Welcome to at the moment’s version of the Steam Deck Weekly. As a substitute 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on final Friday, I made a decision to attend for all of the occasions to finish so the information wouldn’t be too outdated. When you missed the Summer time Recreation Fest 2024 showcases, try my highlights on Steam Deck right here and Change right here. The busy month remains to be going with many new and outdated video games coming to Steam. Try my Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance evaluation right here and Kingdom Hearts Steam Deck evaluations right here. Along with evaluations at the moment, there are information highlights from the final week and the most recent Steam Deck Verified and Playable video games. Let’s get into the evaluations and impressions first.
Steam Deck Recreation Opinions & Impressions
Monster Hunter Tales Steam Deck Overview
Final month, I did a preview on Monster Hunter Tales’ remaster overlaying early components 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 concentrate on the PC model for my evaluation, 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 with regards to 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 at the moment. After the success of Monster Hunter Tales 2 on Change and Steam, Capcom needs to develop the viewers of this sequence, and what higher method to try this then bringing the unique to extra platforms? Properly, Capcom shocked 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 bought, a brand new gallery, voice appearing, and extra. Capcom additionally lastly introduced Monster Hunter Tales 2 to PlayStation at the moment.
When you’ve not performed Monster Hunter Tales in any respect by means of its prior releases, it doesn’t actually play like a standard Monster Hunter recreation. It’s extra of an RPG set on this planet of Monster Hunter that options monsters, hunters, and principally was a unbelievable recreation on 3DS that I loved greater than each Pokemon recreation with its turn-based fight, attractive visuals even again then, and memorable characters. For the remaster, I anticipated Capcom to only carry the cellular model of Monster Hunter Tales to present platforms. As a substitute, we now have visible enhancements, efficiency enhancements, the addition of content material by no means launched outdoors Japan, voice appearing, a brand new gallery, and extra.
When you already performed Monster Hunter Tales, the brand new content material and improve to visuals and efficiency makes it well worth the asking worth for positive, however don’t trouble except you wish to replay the complete recreation. It could’ve been a neater recreation to advocate on consoles at the least 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 means of this launch, and it’s a unbelievable port that shines on Steam Deck.
Since enjoying the sport for preview, I needed to see if something would change, however that construct is principally the ultimate recreation everybody can play at the moment. The PC model of Monster Hunter Tales permits you to modify window mode (windowed, fullscreen, and borderless), decision (864×486 to 4K), body fee goal (30fps to 144fps), toggle v-sync, toggle anti-aliasing, and modify shadow high quality (low, medium, excessive). You can too modify brightness.
Monster Hunter Tales held 90fps very properly with every part set to excessive apart from shadow high quality which I turned down from the beginning on my Steam Deck OLED. Load occasions are near-instant as properly. It solely helps 16:9 gameplay, however does have Steam Cloud help.
Whereas I’ve praised lots of Monster Hunter Tales to date, it nonetheless feels dated in its visuals in methods. I didn’t anticipate this to be addressed since it is a remaster and never a remake, however it’s price retaining in thoughts that this launch is not going to change your thoughts for those who 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 definitely the easiest way to expertise an precise 3DS basic from Capcom. I all the time mentioned Monster Hunter Tales was the very best trying 3DS recreation, and it now shines on fashionable screens because of a remaster that did much more than I anticipated. Whereas it isn’t nearly as good as Monster Hunter Tales 2, Monster Hunter Tales remains to be price enjoying for not solely followers of the Monster Hunter video games, but in addition followers of RPGs usually. It’s clearly aimed 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
Once I bought an e mail about Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, I instantly knew I needed to play it based mostly on its premise. Having now performed it, I’m glad I did as a result of it’s unbelievable. My solely actual criticism is that I want there was extra of it, however this thriller journey recreation has been a beautiful and charming shock. Given the quick 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 moveable techniques.
The thriller and journey genres are filled with some nice video games, however I adore it when a developer tries to do one thing completely different. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami isn’t mechanically wonderful or something, nevertheless it excels in its setting, appeal, voice appearing, and music. As I made my method by means of 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 recreation once I bought my evaluation 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’ll even use contact controls. On Change, Duck Detective: The Secret Salami additionally performs nice, however the lack of contact help is my solely criticism. When you had been hoping to have moveable expertise with Duck Detective: The Secret Salami, you’ll be able to’t go fallacious with each Change and Steam Deck.
If my solely criticism with a recreation is that it will get over too quickly and I would like extra of it, I take that as signal. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a beautiful and charming shock that I loved enjoying for about three hours. On paper, the voice appearing and music with this aesthetic shouldn’t work, however the builders managed to tug by means of and ship one thing particular. You can too 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
Once I first noticed Isles of Sea and Sky gameplay, I knew I needed to play it. I hoped it could be effective on Steam Deck as properly. Not solely does it play nice on Valve’s handheld, however I ended up occupied with it always even whereas enjoying 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 recreation that begins off with you simply pushing blocks. Even in its opening moments, you begin seeing how a lot freedom you will have in-game, and issues begin to get advanced fairly quick with mechanics and modifications. One factor I like in regards to the puzzle video games that go for a extra open construction, is having the ability to come again to puzzles in a while and nonetheless make progress by taking one other path. Isles of Sea and Sky excels at this, and it looks like a beautiful puzzle field filled with blocks to stimulate your mind with, and one which has crisp and colourful visuals.
Even for those who’re new to puzzle video games, I like to recommend Isles of Sea and Sky due to how approachable it makes every part regardless of the depth. It looks like an old style puzzle recreation within the fashionable period, however one with fairly a couple of fashionable options.
On Steam Deck, Isles of Sea and Sky hasn’t been examined by Valve but, nevertheless it works completely. You may change window mode solely with regards to 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, nevertheless it does help Steam Cloud. I think about it will likely be Steam Deck Verified quickly.
Isles of Sea and Sky is an outstanding puzzle recreation that’s completely price your time. It additionally feels proper at residence on Steam Deck, and manages to face out with its attractive artwork, puzzles, open world, and mix of concepts. When you get pleasure from 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 if you’re excited to play a recreation and it finally ends up falling quick, however that’s precisely what occurred with Damaged Roads at launch. The Australia setting, voice appearing, and music had been good, nevertheless it was too buggy and linear. It has been simply over two months since I began enjoying Damaged Roads on Steam Deck, and it’s in a significantly better place with the most recent replace. I needed to do a fast evaluation overlaying how the present recreation feels on Steam Deck after latest updates.
Damaged Roads is a contemporary tackle conventional party-based RPGs with parts of Disco Elysium and Wasteland, however one which doesn’t reside as much as its inspirations by the top of it. The Australian setting, voice appearing, music, and visuals are highlights for positive. The narrative will likely be hit and miss for lots of people. The one fixed all through my completely different save information and makes an attempt and seeing how diverse issues will be in Damaged Roads, has been the fight not feeling totally realized, and likewise a number of the quests. The ethical compass in-game feels tacked on in components as a result of I generally 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, nevertheless it wants some extra work right here.
Damaged Roads on Steam Deck is a little bit of a blended bag in some methods, however performs properly. You may’t change any settings barring forcing windowed mode and the decision with a couple of refresh fee choices. Damaged Roads helps 16:10 800p and 90hz natively, however it could possibly’t hit that 90fps past the opening parts. I’d advocate capping it from the fast entry menu. Except for that, it performs properly out of the field with full controller help 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’t touch upon the way it feels there. I ended up capping it to 45fps at 90hz when enjoying.
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 advice. In its present state, I can advocate it, however it’s a few updates away from being one thing particular. It undoubtedly 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 evaluation, 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 finished, Umbraclaw principally runs at a locked 60fps. On Steam Deck and the Steam Deck OLED, I discovered no method of working it larger than 60fps. Some prior Inti Creates PC ports have supported 120fps, however I don’t see an choice for that right here when enjoying on the Deck itself. Umbraclaw performs at 16:9 or is stretched. It seems to be nice out of the field, however I like to recommend manually altering it to 720p or 1080p. The body fee stays the identical however you would possibly discover the elevated readability higher.
Umbraclaw has DualSense button immediate help on Steam Deck when utilizing a DualSense, however I discovered no method of fixing button prompts when enjoying utilizing the Deck’s personal controls. You may rebind keyboard and controller buttons, toggle v-sync, modify decision (seemingly capped at 1080p), and body fee. Word that on Steam Deck the body fee choice doesn’t appear to work, and it’s capped at 60fps as I discussed above.
When 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 lots of information this week following the Summer time Recreation Fest 2024 bonanza, however there are a couple of bits of be aware. The highlights are beneath. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is now out there 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 after all. Watch it beneath:
Digital Extremes launched a brand new TennoCon 2024 hype trailer forward of the occasion set for subsequent month. When you missed my interview with Artistic Director Rebb Ford, learn it right here. Watch the video beneath:
Caves of Qud bought its Spring Molting Replace, the final main replace earlier than 1.0, this latest 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 recreation 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 principally two weeks of latest Steam Deck Verified and Playable video games has resulted in an even bigger record than standard, which suggests extra surprises.
AMANATSU Excellent Version – Unsupported
Arranger: A Function-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 (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
DRAGON BALL Z: KAKAROT Steam – Verified (by way of 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 (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
Out of the Park Baseball 25 – Playable
Outcast – A New Starting – Playable (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
Quest Grasp – Verified
Rabbit and Metal – Playable
Learn Solely Reminiscences: NEURODIVER – Verified
Reus 2 – Playable (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
Rolling Hills: Make Sushi, Make Associates – Verified
Rotwood – Playable
SAND LAND – Playable
Scars Above – Playable
Selaco – Playable (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
Nonetheless Wakes the Deep – Playable
Tchia – Verified (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
Thank Goodness You’re Right here! – Verified
The Lullaby of Life – Verified
The Purple Lantern – Verified
The Rogue Prince of Persia – Unsupported
The Shell Half II: Purgatorio – Unsupported
Truxton 2 – Playable
Vigor – Playable (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
Void Crew – Playable
Steam Deck Recreation Gross sales, Reductions, and Specials
As a substitute of gross sales, I’m going to make use of this area to advocate testing the most recent Steam Subsequent Fest with many demos for upcoming video games. I’m going to be enjoying fairly a couple of demos tonight. Those I like to recommend are Fumes, Hookah Haze, Blade Chimera, Metallic Slug Ways (no controller help but), Blue Prince, Maid Cafe on Electrical Road, 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 standard, you’ll be able to learn all our previous and future Steam Deck protection right here. If in case 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 a fantastic day, and thanks for studying.
