REVIEW: GUNNAR Optiks’ White Wolf and Ciri Glasses - Bringing The Witcher World to Life

Review by Jon Donnis

Getting to try GUNNAR's new Witcher Collection felt like stepping into a small corner of Geralt's universe without leaving my desk. I spent most of my time with the White Wolf frames and they're every bit as striking as the name suggests. The brushed nickel aviator design has a cool, muted sheen that avoids looking flashy, while the leather-wrapped temples add a rugged texture that fits the Witcher theme. The Wolf School emblem is etched just deeply enough to catch the light if you tilt your head, a quiet nod to fans who will recognise it straight away.

Comfort is always the question with metal frames, and these passed with ease. The stainless steel build feels strong but light, spring hinges give a bit of flex, and the fit stayed secure without squeezing even after a full day of use. GUNNAR's patented lenses have a slight amber tint that takes the edge off blue light from screens, and the barely noticeable 0.2 diopter boost makes text look that bit sharper. There is also the "sun" version, which has the blue lens, which is what I tried, these have the same benefits as the amber lens. After hours of writing and a late-night gaming session, my eyes felt less dry and tired than usual. Fingerprints were easy to wipe away thanks to the G-Shield coating, and glare was minimal even under bright lights.

Alongside the White Wolf is the Ciri frame, aimed more towards women but stylish enough for anyone who prefers a softer shape. It swaps the aviator look for a round brushed-gold frame wrapped in leather, with temples marked by a delicate sword motif inspired by Ciri's blade, Zireael. The result is equal parts elegance and edge, regal and rebellious in a way that suits the character perfectly.

Both pairs come with thoughtful extras: a weathered leather-style case embossed with Witcher symbols, a collector's cloth, and a matching pouch that make the set feel special right out of the box. After testing the White Wolf, I can say these aren't just themed merchandise. They're well-made, genuinely comfortable glasses that cut blue light and carry just enough Witcher lore to make everyday screen time feel like a small adventure.

GUNNAR Optiks' never seem to fail with their glasses, it is no wonder that major gaming developers are desperate to collaborate with them.

A massive thanks to GUNNAR Optiks' for providing a pair of the The White Wolf glasses for me to try out.

Check them out at https://gunnar-optiks.eu/product/gunnar-the-witcher-sunglasses

NEWS: GUNNAR x 2K Launch Mad Moxxi Glasses for Borderlands 4

By Jon Donnis

GUNNAR Optiks' have done it again. Time after time they prove why they sit at the top of the pile when it comes to gaming eyewear, and their latest collaboration with 2K Games is no different. The new Borderlands 4 inspired design, built around the larger-than-life character Mad Moxxi, is as bold and unapologetic as the woman herself.

The first thing that hits you is the look. Steampunk at heart, the glasses come with a round stainless steel frame finished in gold, complete with removable mesh side shields that add a mix of style and practicality. Subtle details like heart engravings on the lenses and temple tips nod directly to Moxxi's signature flair, while the deep red arms echo her unmistakable colour scheme. It's the sort of design that manages to be playful and daring at the same time, exactly what fans would hope for in a Borderlands tie-in.

Of course, with GUNNAR it's never just about appearance. Their patented lens technology is the benchmark for gamers, offering protection from digital eye strain, blocking harmful blue light, and shielding against glare and smudges thanks to their G-Shield coating. The slight magnification is a clever touch, sharpening focus and reducing fatigue over long sessions. Add in the wraparound style that helps keep eyes from drying out during those marathon raids and you have a pair of glasses that are as functional as they are striking.

Every pair comes packaged with the attention to detail you'd expect from both GUNNAR and 2K. There's a collector's case, a pouch decorated with Borderlands motifs, and even a cleaning cloth featuring Moxxi herself. It feels more like an exclusive loot drop than just another accessory.

The tie-in with Borderlands 4 makes perfect sense. This isn't a quick licensing deal, it's a genuine celebration of a character that's become iconic in gaming. Moxxi's charisma, her edge, her sense of theatre, it's all there in the design. For fans, it's a chance to carry a bit of Pandora's chaos into everyday life.

GUNNAR Optiks' have repeatedly proven they make the best glasses for gamers, and the Mad Moxxi release underlines that reputation. Stylish, protective, and built with players in mind, this is an accessory that feels essential rather than optional. And for Borderlands fans, it's about as epic a crossover as you could hope for.

Check out https://gunnar.com/products/borderlands-4-moxxi

REVIEW: Call of the Sea (2025 Video Game) - on Nintendo Switch

Review by Jon Donnis

Call of the Sea is a first-person adventure from Out of the Blue, published by Raw Fury. You play as Norah, voiced by Cissy Jones, who travels to a remote island in the South Pacific during the 1930s to track down her missing husband, Harry, voiced by Yuri Lowenthal. There's no combat here, the focus is on exploring the island and working through puzzles.

The setting is the first thing that stands out. The island looks beautiful, with its bright colours, strange ruins and hidden corners that keep you curious about what's next. The presentation has real character, and Norah herself is a big part of that. Jones gives her a voice that feels warm and believable, and the story carries both mystery and emotion as it unravels.

Most of your time is spent solving puzzles. They come at a steady pace, usually clever and well thought out, and when they click they feel rewarding. The game clearly has a lot of care behind it, both in how the puzzles are built and in how the story pushes you forward.

Not everything lands perfectly. Some of the puzzles are tough, even with the hints available, and a few times I ended up checking online to figure out the solution. That can be a slippery slope, because once you've done it once it's tempting to do it again rather than wrestle with the harder sections. Playing on a Nintendo Switch Lite also showed up a few technical hiccups, with some stuttering in the animation, though it was never enough to ruin the experience.

Call of the Sea isn't the sort of game you'll replay often, but as a one-off adventure it works well. The combination of its striking island setting, its story full of heart, and a run of puzzles that mostly land makes it worth picking up if you enjoy thoughtful puzzle-driven games.

I score Call of the Sea a solid 7.5 out of 10.

Out Now on multiple formats

https://amzn.to/3Vk6Rq9

And on Nintendo Digital

https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Games/Nintendo-Switch-download-software/Call-of-the-Sea-2904504.html

REVIEW: Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek (2025 Video Game) - On Xbox

Review by Jon Donnis

Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is a surprisingly solid and enjoyable entry in the long-running franchise, and it does a good job of translating the spooky, playful tone of R.L. Stine's books into a game. You step into the shoes of Sloane Spencer, a young teen trying to unravel the eerie mysteries lurking in the town of Little Creek. From fog-filled streets to abandoned theatres and dark, cluttered libraries, the environments are small but well designed, giving players plenty of corners to explore without ever feeling lost. The game balances exploration and narrative nicely, letting younger players wander, discover secrets, and uncover the town's supernatural happenings at a comfortable pace.

The stealth mechanics are a highlight, and they work better than you might expect from a game aimed at children. Timing your movements to avoid monsters, making clever use of your haunted book, and occasionally defending yourself with a slingshot all keep the gameplay engaging. There's a nice variety of creatures to contend with, each with its own behaviour, and the occasional jump scare, while mild, adds tension in just the right way for the target audience. Puzzles and interactive contraptions also provide a good challenge, encouraging players to think without feeling frustrated.

Visually, the game leans into a cartoony style that suits the Goosebumps universe well. Characters and monsters are designed to be creepy without being genuinely frightening, and the environments have enough detail to feel alive. Sound design complements this, with plenty of ambient noise, creature sounds, and spooky effects that heighten the sense of mystery. The learning curve is gentle, so players can pick up the mechanics quickly, and the gameplay loop of exploring, solving puzzles, and avoiding monsters is straightforward but fun.

The main downside is that the game is short. Most players will finish the story relatively quickly, which is understandable given the younger audience it targets, but it does limit replayability. There's also a sense that some areas and encounters could have been expanded to give the map more depth, but the game still manages to deliver a satisfying experience in its compact form.

Goosebumps: Terror in Little Creek is a fun, well-paced adventure that does a good job of introducing stealth and puzzle mechanics to younger players while staying true to the franchise's signature blend of spooky thrills and playful twists. It's not a long or complex game, but it doesn't need to be: it's entertaining, easy to pick up, and full of the Goosebumps charm that will appeal to fans old and new. For what it sets out to do, it's a strong effort and deserves recognition. I'd give it a solid 8 out of 10.

Out Now - https://amzn.to/4n2b9Pe

REVIEW: Dixotomia (2025 Video Game) Released in Early Access on MetaQuest

Review by Jon Donnis

VR is littered with ambitious shooters, but Dixotomia stands out because of its odd mix of gritty sci-fi and supernatural menace. You're dropped into a crumbling colony, stuck between androids, mercenaries, and a cult of vampires who are all too happy to tear you apart. On paper it sounds a little wild, but in practice it works surprisingly well.

When Dixotomia hits its stride, it's a blast. The shooting feels weighty, the vampiric powers give you a fun edge in battle, and the freedom of movement across large industrial sites, Martian quarries, and neon towers makes it feel bigger than many VR games manage. It's easy to pick up and play, with straightforward controls that don't overwhelm you, and the visuals, when they're polished, look strong for a standalone headset. The sound design deserves credit too, with plenty of bite and atmosphere that sells the dystopian mood.

The flipside is the state of the game as it stands. Early Access is always a mixed bag, and Dixotomia is no exception. You'll run into bugs, rough edges in the visuals, and a general lack of polish that reminds you it isn't finished yet. Weekly patches are rolling out, which is encouraging, but that doesn't stop the frustration when a promising mission collapses under technical hiccups. There's also the fact that some boss fights and environments feel more like sketches of ideas than fully fleshed-out moments, which can be jarring in a VR game that leans on immersion.

Still, the potential here is undeniable. The combination of brutal sci-fi gunplay and bloodthirsty vampiric abilities is a clever hook, and the upgrade trees suggest the developers are serious about depth as well as spectacle. If Deep Matrix can tighten the rough spots, squash the bugs, and add a layer of polish, this could end up being one of the more interesting VR shooters out there.

Right now Dixotomia is a work in progress, and you have to treat it as such. There's fun to be had, but it's also frustrating in equal measure. The big question is whether the team can follow through and realise the potential that's clearly baked into the design. For now, it's one to watch.

Score: 6.5 out of 10, not quite there yet, but with time it could be something special.

Check it out on MetaQuest

https://www.meta.com/en-gb/experiences/dixotomia/8341732499261883/