I am every bit as much of a sucker for side-scrolling beat-em-ups as I am "Karate Kid"/"Cobra Kai" content, so there was no question that I would adore "The Karate Kid: Street Rumble."
Building off the moderate success of the "Cobra Kai" brawler adaptations, the game takes a "River City Rampage" approach to the 1980s trilogy that fuels my beating heart. From the outset, absurdity reigns supreme. You can start off as Daniel, Miyagi, or, oddly, Ali, as you immediately take to jump-kicking, karate-chopping and round-housing a barrage of faceless minions. As you'd expect, villains such as Johnny, Kreese and Silver await for wall-breaking, crane-kicking slugfests.
This cheery, if unimaginative, approach harkens back to the standard way films and TV shows of the 1980s and 1990s, when the formula was to plop the main character in a side-scrolling hellscape and force them to punch and jump their way out.
While incongruous to the plot, leaving the storytelling to clumsy cutscenes, the style makes for a delightful throwback to the ancient ways.
While a $40 asking price is heavily on the steep side, I'd be lying if I said I had anything but a glorious time with this thin, admittedly rail-thin content.
This game is geared for those in their 40s who seek it as a nostalgia trip, as well as "Cobra Kai" devotees looking to steep themselves in the OG source material. The bare here was low, and the developers barely cleared it. But boy, am I grateful they attempted this delightfully silly and simple tribute to the cheeseball masterpieces from days of yore.
Czech developer KO.DLL channels its adoration of 8-bit gaming into "BZZZT," a passionate love letter to the glory days of 1980s gaming.
Proudly wearing its influences, including the likes of "Mega Man," "Jackal," "Strider" and "Blaster Master," the Switch exclusive is a challenging, quick-hitting platformer that dares you replay its wares time after time in order to perfect your speed and technique.
Charm oozes out of every pixel. Set in the year 4096, you play as tiny robot ZX8000, leaping through treacherous, bite-sized levels crawling with enemies and spiked walls. The ultimate goal is to take down robotic megalomaniacal mad scientist Badbert and his horde of nefarious, mechanical lackeys, making the world safe for your creators, Doctor Emily and Professor Norbert.
Level design, musical cues and a deceptively high rchallenge ramp-up give "BZZZT" dollops of charm. Those who want a more palatable experience can opt for casual difficulty, and masochists can work their way up to the brutal hardcore setting. Leaderboards allow you to compare your best runs with friends and the worlkd at large, and an array of time challenges awaits for you to test your limits.
The retro soundtrack, orchestrated by Rytmik Ultimate/Studio's Martin Linda, serves as the backdrop for your misadventures. Expect to fail miserably time after time, only to hone your strategy and break through in glorious fashion. The old-school sense of achievement is largely lacking in games of today, but present in ample portions in "BZZZT."
Publisher Czech Cinemax Games flexes its considerable muscles with this release, which will undoubtedly pop up on many top 10 lists. A sweet-hearted, hard-edged charmer, "BZZZT" gives you a healthy dose of Vitamin 8-Bit.
Merging the technique and savvy of a seasoned veteran player with the spark and daring of an up-and-coming star, "EA Sports FC 25" tears up the pitch with a vigorous soccer sim ready to capture players imaginations as the MLS heads to the playoff and international club leagues get into the swing of their new seasons.
Due out Friday, the game dazzles with its motion-captured play styles, astounding attention to visual detail and herculean effort to capture hundreds of real-life players, stadiums and uniforms. Serving as an ambassador for the beautiful game, the sim soaks up the nuances that make up the cultural tapestry of the global passion, crafting a fitting tribute to the sport that captivates the globe.
Like its cover star, 21-year-old British dynamo Jude Bellingham, "EA Sports FC 25" bursts with energy, pep and creativity. Fresh menus and musical backgrounds infuse a sense of urgency into every game mode, giving the game a refreshed feel that drives home the point that the reinvented franchise has firmly entrenched itself as a post-FIFA icon.
The onfield action gets a major upgrade in the form of FC IQ, an AI upgrade that allows players to adapt to tactics and evolving game situations on the fly. The change emulates the real game in the ways opposing managers act and react to opposing strategies, and how player leadership manages to shut down holes in execution that emerge as the game unfolds.
The upshot: You can't stick with go-to strategies and expect them to work the same way every time. If you fail to keep up with the way the opposition adapts and deploys counter-strategies, you'll be left in the dust.
Also new is the 5-on-5 Rush Mode, which takes on the easygoing yet hypercompetitive feel of pickup matches. Gathering with friends and strangers, you take part in a mini-MMO experience that feels ripe for esports adaptation. It will be fun to see the ways this mode evolves as the community begins to embrace it.
Goalkeeping has also gotten a refresh. Gone are the cookie-cutter animations and behavioral tendencies from years' past, replaced with a suite of dynamic styles that replicate some of the most notable players on the scene.
EA's second year without the FIA license shows some holes in its mosaic of real-life teams. A few Italian Serie A clubs, including Inter Milan and AC Milan, are swapped out for dummy squads with goofy names, and you won't find the Belgian national team or Canadian women's team in this game. To level things off, there are some returning squads and first-ever appearances, including Azerbaijan's Qarabag and the Finnish women's team.
Ultimate Team continues to stake its claim as one of the more entrancing card-based fantasy squad builders around. Chemistry-altering Hero and Icon cards are fresh new touches that allow you to spice up your roster as you build toward international domination.
Manager and Player Career modes benefit from all-around improvements. In a nod to gender equity, in which the franchise has been leading the way in the sports realm since its FIFA days, you can now embark on a career as a female player.
Whether you're a dabbler who likes to get a sense of the way teams look and play around the world, or a die-hard who wants to replicate your favorite team's successes and make up for its failures in the virtual realm, "EA Sports FC" gives you the toolbox to live out your dreams to the fullest extent. The anthems have been sung, the whistle has blown and it's time to get set for kickoff.
A foldable device that stretches out to the size of a plus-size smartphone when unfolded, the Galaxy Z Flip6 folds up into something minute enough to get lost in your front pocket. Geared toward travelers, fitness enthusiasts and minimalists who are looking to lighten their loads without sacrificing smartphone power or capabilities, the lithe, speedy Z Flip6 emits an intelligent, cosmopolitan air.
Testing the device on T-Mobile's standard-setting 5G network, I appreciated the way the Z Flip6 managed to ease its way into my life. Its slim form function encouraged me to pick it up to knock out quick tasks, such as checking a game score or tapping out an email. I also found it particularly useful for streaming and photo viewing, with the screen crimped at a 9-degree angle to make for hands-free, stand-free watching.
Said to be a minor upgrade over the well-regarded Z Flip5, the Z Flip6, which is my first experience with the product line, wowed me with its size-defying capabilities.
A certain novelty always accompanies foldable phones, and the Z Flip6 is always a joy to pop open and experience its 6.7-inch, 1080p AMOLED display. Its as engaging to spot the small, mid-screen crease as it is to forget it's there as you get lost in your social media, gaming or streaming exploits.
On the go, I enjoyed snapping photos and capturing video with the upgraded-from-last-year 50Mp main camera and 12MP ultra-wide lens. T-Mobile's 5G helped it download and upload content at eye-popping speeds.
The battery life was impressive, lasting full days of work and play. That's because the battery has been powered up to 4000mAh from last year's 2700Ah. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor is also a model of efficiency, helping the phone do more with less. While charging, as is typical with Samsung devices, takes its fair share, it won't be much of a burden to those who pop it on an induction charger overnight.
Originally priced above $1,100, the device is generally available south of the $900 mark, and could be even more of a bargain as it seeks to compete with other new devices in the sprint for the holiday dollar.
The range of AI integration is impressive. You have, of course, the standard photo and video touch-ups, but it goes deeper when you infuse the implications with the tight little package. A popular Samsung ad, embedded at the top of this review, shows off its capabilities as a translator.
Samsung, here is selling the dream of the jet-setter who doesn't have time to waste with Duolingo and wants to be able to walk into any bar and speak with anyone after whipping out a tiny foldable phone. While audacious, the vision isn't all that absurd when it comes to the Z Flip6. Samsung is selling a fleeting dream, here, and the phone makes it one you'd rather not wake up from.
Geared toward the visual thinker, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra embraces the art of tactile writing, allowing you to scribble down notes, diagrams and doodles. As its foldable brethren has established itself, the standard smartphone embraces classical thinking as it continues to build on past successes and stretch toward the pinnacle of the smartphone hierarchy.
A supersized, amped-up version of its smaller, less-capable brethren, the standard S24 and S24 Plus, the Ultra enthuses the spirit of its maximized moniker to deliver the best and brightest of its generation, as well as fire an annual warning shot at its Apple-born rival.
The device, which started around an MSRP above $1,299 when it was first released, is now available for $800 or much less with a trade-in or carrier deal. It should approach bargain status as the holiday season approaches and the market braces itself for the inevitable release of the S25 generation.
Until the new crew arrives, though, the S24 Ultra remains king. I was floored by the way the phone seamlessly thrives on WiFi, or especially, the T-Mobile 5G network, to find infinite ways to make your life more fun, engaging and informed as you go about your day.
To start, the S24 Ultra just feels right. Designed with ergonomic precision to feel fluid and natural in one hand or two, the smartphone excels at day-to-day use. Samsung may have reached a certain comfort zone in its Galaxy S line of products, but it's still hellbent on shaking up the formula to cram in new features that pay dividends.
The S Pen stylus is ideal for jotting down notes, which the S24 Ultra's AI quickly translates to letters, or drawings. The new AI integration fabulously handles photo improvements, note-taking, summarizing and other writing and meeting-digestion aids. Circle-to-search and QuickShare, in particular, comes in particularly handy during research material gathering and file compilation, making the phone excellent for reporters, instructors or students.
Boasting what seems to be the brightest, most vivid AMOLED 2120 x 1440 pixel display among this generation of smartphones, the phone stays durable due to Gorilla Armor coating, which, I can ashamedly confirm, manages to survive my standard gauntlet of fumbles, bumps and scrapes I inadvertently put smartphones I test through.
The camera suite, as expected, rocks your socks, with a 200MP rear camera with 100x optical zoom that seems like something out of a Bond movie. The 3.39 GHz processor handled streaming, gaming and file demands with awe-inspiring speed and precision.
Whether wired or by induction, charging took its fair share of time, but it was worth the lengthy effort because of the way the battery managed to power the device through day after day of heavy use without even hinting at the need for a recharge until bedtime.
During rest, there isn't much need to dream of your smartphone future if you manage to secure the stunning Galaxy S24 Ultra as your present.
If your taste in the smartphone game is for the best, biggest and brightest, option No. 1 is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, a foldable marvel that's an instant attention-grabber at a social gathering. When its 7.6-inch, 2,160 x 1,856 pixel inner screen is unfolded and on display, it makes girthy competitors such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max look up in awe the way Rocky did to Ivan Drago.
There are substantial positives, as well as passing drawbacks, to a phone of this size. That's why the Samsung engineering team channeled its effort into making this year's model lighter and slimmer. It melds nicely on T-Mobile's incredibly fast 5G network, working with the real estate of a tablet that folds up nicely to fit in your pocket.
A substantial, if incremental, improvement on last year's impressive Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, the Fold 6 is something of a butterfly with bruising capabilities. There is an unmistakable, hardly matchable sense of awe that ensues when you pull out the phone in public, watching Thursday Night Football or tapping through Wordle at a scale that makes others crane their necks.
Because the Z Fold 6 is so massive and powerful, it takes a lot of juice to power its escapades. That means relatively long charging times and short battery life. Still, the device fared impressively during my testing, taking on a whirlwind of gaming, streaming and app multitasking with vigorous aplomb, enduring more than 11 hours of nonstop, heavy use.
I was thoroughly impressed with the 6.04-inch display cover screen, which handles quick-hitting, day-to-day duties with ease, as well as the sturdier hinges that don't make you as wary of the wear and tear of the standard grind. The promise of seven years of software support assures you that you're buying a device that will stick with you for the long haul, rather than a one-year investment that amounts to a rental.
The Galaxy wizards infused the new device with Armor Aluminum, which is said to be 10% stronger than the variety used on last year's model, and the new version is dust resistant to boot.
Whether you are knocking off work tasks, watching videos or creating social media content, the Z Fold 6 manages to adapt to your needs. Functioning in a laptop-style manner, the hinge holds its angle anywhere from 45 to 135 degrees. This allows you to set it up for smooth image capturing without the need of a tripod or other stabilizing prop.
Galaxy AI features are well-integrated into the stunning package, helping you touch up crisp, gorgeous photos taken with its camera suite to erase background noise, combine the best aspects of several images taken in succession and rounding out flubs such as blurring or poor lighting.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy system ona chip works in concert with 12GB of LPDDR5x RAM to keep your workflow humming. Thanks to T-Mobile's everpresent 5G, I was able to keep up with my streaming on the go without a hiccup.
The device weighs in at an MSRP of more than $2,000, but there are trade-in and carrier-switching deals out there that can hack into that price considerably. The new iPhone release and the approach of the holiday season will no doubt draw the Z Fold 6 closer to the realm of affordability.
If you are a Fold fanatic who has skipped a generation or two, the Z Fold 6 is an enticing overture for an upgrade. If you are a holdout who is looking for the right time to splurge, your wait will be well rewarded with a glistening, head-turning spectacle that folds up nicely into your pocket.
Jason Tatum's determined visage on the cover of "NBA 2K25" — due out Friday — seems to set a grim tone for NBA teams not named "Boston Celtics." Elevated to superstardom after seizing his first NBA title, as well as a gold medal in a bizarrely muted role on the national team, Taco Jay looks to assert himself as the usurper to King James' throne.
At the outset of the new game, you're tasked to choose a team and created player to slug it out with Tatum and the Celtics in overtime of Game 7 of the 2025 NBA Finals. The setting serves as a sparkplug to your entryway into the world the new entry in the annual series casts. This is Tatum's domain, and you need to do all you can to dethrone him.
It's clear that developer Visual Concepts put in the work during the offseason grind in order to polish its new product to an impressive sheen. The cost of doing business is still there -- expect to be bombarded at the outset with Virtual Currency-building offers -- but the on-court product is as swift and flawless as Tatum and the Celtics' dominating 2024 NBA Playoffs effort.
I appreciated the nods to past glory, with uniform sets dating back decades with which to deck out your squad. The upcoming addition of 2024-25 City Edition jerseys will round things out nicely.
Bolstered by a new in-game physics suite dubbed ProPLAY, players mimic their real-life counterparts in not just movement, but exuberance and spirit. With more than 9,000 motion-captured and footage-synthesized animations added to the repertoire, dribble-drives, step-back shots, layups and dunks all flash distinct personality rather than slipping into pre-defined tracks. You are left to feel like an artist on the court, free to impose your personality and vivacity on the opponent.
Tweaks to shooting, such as Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting, force you to capture the flow and rhythm of the court action to give your shot a better chance at dropping. The control stick plays a mirrored role on defense, allowing you to shift footwork with a flick in order to cut off an opponent's first step and guide him into help side trouble.
MyPLAYER mode continues to thrive as a go-to suite to simulate your life as a rising star in the league. Tasked with the balancing act of showing off your attributes to your coach while playing your part in the team scheme, the gripping melodrama plays out enticingly.
MyNBA, focused on the Steph Curry dynasty, allows you to alter or replicate history in some of the Chef's finest moments. There is also plenty of energy focused on the WNBA side, welcoming Caitlin Clark to the fray in the league's ever-growing popularity.
The open-world facet of the game is The City, a virtual playground in which you can build up your attributes, rack up rewards in skills and pick-up challenges, deck your avatar out in the latest drip and live the high-rolling lifestyle of a star player at the peak of his or her abilities. MyTEAM, the game's answer to EA's Ultimate Team modes, lets you build up fantasy squads and test their mettle against the best bot and online squads out there.
While it remains to be seen whether the multiplayer mode elevates the rest of the content to fever pitch, it's clear that "NBA 2K25" is off to a roaring start, teasing fans to skip football season altogether and get back to wearing out Jordans on the hardwood. Hope springs eternal for all teams ready to face down Tatum and the Celtics, even for my beleaguered Big 3 in the Valley. The game's release stokes the fires for a fascinating season to come.
