We Review 5 Of The Biggest Pieces Of Gaming Tech On Sale This Black Friday

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Left to right, top to bottom: Steam Deck OLED, ASUS Rog Ally, Atari 2600+, PlayStation Portal and DualSense Edge Controller. Keren Carrión/NPR Hide caption

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2023 is a record year for video game releases and a turbulent year for those who do so, with thousands of releases from major companies.

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Atari once again releases the revolutionary 2600 console

Atari once again releases the revolutionary 2600 console

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But it was also a turning point for gaming hardware. Although Nintendo has yet to announce a successor to its hugely popular Switch console, several handheld devices have already hit the market. Meanwhile, Sony has been diving deep into high-end PS5 accessories, from high-end controllers to VR headsets to portable streaming devices. Meta released a "mixed reality" headset, while a revamped Atari released a (slightly) modernized version of its groundbreaking 1977 home console, the Atari 2600.

NPR got its hands on review units of some of this year's biggest gaming devices. Here is our opinion:

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Atari2600+

The updated Atari 2600+ is exactly what I remember of the original console, for better or worse.

The Atari 2600 was originally released in 1977 and set the standard for home consoles until the Nintendo Entertainment System dominated the market. As a child of the 80s, I grew up with both.

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Unboxing the new 2600+ is like discovering a time machine. It comes with a joystick (note: the second joystick is sold separately!), an HDMI cable, and a USB power cable, but doesn't have an adapter to plug it into a power outlet, forcing me to move it around the house . Frustrating 45 minutes to find it.

With this added benefit in the name, one would expect an improvement in quality of life, and in fact there are some improvements (emphasis on “marginal”). This improves the overall viewing experience, including switching between black and white or color displays and something else that allows the 16:9 aspect ratio of modern TVs to be saturated. Although it comes with a 10-in-1 cartridge containing classic games like Adventure and Missile Command, it is compatible with many older 2600 and 7800 cartridges. Plus there are lots of new games designed for it (sold separately) - it's great. Platform, sir. Run and jump.

Mister. Run and Jump, a new game for the Atari 2600, is available in modern versions for other consoles. Atari withheld the description

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Atari

While this faithful reproduction will drive collectors crazy, it also features the exact same controls as the original. The joystick feels very stiff and the optional paddle controllers (you guessed it, sold separately!) need to be "charged" before you can move - there's a lot of lag in input. Yes, this experience works better as a museum - to show the younger generation how far video games have advanced.

I appreciate that the Atari 2600+ is intended for hardware conservationists and nostalgic gamers. But $130 is too much for what you get: a 10-in-1 console, a controller, and a cartridge. Atari's other retro console, the VCS, which can play old and new games with modern controls, costs even more. Rival companies like Nintendo made better and cheaper consoles, such as the SNES mini, which was sold at almost half the price of the Atari 2600+. While I can't wait to show it to my family over the holidays, it's not worth it unless you have money to spend and want to relive the past, good or bad.

- Tre Watson, broadcast recording engineer

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Valve

OLED vapor bridge

I've been addicted to the original Steam Deck since it launched last year, and the new OLED model has gone even deeper.

Here's the suggestion: Imagine the portability of a Nintendo Switch with the breadth and power of a PC. It's more powerful, more expensive, and best of all, it offers 24/7 access to tens of thousands of games in the Steam store (including the latest titles playable on the aging Switch hardware). Although manufacturer Valve did not confirm exact sales figures, it stated that the original model has sold several million units since its release in 2022, making it a success in the growing niche of the gaming laptop world.

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So Valve adopted another idea from Nintendo: capitalize on the success of a handheld console by releasing another console with a bigger, better screen. Their OLED models are lighter, responding to complaints that the original LCD versions were too heavy to hold for long periods of time. It also has longer battery life, more storage, and 6G internet capability (which still wasn't an issue on the network I used).

These upgrades aren't cheap (prices start at $550, while the OLED Switch costs over $300), but they're a welcome addition to the previous version. I rely on the Steam Cockpit to overcome my jet lag on planes, trains and automobiles; The new version's bright pixels are visible in direct sunlight, a problem I often run into when playing with dark shadows or muted colors. . And even though the screen is less than half an inch wide, I'm sure that means I see less of the smaller text.

Now if you have an old steam system, should you buy a new one? Unless you plan on traveling with it like I did, probably not. But if you're a casual PC gamer who doesn't have one yet and doesn't have the cash, you might want to switch to OLED. While it's difficult to run the most graphics-intensive games (which is difficult even for games designed for keyboard and mouse), I promise it will revolutionize the way and where you play.

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Asus ROG Ally

If you want to play the latest games at higher graphics settings, there are plenty of Steam Deck alternatives. Launched earlier this year, the ASUS ROG Ally offers more power at a comparable price, and unlike the deck's dedicated Linux operating system, the Ally runs Windows directly.

This is a blessing and a curse at the same time. On the one hand, you can play via other desktop services, such as Xbox Game Pass or the Epic Store. On the other hand, the clunky Windows UI takes minutes, not seconds, to actually launch the game and will likely be buggy if you do.

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I also found it less ergonomic: the right joystick was too low for my thumb. The integrated system isn't as smooth or consistent as the deck (although I have to admit that the OneXPlayer 1S is an improvement over the old laptop I paid over a thousand dollars for). It runs hotter and louder than the deck and the battery runs out within a few hours when playing small games.

Over time, loyalty to pop-up machines is lost. I would only recommend it to PC enthusiasts who value flexibility over convenience. But I'm glad that the Steam Deck has real competition: maybe ASUS will beat it with its next attempt.

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PlayStation Portal

Sony may go portable with PlayStation Portal; It's basically a tablet sandwiched between two halves of a DualSense controller. However, despite its appearance, this game is not designed for portability and can only be played if you have (1) a PS5 and (2) a good internet connection.

This portal is intended for use on your home network and can turn on your PS5 and stream games from it with just one touch. On the 5G internet I tested, it ran smoothly enough, although it did stutter at all the wrong times, such as during a difficult Resnant 2 boss fight! If you expect such hiccups, it's best to stick to a calm game that doesn't require jerky reflexes. Oddly, this doesn't work with PS Plus Premium Cloud Streaming (although Sony has hinted they may do the same in the future).

So is the Atari worth its $200 price tag if it's just a way to play PS5 games without a TV? Only if you really need your PlayStation in bed or (gasp!) on the toilet. While based “remote gaming” is nothing new, I agree that dedicated and optimized hardware is a good thing. But make no mistake: This is an absolutely necessary luxury for an already expensive console.

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DualSense Edge controller

Ironically, I would have used Portal more if I hadn't been spoiled by a $200 PlayStation product: the DualSense Edge Controller. Sure, the price is high, but I love the fancy back buttons that the Portal doesn't have. This obsession led me to purchase not one, but two Xbox Elite controllers, and got me thinking about a third-party kit to attach thin paddles to a standard PS5 controller.

Here it is: Pressing buttons you can't see on the back of the controller sounds absurd, but I don't think I could have beaten Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice or Elden Ring without them (Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally). ). They allow you to keep your thumbs on both joysticks while moving, panning, and dodging the camera at the same time. Once you get used to it, you'll rarely have to pause the action to press the front button, shaving crucial microseconds off your reaction time.

You get more than just my beloved back button from the Edge: It also comes with adjustable paddles, a joystick, and a sturdy travel case. But of the sweet treats on this list, you've reached the sweetest. However, this could be a great gift for the PS5 nut in your life.

– James Mastromarino, head of NPR Gaming and producer of Here & Now

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