Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset Score: 73% Developer: Performance Designed Products Device Type: Audio Compatible With:

Function: If you're into online gaming, at some point you're going to find that you want to talk to other players, whether it's to trash talk someone as you cap them with a head shot, give a team-mate much needed instruction on a change in plans, or simply to chat about the current level and how to pass it. This is true whether you're into FPS games or you just like running around in Little Big Planet 2. When the time comes, you're going to need a headset. Preferably one without wires to get in your way. The Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset simply clips over your ear and has you talking with other players in no time.

Performance: I found pairing the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset up to my PS3 and my Motorola Backflip Android-based phone to be a quick and painless process. Simply going to the appropriate menu in the PS3 or phone and selecting the "Scan for device" option revealed the headset and allowed me to pair up with it easily. In order to test the comfort of the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset, I wore it all day at work. Well, most of the day. In the end, I removed it not due to any physical discomfort, but because people kept thinking I might be on the phone. Jet-setters might get used to that, but personally, I felt a bit odd and well, rude, so after telling a couple of people that it wasn't on, I went ahead and took it off for most of the rest of the day. On that day, however, I wore the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset for four hours straight and then a couple of one hour stints later in the day, with no discomfort. The rubber piece that loops over the ear held the headset in place and the whole thing was light enough not to bother me. Mind you, while it fit me just fine, it doesn't have interchangeable ear buds or ear hooks, so it may not fit everyone as well. This is not just any headset, however, this is a Crysis 2 themed headset, so... just how true to Crysis 2's styling is the headset? Well, I haven't played Crysis 2, so I'll leave that part to the discretion of the reader. See the above image to make your determination, but based on the in-game video and screenshots I've seen, the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset isn't a reproduction of a prop from the game, but they did a good job of getting the styling cues down pretty well. The loop that goes over the ear is made of rubber imprinted with a hexagonal grid, which is a heavily used recurring stylistic theme in Crysis 2. The Nanosuits featured in the game do have parts that feature a material that looks like black rubber as well as other parts that are silver. So, yes, the headset looks like something that would go well with a Nanosuit... not to be confused with something that looks like part of a Nanosuit. For that, you would need to get your hands on the Nano Edition of the game, which is a limited edition version of the game which costs about $150 USD, but includes a backpack that is designed to look like the back of a Nanosuit. Still, even if you have that, the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset would make a nice accessory, and should compliment it quite well.

Features: Internal Rechargeable Battery 5 Hour Talk Time 100 Hours Stand By Time 30' Range Auto Standby Bluetooth 2.1 Lightweight and Comfortable Easy to Pair with PS3 and Other Bluetooth Compatible Devices Crysis 2 - like Styling Low Price: $39.99 USD

Drawbacks & Problems:: One thing to bear in mind is that the audio that is sent to the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset is determined by the device you pair it with. Specifically, both the PS3 and my Backflip restricted use to communication. There doesn't appear to be a setting anywhere that would allow me to use the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset to listen to game or media audio; it's merely for hearing others when I'm talking to them. That's based on the PS3 and the phone, however, so your device may differ or future updates could change this. There were two problems I experienced with the device itself. One was that the overall sound quality wasn't great; it made communication sound like you were on the phone, which isn't horrible, I suppose, when you're using it with a phone, but leaves something to be desired when playing games on your PS3. The other issue I noticed was an occasional clicking noise when I was wearing it and it was on (and paired with) the PS3, but I wasn't using it. I wasn't able to tell what the cause was, but it was annoying enough that I wouldn't suggest leaving it on, paired and in your ear if you're not playing a game where you plan to use it. For contrast, I just realized I'm still wearing my Astro Gaming A30 headphones, even though I haven't listened to anything in an hour or so. They're comfortable enough to forget about, and muffle ambient noise a bit, allowing me to concentrate better. The Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset, on the other hand, would be more of a put-it-on-when-I-plan-to-use-it sort of thing, when used with the PS3, because of this clicking. The other drawback of headsets, in general, is that the only people you can talk to are other players who also have headsets. If you're playing online games casually, then you may find yourself playing against groups of other people who don't have a headset or groups of players who speak a language you don't know. I ran into both of these issues when testing the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset out online on my PS3. If, however, you belong to a group of people that regularly play on online games, then this communication may be vital to your team's success. If you're looking for something for serious gaming sessions, I would suggest something along the lines of a full headphone/headset setup like the Astro Gaming A30 and Mixamp. If, however, you are looking for something to use when you're on your couch playing PS3 or on the go using your cell phone and you are into Crysis 2 and the slick, futuristic styling, then the Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset might be just what you're looking for.

-Geck0, GameVortex Communications AKA Robert Perkins

Related Links: Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset at PDP's Website Crysis 2 Bluetooth Headset on GameStop's Website Game Vortex's Review of the MixAmp Game Vortex's Review of the Astro Gaming A30 Headphones / Headset