gaming hours
my steam deck has not gone unplayed for more than 12 hours since i got it. i almost thought i would regret my big purchase because of the handful of reviewers recommending the stronger handhelds out there, but i am happy to report that i have no regrets. i'm obsessed!
i've always preferred handheld gaming to the more official consoles requiring cables running to TVs and monitors (excluding the switch which was my main driver before the steam deck came into the picture). there's something so much more intimate about getting to play in bed or in the corner of your couch as you lose yourself in a new world. it's ultimate relaxation. but also, just practically speaking, the games i play are bite-sized and don't need state of the art specs to run: visual novels that only require a single button to "play," pixel art sims, restaurant management games, puzzle games, old school games.
i've started so many in just a week:
- harvest moon: a wonderful life ā this is testing my patience lol. i do appreciate how slow paced the game is but accessing my items and simply getting to places takes forever.
- mario kart double dash!! ā a childhood favorite and my mindless game go-to.
- space channel 5 ā i refuse to say i'm rhythmically challenged when rhythm games are one of my favorite genres. i am just going to blame the emulator.
- ssx tricky ā another childhood favorite. i didn't realize how hard it was to pull off tricks but also how satisfying it was.
- bokuro no natsuyasumi 2 ā what a gorgeous, gorgeous game. it's one of those games that need your full attention. waiting for the perfect time to pick up where i left off so i can savor it the way it deserves to be.
modern, non emulated games are few and far in between at the moment: lemon cake, supermarket simulator, assembly required.
i know i need to interact with the real world instead of sinking tens of hours into games but i've had too much fun.
if you're tired of the nintendo tax, don't particularly like desktop gaming, have a backlog of games you've been meaning to get to, and want to play old games from playstation to gamecube, get the steam deck or any other pc handheld for that matter. the medium really does make a difference. as i have, you'll find yourself starting games that have been collecting dust and trying out new ones you would have never thought to play.