Summary
Making its debut back in February 2022, it’s been an impressive few years for Valve’s Steam Deck. A portable, handheld PC,the Steam Deckbridges the gap between console and PC gaming in a way that had never really been done before, at least not so successfully. With its OLED model now out, and its base models getting a little price cut, there’s never been a better time to pick up a Steam Deck, with countless games waiting, games likeFlintlock: The Siege of Dawn.
Released last week,Flintlock: The Siege of Dawnis a solid Soulslike that has plenty of meat on its bones. Though it may lack polish in a few areas,Flintlock: The Siege of Dawnbrings a suite of impressive features to the table, some of which could impact the Soulslike genre in some intriguing ways. But regardless of whatFlintlockdoes or doesn’t do well, it’s proven once again that the Steam Deck goes hand-in-hand with the Soulslike genre.
The Steam Deck Is Tailor-Made For Games Like Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
Some of the Steam Deck’s Most Popular Games Are Soulslikes
Much like any other handheld console that’s come before it, the Steam Deck is best suited to games that offer quick, bite-sized bursts of satisfying gameplay. This has led to some ofthe biggest games on the Steam Deckbeing titles likeVampire Survivors,Stardew Valley, and more recently,Balatro,all of which are designed to be easy pick-up-and-play experiences.
Though they might not seem like it at first, Soulslikes also fit that ideal Steam Deck experience description surprisingly well. In most Soulslikes, players are thrown into a fairly linear area, and they’re tasked with advancing through the area until they reach the next boss. Along the way, players will stumble upon an all-important checkpoint that offers a brief respite from the intense action of the rest of the title’s moment-to-moment gameplay. When booting up a Soulslike for a play session, many players will often set a goal of reaching the area’s next checkpoint, which often takes around half an hour. This half an hour period is aperfect fit for the Steam Deck.
Titles likeElden Ring,Sekiro,Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, andDead Cellswill regularly find themselves at the top ofSteam Deck’s most-played games list, and that makes perfect sense given their gameplay loop. Though the Steam Deck’s battery will only give players a few hours on some of these more demanding Soulslikes, each one’s gameplay loop ensures that those few hours will be filled with plenty of action and enjoyment.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn Is Another Solid Steam Deck Title
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawnis a Soulslike gamethrough and through. From its interconnected level design to its challenging boss fights and enemy encounters to its surprisingly complex RPG gear system,Flintlock: The Siege of Dawnearns its Soulslike branding, and as such, it becomes another ideal Steam Deck title, with its gameplay loop offering that same fast-paced action as its contemporaries. However, it should be noted that although the game is classed as “Playable” on the Steam Deck,Flintlock’s performance on the handheld has been met with mixed reviews, with some criticizing the game for running poorly, while others report no major issues.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
WHERE TO PLAY
From games studio A44, makers of Ashen, comes an explosive Souls-lite, where Gods and guns collide in a battle for the future of humanity.The Door to the Great Below has been opened unleashing the Gods and their armies of the Dead. The lands of Kian are besieged, the city of Dawn is on the brink of destruction. It’s time for the Coalition army to fight back. Embrace vengeance, gunpowder and magic as you embark on an epic journey to defeat the Gods, close the door and retake the world.Kill all gods.Your battle begins now.
