It means that the Xbox One can begin taking another step towards being the single box in your living room. However, the problem Microsoft once again face is convincing their audience that they all want TV through their console. Though nowhere near as significant as Kinect, a failure here would further cement critics’ points that gamers want a console to play games on and more often than not, that’s enough.

The lower price tag and obvious as well as ongoing function should encourage Xbox One owners to buy into the idea of Microsoft’s latest hardware release, even if its attraction wont be as widespread as gaming itself.

Super Smash Bros. 3DS Review

It is widely thought that Nintendo have had success based on well developed series’ based on fun and exciting characters that are known by gamers regardless of whether or not they ever bought a Nintendo console. Characters such as Mario, Link or Donkey Kong each have their own successful franchises that have made them as popular as they are but surely the pinnacle of Nintendo’s achievement is in bringing all of these iconic characters, plus some extras, together in the Smash Bros series. The most recent generation to be released sees the first handheld version on the 3DS.

With the move to a handheld system and the success of the previous game in the series, Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Nintendo could be forgiven if the latest installment was lacking some degree of finesse. This however doesn’t seem to be the case, though the 3DS installment doesn’t have a story mode like the previous game, there are plenty of different ways to play the game, some of which, such as Smash Run, will be exclusive to the handheld version. Challenges always have the potential to offer problems to players, while never feeling overly frustrating.

Of course for many though, the biggest draw to this game, as any Nintendo game, will be the vibrancy of the playable characters. With almost 50 different characters from various Nintendo and third party games there is plenty of variation and as a result replay value is a given. Though there isn’t any character development or any real sense of what you’re trying to achieve, most people wont mind too much with the different fighting styles and game modes to explore.

The best way though to play the series has always been with friends and the newest addition to the series is no different. With options to play co-operatively, individually, with friends or with anyone there are no shortages of online options to keep you occupied. Despite this, the best way to play this game will be locally with friends around, the social element of the series has made it as popular as it is and will continue to do so for this game’s life cycle as well.