Gaming

ROG Ally review: New handheld gaming king?

#playALLYourgames

Published

July 20, 2023

When the ROG Phone first came out, we thought ASUS ROG was the perfect company for the job. After all, ASUS had success with both their Zenfone line and their whole ROG gaming portfolio. It was a perfect combination that came at just the right time. The ROG Phone is now going strong in its 7th generation.

ASUS might have the right device to recapture that same kind of magic with the ROG Ally. It’s a handheld gaming console — ROG’s first.

There are plenty of reasons to get excited about the ROG Ally and all of them have to do with what ROG has built throughout the years.

That’s a proven track record in the gaming space when it comes to hardware, software, and close collaborations with processor partners.

While we’re at it, here are the specs of the ROG Ally.

AMD Ryzen Z1 Series processor
7-inch FHD 120Hz screen, 500 nits peak brightness
Up to 16GB LPDDR5 of RAM
Up to 512GB NVMe M.2 SSD internal storage
MicroSD Card slot for storage expansion
AMD Radeon Navi3 graphics
40Wh with 65W PD Adapter, support for passthrough charging

The AMD Ryzen Z1 Series processor is also a first for AMD Ryzen. It’s a chip that’s made specifically for handheld gaming PCs. That’s an exciting prospect that could mean more handheld PCs are on the horizon. But that’s a topic for another day.

The series consists of two chips — the base Ryzen Z1 and then Ryzen Z1 Extreme. Both will make their way to the ROG Ally.

We’ll dive into overall performance later on. For now, let’s take a look at this handheld console’s design.

Undeniably ROG

One look and the Ally is undeniably an ROG device. The lines all over the device scream ROG and are very reminiscent of the recent ROG Phones.

Viewed from the back, you’ll find the ROG logo carved in a vent-like pattern.

On both side edges is a ridged and sloped pattern. ROG says this was made for better grip.

The overall layout is reminiscent of an Xbox controller with the sticks and buttons being asymmetrical.

The left side has the left stick and the circular directional pad. And near the screen are the View Button and Command Center button.

While on the right are the face buttons and the right stick. Here, near the screen are the Menu Button and Armoury Crate button.

The trigger and shoulder buttons sit alongside each other where you would normally find them in most controllers.

ROG also added additional buttons at the back of the device — a staple for pro and semi-pro controllers.

The device weighs 608 grams, slightly lighter than what it will be compared to the most — the Steam Deck, which tips the scale at 669 grams).

Light and just right

Personally, I thought it felt pretty light. ROG did a good job with the weight distribution. The Ally feels sturdy and fits my hand pretty well. Naturally, this experience is gonna vary from person-to-person. For me, it feels like a proper, well-built handheld.

Once again, the company is very proud with what they’ve done on the cooling front. The fans and vents are laid out in a way that they would avoid your hand.

They’re also made so that the ROG Ally doesn’t produce a loud fan sound even when you’re pushing it to the limit.

After testing we can say that the ROG Ally is relatively quiet. Perhaps it helps that the speakers are also pretty darn good and the games I played were pretty entertaining. I never felt bothered by noise coming from the fans, which to me meant it was not producing any excessive noise.

ROG says this handheld has been in development for five years now. They even showed us the multiple design iterations it has gone through.

What you see now is what they landed with ultimately and feel like is the most optimized for what they want to offer.

Windows woes

The ROG Ally will run Windows 11 out of the box. That means it runs more than just your Steam Library right out the gate. Games downloaded from the Epic Games Store, Xbox Game Pass, and EA Play will immediately be available.

Microsoft is rumored to already be developing a version of Windows that’s specifically designed for handheld gaming PCs. That’s great because navigating the Windows desktop interface with a controller isn’t the best experience.

Expect your first day or so with the ROG Ally to be spent installing updates, signing up to the game stores and services, downloading your games, and just the whole set-up shebang.

My advice is to connect a bluetooth keyboard and mouse and sign-in to all your accounts in one go. This way, you can just hop in and play the next few times you fire it up.

Armoury Crate SE to the rescue?

You can bring your games together through ROG’s Armoury Crate SE. Armoury Crate is ROG’s proprietary software that comes with every ROG device. On it, you can tweak multiple things like how much processing power should be used by certain games.

There are plenty of other things you can do with it. For our smartphone-first audience, think of it as a really souped up version of Game Mode interfaces on smartphones.

Settings and customizations on Armoury Crate SE.

The ROG Phone has this too. And like on the ROG Phone, the Armoury Crate SE pulls in all the games you have installed and lays them out in a cohesive, easy-to-access fashion — one that works with a controller layout.

Not just your Steam library.

That’s a near console-like function that should come in handy if you plan on stacking your Ally with plenty of games from various stores.

If you’re worried about smoothly navigating your games on the ROG Ally, the Armoury Crate SE makes the experience a little more tolerable.

It’s far from perfect and will likely get incremental updates and optimizations over the years – something ROG promised it will do for the Ally for the foreseeable future.

Game time!

Alright, now that all of that’s out of the way, it’s time to play! I played plenty of AAA titles and a couple that don’t demand as much power. Here’s how the games fared at a glance:

Lego Star Wars (Xbox Game Pass)

FPS goes from 24 to 60.
Pretty smooth gameplay all throughout.

Hi-Fi Rush (Xbox Game Pass)

FPS hovered in the 30-40 range.
Some stuttering. Not ideal for a rhythm game, but still fairly playable.

Dragon Ball FighterZ (Steam)

FPS a steady 35-50.
Ran extremely smoothly. No lag input. Critical for fighting games.

Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered (Steam)

FPS max is 31, dips to as low as 15.
Noticeable stuttering but nothing game breaking.

Returnal (Steam)

Varied intensely from 16FPS all the way up to 115 FPS.
Ran much smoother than Spider-Man despite the wide FPS variance.

NBA 2K22 (Steam)

Steadily at 59 FPS during play time.
Crucial for a game like this with so much happening on screen.

Dead Cells (Xbox Game Pass)

Steady 24 to 30 FPS.
2D side scroller game, not demanding graphically.
Ran smoothly.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising (Steam)

Steady 20-30 FPS.
2D/2.5D Side scroller, also not very demanding graphically.
Ran very smoothly.

Game time notes

Games from PlayStation Studios that are AAA titles – Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered and Returnal seemed to require the most out of the ROG Ally.

Both games push the device graphically. This resulted in stuttering during gameplay. But nothing game breaking. Still pretty much playable.

These games drained the battery the fastest. Got about an average of one (1) hour and 25 minutes of playtime before I hit the 5-10% battery range.

They also put the rumble feature to use the most, perhaps in an attempt to mimic the effect of the DualSense controller. It doesn’t quite get there, but it’s still a solid implementation – close to how the Dual Shock felt like.

More on PlayStation games on the ROG Ally here.

Playing other AAA titles like Lego Star Wars the Skywalker Saga, NBA 2K22, and Doom Eternal, battery life hovered around two (2) hours before hitting the red mark.

Less demanding games like Dead Cells and Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising lasted longer – around three (3) hours and 35 minutes.

More game time notes

Battery goes red at 15% but there’s no alert. On one playthrough, the ROG Ally just died on me.

It’s like getting ghosted. In the grand scheme of things, it’s fine. But a heads up would have been nice. I started watching more closely after that, constantly switching to Armoury Crate SE to check battery levels.

The device feels well-built. It did not overheat to a point that you can’t hold it anymore. And that’s playing under 34-37 degree celsius conditions. It also stayed quiet the entire time. The cooling on this thing is phenomenal.

Front-firing speakers are pretty good. They’re not the best sounding but if you’re looking for a really good audio experience, just use bluetooth headphones or use the 3.5mm jack. The latter is a really great handheld experience.

Me time, We time, Pro time

Speaking of speakers. This being a Windows device means you have access to YouTube, Netflix and the like. Other than gaming, it’s one of the things you can do on “Me time” with the Ally.

I watched my fair share of LE SSERAFIM Chaewon and aespa Winter’s fancams. The experience was pretty pleasant.

One of the cooler things you can do with the ROG Ally is pair it with ROG’s own eGPU — the XG Mobile. With it, you add more power and unlock a few more modes of play.

I didn’t get to try this personally as my XG Mobile was under repair during the review period and as of writing. But I did get to see these during a media event.

With “We time” you can connect the ROG Ally to a couple of Bluetooth controllers and treat it as if it’s a regular console. You can do this with or without the XG Mobile.

“Pro time” is when you have it hooked up with the XG Mobile in a more or less desktop setup. Best for first-person shooting games, among many other things.

Better than the Steam Deck?

Steam goes into Big Picture mode on the ROG Ally

Jury’s out on whether or not the ROG Ally is an overall better handheld gaming console than the Steam Deck.

It does have a few things going for it. It’s certainly a more powerful device owing to the partnership between ROG and AMD. The display is also more of an eye candy than what the Deck has to offer. Plus having access to more than just your Steam library is a massive boon.

But the Deck has the Ally beat on software support, at least for now. Over the course of the Steam Deck’s year or so existence, Valve has had continuous, active support for the handheld.

It also has built a significant community and range of third-party accessories support. Only time will tell if the ROG Ally will have the same level of support rallying around it.

Some games, like Marvel’s Midnight Suns, even show up as Steam Deck “Verified” on the Ally.

For what it’s worth, I asked this to other reviewers who have used both handhelds: “Gun to your head. You have to pick one. Steam Deck or ROG Ally?” Majority of them picked the ROG Ally.

Price and availability

The ROG Ally is available in a couple of variants. One with the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (widely available now) and another with the base AMD Ryzen Z1 chip (coming later).

The highest variant retails for US$ 699.99; a few dollars shy of the Steam Deck’s most expensive variant which costs US$ 649. A 50-dollar difference for better performance, a better screen, and a promising future support.

It has also subsequently launched in plenty of other countries including India and Malaysia. In the Philippines, it will arrive on July 20. The Z1 Extreme variant will retail for PhP 43,995. The Z1 variant will come in August 2023 for PhP 39,995.

You can pre-order from ASUS ROG’s official dealer partners.

Is the ROG Ally your GadgetMatch?

Pricing-wise, I’d say the ROG Ally is pretty competitive for what it offers. It’s more expensive than current gen consoles, but less expensive than flagship smartphones. It sits right in the middle and offers a unique use-case — play AAA games on the go. I still think that’s incredible.

Glaring weakness is how Windows 11 just isn’t made for handhelds. It’s functional but not the most intuitive for this kind of device. At least not yet. Battery life is arguably a weakness too, but I personally feel the play times are par for the course.

The ROG Ally is an exciting handheld gaming console. What it represents is a legitimate challenge to the Steam Deck which jump started the more widespread interest in handheld gaming today. Competition is good and we’re getting a heated one with the Steam Deck, the ROG Ally, a few other handhelds, and anyone else who will likely jump in.

On its own, the ROG Ally is a truly compelling gaming gadget. A relatively affordable handheld with the power to play AAA titles whenever and wherever. It’s pretty easy to justify its place in your gaming lifestyle. It’s not perfect but it’s pretty polished for a first generation device.

More on the ASUS ROG Ally here.

Gaming

Stellar Blade review: Strenuous but Stylish

Alluring beyond visuals

Published

April 24, 2024

Rodneil Quiteles

We didn’t have the best impression of Stellar Blade after spending time with the demo. Unlike certain players who poured a full game’s length of hours playing, our reception was lukewarm due to various reasons. But after finally having some time to focus on it, we now have a better understanding of its charm–and that goes beyond character design.

The game’s director has been ever-present in various gaming and tech news websites sharing nuggets about the game and reacting to the many comments made about the proportions of its female characters. That’s a rabbit hole we’re not diving into. Instead, we’re piggy-backing on one of his responses: Just pick up a controller and play it.

Steep combat learning curve

Stellar Blade’s combat didn’t click with us right away. But that’s because we approached it more like a hack-and-slash and not for the precise combo-parry sequence that it demands. A fellow reviewer aptly described our experience: It was a lot more “Soulslike” than we anticipated.

It took a while to get over that hurdle. For one, this writer isn’t particularly fond of Soulslikes. Skill issue. That’s tough considering a big part of this game’s charm is its combat. We can’t say that it fully clicked with us, but it certainly has its moments.

In combat, you have to pay attention not only to your enemy but also to how the protagonist, Eve, acts in different combo animations. If you’re not careful, you might find yourself getting hit during a lull in your combo.

You don’t have to memorize every single combo, although if you could, that’s certainly an advantage. We can compare the practice to memorizing combos of characters in Tekken, although at a milder rate.

Parrying is tricky but that’s not the only way to counter your enemies. One of the first skills you unlock is one that lets you get behind your enemy after they unleash a fatal attack (cued in with blue indicators) and hit back with your own counter. The animation looks so good that you’ll feel like an absolute badass every time you do it. It’s one of the moves that never got old throughout the entire playthrough.

As you progress through the game you’ll unlock ranged weapons that will expand your combat capabilities further. Hard combat enthusiasts should have a field day.

For more casual players, there’s no shame in switching to Story Mode which is what we did for about 70% of the playthrough. It’s easier, sure. But it can still present challenges especially during certain encounters.

The boss battles are TOUGH

We’re going to chalk this up again to skill, and perhaps patience, issue. But Stellar Blade’s boss battles are incredibly tough. Not to the point that you’ll want to throw your DualSense controller though.

What can make it frustrating is that the patterns of the enemies, especially the earlier bosses and mini-bosses, are easy to track. But they’re not exactly easy to deal with.

Parrying becomes an even more critical skill in these encounters. It’s one of the reasons why we opted to slide down the difficulty. Otherwise, this writer will never finish the game.

Pulling from different games, worlds

We have seen many compare Stellar Blade to the Nier games. Other than the setting, another big contributing factor in that comparison is the soundtrack.

During roaming, exploring, and combat, the music will change from time to time. However, they stick to this theme that’s a little eerie. It’s hard for us to describe but it’s almost like a crescendo that never quite swells up. It matches the game’s world perfectly — it feels hollow and devoid of life but still has a sliver of hope.

Combat isn’t the only thing you’re doing here. While it’s mostly linear at first, Stellar Blade offers a healthy mix of exploration, platforming, and puzzle-solving.

The puzzles don’t get in the way of the pacing. They’re quite engaging and offer a decent level of challenge. Roaming and exploration will yield you loot to improve your gear and stats. Occasionally, a Naytiba (the game’s primary foils) will surprise you for a good jumpscare moment.

Stellar Blade doesn’t reinvent anything nor does it offer anything particularly new or groundbreaking. But everything it borrowed from other games is retrofitted to match the game’s vibe and overall aesthetic. The result is a polished experience of familiar gaming mechanics.

Eve

Another aspect that did not grab us as much during the demo is the main character, Eve. The first hour of the game doesn’t do much to endear the player to her.

That slowly changes as you play through the game. Through a mix of cut scenes and world-building collectibles, you get a better sense of what Eve is, her mission, and ultimately her purpose.

If you’re familiar with the animé Violet Evergarden, Eve and that show’s protagonist share a similar character arc. They initially seem one note and bland, but the layers are peeled back as you learn more about them and how they relate to the world and the people around them.

Is she hot? Hell yeah. But as cliché as it is, she’s certainly more than what meets the eye.

Should you play Stellar Blade?

Unlike the PlayStation 5 exclusive that immediately preceded it, Stellar Blade has plenty in common with past PS5 exclusives — visually captivating, cinematic experiences, with satisfying gameplay.

Its level of challenge is closer to Sekiro and Bloodborne but it’s also not quite as difficult. In the same category but certainly not in the same stratosphere.

It also has an alluring charm that goes beyond its aesthetics. As mentioned earlier, nothing about it is particularly new or groundbreaking. But it’s polished and cohesive. There’s something about the overall feel of the game that draws you in and makes you want to see it through.

Stellar Blade is a Day 1 purchase if you’re up for the challenge. And if you consider the game director’s goal of having a high quality AAA console game from South Korea which is dominated by PC and mobile gaming, we say they did just that. Now, it’s just up to us to pick-up the controller and play.

Features

LOQ and LOAD: The Lenovo LOQ 2024 is for gaming and more

Your entry to PC Gaming

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Get your game on with the Lenovo LOQ 2024. This capable laptop is your entry point to PC Gaming and a lot more.

It comes an absolutely affordable price point: PhP 48,995.

You get capable hardware and the hood to support gaming and more. The Lenovo LOQ 15IAX9I runs on the 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor and Intel Arc Graphics.

Those are key to bringing unreal graphics to this segment. Supporting latest tech like DirectX 12 Ultimate, players are able to enjoy high frame rates on the Lenovo LOQ.

Creating content? It comes with AI Advantage to help boost performance. Engines and accelerators boost the media processing workloads especially for creatives. It also works with Intel’s X Super Machine Learning, Leading to images that are as close to reality.

The laptop supports a configuration of up to 32GB of RAM and 1TB of SSD Storage.

As for its display, the device has a large 15.6-inch, Full HD panel that is more than enough for gaming, video editing, content consumption, and whatever else you do on a laptop. This display has 144Hz refresh rate, 300 nits brightness, and anti-glare.

Videos come out clear, crisp, and realistic. Audio is punchy and as loud as it gets. Windows Sonic elevates it more when you use headphones. And it just takes a few minutes to render HD videos on editing software.

As it runs on Windows 11, if you are going to use it for work, you can take advantage of various features. The Lenovo Vantage Widget is there for constant reminders, Copilot will help you organize your tasks, and Microsoft Edge is there for casual browsing.

There is an assortment of ports at the back for easy connectivity. And as this is meant for gaming, we put it to the test. Racing that looks better with high frame rate? Check. Shooting titles that require heavy work? Not a problem. You can play all your favorites and not worry about performance.

Best of all, it takes less than an our to juice up this laptop all the way to 100%.

So, whether you’re looking to get started with PC Gaming, or an upgrade for work and entertainment needs, the Lenovo LOQ has you covered.

This feature is a collaboration between GadgetMatch and Lenovo Philippines.

Gaming

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes out now

Forge your destiny

Published

April 23, 2024

GadgetMatch

Rabbit and Bear Studios and 505 Games’ Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is now available across multiple platforms. One of the most anticipated JRPGs in recent memory may now be played on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Moreover, it may be accessed on PC via Steam, the Epic Games store, and GOG.

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is crafted by game developers Junko Kawano (Suikoden I, IV) and the late Yoshitaka Murayama (Suikoden I, II). The title features a modern take on classic 2D side-scrolling games. It has a six-character battle system, meticulous 2D sprites and 3D backgrounds, and a riveting story. As the name suggests, you can play over 100 characters.

GadgetMatch had the privilege of playing the game’s early preview here: Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes First Impressions

The refreshed environment immediately stands out. There is more detail, depth, and movement compared to how side-scrolling games of the past used to be played. The game lets players choose their party mates. Meanwhile, the actual combat is turn-based, giving players room to strategize what sequences or gimmicks to select.

With more than 100 characters to choose from, the game also allows players to appropriately select heroes fit for certain regions and dungeons throughout the story. Moreover, some are designated catalysts that can give you access to more of the world’s treasures. In between, users may enjoy mini-games, like the fishing side quest in the preview. The collected fish can be part of another mini-game — cooking — as ingredients for recipes you can cook with.