#borderless myth

[handweavers]

"‘Trans man’ remains the preferred identity for Malaysian individuals who were Assigned female at birth but live their adult lives as men. The jettison-ing of pondan, pak nyah, wanita keras, tomboy and pengkid in favour of ‘trans man’ likely serves as a ratification of personal-communal empowerment and a repudiation of derision. It is even more likely that ‘trans man’ reflects a deep-seated desire to imitate and participate in ‘collective identifcation’, notably that which is cultivated in North American (and European) contexts, ‘in order to demand rights, equal citizenship, and welfare’ among other goals in Malaysia. This is hardly surprising. Technological advances facilitate unprecedented accessibility to copious resources on transgender issues and imagine a global transgender community in borderless solidarity. Travis S. K. Kong points out however, that ‘globalization is an uneven process that reproduces spatially uneven development, and the flow of capital, commodities, people, images, and ideas is never equal among locations’.

The Malaysian trans man thus experiences unequal and unstable access to the bounty of globalisation due to local limitations in education, economic means, social and cultural capital, class, ethnicity, religious affliation, educational levels, infrastructure and health services. He continues to be experience ‘disjunctive modernities’ which exhibit ‘irreducible plurality and local specifcity’, thus dispelling the myth of trans(national) homogeneity in transgender identity. The trans men I interviewed interpret their life stories through the rubric of local contexts that dispel any suspicion of a mere mimicry of western-styled transgender identities. Malaysian re/mouldings of ‘trans man’ speak to ‘experiences of multiplicity in gender identifcation … embedded within specifc social, cultural, and interpersonal contexts [that] create altogether new, emergent forms of experience and identity'."

— J. N. Goh, Becoming a Malaysian Trans Man

[just-like-her-father]

(Listen to the music to enhance the reading experience.)

Eight years ago, Florence greeted Charlotte Stark not with fanfare, but with quiet curiosity. A name whispered along marble corridors of old Italian banking halls, in the leather-scented salons of private innovation clubs, and in university courtyards where theory wrestled with practice. Back then, she was an outsider. Today, she is Florence’s beating heart of intellect, innovation, and influence — a sovereign force whose dominion spans the realm of economic reformation, cognitive technology, and futurist philosophy.

The transformation was not gradual; it was exponential.

She arrived in 2017 — twenty-four, enigmatic, American-born but philosophically borderless. Charlotte Stark, then a polymath fresh off a controversial exit from a U.S. think tank, stepped into Florence with a singular mission: to redefine how cities think, build, and thrive.

In her first public appearance, held in the minimalist atrium of the Istituto per le Scienze Cognitive Avanzate, Charlotte addressed an audience of jaded economists and optimistic engineers. They expected tech jargon and futurist fluff. What they got was clarity wrapped in elegance:

“Economics is not the study of money,” she said, eyes calm, voice measured. “It is the study of vision. Currency is just the applause.”

That quote would go on to become the opening line of The Stark Doctrine, a widely circulated economic paper that challenged the traditional GDP framework and introduced the Vision-Impact Gradient — a new metric for evaluating a nation’s worth by its ability to manifest intent into scalable change.

In less than two years, Stark Novae, her self-founded think-and-do tank, had revitalized a decaying Florentine industrial park and turned it into a cybernetic incubator zone. Her work fused predictive AI, sustainable energy models, and economic behavioral theory. What struck most was not just what she built — but how.

She implemented Italy’s first decentralized AI-governed green grid in a consortium of Tuscan towns. Energy costs dropped. Community trust surged. Stark Novae was suddenly not just admired, it was followed.

In a 2020 interview at TechFlorence, she stunned the room by asking:

“Why are we still romanticizing fossil energy in a city that gave us the Renaissance? If Leonardo da Vinci were alive today, he’d be programming synthetic photosynthesis, not painting ceilings.”

Florence, a city that once resisted outsiders’ dominance, embraced her. Even the most traditional Italian institutions — the Accademia delle Scienze, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Vatican’s AI-Ethics Council — sought her counsel.

As the world began turning to Florence for innovation models, Charlotte became the epicenter. She didn’t chase markets; markets began to orbit her.

Her public lectures drew thousands — but it was her closed-door midnight salons that rewrote policy. In the candlelit backrooms of converted convents, she’d gather philosophers, bioengineers, quantum coders, and chefs. Conversations ranged from post-human cognition to the future of bread.

A local journalist once called her “the high priestess of synthesis — she speaks like she’s explaining the future to the past.”

In 2023, she co-authored The Cognitive City, a blueprint for cities run on adaptive neural logic. That document, now translated into 18 languages, became required reading in design schools and U.N. developmental summits.

She was no longer just a thinker. She was a shaper.

Her empire expanded: A NeuroDynamics Lab outside Siena. A Civic Ethics Simulator used by mayors across Europe. A Reality Layer Protocol — a semi-augmented environment designed to re-train human attention spans — quietly beta-tested in schools under her nonprofit, Synapse Florence.

And she never lost the flair.

Riding through Oltrarno, in tailored trousers and fingerless gloves, she became as much a part of Florence’s daily myth as Brunelleschi’s dome. She quoted Foucault at wine tastings, debated political economy in vintage cafés, and had standing Tuesday breakfasts with local grandmothers who adored her fluent Italian and her deep love for saffron risotto.

The world watched as Charlotte took the stage at the Telekinesis - Intellect Union Conference 2025, held poetically at Galileo’s restored observatory.

Dressed in stark ivory and soft steel blue, she walked to the podium with the solemn grace of someone about to shift a paradigm.

“Telekinesis is not a fantasy,” she opened. “It’s the final frontier of cognitive bandwidth. The mind, if given the right conditions and interface, is the most efficient processor known to man. The question is not how — but why haven’t we yet?”

She then unveiled NeuroBridge v1.4, a functioning prototype of a brain-interface conduit that allowed short-distance object manipulation through trained intent pathways. The crowd — a constellation of Nobel Laureates, policy giants, and disbelieving scientists — stood breathless as she demonstrated lifting a titanium sphere, three inches above the platform, without touching it.

The interface, according to her, was still in infancy. But the implications were seismic: intent-based interaction, neural-syntactic reprogramming, and even post-verbal cognition.

She didn’t seek applause. She simply nodded and said:

“Human potential is not capped by biology. It is capped by permission.”

Florence erupted.

Within days, investment surged. NeuroBridge became a joint project with Italian state labs, and Charlotte launched the Stark Initiative for Cognitive Sovereignty — aiming to give marginalized communities access to emerging brain-tech tools.

Today, Florence refers to her simply as La Signora della Mente — The Lady of the Mind. Her face is painted on murals next to da Vinci. Her quotes are engraved on bridges. Teenagers cite her like she’s Socrates with better hair.

She chairs four international panels. Advises two European presidents. Sleeps four hours. Meditates in hidden monasteries. Dines with artisans. Still walks into every room like she owns the blueprints of the universe.

And what of her next move?

A recent cryptic post from her official channel read:

“The future is not being invented. It’s being remembered. Like something we lost in a past life and are finally learning to rebuild.”

In Florence, Charlotte Stark is no longer a guest.

She is the standard.

[here-there-were-dragons]

also discovered, some unfinished concepts for "sornieth spiral" runes, aka ways the symbol of the sornieth supercontinent shape might be stylized across different draconic cultures, classic runestones of the arcanist spiral rune not pictured. i think the middle ones were supposed to be seashells, but they sort of just ended up as weird segmented holes

the myth in the plague flight in particular goes that the landmass of sornieth was once a great coiled serpent, slain by the plaguebringer or some mortal heroes or other character and that it's skull now forms the hellwell undercroft.

the earth unity spiral is the second oldest variant of the sornieth spiral symbol next to the classic rune- originating from attempts to depict the original smooth spiral symbol with chisels and tools on rough-hewn tablets of stone, with a helpful little notch to the leftward top to symbolize the world pillar and, by extension, home. it was not originally called the unity spiral, but in these days it has taken on something of a vague meaning with some, the world of the stylized continent it depicts borderless, and united beneath the pillar of our origin.

[unpluggedfinancial]

The Critical Importance of Financial Education in the Age of Bitcoin

Imagine a world where you have complete control over your money, free from banks and government interference. This isn't a far-off dream—it's the reality that Bitcoin is creating. But with great power comes great responsibility, and that's where financial education becomes crucial. In this post, we'll explore why understanding Bitcoin is essential in today's rapidly evolving financial landscape.

The Current State of Financial Education

Financial literacy rates paint a sobering picture. According to a 2020 FINRA study, only 34% of Americans could answer 4 out of 5 basic financial literacy questions correctly. This lack of understanding often leads to poor financial decisions, leaving people vulnerable to economic uncertainties. As digital currencies gain prominence, this knowledge gap becomes even more critical.

Why Bitcoin Requires Financial Education

Bitcoin, the world's first decentralized digital currency, operates on a complex blockchain network. While its potential benefits are significant, understanding its unique characteristics is crucial:

Volatility: Bitcoin's price can fluctuate wildly. In 2021 alone, it saw a 64% increase followed by a 50% drop within months.

Security: Transactions are secured through cryptography, with ownership maintained via private keys.

Decentralization: Unlike traditional currencies, Bitcoin isn't controlled by any central authority.

Benefits of Understanding Bitcoin

Hedge Against Inflation: With a fixed supply of 21 million coins, Bitcoin is designed to be inflation-resistant.

Investment Opportunities: While volatile, Bitcoin has shown significant long-term growth potential.

Financial Freedom: Bitcoin enables peer-to-peer transactions without intermediaries, offering unprecedented financial autonomy.

Real-World Applications

Bitcoin isn't just a speculative asset. In countries like El Salvador, it's legal tender. Remittance services like BitPesa use Bitcoin to reduce transaction costs for international money transfers in Africa.

Common Misconceptions

Let's debunk some myths:

"Bitcoin is only used for illegal activities": While cryptocurrencies have been used illicitly, legitimate uses far outweigh illegal ones.

"Bitcoin has no intrinsic value": Its value comes from its utility as a decentralized, borderless payment system and its scarcity.

Environmental Concerns

It's important to address the energy consumption debate surrounding Bitcoin mining. While Bitcoin does consume significant energy, innovations in renewable energy mining are addressing these concerns.

Comparison with Other Cryptocurrencies

While Bitcoin was the first, thousands of cryptocurrencies now exist. Ethereum, for example, offers smart contract functionality, while Litecoin aims for faster transaction speeds.

Challenges in Bitcoin Education

Complexity: The technology can be daunting for newcomers.

Misinformation: The crypto space is rife with unreliable information.

Regulatory Uncertainties: Regulations vary widely across jurisdictions.

Strategies for Improving Bitcoin Literacy

Educational Resources: Leverage reputable online courses and books. Websites like Bitcoin.org offer comprehensive guides.

Community Engagement: Join forums like r/Bitcoin or attend local meetups.

Practical Experience: Start with small transactions to build familiarity.

Expert Insight

"Bitcoin is not just an asset, it's a new financial system with its own rules. Understanding these rules is crucial for anyone looking to participate in the future of finance," says Andreas Antonopoulos, a leading Bitcoin educator.

Practical First Steps

Set up a small Bitcoin wallet (try Exodus or Green Wallet).

Buy a small amount of Bitcoin on a reputable exchange like Coinbase or Kraken.

Try making a small transaction to experience how it works.

The Role of Influencers and Educators

Platforms like Unplugged Financial play a crucial role in demystifying Bitcoin. By providing clear, accurate information, these educators help bridge the knowledge gap and empower individuals.

Conclusion

As Bitcoin continues to reshape the financial landscape, understanding its principles, benefits, and challenges is vital. By investing time in financial education, you can make informed decisions and potentially harness the power of Bitcoin to achieve greater financial freedom. Remember, in the world of Bitcoin, knowledge truly is power.

Take Action Towards Financial Independence

If this article has sparked your interest in the transformative potential of Bitcoin, there's so much more to explore! Dive deeper into the world of financial independence and revolutionize your understanding of money by following my blog and subscribing to my YouTube channel.

🌐 Blog: Unplugged Financial Blog Stay updated with insightful articles, detailed analyses, and practical advice on navigating the evolving financial landscape. Learn about the history of money, the flaws in our current financial systems, and how Bitcoin can offer a path to a more secure and independent financial future.

📺 YouTube Channel: Unplugged Financial Subscribe to our YouTube channel for engaging video content that breaks down complex financial topics into easy-to-understand segments. From in-depth discussions on monetary policies to the latest trends in cryptocurrency, our videos will equip you with the knowledge you need to make informed financial decisions.

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay updated with our latest content. Whether you're a seasoned investor, a curious newcomer, or someone concerned about the future of your financial health, our community is here to support you on your journey to financial independence.

[thedailydecrypt]

Bitcoin Isn’t Just a Hedge—It’s a Weapon. And the CIA Just Said the Quiet Part Out Loud.

It’s official: the United States is treating Bitcoin not just as a store of value or a speculative asset—but as a strategic tool in its geopolitical arsenal.

Michael Ellis, Deputy Director of the CIA, said the quiet part out loud this week. In a conversation with Anthony Pompliano, Ellis declared that Bitcoin is “another tool in the toolbox” in America’s escalating technological rivalry with China. Not merely a target, but a weapon.

Let that sink in.

Bitcoin—the decentralized, borderless, stateless money system birthed from the ashes of the 2008 financial crisis—is now a matter of U.S. national security strategy.

And here’s the real story: this isn't new. This is a confirmation of what’s been in motion behind the scenes for years. The U.S. government has quietly become the largest sovereign holder of Bitcoin (over 198,000 BTC), created a strategic Bitcoin reserve, and built intelligence-gathering operations atop blockchain rails.

The message is clear: Bitcoin is no longer just about finance. It’s about power.

From Digital Gold to Digital Gunpowder

Let’s back up. Bitcoin was born in 2009 as a peer-to-peer alternative to central banks and surveillance finance. For years, it was dismissed as nerd money, a toy for libertarians and cypherpunks. And yet, beneath the surface, intelligence agencies saw something different: a transparent, traceable financial system that adversaries would inevitably use—and which the U.S. could exploit.

Fast forward to 2025: the CIA is no longer hiding it. Bitcoin is being used not just to monitor illicit flows from North Korea or ransomware gangs, but as a strategic intelligence layer—a Trojan horse riding into enemy networks under the guise of neutrality.

If cash was king in Cold War espionage, Bitcoin is becoming its digital successor.

The Game Theory of Bitcoin Is Playing Out

Ellis’s remarks about “getting ahead of China” aren't idle talk. China has been waging a digital monetary war for years—rolling out the e-CNY, banning Bitcoin mining, and tightening controls over cross-border capital flow. The U.S., for a while, seemed lost in bureaucratic turf wars between the SEC, CFTC, and IRS.

But that changed in 2025.

With Trump back in the White House and a newly announced Bitcoin strategic reserve, the U.S. is positioning BTC not just as a hedge—but as a tool of soft power.

Here’s the genius: while China builds a centralized digital yuan with strict surveillance controls, the U.S. can now back a neutral protocol—Bitcoin—that plays into American values of openness, innovation, and market freedom. It doesn’t need to control the rails; it needs to let them run free—while building the best intelligence infrastructure around them.

The CIA is doing just that.

The Irony: Bitcoin Is a Spy's Best Friend

Let’s bust a myth: Bitcoin is not anonymous. It’s pseudonymous. Every transaction is forever stamped on an open ledger. Tools like Chainalysis and Arkham Intelligence allow governments to trace flows with increasing accuracy. Criminals who think Bitcoin is private are ten steps behind.

What the CIA has realized—and quietly leveraged—is that Bitcoin is a permanent wiretap on adversarial finance.

The very immutability that makes Bitcoin valuable also makes it an intelligence jackpot. Whether it’s tracking Iranian oil revenues, North Korean hacks, or Russian military funding, Bitcoin provides visibility in a world that increasingly lives on encrypted apps and burner devices.

The CIA doesn’t want to ban it. It wants to weaponize it.

Satoshi’s Ghost: What Would the Creator Say?

Of course, this shift makes the original Bitcoin visionaries squirm.

Bitcoin was meant to be sovereign money—a way to opt out of nation-state control, not play into it. From Silk Road libertarians to privacy-focused developers, many early adopters now face an uncomfortable truth: Bitcoin has gone mainstream. And not just Wall Street mainstream. Langley mainstream.

This isn’t new. From the moment large mining pools centralized in China and U.S. institutions started buying BTC for balance sheets, Bitcoin stopped being a purely grassroots movement. What we’re seeing now is the final phase: Bitcoin as a strategic state asset.

You may not like it—but you should understand it.

Because if you're playing in crypto and ignoring the geopolitics, you're bringing a knife to a gunfight.

Bitcoin's Next Role: Digital Deterrent?

Let’s take the argument one step further.

In 2021, a U.S. Space Force officer floated the idea that Bitcoin could act as a “digital strategic deterrent”—akin to cyber-era gold reserves. That idea sounded fringe then. Today, with a formal reserve in place and CIA leadership acknowledging Bitcoin’s utility, it sounds like doctrine in the making.

Here’s the scenario:

The dollar faces de-dollarization threats from BRICS and bilateral oil deals.

The U.S. holds the largest sovereign stash of Bitcoin.

China cements control over internal capital and weakens its private crypto sector.

The U.S. encourages Bitcoin openness—inviting capital and talent into its markets.

Suddenly, Bitcoin is not a threat to U.S. monetary dominance—it’s a shield for it.

The game theory flips. Rather than resisting crypto, America begins to champion the parts of it that align with democratic values and intelligence leverage.

It’s messy. It’s ironic. But it’s working.

The Final Pivot: Bitcoin as Infrastructure, Not Ideology

For all the idealists still clinging to Bitcoin as a revolution—here’s the cold truth: it’s infrastructure now. Strategic, state-leveraged infrastructure.

That doesn’t mean the ideals are dead. But it does mean the landscape has changed. We’ve moved from protest tool to protocol. From ideology to inevitability.

The smart players aren’t fighting this shift. They’re positioning around it.

Builders are leaning into Bitcoin L2s, stablecoins on BTC rails, and infrastructure that makes Bitcoin more programmable and interoperable. Policy watchers are tracking regulatory clarity that opens institutional floodgates. Intelligence communities are embedding monitoring tools into transaction flows and wallet analytics.

Everyone is picking a lane.

So the question isn’t whether Bitcoin is sovereign or co-opted. The question is: What does power look like in a Bitcoin-integrated world? And who has it?

Bitcoin Will Become the New SWIFT

Here’s where I think this is heading.

In the next decade, Bitcoin will stop being seen as a rival to fiat—and instead be adopted as the neutral transaction layer between nations, corporates, and markets. Think SWIFT, but open. Programmable. Global. And permissionless.

The CIA has already begun this mental shift. The reserve is just the start. Over time, Bitcoin will be used for:

Settling interbank FX outside the dollar

Tracking dark capital flows in conflict zones

Providing neutral rails in financial sanctions regimes

Acting as collateral for sovereign borrowing

That’s not idealism. That’s geopolitics.

What used to be dismissed as cypherpunk fantasy is now being formalized in the playbooks of intelligence agencies. Bitcoin is no longer the outsider. It’s part of the machine.

You can resent it. Or you can prepare for it.

Because whether you’re building protocols, managing portfolios, or advising policy—you are now operating in a world where Bitcoin is a geopolitical instrument.

Act accordingly.

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© 2025 InSequel Digital. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. The content is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, investment, financial, or other professional advice.

[swissmote]

How To Hire The Right Candidates Who Will Never Disappoint

Let’s be honest. Hiring is a bit like dating—there’s a profile, a vibe check, and that inevitable question: "Will this work long-term or end in awkward ghosting?" But while dating apps are full of red flags and beach selfies, hiring the right person doesn’t have to be a gamble. Done right, you can find candidates who not only crush it on paper but deliver where it counts—on the job.

So how do you make it happen? How do you hire someone who’s not going to pull a disappearing act mid-project or leave you wondering what went wrong? Let’s break it down.

1. Define the "Right" Candidate

Spoiler alert: "right" doesn’t mean "perfect." Perfection is a myth. The real gem is someone who:

Matches your company values

Has skills that solve actual business problems

Grows with your team, not just within their job description

Pro Tip: Instead of listing 25 skills, focus on 5 that are non-negotiable—and align them with real business goals.

2. Screen Smart, Not Hard

Anyone can write a decent resume. The real magic happens in how you screen candidates.

Here’s what works:

Video assessments to evaluate communication and confidence

Real-world challenges instead of generic quizzes

Behavioral interviews that reveal how they handle curveballs

With Swissmote’s hiring solution, all of this is already baked in. They don’t just match resumes—they test, score, and shortlist based on actual potential.

3. Look Beyond the Obvious

Hiring from the same talent pool as everyone else is like fishing in a kiddie pool—crowded, shallow, and honestly, kinda boring.

Instead:

Tap into emerging talent markets (hello, India!)

Think remote-first and borderless

Consider hiring freelancers to test out fit before committing full-time

Platforms like Swissmote specialize in this. Their global talent network is filled with professionals who bring fresh perspectives, niche skills, and serious work ethic.

4. Culture Fit > Resume Fit

Skills can be taught. Mindset? Not so much.

Ask:

What excites them about your company?

How do they approach conflict, feedback, and change?

Can they work async and still thrive?

Swissmote’s custom assessments help uncover these gems—so you’re not left relying on gut feelings alone.

5. Don't Ghost After Hiring

Just like a relationship, onboarding sets the tone. If the first month is all chaos and crickets, your new hire will question their life choices.

Provide a smooth onboarding process

Assign a mentor or buddy

Set clear expectations and milestones

Swissmote supports businesses even after hiring with onboarding help, performance tracking, and even a candidate replacement guarantee. Yep, that’s a thing.

Key Takeaways:

Define the candidate profile based on business goals, not buzzwords.

Use interactive, skills-based screening instead of resume roulette.

Think globally, act smartly—remote and cross-border hiring opens new doors.

Prioritize culture fit and communication.

Post-hire support matters. A lot.

A Few Quick FAQs

1. How do I make sure someone’s not overselling themselves? Use practical assessments and challenges instead of just interviews.

2. How fast can I hire someone through Swissmote? Typically within 2–4 weeks, sometimes faster if the fit’s perfect.

3. What if the new hire doesn’t work out? Swissmote offers a 2-month replacement guarantee—no awkward drama.

4. Can I hire for short-term gigs too? Yes! You can hire freelancers for specific projects.

5. Where can I learn more about Swissmote’s hiring process? Explore their FAQs or read their blog for hiring insights.

Final Thoughts

Hiring doesn’t have to feel like rolling the dice. With the right approach and tools, you can build a team that shows up, steps up, and grows with you. Whether you’re looking to hire developers, UI/UX designers, or even AI/ML experts, Swissmote is your partner in crime.

Ready to meet someone who won’t disappoint? Start here: Start Hiring With Swissmote

Follow Swissmote on LinkedIn and Instagram.

[companyknowledgenews]

Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web https://www.merchant-business.com/steam-deck-weekly-gamescom-2024-steam-deck-news-reviews-including-bakeru-and-schim-new-verified-games-discounts-and-more/?feed_id=177118&_unique_id=66ca902e87bd7 #GLOBAL - BLOGGER BLOGGER Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions for Bakeru and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, reviews of a few notable indies, Shaun’s take on the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun DLC, bundles, new Steam Deck Verified games, and more. Let’s get into the reviews and impressions first.Steam Deck Game Reviews & ImpressionsBakeru Steam Deck ReviewWhen Bakeru was released in Japan, a friend of mine imported it and praised it quite a bit. I tried the demo and was turned off by the technical issues. It was charming, but not enough to put up with no localization and performance issues on Switch. When it leaked on the eShop, I was hoping we’d see performance improvements or a port to PC. We ended up getting both more or less. Bakeru’s Switch release in the West is improved over the Japanese launch version, and it is also now on PC with an excellent port.Bakeru is an action platformer from Good-Feel who are most known for the Yoshi games and also more-recently Princess Peach Showtime from Nintendo. The studio has done some games outside Nintendo brands, and the newest in this line of non Nintendo games from Good-Feel is Bakeru. Shaun will be doing a full review for this one, but so far Bakeru feels and plays great on Steam Deck.On Steam Deck and PC, Bakeru lets you adjust display mode (windowed and borderless only), resolution (with full 16:10 support), toggle v-sync, adjust frame rate cap (Note that v-sync off means the game runs at 60fps. Turn it on if you would like to play at your monitor’s refresh rate or at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED), anti-aliasing (off, FXAA, SMAA), adjust filtering quality (trilinear, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x), and draw distance (low, medium, high).I played Bakeru on both my Steam Decks. My LCD is running the newest SteamOS beta. On that, I had zero issues with the game and it ran at a locked 60fps at maximum settings. On Steam Deck OLED running the public build of the OS, I only had some issues at 90fps. This seemingly wasn’t related to the settings, but something in the game because I had some shader-related or traversal stuttering in parts, but they only happened initially. I imagine Bakeru will be Steam Deck Verified soon as it runs perfectly if you play at 60fps and near-perfectly at 90fps.The one issue I ran into pre-release that Spike Chunsoft and the developers already fixed is button prompts being incorrectly displayed. This had the game showing Switch positions instead of Xbox ones when using my 8BitDo Xbox controller or the Steam Deck itself. I’m glad this was resolved pre-release as the game has no port issues, and it is dramatically better than the Switch version. When using a DualSense, it correctly showed PlayStation prompts with the proper labels and positions as well.Bakeru is a good platformer that I recommend playing on PC over Switch right now. The Switch version, despite performance improvements over the Japanese demo, still has too much variance in its performance to be an easy recommendation. The HD Rumble there is nice, but everything else holds it back. On PC, you miss out on the HD Rumble, but Bakeru runs a lot better across the board, and I’ve been enjoying digging into it over the last week. Stay tuned for Shaun’s full review of the Switch version in the near future.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Steam Deck ReviewThere have been many game franchises that I completely missed out on over the years.

The Sam & Max series of games is one of those. When I was offered a code to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I figured now was the time to finally play these games with the new remasters. If you’re just here for the game itself, I urge you to read Shaun’s Switch review here. I’m going to focus on how it plays on Steam Deck.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is the final game in the episodic Sam & Max main trilogy. This new remaster is amazing in basically every way. This includes how it controls, looks, sounds, and feels. It even has many accessibility options to make things go smoothly if you’re new to this kind of adventure game. You can toggle different hint levels and disable flashing in the accessibility settings.On the graphics and display side, you can play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse at higher resolutions when docked on Steam Deck, but performance doesn’t hold close to 60fps if you play at 4K. I recommend sticking to it in handheld mode for a 60 or higher experience. You can adjust the graphics quality, texture quality, anti-aliasing, toggle v-sync, and adjust display mode and resolution in the graphics settings.With Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I’m glad I finally got around to playing these games. Not only are they all absolutely worth your time and money, but they play superbly on Steam Deck. I’d love for the remasters to hit iPad, but until then the Steam Deck is my favorite way to play Skunkape Games’ remasters.SCHiM Steam Deck ReviewGiven the sheer amount of releases lately, I didn’t get around to playing SCHiM much at launch. I’m glad I finally rectified that because it is equal parts charming and gorgeous, and it has been the perfect game to relax with as a break from the longer upcoming games I’m playing for review right now. Developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman have released a brilliant take on a 3D platformer using light, shadow, and more for puzzles, and it is all elevated by excellent audio.Aside from the striking aesthetic, what really carries SCHiM through its four or so hours long runtime is the animation work and sound design. As you work towards solving the various puzzles in the game, every interaction has a lovely little animation, and it all feels beyond polished when played at a rock solid 90fps on Steam Deck OLED. The blend of the shadows and lights for puzzles also are enhanced by the screen in handheld mode.So SCHiM runs perfectly out of the box on Steam Deck at 90fps, but how about docked? When played at 720p docked, it nearly does a locked 144fps. Playing at 1080p results in well over 100fps at all times. SCHiM supports 16:10 as well which is great to see on Steam Deck. I have no complaints with it aside from the fact that it might seem short for its price to some, and that there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does hold SCHiM down from perfection.SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.SCHiM Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck ReviewGestalt: Steam and Cinder is another game I wish I got around to playing sooner like SCHiM above. It has been on the review backlog for a bit now, but having played it, this action platformer is fantastic. Not only does it nail the aesthetic with its blend of 16 and 32-bit visuals, but the sound design, story, and gameplay are sublime.What initially drew me to Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, is the steampunk visual style in pixel art. I adore the character designs, but wasn’t sure another action platformer would be able to hit hard enough for me in recent years.

Having played it, the story is very good, but without getting into spoilers, I feel like there’s more to this tale. Hopefully we see some story DLC in the future.On the gameplay side, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder felt a bit easier than I expected outside of two bosses I had trouble with. Nothing major though, and the responsive controls help across the board.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder ships Steam Deck Verified, and it is perfect on Valve’s handheld. The only thing I’d like to see, if feasible, is support for 90fps. Right now, the game is capped at 60fps and 16:9. I tested this on both my Steam Decks docked and in handheld mode.Given how crowded the genre is, I know most people roll their eyes when they see another action platformer, but Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is one you cannot afford to miss. It is one of the best in the genre with its excellent gameplay, narrative, music, and slick visuals. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is also perfect on Steam Deck from start to finish.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck ReviewThe original Boltgun was a refreshing surprise for me when it was released last year. While I’m not as into first-person shooters as deeply as some, I can certainly enjoy a good boomer shooter. Give me fast, furious action with some interest levels to explore, a satisfying selection of weapons, and challenging enemy encounters and I’m there. Boltgun had all of that, all dressed up in a Warhammer theme that if nothing else helps the world feel like it extends outside of the borders of the game.  A thoroughly enjoying game to play through, and one that left me properly sated… or did it?While I thought I had had my fill of Boltgun, I was actually quite happy when Forges of Corruption was released. I guess I was still hungry. This expansion gives you five more levels of carnage to engage in, and they run on the larger side. You get two new guns to play with, one being an enhanced flamethrower and the other a rocket launcher. Sure, can’t argue with that. You also get some new enemies to try those toys out on, and you’ll need every edge you can get to deal with them.When compared to the original game’s levels, Forges of Corruption‘s stages favor more wide open spaces. This puts your mobility skills to the test, as you’ll have to keep on moving to avoid getting surrounded or cornered. If you haven’t mastered the dash already from playing the main campaign, you’ll need to get up to speed fast here. It’s an interesting change-up from the more compact design that the base game relied on so much. The enhanced flamethrower’s spread can really help you out here, and rockets always prefer open spaces.Difficulty-wise, these levels are mostly going to be a relative breeze for those who played through the first game. The last one is a real beast though, and you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned to overcome it. Which is to say that while you can play this expansion without finishing the main game, you really should leave it for after. All-up, it takes a few hours to get through it all.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.-Shaun MusgraveWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck review score: 4/5News and TrailersLet’s begin the massive (and fast-paced) news section of this week with a brand-new trailer for my most anticipated game of 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds. The trailer has the game looking better than before, and I’m getting more excited reading all the details from hands-on gameplay sessions people have at Gamescom.

Watch the third Monster Hunter Wilds trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4gR1QEvVA[/embed]The next bit of news I’m excited for is Final Fantasy XVI, the best singleplayer Final Fantasy game since XII, is coming to Steam in a few weeks with pre-orders and a demo now live. It is sadly pretty rough on Steam Deck, but I hope things improve. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqpFlA_4Is[/embed]Terry Bogard launches on September 24th in Street Fighter 6 as the second DLC for the Year 2 Pass. His gameplay trailer looks incredible. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDPhkX2oMmQ[/embed]While not directly Steam-related, Capcom is also bringing Resident Evil 2 to GOG on August 27th. I couldn’t get Resident Evil 1’s GOG release to work on Deck, but I hope this one works. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EuuJCGWfC8[/embed]Capcom also released a demo for the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on Steam and consoles. Check it out here. Read my preview of the full game here.Silent Hill 2 from Konami got a new story trailer, and this is the first trailer that’s been liked by a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the series. This will be my first Silent Hill game, so I’m excited to try it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR0I7dJQpk[/embed]Square Enix released a new “Final” trailer for Visions of Mana ahead of its launch next week. I can’t wait to talk about the full game soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubnfqC-vxk[/embed]A few days ago, Cygames released the big Version 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam and consoles bringing in big balance adjustments, the new DLC character Versusia, and in-game content included with Battle Pass Round 5. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2OoiGWYFUk[/embed]Persona 3 Reload’s expansion Episode Aigis is adding Joker as a boss fight. I didn’t expect that one, but I’m looking forward to playing the DLC very soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89HkGkSr7c[/embed]Atlus will host a new ATLUS Exclusive showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio on August 28th at 8 PM. It will be on YouTube. I’m looking forward to playing this hopefully soon for review. Atlus also revealed the English voice cast for the game. Check it out below:Protagonist – Caleb YenStrohl – Stewart ClarkeHulkenberg – Kristin AthertonGallica – Alejandra ReynosoHeismay – Phillipe SpallJunah – Emma BallantineEupha – Emily BurnettNeuras – David MonteithLouis – Joseph TweedaleMore – Greg ChunGrius – Gordon Cooper [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/embed]A new trailer for Metaphor has also gone live, and it is the best one yet for the game ahead of its launch in October. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_-BPELOl0M[/embed]SEGA released a new trailer for Sonic X Shadow Generations that makes me wish the game was out sooner. We need anime music videos based on this for sure. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-64Uzx2ac[/embed]Tempest Rising from 3D Realms got a new PvP teaser trailer this week at Gamescom 2024. It looks superb. Check out the footage below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtC4ywATBI[/embed]A game I’m excited to play later this year, Slitterhead from Bokeh Game Studio, got a new story trailer this week. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EENlMq23sE[/embed]A game most thought wouldn’t release this year, The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital, launches on September 17th with a lovely new trailer you can watch below. I’m excited to try this out on Steam Deck and Switch. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DpvZWrts_M[/embed]Devolver Digital is also launching Sumerian Six, the real time tactical stealth game via Steam, on September 2nd. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DeYqVHkkM[/embed]Raw Fury is releasing the horror survival game Post Trauma on October 29th. Check out its release date trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb9EwFKEi28[/embed]Blizzard

is celebrating Warcraft’s 30th anniversary in Overwatch 2 with a new skin for Widowmaker as Sylvanas next month. Check it out below:Action adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco launches on October 18th for Steam and consoles. Pre-orders are now live with a new gameplay trailer you can watch below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgaV3cZwVI[/embed]Eternal Strands, set to launch in 2025, got a new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2024 from Yellow Brick Games. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxtabO0hj8[/embed]Superhero-themed visual novel Sacrifice Villains from Shiravune is set to release on Steam this year. It will be priced at $19.99. Check out the Steam page here.Little Nightmares III also had a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It releases on Steam and all consoles next year. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ndYfBtYwI[/embed]Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion got a new trailer showcasing the Mercenary companions ahead of the expansion’s launch this October. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RHvTVnBiI[/embed]Inti Creates is releasing a demo for Card-en-Ciel on September 4th for Steam. Alongside this news, a new gameplay trailer has been released. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwI3Al25LJo[/embed]A sequel to Wilmot’s Warehouse is set to release on Steam on October 23rd in the form of Wilmot Works It Out. I loved the original and cannot wait to play this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARyZ2peq3U[/embed]Risk of Rain 2’s Seekers of the Storm DLC launches on August 27th for PC and consoles. I’ll be checking this one out on Steam Deck. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh36MdjdzHw[/embed]Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 and a new gameplay showcase this week makes me wonder if this will even run on Steam Deck with how good it looks. I’ll definitely try it. Watch the showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6bjlger8[/embed]Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves from SNK launches on April 24th, 2025 for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. The launch price is a special edition with the first pass. Watch the new trailer showing off the amazing Mai Shiranui and the release date showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgsu-Cn5fs[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHjjlpCoBOQ[/embed]Level Infinite streamed its recent “Into the Infinite” showcase featuring updates from its partners covering games like Soulframe, Warframe, and much more. Watch it below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIFQ8TZCp8[/embed]Sharkmob’s Exoborne had a new trailer released during the showcase above as well. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaixwsBHVg[/embed]Civilization VII from Firaxis and 2K launches for Steam and all consoles on February 11th, 2025 with pre-orders now live. Check out the gameplay trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U[/embed]2K also revealed two other games for 2025, and they’re big ones. Borderlands 4 and Mafia The Old Country are in development for Steam and consoles for 2025 release. Watch the trailers below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDUx5suLm4[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8WImF649E[/embed]Arc System Works has revealed new details for Double Dragon Revive including the composers and story details. The composers include Raito and many more. Check out the website here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_BX_N_zZU[/embed]Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Steam and Xbox on December 9th with pre-orders now live on Steam. I’m looking forward to playing this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg[/embed]The newest Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailers focus on Leafa and Sinon. Watch them below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqhzTC9-Is[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA[/embed]Delta Force, the first person

multiplayer shooter, previously known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops launches later this year for PC via Early Access on Steam from Level Infinite. It is also set to come to iOS and Android and consoles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwtosVfqog[/embed]Amazon Prime is doing a series on video games titled Secret Level with a focus on specific games over 15 episodes. These include Armored Core, Spelunky, New World: Aeternum, and more. It is set to begin streaming this December. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLihxsmI_OU[/embed]Speaking of New World: Aeterum, a new video series based on the game can now be watched ahead of the game’s launch on October 15th: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVO6W9rxN68[/embed]Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games launches as a free to play game on December 6th for Steam and consoles with all heroes included for free. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZrZGkIgY[/embed]Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC launches on September 30th for Steam and Xbox. A new update is also available now on all platforms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA1z1DbA_Io[/embed]Akatsuki Games released a new trailer for the extreme action game Tribe Nine ahead of its launch on Steam and mobile. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-ZANvmcL4[/embed]Free to play third person MOBA Predecessor is now available on Steam and consoles from Omeda Studios. Watch the trailer for it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxnN2DYyAAg[/embed]Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets another trailer showing off more of the game in its “50 days from now” trailer. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcsMP0yHJ4[/embed]Path of Exile 2 launches on Steam and consoles via Early Access on November 15th. Watch the new trailer from Grinding Gear Games below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaSU9UCe0w[/embed]Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone open world game that’s free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition. It is set to release in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50gFkG91jc[/embed]Idea Factory International announced that Date A Live: Ren Dystopia releases on September 5th for Steam. I’ll be reviewing this one. Check it out on Steam here.Torn Banner Studios (Chivalry 2) announced that the UE5-powered shooter No More Room in Hell 2 will launch in Steam early access this Halloween. Watch the trailer below from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp3nRkfkp1w[/embed]Warner Bros Games also showcased a new Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns gameplay trailer focussing on Cyrax who is a part of the new DLC. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwmIbv-LtA[/embed]Tokyo Xtreme Racer from Genki is a new entry in the long-running series coming to Steam in 2025. I’m glad to see this because a friend of mine is a huge fan. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhzyVcUCCM[/embed]Square Enix released a new trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure showcasing Max’s powers. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPGjvD5jRo[/embed]New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the weekThis week, Yakuza 4 and Devil Blade Reboot are the highlights for new Verified games, and EA’s anti-cheat issues continue to make more games unplayable on Steam Deck. Check out every notable game tested by Valve since the last article below:#BLUD – VerifiedAtlas Fallen – UnsupportedBattlefield 1 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)DEVIL BLADE REBOOT – VerifiedEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Eastward – PlayableFlatout 3 – Playablehololive treasure mountain – VerifiedIsles of Sea and Sky – VerifiedLISA: The First – UnsupportedMetropolis: Lux Obscura – PlayableMika and The Witch’s Mountain – VerifiedPlants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Pocket Bravery – Playableshapez 2 – PlayableSkull and Bones – PlayableSNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS – PlayableSPY×ANYA: Operation

Memories – PlayableSquirrel with a Gun – VerifiedSword of Convallaria – UnsupportedTeeny Tiny Trains – PlayableThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PlayableTHE LAST BLADE – PlayableTomba! Special Edition – PlayableWild Bastards – VerifiedYakuza 4 Remastered – VerifiedSteam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and SpecialsThe highlights of the week when it comes to sales and discounts are the Steam Rhythm Fest until August 26th with discounts on games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Trombone Champ, and DJ MAX RESPECT V, and also the new Capcom Resident Evil Humble Bundle.Next week, following the Rhythm Fest, the Isometric Games Sale begins with many discounts from publishers and developers including Owlcat Games. Check out a trailer for the event below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2N5XqsNRgE[/embed]That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.“Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right … Continue reading “Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck…”Source Link: https://toucharcade.com/2024/08/23/mameda-bakeru-steam-deck-pc-review-ff16-release-date-gamescom-2024-news/ http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/6285223545_2953179078_o.jpg Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions … Read More

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Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web - #GLOBAL https://www.merchant-business.com/steam-deck-weekly-gamescom-2024-steam-deck-news-reviews-including-bakeru-and-schim-new-verified-games-discounts-and-more/?feed_id=177117&_unique_id=66ca902d2258c Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions for Bakeru and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, reviews of a few notable indies, Shaun’s take on the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun DLC, bundles, new Steam Deck Verified games, and more. Let’s get into the reviews and impressions first.Steam Deck Game Reviews & ImpressionsBakeru Steam Deck ReviewWhen Bakeru was released in Japan, a friend of mine imported it and praised it quite a bit. I tried the demo and was turned off by the technical issues. It was charming, but not enough to put up with no localization and performance issues on Switch. When it leaked on the eShop, I was hoping we’d see performance improvements or a port to PC. We ended up getting both more or less. Bakeru’s Switch release in the West is improved over the Japanese launch version, and it is also now on PC with an excellent port.Bakeru is an action platformer from Good-Feel who are most known for the Yoshi games and also more-recently Princess Peach Showtime from Nintendo. The studio has done some games outside Nintendo brands, and the newest in this line of non Nintendo games from Good-Feel is Bakeru. Shaun will be doing a full review for this one, but so far Bakeru feels and plays great on Steam Deck.On Steam Deck and PC, Bakeru lets you adjust display mode (windowed and borderless only), resolution (with full 16:10 support), toggle v-sync, adjust frame rate cap (Note that v-sync off means the game runs at 60fps. Turn it on if you would like to play at your monitor’s refresh rate or at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED), anti-aliasing (off, FXAA, SMAA), adjust filtering quality (trilinear, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x), and draw distance (low, medium, high).I played Bakeru on both my Steam Decks. My LCD is running the newest SteamOS beta. On that, I had zero issues with the game and it ran at a locked 60fps at maximum settings. On Steam Deck OLED running the public build of the OS, I only had some issues at 90fps. This seemingly wasn’t related to the settings, but something in the game because I had some shader-related or traversal stuttering in parts, but they only happened initially. I imagine Bakeru will be Steam Deck Verified soon as it runs perfectly if you play at 60fps and near-perfectly at 90fps.The one issue I ran into pre-release that Spike Chunsoft and the developers already fixed is button prompts being incorrectly displayed. This had the game showing Switch positions instead of Xbox ones when using my 8BitDo Xbox controller or the Steam Deck itself. I’m glad this was resolved pre-release as the game has no port issues, and it is dramatically better than the Switch version. When using a DualSense, it correctly showed PlayStation prompts with the proper labels and positions as well.Bakeru is a good platformer that I recommend playing on PC over Switch right now. The Switch version, despite performance improvements over the Japanese demo, still has too much variance in its performance to be an easy recommendation. The HD Rumble there is nice, but everything else holds it back. On PC, you miss out on the HD Rumble, but Bakeru runs a lot better across the board, and I’ve been enjoying digging into it over the last week. Stay tuned for Shaun’s full review of the Switch version in the near future.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Steam Deck ReviewThere have been many game franchises that I completely missed out on over the years.

The Sam & Max series of games is one of those. When I was offered a code to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I figured now was the time to finally play these games with the new remasters. If you’re just here for the game itself, I urge you to read Shaun’s Switch review here. I’m going to focus on how it plays on Steam Deck.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is the final game in the episodic Sam & Max main trilogy. This new remaster is amazing in basically every way. This includes how it controls, looks, sounds, and feels. It even has many accessibility options to make things go smoothly if you’re new to this kind of adventure game. You can toggle different hint levels and disable flashing in the accessibility settings.On the graphics and display side, you can play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse at higher resolutions when docked on Steam Deck, but performance doesn’t hold close to 60fps if you play at 4K. I recommend sticking to it in handheld mode for a 60 or higher experience. You can adjust the graphics quality, texture quality, anti-aliasing, toggle v-sync, and adjust display mode and resolution in the graphics settings.With Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I’m glad I finally got around to playing these games. Not only are they all absolutely worth your time and money, but they play superbly on Steam Deck. I’d love for the remasters to hit iPad, but until then the Steam Deck is my favorite way to play Skunkape Games’ remasters.SCHiM Steam Deck ReviewGiven the sheer amount of releases lately, I didn’t get around to playing SCHiM much at launch. I’m glad I finally rectified that because it is equal parts charming and gorgeous, and it has been the perfect game to relax with as a break from the longer upcoming games I’m playing for review right now. Developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman have released a brilliant take on a 3D platformer using light, shadow, and more for puzzles, and it is all elevated by excellent audio.Aside from the striking aesthetic, what really carries SCHiM through its four or so hours long runtime is the animation work and sound design. As you work towards solving the various puzzles in the game, every interaction has a lovely little animation, and it all feels beyond polished when played at a rock solid 90fps on Steam Deck OLED. The blend of the shadows and lights for puzzles also are enhanced by the screen in handheld mode.So SCHiM runs perfectly out of the box on Steam Deck at 90fps, but how about docked? When played at 720p docked, it nearly does a locked 144fps. Playing at 1080p results in well over 100fps at all times. SCHiM supports 16:10 as well which is great to see on Steam Deck. I have no complaints with it aside from the fact that it might seem short for its price to some, and that there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does hold SCHiM down from perfection.SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.SCHiM Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck ReviewGestalt: Steam and Cinder is another game I wish I got around to playing sooner like SCHiM above. It has been on the review backlog for a bit now, but having played it, this action platformer is fantastic. Not only does it nail the aesthetic with its blend of 16 and 32-bit visuals, but the sound design, story, and gameplay are sublime.What initially drew me to Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, is the steampunk visual style in pixel art. I adore the character designs, but wasn’t sure another action platformer would be able to hit hard enough for me in recent years.

Having played it, the story is very good, but without getting into spoilers, I feel like there’s more to this tale. Hopefully we see some story DLC in the future.On the gameplay side, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder felt a bit easier than I expected outside of two bosses I had trouble with. Nothing major though, and the responsive controls help across the board.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder ships Steam Deck Verified, and it is perfect on Valve’s handheld. The only thing I’d like to see, if feasible, is support for 90fps. Right now, the game is capped at 60fps and 16:9. I tested this on both my Steam Decks docked and in handheld mode.Given how crowded the genre is, I know most people roll their eyes when they see another action platformer, but Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is one you cannot afford to miss. It is one of the best in the genre with its excellent gameplay, narrative, music, and slick visuals. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is also perfect on Steam Deck from start to finish.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck ReviewThe original Boltgun was a refreshing surprise for me when it was released last year. While I’m not as into first-person shooters as deeply as some, I can certainly enjoy a good boomer shooter. Give me fast, furious action with some interest levels to explore, a satisfying selection of weapons, and challenging enemy encounters and I’m there. Boltgun had all of that, all dressed up in a Warhammer theme that if nothing else helps the world feel like it extends outside of the borders of the game.  A thoroughly enjoying game to play through, and one that left me properly sated… or did it?While I thought I had had my fill of Boltgun, I was actually quite happy when Forges of Corruption was released. I guess I was still hungry. This expansion gives you five more levels of carnage to engage in, and they run on the larger side. You get two new guns to play with, one being an enhanced flamethrower and the other a rocket launcher. Sure, can’t argue with that. You also get some new enemies to try those toys out on, and you’ll need every edge you can get to deal with them.When compared to the original game’s levels, Forges of Corruption‘s stages favor more wide open spaces. This puts your mobility skills to the test, as you’ll have to keep on moving to avoid getting surrounded or cornered. If you haven’t mastered the dash already from playing the main campaign, you’ll need to get up to speed fast here. It’s an interesting change-up from the more compact design that the base game relied on so much. The enhanced flamethrower’s spread can really help you out here, and rockets always prefer open spaces.Difficulty-wise, these levels are mostly going to be a relative breeze for those who played through the first game. The last one is a real beast though, and you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned to overcome it. Which is to say that while you can play this expansion without finishing the main game, you really should leave it for after. All-up, it takes a few hours to get through it all.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.-Shaun MusgraveWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck review score: 4/5News and TrailersLet’s begin the massive (and fast-paced) news section of this week with a brand-new trailer for my most anticipated game of 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds. The trailer has the game looking better than before, and I’m getting more excited reading all the details from hands-on gameplay sessions people have at Gamescom.

Watch the third Monster Hunter Wilds trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4gR1QEvVA[/embed]The next bit of news I’m excited for is Final Fantasy XVI, the best singleplayer Final Fantasy game since XII, is coming to Steam in a few weeks with pre-orders and a demo now live. It is sadly pretty rough on Steam Deck, but I hope things improve. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqpFlA_4Is[/embed]Terry Bogard launches on September 24th in Street Fighter 6 as the second DLC for the Year 2 Pass. His gameplay trailer looks incredible. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDPhkX2oMmQ[/embed]While not directly Steam-related, Capcom is also bringing Resident Evil 2 to GOG on August 27th. I couldn’t get Resident Evil 1’s GOG release to work on Deck, but I hope this one works. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EuuJCGWfC8[/embed]Capcom also released a demo for the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on Steam and consoles. Check it out here. Read my preview of the full game here.Silent Hill 2 from Konami got a new story trailer, and this is the first trailer that’s been liked by a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the series. This will be my first Silent Hill game, so I’m excited to try it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR0I7dJQpk[/embed]Square Enix released a new “Final” trailer for Visions of Mana ahead of its launch next week. I can’t wait to talk about the full game soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubnfqC-vxk[/embed]A few days ago, Cygames released the big Version 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam and consoles bringing in big balance adjustments, the new DLC character Versusia, and in-game content included with Battle Pass Round 5. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2OoiGWYFUk[/embed]Persona 3 Reload’s expansion Episode Aigis is adding Joker as a boss fight. I didn’t expect that one, but I’m looking forward to playing the DLC very soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89HkGkSr7c[/embed]Atlus will host a new ATLUS Exclusive showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio on August 28th at 8 PM. It will be on YouTube. I’m looking forward to playing this hopefully soon for review. Atlus also revealed the English voice cast for the game. Check it out below:Protagonist – Caleb YenStrohl – Stewart ClarkeHulkenberg – Kristin AthertonGallica – Alejandra ReynosoHeismay – Phillipe SpallJunah – Emma BallantineEupha – Emily BurnettNeuras – David MonteithLouis – Joseph TweedaleMore – Greg ChunGrius – Gordon Cooper [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/embed]A new trailer for Metaphor has also gone live, and it is the best one yet for the game ahead of its launch in October. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_-BPELOl0M[/embed]SEGA released a new trailer for Sonic X Shadow Generations that makes me wish the game was out sooner. We need anime music videos based on this for sure. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-64Uzx2ac[/embed]Tempest Rising from 3D Realms got a new PvP teaser trailer this week at Gamescom 2024. It looks superb. Check out the footage below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtC4ywATBI[/embed]A game I’m excited to play later this year, Slitterhead from Bokeh Game Studio, got a new story trailer this week. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EENlMq23sE[/embed]A game most thought wouldn’t release this year, The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital, launches on September 17th with a lovely new trailer you can watch below. I’m excited to try this out on Steam Deck and Switch. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DpvZWrts_M[/embed]Devolver Digital is also launching Sumerian Six, the real time tactical stealth game via Steam, on September 2nd. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DeYqVHkkM[/embed]Raw Fury is releasing the horror survival game Post Trauma on October 29th. Check out its release date trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb9EwFKEi28[/embed]Blizzard

is celebrating Warcraft’s 30th anniversary in Overwatch 2 with a new skin for Widowmaker as Sylvanas next month. Check it out below:Action adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco launches on October 18th for Steam and consoles. Pre-orders are now live with a new gameplay trailer you can watch below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgaV3cZwVI[/embed]Eternal Strands, set to launch in 2025, got a new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2024 from Yellow Brick Games. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxtabO0hj8[/embed]Superhero-themed visual novel Sacrifice Villains from Shiravune is set to release on Steam this year. It will be priced at $19.99. Check out the Steam page here.Little Nightmares III also had a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It releases on Steam and all consoles next year. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ndYfBtYwI[/embed]Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion got a new trailer showcasing the Mercenary companions ahead of the expansion’s launch this October. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RHvTVnBiI[/embed]Inti Creates is releasing a demo for Card-en-Ciel on September 4th for Steam. Alongside this news, a new gameplay trailer has been released. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwI3Al25LJo[/embed]A sequel to Wilmot’s Warehouse is set to release on Steam on October 23rd in the form of Wilmot Works It Out. I loved the original and cannot wait to play this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARyZ2peq3U[/embed]Risk of Rain 2’s Seekers of the Storm DLC launches on August 27th for PC and consoles. I’ll be checking this one out on Steam Deck. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh36MdjdzHw[/embed]Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 and a new gameplay showcase this week makes me wonder if this will even run on Steam Deck with how good it looks. I’ll definitely try it. Watch the showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6bjlger8[/embed]Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves from SNK launches on April 24th, 2025 for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. The launch price is a special edition with the first pass. Watch the new trailer showing off the amazing Mai Shiranui and the release date showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgsu-Cn5fs[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHjjlpCoBOQ[/embed]Level Infinite streamed its recent “Into the Infinite” showcase featuring updates from its partners covering games like Soulframe, Warframe, and much more. Watch it below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIFQ8TZCp8[/embed]Sharkmob’s Exoborne had a new trailer released during the showcase above as well. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaixwsBHVg[/embed]Civilization VII from Firaxis and 2K launches for Steam and all consoles on February 11th, 2025 with pre-orders now live. Check out the gameplay trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U[/embed]2K also revealed two other games for 2025, and they’re big ones. Borderlands 4 and Mafia The Old Country are in development for Steam and consoles for 2025 release. Watch the trailers below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDUx5suLm4[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8WImF649E[/embed]Arc System Works has revealed new details for Double Dragon Revive including the composers and story details. The composers include Raito and many more. Check out the website here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_BX_N_zZU[/embed]Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Steam and Xbox on December 9th with pre-orders now live on Steam. I’m looking forward to playing this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg[/embed]The newest Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailers focus on Leafa and Sinon. Watch them below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqhzTC9-Is[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA[/embed]Delta Force, the first person

multiplayer shooter, previously known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops launches later this year for PC via Early Access on Steam from Level Infinite. It is also set to come to iOS and Android and consoles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwtosVfqog[/embed]Amazon Prime is doing a series on video games titled Secret Level with a focus on specific games over 15 episodes. These include Armored Core, Spelunky, New World: Aeternum, and more. It is set to begin streaming this December. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLihxsmI_OU[/embed]Speaking of New World: Aeterum, a new video series based on the game can now be watched ahead of the game’s launch on October 15th: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVO6W9rxN68[/embed]Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games launches as a free to play game on December 6th for Steam and consoles with all heroes included for free. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZrZGkIgY[/embed]Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC launches on September 30th for Steam and Xbox. A new update is also available now on all platforms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA1z1DbA_Io[/embed]Akatsuki Games released a new trailer for the extreme action game Tribe Nine ahead of its launch on Steam and mobile. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-ZANvmcL4[/embed]Free to play third person MOBA Predecessor is now available on Steam and consoles from Omeda Studios. Watch the trailer for it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxnN2DYyAAg[/embed]Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets another trailer showing off more of the game in its “50 days from now” trailer. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcsMP0yHJ4[/embed]Path of Exile 2 launches on Steam and consoles via Early Access on November 15th. Watch the new trailer from Grinding Gear Games below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaSU9UCe0w[/embed]Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone open world game that’s free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition. It is set to release in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50gFkG91jc[/embed]Idea Factory International announced that Date A Live: Ren Dystopia releases on September 5th for Steam. I’ll be reviewing this one. Check it out on Steam here.Torn Banner Studios (Chivalry 2) announced that the UE5-powered shooter No More Room in Hell 2 will launch in Steam early access this Halloween. Watch the trailer below from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp3nRkfkp1w[/embed]Warner Bros Games also showcased a new Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns gameplay trailer focussing on Cyrax who is a part of the new DLC. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwmIbv-LtA[/embed]Tokyo Xtreme Racer from Genki is a new entry in the long-running series coming to Steam in 2025. I’m glad to see this because a friend of mine is a huge fan. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhzyVcUCCM[/embed]Square Enix released a new trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure showcasing Max’s powers. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPGjvD5jRo[/embed]New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the weekThis week, Yakuza 4 and Devil Blade Reboot are the highlights for new Verified games, and EA’s anti-cheat issues continue to make more games unplayable on Steam Deck. Check out every notable game tested by Valve since the last article below:#BLUD – VerifiedAtlas Fallen – UnsupportedBattlefield 1 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)DEVIL BLADE REBOOT – VerifiedEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Eastward – PlayableFlatout 3 – Playablehololive treasure mountain – VerifiedIsles of Sea and Sky – VerifiedLISA: The First – UnsupportedMetropolis: Lux Obscura – PlayableMika and The Witch’s Mountain – VerifiedPlants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Pocket Bravery – Playableshapez 2 – PlayableSkull and Bones – PlayableSNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS – PlayableSPY×ANYA: Operation

Memories – PlayableSquirrel with a Gun – VerifiedSword of Convallaria – UnsupportedTeeny Tiny Trains – PlayableThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PlayableTHE LAST BLADE – PlayableTomba! Special Edition – PlayableWild Bastards – VerifiedYakuza 4 Remastered – VerifiedSteam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and SpecialsThe highlights of the week when it comes to sales and discounts are the Steam Rhythm Fest until August 26th with discounts on games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Trombone Champ, and DJ MAX RESPECT V, and also the new Capcom Resident Evil Humble Bundle.Next week, following the Rhythm Fest, the Isometric Games Sale begins with many discounts from publishers and developers including Owlcat Games. Check out a trailer for the event below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2N5XqsNRgE[/embed]That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.“Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right … Continue reading “Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck…”Source Link: https://toucharcade.com/2024/08/23/mameda-bakeru-steam-deck-pc-review-ff16-release-date-gamescom-2024-news/ http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/6285223545_2953179078_o.jpg BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

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Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web - BLOGGER https://www.merchant-business.com/steam-deck-weekly-gamescom-2024-steam-deck-news-reviews-including-bakeru-and-schim-new-verified-games-discounts-and-more/?feed_id=177116&_unique_id=66ca902b8c40b Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions for Bakeru and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, reviews of a few notable indies, Shaun’s take on the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun DLC, bundles, new Steam Deck Verified games, and more. Let’s get into the reviews and impressions first.Steam Deck Game Reviews & ImpressionsBakeru Steam Deck ReviewWhen Bakeru was released in Japan, a friend of mine imported it and praised it quite a bit. I tried the demo and was turned off by the technical issues. It was charming, but not enough to put up with no localization and performance issues on Switch. When it leaked on the eShop, I was hoping we’d see performance improvements or a port to PC. We ended up getting both more or less. Bakeru’s Switch release in the West is improved over the Japanese launch version, and it is also now on PC with an excellent port.Bakeru is an action platformer from Good-Feel who are most known for the Yoshi games and also more-recently Princess Peach Showtime from Nintendo. The studio has done some games outside Nintendo brands, and the newest in this line of non Nintendo games from Good-Feel is Bakeru. Shaun will be doing a full review for this one, but so far Bakeru feels and plays great on Steam Deck.On Steam Deck and PC, Bakeru lets you adjust display mode (windowed and borderless only), resolution (with full 16:10 support), toggle v-sync, adjust frame rate cap (Note that v-sync off means the game runs at 60fps. Turn it on if you would like to play at your monitor’s refresh rate or at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED), anti-aliasing (off, FXAA, SMAA), adjust filtering quality (trilinear, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x), and draw distance (low, medium, high).I played Bakeru on both my Steam Decks. My LCD is running the newest SteamOS beta. On that, I had zero issues with the game and it ran at a locked 60fps at maximum settings. On Steam Deck OLED running the public build of the OS, I only had some issues at 90fps. This seemingly wasn’t related to the settings, but something in the game because I had some shader-related or traversal stuttering in parts, but they only happened initially. I imagine Bakeru will be Steam Deck Verified soon as it runs perfectly if you play at 60fps and near-perfectly at 90fps.The one issue I ran into pre-release that Spike Chunsoft and the developers already fixed is button prompts being incorrectly displayed. This had the game showing Switch positions instead of Xbox ones when using my 8BitDo Xbox controller or the Steam Deck itself. I’m glad this was resolved pre-release as the game has no port issues, and it is dramatically better than the Switch version. When using a DualSense, it correctly showed PlayStation prompts with the proper labels and positions as well.Bakeru is a good platformer that I recommend playing on PC over Switch right now. The Switch version, despite performance improvements over the Japanese demo, still has too much variance in its performance to be an easy recommendation. The HD Rumble there is nice, but everything else holds it back. On PC, you miss out on the HD Rumble, but Bakeru runs a lot better across the board, and I’ve been enjoying digging into it over the last week. Stay tuned for Shaun’s full review of the Switch version in the near future.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Steam Deck ReviewThere have been many game franchises that I completely missed out on over the years.

The Sam & Max series of games is one of those. When I was offered a code to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I figured now was the time to finally play these games with the new remasters. If you’re just here for the game itself, I urge you to read Shaun’s Switch review here. I’m going to focus on how it plays on Steam Deck.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is the final game in the episodic Sam & Max main trilogy. This new remaster is amazing in basically every way. This includes how it controls, looks, sounds, and feels. It even has many accessibility options to make things go smoothly if you’re new to this kind of adventure game. You can toggle different hint levels and disable flashing in the accessibility settings.On the graphics and display side, you can play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse at higher resolutions when docked on Steam Deck, but performance doesn’t hold close to 60fps if you play at 4K. I recommend sticking to it in handheld mode for a 60 or higher experience. You can adjust the graphics quality, texture quality, anti-aliasing, toggle v-sync, and adjust display mode and resolution in the graphics settings.With Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I’m glad I finally got around to playing these games. Not only are they all absolutely worth your time and money, but they play superbly on Steam Deck. I’d love for the remasters to hit iPad, but until then the Steam Deck is my favorite way to play Skunkape Games’ remasters.SCHiM Steam Deck ReviewGiven the sheer amount of releases lately, I didn’t get around to playing SCHiM much at launch. I’m glad I finally rectified that because it is equal parts charming and gorgeous, and it has been the perfect game to relax with as a break from the longer upcoming games I’m playing for review right now. Developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman have released a brilliant take on a 3D platformer using light, shadow, and more for puzzles, and it is all elevated by excellent audio.Aside from the striking aesthetic, what really carries SCHiM through its four or so hours long runtime is the animation work and sound design. As you work towards solving the various puzzles in the game, every interaction has a lovely little animation, and it all feels beyond polished when played at a rock solid 90fps on Steam Deck OLED. The blend of the shadows and lights for puzzles also are enhanced by the screen in handheld mode.So SCHiM runs perfectly out of the box on Steam Deck at 90fps, but how about docked? When played at 720p docked, it nearly does a locked 144fps. Playing at 1080p results in well over 100fps at all times. SCHiM supports 16:10 as well which is great to see on Steam Deck. I have no complaints with it aside from the fact that it might seem short for its price to some, and that there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does hold SCHiM down from perfection.SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.SCHiM Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck ReviewGestalt: Steam and Cinder is another game I wish I got around to playing sooner like SCHiM above. It has been on the review backlog for a bit now, but having played it, this action platformer is fantastic. Not only does it nail the aesthetic with its blend of 16 and 32-bit visuals, but the sound design, story, and gameplay are sublime.What initially drew me to Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, is the steampunk visual style in pixel art. I adore the character designs, but wasn’t sure another action platformer would be able to hit hard enough for me in recent years.

Having played it, the story is very good, but without getting into spoilers, I feel like there’s more to this tale. Hopefully we see some story DLC in the future.On the gameplay side, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder felt a bit easier than I expected outside of two bosses I had trouble with. Nothing major though, and the responsive controls help across the board.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder ships Steam Deck Verified, and it is perfect on Valve’s handheld. The only thing I’d like to see, if feasible, is support for 90fps. Right now, the game is capped at 60fps and 16:9. I tested this on both my Steam Decks docked and in handheld mode.Given how crowded the genre is, I know most people roll their eyes when they see another action platformer, but Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is one you cannot afford to miss. It is one of the best in the genre with its excellent gameplay, narrative, music, and slick visuals. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is also perfect on Steam Deck from start to finish.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck ReviewThe original Boltgun was a refreshing surprise for me when it was released last year. While I’m not as into first-person shooters as deeply as some, I can certainly enjoy a good boomer shooter. Give me fast, furious action with some interest levels to explore, a satisfying selection of weapons, and challenging enemy encounters and I’m there. Boltgun had all of that, all dressed up in a Warhammer theme that if nothing else helps the world feel like it extends outside of the borders of the game.  A thoroughly enjoying game to play through, and one that left me properly sated… or did it?While I thought I had had my fill of Boltgun, I was actually quite happy when Forges of Corruption was released. I guess I was still hungry. This expansion gives you five more levels of carnage to engage in, and they run on the larger side. You get two new guns to play with, one being an enhanced flamethrower and the other a rocket launcher. Sure, can’t argue with that. You also get some new enemies to try those toys out on, and you’ll need every edge you can get to deal with them.When compared to the original game’s levels, Forges of Corruption‘s stages favor more wide open spaces. This puts your mobility skills to the test, as you’ll have to keep on moving to avoid getting surrounded or cornered. If you haven’t mastered the dash already from playing the main campaign, you’ll need to get up to speed fast here. It’s an interesting change-up from the more compact design that the base game relied on so much. The enhanced flamethrower’s spread can really help you out here, and rockets always prefer open spaces.Difficulty-wise, these levels are mostly going to be a relative breeze for those who played through the first game. The last one is a real beast though, and you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned to overcome it. Which is to say that while you can play this expansion without finishing the main game, you really should leave it for after. All-up, it takes a few hours to get through it all.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.-Shaun MusgraveWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck review score: 4/5News and TrailersLet’s begin the massive (and fast-paced) news section of this week with a brand-new trailer for my most anticipated game of 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds. The trailer has the game looking better than before, and I’m getting more excited reading all the details from hands-on gameplay sessions people have at Gamescom.

Watch the third Monster Hunter Wilds trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4gR1QEvVA[/embed]The next bit of news I’m excited for is Final Fantasy XVI, the best singleplayer Final Fantasy game since XII, is coming to Steam in a few weeks with pre-orders and a demo now live. It is sadly pretty rough on Steam Deck, but I hope things improve. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqpFlA_4Is[/embed]Terry Bogard launches on September 24th in Street Fighter 6 as the second DLC for the Year 2 Pass. His gameplay trailer looks incredible. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDPhkX2oMmQ[/embed]While not directly Steam-related, Capcom is also bringing Resident Evil 2 to GOG on August 27th. I couldn’t get Resident Evil 1’s GOG release to work on Deck, but I hope this one works. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EuuJCGWfC8[/embed]Capcom also released a demo for the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on Steam and consoles. Check it out here. Read my preview of the full game here.Silent Hill 2 from Konami got a new story trailer, and this is the first trailer that’s been liked by a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the series. This will be my first Silent Hill game, so I’m excited to try it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR0I7dJQpk[/embed]Square Enix released a new “Final” trailer for Visions of Mana ahead of its launch next week. I can’t wait to talk about the full game soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubnfqC-vxk[/embed]A few days ago, Cygames released the big Version 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam and consoles bringing in big balance adjustments, the new DLC character Versusia, and in-game content included with Battle Pass Round 5. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2OoiGWYFUk[/embed]Persona 3 Reload’s expansion Episode Aigis is adding Joker as a boss fight. I didn’t expect that one, but I’m looking forward to playing the DLC very soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89HkGkSr7c[/embed]Atlus will host a new ATLUS Exclusive showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio on August 28th at 8 PM. It will be on YouTube. I’m looking forward to playing this hopefully soon for review. Atlus also revealed the English voice cast for the game. Check it out below:Protagonist – Caleb YenStrohl – Stewart ClarkeHulkenberg – Kristin AthertonGallica – Alejandra ReynosoHeismay – Phillipe SpallJunah – Emma BallantineEupha – Emily BurnettNeuras – David MonteithLouis – Joseph TweedaleMore – Greg ChunGrius – Gordon Cooper [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/embed]A new trailer for Metaphor has also gone live, and it is the best one yet for the game ahead of its launch in October. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_-BPELOl0M[/embed]SEGA released a new trailer for Sonic X Shadow Generations that makes me wish the game was out sooner. We need anime music videos based on this for sure. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-64Uzx2ac[/embed]Tempest Rising from 3D Realms got a new PvP teaser trailer this week at Gamescom 2024. It looks superb. Check out the footage below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtC4ywATBI[/embed]A game I’m excited to play later this year, Slitterhead from Bokeh Game Studio, got a new story trailer this week. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EENlMq23sE[/embed]A game most thought wouldn’t release this year, The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital, launches on September 17th with a lovely new trailer you can watch below. I’m excited to try this out on Steam Deck and Switch. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DpvZWrts_M[/embed]Devolver Digital is also launching Sumerian Six, the real time tactical stealth game via Steam, on September 2nd. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DeYqVHkkM[/embed]Raw Fury is releasing the horror survival game Post Trauma on October 29th. Check out its release date trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb9EwFKEi28[/embed]Blizzard

is celebrating Warcraft’s 30th anniversary in Overwatch 2 with a new skin for Widowmaker as Sylvanas next month. Check it out below:Action adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco launches on October 18th for Steam and consoles. Pre-orders are now live with a new gameplay trailer you can watch below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgaV3cZwVI[/embed]Eternal Strands, set to launch in 2025, got a new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2024 from Yellow Brick Games. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxtabO0hj8[/embed]Superhero-themed visual novel Sacrifice Villains from Shiravune is set to release on Steam this year. It will be priced at $19.99. Check out the Steam page here.Little Nightmares III also had a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It releases on Steam and all consoles next year. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ndYfBtYwI[/embed]Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion got a new trailer showcasing the Mercenary companions ahead of the expansion’s launch this October. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RHvTVnBiI[/embed]Inti Creates is releasing a demo for Card-en-Ciel on September 4th for Steam. Alongside this news, a new gameplay trailer has been released. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwI3Al25LJo[/embed]A sequel to Wilmot’s Warehouse is set to release on Steam on October 23rd in the form of Wilmot Works It Out. I loved the original and cannot wait to play this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARyZ2peq3U[/embed]Risk of Rain 2’s Seekers of the Storm DLC launches on August 27th for PC and consoles. I’ll be checking this one out on Steam Deck. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh36MdjdzHw[/embed]Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 and a new gameplay showcase this week makes me wonder if this will even run on Steam Deck with how good it looks. I’ll definitely try it. Watch the showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6bjlger8[/embed]Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves from SNK launches on April 24th, 2025 for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. The launch price is a special edition with the first pass. Watch the new trailer showing off the amazing Mai Shiranui and the release date showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgsu-Cn5fs[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHjjlpCoBOQ[/embed]Level Infinite streamed its recent “Into the Infinite” showcase featuring updates from its partners covering games like Soulframe, Warframe, and much more. Watch it below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIFQ8TZCp8[/embed]Sharkmob’s Exoborne had a new trailer released during the showcase above as well. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaixwsBHVg[/embed]Civilization VII from Firaxis and 2K launches for Steam and all consoles on February 11th, 2025 with pre-orders now live. Check out the gameplay trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U[/embed]2K also revealed two other games for 2025, and they’re big ones. Borderlands 4 and Mafia The Old Country are in development for Steam and consoles for 2025 release. Watch the trailers below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDUx5suLm4[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8WImF649E[/embed]Arc System Works has revealed new details for Double Dragon Revive including the composers and story details. The composers include Raito and many more. Check out the website here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_BX_N_zZU[/embed]Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Steam and Xbox on December 9th with pre-orders now live on Steam. I’m looking forward to playing this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg[/embed]The newest Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailers focus on Leafa and Sinon. Watch them below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqhzTC9-Is[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA[/embed]Delta Force, the first person

multiplayer shooter, previously known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops launches later this year for PC via Early Access on Steam from Level Infinite. It is also set to come to iOS and Android and consoles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwtosVfqog[/embed]Amazon Prime is doing a series on video games titled Secret Level with a focus on specific games over 15 episodes. These include Armored Core, Spelunky, New World: Aeternum, and more. It is set to begin streaming this December. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLihxsmI_OU[/embed]Speaking of New World: Aeterum, a new video series based on the game can now be watched ahead of the game’s launch on October 15th: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVO6W9rxN68[/embed]Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games launches as a free to play game on December 6th for Steam and consoles with all heroes included for free. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZrZGkIgY[/embed]Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC launches on September 30th for Steam and Xbox. A new update is also available now on all platforms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA1z1DbA_Io[/embed]Akatsuki Games released a new trailer for the extreme action game Tribe Nine ahead of its launch on Steam and mobile. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-ZANvmcL4[/embed]Free to play third person MOBA Predecessor is now available on Steam and consoles from Omeda Studios. Watch the trailer for it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxnN2DYyAAg[/embed]Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets another trailer showing off more of the game in its “50 days from now” trailer. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcsMP0yHJ4[/embed]Path of Exile 2 launches on Steam and consoles via Early Access on November 15th. Watch the new trailer from Grinding Gear Games below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaSU9UCe0w[/embed]Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone open world game that’s free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition. It is set to release in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50gFkG91jc[/embed]Idea Factory International announced that Date A Live: Ren Dystopia releases on September 5th for Steam. I’ll be reviewing this one. Check it out on Steam here.Torn Banner Studios (Chivalry 2) announced that the UE5-powered shooter No More Room in Hell 2 will launch in Steam early access this Halloween. Watch the trailer below from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp3nRkfkp1w[/embed]Warner Bros Games also showcased a new Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns gameplay trailer focussing on Cyrax who is a part of the new DLC. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwmIbv-LtA[/embed]Tokyo Xtreme Racer from Genki is a new entry in the long-running series coming to Steam in 2025. I’m glad to see this because a friend of mine is a huge fan. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhzyVcUCCM[/embed]Square Enix released a new trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure showcasing Max’s powers. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPGjvD5jRo[/embed]New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the weekThis week, Yakuza 4 and Devil Blade Reboot are the highlights for new Verified games, and EA’s anti-cheat issues continue to make more games unplayable on Steam Deck. Check out every notable game tested by Valve since the last article below:#BLUD – VerifiedAtlas Fallen – UnsupportedBattlefield 1 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)DEVIL BLADE REBOOT – VerifiedEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Eastward – PlayableFlatout 3 – Playablehololive treasure mountain – VerifiedIsles of Sea and Sky – VerifiedLISA: The First – UnsupportedMetropolis: Lux Obscura – PlayableMika and The Witch’s Mountain – VerifiedPlants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Pocket Bravery – Playableshapez 2 – PlayableSkull and Bones – PlayableSNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS – PlayableSPY×ANYA: Operation

Memories – PlayableSquirrel with a Gun – VerifiedSword of Convallaria – UnsupportedTeeny Tiny Trains – PlayableThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PlayableTHE LAST BLADE – PlayableTomba! Special Edition – PlayableWild Bastards – VerifiedYakuza 4 Remastered – VerifiedSteam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and SpecialsThe highlights of the week when it comes to sales and discounts are the Steam Rhythm Fest until August 26th with discounts on games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Trombone Champ, and DJ MAX RESPECT V, and also the new Capcom Resident Evil Humble Bundle.Next week, following the Rhythm Fest, the Isometric Games Sale begins with many discounts from publishers and developers including Owlcat Games. Check out a trailer for the event below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2N5XqsNRgE[/embed]That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.“Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right … Continue reading “Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck…”Source Link: https://toucharcade.com/2024/08/23/mameda-bakeru-steam-deck-pc-review-ff16-release-date-gamescom-2024-news/ http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/6285223545_2953179078_o.jpg #GLOBAL - BLOGGER ... BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

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Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web - BLOGGER https://www.merchant-business.com/steam-deck-weekly-gamescom-2024-steam-deck-news-reviews-including-bakeru-and-schim-new-verified-games-discounts-and-more/?feed_id=177115&_unique_id=66ca9029ce3b4 Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions for Bakeru and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, reviews of a few notable indies, Shaun’s take on the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun DLC, bundles, new Steam Deck Verified games, and more. Let’s get into the reviews and impressions first.Steam Deck Game Reviews & ImpressionsBakeru Steam Deck ReviewWhen Bakeru was released in Japan, a friend of mine imported it and praised it quite a bit. I tried the demo and was turned off by the technical issues. It was charming, but not enough to put up with no localization and performance issues on Switch. When it leaked on the eShop, I was hoping we’d see performance improvements or a port to PC. We ended up getting both more or less. Bakeru’s Switch release in the West is improved over the Japanese launch version, and it is also now on PC with an excellent port.Bakeru is an action platformer from Good-Feel who are most known for the Yoshi games and also more-recently Princess Peach Showtime from Nintendo. The studio has done some games outside Nintendo brands, and the newest in this line of non Nintendo games from Good-Feel is Bakeru. Shaun will be doing a full review for this one, but so far Bakeru feels and plays great on Steam Deck.On Steam Deck and PC, Bakeru lets you adjust display mode (windowed and borderless only), resolution (with full 16:10 support), toggle v-sync, adjust frame rate cap (Note that v-sync off means the game runs at 60fps. Turn it on if you would like to play at your monitor’s refresh rate or at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED), anti-aliasing (off, FXAA, SMAA), adjust filtering quality (trilinear, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x), and draw distance (low, medium, high).I played Bakeru on both my Steam Decks. My LCD is running the newest SteamOS beta. On that, I had zero issues with the game and it ran at a locked 60fps at maximum settings. On Steam Deck OLED running the public build of the OS, I only had some issues at 90fps. This seemingly wasn’t related to the settings, but something in the game because I had some shader-related or traversal stuttering in parts, but they only happened initially. I imagine Bakeru will be Steam Deck Verified soon as it runs perfectly if you play at 60fps and near-perfectly at 90fps.The one issue I ran into pre-release that Spike Chunsoft and the developers already fixed is button prompts being incorrectly displayed. This had the game showing Switch positions instead of Xbox ones when using my 8BitDo Xbox controller or the Steam Deck itself. I’m glad this was resolved pre-release as the game has no port issues, and it is dramatically better than the Switch version. When using a DualSense, it correctly showed PlayStation prompts with the proper labels and positions as well.Bakeru is a good platformer that I recommend playing on PC over Switch right now. The Switch version, despite performance improvements over the Japanese demo, still has too much variance in its performance to be an easy recommendation. The HD Rumble there is nice, but everything else holds it back. On PC, you miss out on the HD Rumble, but Bakeru runs a lot better across the board, and I’ve been enjoying digging into it over the last week. Stay tuned for Shaun’s full review of the Switch version in the near future.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Steam Deck ReviewThere have been many game franchises that I completely missed out on over the years.

The Sam & Max series of games is one of those. When I was offered a code to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I figured now was the time to finally play these games with the new remasters. If you’re just here for the game itself, I urge you to read Shaun’s Switch review here. I’m going to focus on how it plays on Steam Deck.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is the final game in the episodic Sam & Max main trilogy. This new remaster is amazing in basically every way. This includes how it controls, looks, sounds, and feels. It even has many accessibility options to make things go smoothly if you’re new to this kind of adventure game. You can toggle different hint levels and disable flashing in the accessibility settings.On the graphics and display side, you can play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse at higher resolutions when docked on Steam Deck, but performance doesn’t hold close to 60fps if you play at 4K. I recommend sticking to it in handheld mode for a 60 or higher experience. You can adjust the graphics quality, texture quality, anti-aliasing, toggle v-sync, and adjust display mode and resolution in the graphics settings.With Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I’m glad I finally got around to playing these games. Not only are they all absolutely worth your time and money, but they play superbly on Steam Deck. I’d love for the remasters to hit iPad, but until then the Steam Deck is my favorite way to play Skunkape Games’ remasters.SCHiM Steam Deck ReviewGiven the sheer amount of releases lately, I didn’t get around to playing SCHiM much at launch. I’m glad I finally rectified that because it is equal parts charming and gorgeous, and it has been the perfect game to relax with as a break from the longer upcoming games I’m playing for review right now. Developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman have released a brilliant take on a 3D platformer using light, shadow, and more for puzzles, and it is all elevated by excellent audio.Aside from the striking aesthetic, what really carries SCHiM through its four or so hours long runtime is the animation work and sound design. As you work towards solving the various puzzles in the game, every interaction has a lovely little animation, and it all feels beyond polished when played at a rock solid 90fps on Steam Deck OLED. The blend of the shadows and lights for puzzles also are enhanced by the screen in handheld mode.So SCHiM runs perfectly out of the box on Steam Deck at 90fps, but how about docked? When played at 720p docked, it nearly does a locked 144fps. Playing at 1080p results in well over 100fps at all times. SCHiM supports 16:10 as well which is great to see on Steam Deck. I have no complaints with it aside from the fact that it might seem short for its price to some, and that there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does hold SCHiM down from perfection.SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.SCHiM Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck ReviewGestalt: Steam and Cinder is another game I wish I got around to playing sooner like SCHiM above. It has been on the review backlog for a bit now, but having played it, this action platformer is fantastic. Not only does it nail the aesthetic with its blend of 16 and 32-bit visuals, but the sound design, story, and gameplay are sublime.What initially drew me to Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, is the steampunk visual style in pixel art. I adore the character designs, but wasn’t sure another action platformer would be able to hit hard enough for me in recent years.

Having played it, the story is very good, but without getting into spoilers, I feel like there’s more to this tale. Hopefully we see some story DLC in the future.On the gameplay side, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder felt a bit easier than I expected outside of two bosses I had trouble with. Nothing major though, and the responsive controls help across the board.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder ships Steam Deck Verified, and it is perfect on Valve’s handheld. The only thing I’d like to see, if feasible, is support for 90fps. Right now, the game is capped at 60fps and 16:9. I tested this on both my Steam Decks docked and in handheld mode.Given how crowded the genre is, I know most people roll their eyes when they see another action platformer, but Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is one you cannot afford to miss. It is one of the best in the genre with its excellent gameplay, narrative, music, and slick visuals. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is also perfect on Steam Deck from start to finish.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck ReviewThe original Boltgun was a refreshing surprise for me when it was released last year. While I’m not as into first-person shooters as deeply as some, I can certainly enjoy a good boomer shooter. Give me fast, furious action with some interest levels to explore, a satisfying selection of weapons, and challenging enemy encounters and I’m there. Boltgun had all of that, all dressed up in a Warhammer theme that if nothing else helps the world feel like it extends outside of the borders of the game.  A thoroughly enjoying game to play through, and one that left me properly sated… or did it?While I thought I had had my fill of Boltgun, I was actually quite happy when Forges of Corruption was released. I guess I was still hungry. This expansion gives you five more levels of carnage to engage in, and they run on the larger side. You get two new guns to play with, one being an enhanced flamethrower and the other a rocket launcher. Sure, can’t argue with that. You also get some new enemies to try those toys out on, and you’ll need every edge you can get to deal with them.When compared to the original game’s levels, Forges of Corruption‘s stages favor more wide open spaces. This puts your mobility skills to the test, as you’ll have to keep on moving to avoid getting surrounded or cornered. If you haven’t mastered the dash already from playing the main campaign, you’ll need to get up to speed fast here. It’s an interesting change-up from the more compact design that the base game relied on so much. The enhanced flamethrower’s spread can really help you out here, and rockets always prefer open spaces.Difficulty-wise, these levels are mostly going to be a relative breeze for those who played through the first game. The last one is a real beast though, and you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned to overcome it. Which is to say that while you can play this expansion without finishing the main game, you really should leave it for after. All-up, it takes a few hours to get through it all.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.-Shaun MusgraveWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck review score: 4/5News and TrailersLet’s begin the massive (and fast-paced) news section of this week with a brand-new trailer for my most anticipated game of 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds. The trailer has the game looking better than before, and I’m getting more excited reading all the details from hands-on gameplay sessions people have at Gamescom.

Watch the third Monster Hunter Wilds trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4gR1QEvVA[/embed]The next bit of news I’m excited for is Final Fantasy XVI, the best singleplayer Final Fantasy game since XII, is coming to Steam in a few weeks with pre-orders and a demo now live. It is sadly pretty rough on Steam Deck, but I hope things improve. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqpFlA_4Is[/embed]Terry Bogard launches on September 24th in Street Fighter 6 as the second DLC for the Year 2 Pass. His gameplay trailer looks incredible. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDPhkX2oMmQ[/embed]While not directly Steam-related, Capcom is also bringing Resident Evil 2 to GOG on August 27th. I couldn’t get Resident Evil 1’s GOG release to work on Deck, but I hope this one works. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EuuJCGWfC8[/embed]Capcom also released a demo for the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on Steam and consoles. Check it out here. Read my preview of the full game here.Silent Hill 2 from Konami got a new story trailer, and this is the first trailer that’s been liked by a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the series. This will be my first Silent Hill game, so I’m excited to try it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR0I7dJQpk[/embed]Square Enix released a new “Final” trailer for Visions of Mana ahead of its launch next week. I can’t wait to talk about the full game soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubnfqC-vxk[/embed]A few days ago, Cygames released the big Version 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam and consoles bringing in big balance adjustments, the new DLC character Versusia, and in-game content included with Battle Pass Round 5. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2OoiGWYFUk[/embed]Persona 3 Reload’s expansion Episode Aigis is adding Joker as a boss fight. I didn’t expect that one, but I’m looking forward to playing the DLC very soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89HkGkSr7c[/embed]Atlus will host a new ATLUS Exclusive showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio on August 28th at 8 PM. It will be on YouTube. I’m looking forward to playing this hopefully soon for review. Atlus also revealed the English voice cast for the game. Check it out below:Protagonist – Caleb YenStrohl – Stewart ClarkeHulkenberg – Kristin AthertonGallica – Alejandra ReynosoHeismay – Phillipe SpallJunah – Emma BallantineEupha – Emily BurnettNeuras – David MonteithLouis – Joseph TweedaleMore – Greg ChunGrius – Gordon Cooper [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/embed]A new trailer for Metaphor has also gone live, and it is the best one yet for the game ahead of its launch in October. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_-BPELOl0M[/embed]SEGA released a new trailer for Sonic X Shadow Generations that makes me wish the game was out sooner. We need anime music videos based on this for sure. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-64Uzx2ac[/embed]Tempest Rising from 3D Realms got a new PvP teaser trailer this week at Gamescom 2024. It looks superb. Check out the footage below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtC4ywATBI[/embed]A game I’m excited to play later this year, Slitterhead from Bokeh Game Studio, got a new story trailer this week. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EENlMq23sE[/embed]A game most thought wouldn’t release this year, The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital, launches on September 17th with a lovely new trailer you can watch below. I’m excited to try this out on Steam Deck and Switch. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DpvZWrts_M[/embed]Devolver Digital is also launching Sumerian Six, the real time tactical stealth game via Steam, on September 2nd. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DeYqVHkkM[/embed]Raw Fury is releasing the horror survival game Post Trauma on October 29th. Check out its release date trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb9EwFKEi28[/embed]Blizzard

is celebrating Warcraft’s 30th anniversary in Overwatch 2 with a new skin for Widowmaker as Sylvanas next month. Check it out below:Action adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco launches on October 18th for Steam and consoles. Pre-orders are now live with a new gameplay trailer you can watch below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgaV3cZwVI[/embed]Eternal Strands, set to launch in 2025, got a new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2024 from Yellow Brick Games. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxtabO0hj8[/embed]Superhero-themed visual novel Sacrifice Villains from Shiravune is set to release on Steam this year. It will be priced at $19.99. Check out the Steam page here.Little Nightmares III also had a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It releases on Steam and all consoles next year. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ndYfBtYwI[/embed]Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion got a new trailer showcasing the Mercenary companions ahead of the expansion’s launch this October. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RHvTVnBiI[/embed]Inti Creates is releasing a demo for Card-en-Ciel on September 4th for Steam. Alongside this news, a new gameplay trailer has been released. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwI3Al25LJo[/embed]A sequel to Wilmot’s Warehouse is set to release on Steam on October 23rd in the form of Wilmot Works It Out. I loved the original and cannot wait to play this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARyZ2peq3U[/embed]Risk of Rain 2’s Seekers of the Storm DLC launches on August 27th for PC and consoles. I’ll be checking this one out on Steam Deck. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh36MdjdzHw[/embed]Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 and a new gameplay showcase this week makes me wonder if this will even run on Steam Deck with how good it looks. I’ll definitely try it. Watch the showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6bjlger8[/embed]Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves from SNK launches on April 24th, 2025 for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. The launch price is a special edition with the first pass. Watch the new trailer showing off the amazing Mai Shiranui and the release date showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgsu-Cn5fs[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHjjlpCoBOQ[/embed]Level Infinite streamed its recent “Into the Infinite” showcase featuring updates from its partners covering games like Soulframe, Warframe, and much more. Watch it below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIFQ8TZCp8[/embed]Sharkmob’s Exoborne had a new trailer released during the showcase above as well. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaixwsBHVg[/embed]Civilization VII from Firaxis and 2K launches for Steam and all consoles on February 11th, 2025 with pre-orders now live. Check out the gameplay trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U[/embed]2K also revealed two other games for 2025, and they’re big ones. Borderlands 4 and Mafia The Old Country are in development for Steam and consoles for 2025 release. Watch the trailers below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDUx5suLm4[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8WImF649E[/embed]Arc System Works has revealed new details for Double Dragon Revive including the composers and story details. The composers include Raito and many more. Check out the website here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_BX_N_zZU[/embed]Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Steam and Xbox on December 9th with pre-orders now live on Steam. I’m looking forward to playing this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg[/embed]The newest Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailers focus on Leafa and Sinon. Watch them below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqhzTC9-Is[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA[/embed]Delta Force, the first person

multiplayer shooter, previously known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops launches later this year for PC via Early Access on Steam from Level Infinite. It is also set to come to iOS and Android and consoles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwtosVfqog[/embed]Amazon Prime is doing a series on video games titled Secret Level with a focus on specific games over 15 episodes. These include Armored Core, Spelunky, New World: Aeternum, and more. It is set to begin streaming this December. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLihxsmI_OU[/embed]Speaking of New World: Aeterum, a new video series based on the game can now be watched ahead of the game’s launch on October 15th: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVO6W9rxN68[/embed]Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games launches as a free to play game on December 6th for Steam and consoles with all heroes included for free. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZrZGkIgY[/embed]Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC launches on September 30th for Steam and Xbox. A new update is also available now on all platforms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA1z1DbA_Io[/embed]Akatsuki Games released a new trailer for the extreme action game Tribe Nine ahead of its launch on Steam and mobile. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-ZANvmcL4[/embed]Free to play third person MOBA Predecessor is now available on Steam and consoles from Omeda Studios. Watch the trailer for it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxnN2DYyAAg[/embed]Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets another trailer showing off more of the game in its “50 days from now” trailer. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcsMP0yHJ4[/embed]Path of Exile 2 launches on Steam and consoles via Early Access on November 15th. Watch the new trailer from Grinding Gear Games below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaSU9UCe0w[/embed]Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone open world game that’s free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition. It is set to release in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50gFkG91jc[/embed]Idea Factory International announced that Date A Live: Ren Dystopia releases on September 5th for Steam. I’ll be reviewing this one. Check it out on Steam here.Torn Banner Studios (Chivalry 2) announced that the UE5-powered shooter No More Room in Hell 2 will launch in Steam early access this Halloween. Watch the trailer below from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp3nRkfkp1w[/embed]Warner Bros Games also showcased a new Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns gameplay trailer focussing on Cyrax who is a part of the new DLC. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwmIbv-LtA[/embed]Tokyo Xtreme Racer from Genki is a new entry in the long-running series coming to Steam in 2025. I’m glad to see this because a friend of mine is a huge fan. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhzyVcUCCM[/embed]Square Enix released a new trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure showcasing Max’s powers. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPGjvD5jRo[/embed]New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the weekThis week, Yakuza 4 and Devil Blade Reboot are the highlights for new Verified games, and EA’s anti-cheat issues continue to make more games unplayable on Steam Deck. Check out every notable game tested by Valve since the last article below:#BLUD – VerifiedAtlas Fallen – UnsupportedBattlefield 1 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)DEVIL BLADE REBOOT – VerifiedEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Eastward – PlayableFlatout 3 – Playablehololive treasure mountain – VerifiedIsles of Sea and Sky – VerifiedLISA: The First – UnsupportedMetropolis: Lux Obscura – PlayableMika and The Witch’s Mountain – VerifiedPlants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Pocket Bravery – Playableshapez 2 – PlayableSkull and Bones – PlayableSNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS – PlayableSPY×ANYA: Operation

Memories – PlayableSquirrel with a Gun – VerifiedSword of Convallaria – UnsupportedTeeny Tiny Trains – PlayableThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PlayableTHE LAST BLADE – PlayableTomba! Special Edition – PlayableWild Bastards – VerifiedYakuza 4 Remastered – VerifiedSteam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and SpecialsThe highlights of the week when it comes to sales and discounts are the Steam Rhythm Fest until August 26th with discounts on games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Trombone Champ, and DJ MAX RESPECT V, and also the new Capcom Resident Evil Humble Bundle.Next week, following the Rhythm Fest, the Isometric Games Sale begins with many discounts from publishers and developers including Owlcat Games. Check out a trailer for the event below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2N5XqsNRgE[/embed]That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.“Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right … Continue reading “Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck…”Source Link: https://toucharcade.com/2024/08/23/mameda-bakeru-steam-deck-pc-review-ff16-release-date-gamescom-2024-news/ http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/6285223545_2953179078_o.jpg BLOGGER - #GLOBAL Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions … Read More

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Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web https://www.merchant-business.com/steam-deck-weekly-gamescom-2024-steam-deck-news-reviews-including-bakeru-and-schim-new-verified-games-discounts-and-more/?feed_id=177114&_unique_id=66ca8f0915a45 ... BLOGGER - #GLOBAL Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions for Bakeru and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, reviews of a few notable indies, Shaun’s take on the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun DLC, bundles, new Steam Deck Verified games, and more. Let’s get into the reviews and impressions first.Steam Deck Game Reviews & ImpressionsBakeru Steam Deck ReviewWhen Bakeru was released in Japan, a friend of mine imported it and praised it quite a bit. I tried the demo and was turned off by the technical issues. It was charming, but not enough to put up with no localization and performance issues on Switch. When it leaked on the eShop, I was hoping we’d see performance improvements or a port to PC. We ended up getting both more or less. Bakeru’s Switch release in the West is improved over the Japanese launch version, and it is also now on PC with an excellent port.Bakeru is an action platformer from Good-Feel who are most known for the Yoshi games and also more-recently Princess Peach Showtime from Nintendo. The studio has done some games outside Nintendo brands, and the newest in this line of non Nintendo games from Good-Feel is Bakeru. Shaun will be doing a full review for this one, but so far Bakeru feels and plays great on Steam Deck.On Steam Deck and PC, Bakeru lets you adjust display mode (windowed and borderless only), resolution (with full 16:10 support), toggle v-sync, adjust frame rate cap (Note that v-sync off means the game runs at 60fps. Turn it on if you would like to play at your monitor’s refresh rate or at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED), anti-aliasing (off, FXAA, SMAA), adjust filtering quality (trilinear, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x), and draw distance (low, medium, high).I played Bakeru on both my Steam Decks. My LCD is running the newest SteamOS beta. On that, I had zero issues with the game and it ran at a locked 60fps at maximum settings. On Steam Deck OLED running the public build of the OS, I only had some issues at 90fps. This seemingly wasn’t related to the settings, but something in the game because I had some shader-related or traversal stuttering in parts, but they only happened initially. I imagine Bakeru will be Steam Deck Verified soon as it runs perfectly if you play at 60fps and near-perfectly at 90fps.The one issue I ran into pre-release that Spike Chunsoft and the developers already fixed is button prompts being incorrectly displayed. This had the game showing Switch positions instead of Xbox ones when using my 8BitDo Xbox controller or the Steam Deck itself. I’m glad this was resolved pre-release as the game has no port issues, and it is dramatically better than the Switch version. When using a DualSense, it correctly showed PlayStation prompts with the proper labels and positions as well.Bakeru is a good platformer that I recommend playing on PC over Switch right now. The Switch version, despite performance improvements over the Japanese demo, still has too much variance in its performance to be an easy recommendation. The HD Rumble there is nice, but everything else holds it back. On PC, you miss out on the HD Rumble, but Bakeru runs a lot better across the board, and I’ve been enjoying digging into it over the last week. Stay tuned for Shaun’s full review of the Switch version in the near future.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Steam Deck ReviewThere have been many game franchises that I completely missed out on over the years.

The Sam & Max series of games is one of those. When I was offered a code to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I figured now was the time to finally play these games with the new remasters. If you’re just here for the game itself, I urge you to read Shaun’s Switch review here. I’m going to focus on how it plays on Steam Deck.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is the final game in the episodic Sam & Max main trilogy. This new remaster is amazing in basically every way. This includes how it controls, looks, sounds, and feels. It even has many accessibility options to make things go smoothly if you’re new to this kind of adventure game. You can toggle different hint levels and disable flashing in the accessibility settings.On the graphics and display side, you can play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse at higher resolutions when docked on Steam Deck, but performance doesn’t hold close to 60fps if you play at 4K. I recommend sticking to it in handheld mode for a 60 or higher experience. You can adjust the graphics quality, texture quality, anti-aliasing, toggle v-sync, and adjust display mode and resolution in the graphics settings.With Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I’m glad I finally got around to playing these games. Not only are they all absolutely worth your time and money, but they play superbly on Steam Deck. I’d love for the remasters to hit iPad, but until then the Steam Deck is my favorite way to play Skunkape Games’ remasters.SCHiM Steam Deck ReviewGiven the sheer amount of releases lately, I didn’t get around to playing SCHiM much at launch. I’m glad I finally rectified that because it is equal parts charming and gorgeous, and it has been the perfect game to relax with as a break from the longer upcoming games I’m playing for review right now. Developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman have released a brilliant take on a 3D platformer using light, shadow, and more for puzzles, and it is all elevated by excellent audio.Aside from the striking aesthetic, what really carries SCHiM through its four or so hours long runtime is the animation work and sound design. As you work towards solving the various puzzles in the game, every interaction has a lovely little animation, and it all feels beyond polished when played at a rock solid 90fps on Steam Deck OLED. The blend of the shadows and lights for puzzles also are enhanced by the screen in handheld mode.So SCHiM runs perfectly out of the box on Steam Deck at 90fps, but how about docked? When played at 720p docked, it nearly does a locked 144fps. Playing at 1080p results in well over 100fps at all times. SCHiM supports 16:10 as well which is great to see on Steam Deck. I have no complaints with it aside from the fact that it might seem short for its price to some, and that there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does hold SCHiM down from perfection.SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.SCHiM Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck ReviewGestalt: Steam and Cinder is another game I wish I got around to playing sooner like SCHiM above. It has been on the review backlog for a bit now, but having played it, this action platformer is fantastic. Not only does it nail the aesthetic with its blend of 16 and 32-bit visuals, but the sound design, story, and gameplay are sublime.What initially drew me to Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, is the steampunk visual style in pixel art. I adore the character designs, but wasn’t sure another action platformer would be able to hit hard enough for me in recent years.

Having played it, the story is very good, but without getting into spoilers, I feel like there’s more to this tale. Hopefully we see some story DLC in the future.On the gameplay side, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder felt a bit easier than I expected outside of two bosses I had trouble with. Nothing major though, and the responsive controls help across the board.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder ships Steam Deck Verified, and it is perfect on Valve’s handheld. The only thing I’d like to see, if feasible, is support for 90fps. Right now, the game is capped at 60fps and 16:9. I tested this on both my Steam Decks docked and in handheld mode.Given how crowded the genre is, I know most people roll their eyes when they see another action platformer, but Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is one you cannot afford to miss. It is one of the best in the genre with its excellent gameplay, narrative, music, and slick visuals. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is also perfect on Steam Deck from start to finish.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck ReviewThe original Boltgun was a refreshing surprise for me when it was released last year. While I’m not as into first-person shooters as deeply as some, I can certainly enjoy a good boomer shooter. Give me fast, furious action with some interest levels to explore, a satisfying selection of weapons, and challenging enemy encounters and I’m there. Boltgun had all of that, all dressed up in a Warhammer theme that if nothing else helps the world feel like it extends outside of the borders of the game.  A thoroughly enjoying game to play through, and one that left me properly sated… or did it?While I thought I had had my fill of Boltgun, I was actually quite happy when Forges of Corruption was released. I guess I was still hungry. This expansion gives you five more levels of carnage to engage in, and they run on the larger side. You get two new guns to play with, one being an enhanced flamethrower and the other a rocket launcher. Sure, can’t argue with that. You also get some new enemies to try those toys out on, and you’ll need every edge you can get to deal with them.When compared to the original game’s levels, Forges of Corruption‘s stages favor more wide open spaces. This puts your mobility skills to the test, as you’ll have to keep on moving to avoid getting surrounded or cornered. If you haven’t mastered the dash already from playing the main campaign, you’ll need to get up to speed fast here. It’s an interesting change-up from the more compact design that the base game relied on so much. The enhanced flamethrower’s spread can really help you out here, and rockets always prefer open spaces.Difficulty-wise, these levels are mostly going to be a relative breeze for those who played through the first game. The last one is a real beast though, and you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned to overcome it. Which is to say that while you can play this expansion without finishing the main game, you really should leave it for after. All-up, it takes a few hours to get through it all.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.-Shaun MusgraveWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck review score: 4/5News and TrailersLet’s begin the massive (and fast-paced) news section of this week with a brand-new trailer for my most anticipated game of 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds. The trailer has the game looking better than before, and I’m getting more excited reading all the details from hands-on gameplay sessions people have at Gamescom.

Watch the third Monster Hunter Wilds trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4gR1QEvVA[/embed]The next bit of news I’m excited for is Final Fantasy XVI, the best singleplayer Final Fantasy game since XII, is coming to Steam in a few weeks with pre-orders and a demo now live. It is sadly pretty rough on Steam Deck, but I hope things improve. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqpFlA_4Is[/embed]Terry Bogard launches on September 24th in Street Fighter 6 as the second DLC for the Year 2 Pass. His gameplay trailer looks incredible. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDPhkX2oMmQ[/embed]While not directly Steam-related, Capcom is also bringing Resident Evil 2 to GOG on August 27th. I couldn’t get Resident Evil 1’s GOG release to work on Deck, but I hope this one works. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EuuJCGWfC8[/embed]Capcom also released a demo for the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on Steam and consoles. Check it out here. Read my preview of the full game here.Silent Hill 2 from Konami got a new story trailer, and this is the first trailer that’s been liked by a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the series. This will be my first Silent Hill game, so I’m excited to try it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR0I7dJQpk[/embed]Square Enix released a new “Final” trailer for Visions of Mana ahead of its launch next week. I can’t wait to talk about the full game soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubnfqC-vxk[/embed]A few days ago, Cygames released the big Version 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam and consoles bringing in big balance adjustments, the new DLC character Versusia, and in-game content included with Battle Pass Round 5. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2OoiGWYFUk[/embed]Persona 3 Reload’s expansion Episode Aigis is adding Joker as a boss fight. I didn’t expect that one, but I’m looking forward to playing the DLC very soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89HkGkSr7c[/embed]Atlus will host a new ATLUS Exclusive showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio on August 28th at 8 PM. It will be on YouTube. I’m looking forward to playing this hopefully soon for review. Atlus also revealed the English voice cast for the game. Check it out below:Protagonist – Caleb YenStrohl – Stewart ClarkeHulkenberg – Kristin AthertonGallica – Alejandra ReynosoHeismay – Phillipe SpallJunah – Emma BallantineEupha – Emily BurnettNeuras – David MonteithLouis – Joseph TweedaleMore – Greg ChunGrius – Gordon Cooper [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/embed]A new trailer for Metaphor has also gone live, and it is the best one yet for the game ahead of its launch in October. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_-BPELOl0M[/embed]SEGA released a new trailer for Sonic X Shadow Generations that makes me wish the game was out sooner. We need anime music videos based on this for sure. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-64Uzx2ac[/embed]Tempest Rising from 3D Realms got a new PvP teaser trailer this week at Gamescom 2024. It looks superb. Check out the footage below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtC4ywATBI[/embed]A game I’m excited to play later this year, Slitterhead from Bokeh Game Studio, got a new story trailer this week. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EENlMq23sE[/embed]A game most thought wouldn’t release this year, The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital, launches on September 17th with a lovely new trailer you can watch below. I’m excited to try this out on Steam Deck and Switch. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DpvZWrts_M[/embed]Devolver Digital is also launching Sumerian Six, the real time tactical stealth game via Steam, on September 2nd. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DeYqVHkkM[/embed]Raw Fury is releasing the horror survival game Post Trauma on October 29th. Check out its release date trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb9EwFKEi28[/embed]Blizzard

is celebrating Warcraft’s 30th anniversary in Overwatch 2 with a new skin for Widowmaker as Sylvanas next month. Check it out below:Action adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco launches on October 18th for Steam and consoles. Pre-orders are now live with a new gameplay trailer you can watch below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgaV3cZwVI[/embed]Eternal Strands, set to launch in 2025, got a new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2024 from Yellow Brick Games. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxtabO0hj8[/embed]Superhero-themed visual novel Sacrifice Villains from Shiravune is set to release on Steam this year. It will be priced at $19.99. Check out the Steam page here.Little Nightmares III also had a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It releases on Steam and all consoles next year. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ndYfBtYwI[/embed]Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion got a new trailer showcasing the Mercenary companions ahead of the expansion’s launch this October. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RHvTVnBiI[/embed]Inti Creates is releasing a demo for Card-en-Ciel on September 4th for Steam. Alongside this news, a new gameplay trailer has been released. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwI3Al25LJo[/embed]A sequel to Wilmot’s Warehouse is set to release on Steam on October 23rd in the form of Wilmot Works It Out. I loved the original and cannot wait to play this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARyZ2peq3U[/embed]Risk of Rain 2’s Seekers of the Storm DLC launches on August 27th for PC and consoles. I’ll be checking this one out on Steam Deck. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh36MdjdzHw[/embed]Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 and a new gameplay showcase this week makes me wonder if this will even run on Steam Deck with how good it looks. I’ll definitely try it. Watch the showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6bjlger8[/embed]Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves from SNK launches on April 24th, 2025 for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. The launch price is a special edition with the first pass. Watch the new trailer showing off the amazing Mai Shiranui and the release date showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgsu-Cn5fs[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHjjlpCoBOQ[/embed]Level Infinite streamed its recent “Into the Infinite” showcase featuring updates from its partners covering games like Soulframe, Warframe, and much more. Watch it below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIFQ8TZCp8[/embed]Sharkmob’s Exoborne had a new trailer released during the showcase above as well. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaixwsBHVg[/embed]Civilization VII from Firaxis and 2K launches for Steam and all consoles on February 11th, 2025 with pre-orders now live. Check out the gameplay trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U[/embed]2K also revealed two other games for 2025, and they’re big ones. Borderlands 4 and Mafia The Old Country are in development for Steam and consoles for 2025 release. Watch the trailers below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDUx5suLm4[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8WImF649E[/embed]Arc System Works has revealed new details for Double Dragon Revive including the composers and story details. The composers include Raito and many more. Check out the website here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_BX_N_zZU[/embed]Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Steam and Xbox on December 9th with pre-orders now live on Steam. I’m looking forward to playing this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg[/embed]The newest Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailers focus on Leafa and Sinon. Watch them below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqhzTC9-Is[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA[/embed]Delta Force, the first person

multiplayer shooter, previously known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops launches later this year for PC via Early Access on Steam from Level Infinite. It is also set to come to iOS and Android and consoles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwtosVfqog[/embed]Amazon Prime is doing a series on video games titled Secret Level with a focus on specific games over 15 episodes. These include Armored Core, Spelunky, New World: Aeternum, and more. It is set to begin streaming this December. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLihxsmI_OU[/embed]Speaking of New World: Aeterum, a new video series based on the game can now be watched ahead of the game’s launch on October 15th: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVO6W9rxN68[/embed]Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games launches as a free to play game on December 6th for Steam and consoles with all heroes included for free. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZrZGkIgY[/embed]Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC launches on September 30th for Steam and Xbox. A new update is also available now on all platforms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA1z1DbA_Io[/embed]Akatsuki Games released a new trailer for the extreme action game Tribe Nine ahead of its launch on Steam and mobile. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-ZANvmcL4[/embed]Free to play third person MOBA Predecessor is now available on Steam and consoles from Omeda Studios. Watch the trailer for it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxnN2DYyAAg[/embed]Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets another trailer showing off more of the game in its “50 days from now” trailer. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcsMP0yHJ4[/embed]Path of Exile 2 launches on Steam and consoles via Early Access on November 15th. Watch the new trailer from Grinding Gear Games below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaSU9UCe0w[/embed]Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone open world game that’s free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition. It is set to release in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50gFkG91jc[/embed]Idea Factory International announced that Date A Live: Ren Dystopia releases on September 5th for Steam. I’ll be reviewing this one. Check it out on Steam here.Torn Banner Studios (Chivalry 2) announced that the UE5-powered shooter No More Room in Hell 2 will launch in Steam early access this Halloween. Watch the trailer below from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp3nRkfkp1w[/embed]Warner Bros Games also showcased a new Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns gameplay trailer focussing on Cyrax who is a part of the new DLC. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwmIbv-LtA[/embed]Tokyo Xtreme Racer from Genki is a new entry in the long-running series coming to Steam in 2025. I’m glad to see this because a friend of mine is a huge fan. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhzyVcUCCM[/embed]Square Enix released a new trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure showcasing Max’s powers. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPGjvD5jRo[/embed]New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the weekThis week, Yakuza 4 and Devil Blade Reboot are the highlights for new Verified games, and EA’s anti-cheat issues continue to make more games unplayable on Steam Deck. Check out every notable game tested by Valve since the last article below:#BLUD – VerifiedAtlas Fallen – UnsupportedBattlefield 1 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)DEVIL BLADE REBOOT – VerifiedEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Eastward – PlayableFlatout 3 – Playablehololive treasure mountain – VerifiedIsles of Sea and Sky – VerifiedLISA: The First – UnsupportedMetropolis: Lux Obscura – PlayableMika and The Witch’s Mountain – VerifiedPlants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Pocket Bravery – Playableshapez 2 – PlayableSkull and Bones – PlayableSNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS – PlayableSPY×ANYA: Operation

Memories – PlayableSquirrel with a Gun – VerifiedSword of Convallaria – UnsupportedTeeny Tiny Trains – PlayableThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PlayableTHE LAST BLADE – PlayableTomba! Special Edition – PlayableWild Bastards – VerifiedYakuza 4 Remastered – VerifiedSteam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and SpecialsThe highlights of the week when it comes to sales and discounts are the Steam Rhythm Fest until August 26th with discounts on games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Trombone Champ, and DJ MAX RESPECT V, and also the new Capcom Resident Evil Humble Bundle.Next week, following the Rhythm Fest, the Isometric Games Sale begins with many discounts from publishers and developers including Owlcat Games. Check out a trailer for the event below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2N5XqsNRgE[/embed]That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.“Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right … Continue reading “Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck…”Source Link: https://toucharcade.com/2024/08/23/mameda-bakeru-steam-deck-pc-review-ff16-release-date-gamescom-2024-news/ http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/6285223545_2953179078_o.jpg #GLOBAL - BLOGGER Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions … Read More

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Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web - BLOGGER https://www.merchant-business.com/steam-deck-weekly-gamescom-2024-steam-deck-news-reviews-including-bakeru-and-schim-new-verified-games-discounts-and-more/?feed_id=177113&_unique_id=66ca8f07c2e9e Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions for Bakeru and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, reviews of a few notable indies, Shaun’s take on the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun DLC, bundles, new Steam Deck Verified games, and more. Let’s get into the reviews and impressions first.Steam Deck Game Reviews & ImpressionsBakeru Steam Deck ReviewWhen Bakeru was released in Japan, a friend of mine imported it and praised it quite a bit. I tried the demo and was turned off by the technical issues. It was charming, but not enough to put up with no localization and performance issues on Switch. When it leaked on the eShop, I was hoping we’d see performance improvements or a port to PC. We ended up getting both more or less. Bakeru’s Switch release in the West is improved over the Japanese launch version, and it is also now on PC with an excellent port.Bakeru is an action platformer from Good-Feel who are most known for the Yoshi games and also more-recently Princess Peach Showtime from Nintendo. The studio has done some games outside Nintendo brands, and the newest in this line of non Nintendo games from Good-Feel is Bakeru. Shaun will be doing a full review for this one, but so far Bakeru feels and plays great on Steam Deck.On Steam Deck and PC, Bakeru lets you adjust display mode (windowed and borderless only), resolution (with full 16:10 support), toggle v-sync, adjust frame rate cap (Note that v-sync off means the game runs at 60fps. Turn it on if you would like to play at your monitor’s refresh rate or at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED), anti-aliasing (off, FXAA, SMAA), adjust filtering quality (trilinear, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x), and draw distance (low, medium, high).I played Bakeru on both my Steam Decks. My LCD is running the newest SteamOS beta. On that, I had zero issues with the game and it ran at a locked 60fps at maximum settings. On Steam Deck OLED running the public build of the OS, I only had some issues at 90fps. This seemingly wasn’t related to the settings, but something in the game because I had some shader-related or traversal stuttering in parts, but they only happened initially. I imagine Bakeru will be Steam Deck Verified soon as it runs perfectly if you play at 60fps and near-perfectly at 90fps.The one issue I ran into pre-release that Spike Chunsoft and the developers already fixed is button prompts being incorrectly displayed. This had the game showing Switch positions instead of Xbox ones when using my 8BitDo Xbox controller or the Steam Deck itself. I’m glad this was resolved pre-release as the game has no port issues, and it is dramatically better than the Switch version. When using a DualSense, it correctly showed PlayStation prompts with the proper labels and positions as well.Bakeru is a good platformer that I recommend playing on PC over Switch right now. The Switch version, despite performance improvements over the Japanese demo, still has too much variance in its performance to be an easy recommendation. The HD Rumble there is nice, but everything else holds it back. On PC, you miss out on the HD Rumble, but Bakeru runs a lot better across the board, and I’ve been enjoying digging into it over the last week. Stay tuned for Shaun’s full review of the Switch version in the near future.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Steam Deck ReviewThere have been many game franchises that I completely missed out on over the years.

The Sam & Max series of games is one of those. When I was offered a code to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I figured now was the time to finally play these games with the new remasters. If you’re just here for the game itself, I urge you to read Shaun’s Switch review here. I’m going to focus on how it plays on Steam Deck.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is the final game in the episodic Sam & Max main trilogy. This new remaster is amazing in basically every way. This includes how it controls, looks, sounds, and feels. It even has many accessibility options to make things go smoothly if you’re new to this kind of adventure game. You can toggle different hint levels and disable flashing in the accessibility settings.On the graphics and display side, you can play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse at higher resolutions when docked on Steam Deck, but performance doesn’t hold close to 60fps if you play at 4K. I recommend sticking to it in handheld mode for a 60 or higher experience. You can adjust the graphics quality, texture quality, anti-aliasing, toggle v-sync, and adjust display mode and resolution in the graphics settings.With Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I’m glad I finally got around to playing these games. Not only are they all absolutely worth your time and money, but they play superbly on Steam Deck. I’d love for the remasters to hit iPad, but until then the Steam Deck is my favorite way to play Skunkape Games’ remasters.SCHiM Steam Deck ReviewGiven the sheer amount of releases lately, I didn’t get around to playing SCHiM much at launch. I’m glad I finally rectified that because it is equal parts charming and gorgeous, and it has been the perfect game to relax with as a break from the longer upcoming games I’m playing for review right now. Developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman have released a brilliant take on a 3D platformer using light, shadow, and more for puzzles, and it is all elevated by excellent audio.Aside from the striking aesthetic, what really carries SCHiM through its four or so hours long runtime is the animation work and sound design. As you work towards solving the various puzzles in the game, every interaction has a lovely little animation, and it all feels beyond polished when played at a rock solid 90fps on Steam Deck OLED. The blend of the shadows and lights for puzzles also are enhanced by the screen in handheld mode.So SCHiM runs perfectly out of the box on Steam Deck at 90fps, but how about docked? When played at 720p docked, it nearly does a locked 144fps. Playing at 1080p results in well over 100fps at all times. SCHiM supports 16:10 as well which is great to see on Steam Deck. I have no complaints with it aside from the fact that it might seem short for its price to some, and that there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does hold SCHiM down from perfection.SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.SCHiM Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck ReviewGestalt: Steam and Cinder is another game I wish I got around to playing sooner like SCHiM above. It has been on the review backlog for a bit now, but having played it, this action platformer is fantastic. Not only does it nail the aesthetic with its blend of 16 and 32-bit visuals, but the sound design, story, and gameplay are sublime.What initially drew me to Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, is the steampunk visual style in pixel art. I adore the character designs, but wasn’t sure another action platformer would be able to hit hard enough for me in recent years.

Having played it, the story is very good, but without getting into spoilers, I feel like there’s more to this tale. Hopefully we see some story DLC in the future.On the gameplay side, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder felt a bit easier than I expected outside of two bosses I had trouble with. Nothing major though, and the responsive controls help across the board.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder ships Steam Deck Verified, and it is perfect on Valve’s handheld. The only thing I’d like to see, if feasible, is support for 90fps. Right now, the game is capped at 60fps and 16:9. I tested this on both my Steam Decks docked and in handheld mode.Given how crowded the genre is, I know most people roll their eyes when they see another action platformer, but Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is one you cannot afford to miss. It is one of the best in the genre with its excellent gameplay, narrative, music, and slick visuals. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is also perfect on Steam Deck from start to finish.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck ReviewThe original Boltgun was a refreshing surprise for me when it was released last year. While I’m not as into first-person shooters as deeply as some, I can certainly enjoy a good boomer shooter. Give me fast, furious action with some interest levels to explore, a satisfying selection of weapons, and challenging enemy encounters and I’m there. Boltgun had all of that, all dressed up in a Warhammer theme that if nothing else helps the world feel like it extends outside of the borders of the game.  A thoroughly enjoying game to play through, and one that left me properly sated… or did it?While I thought I had had my fill of Boltgun, I was actually quite happy when Forges of Corruption was released. I guess I was still hungry. This expansion gives you five more levels of carnage to engage in, and they run on the larger side. You get two new guns to play with, one being an enhanced flamethrower and the other a rocket launcher. Sure, can’t argue with that. You also get some new enemies to try those toys out on, and you’ll need every edge you can get to deal with them.When compared to the original game’s levels, Forges of Corruption‘s stages favor more wide open spaces. This puts your mobility skills to the test, as you’ll have to keep on moving to avoid getting surrounded or cornered. If you haven’t mastered the dash already from playing the main campaign, you’ll need to get up to speed fast here. It’s an interesting change-up from the more compact design that the base game relied on so much. The enhanced flamethrower’s spread can really help you out here, and rockets always prefer open spaces.Difficulty-wise, these levels are mostly going to be a relative breeze for those who played through the first game. The last one is a real beast though, and you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned to overcome it. Which is to say that while you can play this expansion without finishing the main game, you really should leave it for after. All-up, it takes a few hours to get through it all.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.-Shaun MusgraveWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck review score: 4/5News and TrailersLet’s begin the massive (and fast-paced) news section of this week with a brand-new trailer for my most anticipated game of 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds. The trailer has the game looking better than before, and I’m getting more excited reading all the details from hands-on gameplay sessions people have at Gamescom.

Watch the third Monster Hunter Wilds trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4gR1QEvVA[/embed]The next bit of news I’m excited for is Final Fantasy XVI, the best singleplayer Final Fantasy game since XII, is coming to Steam in a few weeks with pre-orders and a demo now live. It is sadly pretty rough on Steam Deck, but I hope things improve. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqpFlA_4Is[/embed]Terry Bogard launches on September 24th in Street Fighter 6 as the second DLC for the Year 2 Pass. His gameplay trailer looks incredible. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDPhkX2oMmQ[/embed]While not directly Steam-related, Capcom is also bringing Resident Evil 2 to GOG on August 27th. I couldn’t get Resident Evil 1’s GOG release to work on Deck, but I hope this one works. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EuuJCGWfC8[/embed]Capcom also released a demo for the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on Steam and consoles. Check it out here. Read my preview of the full game here.Silent Hill 2 from Konami got a new story trailer, and this is the first trailer that’s been liked by a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the series. This will be my first Silent Hill game, so I’m excited to try it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR0I7dJQpk[/embed]Square Enix released a new “Final” trailer for Visions of Mana ahead of its launch next week. I can’t wait to talk about the full game soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubnfqC-vxk[/embed]A few days ago, Cygames released the big Version 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam and consoles bringing in big balance adjustments, the new DLC character Versusia, and in-game content included with Battle Pass Round 5. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2OoiGWYFUk[/embed]Persona 3 Reload’s expansion Episode Aigis is adding Joker as a boss fight. I didn’t expect that one, but I’m looking forward to playing the DLC very soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89HkGkSr7c[/embed]Atlus will host a new ATLUS Exclusive showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio on August 28th at 8 PM. It will be on YouTube. I’m looking forward to playing this hopefully soon for review. Atlus also revealed the English voice cast for the game. Check it out below:Protagonist – Caleb YenStrohl – Stewart ClarkeHulkenberg – Kristin AthertonGallica – Alejandra ReynosoHeismay – Phillipe SpallJunah – Emma BallantineEupha – Emily BurnettNeuras – David MonteithLouis – Joseph TweedaleMore – Greg ChunGrius – Gordon Cooper [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/embed]A new trailer for Metaphor has also gone live, and it is the best one yet for the game ahead of its launch in October. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_-BPELOl0M[/embed]SEGA released a new trailer for Sonic X Shadow Generations that makes me wish the game was out sooner. We need anime music videos based on this for sure. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-64Uzx2ac[/embed]Tempest Rising from 3D Realms got a new PvP teaser trailer this week at Gamescom 2024. It looks superb. Check out the footage below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtC4ywATBI[/embed]A game I’m excited to play later this year, Slitterhead from Bokeh Game Studio, got a new story trailer this week. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EENlMq23sE[/embed]A game most thought wouldn’t release this year, The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital, launches on September 17th with a lovely new trailer you can watch below. I’m excited to try this out on Steam Deck and Switch. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DpvZWrts_M[/embed]Devolver Digital is also launching Sumerian Six, the real time tactical stealth game via Steam, on September 2nd. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DeYqVHkkM[/embed]Raw Fury is releasing the horror survival game Post Trauma on October 29th. Check out its release date trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb9EwFKEi28[/embed]Blizzard

is celebrating Warcraft’s 30th anniversary in Overwatch 2 with a new skin for Widowmaker as Sylvanas next month. Check it out below:Action adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco launches on October 18th for Steam and consoles. Pre-orders are now live with a new gameplay trailer you can watch below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgaV3cZwVI[/embed]Eternal Strands, set to launch in 2025, got a new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2024 from Yellow Brick Games. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxtabO0hj8[/embed]Superhero-themed visual novel Sacrifice Villains from Shiravune is set to release on Steam this year. It will be priced at $19.99. Check out the Steam page here.Little Nightmares III also had a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It releases on Steam and all consoles next year. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ndYfBtYwI[/embed]Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion got a new trailer showcasing the Mercenary companions ahead of the expansion’s launch this October. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RHvTVnBiI[/embed]Inti Creates is releasing a demo for Card-en-Ciel on September 4th for Steam. Alongside this news, a new gameplay trailer has been released. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwI3Al25LJo[/embed]A sequel to Wilmot’s Warehouse is set to release on Steam on October 23rd in the form of Wilmot Works It Out. I loved the original and cannot wait to play this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARyZ2peq3U[/embed]Risk of Rain 2’s Seekers of the Storm DLC launches on August 27th for PC and consoles. I��ll be checking this one out on Steam Deck. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh36MdjdzHw[/embed]Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 and a new gameplay showcase this week makes me wonder if this will even run on Steam Deck with how good it looks. I’ll definitely try it. Watch the showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6bjlger8[/embed]Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves from SNK launches on April 24th, 2025 for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. The launch price is a special edition with the first pass. Watch the new trailer showing off the amazing Mai Shiranui and the release date showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgsu-Cn5fs[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHjjlpCoBOQ[/embed]Level Infinite streamed its recent “Into the Infinite” showcase featuring updates from its partners covering games like Soulframe, Warframe, and much more. Watch it below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIFQ8TZCp8[/embed]Sharkmob’s Exoborne had a new trailer released during the showcase above as well. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaixwsBHVg[/embed]Civilization VII from Firaxis and 2K launches for Steam and all consoles on February 11th, 2025 with pre-orders now live. Check out the gameplay trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U[/embed]2K also revealed two other games for 2025, and they’re big ones. Borderlands 4 and Mafia The Old Country are in development for Steam and consoles for 2025 release. Watch the trailers below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDUx5suLm4[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8WImF649E[/embed]Arc System Works has revealed new details for Double Dragon Revive including the composers and story details. The composers include Raito and many more. Check out the website here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_BX_N_zZU[/embed]Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Steam and Xbox on December 9th with pre-orders now live on Steam. I’m looking forward to playing this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg[/embed]The newest Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailers focus on Leafa and Sinon. Watch them below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqhzTC9-Is[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA[/embed]Delta Force, the first person

multiplayer shooter, previously known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops launches later this year for PC via Early Access on Steam from Level Infinite. It is also set to come to iOS and Android and consoles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwtosVfqog[/embed]Amazon Prime is doing a series on video games titled Secret Level with a focus on specific games over 15 episodes. These include Armored Core, Spelunky, New World: Aeternum, and more. It is set to begin streaming this December. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLihxsmI_OU[/embed]Speaking of New World: Aeterum, a new video series based on the game can now be watched ahead of the game’s launch on October 15th: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVO6W9rxN68[/embed]Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games launches as a free to play game on December 6th for Steam and consoles with all heroes included for free. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZrZGkIgY[/embed]Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC launches on September 30th for Steam and Xbox. A new update is also available now on all platforms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA1z1DbA_Io[/embed]Akatsuki Games released a new trailer for the extreme action game Tribe Nine ahead of its launch on Steam and mobile. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-ZANvmcL4[/embed]Free to play third person MOBA Predecessor is now available on Steam and consoles from Omeda Studios. Watch the trailer for it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxnN2DYyAAg[/embed]Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets another trailer showing off more of the game in its “50 days from now” trailer. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcsMP0yHJ4[/embed]Path of Exile 2 launches on Steam and consoles via Early Access on November 15th. Watch the new trailer from Grinding Gear Games below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaSU9UCe0w[/embed]Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone open world game that’s free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition. It is set to release in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50gFkG91jc[/embed]Idea Factory International announced that Date A Live: Ren Dystopia releases on September 5th for Steam. I’ll be reviewing this one. Check it out on Steam here.Torn Banner Studios (Chivalry 2) announced that the UE5-powered shooter No More Room in Hell 2 will launch in Steam early access this Halloween. Watch the trailer below from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp3nRkfkp1w[/embed]Warner Bros Games also showcased a new Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns gameplay trailer focussing on Cyrax who is a part of the new DLC. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwmIbv-LtA[/embed]Tokyo Xtreme Racer from Genki is a new entry in the long-running series coming to Steam in 2025. I’m glad to see this because a friend of mine is a huge fan. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhzyVcUCCM[/embed]Square Enix released a new trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure showcasing Max’s powers. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPGjvD5jRo[/embed]New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the weekThis week, Yakuza 4 and Devil Blade Reboot are the highlights for new Verified games, and EA’s anti-cheat issues continue to make more games unplayable on Steam Deck. Check out every notable game tested by Valve since the last article below:#BLUD – VerifiedAtlas Fallen – UnsupportedBattlefield 1 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)DEVIL BLADE REBOOT – VerifiedEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Eastward – PlayableFlatout 3 – Playablehololive treasure mountain – VerifiedIsles of Sea and Sky – VerifiedLISA: The First – UnsupportedMetropolis: Lux Obscura – PlayableMika and The Witch’s Mountain – VerifiedPlants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Pocket Bravery – Playableshapez 2 – PlayableSkull and Bones – PlayableSNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS – PlayableSPY×ANYA: Operation

Memories – PlayableSquirrel with a Gun – VerifiedSword of Convallaria – UnsupportedTeeny Tiny Trains – PlayableThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PlayableTHE LAST BLADE – PlayableTomba! Special Edition – PlayableWild Bastards – VerifiedYakuza 4 Remastered – VerifiedSteam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and SpecialsThe highlights of the week when it comes to sales and discounts are the Steam Rhythm Fest until August 26th with discounts on games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Trombone Champ, and DJ MAX RESPECT V, and also the new Capcom Resident Evil Humble Bundle.Next week, following the Rhythm Fest, the Isometric Games Sale begins with many discounts from publishers and developers including Owlcat Games. Check out a trailer for the event below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2N5XqsNRgE[/embed]That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.“Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right … Continue reading “Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck…”Source Link: https://toucharcade.com/2024/08/23/mameda-bakeru-steam-deck-pc-review-ff16-release-date-gamescom-2024-news/ http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/6285223545_2953179078_o.jpg Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web - #GLOBAL BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

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Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web https://www.merchant-business.com/steam-deck-weekly-gamescom-2024-steam-deck-news-reviews-including-bakeru-and-schim-new-verified-games-discounts-and-more/?feed_id=177112&_unique_id=66ca8f069c28c #GLOBAL - BLOGGER BLOGGER Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions for Bakeru and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, reviews of a few notable indies, Shaun’s take on the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun DLC, bundles, new Steam Deck Verified games, and more. Let’s get into the reviews and impressions first.Steam Deck Game Reviews & ImpressionsBakeru Steam Deck ReviewWhen Bakeru was released in Japan, a friend of mine imported it and praised it quite a bit. I tried the demo and was turned off by the technical issues. It was charming, but not enough to put up with no localization and performance issues on Switch. When it leaked on the eShop, I was hoping we’d see performance improvements or a port to PC. We ended up getting both more or less. Bakeru’s Switch release in the West is improved over the Japanese launch version, and it is also now on PC with an excellent port.Bakeru is an action platformer from Good-Feel who are most known for the Yoshi games and also more-recently Princess Peach Showtime from Nintendo. The studio has done some games outside Nintendo brands, and the newest in this line of non Nintendo games from Good-Feel is Bakeru. Shaun will be doing a full review for this one, but so far Bakeru feels and plays great on Steam Deck.On Steam Deck and PC, Bakeru lets you adjust display mode (windowed and borderless only), resolution (with full 16:10 support), toggle v-sync, adjust frame rate cap (Note that v-sync off means the game runs at 60fps. Turn it on if you would like to play at your monitor’s refresh rate or at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED), anti-aliasing (off, FXAA, SMAA), adjust filtering quality (trilinear, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x), and draw distance (low, medium, high).I played Bakeru on both my Steam Decks. My LCD is running the newest SteamOS beta. On that, I had zero issues with the game and it ran at a locked 60fps at maximum settings. On Steam Deck OLED running the public build of the OS, I only had some issues at 90fps. This seemingly wasn’t related to the settings, but something in the game because I had some shader-related or traversal stuttering in parts, but they only happened initially. I imagine Bakeru will be Steam Deck Verified soon as it runs perfectly if you play at 60fps and near-perfectly at 90fps.The one issue I ran into pre-release that Spike Chunsoft and the developers already fixed is button prompts being incorrectly displayed. This had the game showing Switch positions instead of Xbox ones when using my 8BitDo Xbox controller or the Steam Deck itself. I’m glad this was resolved pre-release as the game has no port issues, and it is dramatically better than the Switch version. When using a DualSense, it correctly showed PlayStation prompts with the proper labels and positions as well.Bakeru is a good platformer that I recommend playing on PC over Switch right now. The Switch version, despite performance improvements over the Japanese demo, still has too much variance in its performance to be an easy recommendation. The HD Rumble there is nice, but everything else holds it back. On PC, you miss out on the HD Rumble, but Bakeru runs a lot better across the board, and I’ve been enjoying digging into it over the last week. Stay tuned for Shaun’s full review of the Switch version in the near future.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Steam Deck ReviewThere have been many game franchises that I completely missed out on over the years.

The Sam & Max series of games is one of those. When I was offered a code to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I figured now was the time to finally play these games with the new remasters. If you’re just here for the game itself, I urge you to read Shaun’s Switch review here. I’m going to focus on how it plays on Steam Deck.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is the final game in the episodic Sam & Max main trilogy. This new remaster is amazing in basically every way. This includes how it controls, looks, sounds, and feels. It even has many accessibility options to make things go smoothly if you’re new to this kind of adventure game. You can toggle different hint levels and disable flashing in the accessibility settings.On the graphics and display side, you can play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse at higher resolutions when docked on Steam Deck, but performance doesn’t hold close to 60fps if you play at 4K. I recommend sticking to it in handheld mode for a 60 or higher experience. You can adjust the graphics quality, texture quality, anti-aliasing, toggle v-sync, and adjust display mode and resolution in the graphics settings.With Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I’m glad I finally got around to playing these games. Not only are they all absolutely worth your time and money, but they play superbly on Steam Deck. I’d love for the remasters to hit iPad, but until then the Steam Deck is my favorite way to play Skunkape Games’ remasters.SCHiM Steam Deck ReviewGiven the sheer amount of releases lately, I didn’t get around to playing SCHiM much at launch. I’m glad I finally rectified that because it is equal parts charming and gorgeous, and it has been the perfect game to relax with as a break from the longer upcoming games I’m playing for review right now. Developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman have released a brilliant take on a 3D platformer using light, shadow, and more for puzzles, and it is all elevated by excellent audio.Aside from the striking aesthetic, what really carries SCHiM through its four or so hours long runtime is the animation work and sound design. As you work towards solving the various puzzles in the game, every interaction has a lovely little animation, and it all feels beyond polished when played at a rock solid 90fps on Steam Deck OLED. The blend of the shadows and lights for puzzles also are enhanced by the screen in handheld mode.So SCHiM runs perfectly out of the box on Steam Deck at 90fps, but how about docked? When played at 720p docked, it nearly does a locked 144fps. Playing at 1080p results in well over 100fps at all times. SCHiM supports 16:10 as well which is great to see on Steam Deck. I have no complaints with it aside from the fact that it might seem short for its price to some, and that there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does hold SCHiM down from perfection.SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.SCHiM Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck ReviewGestalt: Steam and Cinder is another game I wish I got around to playing sooner like SCHiM above. It has been on the review backlog for a bit now, but having played it, this action platformer is fantastic. Not only does it nail the aesthetic with its blend of 16 and 32-bit visuals, but the sound design, story, and gameplay are sublime.What initially drew me to Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, is the steampunk visual style in pixel art. I adore the character designs, but wasn’t sure another action platformer would be able to hit hard enough for me in recent years.

Having played it, the story is very good, but without getting into spoilers, I feel like there’s more to this tale. Hopefully we see some story DLC in the future.On the gameplay side, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder felt a bit easier than I expected outside of two bosses I had trouble with. Nothing major though, and the responsive controls help across the board.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder ships Steam Deck Verified, and it is perfect on Valve’s handheld. The only thing I’d like to see, if feasible, is support for 90fps. Right now, the game is capped at 60fps and 16:9. I tested this on both my Steam Decks docked and in handheld mode.Given how crowded the genre is, I know most people roll their eyes when they see another action platformer, but Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is one you cannot afford to miss. It is one of the best in the genre with its excellent gameplay, narrative, music, and slick visuals. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is also perfect on Steam Deck from start to finish.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck ReviewThe original Boltgun was a refreshing surprise for me when it was released last year. While I’m not as into first-person shooters as deeply as some, I can certainly enjoy a good boomer shooter. Give me fast, furious action with some interest levels to explore, a satisfying selection of weapons, and challenging enemy encounters and I’m there. Boltgun had all of that, all dressed up in a Warhammer theme that if nothing else helps the world feel like it extends outside of the borders of the game.  A thoroughly enjoying game to play through, and one that left me properly sated… or did it?While I thought I had had my fill of Boltgun, I was actually quite happy when Forges of Corruption was released. I guess I was still hungry. This expansion gives you five more levels of carnage to engage in, and they run on the larger side. You get two new guns to play with, one being an enhanced flamethrower and the other a rocket launcher. Sure, can’t argue with that. You also get some new enemies to try those toys out on, and you’ll need every edge you can get to deal with them.When compared to the original game’s levels, Forges of Corruption‘s stages favor more wide open spaces. This puts your mobility skills to the test, as you’ll have to keep on moving to avoid getting surrounded or cornered. If you haven’t mastered the dash already from playing the main campaign, you’ll need to get up to speed fast here. It’s an interesting change-up from the more compact design that the base game relied on so much. The enhanced flamethrower’s spread can really help you out here, and rockets always prefer open spaces.Difficulty-wise, these levels are mostly going to be a relative breeze for those who played through the first game. The last one is a real beast though, and you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned to overcome it. Which is to say that while you can play this expansion without finishing the main game, you really should leave it for after. All-up, it takes a few hours to get through it all.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.-Shaun MusgraveWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck review score: 4/5News and TrailersLet’s begin the massive (and fast-paced) news section of this week with a brand-new trailer for my most anticipated game of 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds. The trailer has the game looking better than before, and I’m getting more excited reading all the details from hands-on gameplay sessions people have at Gamescom.

Watch the third Monster Hunter Wilds trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4gR1QEvVA[/embed]The next bit of news I’m excited for is Final Fantasy XVI, the best singleplayer Final Fantasy game since XII, is coming to Steam in a few weeks with pre-orders and a demo now live. It is sadly pretty rough on Steam Deck, but I hope things improve. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqpFlA_4Is[/embed]Terry Bogard launches on September 24th in Street Fighter 6 as the second DLC for the Year 2 Pass. His gameplay trailer looks incredible. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDPhkX2oMmQ[/embed]While not directly Steam-related, Capcom is also bringing Resident Evil 2 to GOG on August 27th. I couldn’t get Resident Evil 1’s GOG release to work on Deck, but I hope this one works. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EuuJCGWfC8[/embed]Capcom also released a demo for the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on Steam and consoles. Check it out here. Read my preview of the full game here.Silent Hill 2 from Konami got a new story trailer, and this is the first trailer that’s been liked by a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the series. This will be my first Silent Hill game, so I’m excited to try it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR0I7dJQpk[/embed]Square Enix released a new “Final” trailer for Visions of Mana ahead of its launch next week. I can’t wait to talk about the full game soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubnfqC-vxk[/embed]A few days ago, Cygames released the big Version 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam and consoles bringing in big balance adjustments, the new DLC character Versusia, and in-game content included with Battle Pass Round 5. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2OoiGWYFUk[/embed]Persona 3 Reload’s expansion Episode Aigis is adding Joker as a boss fight. I didn’t expect that one, but I’m looking forward to playing the DLC very soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89HkGkSr7c[/embed]Atlus will host a new ATLUS Exclusive showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio on August 28th at 8 PM. It will be on YouTube. I’m looking forward to playing this hopefully soon for review. Atlus also revealed the English voice cast for the game. Check it out below:Protagonist – Caleb YenStrohl – Stewart ClarkeHulkenberg – Kristin AthertonGallica – Alejandra ReynosoHeismay – Phillipe SpallJunah – Emma BallantineEupha – Emily BurnettNeuras – David MonteithLouis – Joseph TweedaleMore – Greg ChunGrius – Gordon Cooper [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/embed]A new trailer for Metaphor has also gone live, and it is the best one yet for the game ahead of its launch in October. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_-BPELOl0M[/embed]SEGA released a new trailer for Sonic X Shadow Generations that makes me wish the game was out sooner. We need anime music videos based on this for sure. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-64Uzx2ac[/embed]Tempest Rising from 3D Realms got a new PvP teaser trailer this week at Gamescom 2024. It looks superb. Check out the footage below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtC4ywATBI[/embed]A game I’m excited to play later this year, Slitterhead from Bokeh Game Studio, got a new story trailer this week. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EENlMq23sE[/embed]A game most thought wouldn’t release this year, The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital, launches on September 17th with a lovely new trailer you can watch below. I’m excited to try this out on Steam Deck and Switch. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DpvZWrts_M[/embed]Devolver Digital is also launching Sumerian Six, the real time tactical stealth game via Steam, on September 2nd. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DeYqVHkkM[/embed]Raw Fury is releasing the horror survival game Post Trauma on October 29th. Check out its release date trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb9EwFKEi28[/embed]Blizzard

is celebrating Warcraft’s 30th anniversary in Overwatch 2 with a new skin for Widowmaker as Sylvanas next month. Check it out below:Action adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco launches on October 18th for Steam and consoles. Pre-orders are now live with a new gameplay trailer you can watch below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgaV3cZwVI[/embed]Eternal Strands, set to launch in 2025, got a new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2024 from Yellow Brick Games. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxtabO0hj8[/embed]Superhero-themed visual novel Sacrifice Villains from Shiravune is set to release on Steam this year. It will be priced at $19.99. Check out the Steam page here.Little Nightmares III also had a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It releases on Steam and all consoles next year. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ndYfBtYwI[/embed]Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion got a new trailer showcasing the Mercenary companions ahead of the expansion’s launch this October. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RHvTVnBiI[/embed]Inti Creates is releasing a demo for Card-en-Ciel on September 4th for Steam. Alongside this news, a new gameplay trailer has been released. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwI3Al25LJo[/embed]A sequel to Wilmot’s Warehouse is set to release on Steam on October 23rd in the form of Wilmot Works It Out. I loved the original and cannot wait to play this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARyZ2peq3U[/embed]Risk of Rain 2’s Seekers of the Storm DLC launches on August 27th for PC and consoles. I’ll be checking this one out on Steam Deck. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh36MdjdzHw[/embed]Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 and a new gameplay showcase this week makes me wonder if this will even run on Steam Deck with how good it looks. I’ll definitely try it. Watch the showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6bjlger8[/embed]Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves from SNK launches on April 24th, 2025 for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. The launch price is a special edition with the first pass. Watch the new trailer showing off the amazing Mai Shiranui and the release date showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgsu-Cn5fs[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHjjlpCoBOQ[/embed]Level Infinite streamed its recent “Into the Infinite” showcase featuring updates from its partners covering games like Soulframe, Warframe, and much more. Watch it below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIFQ8TZCp8[/embed]Sharkmob’s Exoborne had a new trailer released during the showcase above as well. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaixwsBHVg[/embed]Civilization VII from Firaxis and 2K launches for Steam and all consoles on February 11th, 2025 with pre-orders now live. Check out the gameplay trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U[/embed]2K also revealed two other games for 2025, and they’re big ones. Borderlands 4 and Mafia The Old Country are in development for Steam and consoles for 2025 release. Watch the trailers below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDUx5suLm4[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8WImF649E[/embed]Arc System Works has revealed new details for Double Dragon Revive including the composers and story details. The composers include Raito and many more. Check out the website here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_BX_N_zZU[/embed]Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Steam and Xbox on December 9th with pre-orders now live on Steam. I’m looking forward to playing this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg[/embed]The newest Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailers focus on Leafa and Sinon. Watch them below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqhzTC9-Is[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA[/embed]Delta Force, the first person

multiplayer shooter, previously known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops launches later this year for PC via Early Access on Steam from Level Infinite. It is also set to come to iOS and Android and consoles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwtosVfqog[/embed]Amazon Prime is doing a series on video games titled Secret Level with a focus on specific games over 15 episodes. These include Armored Core, Spelunky, New World: Aeternum, and more. It is set to begin streaming this December. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLihxsmI_OU[/embed]Speaking of New World: Aeterum, a new video series based on the game can now be watched ahead of the game’s launch on October 15th: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVO6W9rxN68[/embed]Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games launches as a free to play game on December 6th for Steam and consoles with all heroes included for free. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZrZGkIgY[/embed]Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC launches on September 30th for Steam and Xbox. A new update is also available now on all platforms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA1z1DbA_Io[/embed]Akatsuki Games released a new trailer for the extreme action game Tribe Nine ahead of its launch on Steam and mobile. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-ZANvmcL4[/embed]Free to play third person MOBA Predecessor is now available on Steam and consoles from Omeda Studios. Watch the trailer for it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxnN2DYyAAg[/embed]Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets another trailer showing off more of the game in its “50 days from now” trailer. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcsMP0yHJ4[/embed]Path of Exile 2 launches on Steam and consoles via Early Access on November 15th. Watch the new trailer from Grinding Gear Games below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaSU9UCe0w[/embed]Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone open world game that’s free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition. It is set to release in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50gFkG91jc[/embed]Idea Factory International announced that Date A Live: Ren Dystopia releases on September 5th for Steam. I’ll be reviewing this one. Check it out on Steam here.Torn Banner Studios (Chivalry 2) announced that the UE5-powered shooter No More Room in Hell 2 will launch in Steam early access this Halloween. Watch the trailer below from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp3nRkfkp1w[/embed]Warner Bros Games also showcased a new Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns gameplay trailer focussing on Cyrax who is a part of the new DLC. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwmIbv-LtA[/embed]Tokyo Xtreme Racer from Genki is a new entry in the long-running series coming to Steam in 2025. I’m glad to see this because a friend of mine is a huge fan. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhzyVcUCCM[/embed]Square Enix released a new trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure showcasing Max’s powers. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPGjvD5jRo[/embed]New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the weekThis week, Yakuza 4 and Devil Blade Reboot are the highlights for new Verified games, and EA’s anti-cheat issues continue to make more games unplayable on Steam Deck. Check out every notable game tested by Valve since the last article below:#BLUD – VerifiedAtlas Fallen – UnsupportedBattlefield 1 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)DEVIL BLADE REBOOT – VerifiedEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Eastward – PlayableFlatout 3 – Playablehololive treasure mountain – VerifiedIsles of Sea and Sky – VerifiedLISA: The First – UnsupportedMetropolis: Lux Obscura – PlayableMika and The Witch’s Mountain – VerifiedPlants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Pocket Bravery – Playableshapez 2 – PlayableSkull and Bones – PlayableSNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS – PlayableSPY×ANYA: Operation

Memories – PlayableSquirrel with a Gun – VerifiedSword of Convallaria – UnsupportedTeeny Tiny Trains – PlayableThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PlayableTHE LAST BLADE – PlayableTomba! Special Edition – PlayableWild Bastards – VerifiedYakuza 4 Remastered – VerifiedSteam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and SpecialsThe highlights of the week when it comes to sales and discounts are the Steam Rhythm Fest until August 26th with discounts on games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Trombone Champ, and DJ MAX RESPECT V, and also the new Capcom Resident Evil Humble Bundle.Next week, following the Rhythm Fest, the Isometric Games Sale begins with many discounts from publishers and developers including Owlcat Games. Check out a trailer for the event below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2N5XqsNRgE[/embed]That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.“Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right … Continue reading “Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck…”Source Link: https://toucharcade.com/2024/08/23/mameda-bakeru-steam-deck-pc-review-ff16-release-date-gamescom-2024-news/ http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/6285223545_2953179078_o.jpg Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions … Read More

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Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck News, Reviews Including Bakeru and SCHiM, New Verified Games, Discounts, and More - Journal Today Web - #GLOBAL https://www.merchant-business.com/steam-deck-weekly-gamescom-2024-steam-deck-news-reviews-including-bakeru-and-schim-new-verified-games-discounts-and-more/?feed_id=177111&_unique_id=66ca8f051c191 Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right now with news from Geoff Keighley’s Opening Night Live, game announcements, show floor information, and more. If you missed my Black Myth: Wukong Steam Deck review, read it here. Today’s article has Steam Deck impressions for Bakeru and Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, reviews of a few notable indies, Shaun’s take on the Warhammer 40K: Boltgun DLC, bundles, new Steam Deck Verified games, and more. Let’s get into the reviews and impressions first.Steam Deck Game Reviews & ImpressionsBakeru Steam Deck ReviewWhen Bakeru was released in Japan, a friend of mine imported it and praised it quite a bit. I tried the demo and was turned off by the technical issues. It was charming, but not enough to put up with no localization and performance issues on Switch. When it leaked on the eShop, I was hoping we’d see performance improvements or a port to PC. We ended up getting both more or less. Bakeru’s Switch release in the West is improved over the Japanese launch version, and it is also now on PC with an excellent port.Bakeru is an action platformer from Good-Feel who are most known for the Yoshi games and also more-recently Princess Peach Showtime from Nintendo. The studio has done some games outside Nintendo brands, and the newest in this line of non Nintendo games from Good-Feel is Bakeru. Shaun will be doing a full review for this one, but so far Bakeru feels and plays great on Steam Deck.On Steam Deck and PC, Bakeru lets you adjust display mode (windowed and borderless only), resolution (with full 16:10 support), toggle v-sync, adjust frame rate cap (Note that v-sync off means the game runs at 60fps. Turn it on if you would like to play at your monitor’s refresh rate or at 90fps on Steam Deck OLED), anti-aliasing (off, FXAA, SMAA), adjust filtering quality (trilinear, 2x, 4x, 8x, and 16x), and draw distance (low, medium, high).I played Bakeru on both my Steam Decks. My LCD is running the newest SteamOS beta. On that, I had zero issues with the game and it ran at a locked 60fps at maximum settings. On Steam Deck OLED running the public build of the OS, I only had some issues at 90fps. This seemingly wasn’t related to the settings, but something in the game because I had some shader-related or traversal stuttering in parts, but they only happened initially. I imagine Bakeru will be Steam Deck Verified soon as it runs perfectly if you play at 60fps and near-perfectly at 90fps.The one issue I ran into pre-release that Spike Chunsoft and the developers already fixed is button prompts being incorrectly displayed. This had the game showing Switch positions instead of Xbox ones when using my 8BitDo Xbox controller or the Steam Deck itself. I’m glad this was resolved pre-release as the game has no port issues, and it is dramatically better than the Switch version. When using a DualSense, it correctly showed PlayStation prompts with the proper labels and positions as well.Bakeru is a good platformer that I recommend playing on PC over Switch right now. The Switch version, despite performance improvements over the Japanese demo, still has too much variance in its performance to be an easy recommendation. The HD Rumble there is nice, but everything else holds it back. On PC, you miss out on the HD Rumble, but Bakeru runs a lot better across the board, and I’ve been enjoying digging into it over the last week. Stay tuned for Shaun’s full review of the Switch version in the near future.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse Steam Deck ReviewThere have been many game franchises that I completely missed out on over the years.

The Sam & Max series of games is one of those. When I was offered a code to play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I figured now was the time to finally play these games with the new remasters. If you’re just here for the game itself, I urge you to read Shaun’s Switch review here. I’m going to focus on how it plays on Steam Deck.Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse is the final game in the episodic Sam & Max main trilogy. This new remaster is amazing in basically every way. This includes how it controls, looks, sounds, and feels. It even has many accessibility options to make things go smoothly if you’re new to this kind of adventure game. You can toggle different hint levels and disable flashing in the accessibility settings.On the graphics and display side, you can play Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse at higher resolutions when docked on Steam Deck, but performance doesn’t hold close to 60fps if you play at 4K. I recommend sticking to it in handheld mode for a 60 or higher experience. You can adjust the graphics quality, texture quality, anti-aliasing, toggle v-sync, and adjust display mode and resolution in the graphics settings.With Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse, I’m glad I finally got around to playing these games. Not only are they all absolutely worth your time and money, but they play superbly on Steam Deck. I’d love for the remasters to hit iPad, but until then the Steam Deck is my favorite way to play Skunkape Games’ remasters.SCHiM Steam Deck ReviewGiven the sheer amount of releases lately, I didn’t get around to playing SCHiM much at launch. I’m glad I finally rectified that because it is equal parts charming and gorgeous, and it has been the perfect game to relax with as a break from the longer upcoming games I’m playing for review right now. Developers Ewoud van der Werf and Nils Slijkerman have released a brilliant take on a 3D platformer using light, shadow, and more for puzzles, and it is all elevated by excellent audio.Aside from the striking aesthetic, what really carries SCHiM through its four or so hours long runtime is the animation work and sound design. As you work towards solving the various puzzles in the game, every interaction has a lovely little animation, and it all feels beyond polished when played at a rock solid 90fps on Steam Deck OLED. The blend of the shadows and lights for puzzles also are enhanced by the screen in handheld mode.So SCHiM runs perfectly out of the box on Steam Deck at 90fps, but how about docked? When played at 720p docked, it nearly does a locked 144fps. Playing at 1080p results in well over 100fps at all times. SCHiM supports 16:10 as well which is great to see on Steam Deck. I have no complaints with it aside from the fact that it might seem short for its price to some, and that there really is no evolution of the mechanics over the course of the game. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it does hold SCHiM down from perfection.SCHiM is a lovely abstract take on games like Frogger for the modern era. Come into this expecting a work of art with excellent audio design more than a complex puzzle game. I enjoyed just about every level despite the mechanics not really evolving. I enjoyed it enough on Steam Deck to order a physical copy of the Switch version from Japan already. This is definitely worth your time if you enjoy delightful, gorgeous, and relaxing puzzle games.SCHiM Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck ReviewGestalt: Steam and Cinder is another game I wish I got around to playing sooner like SCHiM above. It has been on the review backlog for a bit now, but having played it, this action platformer is fantastic. Not only does it nail the aesthetic with its blend of 16 and 32-bit visuals, but the sound design, story, and gameplay are sublime.What initially drew me to Gestalt: Steam and Cinder, is the steampunk visual style in pixel art. I adore the character designs, but wasn’t sure another action platformer would be able to hit hard enough for me in recent years.

Having played it, the story is very good, but without getting into spoilers, I feel like there’s more to this tale. Hopefully we see some story DLC in the future.On the gameplay side, Gestalt: Steam and Cinder felt a bit easier than I expected outside of two bosses I had trouble with. Nothing major though, and the responsive controls help across the board.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder ships Steam Deck Verified, and it is perfect on Valve’s handheld. The only thing I’d like to see, if feasible, is support for 90fps. Right now, the game is capped at 60fps and 16:9. I tested this on both my Steam Decks docked and in handheld mode.Given how crowded the genre is, I know most people roll their eyes when they see another action platformer, but Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is one you cannot afford to miss. It is one of the best in the genre with its excellent gameplay, narrative, music, and slick visuals. Gestalt: Steam and Cinder is also perfect on Steam Deck from start to finish.Gestalt: Steam and Cinder Steam Deck review score: 4.5/5Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck ReviewThe original Boltgun was a refreshing surprise for me when it was released last year. While I’m not as into first-person shooters as deeply as some, I can certainly enjoy a good boomer shooter. Give me fast, furious action with some interest levels to explore, a satisfying selection of weapons, and challenging enemy encounters and I’m there. Boltgun had all of that, all dressed up in a Warhammer theme that if nothing else helps the world feel like it extends outside of the borders of the game.  A thoroughly enjoying game to play through, and one that left me properly sated… or did it?While I thought I had had my fill of Boltgun, I was actually quite happy when Forges of Corruption was released. I guess I was still hungry. This expansion gives you five more levels of carnage to engage in, and they run on the larger side. You get two new guns to play with, one being an enhanced flamethrower and the other a rocket launcher. Sure, can’t argue with that. You also get some new enemies to try those toys out on, and you’ll need every edge you can get to deal with them.When compared to the original game’s levels, Forges of Corruption‘s stages favor more wide open spaces. This puts your mobility skills to the test, as you’ll have to keep on moving to avoid getting surrounded or cornered. If you haven’t mastered the dash already from playing the main campaign, you’ll need to get up to speed fast here. It’s an interesting change-up from the more compact design that the base game relied on so much. The enhanced flamethrower’s spread can really help you out here, and rockets always prefer open spaces.Difficulty-wise, these levels are mostly going to be a relative breeze for those who played through the first game. The last one is a real beast though, and you’re going to have to use everything you’ve learned to overcome it. Which is to say that while you can play this expansion without finishing the main game, you really should leave it for after. All-up, it takes a few hours to get through it all.Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption keep the party rolling with a set of new stages that show off a slightly different design intent than those of the original. The new weapons and enemies are appreciated, and the level design makes the most of both. I do wish there was something more interesting going on visually here, and the difficulty curve isn’t as smooth as it was in the base game. Still, those looking for more Boltgun challenges to tackle will find them here.-Shaun MusgraveWarhammer 40,000: Boltgun – Forges of Corruption Expansion Steam Deck review score: 4/5News and TrailersLet’s begin the massive (and fast-paced) news section of this week with a brand-new trailer for my most anticipated game of 2025: Monster Hunter Wilds. The trailer has the game looking better than before, and I’m getting more excited reading all the details from hands-on gameplay sessions people have at Gamescom.

Watch the third Monster Hunter Wilds trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp4gR1QEvVA[/embed]The next bit of news I’m excited for is Final Fantasy XVI, the best singleplayer Final Fantasy game since XII, is coming to Steam in a few weeks with pre-orders and a demo now live. It is sadly pretty rough on Steam Deck, but I hope things improve. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBqpFlA_4Is[/embed]Terry Bogard launches on September 24th in Street Fighter 6 as the second DLC for the Year 2 Pass. His gameplay trailer looks incredible. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDPhkX2oMmQ[/embed]While not directly Steam-related, Capcom is also bringing Resident Evil 2 to GOG on August 27th. I couldn’t get Resident Evil 1’s GOG release to work on Deck, but I hope this one works. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EuuJCGWfC8[/embed]Capcom also released a demo for the Ace Attorney Investigations Collection on Steam and consoles. Check it out here. Read my preview of the full game here.Silent Hill 2 from Konami got a new story trailer, and this is the first trailer that’s been liked by a friend of mine who is a huge fan of the series. This will be my first Silent Hill game, so I’m excited to try it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjR0I7dJQpk[/embed]Square Enix released a new “Final” trailer for Visions of Mana ahead of its launch next week. I can’t wait to talk about the full game soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SubnfqC-vxk[/embed]A few days ago, Cygames released the big Version 1.50 update for Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising on Steam and consoles bringing in big balance adjustments, the new DLC character Versusia, and in-game content included with Battle Pass Round 5. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2OoiGWYFUk[/embed]Persona 3 Reload’s expansion Episode Aigis is adding Joker as a boss fight. I didn’t expect that one, but I’m looking forward to playing the DLC very soon. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m89HkGkSr7c[/embed]Atlus will host a new ATLUS Exclusive showcase for Metaphor: ReFantazio on August 28th at 8 PM. It will be on YouTube. I’m looking forward to playing this hopefully soon for review. Atlus also revealed the English voice cast for the game. Check it out below:Protagonist – Caleb YenStrohl – Stewart ClarkeHulkenberg – Kristin AthertonGallica – Alejandra ReynosoHeismay – Phillipe SpallJunah – Emma BallantineEupha – Emily BurnettNeuras – David MonteithLouis – Joseph TweedaleMore – Greg ChunGrius – Gordon Cooper [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[/embed]A new trailer for Metaphor has also gone live, and it is the best one yet for the game ahead of its launch in October. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_-BPELOl0M[/embed]SEGA released a new trailer for Sonic X Shadow Generations that makes me wish the game was out sooner. We need anime music videos based on this for sure. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N-64Uzx2ac[/embed]Tempest Rising from 3D Realms got a new PvP teaser trailer this week at Gamescom 2024. It looks superb. Check out the footage below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mtC4ywATBI[/embed]A game I’m excited to play later this year, Slitterhead from Bokeh Game Studio, got a new story trailer this week. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EENlMq23sE[/embed]A game most thought wouldn’t release this year, The Plucky Squire from Devolver Digital, launches on September 17th with a lovely new trailer you can watch below. I’m excited to try this out on Steam Deck and Switch. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DpvZWrts_M[/embed]Devolver Digital is also launching Sumerian Six, the real time tactical stealth game via Steam, on September 2nd. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9DeYqVHkkM[/embed]Raw Fury is releasing the horror survival game Post Trauma on October 29th. Check out its release date trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb9EwFKEi28[/embed]Blizzard

is celebrating Warcraft’s 30th anniversary in Overwatch 2 with a new skin for Widowmaker as Sylvanas next month. Check it out below:Action adventure game Unknown 9: Awakening from Bandai Namco launches on October 18th for Steam and consoles. Pre-orders are now live with a new gameplay trailer you can watch below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgaV3cZwVI[/embed]Eternal Strands, set to launch in 2025, got a new gameplay trailer at Gamescom 2024 from Yellow Brick Games. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHxtabO0hj8[/embed]Superhero-themed visual novel Sacrifice Villains from Shiravune is set to release on Steam this year. It will be priced at $19.99. Check out the Steam page here.Little Nightmares III also had a new trailer during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024. It releases on Steam and all consoles next year. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14ndYfBtYwI[/embed]Diablo IV’s Vessel of Hatred expansion got a new trailer showcasing the Mercenary companions ahead of the expansion’s launch this October. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_RHvTVnBiI[/embed]Inti Creates is releasing a demo for Card-en-Ciel on September 4th for Steam. Alongside this news, a new gameplay trailer has been released. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwI3Al25LJo[/embed]A sequel to Wilmot’s Warehouse is set to release on Steam on October 23rd in the form of Wilmot Works It Out. I loved the original and cannot wait to play this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YARyZ2peq3U[/embed]Risk of Rain 2’s Seekers of the Storm DLC launches on August 27th for PC and consoles. I’ll be checking this one out on Steam Deck. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh36MdjdzHw[/embed]Kingdom Come: Deliverance II launches on February 11th, 2025 and a new gameplay showcase this week makes me wonder if this will even run on Steam Deck with how good it looks. I’ll definitely try it. Watch the showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VP6bjlger8[/embed]Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves from SNK launches on April 24th, 2025 for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. The launch price is a special edition with the first pass. Watch the new trailer showing off the amazing Mai Shiranui and the release date showcase below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRgsu-Cn5fs[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHjjlpCoBOQ[/embed]Level Infinite streamed its recent “Into the Infinite” showcase featuring updates from its partners covering games like Soulframe, Warframe, and much more. Watch it below:[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAIFQ8TZCp8[/embed]Sharkmob’s Exoborne had a new trailer released during the showcase above as well. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehaixwsBHVg[/embed]Civilization VII from Firaxis and 2K launches for Steam and all consoles on February 11th, 2025 with pre-orders now live. Check out the gameplay trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK_JrrP9m2U[/embed]2K also revealed two other games for 2025, and they’re big ones. Borderlands 4 and Mafia The Old Country are in development for Steam and consoles for 2025 release. Watch the trailers below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crDUx5suLm4[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8WImF649E[/embed]Arc System Works has revealed new details for Double Dragon Revive including the composers and story details. The composers include Raito and many more. Check out the website here. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n_BX_N_zZU[/embed]Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Steam and Xbox on December 9th with pre-orders now live on Steam. I’m looking forward to playing this. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STrKl828Aeg[/embed]The newest Sword Art Online Fractured Daydream trailers focus on Leafa and Sinon. Watch them below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYqhzTC9-Is[/embed] [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2q1uonLUwA[/embed]Delta Force, the first person

multiplayer shooter, previously known as Delta Force: Hawk Ops launches later this year for PC via Early Access on Steam from Level Infinite. It is also set to come to iOS and Android and consoles. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hwtosVfqog[/embed]Amazon Prime is doing a series on video games titled Secret Level with a focus on specific games over 15 episodes. These include Armored Core, Spelunky, New World: Aeternum, and more. It is set to begin streaming this December. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLihxsmI_OU[/embed]Speaking of New World: Aeterum, a new video series based on the game can now be watched ahead of the game’s launch on October 15th: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVO6W9rxN68[/embed]Marvel Rivals from NetEase Games launches as a free to play game on December 6th for Steam and consoles with all heroes included for free. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiAZrZGkIgY[/embed]Starfield’s Shattered Space DLC launches on September 30th for Steam and Xbox. A new update is also available now on all platforms. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA1z1DbA_Io[/embed]Akatsuki Games released a new trailer for the extreme action game Tribe Nine ahead of its launch on Steam and mobile. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8-ZANvmcL4[/embed]Free to play third person MOBA Predecessor is now available on Steam and consoles from Omeda Studios. Watch the trailer for it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxnN2DYyAAg[/embed]Dragon Ball: Sparking! ZERO gets another trailer showing off more of the game in its “50 days from now” trailer. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcsMP0yHJ4[/embed]Path of Exile 2 launches on Steam and consoles via Early Access on November 15th. Watch the new trailer from Grinding Gear Games below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYaSU9UCe0w[/embed]Dying Light: The Beast is a standalone open world game that’s free for owners of Dying Light 2 Ultimate Edition. It is set to release in the future. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50gFkG91jc[/embed]Idea Factory International announced that Date A Live: Ren Dystopia releases on September 5th for Steam. I’ll be reviewing this one. Check it out on Steam here.Torn Banner Studios (Chivalry 2) announced that the UE5-powered shooter No More Room in Hell 2 will launch in Steam early access this Halloween. Watch the trailer below from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2024: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp3nRkfkp1w[/embed]Warner Bros Games also showcased a new Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns gameplay trailer focussing on Cyrax who is a part of the new DLC. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZwmIbv-LtA[/embed]Tokyo Xtreme Racer from Genki is a new entry in the long-running series coming to Steam in 2025. I’m glad to see this because a friend of mine is a huge fan. Watch the trailer below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhzyVcUCCM[/embed]Square Enix released a new trailer for Life is Strange: Double Exposure showcasing Max’s powers. Watch it below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kPGjvD5jRo[/embed]New Steam Deck Verified & Playable games for the weekThis week, Yakuza 4 and Devil Blade Reboot are the highlights for new Verified games, and EA’s anti-cheat issues continue to make more games unplayable on Steam Deck. Check out every notable game tested by Valve since the last article below:#BLUD – VerifiedAtlas Fallen – UnsupportedBattlefield 1 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)DEVIL BLADE REBOOT – VerifiedEA SPORTS Madden NFL 25 – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Eastward – PlayableFlatout 3 – Playablehololive treasure mountain – VerifiedIsles of Sea and Sky – VerifiedLISA: The First – UnsupportedMetropolis: Lux Obscura – PlayableMika and The Witch’s Mountain – VerifiedPlants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2: Deluxe Edition – Unsupported (new anti-cheat issues)Pocket Bravery – Playableshapez 2 – PlayableSkull and Bones – PlayableSNK VS. CAPCOM SVC CHAOS – PlayableSPY×ANYA: Operation

Memories – PlayableSquirrel with a Gun – VerifiedSword of Convallaria – UnsupportedTeeny Tiny Trains – PlayableThe Infectious Madness of Doctor Dekker – PlayableTHE LAST BLADE – PlayableTomba! Special Edition – PlayableWild Bastards – VerifiedYakuza 4 Remastered – VerifiedSteam Deck Game Sales, Discounts, and SpecialsThe highlights of the week when it comes to sales and discounts are the Steam Rhythm Fest until August 26th with discounts on games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Trombone Champ, and DJ MAX RESPECT V, and also the new Capcom Resident Evil Humble Bundle.Next week, following the Rhythm Fest, the Isometric Games Sale begins with many discounts from publishers and developers including Owlcat Games. Check out a trailer for the event below: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2N5XqsNRgE[/embed]That’s all for this edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. As usual, you can read all our past and future Steam Deck coverage here. If you have any feedback for this feature or what else you’d like to see us do around the Steam Deck, let us know in the comments below. I hope you all have a great day, and thanks for reading.“Welcome to this week’s edition of the Steam Deck Weekly. I delayed publishing this because Gamescom 2024 is on right … Continue reading “Steam Deck Weekly: Gamescom 2024 Steam Deck…”Source Link: https://toucharcade.com/2024/08/23/mameda-bakeru-steam-deck-pc-review-ff16-release-date-gamescom-2024-news/ http://109.70.148.72/~merchant29/6network/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/6285223545_2953179078_o.jpg BLOGGER - #GLOBAL

[shibainunews]

Exploring The Myth of Criminality in Crypto

Cryptocurrency has been a game-changer in the world of finance, offering decentralized and borderless transactions, financial inclusion, and a new frontier for investment. However, it has also earned a reputation as a breeding ground for criminal activity. The myth of criminality surrounding cryptocurrencies often overshadows the immense potential they hold. In this article, we will delve into the world of crypto and separate fact from fiction when it comes to criminality.

The Cryptocurrency Boom

Decentralization and blockchain technology promised transparency, security, and efficiency in transactions. As the crypto market grew, so did the misconceptions about its association with criminal activities.

The Criminal Stereotype

One of the most persistent myths is that cryptocurrencies are primarily used by criminals for illegal activities such as money laundering, tax evasion, and buying illegal goods and services on the dark web. While it's true that some illicit transactions have taken place in the crypto space, it's important to emphasize that traditional financial systems have also been exploited for criminal purposes for decades.

In reality, the majority of cryptocurrency users are law-abiding citizens who use digital assets for legitimate purposes such as investment, cross-border remittances, and as a store of value. The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies does provide some degree of anonymity, but it also offers benefits like financial freedom and protection against inflation.

The Law Enforcement Challenge

Law enforcement agencies have had to adapt to the evolving landscape of crypto-related crimes. While it is true that crypto transactions can be harder to trace than traditional ones, it is a misconception that they are completely anonymous. Blockchain technology records all transactions on a public ledger, making it possible for investigators to trace transactions and identify individuals involved in criminal activities.

Moreover, many cryptocurrency exchanges have implemented robust Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) procedures to comply with regulatory requirements. These measures help reduce the likelihood of crypto being used for illegal activities.

Cryptocurrency for Good

It is crucial to recognize that cryptocurrencies have the potential to bring about positive changes in various sectors. Blockchain technology can be used to improve supply chain transparency, enhance voting systems, and increase access to financial services for the unbanked and underbanked populations. Additionally, cryptocurrencies have been instrumental in fundraising for charitable causes and disaster relief efforts. The speed and efficiency of cryptocurrency transactions enable rapid response to humanitarian crises, and the transparency of blockchain technology ensures donations reach their intended recipients.

Regulation and Compliance

To address concerns about crypto-related criminality, governments and regulatory bodies around the world are actively working on implementing regulations and guidelines for the crypto industry. These measures aim to strike a balance between fostering innovation and preventing illicit activities. By establishing a regulatory framework, governments can ensure that cryptocurrency exchanges and businesses operate in a transparent and accountable manner. This will help reduce the risk of crypto being used for criminal purposes while providing investors with a safe and secure environment.

The myth of criminality in crypto has been perpetuated by isolated incidents and a lack of understanding of the technology. While it is true that cryptocurrencies have been used for illegal activities, the majority of users are law-abiding individuals seeking the benefits of a decentralized financial system. Cryptocurrencies offer numerous advantages, from financial inclusion to faster and cheaper cross-border transactions. As governments and regulatory bodies work to implement effective regulations, the crypto industry will continue to mature and evolve, reducing the risks associated with criminal activity.

For More Info:-

The Myth of The Crypto Criminal

[surroundedbyselcouth]

Meiche?

Okay, so a while ago I came across this weird story: 

From The Metrical Dindshenchas, poem 13

“Berba

The Barrow, enduring its silence, that flows through the folk of old Ailbe; a labour it is to learn the cause whence is called Barrow, flower of all famous names. No motion in it made the ashes of Mechi the strongly smitten: the stream made sodden and silent past recovery  the fell filth of the old serpent. Three turns the serpent made; it sought out the soldier to consume him; it would have wasted by its nature all the kine of the indolent hosts of ancient Erin. Therefore Diancecht slew it: there was rude reason for clean destroying it, for preventing it for ever from wasting above every resort, from consuming utterly. Known to me is its grave where he cast it, a tomb without walls or roof-tree; its evil ashes,–no ornament to the region found silent burial in noble Barrow.”

And from this, was quoted a different version: 

“Into this river were flung the three snakes that were (found) in the heart of the Morrìgan's son Méiche after he was slain by Diancécht on Magh Méichi: which plain's name at the first was Magh Fertaige. The three hearts that were in Méiche bore the shape of three serpents' heads and, had not the killing of him come to pass, those snakes would have grown in his belly and eventually left no animals alive in Ireland. When he had slain Méiche Dian Cécht burned the snakes and their ashes he committed to that current, with the effect that it seethed and digested (i.e. boiled to rags) all living things that therein were.

Méiche’s hearts, hard the wound Have been drowned in the Barrow; Their ashes, after being burnt by you, Mac Cécht, slayer of a hundred, cast in.”

So this is all very weird, because a) the Morrigan has a son? and b) where on earth did this end-of-the-world thing come from? Irish myth doesn’t really have the sense of future doom as say, Norse mythology does. And it’s just...a cool little story here with the doctor-hero fighting a guy made of snakes. And it’s been driving me crazy because I don’t know quite what to make of it. 

Same paper quoted above (which tries to do the weird all myths-are-connected-look-at-these-far-fetched-connections thing) points out the discrepancy between whether it’s Dian Cécht or his son who kills Méiche, but Dian Cécht is more likely. It then goes on to talk about the Morrigan (Morrígu), Méiche’s mother, essentially distilling her name to “Ghost Queen” (note: I’ve also seen her name described as “Great Queen” so take that with a grain of salt) and linking her with destruction and the underworld (referencing her prophesy after the second battle of Moytura, meeting the Dagda on Samain, etc...). 

For the record, the Morrigan’s prophecy about the end of the world in Cath Maige Tuired, the Second Battle of Moytura, is given after she announces that there will be peace. So it really feels like something spoken about the future, implying that the peace at the end of the battle is only temporary, and will be broken again:

"I shall not see a world Which will be dear to me: Summer without blossoms, Cattle will be without milk, Women without modesty, Men without valor. Conquests without a king . . . Woods without mast. Sea without produce. . . . False judgements of old men. False precedents of lawyers, Every man a betrayer. Every son a reaver. The son will go to the bed of his father, The father will go to the bed of his son. Each his brother's brother-in-law. He will not seek any woman outside his house. . . . An evil time, Son will deceive his father, Daughter will deceive . . ."

Still no mention of any evil world-destroying snake sons, though. 

From the texts we’ve got that Mechi/Méiche was killed by probably Dian Cécht and thrown into the river, and he’s associated with serpents (either is a serpent or has three hearts containing serpents). Dude also seems to have been likely to destroy everything alive in Ireland, so it’s probably good he’s dead. 

What I’m interested in, though, is where this Méiche-destroying-eveyrthing comes from. He’s not mentioned in other texts, outside of a few different versions of the same story. And there’s really never much mention of world-destroying anyway, so why is he here? 

MEICHE, MIACH, AND THE DOCTOR DIAN CECHT

Another interesting observation made while searching for clues: Dian Cécht has two children, Miach and Airmid, both of whom are in the family business of medicine. When Miach make a better prosthetic hand for Nuada than Dian Cécht himself, Dian Cécht is jealous and kills his son (which is a little crazy, right?):

Dian Cecht did not like that cure. He hurled a sword at the crown of his son's head and cut his skin to the flesh. The young man healed it by means of his skill. He struck him again and cut his flesh until he reached the bone. The young man healed it by the same means. He struck the third blow and reached the membrane of his brain. The young man healed this too by the same means. Then he struck the fourth blow and cut out the brain, so that Miach died; and Dian Cecht said that no physician could heal him of that blow.

This is also from Cath Maige Tuired, by the way. What’s really interesting here to me is that slight resonance between the names Miach and Meiche. There is also some evidence (page 113) to suggest that this case of filicide is a latter addition, not quite integrated into the older, better-established myth. It doesn’t show up in other accounts of Dian Cécht’s adventures, Miach himself doesn’t play a role in making Nuada’s hand in another version found in the Book of Leinster, Miach is alive again later in the same text, and there’s oddly no consequences for his action given here (which is weird in a mythology with so much focus on order and doing things properly, and where every wrong action results in at least a poet making fun of you). And the way they die is similar: through extraction of a vital organ (Miach’s brain, Meiche’s heart). This author (page 116) makes an argument that the Meiche story came first, and Miach is just a creative addition of that story to another. In which case this connection is interesting, but still doesn’t explain Meiche. 

SNAKES IN THE WATER?

So what’s the deal with the serpents? There are other cases in Irish myth where a hero encounters a “water monster,” often described as a serpent, and has to do battle. Two examples off the top of my head: 

1. Freach in Tain bo Freach - dude is tested by Ailill and Medb because he wants to run away with their daughter FIndabair. He’s sent into the river to fetch berries from the other side (Findabair admiring him the whole time from the riverbank), and encounters a serpent/monster. He catches the monster with a spear thrown to him by Ailill and cuts off its head with a sword from Findabair. 

2. Fergus mac Léti - Gets the ability to breathe/swim underwater from the probably-leprechauns-who-live-underwater, dives into a lake and meets a water monster - muirdris - who frightens him so greatly it distorts his facial features. Since in Irish myth, kings have to be beautiful (king reflects the state of the land), this is a problem. So everyone tries to hide the horrifying changes from him for years, until finally somebody mocks him and he realizes what happened. Fergus goes back to the lake and doesn’t return until a fierce battle ends in him bringing back the monster’s head. 

What these stories have in common with Meiche: water (in more stories than these, a place of testing and trial, also where invaders/things outside society come from), some sort of monster (not always so explicitly a serpent), and killing the monster via removal of vital organs (head, most often, but not the Meiche story). A lot of this is interesting, but I still feel like it doesn’t shed much light on Meiche, which isn’t much of a hero-trial story (Dian Cecht is already famous), and Meiche isn’t exactly a mindless beast encountered in the wilderness.

On a less serious note, Méiche delights me, because he presents a possible link to use in my modern-day Norse/Irish mythology crossover comic. World-destroying snake dude thrown into the water reminds me of a certain serpent-baby Jormungandr...and hey, it’s not that far-fetched to think that some aspects of the story could be imported - there’s evidence for influence in both directions in other stories. 

So what is this story anyway? An intrusion from an outside tradition? A story invented by a later writer? A long-lost apocalyptic tale? Conflation of multiple stories? A metaphor? It doesn’t really matter. Stories resonate and change and become stranger with time, and this is no exception. It is fun to think about though, especially since we always want to make some cohesive narrative where we can.