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The Sony Pulse 3D Headset follows the same design trend as the PS5 that it companions, abandoning conventions that the PlayStation brand has held dear for decades while bragging immersive technology not seen with its competition. 

The new headset offers an excellent audio performance alongside a design profile that sits beautifully alongside the console itself. It’s affordable, accessible and surprisingly competent, even when compared to its more expensive rivals. 

While the build quality retains the garish plastic of its predecessor, those looking for a cheap yet capable headset should definitely consider this peripheral. It looks great, sounds even better and is poised to take distinct advantage of future first-party exclusives with the use of spatial 3D audio. Much like its PS4 predecessors, Sony has knocked it out of the park with this headset. 

Price and availability

The Sony Pulse 3D Headset retails for £89.99/$99.99/€99, although is currently experiencing stock fluctuations due to sheer demand. We imagine this will return to normality in the coming months, but consumers may have to resort to third-party sellers right now.

Design – A sleek, fashionable companion to the next-gen console 

• Perfect visual and technological companion for the PS5

• Incredibly comfortable for long gaming sessions

• Plastic build makes it feel slightly cheap

I have reservations with some aspects of the Sony Pulse 3D Headset’s overall design, but I can’t deny the immediately striking impression it left upon me. Sony has crafted a peripheral that sits perfectly alongside its new console, and is also engineered to take direct advantage of it from a technological perspective. 

The headset itself is a gorgeous mixture of black and white, sporting the same two-tone approach to colour as the console itself. The headband is made of a solid piece of black matte plastic, with a softer, more flexible white rest sitting beneath it. As a result the headset is supremely comfortable to wear for extended play sessions.  

This feeling is further reinforced by ear cups which hug against your head with only the smallest amount of pressure. As someone who wears glasses while gaming, it did prove somewhat irritable after 5+ hours with a game, but that’s likely my fault for not taking some form of break while binging Final Fantasy XIV. Compared to other devices I’ve tested, the Pulse 3D feels both lightweight and durable in the best possible way. 

But don’t purchase this headset expecting the premium build quality found in more expensive rivals. Retailing for £89.99, Sony clearly intends for this to be a product accessible for both casual and hardcore players alike, with cost-cutting evident in the plastic build quality – there’s no metal design here. 

The headset sits alongside the console and DualSense controller beautifully, and doesn’t overextend itself to be something adorned with garish, unnecessary features. The Pulse 3D comes with an angular dongle which can be seamlessly inserted into your console to connect within seconds. It also works brilliantly with a PC, quickly becoming my ideal headset when working from home and taking part in Zoom calls. The microphone is built directly into the device, so there’s no need to clumsily attach an optional mic when the moment requires it. 

In terms of inputs and buttons, the right earcup is completely bare, with everything being stuffed on the opposing side. I imagine this is because of where much of the hardware is situated, but I will admit that things can feel somewhat overcrowded as a result. It’s easy to become confused when seeking out the mute button or volume control with just a blind touch, meaning I often found myself taking the headset off completely to adjust the settings. 

On the left cup you’ll find volume control, USB-C charging port, a power slider and mute button. There’s also a 3.5mm jack for enabling a wired connection, which can be achieved with a cable included in the box. An additional toggle for adjusting the audio balance between in-game volume and multiplayer chat is also included.

Audio and features – Excellent audio quality for the price 

• Spatial 3D Audio is a gamechanger in supported titles

• Battery life is decent at 12 hours, but falls behind competitors

• Dual microphones are excellent, as are the volume controls

I was genuinely surprised by how quickly the Pulse 3D Headset became my primary driver when playing games. I quickly abandoned more expensive, experienced devices in favour of what that was simply more intuitive to use in most situations. Obviously I couldn’t use this headset with the Xbox Series X (because of the lack of Bluetooth) but it was seamless across PS5 and PC when it came to playing games and chatting with friends on party chat or Discord. 

One of the headline features of Sony’s new console is the implementation of 3D Audio. In concept, it aims to make your gaming experience more immersive by honing in on the directional qualities of different sounds to make it feel like you are truly part of the environment you’re exploring. It works wonderfully in most cases, although the overall audio quality does suffer somewhat for the novelty. 

Demon’s Souls is one of the finest examples, with the otherworldly growls of goblins in the mines ringing out amidst the hollow shafts, while absorbing souls upon downing enemies is expressed with the feeling of a door slamming right before you. I had to take my headphones and check whether something had happened in the real world a few times, truly emphasising how impressive 3D Audio can be at times. 

First-party exclusives benefit from 3D Audio, with developers ensuring that titles like Demon’s Souls, Sackboy: A Big Adventure and Miles Morales take true advantage of the next-gen hardware, although the feature won’t be used so extensively by third-party developers which limits its use. 

Similar 3D Audio effects can be found in the majority of modern gaming headsets, but it shines far brighter in official hands. It’s not a feature everyone will use all the time, but it adds an extra layer of immersion that is undoubtedly worth having. 

As for the audio itself, I found it to be sufficiently punchy, if a little unclean in busy scenarios when compared to more expensive peripherals. That being said, it is astounding for the price. It produces a punchy, loud and thoroughly enjoyable sound profile that really shines regardless of the genre you’re diving into. 

Microphone – The dual approach is both subtle and satisfying 

The microphone isn’t high calibre, but has proved adequate when playing games with friends and partaking in zoom calls. Well, I’ve never had complaints yet and my voice came across as clear and distinct when listening back to a number of recordings.

The microphone is built inside the headset itself, which I found to incredibly convenient as you don’t have a waggling stick hovering by your mouth. The downside of not having a detachable microphone is that you can’t replace it with a superior version, but most PS5 users should be more than fine with the quality here.

You should buy the Sony Pulse 3D Headset if…

• Looking for a perfect companion for the PS5
  Sony has clearly designed this product to sit seamlessly alongside the PS5, and it achieves this perfectly. It looks, feels and sounds great, and will fit alongside your next-gen console without any trouble at all.

• You want an excellent headset for the budget
  Retailing for just £89.99, this is a surprisingly affordable headset that I can easily recommend to all PS5 owners. It doesn’t break the bank, and offers enough compelling features for newcomers and veterans alike

• Need to experience the majesty of 3D Audio
  While the technology remains in its infancy, 3D Audio is a great feature on PS5, especially when diving into blockbuster titles such as Demon’s Souls and Marvel’s Spider Man: Miles Morales.

You shouldn’t buy the Sony Pulse Headset if…

• Expect the best build quality
  While this headset looks great, it suffers from the same reliance on plastic materials as the PS5 itself, and doesn’t exactly feel very durable in the hand. That said, it’s still comfortable to wear.

• You want to play on Xbox
  Only compatible with PS4 and PC, you will require a more ambitious headset to also take advantage platforms. Sorry Xbox owners, this one isn’t for you.

• Want solid noise cancellation
  The Pulse 3D can shut out a decent amount of sound while gaming, but certainly isn’t top of the range.

The post Sony Pulse 3D Headset Review appeared first on Trusted Reviews.

Bravely Default 2 is a grandiose RPG adventure in the vein of classic Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, where you and a small group of adventurers embark on an epic, world-spanning journey. 

The original Bravely Default was a successful reminder to Square Enix that fans are clamouring for classic experiences, those that hark back to the RPG genre’s origins while also building upon it in new and distinct ways. It was gorgeous, challenging and ambitiously creative in every conceivable way. Its sequel aims to continue such a beloved trajectory.

After spending dozens of hours with the game and triumphing over its second chapter, I’m happy to report that Bravely Default 2 is largely successful in this goal. However, fumbles in a few key areas will definitely prove divisive among fans. The cutesy aesthetic loses much of its charm on more powerful hardware, and the cast simply isn’t as likeable as its forebears.  

Such flaws do have a negative impact, but the signature JRPG feel remains intact, and this identity transfers over to exploration, grinding and travelling the world in search of ancient crystals. It’s old-school Final Fantasy in everything but name, and comes with all the baggage you’d expect from this moniker. 

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Bravely Default 2 is a classic JRPG in all the best and worst ways

• A direct sequel to the 3DS original, set in a new world with a different cast of characters 
• Once again revolves around a quartet of heroes as they search for ancient crystals 

Bravely Default 2 is knowingly cliché in a number of ways, unafraid to abide by established genre conventions, largely because this is what many of its players will be expecting. You play as Seth, a young man from a distant land who finds himself awakening upon a beach. His memories a blur, he ventures towards a nearby settlement to gather his bearings. 

Saved by the powers of a legendary crystal, Seth soon befriends a disgraced princess and her elderly mentor, both of whom require help to gather said crystals and restore order to the realm. It isn’t long until our hero stumbles upon a duo of mercenaries – Adelle and Elvis – who are surprisingly easy-going when asked to tag along. 

Within the opening hours, the cast of characters tasked with carrying this entire adventure is formed. Compared to the original Bravely Default, they aren’t nearly as charming or dripping in intrigue that’s begging to be uncovered in respective backstories. However, such a flaw could be addressed in later chapters as the narrative unfolds into something more compelling. Right now, it’s a tried-and-true tale of stopping evil-doers. 

Bravely Default 2 doesn’t try to be something it isn’t, aiming to take you on an adventure that abides rigidly to a formula we’ve been accustomed to for years. This is both a blessing and curse, especially when cracks begin to show in its rather pedestrian mix of exploration and turn-based battles. Despite my reservations, I still find myself hooked. 

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I can only talk about the first two chapters, but Bravely Default 2 immediately hurls you into the inner workings of its combat system. It remains mostly unchanged, with its titular mechanic allowing players to “Brave” or “Default” in order to perform several moves in a single turn, or bank them for later use. It’s a compelling strategic mechanic that shakes up the turn-based battles.

Learning the strengths and weaknesses of a boss encounter is no longer the only recipe for success. Enemies are also capable of banking moves for later use, meaning they can unleash an avalanche of deadly abilities on your party if you’ve failed to account for your own defenses. It takes some getting used to, as I immediately found myself spamming attacks with little care for the consequence, simply aiming to murder my foes as quickly as possible. 

It became clear that this wouldn’t work for long. Bravely Default 2 demands patience, encouraging you to switch allies into a default stance while others apply buffs and healing spells that can keep you alive through gauntlet encounters. It’s punishing, and I found myself turning the difficulty down even after grinding away before facing off against certain adversaries. In all honesty, this could use some balancing ahead of release. 

Related: Breath of the Wild 2

The job system allows for some truly challenging and tense combat encounters

• Combat system is a classic turn-based affair, yet is enhanced by excellent boss battles and nuanced job system
• You’ll often need to grind for experience and embark on side quests to remain competitive against foes 

The battle system is further complemented by a fantastic job system. This not only dons your party with an array of fabulous outfits, but also comes with their own path of progression with distinct attributes, skills and passive buffs. I’ve toyed with Freelancer, Black Mage, White Mage, Bard, Vanguard and Monk thus far, and they’re all notably distinct.

You can switch between them whenever you like, although it’s best to assign each party member with a role that they’ll fulfil most of the time. Each character can also have a secondary job, which brings over all of the unlocked skills for use alongside their primary one. It’s a smart idea, meaning each hero essentially becomes a mixture of different occupations.

For example, I had a Black Mage/Freelancer and a Monk/Vanguard, with the latter capable of some truly devastating attacks and tanking skills. It’s a clever twist on Final Fantasy’s iconic job system, applying it to a modern template with stunning results. Battles look and feel fantastic, eliciting a true sense of strategy with some beautiful monster designs. 

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Unfortunately, the characters don’t fare as well. Bravely Default was released for the Nintendo 3DS, and thus had to deal with a number of hardware limitations to depict its ambitious fantasy world. As a result, many of its characters were cutesy, hand-drawn sprites with minimal facial expressions and movements. It was adorable, and still looks wonderful today. 

The sequel keeps these designs, but with a much larger degree of visual fidelity. Akihiko Yoshida and Naoki Ikushima’s artwork remains stunning, but is stifled when transferred over to 3D models. Some characters can look ugly, especially minor ones who occupy the exquisitely rendered watercolour overworld. They grew on me overtime, but it remains a stylistic blemish that’s difficult to overlook. 

It conveys a startling aura of dissonance between the stellar artwork and how it’s executed on-screen. Fortunately, the main cast are exempt from such annoyances, which is a blessing since you’ll be staring at them for hours when grinding experience points. Grinding is a necessary evil in Bravely Default 2, and becomes less fun on failing to defeat a boss for the third time. 

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Luckily, side quests make themselves known in the early hours, acting as an ideal way to explore the world and earn some cash to spend on valuable equipment. However, such missions don’t reward experience or job points, which feels like an obtuse omission. Even a minuscule number would make embarking on such tasks all the more rewarding, and many of the fetch quests they involve wouldn’t feel as frustrating.

Bravely Default 2 Preview – First impressions

I’m enjoying my time with Bravely Default 2, even if a few notable issues hold it back from being a true JRPG great. Such qualms don’t detract from a thoroughly engaging core experience, which builds upon the original game in some delightful ways.

Genre purists will arguably look past many of its shortcomings, much like I have, and once you do, the opening chapters tease a journey that will only grow stronger as I press on. Bravely Default 2 could certainly be one of the strongest Switch games of 2021.

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