Scuf Valor Pro review: premium Xbox controller is a fine runner-up - Related to valor, wanted, is, like, runner-up

How long is Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

The Like a Dragon games tend to be very lengthy experiences. Ever since turning into JRPGs with 7, they have gotten even longer with Infinite Wealth clocking in anywhere between 40 and 100 hours depending on how addicted to Dondoko Island you get. Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a spinoff starring Goro Majima taking to the high seas as a pirate, but also takes the game back to its action combat roots. There is still a highly dramatic story, quirky side stories, and plenty of mini games and side activities to be found. But is this game smaller in scope than the mainline games? Here’s how long you can expect to spend pirating around Hawaii in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

How long is Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is considerably shorter than the last several Like a Dragon games. If you were to play the game somewhat normally, doing most of the side stories, mini-games, and other side activities as we did, then you can expect the adventure to wrap up in around 25 hours or so. On the other hand, if you wanted to just focus on mainlining the story then you could theoretically beat the game in around 15 hours. That’s by no means short, but still a big difference compared to past games.

For completionists out there, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii isn’t as packed with lengthy side activities this time around. If you wanted to do absolutely everything the game has to offer, the game could go up to around 35-40 hours. Depending on what you were expecting from this game, that could cause a sigh of relief or a bit of frustration. If you find yourself in the latter situation, also remember this game came out barely a year after the last one.

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Scuf Valor Pro review: premium Xbox controller is a fine runner-up

Scuf Valor Pro MSRP $[website] Score Details “The Scuf Valor Pro is a fine premium controller out of the box, but its design quirks add up.” Pros Hall effect joysticks are a plus.

Lots of customization potential Cons Tricky audio wheels.

Table of Contents Table of Contents Design and comfort Customization and functions Limited use.

The four year mark of a console generation is an key milestone. It’s generally a halfway point, where the first few years of hype settles into routine. That presents a challenge for third-party accessory manufacturers who always need to find new ways to spice up products like headsets and controllers for players who have accumulated plenty of good add-ons over the years. How many more ways can you make the same product feel fresh?

That’s the challenge Scuf faces with its latest Xbox controller, the Valor Pro. The new wired gamepad brings some premium functions to Xbox Series X/S and PC players, though nothing that’s exactly new. There are no shortage of ways to get back paddles, adjustable triggers, onboard sound mixing, replaceable parts, and hall effect joysticks on a controller in 2025. The Valor Pro collects all of those disparate staples into one $100 purchase, but it’s a tougher sell now than it would have been in a less crowded market three years ago.

There are a lot of functions packed into the Scuf Valor Pro, but it’s your standard Xbox controller at its core. It comes complete with an X-shaped home button and a familiar ABXY layout. Every button is where you’d expect it to be and the build quality feels high enough, though I can see where its face buttons could get a little sticky over time. The only major improvement over the standard Xbox Series X controller is that it includes hall effect joysticks, which theoretically should make them more durable. Any premium controller would feel incomplete without them in 2025, so I’m glad that the Valor Pro delivers out the gate.

There’s less room for error right now than there was a few years ago now that the competition is stiffer.

The back button layout has a slight impact on comfort, too. To hold it and access those buttons, I find that I need to raise my grip a bit, letting my palms hover over the grips rather than laying perfectly flush against them. It doesn’t feel quite as natural in my hands as a standard Xbox gamepad.

Similarly awkward is its volume control method. With the Valor Pro, players can independently adjust their game and chat volume using two wheels nestled onto a ridge between the grips. Both wheels can be reached easily enough with my thumbs and pressed into mute either channel on the fly. The wheels are a bit stiff, though, and inset fairly far back into the controller’s frame. It takes a few flicks to fully spin them, as I’ll end up accidentally muting channels if I press my thumbs in too hard so I can get a firm rotation in.

None of these quirks are enough to make the Valor Pro feel cheap. It still feels like a solid gamepad that’s still fairly comfortable once you find the best way to hold it. It’s just representative of a running theme with the Valor Pro: There’s less room for error right now than there was a few years ago now that the competition is stiffer.

Where the Valor Pro looks to stand out is in its customization potential, an area where Scuf thankfully excels. There are several parts that can be easily removed and replaced here thanks to magnetic parts. That starts with the translucent faceplate, which can be snapped off with little effort and just as easily popped back on. Even if you only loosely fit it where it needs to be, it will firmly snap into place and stay there.

The parts underneath the faceplates can be removed too. Both joysticks can be plucked off with ease, as can the D-pad (though it takes a little trial and error to figure out the best way to get a grip on it). The only design quirk is that it can be a bit tricky to slot the joysticks back on, as there’s a fairly thin slot in the cap that the module needs to be slotted into. The back buttons have that problem in reverse, as they can be awkward to pry off (by way of a thin fingernail groove), but they slot back in with ease. Even with some inconsistency across the board, there’s some great design ingenuity here for folks who love to tinker with parts.

What’s more disappointing is how little actually comes with the package considering its price tag. For $100, you only get two extra joysticks and a pair of back button stoppers. You’ll have to pay extra if you want different sticks or D-pads. It also only comes with one fairly drab faceplate and additional ones will cost you $30. Usually a premium package like this comes with a few extra parts — just look at the excellent Victrix Pro BFG. The Valor Pro feels a bit stingy by comparison, though I imagine that any more extras would have made for a pricey package judging by Scuf’s other controllers.

As for the back buttons, each one can be remapped to your liking. There’s also a profile button between them, which holds some basic layout presets (ABXY, D-pad, etc). That’s a handy feature, though it can be a little awkward to use on the fly. When I switch profiles, I momentarily lose button functionality until I make a selection. All that means is that this is the kind of controller you’ll need to set to your liking before you start rather than trying to make quick tweaks during gameplay.

When I list out the capabilities, it sounds like the Valor Pro is loaded enough to justify its price tag. The reality, though, is that it’s mostly doing what its competitors are doing with an extra part upsell on top. That already makes it a tough proposition, but that gets a bit harder thanks to some of its limited functionality. For one, it’s exclusively a wired controller — an immediate sticking point considering the cost. Naturally, you’re paying for the customization here, but I’ve rarely ever seen a wired controller this generation cost more than $80. Its closest parallel is the PowerA Fusion Pro 2, which throws in an extra faceplate, a carrying case, and a third trigger lock position for a similar price tag.

The Valor Pro is a improved value that it seems.

I’ve had some issues with device compatibility in my testing, too. The Valor Pro works with Xbox Series X/S and Windows 10/11 via a USB connection, though I found that some PC games weren’t correctly recognizing it when plugging it in. I also tried connecting it to my Razer Handheld Dock Chroma via USB to play with a docked Steam Deck to no avail. It works most reliably as a wired Xbox controller, though I did run into one instance where I had to disconnect it and plug it back in to get my device to register it.

As feature rich as the Valor Pro is, these little caveats do add up. It’s fairly solid as an all-in-one controller that pulls every trendy third-party feature from the last four years into one place, but plenty of other gamepads do what it does more effective. Want a modular controller that you can tinker with? Get the Victrix BFG Pro. Want a gamepad with onboard sound mixing? The Turtle Beach Recon does way more for $60. And of course, the Xbox Elite Series 2 is still the one premium controller to rule them all, even if it costs a pretty penny.

The Valor Pro is a superior value that it seems, though; I’d argue that you’re getting the aspects of a $180 controller here even with the tradeoff of its wired connection. Heck, it’s a steal compared to the the $200+ Instinct Pro. Scuf knows how to load a controller up with bells and whistles that feel so naturally implemented that they might not even register as extras at first. It’s fairly cost effective as a premium option, but that’s largely because it doesn’t come with much in the way of additional parts. You’ll need to shell out for those, potentially bringing your total price back in line with the best Xbox controllers.

All of this makes for a complicated recommendation. If you simply want a controller that feels premium enough out of the box and don’t mind playing wired, the Valor Pro is a fairly good option even with its quirks. Beyond that, it’s outclassed by other competitors that either implement similar capabilities superior or include more in the box for a reasonable amount extra. A Scuf controller is a commitment, as you’re investing in one go-to gamepad that you can tweak over time with parts. Whether or not it makes sense to start that process four years into the Xbox Series X’s life is up to you.

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The iPhone 16e has failed to be the iPhone SE 4 I wanted

Table of Contents Table of Contents The good news The bad The bottom line.

When it’s the first half of a year, and a new iPhone has been introduced, you know it’s not one of Apple’s next-generation flagships like the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro. Instead, a new iPhone this time of year is usually a new SE model. Not in 2025, however. On Wednesday, the world noted hello, not to the “iPhone SE 4” but to the iPhone 16e.

The new handset replaces the iPhone SE 3 as Apple’s most affordable iPhone. However, it doesn’t take cues from earlier SE models. Instead, it resembles the 2022 iPhone 14, which, like the iPhone SE 3, was removed from the market this week.

But make no mistake, the iPhone 16e isn’t the iPhone 14.

Given that one handset is nearly three years newer than the other, one might assume that means the iPhone 6e is superior than the iPhone 14. Strangely, that’s not the case, at least across the board. In some cases, Apple removed attributes from the discontinued iPhone 14. These trade-offs make the iPhone 16e $200 less expensive than the iPhone 14 when it was initially released. And yet, some of these omissions will leave some scratching their heads.

First, let’s stick with the positives about the iPhone 16e, and there are many.

The new iPhone 6e includes the same terrific [website] Super Retina XDR (OLED) display as the iPhone 14. By comparison, the iPhone SE 4 had an LCD. The result is not only a improved display, but you also get Face ID vs. Touch ID. The newer phone is also slightly lighter than the iPhone 14, which is always nice for an object you’ll probably carry for hours at a time.

Beyond this, the iPhone 16e has many capabilities that the iPhone 14 does not. This starts with its A18 chip, a significant improvement over the iPhone 14’s A15 Bionic chip.

The regular A18 chip, which is also found in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, represents a significant advancement in performance and efficiency compared to the A15 Bionic. The A18 aspects a faster CPU, boasting up to a 50% increase in speed over the A15, which results in smoother multitasking and quicker app launches. Its improved GPU offers up to 40% faster graphics processing, leading to more immersive gaming experiences and enhanced performance in graphically demanding applications.

Furthermore, the A18 includes a more advanced Neural Engine, accelerating machine learning tasks and enabling more innovative aspects. These upgrades contribute to a more responsive and capable device, allowing people to manage demanding tasks while seamlessly enjoying a fluid user experience.

Thanks to the newer chip, the iPhone 16e, unlike the iPhone 14, supports Apple Intelligence. This is certainly good news for anyone who wants a smartphone with Apple’s first AI tools but wants to spend less than they would on other supported phones.

This newer, more efficient chip, coupled with a improved battery, means the iPhone 16e can last up to six more hours between charges than the iPhone 14. Thank you, Apple.

Other upgrades on the iPhone 16e compared to the iPhone 14 include the versatile Action Button and a USB-C, not Lightning connector. The newer phone also elements some slick camera upgrades. Visual Intelligence lets you get information about your surroundings by pointing your iPhone’s camera at something. It’s like having a super-powered visual search engine in your pocket.

The iPhone 16e also offers improved optical zoom options and HDR 5, not HDR 4, for photos. The latter means that images taken with the newer phone will include enhanced dynamic range, improved tone mapping, and brighter highlights than images taken with the iPhone 14.

Two other perks you’ll receive on the iPhone 16e that are missing on the iPhone 14 include wind noise reduction and Apple’s Audio Mix feature. Both make videos you take more impressive.

The elements above make the iPhone 16e more advanced than the similarly designed iPhone 14. However, some differences feel more like a step or a few steps back. Each omission was undoubtedly made to lower Apple’s cost for the new phone.

This starts with two significant downgrades: no MagSafe and no ultra-wide camera. The first tool, launched on the iPhone 12 series, provides a convenient and efficient way to wirelessly charge iPhones using magnets embedded in the back of supported phones. As such, it offers faster and more reliable charging than traditional Qi wireless charging.

Moving on, I realize the iPhone SE 3 also didn’t have an ultra-wide camera. However, Apple’s decision to produce a phone without one in 2025 is difficult to understand. Ultra-wide cameras have many advantages, and some of these would appeal to first-time iPhone owners (think teenagers), such as the ability to take landscapes, creative shots, and more.

Since the iPhone 16e does not have an ultra-wide camera, Apple has also elected not to include two camera elements that are on the iPhone 14: Cinematic mode and Action mode. These modes enhance video quality by adding a depth-of-field effect and stability to shaky video footage.

Another noteworthy omission is that the iPhone 16e does not have an ultra-wideband chip. These chips enable a range of elements that enhance user experience. For example, they allow precise location tracking, improve connectivity, and provide superior spatial awareness.

Not including MagSafe magnets, an extra camera lens, and an ultra-wideband chip undoubtedly reduces Apple’s cost of manufacturing the iPhone 16e and, in doing so, the enterprise’s price for the phone.

From a financial standpoint, these omissions do make sense. However, given that the 2022 iPhone 14 had these, the missing attributes feel like a move back for the iPhone lineup as a whole.

Finally, Apple’s decision to offer the iPhone 16e only in black and white is puzzling. Is this a throwback to 2008, before Apple discovered that its top-selling product could sell in more than two colors? Has Apple become allergic to the color red?

The last two iPhone SE models were available in three colors, while the first was offered in four. Knowing this, it probably wouldn’t be asking too much for Apple to give budget iPhone buyers at least a choice of three colors, right?

Anyone who owns an iPhone SE 3 or earlier will appreciate the iPhone 16e—they will love it, in fact. The phone aspects a larger display, enhanced internals, and numerous other upgrades. Those upgrades alone are all Apple needs to justify the iPhone 16e compared to the iPhone SE 3, and I’m aware of this.

Of course, one can have all those things—and more, by ponying up an extra $100 and buying a regular iPhone 15. Of course, that would mean no Apple Intelligence, but that’s a different story for another time.

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