This, naturally, is no easy feat and requires lots of time and dedication, but it also requires the necessary hardware! This is where Razer comes to the fore. One of the key components in creating a really unique and personalized stream is the ability to overlay camera footage of yourself into your stream, allowing for more interactive streams as well as giving it some personal touches with borders and other general things to make your stream yours. To do this you need a capture card, a device that allows you to do all these things. Razer has recently made the leap into streaming and with that, they bring the Razer Ripsaw HD.
Are you planning on making streaming a full-time job, then let's get into the Ripsaw HD and see if it is the capture card for you.
First things first, let's look at the system requirements to use the Ripsaw on your PC:
System requirements:
- Windows 10/8.1/7 (64/32 bit)
- USB 3.0 powered
- CPU: Desktop – Intel Core i5-4440 3.10GHz or above, Laptop – Intel Core i7-4810MQ or above
- Graphics card: Desktop – NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 and above, Laptop – NVIDIA GeForce GTX870M and above
- Memory: 4GB minimum (8GB recommended)
- Interface: USB 3.0 only
If you are new to streaming then you will need to make a choice between OBS or Xsplit, both being similar to discreet differences. For those who already stream you can simply continue to use the program which you are currently using which is a bonus. On the flip side of this is the fact that the Razer Ripsaw directly competes with the newly launched Elgato HD60S. All Elgato capture cards, including the older models, all come with their own software. This software alone is a big reason why Elgato is such a big name in the capture card market and should always be a consideration.
The Ripsaw might not come with its own software but if you are simply looking to stream to the likes of Twitch, Mixer or Youtube that isn't such a problem. The Ripsaw is an extremely capable capture card with minimal lag between the pc. Playing faster-paced games such as shooters might have you experiencing the minimal lag. Although the Ripsaw has the least lag of all the USB 3.0 cards that I have tried.
Verdict
The Ripsaw is a capable capture card that can hold its own against all of the leading capture cards, apart from the lack of software, which does make it a slightly less attractive purchase considering that it retails for a similar price to the Elgato HD60S.
special thanks to Apex Interactive for supplying the review content
For streamers on a budget in recent years the go-to microphone has been the Blue Yeti microphone, being the best bang for buck microphone in the section. With the microphone section being a rather slow and stagnant section which doesn't see monumental increases in technology through new models. Razer decided they have had enough and targeted the budget market... Say hello to the Razer Seiren X!
The Seiren X is built off the same core as the Seiren, which is a good starting point already, and with the main aim to dethrone the Blue Yeti, a price cut needed to be made, and as with any price cut, some compromises needed to be made to achieve this. The Razer Seiren X is the perfect microphone for the on-the-go streamer due to its driverless setup. Simply plug it into a USB port and it will instantly be recognized as an audio input device, easy as that! The stylish shape and presentation of the Seiren X is perfect for anyone looking for a minimalist stream setup as well as a small unobtrusive microphone.
The Seiren X is really sleek and simple in its look as well as use. Simply plug it into a USB port and you are ready, with only a volume knob and a mute button ( which will go red when muted) as well as a headphone input jack underneath, the Seiren X oozes simplicity! The underneath headphone port allows you to plug your headset directly into the mic and broadcasting your audio through there instead of connecting straight to your pc/console. One of the downfalls that go with cutting prices which means cutting features is that the Seiren X lacks the ability to change your capture modes, like the Seiren and the Blue Yeti has. Luckily this does not hamper the ability of the Seiren X and many users of the Blue Yeti have made comparisons and opinions seem to be that the Seiren X works just as well without the option to change.
Razer has confirmed that the cardioid pickup pattern, for those not in the know: sound is only recorded from in front of the device instead of 360 degrees around like a traditional mic ) has been specifically adapted to ensure the most pin-point capturing to date from a cardioid setup. The Seiren X also features a handy shock mount to ensure your recording or chat is protected from bumps and other sound anomalies that may occur during streams.
What makes the Razer Seiren X a very viable option for startup streamers or general gamers is the ease of use and setup. During the review time, we used it predominantly during gaming sessions as party-chat microphone and the overwhelming response from fellow party members was that they could not believe how crisp and clear my voice sounded, even with the mic being at least 0.5m away from where a traditional headset mic would sit the voice clarity and volume was amazing. It is good to state that when using a mechanical keyboard the clicks from the keys can often be picked up by the mic if placed closer to the left side of the keyboard. Other than that the Seiren X is amazing! Not being a streamer myself, I have never considered buying a loose standing microphone until this review item came my way.
Verdict
The Razer Seiren X has bridged the gap and has brought competition to the entry-level section of streaming mics. Between it and the Blue Yeti, all streamers should be able to find a microphone that caters for their personal needs. If you need something easy, and quick to use the Seiren X is your go-to microphone. If you want more options and capturing customization the Blue Yeti will be your weapon of choice. Both are well priced and both task them or their jobs spectacularly!
To a seasoned gamer battling against individual zombies or even larger groups of zombies using the wide variety of weapons, that can be upgraded many times, will be a piece of cake, but attempting to take on the running wall of death will need lots of teamwork and a calm mind otherwise imminent death will be swiftly met.
Each of the episodes will take you to different locations, from New York City to Secret Russian military bases. Each episode will also put you behind the sights of different characters which helps to keep the dialogue from becoming stale. Levels are wonderfully constructed moving from vast open spaces to tight corridors seamlessly without feeling forced. "Missions" within each stage don't feel out of place either with your team needing to find supply crates or launch codes within the stage to be able to progress. This forces you and your team to not simply bunker yourself in and try and kill every single zombie on the planet, but move around and put yourself at risk and force teamwork to be used. 11 stages might not seem like that many but thanks to wonderful randomization with regards to weapon placements and enemies, World War Z offers a lot of replayability!
Progression is found in the form of weapon upgrades and character classes. They are all quite similar apart from the special item that they have on offer, be it grenades, molotovs, or explosive ammo drops. The passive abilities do not come into their own until around level 10 so to reach that many levels need to be completed as sometimes the progression can seem a little slow.
World War Z is not without its flaws, the character mobility can sometimes become an issue like in the instance of climbing onto cars. Some cars can be climbed upon and the satisfaction of laying waste to the oncoming horde is great, but there is no clear indication as to why, and which, cars can be climbed and which not which does pose somewhat of a problem when running away from a swarm. With a very well populated environment, the lack of destruction is quite noticeable with explosions not even leaving dents or craters in the surfaces. Another mechanic that got thrown by the wayside is dodge, which would be invaluable when fighting a charging bull zombie. Apart from that the experience on Xbox has been pleasant apart from the odd disconnect from the server that saw me lose quite a fair amount of accumulated XP, other than that it has been smooth sailing.
World War Z does not stop at 4 player co-op or PvZ modes, there is also a more traditional 4v4vZ which will put you and your 4 man team, against another 4 man team and the hordes of undead. These matches do seem to be less popular and we didn't get more than 2 matches. The PvP matches to accentuate the dodge problem quite a bit more and for now, the PvP modes feel more like a distraction. Maybe with future updates, they can become more relevant.
It all began with the daddy of all Looter shooters, BORDERLANDS... Borderlands is where it all started, and now, soon before the announcement of Borderlands 3... 2K and Gearbox is bringing all the magic back, Remastered!
When Borderlands released in 2009, it's distinctive hand-drawn art style was met with great acceptance and love, a decade later nothing has changed. Borderlands is actually a rather strange title to get the remastered title, because, frankly, there isn't much to be improved upon... Getting GOTY status does however package all of the DLC along with the base game, so for those who didn't take in all the DLC's originally, they are now all nicely packaged.
The Elite Pro 2 sits comfortably thanks to the steel headband that connects the cups, the headband itself is very sturdy yet flexible. The leather earcup padding is something to behold. Many headsets do most things right but seem to falter on their comfort. The Elite Pro 2, just like the Elite Atlas, has arguably the most comfortable feel to any headset I have ever tried. The padding is infused with cooling gel, and it is safe to say that it works beautifully. The earcups are also slightly larger compare to the V1 version which makes for comfortable spacing around your ears.
The memory foam cups do a really good job of cancelling out external noise, although some noise does filter through, as passive noise cancelling goes, they are extremely good. If they start to show signs of wear and tear, simply pull them off and replace them with new ones.
The mic, which is the same as the mic fitted to the Atlas, can be detached anytime needed as it is a rather large microphone and not having the boom feature will have you either stowing it away or having it in use all the time. Luckily it is bendy enough to ensure you will find the adequate working position.
Lastly, to go with the sleek minimal design the headset itself is completely devoid of any button, sliders or rollers apart from the 3.5mm line-in from the amp which has its own mute button attached to the cable. Other than that it is a sleek and well-refined headset with a great directional microphone ready to pick up any and every word shouted in victory, as well as mumbled in defeat.
The Elite Pro V1 had a rather big and technical looking mix amp, with many buttons and sliders to make it all look rather tough to use, and it was until you found the sound to be the way you like it. So at a glance, the V1 could be rather daunting but with some getting used to it is fantastic when small adjustments are needed. Fast forward to the V2 and Turtle Beach has gone for a more user-friendly approach with fewer buttons and dials. The V2 only offers a singular knob which serves only as a volume control. It has a dial in the middle that can be adjusted and customized to do nearly anything your heart could desire from an amp mounted light. Keeping up with the times meant that all the controls of the SuperAmp were moved to an app, either on your phone or on your pc, depending on where you are putting the Elite Pro 2 to use. I have been using it on my phone and I do have to say it is rather good... The SuperAmp connects to your phone via Bluetooth which is turned on by a small button on the side of the amp. Upon pressing it a voice will announce that Bluetooth is now on. Simply connect your phone to it and download the app and you are ready to go.
Upon entering the app you will be hit with a plethora of options which can be overwhelming but working your way through them will allow you to customize your preferences to the tiniest detail. The first and most basic option is the chat mixer, which is a simple slider which will balance the amount of game sound to chat sound. The second slider will be mic monitoring, this has become a must since having the feature. Mic monitoring gives you feedback from your own microphone allowing you to hear how loudly you are speaking. This is a must for anyone thinking of streaming or even who play lots of party-based games. No one likes THAT person who is constantly shouting or breathing into the mic.
Turtle Beach has created a signature sound effect called SuperHuman Hearing, this is a setting that allows you to hear a different set of sounds more clearly. This is very useful for hearing footsteps during battle royale games. The Elite Pro 2 naturally has this option that can be toggled on or off whenever needed. Along with the SuperHuman Hearing is an array of smaller settings such as chat boost, which will lift your chat above the gaming noise and make chats more clear and easier to distinguish. In this price range surround sound support is simply a must and the Elite Pro 2 does support DTS Headphones 7.1 albeit simulated, it still does a pretty good job with the directional sound being on par with what you would expect. The SuperAmp also comes with a few preloaded equalizers for some of the more general gaming genres such as shooters, racing, battle royale and a host of others.
This is only the tip of the feature list for the SuperAmp if none of these settings is to your liking you can simply go to the next page and start creating and making the ideal setup for your needs. Compared to the previous SuperAmp, Turtle Beach has made vast improvements to it and it has become much more user-friendly and the fact that you can take calls from your connected phone during gaming is a really nifty touch. Well done Turtle Beach!
Sound quality is a very personal thing, and many brands have a very specific trend when refining their sound. Personally, I have always found Turtle beach to be rather "tinny" and I went into this review with that predisposition, wow was I wrong!
Turtle Beach has created a phenomenal headset with the Elite Pro 2. Not only is the comfort level sublime it has the audio chops to match. Delivering hearty and full bass tones while keeping the mids and highs distinct in every situation I tested them in does show that the Elite Pro 2 deserves its title as the flagship Turtle Beach headset! Movies and music all sound great and the directional audio does great work to deceive you into thinking there are more speakers in your earcup than what there really is.
There isn't that much to say about the sound quality of the Elite Pro 2, other than it did not put a foot wrong during the hours and hours I spent with it. If you are serious about gaming and you are looking for a Turtle beach headset that feels the same way, the Elite Pro 2 is that headset.
The Atlas is a mid-tier gaming headset that has a reasonable price tag considering the great build quality and accurate and concise audio. The lack of any form of surround, be it true or simulated is a drawback, as well as no preset equalizers, might not cater to what everyone needs. Although these things can be rectified if you are using the Atlas on PC, it is something to take note of if you are going to be multi-purposing the Atlas.
If you really want to change up from the black colour scheme, the speaker plates are removable and for a price you can buy custom plates to personalize your headset. These custom plates do nothing to improve nor lessen the sound quality they are simply for aesthetic purposes. The headband that sits under metallic headrest which looks really fantastic, it gives the headset a nice touch and stands out among the general blackness of the headset. The foam layer is also adjustable and thick enough to stop any discomfort from encroaching on your game time.
The Atlas microphone is the same as on the new Elite Pro 2, but for some reason it feels on a lower build quality level than the one on the elite pro 2. The mic is plugged into the left earcup which allows for only a one-sided setup as well as no boom-feature which, if you don't need to take a drink or bite during play sessions is no problem. The mic is directional meaning it is pretty good at picking up only your voice and blocking out all the other unnecessary noise.
Sound and Audio
The quality of a headset is unfortunately not only based on its looks and features, but mainly judged on what its main intent is, to create amazing sound for whatever the circumstance is. The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas does deliver on that platform rather well. The main thing i noticed was how distinct the mids and lows vary, it is really seldom that you find headsets where the levels don't run into each other somewhere along the spectrum creating a washed out mix of lows and mids that can't be distinguished. This was very evident during my time spent in games such as Insurgency Sandstorm and Rainbow 6 Siege. Even the faintest of sounds could easily be distinguished even during intense fire-fights the sound stays true. For gaming purposes the preset equalizer works great.
Using the Elite Atlas outside of its familiar gaming environment is where its faults start to creep in. Using the Elite Atlas to listen to music, even with a Bass -equalizer selected, results in a rather tinny and hollow experience. This is where the lack of even a basic customization feature does leave the Atlas lacking.
Another downfall of the Elite Atlas is its lack of surround sound, be it virtual or not. I am not a big fan of the virtual surround sound as to me it is not a very true experience and in most of the gaming situations the directional setup, especially on console, ends up being more of an enemy than a ally. When using it on PC the catch all Windows Sonic system does help but still doesn't do much for the headset in terms of functions and features. What is even more puzzling is that you can find more features and functions in the lower, albeit lesser build quality, Turtle Beach Stealth 700 for a lower price.
Verdict
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas is a very capable mid-range headset. It has very good build quality and looks the part as well. It can claim the award for being, arguably, the most comfortable headset in its price range with the most amazing earcups and padding you can find on the gaming headset market. Mic pickup and quality is superb as well. Gaming audio quality is crisp and clear with great attention to the fine audio queues in games.
It seems like Turtle Beach were tasked with making a truly premium mid range headset but went bonkers on the comfort, feel and general audio quality and had no more funds to spend on features that have become almost a "standard" in recent gaming headsets.
The Turtle Beach Elite Atlas still remain more than a capable headset but for those looking for a more feature-rich headset, the Atlas is not the one you are looking for.
The real reason for any headset is not about the brand or the features it's about the sound quality. Turtle Beach has always prided themselves in delivering top quality sound of any occasion. The Recon 70 is fitted with a 40mm driver, as many of the other Turtle Beach headsets are. When listening to music they deliver crisp and clear mids and highs. At times the mids do seem to wash into the highs slightly but nothing to frown upon. The lows are punchy but not as deep as I would like them. When listening to music or watching a movie, I also found that even at max volume the headset was not too loud. This is not a problem, but in some situations in gaming when you possibly need that extra volume the Recon 70's can be found lacking. For gaming purposes, the equalizer settings are just right. none of the ranges are overwhelming allowing you to distinguish between sounds easily.
Using the Recon 70 in a party can be a little trying at first because on no mixer. Once you have set the mixer on console to the correct levels it is a great headset to use especially for battle royale games where communication is key. Teammates will never miss what you are saying because the mic quality is fantastic.
Verdict
The Turtle Beach Recon 70 is a budget headset, and in that range, it is a good headset and for the measly price you are paying for them, you will need to look far to find better build quality and feel. What Turtle Beach has done is positioned themselves really well in all price classes. Providing users with a upper- and lower price range headset. They have also improved on the few "mistakes" on previous headsets. The earcups are bigger and deeper, creating the correct over-ear effect instead of the on-ear effect that is caused by earcups being too small or shallow
If you are looking for a sub R600* headset the Recon 70 is your best choice. If you looking for a sub R1000 headset the Recon 200 is a no-brainer with all the added features.
The Recon 70 is perfect for someone on a tight budget stepping into the headset arena, it provides everything one needs in a headset, no frills or fuss. Plug in and play headset.
Surface degradation is not the only factor in bringing tracks to life. weather and time of day in Dirt 2.0 does not only provide aesthetic changes it affects racing surfaces as well as the way your vehicle puts down its minimal amount of grip.
Finally, we get to the cars, and if by this stage you are not yet convinced about Dirt 2.0 taking control of the many available cars you will soon find out why. Most racing games struggle to accurately portray the way different cars feel and perform, be it mid-mounted rear-wheel drive, or front mounted, all-wheel drive to the less desirable front mounted front wheel drive. Each of these is perfectly imitated. Time has been taken to give each car its unique look, sound and feel, the brutish Group B cars that thunder along with a constant threat of violence, the Sierra RS500 that, if you dare to flatten your right foot ( or right trigger) will push you into another dimension. Or jumping behind the Lancia Fulvia and putting it through its paces on a rain-soaked road. Hearing the 115 bhp singing through to the front wheels as they spin beyond the point of grip. Even on the controller, it is possible to feel the weight of the car flop backward when going up a hill and the steering start to jitter as that weight heaves forward when coming down a hill. In short, the handling in Dirt 2.0 is sublime!
Given the amount of detail put into the driving experience, it is understandable that a bond will form between driver and car, and when mechanical damage, caused by a moment of carelessness can be excruciating! This being said will probably hint you towards taking a more cautious approach to racing. But there is something to be said for dragging home damaged card fenders and bumpers scraping along the road as you cross the finish line.
Career mode, or My Team, has you building a team and a garage. What is rather weird about it is the fact that it requires you to be online while playing it. Possibly because of the daily and weekly challenges against other Dirt players. Cash is a bit of a problem early on in the progression but for the players who don't like to micromanage, you can jump straight into some standalone championships. World RX series is also one of the championship options, tracks like Catalunya, Silverstone and Mettet make their debuts in this mode.
Playing Dirt 2.0 has come leaps and bounds and Codemasters have revitalized themselves with their latest iterations of racing titles, including F1 2018. There is only a single thing I can fault this game on, and its not even so much the game as it is the hardware it was reviewed on. Comparing Dirt 2.0 on the original Xbox One compared to the Xbox X sees a drop in graphical integrity, as expected. Don't get me wrong Dirt 2.0 looks sublime, but it looks even better on the X. Secondly, again not a problem as much as a preference, driving on a controller does not come close to the thrill of sliding behind a serious racing setup! Playing this with a wheel and peddle setup will see Dirt 2.0 wipe the metaphorical floor with all of its competitors. Dirt 2.0 indulges those who have a passion for motorsport, every fiber of its being has been crafted with love and attention to detail. Driving through muddy pits with my wipers struggling to keep my windscreen clean, I can't help but see flashes of a much younger me, falling in love with what is now arguably one of the best driving experiences out there!
If Dirt 2.0 does not tug at your nostalgic heartstrings, it will make you love it after the first outing!
Fort Tarsis is what you would call home in Anthem, a large, visually stunning, bastion of mankind on the planet. Filled with many charismatic characters to speak to. Problem is, none of these characters ever accompany you out on missions and they also never leave their set positions... making them feel more like enthusiastic quest-givers from MMO titles than actual characters in a RPG. Never spending actual time with them or enduring hardships causes there to be absolutely zero connection with them, and this makes the regular insights into their lives annoying and empty. Which is the complete opposite of the enemies of Anthem which has such minimal screen time that I still have no clue as to what their mission or motivations for their mission really are?
Unlike games such as Red Dead Redemption 2, interacting with secondary characters offer absolutely nothing in terms of character progression or story progression. The interactions feel nothing more than an awkward exchange of dialogue to fill time and space. With Bioware at the helm, you would expect Mass Effect-like characters that actually have effects on your story and even make re-occurring appearances throughout the game. Shame on you Bioware!
Completing a mission will have you brought back to Fort Tarsis to painstakingly have to trek across the whole of the fort, walking down the same streets and alleys over and over to collect a mission and come back to the launch pad to start it. Fort Tarsis, as beautiful as it feels like a waste of time at the moment. It is supposed to create freedom of choice and exploration but at the moment it is simply a painful way to reach the start of the next mission.
Hopping into your Javelin and zooming off into the jungles of Bastion does make things better. Firstly the jungles are ridiculously dense and pretty. Secondly, yet have I to experience the joy of flying through the jungle with your squad mates on either side on the way to your next mission. The flying makes you feel like a true hero and doing it with friends makes it ten times better! But once the missions start, things become repetitive. The first couple of missions feel fresh and fighting is good but after your fourth mission, things have become boring and repetitive.
Whether just playing a random mission, or free roaming or taking on a stronghold mission ( these are like a 20 minute Strike like in Destiny 2), Anthem still only has a handful of objectives which the game just reuses time and again. No matter my mission, be it finding a lost scientist or destroying a shaper relic I will ALWAYS need to defend a specified area for 30 seconds and then use my radar to find "valuable" intel on my objective, which I could not be bothered to even remember. During these missions, you will quickly discover that a map that was toted to be large and features many hours of exploration is actually rather small and has you fighting in the same areas and caves on multiple occasions during the campaign.
What saves Anthem a little is the fact that combat can be rather enjoyable. Each javelin brings a unique combat perspective and having a squad with each type of javelin in it can become extremely powerful and make you feel like a real hero. The essence of the combat system in Anthem functions around teamwork. The squad will need to first inflict status effect from one ability, called a primer, before using a second ability, detonator, that will trigger a combo and cause massive damage. Problem with the combo system is that it never gets explained apart from a short brush-over in the tutorials. Lack of clarity extends to the entire loot system. Loot has aimless stats that is never explained and finding a weapon you actually like but happens to be weak, simply has you searching for a higher grade of the same weapon. Even your javelins have stats which are all pretty mundane and cumbersome.
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Exodus picks up 2 years after Last Light. Exodus is a largely self-contained story that follows the main protagonist Artyom, his wife Ana, and a few spartan rangers left from the last great war. They set out from a war-ravaged Moscow in search of habitable areas with the hope of finding other survivors in the seemingly dead, apart from monsters, world, aboard a train. This ability to travel allows for a dazzling variety of settings that you can experience through different seasons, seeing as Exodus plays out over the time of around a year. Ranging from snow-blanketed Moscow to sand-swept deserts and lush forests. All of these settings are well-realized and have adequate amounts of mutants and humans both friendly and hostile.
Although Exodus has broken out of the chains of the past letting you explore the more vast open expanses, some story missions will have you exploring the traditional dank underground corridors. With the newer technology, the lighting effects are extraordinary and the audio makes these areas feel even more ominous and claustrophobic.
During the first couple of hours of Metro Exodus you will be met with a Metro game that is unlike the ones that came before. No longer will you be trapped in the tunnels but you will be met with the open and outside world, which, in its own right, is spectacular. But you will also meet many characters, unlike the previous games where you were alone for large periods of the game. At times some of the acting feels slightly forced and rushed but nothing to take too much notice of. It is also worthy to note that this is the first AAA-metro title so this will be a learning curve for them. But the narrative still remains splendid and with a clever opening sequence that brings new players up to speed with what has been happening in the metro as well as refreshes the memories of old returning players.
The backpack brings an invaluable addition to the game, having you customize and change attachments to your weapon on the fly and not having to return to base before being able to equip them makes it possible to venture in the great unknown for longer periods before being forced back to base. A steady aim has become even more essential in Metro Exodus compared to previous titles as the enemies seem to have become more intelligent. pushing and flanking you if you give them the opportunity as well as noticing if you were to extinguish a light to create the cover of dark areas.
The combat of Metro Exodus is painfully good. You will find yourself carefully moving your way around gathering ammo to ensure your future survival when out of nowhere mutants will attack causing you to spray your hard-earned lead savings and having to start all over. Without giving away too much, the enemy types in Exodus are really vast and combat will never feel repetitive.
Metro Exodus has some incredibly detailed environments, but so do many other titles, but what helps Metro is the minimal menus and on-screen indicators. This does wonders to help you feel engaged and the way the on-screen displays are crafted, looking down at them doesn't feel like you are looking at a menu, it feels like its just a subtle display, that, in real life, would have been there anyway. These fine nuances are what makes the realism great. There is no large glowing indicator on the horizon silently shouting for you to head in a certain direction. Don't get me wrong Metro doesn't leave you with absolutely nothing to navigate with, Artyom has a compass strapped to his arm, so a subtle swing of the needle on his arm can point you back in the general direction. Likewise, there is no map in the corner of the screen. Instead of spotting a glitter of candlelight in a window of a cabin in the distance will show you a possible area of interest. This way of letting the player discover in their own way does make for pure indulgence.
Apart from the constantly varying quality of the voice-acting, the subtle details and ramifications of your actions in Metro Exodus is something truly great. Doing little things such as finding a teddy for a little girl on the Aurora seems like a silly quest, but coming back later to see her playing with it makes your efforts worthwhile. Not all actions have such minor effects on the world. Disobey an order to not shed any blood during, and your actions might come back to brutally haunt you when you least expect it. Many of the actions and decisions will be unbeknownst to you until much later in the game, that is what makes the story so interwoven, at no point will you be able to make out which action is a good or a bad action, these actions will simply snowball till you reach the end where they will have an effect on which ending you will experience.