techandjunk: Approved!

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APPROVED! God of War Saga (PS3)

"Approved!" is the section of this site dedicated to answering that haunting question of "what should I get?" Whether it be a phone or television, video game or console, car or refrigerator - if it's "Approved!" it's a stone-cold winner and a must buy for its genre. These are the Tech and Junk gadget recommendations.

This. Is. Sparta.

"You are Kratos and you will murder the God of War. The epic adventure of conquest, destiny and revenge." - Official Prologue

God of War is the measure by which all action games are judged. As Kratos, you level his quest for revenge upon world, taking out anyone or anything that dares to get in your way - whether they be mortal or god. Since its release in 2005, the God of War franchise has spanned six titles across three different platforms - the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation 3. Now for the first time, the first five titles are being bundled together in an incredible $39.99 package for PS3. Titles that were released on prior console generations have been retooled from the ground up with HD graphics and full trophy support. All of them are critically acclaimed. It cannot be overstated the supreme value and amazing quality being offered in this bundle. Don't miss this opportunity to follow the Ghost of Sparta on his journey through the depths of Tartarus, the majesty of Greece, and the peaks of Olympus. These ultra-voilent masterpieces have never looked so good or been so affordable.

REVIEWS

God of War : Chains of Olympus

God of War: Ghost of Sparta

God of War

God of War 2

God of War 3

BUY IT! Do it. You know you want to.

Best Buy

Amazon (Cheapest)

Walmart

@techandjunk

APPROVED! Nest Thermostat

Money-saver

The smart thermostat known as the "Nest" has a name that implies comfort. What it doesn't convey is its potential to save you money. Lots of money, given time. When you take it out of the box you instantly feel as though you've stepped into the future. It has a gorgeous screen, slick metal sides and is beautifully put together. The folks at Nest Labs have definitely taken a few pages out of Apple's playbook. This is fitting, since the company was founded by none other than Tony Fadell, creator of the iPod! You can actually use your iPhone or iDevice to schedule, adjust and control your Nest, from anywhere! And quite honestly, finding base costs you pay every month to reduce can be challenging and this is one solution that is incredibly straightforward. You buy it, install it and let it do the rest - and it pays for itself with your monthly savings. Did I mention it learns your temperature habits and automatically adjusts to get the perfect balance of comfort and efficiency? Yeah, the future is here - my thermostat knows me.

REVIEWS

CNET

PCMAG

WIRED

BUY IT! Do it. You know you want to.

Best Buy

Amazon

If you have a Nest, comment in the comments section below or on Twitter @techandjunk

APPROVED! PlayStation PLUS (PS3/PSV/PS4)

Crazy Value

If you own a PlayStation 3 or PlayStation Vita (or plan to own a PS4) and you don't have a PlayStation PLUS subscription - you are missing out of on a ton of free games. I repeat - FREE GAMES! At $50 per year (cheaper online), you get access to early betas and exclusive discounts but the real value is their "Instant Game Collection". As soon as you sign-up you receive eighteen free games - with new games added every month. The longer you're a member, the larger your collection grows. Huge series such as Battlefield 3, Deus Ex, Infamous 2, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and even Uncharted 3 have all been on the service (and in my personal library).When you consider that last year they gave away a total of 64 titles - the value proposition becomes ridiculous. PlayStation users, you have been put on notice - this is the service for you!

REVIEWS

Destructoid

Venture Beat

Reddit

BUY IT! Do it. You know you want to.

Best Buy

Amazon

Walmart

If you know of any deals not listed here, reply in the comments section below or on Twitter @techandjunk

APPROVED! Mass Effect Trilogy (XBOX360/PS3)

"The galaxy is trapped in an endless cycle of extinction. Every 50,000 years, an ancient machine race invades the galaxy. With ruthless efficiency, the machines wipe out all advanced organic civilization. They leave behind only the scattered ruins of technology, destroying all evidence of their own existence.

Few believe this ancient legend. You, however, know it to be true. The fight to stop this extinction event has become the most important mission in the galaxy.

It is your mission. As Commander Shepard of the SSV Normandy, you will take your elite recon squad across a galaxy in turmoil, in a desperate race to stop the return of an enemy without mercy. To stop this enemy, you must act without remorse, without hesitation, and outside the limits of the law. Your only imperative is to preserve the safety of civilized life in the galaxy - at any cost. You must become the tip of the spear of humanity, for you alone know the full extent of what is at stake if you should fail." - Official Plot Summary, Bioware

Bioware's Mass Effect series was by far one of the most enthralling new intellectual properties to come out of this last generation of video game consoles. With a focus on choice and consequences, Mass Effect sent you out as the galaxy's (would be) savior over the span of three full-length entries. Visually stunning, it drew on countless elements of space opera including Blade Runner, 2001: A Space Odyssey and even Battlestar Galactica. This game challenged you to balance the needs of the few with the many, the short term and the long, and even to take a contemplative look at humanity itself. The choices you made in the game could have massive ramifications that could even change the course of the narrative itself! Bioware's masterpiece deserves to be played, experienced and enjoyed by as many people as possible. You won't regret your time spent on the SSV Normandy or the amazing characters you encounter on your journey. Play this game.

$39.99 for all three? Yes and please.

REVIEWS

Mass Effect

Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 3

BUY IT! Do it. You know you want to.

APPROVED! Panasonic ST60 series Tech and Junk's TV of 2013

Panasonic ST60

The Panasonic ST60 is THE television you should buy, if you're going to buy this year. Regardless of which size (50", 55", 60" or 65") suits your budget/space needs - this is the one. Critically acclaimed and gorgeous - this series of plasma televisions are by and away the best value you will find, period. Check out some of the reviews below if you find yourself so inclined and enjoy the links to a couple retailers in case you want to pull the trigger - rest reassured you won't be disappointed. This is Tech and Junk's Approved! Television of 2013.

CNET Review: http://reviews.cnet.com/flat-panel-tvs/panasonic-tc-p55st60/4505-6482_7-35567256.html

The Wirecutter Review: http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-tv-panasonic-st60/

Sound & Vision Review: http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/article/test-report-panasonic-tc-p60st60-3d-plasma-hdtv

BUY IT! Do it. You know you want to.

Best Buy

Amazon

Panasonic