Noah Kupetsky's Reviews
Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is a fantastic remake of the original that addresses many of its problems. The story has been streamlined with some great additions to make the other characters stand out more, while the combat has the accessibility settings and adjustments that the most recent games have benefited from. It does feel a little too easy at times, which makes the strategic elements of battle feel less necessary. Still, it never fully detracts from the experience enough to regret playing. It's also a joy to play on the Steam Deck. After changing the resolution scale to Medium, it will run at 60 FPS with extremely low battery drain, while still getting all the bells and whistles of the high-quality settings. It's a fantastic JRPG for portable play, and could be one of the best this year.
Cairn combines strategy and survival to create a unique experience that I want to keep coming back to. The combination of strategy and survival in climbing a treacherous mountain is well-balanced, keeping gameplay engaging and fun throughout. It can be brutal and unforgiving with how quickly you can fall, and save points are a little too scattered in some areas, but it was hard to find any moment that didn’t make me want to try climbing again. I do wish it ran better on the Steam Deck, but I would still consider it playable since it doesn’t need high framerates to be fully enjoyed. Still, I had a great time playing it in bed, and I can happily recommend it.
MIO: Memories in Orbit is a gorgeous, fluid, and intriguing metroidvania that succeeds on almost all fronts. The intriguing story hooked me in, while the fantastic traversal and platforming mixed well with the simplistic combat to create an engaging experience. The fast travel and respawns could be a little unforgiving, and I wish there were more parts to further upgrade MIO to continue experimenting, but it was still fun nonetheless. And MIO is wonderful on the Steam Deck. Just changing the graphics quality to Medium gives us a perfect 60 FPS with lower battery drain, and it still looks great, especially on the OLED screen. So, I am pleased to say that not only is this a great metroidvania, but it’s a fantastic title to take on the go, and I highly recommend it.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon is a great next game in the series and sets the bar high for future entries in the series. The implications of the finale are worth playing through, and the buildup was exciting and filled with twists and turns I didn't expect. The great gameplay is back as well, adding new elements to real-time and turn-based battles that keep the action going and give more options for strategic opportunities. Bringing all the characters into conversations sometimes feels forced, and combat can be very unfair with one wrong move, but this is ultimately a fantastic experience that has made me extremely excited for the next Trails game. On top of that, it's a joy to play on the Steam Deck. A combination of settings can get a great balance for smooth gameplay with solid visuals, which is perfect for the long, grindy experience that the game specializes in. Ultimately, it's well worth experiencing on the Steam Deck, and it keeps the Trails series as one that's great to take on the go.
Skate Story has some very interesting ideas and gorgeous visuals, but some missteps stop it from being a must-have game in my book. I love the aesthetic, the general gameplay mechanics with skating and how easy it is to do tricks, and the wacky story. But the difficulty in controlling our skater, the lack of ways to go back and play through the levels, and the overall feeling of uselessness for the combo system during boss fights keep it from greatness. It’s still a fun game, and I had a good time with it, but there was just too much stopping me from fully immersing myself in it. It is a good time on the Steam Deck, and if you’re going to be getting the game anyway, it is a lot of fun to play on the go. It isn’t as stable as I would’ve liked, but you can still play it with a solid battery life and a smoother feel than 30 FPS. Ultimately, this is a game. I would recommend playing on the go if you’re going to be getting it anyway.
Despite some smaller issues here and there, Octopath Traveler 0 is a fantastic JRPG that is a worthy entry in this series. It is missing some of the charm and character development that were present in the previous two games, but it's still a fantastic experience with great combat, a compelling story, a solid town-management system, and a continuation of the wonderful HD-2D visual style that I have fallen in love with. As a JRPG fan, this is going to be a wonderful addition to your ever-growing library. And with how great the game runs on the Steam Deck, this is definitely a worthy title to add to your portable library as well. A solid 60 FPS on High settings with around 3.5-4 hours of battery is a treat, and I can't recommend this game enough.
SLEEP AWAKE is by far one of my favorite horror games I have played this year. The story is creative and intriguing, hooking me until the end, so I could see what would happen next. The gameplay has a nice balance that I would expect a horror game like this to have, even though a couple of the puzzles are a little hard to solve, and dying takes way too long to come back. Still, this is one of the more creative horror games I have played, and it is one of my favorites that I have played this year. While it isn't completely solid throughout, the game is still very playable on the Steam Deck. It runs decently in most areas, though there are some unavoidable drops that could go below 20 FPS. Still, it doesn't happen often, and I still recommend playing it on the Steam Deck.
A.I.L.A is a solid horror game that shines thanks to its gorgeous visuals and interesting story. Despite it being a bit predictable, I was entertained and enjoyed seeing everything play out, and the variety of locations made the experience overall feel very unique and kept me interested. Combat parts of gameplay weren't that enjoyable, but I had a great time figuring out the puzzles, and it strikes a nice balance with its difficulty. Still, it's an overall unique and enjoyable time that fans of horror will enjoy. And even though it isn't the greatest experience out of the box, it's playable on the Steam Deck. It doesn't save the changed settings on a new boot, but the visuals look significantly better set to Medium over Low for the most part. Still, either way, it's playable and enjoyable on the go.
Escape Simulator 2 is the evolution of Escape Simulator that I was hoping for. The levels are bigger, puzzles are more creative and fit very well within the level, and the new, darker, higher-fidelity aesthetic is just a joy to walk around in. There are some smaller issues here and there with controllers, and some of the reasons to get back into the game after beating the levels will be based on the community, but it's overall a fantastic sequel that is well worth your time, especially if you have someone to play with. It also runs quite well on the Steam Deck and should be no issue to play on the go. There are a couple of changes I would make for optimal play, and performance is a little weird at times, but it's ultimately fantastic, and I can't wait to play some new puzzles that the community can make.
Ninja Gaiden 4 is all about quality over quantity, and the quality is just incredible. The combat is fast-paced, brutal, flashy, and engaging, while still feeling accessible enough to use the diverse moveset and still require some skill to utilize to their fullest. With the gorgeous world, head-bopping soundtrack, and side content, I found many reasons to keep coming back for more even after finishing the campaign. There are some minor issues here and there, but nothing that stopped me from enjoying every moment. It also plays quite nicely on the Steam Deck. It does have a specific Steam Deck Mode that can play at 30 FPS, and while it can handle higher framerates, there are a multitude of issues that keep it from being an amazing experience. Still, it's playable, looks decent, and a solid way to enjoy the game.
Keeper is one of those experiences that grew on me the more I played. While the visuals blew me away immediately, I didn't start enjoying the story and experience until I let go and just stopped trying to make sense of what was going on. From there, I could just let myself get sucked into the beauty of rebirth and companionship that I fell in love with. The puzzles we will encounter are interesting and have some cool mechanics, but some overstayed their welcome more than I would have liked. Still, the good heavily outweighs the bad, and I highly recommend playing through this magical experience. However, I would not play it on the Steam Deck just yet. While it is possible, there will be lots of drops below 30 FPS, and with the sacrifices needed, the beauty of the world can't be enjoyed to the extent it should. A patch is coming, which is great, but it isn't there just yet.
Baby Steps is a weird, basic game that finds an accessible balance between easy and aggravating. All you do is walk forward, going around or through obstacles, and it still finds a way to be so compelling and enjoyable that it's hard to stop. Even when falling down the mountain and having to climb up again, I still felt excited to get back on it and take a different route on the open mountain or take some extra time to strategically place my footing. The story may not be prominent, but it is entertaining, and I had a blast exploring to find other cutscenes to enjoy. The game is also wonderfully playable on the Steam Deck at its default settings, and I didn't find many settings that could make it look better. Still, it's definitely worth playing, and it will absolutely be a blast on the go.
Silent Hill f does have flaws, but the pros heavily outweigh the cons. The story sucked me in and combat was more fun than I expected. I am being more nit-picky with the issues I’m bringing up, but they ultimately never affected my enjoyment of the game, nor made me think twice about getting back into it for round 2. And a lot of the issues I had were erased as soon as New Game+ started, which was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. On top of that, it actually runs quite well on the Steam Deck. It’s definitely not perfect and needs compromises to run effectively, but the game is playable on the Deck and can look gorgeous. It may cost a little extra performance in 3-4 scenes, but they include graphical improvements I’d consider necessary to enjoy. In the end, Silent Hill f is a thrilling game, and if this keeps up, the future of AAA releases from Konami is going to look very bright.
Hell is Us is a fantastic experience that I ended up loving, even though I am not generally a fan of this style of game. The lack of hand-holding can be a little frustrating, but it encourages exploration in a way that feels rewarding in terms of general gameplay and the fantastic story. Figuring out where to go and completing puzzles to progress or discover secret items is so satisfying and keeps me wanting more. The combat combines its slower-paced soulslike feel with more Action-focused progression in a great way, with an assortment of skills to equip that help make combat feel more engaging. There are some nuisances with camera angles, but it is generally in good spots. The game is also surprisingly playable on the Steam Deck. It does need compromises to the visuals and a 30 FPS lock to make sure it runs, but it's ultimately a great experience on the go, and it feels wonderful to enjoy wherever you are.
Gears of War: Reloaded may not change as much from the Ultimate Edition, but that doesn't change how enjoyable it is to go back and fight the Locust again. The game has retained its core, action-packed third-person combat and interesting story, while improving visual effects. It's nice that the game adds in a bunch of post-release content from the Ultimate Edition, but it doesn't change as much as I had hoped. Still, the game finally releasing on Steam is great, and with crossplay and the minor improvements, I can see this being a great investment for third-person shooter fans. The game is also very playable on the Steam Deck, and it's a joy to play on the go. We definitely have some options to play, but regardless, it will be playable and enjoyable for portable play.
SHINOBI: Art of Vengeance is a fantastic first game for SEGA’s reboots. The action platforming sports solid movement mechanics, and very enjoyable combat and combo systems. The medallion and Ninpo can sometimes feel unnecessary, but there’s still some motivation to explore these due to new attacks for your moveset needing to be purchased at the store. The story does a good job setting the stage, and the artwork is just awesome to see. It also runs wonderfully on the Steam Deck. The best way to play will be at 60 FPS, but nothing else is needed otherwise. It’s a great game through and through, and one worth adding to your portable libraries.
Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a fantastic remake, and I feel Konami did it justice. Choosing not to add or change the existing content helps preserve what makes up the legacy of the original. The updates, while minimal on the surface, make the game feel fresh with stunning visuals and a new way to play that brings in a new perspective. The gameplay still holds up to today's standards, so just focusing on a new over-the-shoulder camera and some quality of life changes are perfect for a release like this. Even with some minor control issues here and there, it's a blast to play through the game in this new way, while still having the old control method and top-down camera as an option. I would not recommend playing this on the Steam Deck personally, though I would say it can be powered through if the Deck is your only device to play on. The more powerful handhelds are getting there, with the AYANEO 3 making it playable while looking fantastic. This bodes well for handhelds that will have the Z2 Extreme APU, like the Xbox ROG Ally X. Still, as a fan of the series or a newcomer, Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater is a game worth playing through.
Echoes of the End is a solid production, but it just has many instances that take me out of the immersion. It's small things here and there, but in the end, it's enough to make the experience suffer. When the mechanics work together, it feels fantastic, and the visuals are top-notch, but when it doesn't work, it is frustrating and made me want to stop playing. The story is intriguing as well, even if the voice acting was off and plot was predictable. Unfortunately, the game isn't in any state to be played on the Steam Deck. Even at the lowest settings, it can't hit 30 FPS, and I wouldn't recommend playing on the go.
Dead Take is a horrifying game that uses its short run time to create a memorable time. The way Surgent Studios uses surrealistic architecture, creepy atmosphere, and real-life videos to tell its disturbing story is wonderful. While some puzzles can be a little difficult to figure out without any help, the bulk of the game's basic gameplay is enjoyable when considering how brief the game is. Still, this is clearly a quality over quantity discussion, and I would say this is a quality experience that is worth playing through. Even with some compromises to visuals and the need for upscaling, it's a great game to enjoy on the Steam Deck. Sitting in my bed and playing Dead Take at night was awesome, even though it had ended up scaring me a lot.
Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound brings back the classic Ninja Gaiden gameplay in a modern way that I fell in love with. The gorgeous world and animations mix with the precise platforming and one-hit combat that I couldn't get enough of. Even with a short runtime, each level and boss fight felt distinct and enjoyable. Some of the dodging and climbing got in the way of my fights, and I didn't utilize upgrades much, but it was a ton of fun where quality over quantity goes a long way. On top of that, it's a gem to play on the Steam Deck. Just switching to 60 FPS fixes the minor issues I found at 90, and lowers the battery drain considerably. This is a perfect game to take on the go.