The Hunger Games: A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has a far too clunky and long name. But it’s a name that is necessary for that coveted brand recognition, one of the few lifelines for any major release in an IP-saturated movie landscape. And yet, funnily enough, too clunky, too long, and too obviously a bid to bring back a major IP is the perfect way to describe A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

Despite strong lead performances and an intriguing premise, the prequel to the Hunger Games franchise can't effectively lure audiences back to Panem.

My first reaction when I pick up the PlayStation Portal is to crack a grin. This handheld device is one long boy.

After avidly gaming on the PlayStation 5, I've gotten used to the curves and design of the PS5 controller. Now, Sony has decided to slice that controller in half and plop an 8-inch screen down the middle. It’s hilarious to look at, like a PlayStation 5 controller but stretched out with the display awkwardly placed in the middle. The PS5 button is now weirdly pushed to the left side, making me chuckle.

Awkward is the resounding word of the day when it comes to my Portal experience, from the design to the setup process to the actual gaming experience. While I didn’t have a ton of time with the product due to the late arrival or my pre-launch review unit and some initial connectivity issues, I was able to play several games on the Portal, test out its battery life and graphics, and find out what it’s really like to live with this $200 device.