Handhelds have been a longstanding dream of mine. Of course, there’s the Nintendo Switch, which is basically a machine made specifically for running Nintendo games, but as seen from the previous Pokemon entries, it does leave a lot to be desired. So when the news of Steam releasing their own handheld gaming console with direct access to my Steam library and enough power to handle most of the games I already have, I am drooling just typing it out right now.
Since the announcement of the Steam Deck, I’ve done nothing but work to earn enough money to afford it. I could just imagine myself on the bus home playing some Silent Hill f with my headphones on and finally making full use of my commute. A few weeks ago, my brother-in-law lent me his Steam Deck just so I could give it a whirl, and, sad to say, it was not the experience that I expected at all. As it turns out, a lot of external elements come into play when you’re actually outside.
Hardware
Handheld gaming PCs like this were made to play some pretty demanding games. Even as it first came out, I was looking at specs that looked way better than my PC, but as it turns out, all that power equates to a lot of weight. Lugging the Steam Deck about felt like walking around with a small weight inside my bag, and if you travel as much as I do, then you would for sure feel the difference. Admittedly, I have a hard time even playing the system while I’m lying in bed out of fear that I’d lose my grip and break my nose.
Aside from the weight, there’s also the issue of the cooling system. Gaming PCs run hot, and they run hotter when you’re playing a demanding game like Resident Evil Village, a game in my backlog I assumed I’d be able to play during my commute. Not only do these handheld systems run hot, but they also run loud. You can’t really relax and play a video game when your handheld’s fans are whirring like a small airplane.
Commitment Problems
When I got my hands on a Steam Deck, the first thought I had was that I could finally maximize my time and get through my laundry list of unfinished games. But, surprise, it’s hard to lock in playing video games when you’re outside. Every time I brought out my Steam Deck in public, I could just feel the inner anxiety of anticipating any type of disturbance or outside factor that could ruin my gaming experience. I think anyone would agree with me when I say that gaming is serious business, and that you need to get in the zone. Personally, I even have this inner philosophy of all or nothing, meaning if I couldn’t put my entire focus on a game, then I’m not enjoying the full product.
Playing video games felt less like something to look forward to and more like a ritual I had to prepare for, praying that I get to play uninterrupted outside for more than an hour. This worry cheapened my experience, and it honestly felt like I was disrespecting the medium. There would be days when I would spend my time staring at the list of games I have and just turn the Steam Deck off. I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, I’m sure everyone has had a good experience with handhelds, and this time, I want to say what I actually liked about it.
What I liked About It
Every problem that I’ve said is a me problem, and no, I am not gaslighting myself into this conclusion. The hardware itself, although clunky, gets the job done, and every time I played it from the comfort of my couch, I didn’t encounter any problems. The hardware is admittedly powerful and gave me access to a lot of games I otherwise could not have played, such as Cyberpunk 2077, Control, and the fairly recent Silent Hill f. All of which I did not finish because, again, I can’t commit to an hour of gaming to fully immerse myself in these amazing games.
Where these handhelds really shone with me was the ability to play short games, and now comes maybe my second most-loved genre in all of gaming: roguelikes. Games like Balatro, Hades II, Binding of Isaac, and even Buckshot Roulette became some of the games I enjoyed the most. Hades, in particular, is a beloved series because I had a handheld that I could play anytime, anywhere.
In the future, if I find myself with more time and freedom, or maybe when the hardware’s evolved far enough, I could justify spending as much money as I could have on a handheld system like the Steam Deck. But, for now, it looks like I’ll have to stick to the comforts of my gaming PC.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming features and opinions.