REVIEW: GUNNAR Optiks Kista Collection – ELIN, INGRID & SOFIA - Gaming/Office Glasses

Review by Jon Donnis

The Kista Collection from GUNNAR Optiks sets out to do something quite specific: give women who live and breathe digital life a stylish, functional way to protect their eyes. Inspired by Nordic fashion and driven by performance, these glasses cater to anyone from creative professionals to hardcore gamers. My girlfriend wore each pair in both office and gaming settings, and her feedback was clear. Each style works, each one feels good, and each one looks the part.

ELIN: Sleek, Lightweight, Functional

The ELIN model is a standout in terms of versatility and comfort. The slim, full-rim rectangular shape brings a subtle Bayonetta flair without tipping into cosplay territory. These frames are light and feel very high quality, and the saddle bridge sits securely without digging into the nose.

She wore these while working long hours in front of her monitor and then switched straight into evening gaming sessions. Her verdict? These offered the best all-round fit and comfort. There was no slippage, no eye fatigue, and no need to take them off mid-session. The Amber tint made a noticeable difference for screen use, softening glare and helping prevent the dry-eye feeling that normally creeps in after a few hours.

Verdict: Clean, smart, and durable. A great balance of fashion and function.

INGRID: Sophisticated with a Sharp Edge

If ELIN is your everyday go-to, INGRID is the pair you reach for when you want to add a little edge. The narrow cat-eye frame immediately elevates your look while still serving the same core purpose: reducing screen-related strain.

My girlfriend described these as her "Zoom call glasses." The shape gave her a more polished appearance on camera without feeling overdressed. More importantly, they stayed comfortable through full workdays and still provided the same clarity and protection with both lens tint options. She noted that the Amber tint gave impressive relief when gaming.

Verdict: Stylish enough for video calls, practical enough for marathons in front of the screen.

SOFIA: Retro Charm, Modern Function

SOFIA is the most distinct of the trio, thanks to its rounded retro frame and keyhole bridge. It might not suit everyone's face shape, but for those who can pull it off, it's a winner. My girlfriend initially thought these were the least likely to fit her, but they surprised her. Once on, they looked flattering and had a slightly softer feel than the others.

The snug keyhole bridge and sculpted nose pads gave a secure but gentle grip. She particularly liked how these performed during longer late-night sessions. Whether scrolling endlessly or playing narrative-heavy games that go on for hours, SOFIA kept her eyes feeling fresh. The Amber tint helped reduce blue light exposure, and the design added just enough personality to stand out.

Verdict: Retro-inspired without being gimmicky. Great for extended use.

Shared Strengths

All three pairs feature GUNNAR's well-known Blue Light Blocking Lens Technology, which continues to be one of the most effective solutions available for screen-related eye strain. Across all three, my girlfriend reported reduced dryness, fewer headaches, and better focus over long periods.

Each frame is available in three colour options and both Amber and Clear tints, which gives users solid flexibility for their setup, environment, or personal style. The premium engineered polymer feels high-quality across the board, without adding bulk or discomfort.

Final Thoughts

GUNNAR Optiks has once again shown why they lead the way in gaming and office eyewear. The Kista Collection feels thoughtfully designed, not just as a "women's range" but as a serious piece of optical gear wrapped in confident, feminine style. Whether you are bossing it in the boardroom, raiding in an MMO, or just binge-watching your favourite series, these glasses support your eyes without asking you to sacrifice personal style.

Excellent glasses from an excellent company.

Thank you to GUNNAR Optiks for providing the glasses for review.

The glasses are available now at the links below.

https://gunnar.com/collections/shop-all/products/ingrid

https://gunnar.com/collections/shop-all/products/sofia

https://gunnar.com/collections/shop-all/products/elin

REVIEW: Spirit of the North 2 (2025 Video Game) on Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Spirit of the North 2 builds upon the charm and beauty of its predecessor, offering a visually stunning but mechanically flawed follow-up. You once again take control of a lone fox, now accompanied by a raven companion, (so he is not a lone fox any more!) as you travel through an ancient world in search of the lost guardians. The core themes of solitude, discovery, and quiet resilience remain, though not always with the same impact.

The world itself is still the star. From frozen peaks to forgotten crypts, each biome offers something visually compelling. There is a relaxing rhythm to the experience, and the soundtrack enhances this beautifully. The environments encourage exploration and reflection, with plenty of hidden lore for those willing to read and dig deep. For fans of tranquil single-player adventures, it delivers some strong moments.

Unfortunately, this sequel also introduces several frustrating elements. Performance issues are noticeable, which should never be an issue on consoles, since it is not like you can upgrade the graphics card on an Xbox Series S. The new jump mechanic requires directional aiming before you leap, which feels awkward and interrupts natural movement. It's a step backward that I found frustrating.

There are also bugs. Some are minor visual glitches, but some can impact navigation or puzzle completion. The early cave section alone can take far too long due to lack of clear direction. Unlike the original, which had better flow despite its simplicity, this game often leaves you unsure of what to do next, look I get it, the developers want people to figure things out without a deep rule set of what to do, but give the player the option, some people just want to know where to go and what to do next.

The raven companion also disappoints. While useful in concept, it suffers from clunky animation and feels more like a distraction than a helpful partner. Given how elegant the fox itself looks and moves, the disparity is stark.

Spirit of the North 2 isn't a bad game, but it does feel unfinished. The new abilities and expanded world should make it superior to the original, but instead, several design choices make it feel less polished. There's still plenty here to enjoy, especially for those who loved the first game, but expect more frustration and less magic this time around.

Score: 6.5 out of 10

 

Out Now on Xbox

https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/spirit-of-the-north-2/9MTFLR6C8RQ2 

REVIEW: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered (2025 Video Game) - Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Bethesda and Virtuos have teamed up to deliver a remastered version of one of the most beloved RPGs of all time. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered is not a remake, and it doesn't try to be. Instead, it brings the classic game into the modern era with improved visuals, audio enhancements, and much-needed tweaks to the user interface and controls, all while keeping the original experience mostly intact.

For returning players, this is a direct hit of nostalgia. From the winding paths through the West Weald to the haunting gates of Oblivion, everything looks richer and more immersive. The use of Unreal Engine 5 gives the world of Cyrodiil a whole new level of depth and atmosphere. Lighting effects, ray tracing, updated textures, and improved animations all contribute to a world that feels more alive, though some aspects like character close-ups still feel dated.

Gameplay-wise, most of what defined the original remains. Real-time combat, skill-based levelling, and open-ended faction questlines all return, as do the quirks that longtime fans will either smile at or sigh over. There are some tweaks to the levelling system, but issues with scaling persist. The notorious bugs and exploits are also still here, including the infamous early chest trick that can rocket you to level 100 in minutes.

The redesigned menus and updated controls make the experience far smoother on modern platforms. AI behaviour for non-playable characters has been improved, though the world still occasionally feels artificial in its routines. Audio updates are subtle but meaningful, with re-recorded environmental effects that help sell the sense of place. Some voice work has been refreshed, but many of the original lines remain, including the odd outtake or awkward delivery that fans of the original might actually welcome.

The inclusion of the Knights of the Nine and Shivering Isles expansions adds value, especially as both have received the same graphical and interface improvements. These remain two of the strongest pieces of content Bethesda ever produced, and having them bundled in makes this a definitive edition.

However, this is not a version designed to address every flaw. New players coming to it fresh may be confused by its eccentricities, from awkward facial animations to dated combat mechanics. For them, it may feel like stepping into a time capsule. But for those who were there in 2006, it feels like being welcomed home.

Oblivion Remastered is best seen as a tribute. It preserves the identity of the original game while enhancing it in just enough ways to make it worth revisiting. Despite its lingering flaws, it remains one of the finest role-playing experiences around, now with a fresh coat of paint and a few welcome quality-of-life upgrades.

This remaster stays loyal to the source material. Fans of the original will find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers may need patience to look past the creaks of age. It's a solid example of how to modernise a classic without erasing its personality.

8.5 out of 10

 

Available on Xbox at

https://www.xbox.com/el-GR/games/store/the-elder-scrolls-iv-oblivion-remastered/9NQR437K7PQH 

REVIEW: Hot Rod Mayhem (2025 Video Game)

Review by Jon Donnis

Hot Rod Mayhem from Casual Brothers Ltd. brings lively racing action to Xbox, offering a colourful and lighthearted experience that is easy to jump into. It is a fun title aimed mainly at younger players or those looking for a laid-back racing game.

The game lets players race against tiny troublemakers across dozens of imaginative courses. Two modes are available, Racing and Campaign, each providing plenty of opportunities for chaotic fun. Campaign Mode stands out by challenging players to unlock and complete 10 unique championships, each beginning with a distinctive trial before moving on to full races.

Customization is a key feature, allowing players to pick helmets, outfits, faces, and colors to build an outrageous racing character. Vehicle choice is another highlight, with 15 different hot rods, such as the Blazing Bullet and Crimson Cruiser, each offering unique stats to suit different playstyles.

Races are spiced up with various collectible weapons, including Homing Darts to target leaders, Marbles to disrupt nearby racers, and sneaky Discs that slow down opponents. Defensive tools like the Shield and speed boosts add an extra layer of strategy. Special trial events also bring variety, featuring hoop jumps, electric orb dodges, and high-speed sprints that test both skill and creativity.

The track design in Hot Rod Mayhem is vibrant and playful, with settings like Snow Summit, Cyber City, and Mariachi Mile. Each course can be played in forward, mirrored, reversed, and twisted versions, keeping the action fresh and unpredictable. A nice visual touch is the miniature scale of the racing world, where everyday human environments seem enormous from the driver's tiny perspective.

In terms of presentation, the graphics are bright and detailed, and the controls feel natural and responsive, making the vehicles fun to handle. However, despite these positives, the gameplay pace sometimes feels a little slow, especially for players familiar with faster arcade racers. Additionally, the weapons and race structure, while enjoyable, do not bring much innovation to the genre. Inevitably, comparisons to bigger names like Mario Kart will arise, and Hot Rod Mayhem struggles to match that level of excitement and polish.

Despite its shortcomings, Hot Rod Mayhem succeeds as a colourful, easygoing racer suitable for a younger audience. It may not offer much challenge to experienced gamers, but it provides enough variety and charm to keep players entertained for a good while.

Score: 7 out of 10

Out Now on Xbox

https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/hot-rod-mayhem/9p5twzn4g3fb

REVIEW: Commandos: Origins (2025 RTS Video Game)

Review by Jon Donnis

Commandos: Origins is a return to the gritty roots of real-time tactics, bringing the iconic World War II franchise back into the spotlight with a mix of stealth, strategy, and high-stakes planning. Developed for Xbox with modern sensibilities in mind, the game serves as a prequel that explores how the legendary squad of elite soldiers came together. Whether you're a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer with a curious mind for tactical challenges, Commandos: Origins offers a surprisingly fresh take on a very specific genre.

The game follows the formation of a six-man commando unit, each with their own specialties: the Green Beret, the Sniper, the Spy, the Engineer, the Marine, and the Driver. Missions span multiple continents, from the frosty plains of the Arctic to the desert heat of North Africa, giving players an impressive variety of settings to work through. The campaign includes 14 main missions with numerous optional objectives, and players are rewarded for careful planning and tactical execution rather than brute force.

Gameplay remains deeply strategic, with a strong emphasis on timing and stealth. The real-time tactics system allows for simultaneous actions using a Command Mode that queues up complex orders for different characters. So when you need different soldiers to act at the same, time, you act out each event for each character, and then when ready you basically press go, and sit back and watch as your orders are carried out simultaneously. Each commando has a unique skillset, and success often hinges on using the right character for the right job. For example, the Spy can disguise himself in enemy uniforms, while the Sniper can eliminate threats from a distance. The game rewards patience and foresight, but punishes mistakes harshly, especially on higher difficulties where enemies are much more responsive.

As you play you will learn that you can use buildings, terrain, shadows, and even footprints to outsmart enemy patrols. At night, enemy vision is reduced, which opens up new stealth opportunities, while multi-story buildings allow for more vertical tactics without breaking immersion. Vehicles, stationary guns, and usable objects like medkits and ammo add extra layers to mission planning.

Visually, the game looks sharp and detailed. The isometric 3D environments are well-crafted, with enough detail to feel immersive without cluttering the screen. Voice acting is solid across the board, and while the story isn't groundbreaking, the character interactions and mission briefings are handled with enough flair to keep the experience engaging. The soundtrack is appropriately moody, helping to set the tone for each covert operation.

That said, the game is not without its flaws. The mission design, while mostly strong, does start to feel repetitive during longer play sessions. Certain mechanics, like saving your game, are unnecessarily awkward. On more than one occasion, I found myself reloading a previous save by mistake, simply due to the poorly designed menu interface. Controls are a bit complicated for what is a console game, sometimes you just need things to be simpler. These small frustrations add up over time and can break the flow of gameplay. For example I am forever forgetting how to see the areas that the enemy are looking in, so I know what to avoid.

Commandos: Origins may not reinvent the wheel, but it doesn't need to. What it does is deliver a solid, enjoyable real-time tactics experience that balances nostalgia with thoughtful modern improvements. For someone who doesn't typically gravitate toward RTS games, I found myself enjoying the slower, more deliberate pace, once I realised that that was the best way to play. The co-op mode is a welcome addition, and the game's many approaches to problem-solving give it solid replay value.

Final Score: 7.5 out of 10

If you're looking for a tactical challenge that rewards brains over brawn, Commandos: Origins is a satisfying throwback that earns its stripes even if it doesn't really bring anything new to the genre.

Out Now on Consoles

https://amzn.to/4jauKuI