[Discussion] New month of a new year, new games. What are you playing on your deck? - January 2024
[Discussion] New month of a new year, new games. What are you playing on your deck? - January 2024
God of war, using Moonlight to stream from my PC. Visuals are definitely better on PC vs the LCD screen of the deck, but sitting on the couch leaning against my wife is nice too
At the moment, Sea of Stars, but I need to get back to Dave the Driver and finish up the Among Us DLC for Vampire Survivors. And also need to finish Unmetal. And then I've also got this metroidvania bundle I got from Humble Bundle to finish. And Beholder 2. Jesus, my home screen is one long waiting list, and I'm still just playing other stuff.
How are you liking Sea of Stars? I've heard a lot of praise for it, but I've also heard some people really didn't like it or enjoy the story at all, and I'm trying to figure out which party I would fall into.
To preface this, I don't really like JRPGs. Especially turn-based ones. That doesn't mean I can't appreciate them, it's just that a lot of them have had, in the past, an emphasis on things like grinding over gameplay. This might not be true for more modern ones, but considering I largely avoid the genre, I don't know.
All that said, Sea of Stars does everything so right. I remember playing Persona 5 and having a blast, primarily because of the story and presentation, but Sea of Stars not only has that, but does everything it can to keep you immersed.
Combat is turn-based, but you have the opportunity to time button presses to attacks to do extra attacks. I know that sounds not amazing, but the combat system also requires attacks of specific types to stop an enemy from doing a special attack. Nail the timing, and you can interrupt an attack completely. Fail, and you either have to brace for it, or find another way around it (and early game, that's not an option most times). Likewise, timing the button press when getting hit blocks damage, and with an item early on, it also recovers MP. The game goes all in on rewarding you for actively playing instead of just sitting back and clicking through menus.
Plus, the traversal is just so great. Yeah, an isometric game has great traversal mechanics. It feels weird saying that, but it does. Almost every screen has multiple layers to move up and down, making it feel like a real world instead of just walking from point A to point B. Plus it encourages exploration of those layers for cooking ingredients and treasures, which are hidden away in secrets, but if you've played enough games you generally know where to look.
This is also going to sound kind of like more weird praise, but there's no bullshit with needing to find several keys spread across the world to go back to one location to get a chest. Everything you see can be obtained if you can figure out how to get to it, with literally one exception that I've found in the first right hours. The puzzles aren't that hard, and as long as you're thorough you can find everything.
Regarding the story, it's nothing groundbreaking, but it's presented so well that it's still entertaining. It's almost relentlessly positive, and even the darkest parts are handled in the manner of "we'll get through this" instead of "this is hopeless." It's good, but it's not the best I've played (though given everything else, I wouldn't be surprised if it improved later).
I have no idea if you've played, or even heard of, a GBA series called Golden Sun. It feels a lot like a spiritual successor to it. But the thing that keeps me playing is that not only is the gameplay fun and the story entertaining, but it seems to absolutely value your time. No grinding, you're capable of maintaining your party through good combat decisions, and limited backtracking. You're not there to play a game, you're there to experience a journey, and it keeps you moving forward. I love this game, but I feel safe saying that you could buy this on Steam, and figure out in the two-hour return window whether or not it's for you.
Main game I'm playing currently is Cobalt Core. It's a card-based roguelike similar to Slay the Spire where you control a space ship. Really fun, I might actually prefer it over Slay the Spire.
A friend got me into Barony, and it has become an obsession.
I'm just getting used to the idea that my SteamDeck can also play games outside the Halo: Anniversary collection.
Also, 'Sonic All Star Racing: Transformed' is really good.
I've been playing far too many games to give anyone of them the attention it deserves. Currently I'm switching between:
- Persona 5
- Void Stranger
- Hogwart's Legacy
- Honkai Star Rail
- Xenotilt/Demon's Tilt
Shoutout for Xeno/Demon's Tilt!
Grabbed Mass Effect Legendary Edition on sale for £4.99 and having a blast. Completed the first game last night and now started on the second one. Runs like a dream, EA launcher didn't cause any issues (I loaded it in desktop mode the first time) and the game is as good as I remember from first time around.
The only issue I'm having is when I use the HDR calibration in game I wind up losing a bunch of detail in dark areas and the image overall is way too dark.
I've also picked up subnautica ready to give it a proper go at some point after picking it up and it not quite gripping me on game pass on desktop.
Like a dragon the man who erased his name (streaming with moonlight) and 20 minutes til dawn (on deck). Loving them both, both fill different moods.
I've been playing Star Ocean the Second Story R since my fiancee bought it for me at Christmas.
Gta4, sifu and journey to the savage planet for me at the minute
Started Diablo 4 a couple of days ago and alternate between the Deck and PC. Performance is much better than I would have thought, and even as a KB+M elitist I like the gamepad controls.
Then there are also some Vampire Survivors-like games. VS itself, with the latest DLC (Among Us collab) and Soulstone Survivors.
I also got Dave the Diver and Enter the Gungeon in the Winter Sale, but I don't think I'll get to those any time soon.
I just finished Signalis, and am going back to The Long Dark, which I last played 2022. Looks good on the Deck.
I am also checking out Songs of Conquest, but currently my audio is bugged :(
That's unfortunate about Songs of Conquest, according to Protondb everything is supposed to work in that game.
It's really weird and I think that maybe Proton is to blame. However, devs are very forthcoming and helping me to find what's causing the issues. Also, it's still in early access so I am not to worried about it getting fixed.
Midnight Suns, Civ 6, FTL. This thing is the best turn-based strategy platform evar.
If you like turn-based strategy, check out Inkulinati.
How are you playing FTL on the deck? Are you using the track pads or a custom controller setup? I struggled to find an easy way to play with the controller.
I'm using a custom controller setup. Search for "mitsein's very good ftl control scheme" or something similar to find my setup. I use the right track pad as the mouse, left trigger is pause, right trigger is right click, d-pad is weapons 1-4, left stick controls hyperdrive and ship menu, and the right side buttons control going to assigned stations. Takes some getting used to but I spent a lot of time perfecting it and it works well now.
I find the track pad is best used with the pointer finger instead of the thumb. I like to play games like this by laying the device flat on a desk or in front of me lying on the couch and using my pointer finger without having to hold the device up with my hand at the same time.
Hollow Knight. It's gorgeous on the OLED.
Tetris Effect finally got me...
I want Tetris Effect, but it feels priced too high when I already have so many other copies of Tetris on various platforms.
I get that. I will say TE is pretty unique and the production values are off the charts. Meanwhile it's packed with modes, not to mention multiplayer options.
I'm not saying I'd pay full price for it, but at half price during the winter sale it was worth it, IMO.
Moonring
Cult of the Lamb
Xenotilt
Inkulinati
Potion Craft
Witcher 3
TMNT: Shredder's Revenge
No Man's Sky
Prey, after a friend recommended it to me. Had mild nausea early but it must've been getting used to it, though Borderlands 3 wasn't as bad I think. Besides that, I appreciate that there's an official default control scheme for the Deck and in-game icons for the back buttons.
Also Binding of Isaac. This one benefits the least compared to PC, because I'm glued to my laptop or phone looking up info anyways.
Randomly started playing PC build simulator. It is funny, how fast this game drains the deck battery and generates heat. Far beyond the other ones for some reason.
Motor Town is awesome on the steam deck.
Every single open world game with box vans I have played in the past, I hijack one, drive it for two seconds and realize it is a boring slow joke of a vehicle you aren’t meant to actually use to get around.
Cut to Motor Town, I am downshifting into a massive power slide, crates of oranges in the back slamming into the wall and committing the back end to the oversteer, and I have a shit eating grin on my face. Seriously “boxy” is a beast just make sure to put it into “drift mode” and take all the assists off…
I bought Mirrors Edge: Catalyst. I really liked the original and doing a few runs from time to time is really nice
Brawlhalla
Control
Assassin's creed Origin
Hades
- Signalis
- Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
- Vampire Saviour
- FFXIV (through XIVLauncher)
Stray. It's an absolute feast on the eyes on the OLED deck's screen. Something about the way it pulls off the subtle hue shifts in the game and the high contrast is just better than on 2 different PC monitors I've tried, my (arguably cheap) TV or even my (not-so-cheap and also OLED) phone. You just have to try and see for yourself to get it.
I've also gotten back into rhythm games. Been playing Project Diva and Thumper as well lately.
Stardew Valley has taken over my Deck since, uhh, October or something. Really, I want to play other games...
Dark Souls PTDE runs decently despite how it's listed as far as compatibility. Which is good, because I gave up on the remastered edition to actually get cheap
That's the version I have, so I'm glad to hear it runs decently.
It's just a bit finicky getting past the name entry part of the character creation screen (and crashes if you try and change the controls using the in-game menu) and then it's great after that
Control
Dying Light
Assassin's creed Origin
Hades
Dead cells
Impaler
Breath of the wild (wii U)
Super Mario bro deluxe U (switch)
God of war (psx)
I want to play an RTS and have Halo Wars in my library, so I’m trying to get that running over Sunshine/Moonlight and knock it off my backlog.
If you don't mind me asking, why are you trying to stream it instead of just running it on the deck? My understanding is it runs great, and has great battery life.
Sure, valid question. I tend to set up all my in progress games for streaming, as I spend a good chunk of time playing within my home network. I get to enjoy the games with the horsepower and high settings of my main rig, and incredible battery life on the SD.