Our whole life is a game: TOP 5 gifts for an avid gamer

The shape of HyperX Pulsefire FPS, the first test of Kingston's pen on the mouse market, resembles the super-popular Razer DeathAdder, which many manufacturers of gaming peripherals are equal to. But you can't call it a one-hundred-percent clone either: the hump is smaller, the curves are smoother according to the gods. That is, it should appeal primarily to those who are suitable for the large size (12 + cm in length) of the "mother" of DeathAdder, but its excessively convex shape does not satisfy.

The upper part of the HyperX Pulsefire FPS case is made of semi-matte plastic: it is less grasping than a soft-touch, but it does not peel off over time. The sidewalls are made of textured rubber to increase tenacity. On the bottom there are two large, initially unpolished Teflon legs. If you use a hard plastic mouse pad, it will take time to grind the surfaces together.

Inside the HyperX Pulsefire FPS is a time-tested Pixart PMW3310 optical sensor with a resolution from 400 to 3200 DPI (the higher, the faster the cursor moves), which is switched by a separate button on the case. Two more buttons are on the right, that is, the mouse is asymmetric, purely for the right hand. There is no additional software for fine-tuning. Theoretically, this sensor can fail only at a mouse movement speed of over 4 m / s, which is rarely developed even by professional esports players, and then only on specific surfaces (glossy, multicoloured).

Due to its average weight (95 g), Kingston HyperX Pulsefire FPS can be called a universal gaming mouse, which is equally well suited for shooters (heavier mice are usually used), and for MOBA and RTS strategies (light mice are preferable). And Omron's long-lasting microswitches for 20 million clicks under a pair of main keys promise the mouse a long, and its owner a carefree life.

Initially, the Cynosa keyboard was sold only as part of the Razer Pro Bundle gaming kit, which also included the DeathAdder mouse, or rather its simplified version with a 2000 DPI sensor (the original has 3500 DPI). Recently, the keyboard has started to be sold separately — for about half the price of a bundle.

Externally, Cynosa resembles another Razer keyboard — BlackWidow. But the similarity is purely cosmetic, whereas structurally Cynosa is completely different: not mechanical, but membrane, that is, significantly quieter, but less durable (although still more durable than cheap office keyboards). In addition, compared to BlackWidow, Cynosa lacks additional keys, and in general is lighter and thinner, although not as thin as another Razer — DeathStalker membrane. On the left side of the keyboard, where most of the "game" buttons are located (WASD, E, R, F, Shift, Ctrl), you can simultaneously press at least ten keys, while on the right — only five. Apparently, Razer engineers decided to save a little on the number of electronic tracks.

There are three illumination options available: acid green (the native colour of Razer products), blue and turquoise. The absence of separate macro keys is partially compensated by the Fn button (as in laptops), which in combination with the F1 – F12 buttons performs various programmed actions. The Razer Synapse proprietary application is used to configure the keyboard. As a result, we get a non-mechanical, but still firmly assembled keyboard with the ability to configure keyboard shortcuts and then save the user profile in the cloud (for example, for quick deployment after reinstalling the OS).

Tesoro Olivant Pro is one of the most affordable stereo gaming headsets with a USB audio card included, and among the first—tier manufacturers (Razer, SteelSeries, Roccat, Logitech, Kingston, ASUS) it is generally the cheapest. A removable microphone and a paired mini-jack imply the possibility of connecting headphones to a smartphone and wearing them outdoors, but bowls with such large (the ear fits completely) and thick ear pads outside the house will look a little strange.

Despite the large bowls, the total weight of the headset is small (315 g), which was achieved thanks to a lightweight shackle consisting of two thin metal plates and a cloth partition. The pressure of the plates is quite strong, but the soft filler of the ear pads levels the pressure on the head.

The sound of Olivant Pro is made primarily with an emphasis on games: high frequencies are twisted above the norm in order to better distinguish individual sounds (enemy footsteps, rustling grass). The complete sound card supports virtual 7.1-channel volume sound. However, the number of games in which this feature is well implemented is relatively small (for example, the Battlefield series). Movies don't sound bad either, which, unfortunately, can't be said about music — music lovers should look for an alternative.

The microphone is flexible, average in quality. An audio card that reduces the number of audio leads saves the situation a little. But still up to the level of more expensive gaming headsets (Kingston HyperX Cloud Core andSteelSeries Siberia 200) microphone falls short. Considering all of the above, Tesoro Olivant Pro is a good inexpensive, but purely gaming stereo headset that sounds exactly as much as it costs ($50).

It is Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2, in our opinion, that are the best cheap virtual reality glasses to use paired with a smartphone made in the image and likeness of Google CardBoard. Xiaomi's product range used to have virtual reality glasses (VR Play and Mi VR Headset), but their ergonomics left much to be desired.

The new Mi VR Play 2 turned out to be almost perfect. Firstly, the plastic base of the case is covered with a "breathable" fabric. Of course, the leatherette would get dirty less, but it does not pass air well, which is why the face with glasses begins to sweat quickly. Secondly, the cutout under the nose is made quite large: it lets in outside light a little, but it does not squeeze or press anything.

Thirdly, Mi VR Play 2 lost the USB type C port that Mi VR Headset had and prevented the installation of smartphones with a microUSB socket. Smartphones with a screen size from 4.7 to 5.7" and a FullHD or 2K resolution are recommended for use. Of course, the Xiaomi Mi VR Play 2 headset is no match for the standalone VR helmets PlayStation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, but for its low price it allows you to get acquainted with the basic capabilities of virtual reality on your own experience.

New 2DS XL is the next and most likely the last update of the Nintendo portable game console (it has become more compact, lighter and cheaper). It has already been replaced by a more advanced Switch, but it is still expensive, and the game library is clearly inferior to 2DS and its stereoscopic sister 3DS. By the way, the New 2DS XL was the first version of the DS, for which you do not need to buy a charger separately (supplied in the kit). The battery charge lasts for about 5 hours of play.

The original Nintendo DS was released back in 2004, so the technical characteristics of even the updated New version are not impressive. The resolution of the screens, and there are two of them (a large main and a small touch resistive), is only 240p. The processor architecture is outdated ARM11, several times weaker than modern smartphones. Therefore, the graphics in DS games are a little "eye-sore" (the level of PC games of the early – mid 2000s). But they take a different — soulful plot and hardcore gameplay, not typical for mobile games.

If you are tired of too simple and monotonous games for iOS and Android, and you want to play on the road (and at home), then Nintendo New 2DS XL is definitely your choice. The world-famous Japanese franchises Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, Pokemon, Fire Emblem and many others are clearly worth spending money and free time on them. Games for the New 2DS XL can be purchased both on memory cards (new or used) and digital copies in the Nintendo online store.