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Fast internet is pretty much a basic necessity these days, and if you don't have it, it'll cause you grief every single day. Sometimes, the fix is getting a better plan, but you should always do the troubleshooting work first to make sure that's really what you need.

SAVE $40: As of Oct. 14, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni wireless gaming headset is on sale at Amazon for $359.99 instead of $399.99. That's 10% in savings, its biggest discount to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni wireless gaming headset $359.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $40   Get Deal at Amazon

With the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI launch next month, you might be looking to upgrade your gaming setup. As you overhaul your gear, a great headset is not to be overlooked. It can pull you deeper into the worlds on screen, enhance communication, and make for a more immersive experience overall. While there are a ton of options on the market, it doesn't get much better than upgrading to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni.

The Nova Pro Omni headset is expensive, but as of Oct. 14, you can save $40 on it at Amazon. That knocks about 10% off the $399.99 price tag, bringing the new total to $359.99. Sure, that's still a pretty big investment, but it's the lowest price to date.

Mashable's sister site PCMag crowned the Nova Pro Omni as "the best, most flexible gaming headset overall." It's an excellent follow-up to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless, which Mashable contributor Ben Williams raved about in his review. It has a base station that lets you connect up to three devices over USB-C, dual batteries to keep you from having to plug it in, an excellent ClearCast Pro microphone, impressive ANC, and it's comfortable. Redditors also concluded it's the better option for pretty much anyone (except maybe extreme audiophiles) over the Nova Elite.

If you're willing to invest a hefty chunk of cash into a wireless headset, the Nova Pro Omni is the one to get. And you might as well save $40 while you can. Just imagine how good the GTA VI soundtrack will sound through this.

The person leaking a bunch of gameplay videos of Grand Theft Auto VI may have just revealed the most useful information in all of their leaks.

On the Cyberleek website (per our colleagues at PCMag), one of the latest updates included a threat to release a full build of the game in some form if people on the internet raised the leaker's crypto memecoin to a $30 million market cap. The coin has since crashed and looks like it's not going to get anywhere close to that level, but more importantly, the update included a file size for the playable build they have evidently been taking clips from: 200GB.

SEE ALSO: When will 'GTA 6' launch on PC? We may have good news.

That's obviously a huge number, and makes up more than 20 percent of the usable storage space on a base PS5 or Xbox Series X console. Perhaps surprisingly, it's not as big as some other games, as recent Call of Duty titles clear 200GB by a good margin. But it would still be one of the biggest single-player file sizes we've seen yet, and speaks to the scale and scope of GTA 6.

Of course, this should be taken with at least a tiny bit of skepticism. We don't know much about the build Cyberleek has been leaking footage from. If they do indeed have the full game on hand, it could be an older build that hasn't been fully optimized yet, so the true GTA 6 file size could theoretically be smaller once the actual game comes out on Nov. 19.

But you better start clearing up some space ASAP regardless.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

E-Ink displays are pretty magical. They require power to form an image on the screen, but once it's been formed, it doesn't need any additional power for that image to remain in place. I wanted to take advantage of this and turn my Kindle into a calendar that I barely need to charge.

TL;DR: You can get the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Collector's Edition Commander Deck Bundle for $448.26 on Amazon right now. That's a 30% discount or $191.70 in savings.

Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Collector's Edition Commander Deck Bundle $448.25 at Amazon
$639.96 Save $191.71   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're looking to pick up the all-foil Marvel Commander decks without paying release-day hype prices, the bundle is finally back at a decent discount.

The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Collector's Edition Commander Deck Bundle is currently down to $448.26 on Amazon (saving you $191). That also beats TCGplayer's current market price of $487.01. It's not quite the lowest price we've ever seen — it hit $415.39 on Oct. 10 — but it's a solid discount if you want to avoid paying full retail.

This Collector's Edition set bundles all four precons: Avengers Assemble, Wakanda Forever, The Fantastic Four, and Doom Prevails. Unlike standard collections, every single card across all four 100-card decks gets the "Surge Foil" treatment (i.e., they're all shiny). Each deck also includes 10 Surge Foil tokens, borderless commander art, 30 exclusive Commander cards featuring Marvel characters, plus a deck box, strategy guide, and reference card for each set.

SAVE UP TO $30: As of Oct. 14, both the Ninja UltraCrush Professional and Ninja Professional Plus Premier Series Blenders are on sale at Amazon for $79.96 (reg. $109.99) and $101.99 (reg. $119.99). That's up to 27% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja UltraCrush Professional (BP201) $79.96 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $30.03   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Professional Plus Blender (BN701BLBRN) $101.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $18   Get Deal at Amazon

Whether you're trying to extend frozen margarita season into the cooler months, add more health-forward smoothies to your diet, or make more adventurous soups and sauces this fall, a good blender will make light work of a tough job. While there's no shortage of excellent picks on the market, we're big fans of Ninja's range. They perform well, are affordably priced, and you can often find them on sale — like today.

As of Oct. 14, the Ninja UltraCrush Professional (BP201) is on sale at Amazon for just $79.96, down from its usual $109.99. That's 27% in savings and matches its best price on record. Another great option, the Ninja Professional Plus Premier Series (BN701BLBRN), is also down to $101.99 from $119.99 — a savings of 15%.

Both blenders include a 72-oz. Total Crushing Pitcher with Ninja's innovative Total Crushing Blades, which deliver consistently smooth results every time. Where they differ is the base. The UltraCrush has a 1,000-watt motor with simple manual controls: low, medium, high, and pulse. The Professional Plus is a bit more powerful at 1,400 watts and features Auto-iQ technology designed to take any guesswork out of drink making. It offers three Auto-iQ presets: smoothie, ice crush, and milkshake. Each preset combines pulsing, blending, and pausing patterns that take on the work for you to create the optimal consistency.

Soup season is calling your name. If you're looking for a blender to elevate your culinary creations, either option will get the job done (and save you some money).

PREORDERS LIVE: Following Apple's major smart home reveal, Amazon preorders for the brand-new Apple HomeView Smart Display ($289.99) and the 4th-Gen Apple TV 4K ($299) are now live ahead of shipping on Nov. 13.

Apple is officially pivoting hard into your living room. Following last month's big iPhone launch, the tech giant returned with a sweeping update to its smart home ecosystem. The new hardware lineup includes the long-awaited HomeView tabletop display, the HomePod mini 2, and collaborative smart home gear built with partners like LG and Schneider Electric.

If you're looking to gear up your ecosystem outside of Apple's direct storefront, Amazon preorders are officially live for two of the lineup's biggest stars: the Apple HomeView Smart Display and the 4th-generation Apple TV 4K.

Apple HomeView Smart Display Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple HomeView $289.99 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon

Serving as Apple’s first dedicated smart display and its biggest hardware release since the Vision Pro, the Apple HomeView is built to keep your whole household connected, entertained, and organized from one central spot. It mounts a sharp 7-inch Liquid Retina display onto a domed, HomePod-style speaker base using a stainless steel hinge, so you can easily tilt the screen to get the right angle on a kitchen counter, desk, or nightstand. Powered by the A18 chip and Siri AI backed by Apple Intelligence, it handles hands-free requests natively while keeping your personal data secured on-device.

Using built-in face and voice recognition, it identifies up to six different people and automatically flips to their personal profile — showing your specific calendar, text messages, and reminders the moment you walk up to it.

When you aren't managing your day, the display pumps out rich, room-filling Spatial Audio for music and podcasts, handles hands-free FaceTime calls with Center Stage, and lets you broadcast Intercom messages to other Apple devices around the house. When it's sitting idle, you can deck out the screen with custom clock faces like Snoopy, cycle through your favorite memories via the Photos face, or monitor up to nine security camera feeds simultaneously.

Apple TV 4K (4th Gen) Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple TV 4K $299 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon

If you're upgrading your home theater, the 4th-generation Apple TV 4K keeps its familiar black-box design while getting a big internal glow-up. Driven by the A19 chip, it streams buttery-smooth 4K Dolby Vision and HDR10+ with deep contrast and vivid colors that pop on your big screen. Audio gets a massive upgrade, too — Dolby Atmos wraps spatial sound around your living room, and the new Enhance Dialogue feature pulls voice tracks forward so you can actually hear quiet whispers without cranking the volume.

Having Siri AI integrated into the box means searching for content is way smoother, drawing on your personal context and world knowledge so finding a movie or kicking off a playlist takes zero effort. Apple also packed far-field mics right into the box, so you don't even have to reach for a controller — just call out from the couch to pause a movie, check the weather, or dim your smart lights hands-free.

When you do pick up the Siri Remote, it now has Find My with Precision Finding built right in, so you can make it play a loud chime when it inevitably gets swallowed by the couch cushions. Between Apple Fitness+, Arcade, Photos, and FaceTime, it doubles as a total entertainment hub for the whole family.

Ready to upgrade your living room? Hit Amazon to claim your HomeView or Apple TV 4K before launch day.

TL;DR: Live stream LASK vs. Liverpool in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back this week with a number of fascinating matchups. LASK vs. Liverpool is probably not the biggest game on the schedule, but we're expecting an exciting matchup between two sides that need a win. LASK lost their opening fixture, and Liverpool are looking to bounce back after a humbling defeat to Man City at the weekend.

If you want to watch LASK vs. Liverpool in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is LASK vs. Liverpool?

LASK vs. Liverpool in the Champions League kicks off at 12:45 p.m. ET on Oct. 14. This fixture takes place at the Raiffeisen Arena.

How to watch LASK vs. Liverpool for free

LASK vs. Liverpool is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream LASK vs. Liverpool for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch LASK vs. Liverpool for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream LASK vs. Liverpool (plus more Champions League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream LASK vs. Liverpool in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Modern generative AI is like a force of nature, it seems. Sometimes it does things that are good for us, like solving a 50-year-old grand challenge in protein folding. Other times, it might be bad for us, such as the environmental issues around data centers, or how it can supercharge malware.

SAVE $60: As of Oct. 14, get the DJI Neo for $139 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $199. That's a discount of 30%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Neo $139 at Amazon
$199 Save $60   Get Deal at Amazon

October Prime Day may have come and gone already, but that doesn't mean Amazon isn't still serving up some great deals here and there. If you're still looking for a good reason to pick up a new drone, for example, now's a great time to do so with this excellent DJI discount.

As of Oct. 14, get the DJI Neo for $139 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $199. That's $60 off and a discount of 30%.

SEE ALSO: The FCC banned foreign routers, drones, robots: What it means for you

The DJI Neo is back to its record low Prime Day pricing, and it's well worth scoring while you can. It's a lightweight, compact beginner-friendly drone that's perfect for anyone to start with, even those with no drone experience.

It's just 135 grams, which means you need no FAA registration to fly, and it's compact and small enough to toss in a bag and go. It's self-flying if you prefer to avoid controlling its flight path, and it can capture crisp 4K video with stabilized recording, quick shots, and more.

It's capable of producing some absolutely fantastic footage, even if you've never messed with a drone before in your life. And if you just want to use it to explore your surroundings with a bird's-eye view, it's good for that too. If you're wanting to grab it for yourself or even as a great early holiday gift, now's the time to scoop it up while it's still available for this price.

Do you like sweet treats? Of course you do. Do you like sweet treats that are free or heavily discounted? Now we're talking.

National Dessert Day takes place on Oct. 14, and you can celebrate by visiting popular spots like The Cheesecake Factory, White Castle, and Baskin-Robbins to score free giveaways, limited-edition products, special offers, and so much more. We recommend taking a breather between visits.

These are our favorite National Dessert Day deals:

7-Eleven

For a limited time, get 7-Select Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake Bites, 7-Select Pumpkin Cheesecake Snack Pies, 7-Select Pumpkin Cheese Danish, or 7-Select Pumpkin Donut Holes.

Baskin-Robbins

Through Oct. 31, Rewards members can mix and match three select treats for $15, including Double Scoops, Small Smoothies, Small Mangonadas, and Creature Creations.

Jason’s Deli

From Oct. 14-18, score a free Strawberry Shortcake with any entrée purchase. This offer is valid for one-time use per customer.

Kroger

Log in to your Kroger account online or the Kroger app to get $30 off your first online order of $75 or more. This offer is valid until Oct. 20 at select Kroger locations for your first pickup or delivery order only.

McAlister’s Deli

On Oct. 14, Rewards members can get a free dessert with any entrée purchase. Limit one per member.

MilkShake Factory

On Oct. 14, get a buy one, get one free deal on all milkshakes, sundaes, floats, and molten cups in-store.

MOD Pizza

Try the seasonal Pumpkin Spice Cake Pop for $2.99 or get the CinnaMOD dessert for $6.99.

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Bundtastic Rewards members can earn bonus points on select purchases throughout October. From Oct. 14-16, you can earn 100 bonus points on a single Bundtlet Tower, 200 on a double tower, or 300 on a triple tower.

Portillo’s

Try new limited-time OREO menu additions, including the OREO Shake, OREO Cake, and OREO Cake Shake. Plus, until Oct. 18, Perks members can score a slice of OREO Cake for $1 with any purchase of $5 or more (limit one per transaction).

Tender Greens

On Oct. 14, loyalty members get a free dessert with any order of $15 or more.

The Cheesecake Factory

Through Oct. 25, get a $10 bonus eCard for every $50 spent on gift cards online. Bonus eCards are redeemable in-store or online from Oct. 26 to Nov. 22.

Tocaya

On Oct. 14, loyalty members can grab a free dessert with any purchase of $15 or more.

White Castle

From Oct. 14-19, Craver Nation Rewards members can get a free Dessert-on-a-Stick with any combo purchase using promo code DESSERT at online checkout.

Stopping a 3D print midway in order to enclose an item—be it a weight, a magnet, or another printed object—is a neat trick. But you should never do this with glitter, sand, or similar loose items, or you’re risking a nasty surprise.

If you have a spare Raspberry Pi sitting around unused, it’s time to put it to work. While you can go all-out and build elaborate contraptions with Pis, here are five lightweight services that you can self-host on your spare (or aging) Pi without spending any extra cash on accessories.

AVAILABLE NOW: The brand-new camera-free Ray-Ban Meta Audio Glasses in the Clubmaster and Burbank styles are officially available to buy at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Ray-Ban Audio Clubmaster $349 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Ray-Ban Audio Burbank $349 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

Remember when Meta first teased its camera-free audio frames back at Connect? The idea was simple: drop the camera lens that makes people uncomfortable in public and build a sleek pair of glasses focused entirely on music, calls, and voice AI. Following that initial debut, the Ray-Ban Meta Audio Glasses have officially launched and are available to buy on Amazon starting at $349.

Removing the camera hardware allowed Meta to shave the frames down to its slimmest, lightest AI eyewear to date — while packing in double the battery endurance of previous generations. The collection brings that tech into two distinct, classic Ray-Ban shapes that look and feel just like standard analog frames.

Credit: Meta

Wearing them means keeping your phone tucked away in your pocket. Directional open-ear speakers with Spatial Audio beam music and podcasts straight to your ears without closing you off from ambient street noise, while an upgraded 6-microphone array cancels out over 90% of background noise so calls sound crisp on WhatsApp or Messenger.

You can use the touchpad on the temple or press the assignable action button to trigger Meta AI — to ask for flight reminders, check your Gmail or Outlook calendar, get turn-by-turn walking directions, or tap into real-time translation across 20 languages.

If you prefer a clean, rectangular silhouette, the Burbank is the lightest frame in the entire lineup, starting at just 43 grams. It sits naturally on your face with full-frame coverage, offered in timeless finishes like Matte Black with clear lenses, Shiny Black, Havana, and a seasonal Transparent Sky Blue.

To make sure they stay comfortable through long days, the Burbank includes three swappable nose pads right in the box, along with adjustable temple tips that an optician can easily custom-fit to your ears.

For a bolder retro look, the Clubmaster brings that same hands-free audio experience to a classic browline design. You can grab it in Shiny Black on Gold with green lenses, Transparent Iron Grey, or Transparent Orchid, complete with adjustable gooseneck metal nose pad arms and over-extension hinges that relieve pressure against the sides of your head.

Whichever style you pick, both frames pack Meta's longest battery life yet. You get up to 12 hours of mixed-use power on a single charge — or 6 hours of non-stop audio playback — plus an additional 48 hours stored in the included slim charging case. A quick 22-minute rest inside the case gets you back up to 50% battery. Both frames support a full range of clear, sun, polarized, and Transitions lenses, as well as prescription compatibility spanning −12.00 to +6.00.

Head over to Amazon to pick up your pair in Burbank or Clubmaster, starting at $349.

Razer x Pokémon gaming headsets: Razer Kraken V4 X (Sylveon Edition) $109.99 at Target Shop Now Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed (Charizard Edition) $119.99 at Razer Shop Now Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed (Lucario Edition) $139.99 at Target Shop Now

Pokémon's 30th anniversary celebrations are bringing a fresh wave of themed gaming gear, with Razer stepping up to expand its popular collection. Following fan favorites like the viral Gengar headset, the brand is back with three special-edition designs featuring Sylveon, Charizard, and Lucario.

Gamers building a soft, pastel setup can lean into the Razer Kraken V4 X Sylveon Edition. The wired USB-C headset is built around a dreamy pink-and-blue aesthetic inspired by Sylveon's signature bows and ribbon-like feelers, and pairs them with customizable Razer Chroma RGB lighting.

It uses 40mm TriForce drivers to deliver detailed highs and punchy bass, alongside 7.1 surround sound for clear positional awareness in games. A retractable HyperClear cardioid mic captures voice while reducing background noise, and the hybrid fabric-leatherette memory foam ear cushions keep ears comfortable during long streams or play sessions.

If you prefer wireless freedom and a fiery look, the Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Charizard Edition switches up the vibe with black-and-red flames accented by bright orange lining. Built as a lightweight 270g esports frame, it offers low-latency 2.4GHz HyperSpeed Wireless, Bluetooth, and wired USB connectivity, so you can switch between PC, PlayStation, handhelds, and mobile setups.

It packs 50mm TriForce Gen-2 drivers for balanced game audio, a detachable 9.9mm HyperClear mic, and a massive battery life of up to 70 hours on a single charge.

Carrying those exact same wireless esports specs over to a calmer, battle-ready design, the Razer BlackShark V3 X HyperSpeed Lucario Edition channels the Aura Pokémon with vibrant blue earcups, ink-style graphics, and black accents. You get all the performance benefits of its Fire-type counterpart — including 50mm drivers, 70-hour battery stamina, PS5 Tempest 3D Audio, and PC 7.1 surround support — packaged into an ultra-light 270g frame with breathable memory foam cushions.

Pick your partner Pokémon and grab your special-edition headset today.

Google wants you to buy a Googlebook, but these new laptops cost a premium, and after looking at these Android-powered devices, I see very little that hasn't been available for years. Depending on your expectations, the best Googlebook for you may already be the one in your pocket. Take this from someone writing these words on an Android desktop he's used on and off for years.

Nintendo is closing out its 2026 Switch 2 first-party release calendar with a full remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and everyone has something to say about the way it looks. But what about the way it sounds?

I got to play around an hour of the upcoming remake, which launches on Nov. 5, at a recent press event. While there's plenty to say about the visuals and gameplay, I wanted to take a moment to focus on the soundtrack. Just like with the Switch 2 Star Fox remake that released earlier this year, perhaps my most anticipated aspect of this take on Ocarina is the prospect of having a fully orchestral version of every song on Ocarina's brilliant, timeless musical score.

I'm glad to say that, based on what I heard, this is exactly what I wanted.

Ocarina of Time's new soundtrack is gorgeous

In the demo, I got to check out four areas that have notably memorable themes in the original game:

• Kokiri Forest

• Hyrule Field

• Hyrule Castle Town

• The Forest Temple

Each theme in the remake was true to the original, as Nintendo swapped out the synthesized instruments for their real-life counterparts. So far, none of the music I've heard has strayed too far from the direction of the original, so don't expect a sudden burst of electric guitar in the boss fights or anything like that. That said, the Castle Town theme did have an added layer of ocarina, which is appropriate. What's here is both respectful of the original vision and, frankly, sounds a little better to my ears, as a guy who prefers real instruments to their MIDI variants.

Hyrule Field's theme, which you can hear in the embedded trailer, is particularly triumphant and adventurous. Meanwhile, the Forest Temple is still creepy as hell, with the music contributing to a haunting atmosphere that shines through just as well in the remake as it did in 1998. I'd also like to shout out the iconic, understated title screen theme, which you can hear on the Nintendo Music app right now. It's still just as quietly confident as ever, a sure aural sign that you're about to experience greatness, but this time with real instruments.

Now Nintendo just needs to release the full remade Gerudo Valley theme, and I'll be happy forever.

As fun as it is to be an iconoclast at times, one of my most basic opinions is that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo 64 is one of the all-time greats.

There is, of course, a rose-colored tint to that take. Seeing the vast, explorable world of Ocarina for the first time as a child is basically why I love video games now. I was so taken with the idea of looking out onto an expansive horizon and knowing that anything could be out there that I became obsessed with the medium and, well, now I play video games for work. It hit me at just the right time in my life to make a permanent impression on me, and I'm still chasing the high of the first time you step out onto Hyrule Field to this day.

All of that is to say I should, in theory, be as scrutinous as anyone regarding the upcoming Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2. But after playing it for about an hour at a recent Nintendo press event, I came away confident that there is a vision here beyond just "let's remake an old Zelda game so we have something to market alongside the upcoming movie."

The Ocarina of Time remake feels tangible and hand-crafted That's not what hallways are supposed to do. Credit: Nintendo

Nintendo's chosen visual style for this Ocarina remake has been divisive among fans. It's undeniably an impressive technical showcase for the Switch 2 hardware, featuring many advanced graphical techniques at a ridiculously smooth frame rate that the original Switch could never have dreamed of. However, it ditches the mildly anime-coded look of the more recent open-world entries in favor of exceptionally high levels of detail across nearly every texture, juxtaposed with characters who resemble puppets or action figures more than people.

It's admittedly an odd look at first, but after seeing it running natively on a TV in front of me rather than through a YouTube window, I see what they're going for. Nintendo is taking what is, by contemporary standards, a very small video game world and filling it with as much detail as possible, as opposed to the less-defined look of the huge open-world games. It's not dissimilar to Yakuza, a series known for tiny open worlds that feel impressively real and lived-in.

The end goal, I think, is to take a fantasy world originally rendered in the foggy, blurry form on Nintendo 64 hardware, and make it feel tangible and believable. It's not photorealistic, but it does look like something that could exist in a very high-quality puppet diorama. Link's wooden Deku Shield looks like something you can reach out and touch, for example, while his green tunic looks like a bunch of forest children wove it using plant fibers.

Seriously, the texture on that shield is nuts. Credit: Nintendo

To me, this brings the player a little closer to the world than they might be otherwise. Going back to believability, the artists have reimagined parts of the world to operate less on dreamy video game logic. One example is the game's very first dungeon puzzle, which involves using a slingshot to drop a ladder down so you can exit the room. Originally, the ladder was just fixed to the ceiling, and you shot it with the slingshot to change that. Now, you shoot a switch to activate a stone-based mechanism to drop the ladder.

Acknowledging that basic physics exists in a fairy-tale world is not strictly necessary, but I do appreciate the thinking behind it. Other details I enjoyed included some cleaning supplies sitting outside the Temple of Time, because, of course, some guy's job is to make sure the temple grounds are presentable. NPCs are also impressively reactive here, as I noticed the denizens of the densely packed Hyrule Castle Town wincing in horror as Link was being attacked by chickens after I provoked them with my sword.

At this point, I'm in favor of the art style in this remake, even if I get other people's misgivings about it. If nothing else, though, there's absolutely zero room in my mind for accusations of it "looking like AI" or otherwise being lazy or thoughtless. It's very clear upon inspection that many people spent a lot of time thinking very carefully about all of this, and the result is a look that Zelda has never really had before.

But there are some changes I'm not sure about The tree talks now. Credit: Nintendo

I haven't spent much time in this preview talking about gameplay because, well, this new Ocarina is more or less the same game as it was in 1998. It's not a total 1:1 recreation of the original; I noticed some topographical changes in Kokiri Forest and Hyrule Field, as well as at least one building in Kokiri that was present in the original but not present in the remake, as far as I could tell. But basic area layouts and puzzle solutions remain nearly identical to what they were nearly three decades ago.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo The Legend of Zelda™: Ocarina of Time $69.99 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon

The changes Nintendo did choose to make were hit-or-miss for me in the demo I played. Including a sprint button to reduce the need to somersault everywhere is fine, especially since the sprint itself is not that fast, thereby maintaining the original game's pace. Adding a jump button, on the other hand, strikes me as a bit odd. Maybe it's because I'm just used to the way it worked before, where Link would automatically jump a set distance off any ledge the player ran towards, but I found myself wanting that mechanic instead of having to remember to jump myself every time.

Some cutscenes have also received voice acting, which, by and large, sounds pretty cartoony and a tad cheesy. I don't hate it, but I'm not sure this game needed that, either.

A couple of minor misgivings aside, I really enjoyed my brief time with the Ocarina of Time remake. These dungeons and puzzles are all still great, and seeing everything rendered anew in a somewhat bizarre but gorgeous style is exciting to me. It isn't the same as a brand new Zelda for Switch 2, but it'll do until the time comes.

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 14, the Bissell Little Green Max Pet portable carpet cleaner is discounted to $99.99 at Amazon. That's $50 off its full price of $149.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bissell Bissell Little Green Max Pet Portable Carpet Cleaner $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're a pet owner, you probably know all too well how frequently messes pop up. It's why carpet cleaners are such helpful items to have around the house. If you've been thinking it's time to buy, the Bissell Little Green Max Pet is one option to consider, especially now that Amazon's knocked $50 off its price tag.

As of Oct. 14, this discount has brought the Bissell Little Green Max Pet portable carpet cleaner down from $149.99 to $99.99. It's only available at this price for a limited time, so act fast to add it to your shopping cart.

SEE ALSO: Dyson’s slimmest wet floor cleaner just got a huge upgrade and its own self-cleaning dock — where to buy

From muddy paw prints to dirt and more, the Bissell Little Green Max Pet delivers strong suction and scrubbing power to lift stains on soft surfaces. It can also tackle fur embedded in the carpet with the included pet hair removal tool, and it even comes with an 8 oz. trial-size bottle of Bissell Pet Pro Oxy Spot and Stain solution, which helps remove stains, eliminate odors, and protect against future messes.

There's also a Self-Cleaning Tough Stain Tool included with the cleaner that removes excess residue and dirt with just a touch of a button. That certainly makes clean-up a breeze. Plus, the cleaner's lightweight and portable design makes it easy to move around the house.

This limited-time deal won't be available for long, so be quick to grab the Bissell Little Green Max Pet portable carpet cleaner while it's still on sale at Amazon.

A decent toolbox for your garage or shop certainly won't come cheap, but that doesn't mean you have to spend thousands on one, either. At first, a little tool bag or some bins will suffice, but as you start to stock up on power tools, batteries, wrenches, screwdriver sets, sockets, bits, and more, you'll eventually want something bigger. Here are some affordable choices.