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Review: Dexpel And Laptopskins Skins, Who’s The Best Skin Maker In Pakistan?

Most of us love to personalize our gadgets, to make them such that they can be distinguished from others. Sometimes a bare laptop lid just doesn’t cut it.Â That’s what the laptop skin industry thrives on, our need to customize our portable computers such that they are more aesthetically pleasing. The laptop skin concept isn’t a new one in Pakistan. It was first introduced by Lahoreonline.org (now known as Laptopskins.com.pk ) about 3 years back. Sadly, it wasn’t well received at that time. Overtime two other companies joined in to give competition, Dexpel and TechnoChameleon. Â Further on, a few other companies also started to offer laptop skins, but these three were the largest. Since then, the quality and value of laptop skins has increased drastically. Each company holds special offers and discounts and grows larger in fanbase.Â We decided it was time we did a review of these skins, and then decide which one of these is the best laptop skin manufacturer in Pakistan.

Before starting this review, I would like to thank all the 3 companies for taking the time to participate and send in the review units. Unfortunately, TechnoChameleon’s skin was redirected to a different city due to an address issue and couldn’t be recovered by the shipping company. So we would just be covering the skins by both Dexpel and Laptopskins.com.pk and then decide which one is the better.

A little information about the skin manufacturers:

Laptopskins.com.pk was previously known as Lahoreonline.org and was the first manufacturer to introduce laptop skins in Pakistan.Â As with any other product, the first batch of skins wasn’t well received. Since then, Laptopskins.com.pk has improved on the overall quality of the skins drastically and are now a force to be reckoned with. The company is based in Lahore and operate on a delivery only basis.

Dexpel is undoubtedly the skin manufacturer which has the largest fanbase and is the most well advertised one. It was started around 3 years back and has been growing ever since. Dexpel offers innovative offers such as snap’n’share discounts and Eid offers. The company is also based in Lahore and operates on a delivery only basis.

Our testing criteria includes the quality and overall feel of the skin, cost, shipping time and handling of the skin, scratch resistance, water resistance, ease of application of the skin on the laptop and whether the skin leaves any residue on the laptop. We would be giving a score out of ten based on how the skin holds up in the criteria.

Cost:

The laptop skins from laptopskins.pk are priced at 350 PKR with 120 PKR on shipping, for a total price of 420 PKR. Payment options include “Telenor easy paisa” money transfer, Online bank transfer and cash on delivery for lahore residents.

Dexpel skins are priced at 400 PKR a piece. But there are no shipping charges on the skin whatsoever, so the total price of the skin is 400 PKR. Payment options here include cash on delivery all over Pakistan, Western Union money transfer for international customers, Telenor Easy Paisa money transfer and online bank transfer.

Considering that laptop skins in UK retail for about 44 pounds, both the skins are priced quite reasonably considering the high quality material that is used in the manufacture. Dexpel does lead here but only by a small margin due to the cash on delivery option for anywhere in Pakistan.

Dexpel: 9/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Laptopskins.pk: 8.5/10

Shipping time and handling:

We received the skins from Laptopskins.com.pk 8 days after they had agreed to send in their skins.Â But there was one huge problem with the package. The courier company had handled the skin very carelessly and had kept it folded. There were rifts along the skin which spoilt the design and the overall measurement of the skin which was unacceptable.

The skins from Dexpel were received 5 days after Dexpel had agreed to send in the units. We were very pleased that Dexpel had tagged a “Do not fold, handle with care” tag, thus ensuring that the skins would not be subject to folding and mishandling. The skin, when received, had no visible rifts on it whatsoever and maintained its original form. Dexpel leads in the shipping and handling department by a huge lead, both in the shipping time and handling of the package by the courier company.

Dexpel:Â 9/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Laptopskins.pk:Â 5/10

Ease of application:

Laptopskins.pk wins this criteria. The skin by Laptopskins.pk required a lesser effort to apply. All that was needed was to remove the back sheet of the skin and then apply it on the laptop. Due to the skins firm nature, It didn’t bend or form air bubbles at all. Infact, we applied the skin properly on our second try. It was that simple

Dexpel skins are fairly more difficult to apply and the given set of instructions are needed to be followed. It is quite hard to apply the skin along the exact edges of the lid and 4-5 tries are needed to avoid air bubbles and rifts along the skin.

Dexpel: 7/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Laptopskins.pk: 9/10

Quality:

This was a very difficult criteria to judge. The skins from Laptopskins.pk were undoubtedly sturdier then the dexpel skin. It had a rugged feel to it, almost suggesting that the skin was impact resistant too, though that isn’t the case. But the Dexpel skin had a more premium feel to it, due to its glossy nature. But then I took note of something. The skins from Laptopskins.pk didn’t fully stick onto the laptop and left some gaps between the skin and the lid. The skin couldn’t fully stick onto the laptop on all sides. There were also rafts in the skin and we suspect it was due to the mishandling by the courier company. In comparison, the Dexpel skin did not have any gaps between the surface and the skin, suggesting a better quality of material used for the skin and sticking agent.

Dexpel: 9/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Laptopskins.pk: 8/10

Overall look and feel:

The skin by Laptopskins.pk was very vibrant in colors. The design which they had sent us gave us an idea of the excellent contrast of the skin. It made the laptop look aggressive due to the awesome design and apparent sturdiness of the skin. The skin was matte so the design was easily visible at all angles, along with giving a better impression of the colors on the skin. The same can’t be said about the feel of the skin though. The skin was somewhat rough, which made our hands sweaty when placed on the skin. The sweaty hands somewhat reduced our grip while handling the laptop, though it wasn’t so much as to make it a serious issue. The overall look and feel of the skin was very nice to say the least.

The skin by Dexpel was easily the best looking skin we had seen by far. The glossy skin gave the HP G62 a MacBook like premium feel. The skin just looked amazing from all angles. The colors were very vibrant and the image was very detailed. It perfectly fit the G62 and wasn’t cut off or in excess from any side. The black plastic of the G62 gave a perfect contrast with the reflective green laptop skin.Â We also felt that this laptop skin was much smoother then the one by laptopskins.pk, and our hands remained sweat free while placing them on the skin.

This criteria depends entirely on preference. Both the skins have excellent vibrancy and definition of colors. The skin by Laptopskins.pk definitely looks more aggressive, which I feel would appeal more to the younger crowd. But the skins by Dexpel gave the laptop a premium feel, with its excellent design and fitting. It was according to me, the best looking skin I had yet seen on a laptop. Also, the overall feel of the Dexpel skin is much better.

Dexpel: 9.5/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Laptopskins.pk: 8.5/10

Scratch and water resistance:

For the scratch resistance test, we used a pin to make slight pressure scratches on the skin. This was because in daily use, these skins would be subject to slight wear over time. True to its claim, both Dexpel and Laptopskins.pk skins were scratch proof. There were no visible scratches on the surface of the laptop. But during the scratch tests, we did notice that the skin by laptopskins.pk tore to a certain extent due to its rough texture, while the Dexpel skin had still kept its original integrity due to its much smoother surface, though now with a few scratches.

For the water resistance test, we placed both the skins on 2 separate cardboard sheets. What we did then was spray both the skins with water and let it remain there for some time. Then, we removed the skins to check for any visible water marks. As expected, both the skins didnâ€™t let any water seep through them and there were no visible watermarks on the cardboard sheet. However, once again, we did notice that the skin by Laptopskins.pk had spoiled due to the colors of the skin mixing with the water. In comparison, the Dexpel skin kept its original integrity and the colors remained intact.

Dexpel: 10/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Laptopskins.pk: 8/10

Residue:

We left the skins applied for 6 hours each. There was no residue left on the laptop whatsoever. The laptop suffered no visual damage when both the skins were removed.

Dexpel:10/10Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Laptopskins.pk:10/10

Final Score:

Dexpel:Â Â Â 63.5/70Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Laptopskins.pk:Â Â 57/70

Verdict:

The verdict isnâ€™t an easy one. It was really hard to decide the better skin amongst both the skins, because frankly, this is a more subjective verdict and depends entirely on the taste of the consumer. We personally believe both the skins would appeal to different types of people, the Laptopskins.pk skin attracting the younger crowd due to the sturdiness, ease of application and aggressive nature of the skin while the Dexpel skin appealing to the more mature crowd due to their glossy finish, clean cut corners and premium feel. Dexpel wins the laptop skins review comparison, and therefore, is the best laptop skin manufacturer in Pakistan according to us. But that in no way means that Laptopskins.pk is an inferior company. As you can see above, most of the scoring cut from the Laptopskins.pk skin was due to the careless shipping, which is majorly a fault of the shipping company. A simple â€œDo not fold, handle with careâ€ tag on the package would ensure a safe delivery to the recipient without causing damage to the skin. But till then, Dexpel leads the laptop skins market in Pakistan, with its quick and responsible delivery, flexible payment options and one of the best looking skins we have seen yet.

January 31, 2013
Spec Ops: The Line Review
Yager and 2K Games have managed to add a rebellious and subversive title to the vast library of military and tactical shooters. Framed in the built of sand dunes, dusty surroundings further filled with sparkle of hundreds of rifles glinting in sun – Spec Ops: The Line is a stunning and gripping third-person military shooter that challenges players’ ethics and integrity by putting them in the middle of intricate situations where impossible choices affecting human life must be made.

While it’s shooting mechanics may be basic, but Spec Ops: The Line fancifully covers the moral dilemmas of war. The Line’s original claim to fame was that it was being postured in Dubai; that enormous city of glass outlined by the desert that never really looks like it should belong. The city has been invaded with huge massacre sand storms that are devastating everything in their path. The team of three, controlled by you have been sent in to try and find out what happened to the 33rd company that was sent there to organize an evacuation. Players fly into Dubai’s unforgiving sands as Captain Martin Walker, interpreted by fan-favorite voice actor Nolan North who’s in almost every game nowadays. Walker is joined by fellow Delta team members John Lugo and Alphonso Adams; the trio gets little time to talk after reaching their destination before the squad is attacked and character evolution is engross to the demands of action.

A couple hours into the game, the dilemma of emotions starts which really separates the game from typical war time shooters. Facing a series of escalating nightmares, you come across dead men hanging from ropes. You see innocent women and children being murdered; others being mutilated, oppressed and persecuted. Everyone is helpless, even you are not able to gratify anyone. And then comes the hardest part as you’re going to have to join in on the travel along this morally difficult turf. As your team fights back, you will have to take the unforgiving decision of shooting your own former brothers in arms. It starts to wear down on your psyche, ego and the teamwork between your fellow men. You start to flinch and recoil from danger at the violence. You start to go a little mad.

The game is at its best during intense fire-fight sessions around and after halfway through campaign. Designed with a lot of character-less violence as enemies who blend into one another becomes the one in the scenes that truly work are the ones that drive your character and maybe even yourself deeper into understanding the brutal cost of war and allow for multiple campaign playthroughs as you make different decisions with no easy answers.

However character less violence is one the greatest weakness of Spec Ops. There are a few times when the game starts to get a bit repetitive. You enter a room, quickly take cover, and kill the enemies, it really gets boring after a while. By the time the game had begun its emotional and psychological genre, it was ready to stop with these kind of inclusive shooter episodes.

The multiplayer portion of “Spec Ops: The Line” is pretty barefaced although the sand elements that play a role in the campaign are often a part of it as well as sandstorms can blow in and you can sometimes blow out windows, dumping the stuff on the enemies. Other than the setting, it’s a typical and average multiplayer and perhaps even a bit sub-par in its map design.

The Line agitates you with dark questions, asks about your role in the forced collision that sustains games like it. It’s still a monotonous array of shootouts, ammo roundups and flashy set pieces; albeit one that delivers a message. The character design is strong, the enemy animation is rational, but it’s the environments that are the most dexterous. The way light and shadow plays through this ambushed city – it’s going to be one of the most memorable game settings of the decade.

The game can’t really be compared to Call of Duty and other brain dead FPS games. From a start, played from a third-person viewpoint, and cover is a major issue. On normal difficulty you can be killed by just a few shots, although you can always wait for your health to regenerate, the game is made a bit more interesting with the inclusion of stronger and armored enemies. As with Ghost Recon: Future Soldier or Gears of War, its two closest points of comparison, you need to be fully aware of your surroundings, of where you can find cover and where you’ll be exposed to incoming fire. What’s more, ammo is in painfully very short supply, so there’s not a lot of room for just crouch down until all your enemies are killed off, either.

Spec Ops: The Line has some intense game play issues. Players might take it as a boring title due to repetitive combat, story filled with plot-holes, awkward check-pointing and the most important of all issues, the dilemma of emotions which is dragged in a war time shooter game. However it has a good story and character moments are though-provoking and unique. The graphics’, colors and sound is up to the standards which makes it a fine game but incomparable with Call of Duty and the like.

Techdeviile awards Specs Ops: The Line with 3/5 stars.
January 31, 2013
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Review
The Kingdom Hearts series is a series very close to my heart, I loved watching Disney cartoons as a kid while my favorite games have always been of the JRPG genre namely the Final Fantasy series. So when I heard about the game about a decade ago, I just couldn’t pass it up, I begged my Mom for a whole week before she finally bought me the game and as soon as I put the game in I was hooked. Kingdom Hearts is the ultimate nostalgia trip for gamers like me which make it one of my favorite series of all time.

Now onto the game I’ll be reviewing today, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance – boy that’s a mouthful. Kingdom Hearts 3D is the seventh game in the series and by the looks of what I’ve played is going to be the last game before Kingdom Hearts 3 although Nomura-san and his team are really unpredictable at this point.

Kingdom Hearts 3D takes place after the events of Coded or after RE: Coded if you’ve played the remake. Sora and Riku make a visit to Yen Sid who informs them about the return of Master Xehanort, and they only stand a chance of defeating him if they become Keyblade masters. Our heroes are then sent to take the Mark of Mastery exam where they have to visit seven sleeping worlds and awake them using their Keyblades like previous games. The game has two protagonists (Sora and Riku) like Birth by Sleep had three (Aqua, Ventus and Terra) with each of their campaigns being parallel to each other. Storywise the game satisfied me a lot, it even had a few cameos from the The World Ends With You so fans of that game are in for a treat.

Lets get one thing out of the way first, Kingdom Hearts 3D looks and sounds great. The graphics are undoubtedly the best I’ve seen on the 3DS, the environments and character models are highly detailed although sometimes the frame rate did tend to drop a bit in high traffic areas. For KH 3D, series music producer Yoko Shimomura are joined by Takeharu Ishimoto (The World Ends With You) and Tsuyoshi Sekito (Brave Fencer Musashi) to compose the score. I know I’m not the only one who thinks the Kingdom Hearts series has one of the best OSTs of all time and Kingdom Hearts 3D proves my point.

The gameplay at its core is just like any other Kingdom Hearts game. You have to hack and slash your way to victory in quick seamless battles and if you succeed you’ll be awarded with experience, money, health and even items. Just like any other RPG you have to level up to gain new abilities and upgrade your stats. The fights are a bit faster though thanks to the brand new Flowmotion system. The Flowmotion system basically allows you to jump off walls and rails and parkour your way to a stylish flurry of combos. Some enemies can be really weak to Flowmotion attacks and the attack can help quickly dispatch enemies, but that’s all its really good for. Although I liked using Flowmotion you can complete avoid it if you want, its completely optional.

Another addition to the battle system is the inclusion of Reality Shifts. Reality Shifts are special attacks which can be triggered when you’ve applied enough damage to your enemy. These attacks change depending on the world you’re in and are pivotal to boss fights who can only be defeated by using a Reality Shift.

Another addition to Kingdom Hearts 3D is the inclusion of Dream Eaters which will serve as both the primary enemies and party members. There are two different kind of Dream Eaters, the good kind called Spirits who will join you in battle as party members while the evil ones are called Nightmares and will serve as the main enemies like Shadows, Nobodys and Unversed did in the previous games. So no, Goofy or Donald won’t be present to help you out when the going gets tough, these Pokemon-ish creatures are all you’ve got.

Unlike Pokemon though these Dream Eaters are created with parts dropped from defeated enemies. You can have up to two Dream Eaters in your party and one in stand by if anything goes wrong. Square Enix has introduced a Nintendogs-esque system for the Dream Eaters where you have to give regular attention to your neon colored friends to make them perform better in battle. Just like in real life these pets too are effected by morale and require you to play with them (via the touch screen of course). You can level up your Dream Eaters in a variety of ways namely by giving them treats, playing minigames and the standard XP gaining.

The most annoying part of the game are the boss battles, they are just so frickin’ hard. After a few hours into the game each boss starts taking quite some time to defeat, they aren’t even that difficult but their life bars seem to go on for days. Towards the end you’ll start facing bosses with 7-9 health bars which require some grinding to get through.

The other although less annoying part of the game is the Drop system. Unlike Birth By Sleep which allowed you to play all three campaigns one at a time, Dream Drop Distance’s campaigns run in parallel motion. The Drop system basically switches you back and forth between Sora and Riku as the Drop gauge or meter runs out. This can be really rage inducing during lengthy boss battles as if you drop between a boss battle you’ll have to start it all over again when you drop back.

This also makes completing challenges harder which if completed award you Dream Points which are used to gain buffs and earn the Drop Decelerators which as the name suggests slows down the Drop Meter.

You may have been wondering before reading the review if 3D is just a cash-in side story or a game really worth your time. Luckily it falls in to the latter category. 3D is one of the best games I’ve played generation and is a must buy for all 3DS owners. So go out and get it!

TechDeville awards Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance 4.5/5 stars.
January 31, 2013
Persona 4 Arena Review
Gruesome monsters, highly detailed character sprites the latest fighter from developer Arc System Works and Atlus, Persona 4 arena brings life characters from highly applauded Persona 3 and 4 games, while using high definition 2D animated style fighters. Assisted by an original, hardcore fighting engine from one of the most respected 2D fighting game developers in the industry, Persona 4 Arena represents the biggest, most manifest expansion of the venerated series to date. It is the kind of fast-paced frantic combat title that every JRPG fan would definitely love to play.

The game allows you to use two combatants in battle which might lead you to believe that its a tag team fighter, well its not. Persona 4 Arena combines both single and tag team styles, entreating you to control two fighters in conformity. This includes your main character and his/her persona which are the title creatures of the game aiding you in battle. Although having few setbacks, its mechanics are easy to grasp as it is too friendly to fighting game newbie’s like for example each character has an auto-combo. That means just pressing the attack button will result in a impressive full on assault or a special attack if one has enough juice in their SP meter. Followed by this, the game has a highly detailed tutorial mode perfect for beginners to start smashing buttons and enjoy the 2D fighter.

The game although being simple to new comers has plenty of advanced tactics waiting to be castigated by seasoned fighting pros, hence the game should not be accused of lacking elaboration. There is a very sleek and smooth addition drawn straight from the game’s universe apart from regular attacks and special assault moves. Allowing every player to use their Persona, awful nightmare creatures that can called upon for devastating attacks. The game also implements many of the status conditions from the RPG series, with poisoned characters taking inconsiderable damage over time. There are also plenty of different features to master like: short hops, air dashing, and even hasty kills, which lets you bash your opponent within a cartoonist ball of dust and sound effects, before launching them into the air for further combo rendering them potentially dormant.

The strongest element of the game is its long story mode, offering a uniquely prosaic plotline for every character. You usually don’t play fighting games for the story but neither do you often get a fighting game based on a long running JRPG franchise based so heavily on its story. Although the story is full of cliche dialogue and blabbering about friendship and what not, fans of the Persona series will feel right at home. Voice acting is top notch, which is surprising to see from a Japanese game (I’m looking at your Resident Evil). The story mode however feels a lot like a visual novel, filling the screen with paragraphs at a time, although you can always skip it with a press of a button. For those who aren’t willing to endure the plot and pre-battle cutscenes which are often longer than the battle itself there’s always the Arcade Mode.. The Arcade Mode offers a thankfully abbreviated version of game’s events and lets you smash through the competition while still getting to experience some of Persona 4 Arena’s fantastic voice acting.

Overall, Persona 4 Arena is excellently presented with all inclusive story mode enclosed by the original creators of Persona 4. Consisting of plenty of modes and solid online experience, its one of the most entertaining fighting games this gen. Choosing between both English and Japanese voice acting allows you to play the game as you want. Graphics are perfect as razor sharp hand drawn sprites and animations meet an amazing array of effects in this 2D animated fighter. It blends many mechanics from the JRPG series into a highly paced fighter that anyone can enjoy. In short, whether you’re a diehard fan of 2D fighters or just a fighting game beginner who likes Persona, you really owe it to yourself to pick up this fantastic game.

TechDeville awards Persona 4 Arena 4/5 stars.
January 31, 2013
The Top-5 Must-Have Apps for a Jailbroken iPhone

Every time a new firmware comes out, to update your iPhone you have to flash it Â (Due to the lack of OTA updates), which results in all the data on the phone getting wiped. For me, the process has developed into a choreographed exercise. The first thing I do after the phone gets updated, needless to say, is Jailbreak it. After which I install the following apps from Cydia, now I do this before moving on to anything else because honestly, I have become so accustomed to them that I cant bear to use my iPhone without them. These are the best apps for a Jailbroken phone in my opinion. The full list after the break.

1. SBSettings(Free)
The very first thing that I do after jailbreaking an iPhone is install SBsettings. I simply can’t stand to use the phone without it and best of all, it’s totally free! SBsettings is basically a menu which drops down from the status bar when you swipe the bar (activating action is fully customizable). It puts all of the commonly used toggle in one place which is just a “swipe” away. You can even customize which toggles appear and can even install new toggles from Cydia (shown in the screen shot below) and there is a plethora of toggles available there. It can be accessed from anywhere on the phone and it even includes a nifty task manager. Without this app installed it just seems like a hassle to perform even the simplest of function such as turning on bluetooth. With SBsettings it’s as simple as “swipe and tap” instead of “Settings->General->Bluetooth”. Once you get used to it, you wont be able to live without it. It is certainly a Must-Have.

2. BiteSMS($8.99)

I’ve used iPhones, Blackberrys, Symbian and Android phones and almost every OS that was in the market one time or another and I assume it’s safe to say that NOTHING even comes close to the texting experience offered by BiteSMS. The only downside is that it isn’t free but i have to say that it is well worth the price. The best two features, in my opinion are the Quick Compose and Quick Reply. With Quick Compose you can basically compose a text from anywhere on the phone instead of stopping whatever you’re doing, opening the SMS.app and composing the message from there. You simply have to press the volume button, tap on the volume screen and VoilÃ , you get to the quick compose, froom there you can select the contact, compose the message, and send it. The prompt will then disappear and you’ll be back to whatever you were doing. You can even reply the same way; just press the reply button on an incoming text and a keyboard pops up, with which you can reply and the prompt disappears after sending the message, you can even pull on a slider on top of the prompt and it pulls up the texting history of the contact you’re chatting with(see screen shot), really nifty. Just like SBSettings, once you get used to the BiteSMS, you wont be able to live without it.

3. iFile/Myfile($4.00/Free)

The iPhone does not allow access to the root file system, that’s what jailbreaking is basically: Getting access to the root file system, but even after Jailbreaking, some sort off app needs to be installed give a GUI access to the file system. That’s where iFile(Myfile free alternative) comes in. It offers a myriad of features. You can directly view files of various types with it’s open with menu, it can unzip zipped files, files can be emailed, permissions can be changed and much more, it even offers the ability to host a web server. $4.00 is a small price to pay for an app with so many features, this one is highly recommended.

4. Caller ID/Format Fix(Free)

Although this isn’t technically an app, it is a very important package. Now, in most third world countries the iPhone still hasn’t officially launched, what this means for the iPhone users in those countries is that the contact names do not show up in the SMS app. Many people have asked me, “How do we get contact names to show up in the SMS app?” It’s really an annoyance if you have this problem. The simplest solution is to install this tweak. It goes by the name CallerID-Format fix for 3.x and although it was originally made for 3.x firmwares it works great on iOS4 too. What it does is it adds your country code e.g +92, to the iPhone’s directory. With this installed you won’t have to edit the country code into each and every contact on your iPhone and the SMS app will show all the contacts in your SMS app.

5. Celeste Bluetooth File Sharing($9.99)

Celeste is perfectly defined on their homepage. Celeste is the Bluetooth file transfer that Apple forgot. For 2.x there was iBluetooth, for 3.x there was iBlueNova and for 4.x there is Celeste and out of all these Celeste has the tightest integration with the OS and is best implemented. It requires no configuration at all and it can send and receive files to and from any PC or mobile. It is integrated directly into the OS, meaning that there is no seperate app for it, to send a file you simply have to to long press the file and an action menu appears like it would on any other phone and then just tap send and to receive a file you simply have to toggle Celeste from SBsettings . It’s as easy as that. Not quite sure if it’s worth the steep price tag though, but those who need it will still buy it despite the huge price tag, it’s a great app nonetheless.

That’s about it.Â For anyone new to Jailbreaking, these are the best apps IMO that are out for a Jailbroken phone, these really enchance the experience of using the phone and you should at least try them out. You wont regret it. Feel free to leave any suggestions for new apps to be added to this list in the comments below.

January 31, 2013
Resident Evil 6 Review
The Resident Evil franchise is one that I’ve followed for quite a long time and Resident Evil 6 was a game that I was greatly looking forward to this year. Since 2012 has not had a plethora of good games so far, Resident Evil 6 was on my “Highly Anticipated Games of 2012″.

However, after playing it, the hype has died and the fact that this was supposed to one of the most exciting games of the year, seemed highly absurd. Many would agree when I state that Capcom seemed let the Resident Evil franchise roll down the hill with the fifth game. The newest installment further strengthens this statement.

Whats wrong with this game? A lot of things. Read on in my Resident Evil 6 review to find out more.

Well, the main thing in a survival horror zombie game are… the zombies. In Resident Evil 6, my opinion regarding the zombies varies. Some of them, especially the ones in Leon’s campaign, are the classic zombies that you’d expect. They’re scary, they’re unintelligent and the try to grab and bite you. On the other hand, the one’s in Chris’s campaign didn’t feel like zombies at all. Rather, they felt like regular soldiers. And why shouldn’t they? Whats the point of a zombie when you equip him with guns and ammunition? Yes, I understand that they’re smarter and they aren’t ‘regular’ zombies, but then you’d might as well turn this franchise into a pointless shooter. Sure, some of the bosses had a good unique design in all campaigns, but Capcom can do better than that.

Although the game still carries the tag of “Survival Horror”, it definitely didn’t feel like one. Instead, it was like a regular third person shooter. Although Leon’s campaign showcased some enigmatic, eerie areas, it still wasn’t enough to scare anyone. You do get to relive some moments of the previous games in the graveyard level as you get to kill those zombie dogs and get that nostalgic feeling, but that’s pretty much it. I recall Capcom boasting that RE6 would provide us with the “Pee-your-pants” horror that we all crave from this series. Sadly, this was a lie. A big, fat lie with a troll face on top.

The game did have a good design though. The HUD had a very futuristic look and the areas looked neat too. Character designs are all polished up and the voice acting is superb. All this draws you into a well-written narrative as you discover the origins of this latest Biohazard.

Speaking of the narrative, it is split into three separate campaigns, or four if you consider Ada’s campaign to be important. Each campaign has it’s own individual story with independent premises and conclusions. All these stories are linked together and contribute to the main story line which can only be understood if all the campaigns are experienced. Since the game play is repetitive and boring, playing through all four campaigns seems like a difficult feat.

Each campaign may have different characters, but the core game play is the same. Run, shoot, cinematic action, open a door – rinse and repeat. Sometimes, you end up wondering why you’re even playing this. A movie would have been a better idea. The cinematic actions are simply overdone, not to mention frustrating. It seems fun the first couple of levels, but then you realize that it’s the same thing over and over again, causing your thumbs to become sore with the repeated pressing. Not cool, Capcom. Couldn’t you guys have thought of something different to bring some variation to the game play?

The camera view is still the same too, in case someone was wondering. I’m not a huge fan of this camera angle, and was expecting it to be changed this time around. Some parts of the campaign would have been more fun if this angle was not present as it would give the players more freedom with the view and let them look around without the frustration of having to switch sides. Furthermore, the actions such as jumping over something, or rolling underneath an object, are still done by one single button when the option appears on screen. This is an out dated feature, without a doubt. Once again, this restricts the unrestrained freedom that the players need. Well, at least we can aim and move at the same time.

Also, melee attacks have been made easier now. The ability to perform melee attacks is completely in the hands of the players. This is the only freedom given, actually. But this destroys the balance of the game. I cleared most of the game without having to use up too much of my ammunition. Most enemies are highly vulnerable to melee attacks and don’t require a bullet to the head to achieve death. This seems nice, until you realize that the game is just too easy. You can also simply run and avoid most of the enemies, making levels even easier.

Since the game features co operative play, you have two characters in the game. Firstly, this ruins the atmosphere. Since you realize that there is another person around to help you, you do not realize the intensity of the situation and the terror that the game is trying to invoke. Playing with a friend using co operative play further makes you feel relaxed. I fail to understand the point of survival horror when you’re playing a friend though. Also, since a partner is around, some actions like opening a large door require both the characters to be present at the location, which feels quite redundant and stupid.

Well, these are just a few of the many things that cause Resident Evil 6 to fail as a proper horror game. When you play the game, you have a constant feeling that this game shouldn’t be the way it is. I guess all that hype was for naught.

If you’re a hardcore Resident Evil fan, no review can stop you from getting the game. But if you’re a sensible gamer, you should realize that Resident Evil 6 is a waste of your hard earned money. You can either skip this game, or wait for it to go on sale if you’re even mildly interested.

TechDeville gives Resident Evil 6 a 2/5.
January 31, 2013
SteelSeries Xai Review
Introduction

SteelSeries is a well-known brand when it comes to professional gaming. Their lineup of high-end gaming peripherals constitute of Keyboards, Mice, Mouse Pads, Headphones, and even glasses. Today weâ€™re looking at a gaming mouse from the house of SteelSeries: Xai. Compared to what the current competition offers, the Xai is a 2 generation laser sensor mouse. The current competition is at 4G sensors. Before we even begin this review, it has to be considered that Xai is already on obsolete technology. Nothing alarming though, as we are going to review the Xai to see if it still stacksâ€¦

Specification

Xai come with a plethora of features. Weâ€™ll be going through the tech of Xia shortly, but first, here is a bulleted list of the features.

Internal
- Frames per second: 12.000
- Inches per second: 150+
- Counts per inch: 100 – 5.001
- Maximum Acceleration: 30 G
- Sensor data path: True 16 bit
- Lift distance: ~1mm
- Megapixels per second: 10.8
- Polling Rate: 125 – 1000 Hz
External
- Buttons: Eight
- Cord: 2 m / 6.5 feet (braided)
- Gold-plated USB connector
- CPI high/low indicator
- On board LCD
- 3 mouse feet
- Second generation laser sensor
Features
- Ambidextrous shape
- Slip-resistant mouse coating
- Two customizable CPI settings
- Nine programmable buttons, 6 programmable macros
- Three Huge Teflon feet
- High grade sensor sporting 10.8 Megapixels per Second
- Pro-play performance with accurate tracking and extreme precision
- Best-in-class technology: 100-5001 CPI, 12,000 FPS, and 150+ IPS
- Plug-and-play, Driverless feature for LAN Gamers
- Five On-board profiles
- On board LCD, display featuring intuitive menu-system for customization of:
SteelSeries ExactSens Technology for Adjusting CPI from 100 to 5001, by one CPI increment/decrement

SteelSeries ExactAim Technology for Minimizing â€œjittersâ€ for FPS Gamers

SteelSeries ExactRate Technology for Adjusting Polling/Report Rate from 125 to 1000, by one Hz increment/decrement

SteelSeries FreeMove Technology for adjusting cursor prediction on mouse movement

SteelSeries ExactAccel Technology for adjusting hardware acceleration
- Operating systems: Win 2000/XP/Vista/7/OSX
Package

When we look at the packing Xai is placed securely in the middle of the box after opening window to the left side, which is locked magnetically.

The top of the box mentions the well-known professional teams along with their logo and, mouse was made with the cooperation these teams.

At the back of the box shows the Specifications/Features of Xai in English and German languages respectively.

When we take out the internal packing from the box we can see the mouse resting in the middle and the braided wire is stored in a compartment above and under the mouse there is another little compartment where we can find the documentation and SteelSeries sticker.

All items in the packing includes the mouse, user manual, SteelSeries gaming gear catalog and sticker.

SteelSeries shows there appreciation for trusting and buying this product and states that this manual is aimed to familiarize us with the basic aspects of the mouse usage and setup.

And further, the manual describes the System Requirements, the Basic Functionality, Advance functionality, On-Mouse menu System Using LCD display, and Updating the firmware.

Closer Examination

Now we will take a closer look at the Mouse itself. The material used for the finishing is very smooth to the touch. Despite of being so smooth itâ€™s impossible for it to slip.

At the top middle you will see a white wheel. And just under is the white led which shows the two level of CPI selected and further down is the pointed button which used to select Two CPI configured.

There are 2 buttons on the right side and 2 buttons on the left which means it can be used by both righty and lefty.

If we look at the front part of the mouse we can see the braided cable getting out of the body.

Now we will take a look at the bottom of the mouse, firstly we can see the name of the mouse, product number, voltage specs also this that product was designed in Denmark but manufactured in China, SteelSeries logo, the laser class 1 sensor, in the middle of the mouse the laser. Under the SteelSeries embossed logo we can also find out the plastic protective cap for the LCD screen. On all edges we can find Teflon feet to ensure smooth mouse movements.

The USB connector is gold plated, for very good contact and no signal loss.

Design

Overall, the comfort of this mouse is outstanding. It feels comfortable no matter if youâ€™re a left-hander or a right. It has balanced weight and buttons click softly and swiftly. The CPI button is well placed on it. It has the best wheel with deep ridges for the grip and it is almost impossible to slip the wheel. You have to get used to the side buttons and adjust your hand not to accidentally press them. The feet are very large but they are smooth on any surface that I have tested. They are not round edged which are the main cause for its feet being a dirt magnet.

The LCD display provides to switch between one of five profiles. When not using menu-system it displays the SteelSeries logo.

We can access the profile management menu by holding the arrow shaped button for 3 seconds, for navigating through the menus the wheel and side buttons are used and wheelâ€™s button is used to select an option.

We can adjust the value of each feature either by the wheel or by buttons on the side. (as wheel provide increase/decrease in 1 unit and side buttons provide increase and decrease in 3 units)

Performance/ Durability

SteelSeries Xai 2nd gen laser sensor performed better than anticipated. Besides being old it preforms good as 4^th gen sensor and manages to provide just as smooth and precise tracking as new mouse with twin lasers. It preform very well from medium to high sensitivity, if you are fond of using low sensitivity this mouse will not live up to the mark. Tracking capabilities are one of the important features needed in a pro gaming mouse and Xai preforms surprisingly well.

Software

The software that comes for the XAI has 4 tabs and on top named as.

Button Assignments tab

Here we can customize each button and also use the macro feature on button 2 to button 7, we can also set the mouse for left or right handed mode and select between 5 profiles. Macro feature is very user friendly, The Advance Macro editor is divided in to 2 portions.

Firstly is the Macro list in which u can create macro profiles. In the 2^nd portion the profiles previously created can be customized, delay function is also available if needed and in the advance delay editor the creation of profiles is further simplified.

Hardware Settings tab

All of the options here are also customizable from the mouse itself except enabling or disabling the hardware cursor acceleration and the LCD setup and just under it is the apply button and I must say settings are applied just in a second. Signature features in this tab are.

SteelSeries ExactSense:

This feature controls how fast your cursor moves in relation to how much you move your mouse. With SteelSeries ExactSense you can donâ€™t need to relay on software to adjust sensitivity settings, freeing yourself from any and all software interpolation, which will dramatically increase your precision.

We can set two different values for your sensitivity and switch between them on-the-fly via the CPI toggle button.

SteelSeries ExactRate

Report rate (a.k.a polling rate) which is number of reports sent every second by the mouse to your computer. SteelSeries ExactRate allows us to customize the Report Rate to oneâ€™s liking and need.

SteelSeries ExactAim

SteelSeries ExactAim gives total control over the amount of jitter correction and prediction calculations. This is specially designed when the mouse is used on a surface that hasnâ€™t been optimized for high precision gaming. The settings range from â€œpureâ€ sensor data, that will the raw data without and prediction/calculation, up to high amounts of prediction calculations which are extremely helpful in jitter-less gaming.

SteelSeries FreeMove

Allows the user to determine how much the mouse should help with movements, and allows us to perform movements without any angle snapping and path correction. We can adjust how much control should be left up to the mouse and how much control should be left up to us in other words how precise the mouse should be in reproducing our movement.

SteelSeries ExactAccel

With acceleration we can bridge large distances quickly, while still being able to work flawlessly in small areas of the screen, without having to switch our CPI with the CPI toggle all the time. The main difference between this setting and Windows acceleration is that this setting is running in the hardware, we are also able to set the degree of dynamic acceleration.

Windows Settings tab

We can set the scroll wheel speed, double click speed and the pointer speed, settings that are also available in Windows, Control Panel.

Options tab

We can see the installed software application version, the current firmware version that is running in the mouse and the language of the interface; here we can also access multiple links like product information, additional downloads or support for the device.

Conclusion

Personally, despite its second gen laser sensor I liked this mouse from the moment I started using it. Its software is easy to use and modify according to your needs and the fact that everything can be customized of the mouse without need of any driver or software is totally unique. I have tested it in many games including CODBO and Counterstrike Source and as far as gaming is concerned it works absolutely outstanding.

Its price is a bit high as compared to others but because of its comfortable grip and rich features it will definitely make its mark & will stay for years to come.

Pros
- Soft Comfortable Grip
- High Quality Material
- LCD for on go customization
- Ambidextrous Shape
- Outperforming Sensor
- Simplicity in usage
Cons
- Bit expensive
- No weight management
January 16, 2013
Review: Serif MoviePlus X5 (Box & Screens Included)

MoviePlus is a video editing software by Serif which aims to compete with giants like Adobe After Effects, Apple Final Cut And Sony Vegas. The software has come a long way from it’s initial release back in 2003. Originally MoviePlus was intended to be used for converting MiniDV recorded videos to DVDs but it’s come to support a large array of formats and is now a favorite of many home video enthusiasts.

THE REVIEW

INSIDE THE BOX

Sporting the same colors as its predecessor, MoviePlus X5 comes in a sleek purple-black case.

FEATURES & OVERVIEW

The latest release Serif X5 has added many new features to the already excellent piece of software including the ability to generate MPEG-4, Quicktime and direct High Definition HDV files. As far as hardware requirements for MoviePlus X5 are concerned you need at least a Pentium 4 with Hyper Threading or an AMD Athlon XP processor along with 1GB of RAM but multiple cores are highly recommended.

For beginners there’s a helpful How To panel on the left inside the main program which give quick one click hints and tips which we’ve found pretty useful when we started using the program. There are also mini video tutorials and sample projects that really improve your skills. Overall the program is very easy to use but we still find Adobe After Effects the perfectly idiot proof video editing program.

As far as the interface is concerned the program is really fast, the timeline never lags, video and audio files import almost instantly and the previews never shutter. We’ve found it on par with Final Cut by Apple which is pretty darn fast. The prior mentioned preview function is pretty neat, when you hover your mouse over any video in the media tab it open a small video dialogue playing the video unlike on other editing softwares where you have to open the video in another window to preview then. Another useful feature is how the program renders HD files in lower resolutions when being worked on and converts them back to higher resolutions for the final product. Exactly what does that mean you ask? Well it allows users with slower hardware to get their work done without facing frequent slowdowns.

The effects included in the package are pretty decent, standard effects like image stabilization and noise reduction are helpful as always. We also loved using the chroma key, color correction, masking skins and the excellent text based effects.

There’s one thing that really bugs us about the program: the timeline. Even though it’s pretty quick it gets really crowded once you start applying different effects, adding different audios, etc and to fix that you have to change the height of the tracks constantly, not that much of a problem but it would have been nice to have an option to zoom into the timeline vertically. Another annoying thing with the timeline is that you can only expand and check key frames only one track at a time which simply wastes your time.

TechDeville’s Verdict

MoviePlus X5 is one of the easiest video editors we’ve got our hands on. It’s priced good and very easy to use, what else could you want?.

Links:

For more details on the product: Click Here

January 16, 2013
SteelSeries 7H Review

Introduction
SteelSeries is a well-known brand when it comes to professional gaming. Their lineup of high-end gaming peripherals constitute of Keyboards, Mice, Mouse Pads, Headphones, and even glasses. Today weâ€™re looking at a gaming headset that is unfortunately the least of concern for gamers. People buy rigs and mice overlooking keyboards, mouse pads, and sound. Having a good headset while in an intense situation might become the reason for you coming on top. The 7H is what we are playing with today and this is going to be an interesting read.

Specifications
Headphones
Frequency response: 18 to 28 Hz
Impedance: 32 Ohm
SPL@ 1kHz, 1 Vrms- 112 dB
Cable length: 1 + 2 = 3 m (9,8 ft.)
Jacks: 3.5 mm
Microphone
Frequency response: 50 to 16 Hz
Pick up pattern: Uni-directional
Sensitivity: -38 dB
Features
Crystal clear high, low and mid-tones
Interchangeable ear-cushions
Pull-out microphone
50 mm driver units provide rich reproduction of all acoustic details
Dismantles into 4 separate pieces
Improved passive noise reduction

Packaging and Design

The 7h from SteelSeries is securely packed in orange, gray and white livery with black base, and some features in four languages on front with a plastic window showing glimpse of the product.

At the back of the box there are detailed specifications mentioned in several languages and also with the package contents which we will take a look at

Excluding the headset itself there is detachable cord, 2m extension cord and pair of ear-cushions. The documents includes SteelSeries catalog, SteelSeries signature sticker, pictured guide for the removal of ear- cushions and a warning note stating the repercussions of loud and extensive usage.

Now we will take a closer look at 7h.

The 7H comes in matte-black with very aggressive look while maintaining elegance and is a lot less likely to pick up marks and scratches. The body is sturdy made and has a very smooth feel to it, the metal trim around the ear cups and on the ends of the band really brings uniqueness to it, ear cups are labeled clearly with R, L for individual ears they also rotatable at 45Âº.

Pre mounted ear-cushions is made out of leather covered foam which is extremely soft because its designed to have superior noise-isolating and spacing for the ears are oval shaped rather than circular this ensures a comfortable fit for extensive usage. The other one is covered with fiber which can be used during LAN parties as it lacks isolating thus allowing you to communicate between your team members

The left ear-cup has a cavity for retractable microphone it can be held into shape to your likingâ€¦ a must have when you are gaming.

SteelSeries logo is engraved across its Headband that is shiny in appearance and feel. And under it is a thick strip of leather covered foam which adds support and comfort

7h is designed so it can be dismantled into 4 parts which is a very slick feature incorporated in it which is useful in its safe transport

The detachable cord that 7h uses is braided for better durability and has mini-USB to plug into the left sided earphone, half-way along the cable there is a small control which is used for volume control and to mute the microphone by sliding down the large button the other end of cord has two standard 3.5mm gold-plated connectors a 2m long extension cord is also provided which is quite useful if your CPU is far way.

Performance
The 7h provide substantial comfort while being stylish and lightweight. The microphone preformed remarkably well as its noise cancellation is outstanding. Though, itâ€™s primarily a gaming grade product, we will check its performance in music and movie as well.

Gaming
Call of Duty Series
We tested tremendously popular titles with 7H Call of Duty 4, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 and Call of Duty Black Ops and I must say all three preformed about the same, the footsteps were crystal clear, you could even hear the footsteps of crouched enemies nearby and background noises were prominent which contributed in locating enemy positions.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2
As being a fast FPS game itâ€™s vital that you know about whatâ€™s happening around for this 7h correctly identifying gun fire, explosions, footsteps and vehicle noise feel very atmospheric and did a cracking job at pinpointing sound from other players.
As 7H high, low and mid tones are conspicuous. Picking out each individual sound can sometimes be a difficult task with other solutions but I found the 7H to be a worthy contender. On the audio side of things in-game the 7H is a superb audio solution.

Music and Movies
The music and movie experience is superb if the audio is of good quality. A low grade music/movie will remain garbage regardless of your sound setup. The bass is not that deep but it is very good for games if not for late-night movie sessions. The clarity is excellent and overall, itâ€™s a winner.

Conclusion
SteelSeries always deliver their product based on functionality and quality. 7h is no exception to this. Its performance is outstanding in gaming. The atmospheric, rich, and definite sound quality is truly remarkable. On the outside, the look and feel is very elegant. A very professional headset.

Pros
Great craftsmanship
Good quality material
Very Comfortable fit
Interchangeable ear-cushions
Retractable microphone
Breaks into parts good thing when you are traveling

Cons
Volume could be louder
Bass could be deeper

January 16, 2013
Borderlands 2 Review
The original Borderlands was a game that I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s quite uncommon to find RPGs with shooter elements and a very vast world filled with loot. Borderlands felt… different. It had it’s flaws, but it was a unique experience. Borderlands 2 is quite similar, and just as fun.

The sequel is a large improvement over the first game. Correcting many of the problems that were associated with the first game, and adding some new features of it’s own, Borderlands 2 offers a wonderful experience; one that will keep you glued to your seat for quite a while. I suggest you take a break from work or school before getting started with this adventure.

Borderlands 2 has four classes namely the Commando, Siren, Assassin and Gunzerker (pictured below).

As you can notice, the first four are more or less like the classes offered in the first game. They’re different in appearance and action skills this time though. Another class, called the Mechromancer, will be available for download later on October 16th for $9.99 or 800 MS Points for PSN and XBL respectively, unless you pre-ordered the game, in which case you have obtained her already.

The story picks up where the first one left off. Oh, you don’t remember the first story? It doesn’t matter. Borderlands 1 had a very weak and boring story. It’s definitely not worth remembering. This sequel has improved on narration and story-telling, but the core story is still not worth it. Who cares about stories in most loot-driven Western RPG’s anyway? Remember the story to Diablo 3? Yeah, nor do I.

Speaking of Diablo 3, I believe that Gearbox could have learned something off of Blizzard’s game: Independent loot. In Diablo 3, every player received his/her own loot. This, however, is not the case in Borderlands 2. This game goes back to the old ways when loot was shared amongst the players. When you kill an enemy, it’s a race against time to rush towards the dropped weapons and grab them before your enemy does. This can be problematic as most people online tend to pick up whatever loot they find, without caring about whether it’ll be useful to them or not. Beware of Ninjas and lag on this one.

But the amount of loot in this game is just so incredible that you wouldn’t really care who took what. Loot drops very often and it’s easy to find new things. No gamer exaggerates when he/she mentions how much loot there is in this game. Trust me, it is more than enough to drive you and make you go crazy. And just like the tremendous amount of loot, the other content of this game is pretty large too. The entire area is quite diverse and vast, with a variety of enemies and bosses. Quite unfortunately though, there is not much to do except gain loot and kill. I spent most of my time just shooting. Obviously this is what you would expect from a first person shooter RPG, but I was expecting the gameplay to be overhauled in many aspects. But I guess that’s not much of an issue as this point relies heavily upon my personal opinion. Despite gameplay being repetitive, there are various side-quests to enjoy when you don’t feel like following the main story line. Although these side missions are hardly different as they too involve a lot of shooting, they are still fun and rewarding.

Each class is unique and fun to play. Their action skills are quite important and can be improved as the character levels up. These skills are crucial when playing with friends as the enemies get harder and each player has to play his/her part to survive and help others to live as well. Without team work and co-operation, this game can be immensely tough online. But if you play with the right people of the right level and experience, you’ll have a lot of fun. Team co-operation and seeing everyone use their action skills in dangerous moments is fun and adds to the overall fun. I mean, who wouldn’t want partners while shooting everything you lay your fixed eyes on?

One thing Borderlands 2 failed to do was give freedom in customizing character appearances. This feature was not available in Borderlands 1 either, where you could only change the color of the clothes, but Borderlands 2 should have improved on this. After all, when you play online, do you not want your character to look different? Agreed that this is not an MMO and nor is it a Fantasy RPG where armor matters a lot, but even simple appearance changing options would have been appreciated. On the other hand, skill trees are very intriguing. You could spend hours on a skill tree only to restore your skill points and start all over again. This keeps continuing until you’re comfortable with a set of specific skills.

One important aspect of every game is it’s sound. The sound effects were pretty good, but nothing extraordinary. The same goes for the soundtrack as I did not notice anything special that is worth praising. But at the same time, it wasn’t bad. Lets just say it suited the game. Lastly, this game has a lot of humor and this is one of the reasons I enjoyed it. The story was not worth my time, but the humor definitely was.

It all comes down to the final verdict then. Borderlands 2 is a great improvement over it’s prequel. Period.

The Good: The visuals are updated and enhanced, several flaws have been fixed, the online gameplay is fun, quests are rewarding and the amount of variety in loot and enemies is enough to keep you playing for weeks, maybe even months.

The Bad: The game’s story is not of any importance, there is hardly any freedom and character customization and loot sharing is a pain.

In the end, my point is, if you enjoy RPGs which can cause you to lose your job or get bad grades in school, then Borderlands 2 might just be the game for you. Seriously speaking though, fans of the original Boderlands and other Western RPGs will certainly enjoy Borderlands 2. I would personally recommend buying the game on the PC as it looks better (though it leeches a lot of power from your hardware), but purchasing it on the Xbox 360 or the PS3 won’t make much of a difference since the game is entirely the same.

TechDeville awards Borderlands 2 4.5/5 stars.
January 16, 2013