Horizon Forbidden West Impressions, Sokobond Express & Quilts and Cats of Calico Reviews, News, Sales, and More – TouchArcade Leave a comment

Welcome to this week’s version of the Steam Deck Weekly following my latest evaluation of Dragon’s Dogma 2 which you’ll be able to learn right here. Alongside Dragon’s Dogma 2, Alone within the Darkish and Horizon Forbidden West Full Version launched on Steam this week. There are additionally fairly just a few new bulletins and Steam Deck Verified + Playable video games. Earlier than the information, let’s get into the Steam Deck gameplay impressions and mini opinions the place I concentrate on how particular video games feel and look on Steam Deck first.

Steam Deck Recreation Evaluations & Impressions

Horizon Forbidden West Full Version Steam Deck Impressions

I’ve not had a lot time with Horizon Forbidden West Full Version but with it simply having unlocked a day in the past, however I needed to put in writing up some transient impressions primarily based on the opening hours. Horizon Forbidden West Full Version was probably the most beautiful video games in years when it hit PS5, and I’m shocked at how good it appears to be like on Steam Deck. When you skipped Horizon Zero Daybreak, play that first for certain. Horizon Forbidden West Full Version was one of many video games I used to be wanting ahead to essentially the most on Steam Deck for 2024, and being a cross technology launch with a PS4 model, I had excessive expectations.

I’ve solely performed it on my Steam Deck OLED, however it looks as if the medium preset with some tweaks (shadows to very low as common for me) is nice sufficient for a 30fps expertise with HDR enabled. I capped the sport to 30fps at 90hz utilizing the Fast Entry Menu and have set it to 16:10 on Steam Deck. I really like that Sony video games allow you to additionally play at 21:9 or different side ratios whatever the show. I used that to check the way it appears to be like, and I’d play extra of it at ultrawide with how good it appears to be like.

The one factor we’d like for certain is compiled shaders for Steam Deck for the sport. There are some stutters when new particle results or whereas shifting to new places. Barring that, it feels nice to play and even helps gyro on Steam Deck. I’ll be digging into it extra over the approaching days probably for a full evaluation. I positively wish to see how The Burning Shores enlargement appears to be like on Steam Deck.

Sokobond Specific Steam Deck Assessment

When Draknek and Buddies proclaims a brand new puzzle recreation, I concentrate. The writer has launched me to so many superb video games by its publishing, personal video games, and e-newsletter, that I’m at all times prepared to strive something involving Draknek and Buddies. When Sokobond Specific was introduced, it seemed prefer it may probably be a pleasant mix of two totally different puzzle video games: Sokobond and Cosmic Specific. The top result’s a stunning puzzle recreation with trivia, chemistry, pathfinding, and extra accompanied by stress-free music and stylish visuals.

On Steam Deck, I’ve had no points with Sokobond Specific. It appears to be like and runs nice at 90fps on my Steam Deck OLED. I enabled the darkish mode as properly since I normally do in video games like this and Mini Metro.

When you’re on the lookout for a brand new stress-free puzzle recreation to sink your tooth into, Sokobond Specific is superb. I haven’t even bothered attempting this docked but as a result of it feels so excellent in handheld mode on the Steam Deck OLED. That is one other win for Draknek and Buddies, and I can’t wait to see what developer José Hernández does subsequent.

Sokobond Specific Steam Deck Assessment Rating: 4.5/5

Quilts and Cats of Calico Steam Deck Assessment

When Wingspan digital adaptation developer Monster Sofa introduced Quilts and Cats of Calico, I instantly was due to how good Wingspan turned out on all platforms. Two associates of mine praised the board recreation Calico, and instructed me to check out Quilts and Cats of Calico after I may. I made a decision to see the way it appears to be like and feels on Steam Deck, and I’m glad I did.

Proper now, Quilts and Cats of Calico is barely obtainable on PC not like Wingspan that’s on cellular and consoles as properly. I assume this was in order that Monster Sofa may be sure that the whole lot is working superb earlier than porting it elsewhere, however it clearly is prepared. The crew seemingly took all of its learnings from Wingspan and its updates to ship Quilts and Cats of Calico in a sophisticated state proper from the get go. It appears to be like wonderful, has pretty music, nice animations, and an excellent tutorial. The story mode leans extra on the puzzle aspect, and I appreciated that as a break from taking part in with others.

On Steam Deck, Quilts and Cats of Calico has 16:10 and Steam Cloud help. It additionally performs because it ought to with the Deck’s personal controls. You may as well play with contact controls which work fairly properly with the mouse simulation. For some purpose, the sport’s graphics settings have body fee tied to high quality. Setting the sport to low caps it to 30fps. Taking part in on medium sees about 70 to 80fps whereas the excessive preset has the sport working between 50 and 60 usually.

Quilts and Cats of Calico is formally marked as Steam Deck Playable by Valve, however it actually ought to simply be Verified. All the things works completely together with on-line multiplayer with flip notification help, and it appears to be like beautiful on the Steam Deck’s display. Quilts and Cats of Calico is a simple suggestion for anybody on the lookout for a soothing mix of a puzzle and technique recreation.

Quilts and Cats of Calico Steam Deck Assessment Rating: 4.5/5

Information and Trailers

The Future Video games Present Spring Showcase aired yesterday with fairly just a few bulletins and divulges along with the various we already had throughout the week. I’ve included highlights from the week and the occasion beneath. Uncooked Fury had two bulletins on the showcase. The primary is a first-person thriller recreation known as Blue Prince. The opposite announcement is extra attention-grabbing for me given the style. Knights in Tight Areas is a deckbuilding turn-based techniques recreation. Watch the trailers for each of them beneath:

Playdigious who everyone knows and love for his or her cellular ports additionally does issues on PC and consoles. It’s working with Kimeria Video games to launch Linkito on Steam in the summertime. Linkito is a connection primarily based logic puzzler that was additionally revealed throughout the Future Video games Present Spring Showcase. Watch the trailer for it beneath:

When Grasshopper Manufacture introduced a remaster of Shadows of the Damned (initially launched in 2011 on PS3/Xbox 360), I wasn’t certain what to anticipate. Alongside NetEase Video games, Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered is due for launch on Steam, Swap, and different consoles sooner or later. It’s also playable at PAX should you’re attending now. Watch the trailer for it beneath and wishlist it right here on Steam:

Atlus moved the Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance launch date ahead by per week to June 14th for Steam and all consoles. I assume that is to keep away from the Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree launch. Both approach, I’m glad that I’ll have the ability to expertise SMT5 with vastly improved visuals and efficiency sooner. I beat the sport 4 occasions on Swap and I’m now able to play it on Steam and PS5.

Whereas this hasn’t been introduced for Steam but, Skydance New Media and Marvel Video games introduced the narrative-driven action-adventure recreation Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra exhibiting off the 4 playable heroes.

Bandai Namco Leisure confirmed off gameplay for DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO with a full take a look at its UI and new strikes. As anticipated, it appears to be like unbelievable. I hope it runs decently on Steam Deck. Watch the gameplay beneath:

Identical to Myst, Cyan Worlds is doing a full remake of Riven for flatscreen and VR platforms. Watch the Riven remake trailer beneath:

Phantom Fury, the observe as much as Ion Fury that includes Shelly “Bombshell” Harrison from 3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks will launch worldwide for PC on April twenty third. It’s also coming to consoles later within the 12 months. Watch the Phantom Fury launch date trailer beneath:

Paradox Interactive showcased a brand new trailer for Jail Architect 2 forward of its launch on Might seventh showcasing the methods you can also make cash in-game. I performed a variety of the unique and I’m hoping this one performs properly on Steam Deck. Watch the trailer beneath:

Bandai Namco Leisure launched a brand new trailer and a demo for Sand Land for Steam and consoles. I performed the demo a bit and it feels nice on Steam Deck. Watch the brand new trailer beneath:

Harold Halibut lastly has a launch date, and it’s out on April sixteenth for Steam and consoles. The handcrafted house journey is sort of right here. I’m positively going to play it. Watch the brand new trailer for it beneath:

New Steam Deck Verified & Playable video games for the week

• Demise Trick: Double Blind – Playable
• Dune: Imperium – Verified
• Quilts and Cats of Calico – Playable
• Roots of Yggdrasil – Verified
• Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley – Playable
• Tales of Kenzera: ZAU – Verified (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
• Taxi Life: A Metropolis Driving Simulator – Playable
• Tchia – Playable
• TEST TEST TEST – Playable
• Welcome to ParadiZe – Playable
• WRATH: Aeon of Smash – Verified
• WWE 2K24 – Playable

Steam Deck Recreation Gross sales & Reductions

The Steam Spring Sale 2024 simply ended a day in the past, so don’t count on any large gross sales proper now. Humble Bundle has a brand new boomer shooter bundle that includes Turbo Overkill, Ultrakill, Prodeus, and rather more. This one appears to be like unbelievable should you don’t personal the video games already like I do. Barring the bundle, Sq. Enix has its writer sale on Steam, and let me use this to remind you to seize Closing Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade as a result of it’s superior and appears wonderful on Steam Deck OLED. This sale is on till March twenty fifth. The sale additionally has massive reductions on LIVE A LIVE, Triangle Technique, and extra.

That’s all for this week’s version of the Steam Deck Weekly. As common, 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 wish 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.