STACK #196 Feb 2021

YOUR TO FILM, TV, MUSIC, GAMING & LIFE TECH ESSENTIAL GUIDE

.com.au

ISSUE 196 Feb ’21

STACK Issue 196 FEBRUARY 2021 “What’s new pussycat?”

.com.au

ISSUE 196

Feb ’21

ISSUE 196 Feb ’21

FILM&TV

©2013 - 2021 Nintendo

TECH LIFE

INSIDE: TECH BUDGET BUSTERS

Your MONTHLYGUIDE to the HOTTEST TECH at

hot

YOURMONTHLY FILM& TV GUIDE TOWHAT’S IN-STORE AT

WIN an MSI GAMING LAPTOP

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION

Mature themes and violence

“ 1 ”,“PlayStation”,“ 5 ”and“PlayHasNoLimits” are registered trademarksofSony Interactive Entertainment Inc.“SONY” isa registered trademarkofSonyCorporation.Returnal™©2020-2021 Sony InteractiveEntertainmentEurope.PublishedbySony InteractiveEntertainment EuropeLimited.DevelopedbyHousemarqueOy.“Returnal” isa trademarkofSony InteractiveEntertainmentLLC.All rights reserved.

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

ISSUE 196 FEB 2021

GAMING 4 Roving Reporter/Game Changers! 6 Fast Forward/Q5 8 Super Mario 3DWorld + Bowser’s Fury 10 Little Nightmares II 12 Persona 5 Strikers 14 Accessorise Now! 16 STACK Recommends 18 Out this month LIFE TECH 25 Life Tech Intro 26-27 Budget Busters – Smartphones 28 Budget Busters – Tablets 30 Budget Busters – Computers 32 Budget Busters – TVs 34 Budget Busters – Speakers 36 Budget Busters – Headphones 38 Budget Busters – Smartwatches 40-42 Budget Busters – Smart Home 44 Budget Busters – Rideables 46 Budget Busters – Kitchen Appliances

WELCOME Nintendo’s perennial Mario makes the cut for STACK ’s February issue as he and the Mushroom Kingdom crew return in Super Mario 3DWorld + Bowser’s Fury - catsuits and all, while the PhantomThieves get into some Dynasty Warriors -styled action in Persona 5 Strikers . Our Life Tech section explores ways of getting the tech you need at a great price – especially if you’re moving house or starting uni; while in movies, we celebrate the 21st birthday of the iconic films released in Y2K and chat with prolific producer Jason Blum about his reboot of the ‘90s teen-witch flick, The Craft . The Foo Fighters are back with their new long player, Medicine at Midnight , and we chat with revered filmmaker John Carpenter about a new album, Lost Themes III: Alive After Death . Paul Jones, Editor-in-Chief

48 CES 2021 50 CES 2021 52 CES 2021

54 Tech Trends of 2021 56 What’s New at JB FILM & TV 62 Roving Reporter 64 Bob J’s Movie Trivia 66-67 Iconic Movies from the Year 2000 68-70 The Craft: Legacy

Founder Nic Short Editor-in-Chief Paul Jones Film & TV Editor Scott Hocking Music Editor Zoë Radas Games & Online Editor Amy Flower Creative Director Gary Siewert Movies Consultant Kerrie Taylor Games Consultant Sachi Fernando Music Consultant Mike Glynn

Marketing Manager Fleur Parker Chief Contributors Bob Jones, Gill Pringle Contributors Bryget Chrisfield, Glenn Cochrane, Jeff Jenkins, Simon Lukic, Billy Pinnell, Denise Hylands, Simon Winkler, Nathan Lawrence, Jake Cleland, Tim Lambert, Holly Pereira, Adam Colby,

Anthony Horan, Nicholas Kennedy, Dan Nicholson, Alex Deutrom, Bec Summer Social Media Manager Imogene Lewis-Granland Production Manager Craig Patterson Correspondence STACK 33 Jessie Street, Richmond, VIC 3121

72 The Best of Blumhouse 74 New from Imprint Films 76 Reviews MUSIC FLIP MAG AND READ FROM BACK 4-10 Interviews with Julien Baker, John Carpenter and more 12-13 The Foos, Fighting Fit 14 The STACK Record Club 16-17 AlbumTales: Adele’s 19 (2008)

RATINGS GUIDE

Parental guidance recommended

Recommended formature audiences

Notsuitableforpeople under15.Under15smust beaccommpaniedbya parentoradultguardian

Restricted to18andover

General

Disclaimer STACK is published by Scribal Custom Pty Ltd (ACN 092 362 135). © Copyright Scribal Custom Pty Ltd, 2021 All rights reserved. All material appearing in this publication is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material or advertisement. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of Scribal Custom Pty Ltd. No responsibility is accepted for accuracy of advertisements or information. Whilst care has been taken in the research and preparation of this publication, the publishers, writers or anyone else associated cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, injury or hardship arising from the content contained herein or reliance therefrom, howsoever caused, and it remains your responsibility to evaluate the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of any such content. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher or the editor. By the very nature of this publication, things change daily and we cannot take responsibility for any changes or inaccuracies that occur subsequent to going to press.

18 This Month at JB 20-23 Album reviews

New and existing STACK members have the opportunity to win one of 30 $50 JB Hi-Fi digital gift cards every month!* 50 $ MEMBER REWARDS If you’re already receiving STACK 's newsletters, you’re in with a chance to win – if not, join now for free: www.stack.com.au/member/ Thanks to JB Hi-Fi

1 of 30

GIFT CARDS EVERY MONTH *

*Terms and conditions apply. Full terms and conditions at www.stack.com.au/competitions/members-rewards-50/

GAMING FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

STACK’s ROVING REPORTER

What’s your all-time favourite game series?

BEST SELLERS at

BioShock, for sure! I love seeing a dystopian world under the sea AND above the sky. Like, that’s absolutely creative! The game itself has so much hidden lore and I find it all so fascinating.

JANUARY 2021

1 MARIO KART 8 DELUXE

ALEXTUTTLE @ JB Home Fyshwick, ACT

2 CALL OF DUTY:

BLACK OPS COLD WAR

What’s the best thing about working in games at JB?

What are you playing currently?

3 ANIMAL CROSSING: NEW HORIZONS

Cyberpunk 2077 . I’ve always been a fan of the cyberpunk genre, so having a game that’s literally named ‘Cyberpunk’ is a dream come true!

4 JUST DANCE 2021

Definitely having a new challenge every day, and being one of the first to see new products that relate to myself. I love gaming, and if it’s taught me one thing it’s that there are people like me everywhere that I go, and being able to work in an area I love allows me to meet more and more people who have the same interests.

5 HITMAN III

6 MINECRAFT

7 NBA 2K21

What’s your earliest video gaming memory?

8 SUPER MARIO 3D ALL-STARS

What would be your desert island console?

9 SUPER SMASH

I wasn’t allowed to play many games as a child, so when my dad brought home a PC for me to play some games on, I went wild! I stayed up all night playing Star Wars Battlefront II (OG version). It felt magical – I still remember the old creaky desk the computer was on.

BROS. UNLIMITED

10 ASSASSIN’S CREED VALHALLA

My PC. I’d play right under a sweet little palm tree on a desk I made with palm tree leaves and rocks.

GAME CHANGERS! A YEAR IN GAMING By 1979 the games industry was firing, with some great examples – and some shockers – appearing everywhere from hastily rented stores full of machines to the corner of the local fish and chip shop. The home video game boom also fired up… 1979

®

With Atari’s VCS console red hot, there was a huge market for games. California’s Activision, Inc. were the first to jump into the third-party developer pool, formed by four disgruntled former Atari employees. These included one David Crane, who went on to create such legendary titles as Pitfall! and the first Ghostbusters game.

With no one particular system of bringing games to screen dominating as yet, Atari’s new arcade smash wowed were monochrome, but images were made from lines rather than pixels, and gave a cool futuristic vibe. Plus, the game totally rocked! Still, vector graphics died soon after. players with vector graphics. Sure, they

Whoa! It’s Space Invaders , but it’s in full colour and… OMG, they’re falling from the sky and attacking! Japanese company Namco went “BAM!” with their now classic Galaxian , aiming to take on the might of Taito’s coin-gobbling shmup, and succeeding. It’s also notable as the forerunner to timeless arcade shooter Galaga .

FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

4

MEMBER EXCLUSIVE COMPETITION

Valued at $ 2399 RRP

PRIZE INCLUDES: MSI GP65 Leopard 15.6” Full HD 144Hz Gaming Laptop (512GB)[RTX3060] WIN an MSI GAMING LAPTOP FOR YOUR CHANCE TO JOIN STACK and enter at stack.com.au/competitions/MSI-GP65 15.6” Full HD (1920 x 1080) 144Hz thin bezel display Intel Comet lake i7-10750H processor (2.6 - 5.0GHz) 512GB SDD storage with 16GB RAM NVIDIA ® GeForce ® RTX3060 Graphics processor

Already a member? Enter now and view full competition details at stack.com.au/competitions/MSI-GP65 Terms and conditions apply at stack.com.au/terms-and-conditions

GAMING FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

WHAT’S COMING IN MARCH?

RETURNAL With a canon boasting classic shooters the likes of Resogun and Alienation , Finnish developers Housemarque are always worth watching. Their latest will see players stepping into the space boots of Selene, who’s crash-landed on a barren, shape-shifting – read rogue-like-styled – planet and is left in a fight for survival. Die, and it’s Edge of Tomorrow time – yep, you have to start all over again, but on your side are different item drops that you can use in every time loop that you face.

MONSTER HUNTER RISE Monster Hunter returns to the Switch, and it’s set to be a mixture of classic and new. Set half a century on from the last calamity, in the ninja- inspired land of Kamura Village, players will explore lush ecosystems and battle increasingly fearsome monsters in order to become the ultimate hunter. Hunt either solo or with up to three friends, as you craft a vast selection of weapons and armour to aid your quest, all with your trusty ‘canyne’ hunting buddy Palamute by your side.

MULTIPLAYER?

MULTIPLAYER?

SHOOTER

19/3/21

ACTION RPG

26/3/21

PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME REMAKE One of the Prince’s very best adventures is back, with all the fine polishing that you’d expect in 2021 to make it shinier than a genie’s lamp. The Sands of Time first released back in 2003, rejuvenating the action-adventure genre with its fine mix of gameplay and story, the latter of which revolved around an ancient legend and dark powers. It’s time to defeat the evil Vizier once more, in Ubisoft’s first ever from-the-ground-up remake of one of their classic games. Plus: Unlock bonus original PoP !

BALAN WONDERWORLD Enter the Balan Theatre, led by mysterious clown Balan. It’s a bizarre – and colourful – world where people’s happy memories mix with their worries and doubts. As protagonists Emma and/or Leo, you’ll harness the abilities of costumes to traverse 12 levels of ever wilder imaginings. The brainchild of two of the originators of SEGA classics Sonic the Hedgehog and Nights into Dreams , Yuji Naka and Naoto Ohshima, this is for platformer lovers everywhere – well, unless you don’t dig clowns.

MULTIPLAYER?

MULTIPLAYER?

ACTION ADVENTURE

18/3/21

PLATFORMER

26/3/21

1 What was the first game that you played? I don’t remember the name of the game, but it was on a “console” called the Action Max, which was a VHS light gun game back in the mid-‘80s. That’s the first memory I have of a video game, pointing a light gun at a CRT monitor. 2 What was the last game that you finished? The last one I finished was A Way Out , which was a very, very fun, interesting game. It had a really cinematic quality. 3 What’s your favourite game of all time? If I immediately discount any Call of Duty game, I’d say Red Dead Redemption . That one grabbed me, I have very fond memories of it. I actually, just recently, watched John Marston gallop into Mexico as the soundtrack played and you’re looking into the sun. That’s a moment where you’re like, ‘Yes, video games are art’. 4 What do you think is the most underrated game of all time? I often say that The Last of Us multiplayer is one of, if not the most, underrated multiplayer game of all time. There are a few of us who played the hell out of it, and it was a very inspiring game. 5 What’s the game that you most wish you’d worked on? Probably Delta Force: Black Hawk Down . I didn’t get to work on that, but luckily I get to work every day with a few fine people who did from NovaLogic.

Lead game designer on Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War at Treyarch MATT SCRONCE

FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

6

GAMING FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

TRADIE TALK!

SWITCHED ON 3D

With the arrival of Super Mario 3D All-Stars + Bowser’s Fury this month, you can now play all five generations of 3D Mario games on the Switch. Super Mario 64, Sunshine and Galaxy are all featured in

the limited-edition Super Mario 3D All-Stars compilation, while no self- respecting Switch owner should

be without the masterpiece that is Super Mario Odyssey . We just need Super Mario Galaxy 2 now – help, Mr. Miyamoto, help!

He may be deft with a wrench, but over the years superstar tradesman Mario has also been quite the innovator. He was there for the world’s first 2D platform game in Donkey Kong , and he was at the front of the queue when platformers went 3D in Super Mario 64 .With Super Mario 3DWorld + Bowser’s Fury hitting the Switch this month, we take a quick look back at Mario’s greatest 3D hits. Words Amy Flower bit and became the Wii. Super Mario Sunshine also copped more than its fair share of flak, with accusations of repetitiveness, and hate for the FLUDD water weapon. We’re having none of it, Sunshine rocks! Super Mario Galaxy/ Super Mario Galaxy 2 Wii (2007, 2010) Proving that Mario can do pretty much anything, he and his Mushie Kingdom pals went into space for these superb platformers,

Super Mario 3D World Wii U (2013)

Building on the 2011 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land , this combined the familiarity of self- contained levels from the 2D Mario era with 3D exploration. Possibly the biggest draw was the ability for up to four players to play at once – although some may argue that the chockies went to Mario’s catsuit. Super Mario Odyssey Switch (2017) Best. Game. Ever. A big call, but anybody who’s spent some time with this return to the open world roots of Super Mario 64 would

Super Mario 64 Nintendo 64 (1996) Launched alongside the Nintendo 64

console, playing Super Mario 64 for the first time was a revelation. The move from 2D to 3D remains arguably the greatest leap in gaming tech, and this particular game established many tropes that persist in open world 3D platforming games today.

Super Mario Sunshine GameCube (2002)

likely agree. World after world throws up new and unique challenges, yet you just click with what’s required. This game even made a sentient hat seem plausible! Genius.

which evolved from a tech demo. With more experimental freedom matched to challenging but captivating gameplay, they were hailed as Mario’s greatest outings yet.

Ah, the much-maligned GameCube, which would get its revenge when it was tweaked a

YOU’VE GOT RED ON YOU! This month also sees the arrival of the Mario Red & Blue Edition Switch, sporting the iconic red and blue of Mario’s outfit. Not only does it pack red Joy-Cons with blue straps, a blue Joy-Con grip and a red Nintendo Switch dock, it’s also the first non-black main Switch unit – yep, you guessed it, red. Add a natty matching carrying case plus a screen protector and it’s one must-have package for any Mario lover.

FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

8

GAMING FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams (PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, PS4, Xbox One, Switch)

We learn from an early age that dreams usually make absolutely no sense at all. This month sees the release of Little Nightmares II , in which yellow raincoat-clad little girl Six (no relation to Eleven) finds herself once again in an eerie, monster-filled dream world. This time she’s helping a young lad, Mono, navigate this very strange place. In celebration, here’s a nod to the land of nod in some of our favourite dreamy games – some nice, some nasty… Words Amy Flower DREAM A LITTLE DREAM

From humble beginnings as a Super Mario Bros . clone to something quite lovely to look at (and challenging to play), the sisters each live in their own worlds – and we’re not talking of the mind. World goes nasty, world goes nice…

Nights into Dreams (Saturn, PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

A delightful SEGA salad of racing, flying, collecting and time attacking, with a touch of cross-country platforming. You’re a harlequinish jester thingy named NiGHTS, who’s let loose in quite beautiful dreamscapes. Rayman Origins (PC, Mac, Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, Vita, 3DS) Rayman doesn’t just get legless, he gets

Alice: Madness Returns (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

in order to get his homework, well, in order. From Indiana Jones homage to Bartzilla and bloodstream battles, it’s a trip (man!).

Catherine (PS3, Xbox 360, Vita, PS4, Switch) You’re perma-gaping Vincent Brooks in this

refreshingly original adult- oriented tale of infidelity, consequences and, erm, boxes.

If Lewis Carroll’s original wasn’t dark, twisted and messed up enough for you, then here’s your ticket to nightmare city. Alice’s black adventures are pure splendiferousness – for goths and non-goths alike.

Oh, we forgot to mention the creepy falling dreams, in which if you die, you’re dead. Eep!

limbless – he means it, maaaaan! When Granny Underworld lets loose a big shop of horrors upon the idyllic Glade of Dreams, he sets out to save the babes, in possibly the best-looking classic platformer ever. Rise of Nightmares (Xbox 360) Made by SEGA specifically

D4: Dark Dreams Don’t Die (Xbox One, PC) Gloriously and inspirationally bonkers – as you’d expect from its creator, SWERY – you’re an amnesiac detective trying to stop your wife’s murder. Huh? Well, you’ve gained the ability to time travel…

Bart’s Nightmare (Mega Drive, Super Nintendo)

Lob right in the middle of a ten-year-old’s brain as Bart Simpson battles a bunch of minigames

for the Xbox 360 Kinect (remember that?), this

trip into the macabre and bizarre was definitely the most adult thing for the accessory – and

a surprisingly playable cheese dream to boot.

10 FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

Great games from EA

Get yours today at ...

© 2021 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, EA SPORTS and the EA SPORTS logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Official FIFA licensed product. © FIFA and FIFA’s Official Licensed Product Logo, are copyrights and/or trademarks of FIFA. Official UFC licensed product. The Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC, Ultimate Fighting, Dana White’s Contender Series, WFA World Fighting Alliance, Pride, Strikeforce, Octagon, Octagon shape, related trademarks, service marks and their logos are copyright or trademark protected by Zuffa, LLC. All rights reserved. Manufactured under license by Electronic Arts Inc. STAR WARS © & TM 2021 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Game code and certain audio and/or visual materials © 2020 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, the EA logo, Motive Studios, and the Motive logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Need For Speed, the “N’ icon and the Need For Speed logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts inc. The names, designs, and logos of all products are the property of these respective owners and used by permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

visit stack.com.au

GAMING FEATURE

The PhantomThieves return as Persona 5 Strikers hits this month, in a wild collision of classic Persona adventuring and the DynastyWarriors brand of hack and slash mayhem. Let’s meet theThieves – and their alter egos – and find out their strengths. Words Bec Summer

Morgana, aka MONA

Yusuke Kitagawa, aka FOX An art student by day, Fox wields a katana with high attack power and multi-strike ability thanks to his incredible speed. He also totes a powerful rifle.

The Protagonist, aka JOKER The player’s character and leader of the gang, Joker has high attack power and mobility, and is able to dart in with his silver dagger or kukri blade for quick close-range attacks.

Ryuji Sakamoto, aka SKULL Good-hearted but short- tempered, Skull boasts high attack and defence, and can charge up attacks to increase their damage and range. His shotgun is also handy...

Ann Takamaki, aka PANTHER

Everybody’s favourite talking cat-creature, Mona wields a shortsword and can unleash both ground and air attacks, locking onto multiple enemies using a slingshot.

Kindly Panther cracks a whip in battle, with wide-ranging effect. When needed, she can ignite her whip to unleash extra damage, or let rip with her machine gun.

AND INTRODUCING…

Sophia, aka SOPHIE A mysterious girl who the thieves meet in the Shibuya Metaverse, Sophie

Makoto Niijima, aka QUEEN

Haru Okumura, aka NOIR Referring to herself as the ‘Beauty Thief’, Noir gets busy with an axe when fighting. She’s also armed with psychokinesis, and a grenade launcher for gun attacks.

Futaba Sakura, aka ORACLE Super-hacker Oracle doesn't fight, but serves as navigator and advisor for the Phantom Thieves by analysing their surroundings and enemy data.

has a yoyo with which she can

Closet tomboy Queen is a close- range fighter with fists that you don’t want to get hit by. Also armed with her bike-shaped Persona and quick-firing revolver, she’s one tough mother.

quickly attack large swathes of enemies, plus a neat blaster.

12 FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

©ATLUS. ©SEGA. / ©KOEI TECMO GAMES. All rights reserved. ATLUS and SEGA are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ATLUS, the ATLUS logo, PERSONA and PERSONA 5 STRIKERS are either registered trademarks or trademarks of ATLUS Co., Ltd. or its affiliates. SEGA is either a registered trademark or a trademark of SEGA CORPORATION. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are property of their respective owners. “PlayStation Family Mark” and “PS4 logo” and are registered trademarks or trademarks of Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc. ©2020 Valve Corporation. Nintendo Switch is a trademark of Nintendo.

GAMING FEATURE

visit stack.com.au

Whether it’s feeling good, looking good or a bit of both, there are plenty of accessories available to add to your gaming experience.We take a look at some of the cool gaming things that you can get your hands on at JB Hi-Fi this month. ACCESSORISE NOW!

PUNK ROG! ASUS ROG Electro Punk Strix Scope mechanical gaming keyboard + Impact II gaming mouse Add some cyber-colour to your rig with this flash keyboard and mouse. Available separately, each combines a striking (and matching) colour scheme with the latest in gaming tech. The RGB-lit, tenkeyless ROG Strix Scope is a compact mechanical keyboard with a sturdy all-aluminium top plate, while the

lightweight, ambidextrous Impact II gaming mouse is honed for optimal performance.

GOLD SAVE THE PRINCESS The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild PowerA Nintendo Switch enhanced wired controller PowerA make some really cool officially licensed controllers for the Switch, and this latest one is definitely a must-have for Zelda fans. This striking number with golden highlights not only looks the goods, but delivers them with a super-reliable wired connection along with all that you need for your next bout of Switch adventuring, from motion controls through to two mappable back buttons.

FLASH IT UP Powerwave Controller Grip & Trigger Pack for PS5 The DualSense controller for the PlayStation 5 is a snazzy piece of kit, but it can also be a slippery sucker. Enter Powerwave, with their latest release to keep that controller firmly within your grasp. Enhanced grips add a comfortable texture, and allow adjustable trigger sensitivity. Plus, three sets of trigger caps allow you to change up your R2 and L2 buttons to different lengths to suit your style.

SEAT SEAT SEAT Anda Seat AD12XL-03 gaming chair Whether you’re gaming in short bursts or in it for an all-nighter, having somewhere comfy to park your bottom is important. What’s even more crucial is having a chair that’s going to look after your back. This ergonomically designed, combos – is built to withstand the rigours of a heavy session, with all the right padding to look after you at the same time. steel-framed Anda seat – available in various colour

PERCH AND DEPLOY Cable Guys The Mandalorian controller holder

Hey, he’s done a pretty good job of looking after ‘The Child’ – aka Baby Yoda – so we reckon that he can be entrusted with holding on to your treasured phone or game controller. This officially licensed statue of every Star Wars fan’s favourite bounty hunter stands eight inches (that’s just over 20 centimetres) tall, and comes complete with a two-metre-long USB-C charging cable.

14 FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

ROG phone 3 • Stunning 6.59”144Hz display • Monster 6000mAH battery • Side charging design with front facing speaker

ASUS 3 Degrees of Gaming

ROG Strix G15 512GB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX2070 8GB GDDR6 FHD 144Hz display • • •

ROG Strix GA15 • AMD® Ryzen™ 7-3700X processor

• Up to NVIDIA® GeForce® RTX 2070S graphics • Large 512GB SSD storage with 16GB RAM

asus.com.au

STACK

GAMING REVIEWS

visit stack.com.au

Out now at

PUYO PUYO TETRIS 2

PUZZLE MULTIPLAYER

OUT NOW

The collision of the greatest Russian export since vodka, Tetris , and possibly the cutest puzzle game ever from Japan – yes, we know that’s a big call – Puyo Puyo gets a second outing in this appropriately named game. OK, so we all know what Tetris is. But you may be wondering what the heck is ‘Puyo Puyo’? It, too, is a puzzle game

that, while let out to play in the west variously as Puyo Pop , Kirby’s Avalanche or

WHAT'S THE STORY? A new story adventure mode harks back to events of the first crossover of the two puzzle phenomena. It’s a dialogue-heavy tale of people falling from space and being cutesy and… look, it’s fun and it has fabulous voice acting, available in English or Japanese.

to-head play relatively fair. If you have a preference, there are enough modes where you can avoid the other game altogether – but you’d miss out on a whole lot of fun if you were that boring all the time. Still, at start-up you can just plump for classic, vanilla Tetris or Puyo Puyo , so all bases are covered. Modes abound, online and for up to four players in local split- screen. There are six challenge modes, plus another six arcade levels and a couple of lessons if you feel the need to brush up your skills. So yes, Puyo Puyo Tetris 2 is a collision of two classic puzzle games. It takes the utilitarian Tetris , gives it a wonderful anime makeover, adds its own ace puzzler, and delivers one of the best puzzle releases ever. Yep, ever. AF

even Dr Robotnik’s Mean Bean Machine , is something altogether more supernova in its native land. It’s basically a blocky colour matching game, too, but as the pairs that continually drop are made up of blobby characters, they split when they hit other blobby characters, rather than staying whole. While different – one demands line clearance, the other chains of colour clears – the two games are complementary enough to make head-

PLANET COASTER: CONSOLE EDITION

ACTION ADVENTURE MULTIPLAYER

OUT NOW

Bringing the theme park simulation game thoroughly up to date, Planet Coaster arrives on consoles with full support for the new generation. The game’s concept is straightforward – you’re given a series of theme parks to manage… and they’re often in a sorry state. Your goal is to fix the park’s problems, be they choice of rides,

state of repair, layout and flow of the park, the price of rides versus customer satisfaction, and the amount of fear your coasters generate. Yes, fear’s a metric – too much and your punters will stay away, but without enough they’ll go home disappointed.

GOING THAT WAY… REALLY FAST! Aspiring coaster designers have been able to create, build and test their own for 22 years, thanks to video games. The Rollercoaster Tycoon series got things rolling, reaching a pinnacle in 2004 with the third series entry, the first by Frontier Developments. They revisited the concept in 2016, resulting in the PC release of Planet Coaster .

scale – so once you’re done tormenting your guests, you’ll be equipped to make them happy (and scared) on a grand scale. The game’s move to console is largely a great success. This was a mouse-and-keyboard PC game through-and-through, yet developers Frontier have managed to transition it to consoles faithfully. Like almost all console versions of games like this, there’s a pretty steep learning curve, but if you’ve played sim games on consoles before (like Frontier’s own Jurassic World Evolution ) you’ll quickly feel at home. If you love your sim games, love your theme parks, and especially if you love both, Planet Coaster: Console Edition is possibly the best thing to grab while real-life theme parks are a little more out of reach than usual. AH

You initially build a neon merry-go-round and discover that it’s somehow the most popular ride in the park. As you tweak its admission cost the queues grow, the Sims - like murmurs of joy from the customers are tangible and, if you shut the ride down, the crowd walks away, heads hung low in disappointment. It’s a neat preview of how the whole thing works, just on a smaller

16 FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

L E T POWE R CONS UME YOU.

DE L L G5 GAM I NG L A P TOP

High-speed performance The latest AMD Ryzen ® processors enable powerful performance for uninterrupted gameplay.

Advanced cooling Innovative dual-fan cooling

Stunning visuals Powerful AMD Radeon ™ graphics and dedicated memory ensure clear, graphics-intensive gameplay.

system with an advanced thermal design ensures that your system stays cool as the action heats up.

Available in store

GAMING PREVIEWS

visit stack.com.au

FEBRUARY

NIOH COLLECTION Two of the most celebrated – and challenging – games of the PS4 era are partying for the franchise’s fourth anniversary with a trip onto new-gen. Revisit – or assail for the first time – both Nioh and Nioh 2 in stunning 4K, running at up to 120 frames per second (if you have a supporting screen) – plus all DLC expansions are included.

PERSONA 5 STRIKERS All of the stylish adventure craziness of the Persona universe smashes headlong into classic Dynasty Warriors hack and slash mayhem in this wild crossover game event. Set six months after the end of Persona 5 , head out on a road trip with the Phantom Thieves, where they strike back against the corruption that’s crushing cities across Japan.

MULTIPLAYER

MULTIPLAYER

ACTION RPG

ACTION RPG

5/2/21

23/2/21

LITTLE NIGHTMARES II Six and her yellow raincoat are back, helping young boy Mono escape a creepy, distorted world – and also hoping to ensure her very survival. What is the strange Signal Tower, and why is the world being turned rotten by its transmissions? Affected residents will try to thwart your quest at every turn, but you’re strong enough, right?

BRAVELY DEFAULT II The latest Bravely game sees young sailor Seth set out in search of four Crystals. He’ll explore a whole new world filled with new characters, as he aims to save the continent of Excillant – with a little help from four new Heroes of Light! There’s classic turn-based action as you balance risk and reward, plus all that the series is renowned for.

MULTIPLAYER

MULTIPLAYER

PUZZLE PLATFORMER

JRPG

22/2/21

26/2/21

SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD + BOWSER’S FURY All the classic Mario platformer action and multiplayer madness finally makes its way from the Wii U to Switch – wahoo! Whether you hook up online or locally, there’s plenty of action to be had as you’ll pounce and climb through dozens of colourful stages. With the Bowser’s Fury DLC also included, there’s lots to do – let’s go!

FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S: CORE COLLECTION If creepy puppets are your thing, then prepare for mass overload with the first five games in the enduring freaky-fest that is Five Nights at Freddy’s . These animatronic creatures may seem cute and fun while Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza is open, but come after hours the murderous intent of these machines takes over. Have fun surviving the night!

MULTIPLAYER

MULTIPLAYER

PLATFORMER

SURVIVAL HORROR

12/2/21

26/2/21

18 FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

FOLLOW

TOTALLY FREE

YOUR ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO FILM , TV , MUSIC , GAMING & LIFE TECH

t o f t h e

T A C K f

a m i l y

b e p a r

S

@lukeasutton @ti mlambert

@stackmag

@sultanaboi91 @nalonmail

@joelr21

@susmugoose

@stackmag

@ashleybeau94

@waynes.games

@stackmag

facebook.com/ stackmagazine

twitter.com/ STACKmag

instagram.com/ stackmagazine

STACK Presents

stack.com.au

BONUS $ 150 Eftpos Gift Card *

ISSUE 196 Feb ’21

TECH LIFE

Your MONTHLY GUIDE to the HOTTEST TECH at

Seamless connect Powerful apart. S

Image simulated.

Discover the all-new Galaxy S21

Shoot in 108MP, the best resolution on a smartphone

Capture videos in incredible 8K resolution *

The first Galaxy S Series to work with an S Pen **

*8Kvideo only records 30 fps. Super-Smooth video only available in 4K. To viewvideos in 8K quality, a compatible 8K device is required (sold separately). **Compatible Galaxy S Pen sold separately. Does not support Bluetooth functionality.

ctivity with Galaxy t. Stronger together.

Galaxy Watch Active2 — New limited Violet edition — Large display — Customised style

Galaxy Buds Pro — Incredible sound quality — Immersive sound with intelligent Active Noise Cancelling — Built for comfort

Buy now at

GalaxyWatch Active2 and Galaxy Buds Pro sold separately. Wireless PowerShare is compatible with devices that support WPC Qi wireless charging.

Galaxy A42 5G Awesome is for everyone

Colours available:

Stream, download and post at seriously fast speeds with 5G *

Quad rear camera with new Macro lens

Long-lasting 5,000mAh battery and 15W fast charging **

* 5G services onlysupported in 5G network enabled locations and on eligible networks. Current availabilitylimited to select operators. Actual speeds achievable will vary depending on service availability and otherfactors. **Battery capacityvalue of a ‘typical’ user. Rated (i.e. minimum) battery capacityvalue is 4,860mAh. Actual battery capacityvalue mayvary. See usermanual for instructions on optimum battery life.

TECH LIFE

FEATURE LIFE TECH

1 Draw up a list of exactly what you need and, like Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz , don’t deviate from the pathway. 2 Research, research, research Make sure what you’re buying will do the job it needs to do. 3 “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need,” sang Mick Jagger in 1969. Take a leaf out of Mick’s book and plan for an alternative in case you can’t get the model you want. 4 Set a budget for each item on said list and, importantly, despite the ever present temptation to up it, stick to it like dog hair on a couch. 5 Marketing is designed to fire those desire receptors in your brain, so it requires Jedi-strength willpower to resist. Always buy what you really need and not what you really want. Tips for buying on a budget Well, I didn’t know that! The word budget derives from the French word bougette , which means leather bag, and was used as ‘budget’ as far back as the 15th century in England. 200 years later it would evolve to mean the contents of the leather bag. The modern financial interpretation comes from the 18th century, when the treasury minister would open his budget to reveal his fiscal plans.

Getting Set With Tech For Less

W ho doesn’t love a bargain? The beauty of buying tech on a budget is the plethora of options in the bargain basement bracket. Not everyone who buys a laptop will have the budget – or desire – to drop $2k on a top shelf model. And do you know what? In 2021, you don’t have to either. Affordable tech, whether it's a speaker, a tablet or even an air fryer, doesn’t necessarily mean a significant compromise in quality. With a bit of research, the savvy shopper can get just what they want at a fraction of the cost. With Christmas now a distant blur in the rear-view mirror, thoughts turn to getting stuck into the new year and negotiating the challenges ahead. For many of us ( STACK staff included) that will mean a continued period of working from home while events around the globe remain uncertain. As such, this might necessitate further investment to bring your home office up to speed so you can work as efficiently as possible in your PJs! The end of the silly season in Australia

generally sees a high level of relocation either through work, moving to get into a catchment area for a school, or because your grump of a landlord has hiked up the rent. Real estate agents report very high rental demands in January and February and with that comes the dreaded move, and the potential need to update the new home network or increase the TV size for a bigger living space. Again, this undertaking to furnish a home with new tech essentials on a budget is definitely achievable. And if you’re one of the many students preparing to set off to university for the first time this year, the excitement of new beginnings lies ahead. Alongside the requirement to kit out your accommodation with the bare basic living essentials is the need to make sure your tech inventory is ready to roll. This month, we look at the budget-busting tech options that will help kickstart your 2021 and leave your bank balance in the black.

25

visit stack.com.au

Smartphones for less A feature-packed smartphone need not break the bank – even if you’re looking for storage, long battery life, a quad camera, a fast processor for gaming, or all of the above. These starter smartphones are rich in functionality and very attractively priced. You’ll be amazed at the choices on offer, and the change you'll get back from five hundred bucks!

Should I look at a smartphone with 5G? If your price range permits, it's worth considering a 5G smartphone, although they're much harder to find in the budget range. Not only are they compatible with the existing 3G and 4G networks, they're also able to tap into the low-latency, high-speed perks of the incredibly fast 5G network. Granted, 5G isn't as widespread as 4G yet, but expect that to change in the coming months. And by opting for a 5G handset, you're effectively future-proofing your device.

What about the cameras on a budget phone? It's impossible to compete with the big guys in the camera department, but don't discount the cheaper end of town – there's been a big step forward in tech and budget smartphones can certainly still deliver. Front and rear-facing cameras are standard and let you make video calls to family or friends, or record static pics or video for a budding Instagram channel.

Samsung Galaxy A11 ScreenSize: 6.4” Resolution: 720 x 1560 (HD+) CPU: 1.8GHz Octa-Core Storage: 32GB RAM: 2GB Rearcamera: 13MP(Main) / 2MP(Depth) / 5MP(Ultra- Wide) FrontCamera: 8MP Battery: 4,000 mAh The Samsung Galaxy A11 has face recognition as well as a fingerprint sensor at the rear of the phone for extra device security. The triple camera system will ably handle portraits right through to ultra-wide angles, with the 8MP front camera perfect for selfies. The Depth Camera feature lets you adjust depth of field after taking the shot. And you can enjoy your shots on a decent 6.4” screen. 32GB storage is expandable up to 512GB thanks to a microSD card port.

Nokia 5.3 ScreenSize: 6.55” Resolution: 720 x 1600 CPU: 2.0GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 665 Storage: 64GB RAM: 4GB Rearcamera: 13MP(Main) / 2MP(Depth) / 2MP(Macro) / 5MP(Ultra-Wide) FrontCamera: 8MP Battery: 4,000 mAh

The Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU and 4GB RAM will come in handy if you plan to seriously game on your smartphone, as will the generous 6.55” screen. There’s 64GB storage, which is great at this price point, plus the Android One promise from Nokia means no bloatware, so you won’t be running out of room anytime soon. Storage is also expandable with microSD card. Impressively, Nokia claim their battery management AI will help the 5.3 stay charged for up to two days. Best of all is the quad camera, with macro and ultra-wide lens offering shot versatility – a differentiator at this price range.

26 FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

FEATURE LIFE TECH

Future proof on a budget

Oppo A53 ScreenSize: 6.5” Resolution: 720 x 1600 CPU: 1.8GHz Qualcomm SM4250 Storage: 64GB RAM: 4GB Rearcamera: 13MP(Main) / 2MP(Depth) / 2MP(Macro) FrontCamera: 8MP Battery: 5,000 mAh The Oppo A53 is a perfect viewing platform for bingers and gamers alike, thanks to the 6.5” screen size and 90Hz Neo-Display. Most models in this price range have 60Hz refresh, so the 90Hz is a nice step up and fast paced games will benefit with a smoother look on the A53. The A53 is also no slouch when it comes to photos, with a triple camera system and 15 filters to choose from. The 5,000 mAh battery capacity will provide enough juice for a whole day of heavy use, with 18W fast charge ensuring minimal downtime for the A53. Storage is expandable to 256GB with microSD.

As 5G is rolled out, you’ll soon have access to a super fast network across Australia. While most 5G-ready smartphones are top in price range, Samsung’s most affordable 5G model offers a compelling feature set. Even on a budget, it’s well worth considering, as it might mean longer before your next upgrade.

Vivo Y30 ScreenSize: 6.47” Resolution: 720 x 1560 CPU: 2.3GHz Mediatek MT6765 Storage: 64GB RAM: 4GB Rearcamera: 13MP(Main) / 2MP(Depth) / 2MP(Macro) / 8MP(Wide) FrontCamera: 8MP Battery: 5,000 mAh The Vivo Y30 has a respectable set of features at this price point. The quad camera will cater to all use cases. For gamers, the Vivo Y30 introduces their Multi-Turbo 3.0, which employs predictive technology to smooth out any problems that might pop up from third party apps. There’s also Ultra Game Mode, which optimises for gameplay.

Samsung Galaxy A42 5G ScreenSize: 6.6” Resolution: 720 x 1600

CPU: 2.2GHz, 1.8GHz Octa-core Storage: 128GB RAM: 6GB Rearcamera: 48MP(Main) / 5MP(Depth) / 5MP(Macro) / 8MP(Ultra-Wide) FrontCamera: 20MP Battery: 5,000 mAh You need a bit under the hood to bask in 5G, and that starts with a 5,000 mAh battery for handling the rest of the bumped up hardware specs. The 48MP main camera records in 4K UHD (3840x2160), so it’s pleasing to have 128GB of storage. You also get a 20MP front camera to present your best self in 5G. And a 6.6” AMOLED screen ensures that all the added content you’ll be streaming and sharing is seen at its best.

Battery considerations Ask anyone what the most important consideration in a smartphone is and they'll likely tell you it's the battery life. We've all been in the unenviable position of desperately needing to use our smartphones with the battery at an anxiety- inducing critical level. Like any device, battery life is essential, so opt for the best available in your price range.

27

visit stack.com.au

Tablets used to be a newfangled tech available at one price point: expensive. These days, you can save bucks with a more attractive entry-level cost and still have a very handy device. Tablets for less

What to expect from an affordable tablet:

1 FULL HD The standard resolution for TV and Blu-ray, Full HD screen resolution will allow you to stream your favourite shows anywhere and anytime, right on your tablet. Full HD is also known as 1080p or 1080i. It’s 1920 pixels across and 1080 pixels down the screen. Any tablet that surpasses those specs should do the trick and then some.

2 SCREEN SIZE Not to be confused with resolution, screen size is the actual viewing area. Look for at least 10 inches of screen real estate for that balance of portability and practicality (read: visibility without squinting or an over-reliance on zooming).

3 BATTERY LIFE Thanks to improvements in energy use across the board, you can expect tablets to last a day even with sustained usage. However, there’s no going past decent battery capacity, so you want to look for tablets boasting 5,000mAh batteries (or thereabouts). You should also look for fast charge as a feature.

4 RAM The combination of RAM and CPU to deliver performance is tricky to put into hard and fast rules. Ideally you should look for around 4GB of RAM or more, especially for gaming.

5 STORAGE If your needs are simple and you plan to stick to a standard suite of well-used apps for keeping in touch, bingeing shows and some gaming, then 32GB internal storage will be fine. If you plan to shoot videos, look for 64GB or more. Even in this case you should be able to get a feature-loaded tablet that’s under $500. Most of the tablets in this range also have a microSD slot for expandable storage options.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 10.4” Wi-Fi 32GB Around the same price point as the Lenovo M10Tab Plus, you’ll also find the Samsung GalaxyTab A7.This budget-friendly tablet has a great WUXGA+ (2000x1200) resolution as part of a spacious 10.4-inch screen. That great looking display is paired with quad-speaker Dolby Atmos surround sound, and up to 13 hours of battery life. The innards are built to keep up, too: 4GB of RAM, an Octa-core CPU, and 64GB of storage that’s easily expandable by up to 128GB via the microSD port.

Lenovo Tab M10 10.1” 32GB

A smidge more than a couple of hundred bucks gets you a 10.1-inch HD IPS display (1200x800),

which comes with 32GB of storage. A Dolby Audio speaker offers great sound, while there are respectable innards with 2GB of RAM and a quad- core CPU.The 4,850mAh battery also offers decent longevity.

Lenovo M10 Tab Plus 10.3” 64GB Gen2 Tablet For around $100 more, you can upgrade to the Lenovo M10Tab Plus.The “Plus” part adds a larger and higher-res 10.3-inch, Full HD (1980x1080) display. It also doubles down on some of the other key features: Octa-core CPU for faster processing, double the internal storage at 64GB, 4GB of RAM for faster multitasking, and dual Dolby Atmos speakers.The full metal body adds to the overall style and durability, and there’s a 5,000mAh battery to keep you powered for longer.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite Wi-Fi 64GB

Venture past the $500 threshold – but not by much – and you can tap into the lightweight but durable Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 LiteWi-Fi 64GB, which includes an S Pen for digital handwriting and drawing. The 10.4-inch Full HD (1200x2000) display offers plenty of screen real estate, and Dark Mode saves the battery while making night-time use easier on the eyes. Speaking of battery life, there’s around 11 hours of charge here, which is plenty, plus the combination of Octa-core CPU and 4GB of RAM is great for multitasking.

28 FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au

All it takes is a glance

Lenovo Yoga S7 Carbon

Lightweight durability & style

Stunning Sight & Sound

All Day Battery Life Up to 15 hours 1080P video playback¹ ¹ Based on 3D Mark FireStrike scores against Intel® UHD 620 graphics.

Starting from just 966g, the Carbon fibre Chassis is incredibly durable to ensure it withstands everyday shock, sand, dust, and humidity.

3mm Narrow Bezel, Quad-HD 100% sRGB colour gamat, Dolby Vision display with Atmos Optimisation.

Yoga 7i

A first for Yoga, a must for you

Boundary-breaking performance and responsiveness

Entertainment to go

Do great things

Yoga 9i

Purposeful design and performance

< Leather cover

Smarter convenience

Thoughtful design

Do great things

visit stack.com.au

COMPUTE FOR LESS

For a budget-friendly computer, the Chromebook is right up there. They cover a range of laptops that run Chrome OS, which is based on the super-popular Chrome web browser, making it easy to pick up and use. Chromebooks include in-built Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for straightforward, wire-free connectivity, and touchscreens are the norm, even on budget-friendly models, to offer greater freedom of interaction and control. Instead of installing and multitasking software as you would on a PC or Mac, a Chromebook lets you pop the lid and get going with the basics. If you need to perform a specific task, hit up Google Chrome’s Web Store to nab an app to get the job done. You can use some 200 apps offline, which is handy when there’s no web connection, but Chromebooks are built to shine online. And let’s face it, we live in an online world.

1 On a Chrome browser you can work with Gmail offline. Simply go to settings and check ‘Enable offline mail’. You will then be able to read, respond to, and search your existing Gmail messages when not connected to the internet. Your messages will be cached to send once you’re online again. 2 Got files on your old PC you want to transfer across to your new Chromebook? Use Google Drive. The cloud storage is a perfect bridge for transferring files without the use of hard drive media . 3 If your Chromebook is mainly for playing and bingeing, you can still get some decent work done on it by using Google Docs. In fact, you can save your work to Microsoft Word or PDF file format. And for spreadsheets, give Google Sheets a try. Get the best from your Chromebook

Can I run Microsoft Office? Yes, you can. Firstly, Office on the web from Microsoft is free and will allow you to create, share and collaborate using the familiar suite of MS products. You access Office on the web via your Chromebook browser. Secondly, on the latest range of Chromebooks, you can download Microsoft’s complete Office Suite from Google Play. These are Android-based apps, however they’re just as productive as the PC or Mac versions.

What about security? Pretty much every Chromebook from the last couple of years comes with a Google-designed Titan C security chip. This hardware-driven security is built to secure devices, protect personal data, and maintain system integrity. Google provides rapid updates for discovered compromises, which is built to protect user passwords and other personal data, while simultaneously protecting against operating system and firmware tampering. This makes Chromebooks incredibly secure devices, without having to rely on user interaction. For added peace of mind look for a Chromebook device launched in 2020 and onwards, as they receive eight years of automatic updates.

Lenovo Duet Chromebook ZA6F0017AU This particular Chromebook comes with 128GB of speedy SSD storage for apps and files, 4GB of RAM to keep up with basic

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 82B80006UX Step up the budget a bit andThis

Chromebook has a speedier Intel Core i3 processor, 64GB of internal storage, and 4GB of RAM.The 13.3-inch Full HD touch- screen display is attached to a backlit keyboard, for easier low-light computing. There’s also 10 hours of battery life, as well as multiple USB ports and a microSD card reader (for even more storage) alongsideWi-Fi 6 for future- proofed wireless speeds.

computing needs, and battery life of up to 10 hours. As a 2-in-1 device, the Full HD (1920x1080) touch display can easily detach to use as a 10.1-inch tablet, too.

HP 12b-CA0011TU X360 If you fancy more battery life, the 14+ hours here may be more your speed, more so with fast charging that offers 50 per cent battery in just 45 minutes.This Chromebook has a compact HD (1366x912) display, which you can rotate all the way around

for an impromptu tablet. Pair it with a stylus pen for digital handwriting or art. It also boasts an Intel processor, 64GB of internal storage and the 8GB of RAM makes for speedy multitasking.

30 FEBRUARY 2021

jbhifi.com.au