Welcome to the ultimate Steam Deck Weekly characteristic for 2023. Sure, one other 12 months has passed by and the Steam Deck retains getting higher than ever earlier than by way of updates (barring Valve’s current replace that broke rather a lot on the Docked expertise for me), and forward of subsequent week’s finish of 12 months options and lists, this characteristic will cowl some impressions, a overview of the enjoyable Customized Mech Wars and two Double Dragon releases, impressions of some current video games and demos and extra. There are additionally fairly a number of newly-Verified video games on Steam for Steam Deck. Let’s get into all of it now.
Steam Deck Sport Impressions & Opinions
Customized Mech Wars Steam Deck Assessment
When D3 Writer introduced Customized Mech Wars, I believed it will be an attention-grabbing recreation I’d possible must import on PS5 ultimately. I didn’t anticipate a localization, however was glad to see it confirmed for a world worldwide launch on not solely PS5, but additionally Steam. I really like D3 Writer’s Earth Protection Pressure video games, and Customized Mech Wars felt prefer it channeled a few of EDF with a mix of Gundam Breaker. Might Customized Mech Wars ship on the addictive gameplay loop from these video games whereas delivering in deep mech customization? The reply is generally sure, with some caveats.
The narrative in Customized Mech Wars is fairly normal stuff. It will get the job carried out, however you’re right here for the loop of going right into a mission, taking down mechs, getting new components, customizing your mech, and attending to the following one. You too can go for increased difficulties to get higher rewards. There are drops you accumulate for both components or buffs as properly. I do know the dev workforce isn’t talked about in any advertising and marketing materials, however I’d be shocked if this wasn’t the EDF workforce or no less than them concerned in a giant a part of Customized Mech Wars.
One of many highlights of Customized Mech Wars is the sheer nonsense you are able to do with customization. You can also make the funniest mechs doable, and nonetheless be a warfare machine. This performs a giant a part of the gameplay loop, and I think about the sport gained’t hit as onerous for folk who simply need well-designed missions with a narrative focus. I believe Customized Mech Wars enhances Armored Core VI rather well this 12 months. Whereas it isn’t as polished or enjoyable, I loved my time with Customized Mech Wars on PS5 fairly a bit, and have beloved revisiting missions on the go on Steam Deck even earlier than the current patch hit. This patch mounted the audio not engaged on SteamOS. Barring that, there’s nothing it’s essential to do to play Customized Mech Wars on Steam Deck. It simply works, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see it get Verified quickly. It simply wants a demo since I don’t assume many will take an opportunity on it proper now, and it will likely be simpler to advocate as soon as it will get a worth reduce or has the DLC included within the base worth.
On Steam Deck, Customized Mech Wars means that you can change decision (720p, 1080p, and 4K), body charge goal (60fps or uncapped), toggle anti-aliasing, modify shadow high quality, modify texture high quality, toggle movement blur, toggle fog, and toggle SSAO. When enjoying on the Deck itself, it reveals Xbox button prompts. Utilizing my DualSense controller reveals PlayStation prompts accurately. The efficiency isn’t excellent, but it surely isn’t even excellent on PS5 based mostly on what I’ve performed. I’d advocate turning a number of issues right down to purpose for 60fps with drops. Identical to in EDF, I didn’t trouble going for a locked body charge right here. In case you take pleasure in EDF video games, you recognize what to anticipate. I do want the load instances had been a bit higher although.
Whereas the shortage of an English dub isn’t a dealbreaker for me in most video games, I’m not a fan of the fixed circulation of dialogue throughout missions as a result of I wish to deal with the gameplay and never studying subtitles. This jogs my memory of how Koei Tecmo’s Warriors video games are with essential info constrained to subtitles throughout missions. If the sport had English voices right here, I may simply deal with the mission at hand, fight, and enemies. The Earth Protection Pressure video games are good about this.
In its present state, I really feel like Customized Mech Wars ought to’ve been priced a bit decrease or have the EDF DLC included in its asking worth. The missions and enemies don’t get as loopy as that, however for a recreation targeted on customization and mechs just like the title suggests, it does the job properly. I’ve loved enjoying it fairly a bit on PS5 and Steam Deck. With the newest replace, the audio points are additionally lastly mounted on Steam Deck, and I like to recommend getting it in case you are a fan of Earth Protection Pressure fashion gameplay, mechs, and customization.
Customized Mech Wars Steam Deck overview rating: 3.5/5
Double Dragon Advance and Tremendous Double Dragon Steam Deck Assessment
I used to be initially going to do separate opinions for Arc System Works’ current releases of Double Dragon Advance and Tremendous Double Dragon on PC and consoles, however having spent a number of weeks with each of them, I’ve related ideas so I’m doing a mixed overview. Having solely performed the unique trilogy years in the past, I hadn’t truly tried these two video games till Arc System Works launched them on PC, Swap, and PS4 worldwide as new ports.
Double Dragon Advance launched in 2003 on the GBA as a remake of the unique recreation, however this launch additionally featured issues from future entries and ports. It seems like a remixed remake in methods, and it has been glorious enjoying it for the primary time by way of this PC launch. In case you’ve performed the unique 1987 recreation many instances, this will probably be a surprisingly good expertise, and in case you’re new to the sport like I used to be, it should really feel like a visit down Double Dragon reminiscence lane. Whereas I’m completely happy to see the co-op characteristic included right here, the shortage of Distant Play Collectively hurts although.
Tremendous Double Dragon launched in 1992 on the SNES, and it feels fairly unhealthy to play in comparison with different entries I’ve tried. The pace is sluggish, and I’m glad there’s an choice to regulate the sport pace with out having any audio affected right here. This model of Tremendous Double Dragon on PC, PS4, and Swap additionally consists of Return of Double Dragon that seems like a a lot better recreation general. Enjoying extra of Return of Double Dragon jogged my memory of how completely different platforms generally had fully completely different takes on a recreation. As a curiosity, this has been definitely worth the buy, but it surely additionally ended up impressing me as soon as I dug into it extra.
Whereas they each run with out points on Steam Deck, the shortage of Steam Cloud help and the sport pace tied to observe refresh charge is disappointing. On the Deck itself, the 60hz goal or cap is okay, however after I performed on my 144hz monitor, I couldn’t cap the body charge in-game in any respect, so each video games ran too quick. I hope this may be mounted in an replace. I’d additionally love for increased decision help since each video games are capped at 1080p.
Double Dragon Advance and Tremendous Double Dragon are each price shopping for on the low asking worth individually to play on Steam Deck, however I hope the few PC-specific points could be addressed in updates. Proper now they’re each good on Steam Deck, however could have points in case you play in your PC or dock the Steam Deck on a excessive refresh charge show like I do.
Tremendous Double Dragon Steam Deck overview rating: 3.5/5
Double Dragon Advance Steam Deck overview rating: 3.5/5
SteamWorld Construct Steam Deck Impressions
Shaun lately reviewed SteamWorld Construct on Swap, and I additionally wished to cowl how it’s on Steam Deck. He already went into element in regards to the recreation itself, however in case you’re inquisitive about the way it performs and appears on Steam Deck, learn on.
As an enormous fan of the SteamWorld video games, SteamWorld Construct has been an attention-grabbing and completely different expertise. It isn’t what I wished from the collection, so I used to be fairly dissatisfied when it was revealed. Having performed it, I’m glad I gave it an opportunity. It seems like an ideal mix of the appeal of SteamWorld with a style I didn’t assume it may match into. It additionally occurs to play virtually completely on Steam Deck.
SteamWorld Construct on PC allows you to toggle button prompts between Xbox and PlayStation, modify body charge goal, decision, v-sync, texture high quality, shadow high quality, depth of subject, LOD high quality, ambient occlusion, bloom results, and use a number of high quality presets for all of the settings. I left every thing on default barring the shadows which I turned down a bit, earlier than attempting to extend sure choices. SteamWorld Construct seems glorious and helps the Deck’s 16:10 facet ratio.
In case you had been hoping to play SteamWorld Construct on Steam Deck, barring some textual content and UI sizes being a bit too small on the gadget’s display screen, I’ve no complaints with it. As soon as these are mounted, this would be the greatest model of the sport by far. I simply hope we don’t have to attend too lengthy for the replace.
Tekken 8 Demo Steam Deck Impressions
Since Tekken 8 is a current-generation console-only recreation, I used to be curious how it will look and run on Steam Deck. After Tekken 7 dissatisfied me generally, I’m glad that Tekken 8 appears to be entering into the correct path based mostly on the time I spent with it on the PS5 demo. Tekken 8 on Steam Deck is attention-grabbing. It checks the system once you boot it up and robotically adjusts settings, however I really feel just like the benchmark outcomes are a bit conservative. Even after turning a number of issues up, I may get 60fps throughout matches which is all you want in a fighter. The one drawback is a few cut-scenes don’t have audio playback on Steam Deck proper now. I examined on Proton Experimental (bleeding edge) and some variations of GE with no luck. I hope this may be mounted for launch.
In case you had been hoping to play Tekken 8 on Steam Deck, obtain the free demo and see the way it feels. I additionally advocate attempting completely different upscaling strategies from the settings, however not utilizing FSR 1.0. Somebody will little question do extra testing and give you the most effective Tekken 8 Steam Deck settings to make use of, and I’ll be attempting various things out myself right here within the demo and within the full recreation in a number of weeks. I’m wanting ahead to enjoying extra of the demo later this week.
Information
Regardless of 2023 almost wrapping up, there’s fairly a bit of reports to cowl. I’ll start with SEGA releasing character-focused trailers for certainly one of my most-anticipated video games of 2024, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. There are fairly a number of trailers up within the full playlist right here, however I’ve linked the trailer for certainly one of my favourite characters from Yakuza: Like a Dragon beneath:
Darkish fantasy metropolis builder In opposition to the Storm has been exploding on Steam, and I lately grabbed it to play on Steam Deck with its new large replace including controller help and extra for the platform.
Atlus had two bits of reports and trailers this week. The primary is a brand new behind the scenes video for the upcoming Steam Deck Verified RPG Persona 3 Reload. This one has the voices of Mitsuru, Akihiko, and extra featured. Watch it beneath:
Atlus’ upcoming JRPG from 2024, Metaphor: ReFantazio has gotten new particulars and screenshots about its world, characters, and story. The spotlight of this one is the fight system, however I’m to see how this workforce tackles new characters and a brand new IP after engaged on Persona for some time.
Bandai Namco Leisure’s upcoming motion RPG Sand Land based mostly on the traditional manga obtained a brand new gameplay trailer lately alongside a brand new dev diary. Watch the gameplay video beneath:
Cuisineer from BattleBrew Productions and XSEED Video games obtained fairly an attention-grabbing replace this week. It allows you to pause time in menus, has adjustments to the fridge, interface enhancements, and new clients visiting throughout teatime.
Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon added Ranked Matchmaking this week in its latest main replace that additionally added new components, new PvP maps, and extra. Watch the trailer beneath:
Makaroll and Playism’s deckbuilding roguelike Phantom Rose 2 Sapphire obtained its first main content material replace this week bringing in a brand new recreation mode, skins, playing cards, steadiness changes, and extra. I’ve been enjoying and having fun with this fairly a bit on Steam Deck.
Metallic Gear Strong Grasp Assortment Quantity 1 hit PC and consoles a short time in the past, and it had a number of points. Fortunately, Konami has begun addressing them, and glued Metallic Gear Strong Grasp Assortment Model already on PC by permitting gamers to disable the ugly smoothing choice. It seems crisp and because it ought to now.
A few day in the past, Koei Tecmo launched an enormous replace for Destiny/Samurai Remnant with new problem ranges, playable servants, and extra.
New Steam Deck Verified & Playable video games for the week
In opposition to the Storm – Verified
Burnout Paradise Remastered – Playable
Capcom Preventing Assortment – Verified
Cultist Simulator – Verified
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint – Playable
ENDLESS Dungeon – Verified
FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS – Playable
Soccer Supervisor 2024 – Playable
Golf With Your Pals – Verified
Home Flipper 2 – Verified
Inkulinati – Verified
Final Practice Residence – Playable
Layers of Concern – Verified
Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 – Verified
Pinball M – Playable
Sonic Generations – Verified
Spells & Secrets and techniques – Verified
SWORD ART ONLINE Final Recollection – Playable
Furi Demake – Verified
TEVI – Playable
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Particular Version – Verified
THE FINALS – Unsupported
The Talos Precept 2 – Verified
Valfaris: Mecha Therion – Verified
Wayfinder – Playable
Wizordum – Playable
Steam Deck Sport Gross sales & Reductions
Yesterday, the massive Steam Winter Sale 2023 started with tons of reductions. I already grabbed some video games by way of the sale a number of days in the past that had Metropolis Connection’s shoot ’em ups and a few video games from Playism. Make sure to take a look at my greatest Steam Winter Sale 2023 Steam Deck recreation highlights characteristic on the location and your individual wishlist on Steam for any new offers in there or in your discovery queue.
That’s all for this week’s version. As traditional, you’ll be able to learn all our previous and future Steam Deck protection right here. When you have any suggestions for this characteristic 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 ideal day, and thanks for studying.
