Yamaha ZG02 Streaming Mixer review: "Aesthetics aren't the only thing that disappoints"

GamesRadar+ VerdictThe Yamaha ZG02 does the basics well, but its design choices prevent it from doing much more than that. It works brilliantly for streamers playing on a PS5 since a simple USB-C connection makes it easy to route through all your audio. Annoyingly, the lack of a fourth volume knob in lieu of some silly effects buttons means most creators are going to be found wanting if they want background music in their mix. That and software foibles really hamstrung this device for me.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$150.01at AmazonPros+Simple, but effective mixer+Great for console streamers thanks to USB-C+Fun audio effectsCons-The software feels very limited-Setup is a headache-Missing volume knobs-The chassis is plain and feels cheap-Controlling chat/personal mixes could be better GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict The Yamaha ZG02 does the basics well, but its design choices prevent it from doing much more than that. It works brilliantly for streamers playing on a PS5 since a simple USB-C connection makes it easy to route through all your audio. Annoyingly, the lack of a fourth volume knob in lieu of some silly effects buttons means most creators are going to be found wanting if they want background music in their mix. That and software foibles really hamstrung this device for me.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$150.01at Amazon The Yamaha ZG02 does the basics well, but its design choices prevent it from doing much more than that. It works brilliantly for streamers playing on a PS5 since a simple USB-C connection makes it easy to route through all your audio. Annoyingly, the lack of a fourth volume knob in lieu of some silly effects buttons means most creators are going to be found wanting if they want background music in their mix. That and software foibles really hamstrung this device for me. TODAY’S BEST DEALS$150.01at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS$150.01at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS$150.01at Amazon TODAY’S BEST DEALS $150.01at Amazon $150.01at Amazon $150.01at Amazon Pros+Simple, but effective mixer+Great for console streamers thanks to USB-C+Fun audio effects Simple, but effective mixer Great for console streamers thanks to USB-C Fun audio effects Cons-The software feels very limited-Setup is a headache-Missing volume knobs-The chassis is plain and feels cheap-Controlling chat/personal mixes could be better The software feels very limited Setup is a headache Missing volume knobs The chassis is plain and feels cheap Controlling chat/personal mixes could be better Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. The Yamaha ZG02 streaming mixer might surprise you. For starters, who would expect Yamaha to make products for gamers? A piece of streaming hardware might not immediately gel with a lineup of motorcycles, scooters, keyboards, and guitars, but then again, who are we to judge? Not only is the ZG02 made for gaming content creators, but as its name suggests, it’s actually the brand’ssecondattempt at entering the streaming market. Streaming gear for gamersfeels like an inexact science, even for well-known brands in the space. As someone who reviews that technology for a living, I can safely say that this subset of hardware feels like a solution to something that just wasn’t meant to work. That’s true enough for the established companies that design this hardware, so when a brand that’s had little to no experience tries to make magic happen, it seldom goes well. Luckily, the folks at Yamaha Music have decades of experience in the audio department, and their first mixer, the ZG01, seems like it was a promising start. The ZG02 is certainly a strong baseline for content creators looking to take more control of their audio, but I’m afraid to say it’s not much more than that. At an MSRP of $199.95 in the US, and available for £170-180 in the UK, it comes up short against the big names in the best streaming controller race. Design I’m sorry to say that the design of the Yamaha ZG02 is not an attractive one. In fact, there’s not a lot that immediately signals it’s a device geared at gamers or live streamers. Its chassis is a black box that’s as basic as can be. It’s plastic, it’s hollow, and its buttons almost echo through it when clicked in. It definitely doesn’t feel worth the MSRP, and that’s a real shame. (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) I don’t think you need theRodeCaster Duo’s LED pads or theBEACN Mix Create’s swanky display, but something with a bit more flare would certainly be welcome on a device like this. Not least because streamers need to be able to glance down at it in a dark lighting scenario and know exactly which volume knob does what. I’ve tested this product for well over two weeks now, and I still have to squint at it to know which buttons are which, and where those buttons even are. The ones Yamaha has put in place are for your mic, voice chat, and game audio, so no matter which way you configure things, you’re going to need to double something up if you want background music in the mix. I just don’t get the design choice of putting effect buttons where more volume adjusters could be. I don’t know any gaming creator that would rather have their game audio distorted instead of having dedicated volume knobs for creator and broadcast mixes. Moreover, I don’t know of a streamer who’s so hell-bent on using vocal effects that they’d gladly forgo a dedicated way of fading out background music. (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) The only fader you’ll get here is one for the XLR mic’s output level, but confusingly, there’s a switch to the left of it that controls its gain in three increments. The top volume knob controls how loud your microphone’s monitoring level is too, so it’s a bit confusing knowing which one to adjust mid-stream. There is a handy mute button since a lot of thebest microphones for streaming and gamingin the XLR category miss those out. There’s also a phantom power 48V button and one for switching between the headphone and speaker outputs. Connectivity is one of this mixer’s biggest strengths, however. The back IO has an XLR mic in port, a speaker out port, and two USB-C bays. One of these, which is clearly labeled, plugs into your gaming PC and powers the device. The other is an open port for a secondary USB-C connection. If you stream gameplay from a PS5, this will slot in here, but I’d imagine a second gaming PC could potentially work as well. On the front, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone jack and a secondary jack for wired gaming headset mics - which is useful if you don’t have a bespoke XLR mic yet. The unit itself isn’t particularly weighty, which means it very easily slides around a desk. If you struggle for space on your worktop, this does have a smaller footprint than its older sibling, the ZG01. In making this device smaller though, Yamaha has actually taken away some convenience instead of adding it. The larger ZG01 has a central volume knob, and a larger, more communicative facial panel overall. Features (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) Like any streaming mixer today, there is a bespoke bit of software you’ll need to download to reap the ZG02’s benefits. I will say now though, this software feels as frustratingly limited as the mixer’s design, and I’m not sure which irks me more. The Yamaha ZG Controller app opens up to a home page that’s very stripped back. It only gives you some quick functions that are already on the mixer, as well as an overall output level that feels glaringly lacking from the console’s face. After digging through tabs for controlling the microphone and game sound effects, you’ll find a very thin mixer menu. In most gaming-centric audio software, this is front and center and usually features a simple drag-and-drop system for mapping audio sources to volume knobs. ThinkSteelSeriesSonar or BEACN’s software, for reference. That issonot what you find here. In fact, mapping audio sources to volume knobs is a very confusing process that’s done manually in each application you want to use in your live stream, not in the app at all. On the bright side, I love that this is an audio program that doesn’t dominate my CPU’s processing abilities. On the other hand, this makes it a nightmare to set up and means you’ll likely need to readjust your in-app settings between streams. (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) It doesn’t help that the online manuals for this mixer are woefully unhelpful, and closely resemble the look and tone of a maths exam. As you’ll see above, the language used in these manuals is so tricky to understand that it seems like its purpose is to confuse you. At the time of writing, there’s a series of online video tutorials for the ZG01 mixer, but these aren’t much clearer. If I spent close to $200 on this thing, I wouldn’t want to work out how to use it from video tutorials dedicated to another device. Performance (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) From what I’ve said so far, you might be thinking that the Yamaha ZG02 is all bad, and that isn’t the case. This mixer works. It’s certainly usable if you’re willing to put the time into figuring it out. It’s particularly great if you stream gameplay from a PS5 because a simple USB-C connection means you can route all your audio through your PC. This is no short of brilliant if you’ve previously relied on one of thebest capture cards, or you want to incorporate your PS5 party chat into your stream. The biggest performance hiccups with this device are due to design choices. The lack of a fourth fader and the inclusion of bespoke effect buttons tell me Yamaha doesn’t actually understand the market it’s trying to service here. Either that or this is a repurposing of an audio interface that was initially designed for a completely different use case. (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) It’s amazing how much you miss the drag-and-drop allowance from more intrusive audio software when that’s taken away from a mixer like this. Fortunately, integrating this application’s settings into OBS did work after working out what went where. I had no problems getting the ZG02 to talk with Discord and Streamlabs beyond initial setup woes. I do wish the ZG Controller app was more helpful overall though. Thankfully, I’m testing the Shure SM7dB at the moment, and the XLR capabilities on this mixer harness that microphone’s power with ease. Recording VO works well, and the audio effects, as silly and pointless as I think most creators will find them, are good fun. I did enjoy briefly testing out the voice changers when live, and I know my chat probably appreciated them too. The echo button, when I remembered to use it, was good fun as well. Like I said, this mixer isn’t all bad - I just think its priorities are askew. Should you buy the Yamaha ZG02? (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) If you’re a budding Twitch Streamer who plays on a PS5 or Xbox Series X and you’re looking to take charge of your audio, the Yamaha ZG02 might just be exactly what you need. As someone who’s struggled for years with making the PS5’s audio and party chat easy to translate to a live stream, I’m genuinely grateful that something like the ZG02 exists. Beyond opting for a much more expensiveRodeCaser Pro 2or smaller RodeCaster Duo, you’re going to struggle to find that sort of functionality. Today’s best Yamaha ZG02 Streaming Mixer deals$150.01ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best Yamaha ZG02 Streaming Mixer deals$150.01ViewWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best Yamaha ZG02 Streaming Mixer deals $150.01View $150.01View $150.01View $150.01View $150.01 $150.01 We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices How we tested the Yamaha ZG02 I integrated the Yamaha ZG02 streaming mixer into my setup for a couple of weeks before writing this review. I used its online user guide to set it up, as well as video tutorials made for the ZG01. I plugged a Shure SM7dB into its XLR port and used these both for my main PC input audio, recording voiceover, and broadcasting live onYouTubewith them. I integrated both PC game audio and PS5 audio into the ZG02 and used Streamlabs to help control it during live streaming. I also recorded gameplay footage for an upcoming video project, recording game audio with the ZG02’s USB-C connection. I played around with the ZG Controller app to test out audio and mic effects and compared my experience closely to my time with the BEACN Mix Create, and SteelSeries Sonar software. For more on how we test the latest streaming gear, take a look at ourhardware policy. Looking for more streaming gear? Check out thebest webcams, thebest ring lights for streaming, and thebest green screens. Yamaha ZG02 Streaming Mixer: Price Comparison $150.01View $150.01View $150.01View $150.01View $150.01 $150.01 We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastyPlanescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?“18 years after Guitar Hero 2 released, a streamer has completed the hardest challenge there is - perfecting all 74 songs back-to-back without missing a single noteSee more latest► LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastyPlanescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?“18 years after Guitar Hero 2 released, a streamer has completed the hardest challenge there is - perfecting all 74 songs back-to-back without missing a single noteSee more latest► LatestI didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastyPlanescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?“18 years after Guitar Hero 2 released, a streamer has completed the hardest challenge there is - perfecting all 74 songs back-to-back without missing a single noteSee more latest► Latest I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tastyPlanescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?“18 years after Guitar Hero 2 released, a streamer has completed the hardest challenge there is - perfecting all 74 songs back-to-back without missing a single note I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty I didn’t know how badly I wanted to grill and gobble up monsters until this upcoming survival roguelike made it look so tasty Planescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?” Planescape: Torment was a revolutionary RPG, but many of its devs had no experience with the D&D campaign it was based on: “What the f*ck is that?” 18 years after Guitar Hero 2 released, a streamer has completed the hardest challenge there is - perfecting all 74 songs back-to-back without missing a single note 18 years after Guitar Hero 2 released, a streamer has completed the hardest challenge there is - perfecting all 74 songs back-to-back without missing a single note See more latest► Most PopularAnbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up"Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became"Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used”Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids”Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” Most PopularAnbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up"Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became"Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used”Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids”Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” Most PopularAnbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket”Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up"Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created”Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships”Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became"Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used”Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids”Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” Most Popular Anbernic RG28XX review: “a tiny budget handheld that fits in my weird tiny jeans pocket” Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” Razer Kraken V4 review: “an iconic headset, all grown up” Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” Meta Quest 3S review: “Maybe the best entry-level VR device ever created” Glorious Series 2 Pro review: “comfortable and nimble, but not quite punching with the flagships” Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” Bouiles Elite Series review: “The longer I sat in it, the more comfortable I became” Azeron Cyborg II review: “One of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used” Atari 7800+ review: “a retro console remake for the ‘80s kids” Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”