Welcome to in the present day’s version of the Steam Deck Weekly. As an alternative of publishing on final Friday, I made a decision to attend for all of the occasions to finish so the information wouldn’t be too outdated. In case you missed the Summer time Sport Fest 2024 showcases, take a look at my highlights on Steam Deck right here and Change right here. The busy month continues to be going with many new and outdated video games coming to Steam. Try my Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance evaluate right here and Kingdom Hearts Steam Deck evaluations right here. Along with evaluations in the present day, there are information highlights from the final week and the latest Steam Deck Verified and Playable video games. Let’s get into the evaluations and impressions first.
Steam Deck Sport Evaluations & Impressions
Monster Hunter Tales Steam Deck Overview
Final month, I did a preview on Monster Hunter Tales’ remaster protecting early elements of the Change, Steam Deck, and PS4 variations. Since then, I’ve been capable of expertise the sport extra on all three platforms, however I made a decision to give attention to the PC model for my evaluate, as a result of it’s by far my favourite model, when performed on Steam Deck.
Following its debut on 3DS, Monster Hunter Tales noticed cellular variations that had been dramatically higher on the subject of visuals and efficiency.You may nonetheless play Monster Hunter Tales on iOS and Android, and it’s even in Apple Arcade, however these variations aren’t price your time as of in the present day. After the success of Monster Hunter Tales 2 on Change and Steam, Capcom desires to broaden the viewers of this sequence, and what higher method to do this then bringing the unique to extra platforms? Properly, Capcom stunned me by not solely bringing Monster Hunter Tales to Change, PS4, and PC, but in addition bringing the West content material we by no means received, a brand new gallery, voice performing, and extra. Capcom additionally lastly introduced Monster Hunter Tales 2 to PlayStation in the present day.
In case you’ve not performed Monster Hunter Tales in any respect by its prior releases, it doesn’t actually play like a standard Monster Hunter sport. It’s extra of an RPG set on the earth of Monster Hunter that options monsters, hunters, and mainly was a incredible sport on 3DS that I loved greater than each Pokemon sport with its turn-based fight, beautiful visuals even again then, and memorable characters. For the remaster, I anticipated Capcom to simply carry the cellular model of Monster Hunter Tales to present platforms. As an alternative, we’ve visible enhancements, efficiency enhancements, the addition of content material by no means launched outdoors Japan, voice performing, a brand new gallery, and extra.
In case you already performed Monster Hunter Tales, the brand new content material and improve to visuals and efficiency makes it definitely worth the asking worth for positive, however don’t hassle until you wish to replay the complete sport. It will’ve been a neater sport to suggest on consoles a minimum of if there was a bodily launch on PS4 and Change (and not using a code for Monster Hunter Tales 2). On PC although, the primary Monster Hunter Tales makes its debut by this launch, and it’s a incredible port that shines on Steam Deck.
Since taking part in the sport for preview, I needed to see if something would change, however that construct is mainly the ultimate sport everybody can play in the present day. The PC model of Monster Hunter Tales helps you to modify window mode (windowed, fullscreen, and borderless), decision (864×486 to 4K), body charge goal (30fps to 144fps), toggle v-sync, toggle anti-aliasing, and modify shadow high quality (low, medium, excessive). You can even modify brightness.
Monster Hunter Tales held 90fps very properly with all the pieces set to excessive except for shadow high quality which I turned down from the beginning on my Steam Deck OLED. Load instances are near-instant as properly. It solely helps 16:9 gameplay, however does have Steam Cloud assist.
Whereas I’ve praised quite a lot of Monster Hunter Tales to this point, it nonetheless feels dated in its visuals in methods. I didn’t count on this to be addressed since it is a remaster and never a remake, however it’s price holding in thoughts that this launch won’t change your thoughts when you bounced off the sport on 3DS. It’s nonetheless a superb RPG, however its roots are very a lot felt right here regardless of how good it could possibly look on fashionable screens.
This new remaster of Monster Hunter Tales is well one of the simplest ways to expertise an precise 3DS traditional from Capcom. I at all times mentioned Monster Hunter Tales was the perfect trying 3DS sport, and it now shines on fashionable screens because of a remaster that did much more than I anticipated. Whereas it isn’t pretty much as good as Monster Hunter Tales 2, Monster Hunter Tales continues to be price taking part in for not solely followers of the Monster Hunter video games, but in addition followers of RPGs usually. It’s clearly geared toward a youthful viewers so maintain that in thoughts, however there’s no denying Monster Hunter Tales is superb in nearly each method.
Monster Hunter Tales Steam Deck Overview Rating: 4.5/5
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Steam Deck Overview
After I received an e mail about Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, I instantly knew I needed to play it primarily based on its premise. Having now performed it, I’m glad I did as a result of it’s incredible. My solely actual criticism is that I want there was extra of it, however this thriller journey sport has been a beautiful and charming shock. Given the brief size, I made a decision to play Duck Detective: The Secret Salami on each Change and Steam Deck to see the way it feels on each transportable methods.
The thriller and journey genres are stuffed with some nice video games, however I adore it when a developer tries to do one thing totally different. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami isn’t mechanically wonderful or something, however it excels in its setting, appeal, voice performing, and music. As I made my method by the story filling within the blanks, I ended up hoping Duck Detective: The Secret Salami would go on longer. I already knew it was a brief sport once I received my evaluate code, and whereas the worth is justified given the standard right here, I hope we see many extra video games from the builders on this sequence.
On Steam Deck, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami runs at 16:10, helps Steam Cloud, and runs at a locked 90fps on Steam Deck. I’ve no complaints with the way it performs right here, and you may even use contact controls. On Change, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami additionally performs nice, however the lack of contact assist is my solely criticism. In case you had been hoping to have a great transportable expertise with Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, you possibly can’t go fallacious with each Change and Steam Deck.
If my solely criticism with a sport is that it will get over too quickly and I would like extra of it, I take that as a great signal. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a beautiful and charming shock that I loved taking part in for about three hours. On paper, the voice performing and music with this aesthetic shouldn’t work, however the builders managed to tug by and ship one thing particular. You can even press a button to quack.
Duck Detective: The Secret Salami Steam Deck Overview Rating: 4.5/5
Isles of Sea and Sky Steam Deck Overview
After I first noticed Isles of Sea and Sky gameplay, I knew I needed to play it. I hoped it could be nice on Steam Deck as properly. Not solely does it play nice on Valve’s handheld, however I ended up excited about it continually even whereas taking part in different video games. It has that draw the place I wish to simply rapidly boot it as much as try to make some progress.
Isles of Sea and Sky is an open world puzzle sport that begins off with you simply pushing blocks. Even in its opening moments, you begin seeing how a lot freedom you’ve gotten in-game, and issues begin to get advanced fairly quick with mechanics and adjustments. One factor I like concerning the puzzle video games that go for a extra open construction, is having the ability to come again to puzzles afterward and nonetheless make progress by taking one other path. Isles of Sea and Sky excels at this, and it seems like a stunning puzzle field stuffed with blocks to stimulate your mind with, and one which has crisp and colourful visuals.
Even when you’re new to puzzle video games, I like to recommend Isles of Sea and Sky due to how approachable it makes all the pieces regardless of the depth. It seems like an old style puzzle sport within the fashionable period, however one with fairly just a few fashionable options.
On Steam Deck, Isles of Sea and Sky hasn’t been examined by Valve but, however it works completely. You may change window mode solely on the subject of graphics. There’s additionally a streamer mode choice that provides an area within the interface for an avatar or video for these streaming the sport. I had no points working the sport. It performs at 16:9 and is capped at 60fps, however it does assist Steam Cloud. I think about it is going to be Steam Deck Verified quickly.
Isles of Sea and Sky is an excellent puzzle sport that’s completely price your time. It additionally feels proper at residence on Steam Deck, and manages to face out with its beautiful artwork, puzzles, open world, and mix of concepts. In case you take pleasure in puzzle video games, cease what you’re doing and get this now.
Isles of Sea and Sky Steam Deck Overview Rating: 5/5
Damaged Roads Steam Deck Overview
It sucks while you’re excited to play a sport and it finally ends up falling brief, however that’s precisely what occurred with Damaged Roads at launch. The Australia setting, voice performing, and music had been good, however it was too buggy and linear. It has been simply over two months since I began taking part in Damaged Roads on Steam Deck, and it’s in a significantly better place with the latest replace. I needed to do a fast evaluate protecting how the present sport feels on Steam Deck after current updates.
Damaged Roads is a contemporary tackle conventional party-based RPGs with parts of Disco Elysium and Wasteland, however one which doesn’t stay as much as its inspirations by the top of it. The Australian setting, voice performing, music, and visuals are highlights for positive. The narrative shall be hit and miss for lots of people. The one fixed all through my totally different save information and makes an attempt and seeing how different issues could be in Damaged Roads, has been the fight not feeling absolutely realized, and likewise a few of the quests. The ethical compass in-game feels tacked on in elements as a result of I typically felt like I had no actual freedom to do or say what I needed even early on. As an idea, I like what it might be, however it wants some extra work right here.
Damaged Roads on Steam Deck is a little bit of a combined bag in some methods, however performs properly. You may’t change any settings barring forcing windowed mode and the decision with just a few refresh charge choices. Damaged Roads helps 16:10 800p and 90hz natively, however it could possibly’t hit that 90fps past the opening parts. I’d suggest capping it from the fast entry menu. Apart from that, it performs properly out of the field with full controller assist and even has a big font choice to make it higher in handheld mode. I didn’t strive Damaged Roads docked on my monitor so I can not touch upon the way it feels there. I ended up capping it to 45fps at 90hz when taking part in.
Damaged Roads has improved fairly a bit since I performed it in early April, however nonetheless wants a bit extra work to be a straightforward suggestion. In its present state, I can suggest it, however it’s a few updates away from being one thing particular. It positively wants a demo as a result of I can’t think about many individuals will give it a shot at its present asking worth given the launch reception.
Damaged Roads Steam Deck Overview Rating: 3.5/5
Umbraclaw Steam Deck Impressions
Shaun already lined Umbraclaw on Change in his evaluate, however I needed to cowl the way it felt on Steam Deck. As with lots of Inti Creates’ PC ports, on launching the sport, you’re prompted with a button configuration choice for no matter controller you’re utilizing. This allows you to map buttons as you please earlier than leaping into the sport.
As soon as that’s executed, Umbraclaw mainly runs at a locked 60fps. On Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED, I discovered no method of working it increased than 60fps. Some prior Inti Creates PC ports have supported 120fps, however I don’t see an choice for that right here when taking part in on the Deck itself. Umbraclaw performs at 16:9 or is stretched. It appears to be like nice out of the field, however I like to recommend manually altering it to 720p or 1080p. The body charge stays the identical however you would possibly discover the elevated readability higher.
Umbraclaw has DualSense button immediate assist on Steam Deck when utilizing a DualSense, however I discovered no method of fixing button prompts when taking part in utilizing the Deck’s personal controls. You may rebind keyboard and controller buttons, toggle v-sync, modify decision (seemingly capped at 1080p), and body charge. Observe that on Steam Deck the body charge choice doesn’t appear to work, and it’s capped at 60fps as I discussed above.
In case you aren’t positive if Umbraclaw is for you, I like to recommend attempting the free demo on Steam. I ended up liking it greater than I anticipated going into it. The stained glass meets painterly aesthetic shines on the Steam Deck OLED show for positive.
Information and Trailers
Not quite a lot of information this week following the Summer time Sport Fest 2024 bonanza, however there are just a few bits of be aware. The highlights are beneath. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is now obtainable on all consoles and Steam. Alongside the launch trailer, Atlus additionally has a really bizarre and hilarious Slipknot interview as part of the collaboration. I by no means thought I’d see Slipknot’s Clown being interviewed on the Atlus YouTube channel, however right here we’re. Watch each movies beneath:
Fallen Aces Episode One is out now on Steam Early Entry from New Blood Interactive. Sure, it’s lastly right here and solely $9.99 (how?). Watch the launch trailer for it beneath:
Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO had a brand new gameplay options trailer go up confirming an offline multiplayer mode and much more together with Customized Battle, Episode Battle, and showcasing new gameplay in fact. Watch it beneath:
Digital Extremes launched a brand new TennoCon 2024 hype trailer forward of the occasion set for subsequent month. In case you missed my interview with Artistic Director Rebb Ford, learn it right here. Watch the video beneath:
Caves of Qud received its Spring Molting Replace, the final main replace earlier than 1.0, this current week on Steam bringing a change to the UI to be pleasant for mouse and gamepads along with extra new options. Watch the trailer for it beneath:
Shovel Knight: Shovel of Hope DX is within the works for Steam as an enhanced model of the unique sport with 20 characters with distinctive playstyles, on-line multiplayer, Problem Levels, Customized Knight, and extra. Watch the announcement trailer beneath:
New Steam Deck Verified & Playable video games for the week
Catching up with mainly two weeks of latest Steam Deck Verified and Playable video games has resulted in an even bigger record than typical, which implies extra surprises.
- AMANATSU Excellent Version – Unsupported
- Arranger: A Position-Puzzling Journey – Verified
- Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles – Verified
- Chivalry 2 – Playable
- Command & Conquer: Generals – Playable
- Cryptmaster – Playable
- Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board! – Playable (through TouchArcade reader Mor)
- DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT Steam – Verified (through TouchArcade reader Mor)
- Duck Detective: The Secret Salami – Verified
- Dungeons of Hinterberg – Playable
- F1 24 – Unsupported
- INDIKA – Verified
- Machinika Museum – Playable
- Mashiroiro Symphony HD Sana Version – Unsupported
- Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite – Playable
- 9 Sols – Verified (through TouchArcade reader Mor)
- Out of the Park Baseball 25 – Playable
- Outcast – A New Starting – Playable (through TouchArcade reader Mor)
- Quest Grasp – Verified
- Rabbit and Metal – Playable
- Learn Solely Reminiscences: NEURODIVER – Verified
- Reus 2 – Playable (through TouchArcade reader Mor)
- Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Buddies – Verified
- Rotwood – Playable
- SAND LAND – Playable
- Scars Above – Playable
- Selaco – Playable (through TouchArcade reader Mor)
- Nonetheless Wakes the Deep – Playable
- Tchia – Verified (through TouchArcade reader Mor)
- Thank Goodness You’re Right here! – Verified
- The Lullaby of Life – Verified
- The Pink Lantern – Verified
- The Rogue Prince of Persia – Unsupported
- The Shell Half II: Purgatorio – Unsupported
- Truxton 2 – Playable
- Vigor – Playable (through TouchArcade reader Mor)
- Void Crew – Playable
Steam Deck Sport Gross sales, Reductions, and Specials
As an alternative of gross sales, I’m going to make use of this house to suggest trying out the latest Steam Subsequent Fest with many demos for upcoming video games. I’m going to be taking part in fairly just a few demos tonight. Those I like to recommend are Fumes, Hookah Haze, Blade Chimera, Steel Slug Techniques (no controller assist but), Blue Prince, Maid Cafe on Electrical Avenue, LOK Digital, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus, #BLUD, and Wizard of Legend 2.
That’s all for this version of the Steam Deck Weekly. As typical, you possibly can learn all our previous and future Steam Deck protection right here. When you have any suggestions for this function or what else you’d prefer to see us do across the Steam Deck, tell us within the feedback beneath. I hope you all have an amazing day, and thanks for studying.
