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Echoes of Aincrad is a new action RPG from BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment that returns players to the iconic world of Sword Art Online, but with a major change. Instead of simply retelling Kirito’s journey, players are given the opportunity to create their own hero and experience the world of Aincrad from a fresh perspective.
The idea behind Echoes of Aincrad is an exciting one. A floating castle filled with danger, mystery and adventure provides the perfect setting for an RPG, and the game does capture some of that sense of stepping into a vast fantasy world. Unfortunately, while there are plenty of good ideas here, the final experience often feels like it falls short of its potential.
One of the strongest aspects of Echoes of Aincrad is its presentation. The game looks fantastic, with colourful environments, impressive character designs and a vibrant interpretation of the Sword Art Online universe. The soundtrack is arguably the highlight, delivering memorable themes that help create the feeling of a grand adventure. It is an area where the game consistently impresses.
The decision to allow players to create their own character is also a welcome one. Rather than simply following an established character's story, you are able to design your own avatar and become part of the Aincrad world. This gives the adventure a more personal feel and makes progression feel like your own journey.
The RPG systems offer some enjoyable depth as well. Customising your character, experimenting with different weapons, improving equipment and creating builds around different playstyles are all satisfying elements. The variety of weapons and upgrade mechanics are among the better parts of the experience, giving players reasons to continue improving their character and adapting their approach to combat.
The original storyline and introduction of new characters are also positive additions. For fans of Sword Art Online, seeing a different perspective on Aincrad is much more interesting than another retelling of familiar events. The game has the foundations of something that could have been a memorable adventure.
Unfortunately, many of those foundations are let down by design choices that hold the game back. The pacing is one of the biggest problems. Too often, the game feels sluggish, with long pauses and animations that slow down the experience. Instead of maintaining momentum, the adventure frequently comes to a stop.
Combat is another area where Echoes of Aincrad struggles. While the game presents itself as an action RPG, the combat mechanics are incredibly basic. Battles lack the depth and excitement expected from a modern action RPG, making encounters feel repetitive rather than thrilling.
Exploration also suffers from missed opportunities. The world may look impressive, but much of it feels empty. For a game set in such a famous location, there are surprisingly few interesting things to discover or interact with. The lack of meaningful exploration makes travelling through the world feel more like moving between objectives rather than uncovering a living environment.
The loot system is another disappointment. Equipment is not randomly generated, which removes much of the excitement from exploring areas and defeating enemies. Instead of wondering what valuable item might be waiting around the next corner, players will often find themselves simply following a guide to locate specific rewards.
The NPCs also leave a lot to be desired. Characters are often boring, with poor animations making conversations feel lifeless. The game also struggles to make player choices feel meaningful, with decisions having little impact on the overall experience.
Echoes of Aincrad feels like a game with a great idea at its core, but one that does not always deliver on its ambition. Those looking for a huge open world to freely explore may come away disappointed, but players who prefer a more focused quest based RPG will find plenty to enjoy. The character creation, upgrade systems, soundtrack and visual presentation all provide genuine highlights.
However, at £55, it is difficult to ignore the feeling that this is an opportunity missed. The world of Aincrad deserved a deeper and more engaging adventure, and while Echoes of Aincrad has some enjoyable moments, it ultimately feels like it needed more time and ambition.
There is a free demo available on Steam, and it provides a very good idea of what the full game offers. The gameplay loop is clear from the demo, so it is worth trying before purchasing. If you enjoy the demo, you will likely find more to enjoy in the full release.
Personally, Echoes of Aincrad was a little underwhelming. I wanted more from a game set in such an interesting world, and while there are enjoyable elements here, the overall experience never reaches the heights it could have.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag has always been a special kind of Assassin's Creed game. When it launched in 2013, its seamless world, naval gameplay and colourful cast of characters felt ahead of its time. Edward Kenway became one of the most memorable characters in the franchise, and Black Flag has remained in many players' top three Assassin's Creed games ever since.
Now, over a decade later, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced brings the iconic solo pirate adventure back with a full remake built from the ground up using the latest Ubisoft Anvil engine. It remains faithful to the original experience while introducing enhanced graphics, improved stealth, upgraded parkour, refined combat, deeper naval mechanics and new narrative content.
After spending several weeks playing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, the overall level of polish has been one of the biggest surprises. Aside from a couple of early graphical glitches, I have experienced no bugs during my time with the game. With a Day One patch planned for July 9th, the release day, it was impressive to see how well the game performed before launch.
Having last played Black Flag more than a decade ago, returning through the Resynced version brought back a lot of memories. The game immediately felt familiar. I started remembering entire areas, characters and the overall feeling of playing the original. This remake succeeds because it does not just update the graphics. It recreates what made Black Flag special while improving many areas that needed attention.
The parkour is one of the biggest improvements. Running around locations, jumping, climbing and moving through the world feels better than ever. Traversal has always been a major part of Assassin's Creed, and Resynced makes simply moving around the world enjoyable.
The map has also been improved significantly. The original game could sometimes feel crowded with icons, but Resynced takes a more natural approach. Areas gradually reveal themselves after synchronising viewpoints, allowing players to discover hidden chests, song sheets, treasure maps and other collectibles without feeling overwhelmed.
Stealth has received a major upgrade too. The system feels much closer to Assassin's Creed Shadows, making sneaking around enemy areas feel more intuitive. The addition of a manual crouch button makes a huge difference, allowing players to hide, move carefully and plan assassinations in a way that feels much more natural.
Visually, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a stunning remake. The use of the same Anvil engine as Assassin's Creed Shadows gives the game an incredible level of detail. The weather effects are particularly impressive. Sailing across the seas as a storm arrives, with lightning hitting the water and dramatic weather changes transforming the environment, creates some of the game's best moments.
The original game's present-day sections were always one of my least favourite parts. Walking around and sabotaging computers interrupted the main experience, so removing those sections is a welcome change. They have been replaced with special "Rift" levels that continue from Assassin's Creed Shadows, where players hear a voice and control a glitched version of their character while solving puzzles to return to the main game.
The Rifts are a fantastic replacement for those older present-day sections. These optional unique quests are stored deep within the Animus and provide additional narrative context, while also exploring "what if" scenarios for Edward Kenway. After getting used to the Animus Hub and its approach in Assassin's Creed Shadows, seeing it return in Black Flag Resynced feels like a natural progression. These missions offer something different from the main adventure and provide a much more enjoyable way to experience the modern-day side of Assassin's Creed.
The Animus Hub itself has also evolved further since its introduction in Assassin's Creed Shadows. It now acts as a central place to explore the Assassin's Creed timeline, access owned games and take part in additional challenges. Through Projects, players can complete missions to unlock exclusive rewards and earn Keys, which can then be exchanged for premium rewards through the Exchange. The Vault also stores collected data files, videos and important pieces of the franchise's ongoing modern-day story. After experiencing the Animus Hub in Shadows, its return here feels like a welcome addition that helps connect the wider Assassin's Creed universe.
The voice acting remains very good, with plenty of local accents adding personality to the world. The characters continue to be one of Black Flag's strongest elements, helping make the pirate setting memorable.
The only real negative is that Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a remake rather than a reimagining. Players who have played the original recently may not find enough new content to get the same experience from returning immediately. However, for those who never played Black Flag, or those who have not returned to it for many years, this remake offers a chance to experience the game again with significant improvements.
After completing Assassin's Creed Shadows, I needed a new Assassin's Creed challenge, and Black Flag Resynced was exactly what I was looking for. The main story can be completed in around 30 hours if you focus purely on the main missions, but with side quests, exploration, collectibles and simply enjoying life on the high seas, you can easily get around 70 hours of gameplay, if not more.
One of the things I have always enjoyed about the modern Assassin's Creed games is that you can play them however you want. You can ignore the main story, avoid side quests, explore different locations, collect achievements and trophies, or simply spend time running, climbing and discovering the world. Black Flag Resynced continues that tradition perfectly.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is how much my opinion changed compared to the original. I was one of the rare players who was not a fan of Black Flag the first time around. I never particularly enjoyed the pirate elements, sailing the seas or fighting other ships. Yet in Resynced, those same features have become some of the most enjoyable parts of the game because the improvements have fixed many of the things that frustrated me.
Even smaller changes make a difference. Collecting song sheets, something I always disliked in the original, feels much better now. It feels more natural, less frustrating and easier to enjoy.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has arrived at exactly the right time. Many players will have finished Assassin's Creed Shadows and will be looking for another Assassin's Creed adventure. This remake fills that gap perfectly and brings back one of the franchise's most loved games.
The only question remaining is what happens after completing Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced? Could we get a Assassin's Creed Rogue Resynced? Surely that would be easy to do considering its similarity to Black Flag gameplay wise?
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced is a top three Assassin's Creed game. It takes a beloved experience, improves the areas that needed attention and delivers an adventure that is easy to recommend.
The smartphone market has spent years moving in one direction. Bigger screens, more apps, more notifications, and more demands on our attention. At the same time, traditional feature phones have remained available for those who want a simpler experience, but often at the cost of losing access to many of the services people now rely on every day.
The TTFone TT990 attempts to sit somewhere between those two worlds.
After spending the past week using the device as both a smartphone and a traditional flip phone, it quickly became clear that the TT990 is not trying to compete with flagship handsets. Instead, it is trying to solve a different problem entirely. It is aimed at people who want to remain connected without carrying around a device that constantly encourages endless scrolling, social media browsing and digital distraction.
As somebody who remembers the early days of mobile phones, the flip phone era, and the eventual shift to smartphones, I found the TT990 to be a genuinely interesting proposition. It takes a familiar form factor and combines it with just enough modern functionality to remain practical in everyday life.
The first thing that stands out is the build quality. The phone feels solid in the hand and well put together. The hinge feels sturdy, the casing feels durable, and the physical buttons are satisfying to use. There is a reassuring sense that this is a device built for everyday use rather than something fragile that needs constant protection.
The dual-screen arrangement works surprisingly well. The 3.5-inch internal touchscreen is naturally lower resolution than a modern smartphone display, but it is perfectly adequate for the type of tasks this phone is designed to handle. Reading messages, checking contacts, making calls and using essential applications all feel comfortable enough. It is important to remember that the TT990 is not intended to be a media consumption device. Nobody is buying this phone to spend hours watching YouTube or binge-watching Netflix.
Performance throughout testing was also better than expected. The touchscreen responds well, navigation feels smooth, and the phone generally feels quick and responsive. With 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, there is plenty of room for everyday use, and the addition of MicroSD support up to 256GB provides further flexibility for those who need extra space.
One of the biggest questions surrounding a device like this is app support. The TT990 runs a de-Googled version of Android 14 and uses the Aurora Store for applications. Essential communication apps are available, including WhatsApp and Viber, allowing users to send messages, make voice calls and conduct video calls without issue. I was pleasantly surprised to find Telegram available as well, which will likely appeal to users who place a greater emphasis on privacy-focused communication.
Another pleasant surprise came when testing banking software. I expected compatibility issues, particularly given the absence of Google's services, but my banking app worked without any problems. That alone may remove a major concern for potential buyers considering a move away from a conventional smartphone. (I only tested with Nationwide)
Call quality was excellent throughout testing. Connections were reliable, voices sounded clear, and network performance presented no obvious issues. At its core, the TT990 succeeds at the most fundamental task any phone should perform. Making and receiving calls is straightforward and dependable.
Photo taken with the TT990, with the default settings.
The camera is perhaps best described as functional. The 8-megapixel rear camera produces acceptable results for quick photographs and everyday snapshots, but those expecting smartphone-level photography will naturally be disappointed. Given the intended purpose of the device this is understandable, although I would still have preferred a higher resolution sensor.
Battery life is another area where the TT990 performs well. The advertised standby figures proved realistic during testing. With light use I was able to leave the phone running for three days while still having battery life remaining. Naturally, heavier use of apps and communication features will reduce those figures, but overall endurance is impressive compared with many modern smartphones.
A feature I particularly appreciated was the included charging cradle. It is a simple addition, yet one that adds convenience and reinforces the phone's user-friendly design philosophy. Rather than fumbling with cables every time the battery needs charging, you simply place the phone into the dock. It is a small touch, but a welcome one.
Unfortunately, the TT990 is not without its shortcomings.
My biggest criticism concerns the absence of T9 predictive text. The phone relies on the traditional multi-tap ABC input method when using the physical keypad. That means pressing the same key multiple times to cycle through letters. For some users this may not seem significant, but for those of us who grew up using T9, its omission feels like a major oversight.
T9 remains one of the fastest text entry systems ever created for physical keypads. In many situations it can even outperform touchscreen typing. Given the target audience for the TT990, the lack of predictive text support is difficult to understand and will undoubtedly frustrate some users. I found myself naturally using the onscreen keyboard, which works as it would on a regular smartphone, but because you are working on a 3.5" screen, it can be a bit tricky when typing if you have bigger fingers.
I also encountered an issue after installing Viber. The application took control of the green call button on the physical keypad. Instead of opening the standard phone dialler, pressing the button launched Viber. More frustratingly, there appears to be no simple way to restore the original behaviour without performing a factory reset. This will not affect users who do not install Viber, but it is still an issue that needs addressing. I reported the problem to TTFone and hopefully a future software update will resolve it.
Users attempting to treat the TT990 as a conventional smartphone may encounter other limitations. Typing using the on-screen keyboard can feel cramped, and the compact display makes longer sessions of smartphone-style use less comfortable. In truth, however, that is somewhat missing the point of the device.
App compatibility can also be inconsistent due to the de-Googled nature of the operating system. Applications that depend heavily on Google services may not function correctly. YouTube is one notable example. While alternative clients have previously offered workarounds (NewPipe), upcoming changes to Google's systems have created additional complications moving forward.
The reality is that the TT990 works best when approached as a modern flip phone rather than a miniature smartphone. It excels when used for calls, messages, video calls and essential communication. It struggles when asked to become a full replacement for a modern Android handset.
That distinction is important because many criticisms disappear once you understand what the phone is trying to achieve. The TT990 is not designed to keep you glued to a screen. It is not built for endless social media browsing, video streaming or constant online engagement. Instead, it focuses on delivering the essentials while still providing access to the modern services many people genuinely need.
For many users, WhatsApp has effectively replaced SMS messaging. Being able to access that alongside traditional calling features makes the TT990 far more practical than many older feature phones.
What impressed me most is that TTFone appears to understand its audience. The company has consistently listened to customer feedback and refined its devices over time. The TT990 feels like another step in that process, an attempt to find the sweet spot between simplicity and modern functionality.
Is it perfect? Certainly not. The absence of T9 predictive text alone will be enough to irritate some users. There are also inevitable compromises that come with choosing a device designed around digital minimalism.
I also gave the TT990 to my 76-year-old father to try. The main problem he encountered was that he had never used a phone with a physical keypad before, for texting. He only started using a smartphone around five years ago, so he is completely accustomed to touchscreen keyboards. As a result, learning the multi-tap system on the physical keypad proved more hassle than it was worth for him, while the on-screen keyboard was simply too small to use comfortably.
That said, he mainly used the phone for video calls with family abroad, as well as regular voice calls. However, he accessed all of these functions through the touchscreen rather than the physical keypad. Another issue arose during video calls. My father does not like holding a phone for long periods and usually props it up against a cup or whatever happens to be nearby. This is where the included charging cradle should have been particularly useful. Unfortunately, when the phone is placed in the cradle and opened, the selfie camera points slightly downwards. I can imagine that a revised cradle design, or a hinge that allowed the phone to open completely flat, would make video calling much more comfortable for users like my father.
Regardless there is something refreshing about a phone that actively encourages you to spend less time staring at it.
Personally, the TT990 will not replace my primary smartphone. My work requires the full capabilities of a modern device every day. However, I can easily see myself reaching for the TT990 when meeting friends, taking a break from work, or simply wanting to disconnect from the constant noise that comes with carrying a fully featured smartphone.
In many ways, that is where the TT990 makes its strongest case. It offers a practical alternative for people who want greater control over their relationship with technology without abandoning modern communication entirely.
The TTFone TT990 is a thoughtful and well-executed hybrid device that successfully bridges the gap between traditional flip phones and modern smartphones. It gets the fundamentals right, delivers excellent battery life, offers access to key communication apps, and wraps everything in a durable and familiar design.
There is room for improvement, particularly regarding predictive text support and a handful of software quirks, but there is also a great deal to like.
For anyone looking to reduce digital distractions while remaining connected to the people who matter most, the TT990 deserves serious consideration.
Also worth mentioning, is that the phone does have a programmable SOS button, so one press will call a designated number. And it is also compatible with most hearing aids too, so if you are an older user, these are some features that may appeal to you.
Thanks to TTFone for providing the phone for review.
Gobliiins Collection arrives on Nintendo Switch in 2026 as a sizeable archive of puzzle adventure history, bringing together the first five entries in the long running series originally released on PC between 1991 and 2023. It presents itself less as a modern remake and more as a carefully preserved museum piece, and in that respect it largely succeeds.
What stands out immediately is how faithful the collection feels to the originals. These are not reinterpretations or softened reworks, but direct reproductions of the classic games, including multiple versions of the early entries such as MS DOS, CD-ROM and Macintosh builds. For anyone who remembers the series from its early days, there is a clear sense that the developers have tried to preserve the odd, slightly chaotic identity that defined Gobliiins from the start. The humour is intact, the tone remains stubbornly peculiar, and the puzzles still demand patience and lateral thinking in equal measure.
There is also a surprising amount of extra material included, which goes some way to broadening the appeal beyond nostalgia alone. The music player draws from all five games and offers a simple but effective way to revisit the series’ distinctive audio identity. The inclusion of 3D models of original packaging and a gallery of design documents adds a layer of archival interest that feels genuinely thoughtful rather than decorative. The documentary mini series, featuring a new interview with Pierre Gilhodes, co creator of Gobliiins, gives the package a human anchor that helps explain why these games still matter to a small but loyal audience.
On Switch, the games themselves translate reasonably well to console play. Point and click design has always been a tricky fit outside of a mouse driven environment, but the adaptation is serviceable enough that it rarely becomes a barrier. The underlying challenge remains intact, which will please long time players. These puzzles are still uncompromising, sometimes almost wilfully obscure, and that difficulty curve has not been softened for a modern audience. There is a charm in that stubbornness, even if it occasionally tips into frustration.
That said, the collection is not without its shortcomings. The omission of Gobliins 6: The Madmen of the Year 1000, released earlier in the same year, feels like a glaring gap in what is otherwise marketed as a comprehensive set. It is difficult not to see this as an oversight, particularly given the emphasis on completeness elsewhere in the package. There is also the simple reality that these games remain extremely tough by contemporary standards. What once felt like playful experimentation can now feel opaque, and not every player will have the patience to push through its more punishing moments.
Taken as a whole, Gobliiins Collection is best understood as a preservation project aimed squarely at returning fans and puzzle enthusiasts rather than newcomers. It captures the spirit of the original games with care, supports them with meaningful archival extras, and presents them in a convenient modern format. At the same time, it does little to smooth their rough edges or address the long standing difficulty spikes that defined the series from the beginning.
Gobliiins Collection ultimately feels like a well curated time capsule rather than a reinvention. For those who grew up with the series, it is an easy recommendation, even with its gaps and frustrations. For everyone else, it is a curious, often demanding glimpse into a very particular corner of puzzle game history. A solid 7 out of 10 still feels about right, balancing preservation, nostalgia and the occasional reminder that these games were never interested in being easy.
