Switch OLED, PS5 & Analogue Pocket WORTH BUYING? Things I LOVE & REGRET

[@MrWhiteshine]

Emulation was a total gamechanger for me with the Analogue Pocket. I've been researching games (especially RPGs) that never left Japan and finding translation patches. It's been a great time.

[@badtzmzo]

I'm using the Pocket to play all of the original Dragon Quest releases and switching from the dock to handheld. I'm up to DQ6 and it's been fantastic.

[@90shandheldgamer]

The Switch OLED is Definitely a big upgrade in handheld mode with the screen and also the audio quality being much better than the standard switch and the Lite. I also agree that its still a great time to pick up a switch. Especially with a lot of games being much more affordable now and some getting harder to find. Its a great time to start building a collection. Great video.

[@orbalology]

Thanks! I forgot to mention the audio upgrade, that was a nice feature as well!

[@chaikagaz]

Its getting harder to find because nintendo is intentionally stopping production. Fire emblem 3H and fire emblem engage being an example. Paper mario is also discontinued like metroid dread

[@myplatinumlife]

I joked about the OLED version when they released it, but after getting the TotK version it really is a great

[@archangelmusic13]

having seen the games for the switch, im not interested in buying a switch.

[@ricenoodles632]

@@archangelmusic13 Possibly the most overhyped console in Nintendo's history.

[@escoplayer10]

I was feeling the same way about my analogue pocket, but after learning about the save state feature I sold my modded gba. That feature alone has made doing the Pokémon emerald battle frontier manageable. Getting that 70 win streak for the gold badge is now possible.

[@orbalology]

Oh yeah, the save state feature is nice! I haven't used it really, but that's certainly something to keep in mind once I start playing on it more.

[@escoplayer10]

@@orbalology The ability to have your roms on a sd card is nice as well. I personally don’t like walking around with hundreds of dollars of cartridges in public. Also the usb c charging makes it worth it. You can mod a gba to have it for cheaper but if you’re buying an IPs one with usb c, you’re going to be around the same price or more. I wouldn’t worry especially if you got it for retail, it’s an amazing system.

[@evnarez]

For motion sickness make sure to set the game to Performance and turn off motion blur. That’s the first thing I do when I start a new PS5 game. Also turn off camera shake if it’s an option!

[@orbalology]

I've messed around with some of the motion blur stuff, like for example on FFXVI. That certainly helped but didn't 100% solve it for me. But yeah I think for now it's best if I turn off those features whenever starting a new game 😅

[@luisarriaga774]

I like what you said about having things that bring you joy to you and not just collect for the sake of it, as a collector is hard not to fall victim of the FOMO. I would love to have the Switch Zelda edition and another NS Lite in grey but I already have one so... that might be a bit of an overkill

[@emilyharpist]

This was really helpful for the analogue pocket! Thank you!

[@orbalology]

Glad to hear you found this helpful :)

[@PR_Punk1]

I definitely feel you on the physical media and collecting, my wife and I have a retro room we don't hoard just collect physical games and consoles that bring us happiness, mostly Nintendo, PlayStation, and Xbox. We try to avoid digital purchases if possible, the retro room is our special place to feel cozy and happy.

[@drearycanary7157]

Hey, just found your channel! Feels like having a fun convo with a friend about games. Looking forward to more videos!

[@orbalology]

Thank you :)

[@preisar]

Excellent video! I was impressed by how I have similar impressions and feelings about the PS5 as you do. I've been thinking about buying a Gaming PC too, for the same reasons

[@mrthou]

I remember stalking the TotK OLED Switch online. There was an app or website I used that checked all the major retailer websites. I forgot the name, but I did get my hands on one finally. No dice on the controller though.

[@chaikagaz]

Is it hotstock app? I use it all the time competing with the scalpers

[@BlackKirby-zi3qj]

I feel you on the OLED. I upgraded from my V2 to the Zelda OLED earlier this year and it has literally quadrupled my handheld play time. I found the original LCD screen actually hurt my eyes and the OLED doesn't.

[@TS-uu4hp]

I keep resisting. I want to so bad since I spend so much time playing handheld instead of docked but my main reason for wanting to upgrade is better performance and above all battery life which I heard is the exact same for the OLED. Hopefully news for the switch 2 coming soon

[@EstonianBerserker]

I find the OLED model hurts my eyes (motion sickness) but no problems on ps5. And I don’t wear or need glasses. Something about the Switch that I cannot go more than 10 minutes playing and I end up giving it back to my kids. It’s a shame.

[@AngoraKat11]

I am not a collector but I still like having physical games and like you mention its nice to have a curated collection. I makes it easier to share and talk about game with friends.

[@orbalology]

Totally!

[@ClaytonMorris]

For me, the GBA was a system that I missed because I was just starting my career and was totally broke in 2001. So, the Pocket was an easy purchase for me. Now, I'm slowly curating a GBA collection of amazing JRPGs like Golden Sun. Plus, I bought a complete boxed copy of Zelda Minish Cap, Metroid Fusion, etc. It's been a fun little ride. And it might help your Pocket conundrum to know that a few publishers are releasing brand new GBA games in 2024 if you can believe it. There's a new Shantae GBA game coming out for example.

[@JohnnyCProduction]

If you gave motion sickness, if the game has options to turn off motion blur that can help. Also playing on a smaller monitor helps too. I’ve been the same way for modern games with motion blur.

[@andrewjazdzyk1215]

The pocket has been great for me in discovering/playing classic old titles ive never played before. And the thing can emulate sooooo many old systems with intense accuracy- plus of course the beautiful screen. Its really quite nice for me, i carry mine around everywhere.

[@TMV420]

im pretty much stuck on my Steam Deck and love it! also, nice to hear someone else have buyers remorse even about little things. nice reminder that it happens to the best of us!

[@orbalology]

It's good to reflect on our purchases from time to time :)

[@riseordiecrying2451]

I've noticed that I've been picking up my Switch Lite a lot more recently. It's just so light, and comfy.

[@Kevin-hq5os]

I had the original switch, always kept it docked, I fell in love with the Pokemon OLED, I got that, and it’s always docked. I really wish I could get into handheld mode so I could not feel so regretful in buying the OLED.

[@megbell766]

I completely understand the feeling of guilt when replaying a game when you have tons of new ones. 😢 I always set a goal amount of games to beat each year and i feel bad if i dont play the newer games asap

[@orbalology]

It can be difficult to prioritize older games, especially when everyone else is talking about the new ones 😅

[@yohaneschristianp]

Usually, I’ll just use cheats if that’s the case 😂

[@megbell766]

@@yohaneschristianp oh I am not above putting it on easy mode or boosting up exp on older games. I don't think grind adds much to a game or at least not to my experience of it lmfao

[@Jakker271]

I think that many people are in the same boat. I ordered a pocket also but there's really lots to explore especially on the emulation side of things. Even though there's the nostalgia factor, you'll have access to homebrew and other stuff that will be different. We are lucky in that, we are in a day and age where you can try before buying. I remember buying as a child, adventure games and getting stuck over some nonsensical puzzle and then they had these hint lines to call up or cheat books lol. The worlds changed a lot in the last 45 years esp with home entertainment.

[@ryuhoshu3303]

Don't worry about the PS% overheating, I've had mine for a while now and I've never had any problems, I think that like with any other mass produced items people might have gotten some faulty ones and like it always happens on the internet the news was spread all over the place and everyone was freaking out, I also get motion sickness and what I found that helps immensely is lowering the camera movement responsiveness, it's the first thing I down before starting a new game

[@danielmarquez2447]

Your video was very informative about your experience with gaming and consoles. I've been a gamer since arcades came out in the 80s and the 1st gaming console I owned was an Atari 2600. Got a Nintendo in May of 1986 and have been gamer since. I too own a Nintendo switch but the 3rd Gen. Model. The Spider Man Ltd. PS4 and the Spiderman PS5 consoles. Keep it up with your blogs. Stay frosty

[@DrGamingPlays]

I also got the Tears of the Kingdom OLED Switch and the Analogue Pocket last year (PS5 was a 2022 purchase). As for the OLED Switch, I didn't "need it", but that OLED screen is really nice, and it sounds like the initial release of the "Switch 2" will be back to LCD. My pocket is the transparent blue model, and I have been happy with it; I've mostly used it to play many of the arcade cores on the go. I occasional pop a real cart in too. I got the dock with it, and I do regret spending money on that since I already have a Mister kit. Picking up redundant hardware is bit of a weak spot for me...

[@islandboy7271]

I feel a had the same thought process, most same regrets a lil. But dont regret anything really. And im absolutely the same about owning and comlecting and have observe touch and appreciate a collection.

[@jaredalbin5658]

My wife is a big fan of the switch lite - same color! She likes how it feels more solid since the controllers are built in, and she says it just fits her hands better. Also it’s small enough to just slip in her purse.

[@orbalology]

It's a really nice, compact handheld!

[@nnamdiuyalorjr2896]

@@orbalology Keep up the excellent work. I believe you could consider what video game company to work for as a career. Your insight and perspective will highly valued.

[@apeekintime]

I'm considering picking up a Pocket tomorrow with the next drop of systems. Of course I don't need it and I'll probably only use it when I'm on a plane and maybe before bed. My Switch was my traveling device but I gave it away during COVID to a friend who had a 9 year old daughter. Not really interested in a new Switch but something that lets me play old RPGs would be worthwhile.

[@zeldakasumi]

I completely agree that DS games look better in their original format and not stretched out on the 3DS screen. I was really happy to learn that you can make your 3DS run them in their original resolution. The instructions from Nintendo's support page are: "Press and hold START or SELECT when loading the game from the HOME Menu. This will cause the game to display in a lower resolution." It made a big difference for me with older Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright games. The Zelda Oracle games were my favorite Zelda games to play growing up, but I always did need to play them in the order of Seasons first. Then Ages. Because you get an extra heart boost when starting whichever is your second/sequel game, and there was a dungeon midway through Ages that I could never manage to beat without an extra heart. (It was death by kees of all things otherwise.) Golden Sun series is to this day my favorite RPG. Though I do always need a list of the djinn locations on hand for the first game, because it is possible to miss a djinn if you don't get it before a certain event in the game. The game was still very enjoyable, though, even when I missed the little guy on my first playthrough, so he's certainly optional.

[@uppernimbus]

I love the Nintendo Switch, especially the OLED model. One of my favourite consoles of all time! Interesting hearing your thoughts about the system, always cool to learn other people's experiences with gaming and collecting!

[@orbalology]

Thanks for watching! The Switch is a really special system :)

[@WIImotionmasher]

Motion sickness might be related to console games setting their Field Of View to match couch gaming. FOV has to be narrow if someone is sitting farther away from the screen, to match the amount of ... eye-view the screen takes up. PC games tend to be higher FOV, because the screen's closer and takes up more of your view (theoretically). I wouldn't be surprised if sitting a bit further from the monitor might help. But that's just an idea.

[@joebueno5897]

You're fast becoming one of my favorite go to KZbinrs! I enjoy all the information you share with us. I mainly play on Ps4 and just purchased a Totk oled switch myself. I've heard that Switch 2 will only be equipped with lcd screens this time and not oled. Thank you for making me feel good about my Switch oled purchase ! 😅 I love looking at your collection behind you! So cool!

[@orbalology]

Thank you, I appreciate the kind words!

[@Cyan007]

Really hoping a non-OLED Switch 2 is just bad information… or a cheaper option.

[@I_was_a_Bullfrog]

9:55 I will say, while physical relesses on PC are growing rarer and rarer, there are options like GOG, which, while they don't have very game available, are DRM-free and often include extras like desktop wallpapers, instructions, etc.

[@orbalology]

I wish more games were available on GOG! Though it's nice that they offer DRM-free options.

[@PostModernCereal]

Same on the not playing on dock. There's something cozy about sticking with handheld ☕️ Thinking of going with a handheld PC in the future as well. (Big yes on Golden Sun!)

[@A.Hanson]

Yeah the whole reason I got the analogue with the dock is so I could play that game on the tv. I had held out hope for a dual pack like we got with Advance Wars but once it went on that stupid online service I knew it wouldn't be getting a legit re release and the only way I was gong to play it was to get something that could play my original GBA games.

[@orbalology]

Handheld is indeed very cozy! I like the idea of the Steam Deck and the other handheld PCs, but probably well into the future once I get through more of my backlog 😅

I upgraded to the OLED because I found the Lite's screen to be a little cramped, so it surprised me you like it for visual novels! I found Fire Emblem Three Houses text so hard to read, maybe my eyesight is not the same, lol. Also, I see what you're saying about the PS5 controller. I think its super comfortable and premium, but that's because I have big hands, and it is heavy. Finally, I don't know what you did to you lighting or camera setup, but the video looks amazing! The colors pop so much! Thanks for the video, Emily!

[@orbalology]

I think I got used to reading off my phone & on the Vita, so the Lite wasn't too far off from that 😂

[@MichaelH-1]

If you take off the top white cover on the PS5 there are 2 holes underneath they call "dust catchers". You can use a vacuum to suck the dust out through those. I do it everytime I clean it and it's never overheated.

[@chaikagaz]

I vacuum the holes but it scratched up the plastic on the inside...

[@TheKennyboy92]

Yeah I regularly clean mine (OG PS5) and it still runs great.

[@sneekz07]

@@chaikagaz It's inside....not a big deal.

[@HyeAhShin]

Great video! About the DS games not looking so good while playing them in the 3DS, I get that, but I don't know if many people know this, but if you are gonna play DS games on 3DS family system, while you are starting the game press (and keep pressing) the Start button, that way the game will start in a scaled-mode¿? Screen, and they will look as good as on the DS. I hope I made any sense, English is not my first language. ㅠㅠ

[@orbalology]

Yes! They have this function, though when it comes to the XL versions of the systems I find the native DS games still can appear a bit funny on the 3DS XL. Not sure why this is exactly, and additionally I get a little distracted when games do not fill out the entire screen 😅

[@Archivist42]

If you did decide to pursue a gaming PC, I think that could make for some great content. As a fellow collector I'd say there's definitely value in exploring all avenues of gaming

[@orbalology]

Yeah I think the PC offers a lot of other possibilities that are not always available on the console systems. Not to mention just having a functional desktop for other things like video editing & other work related stuff :)

[@josephmclord]

@@orbalologyyou should start with Rog ally or steam deck. Deck especially is so close to the “console” experience. No setup required and if it’s deck verified it just works without much tinkering. It has become my backlog destroyer.

[@Recoverel]

For me, I can relate to retro game more than new games. I just never learn or get use to using the analog stick to change camera angle and move at the same time. That's why Analogue Pocket is more suitable for me. Good old gaming experience on beautiful screen.

[@kianlin3260]

I don't have any of those consoles, Emily. I'm gaming on my Switch Lite. We don't know how Switch2 game looks like right now, so I prefer to wait for Nintendo announcement first before making the decision, especially after I heard rumor that Switch2 would have enhanced backward compatibility with Switch games, like more resolution or fps. In that case, I think getting Switch2 is a better deal for me, even if it's still using LCD screen. For PS5, tbh I only have PS2 for Sony console. I think Nintendo is a better choice for now for its game library, but I appreciate your thought, Emily. From collector's pov, what you're saying does make sense...

[@Rockfan1397]

I started playing Fata Morgana last week and just a couple of hours ago I left the game almost exactly at that same scene! I have been enjoying it a lot so far

[@thegirlgamer3176]

I’m also very prone to motion sickness and something I realized helps a lot is turning off motion blur in the game settings!

[@tonyp9313]

Very cool vid. I wasn't expecting it. I don't have any of those consoles you mentioned. I wanted to purchase a PS5 but I held off purchasing it since I still play PS4 games & I don't really notice a huge difference. The Game Boy color was your 1st system in the 90's cool. Yeah with no internet to research games it was very hard to know what games were good, how many or if your friends had those games you might have been interested in. I bought a Game Boy Color Light. The screen is a bit smaller & it has a backlit light so you can really see what you are playing.

[@orbalology]

If you have a PS4 I don't see much reason to buy the PS5 unless you want some of the extra dualsense features and graphical upgrades. Since you mostly play digital you don't have to worry about securing the OG PS5, the new slim model (or eventual PS5 Pro) should be just fine if you ever decide to upgrade. And nice! Never owned the Game Boy Color Light but they always looked neat.

[@JustTheGems]

I feel pretty similarly about all of these. The Analogue Pocket, in particular, I find to be such a cool device... but it's one I just don't really use. I do have a ton of handheld games that I need to get to, so I'm glad to have it, though.

[@orbalology]

It's really such a nice device, with a beautiful screen! I really need to give it more attention this year.

[@backlogbusters]

My first console was the GBC too, such fond memories!! Also I know it defeats the purpose a bit but I’ve played my analogue pocket much more with the dock and a 8bitdo controller with nicer triggers, but not getting to use that beautiful screen is a downside.. Great video as always!

[@orbalology]

I've heard a lot of folks enjoy the dock! I didn't really see myself using it (which maybe was a good call because I never dock my Switch 😅) but it's nice to have that as an option.

[@TequilaBear]

I felt the FOMO of the analog pocket, when the clear ones were on pre order. I had it in my cart, but the reality is that I was not going to play it for a long time. I still haven’t properly used my steam deck. I like it and want it, but I won’t spend the time I would like to make it feel like I got my money’s worth. 😅 Being rational and responsible.

[@kiltedscotsman]

Im very a very new subscriber. Im so happy to have found you and your content. Your presentation style, content and channel are so amazing, I love your natural delivery. I never comment, but thought how wonderful that you share and wanted to show my appreciation (for what it's worth). Thankyou 💚

[@poppysgtspanky]

I’m def with you there on the switch oled Emily; I traded in my old one and got the oled model and I think it’s 100% worth it if you play it in handheld mode a lot.

[@TheFearedStorm]

awesome video Emily your videos are very relaxing when ever I have stressful day at work I come an watch your videos and they seem to relax me and put me in a happier mood :) Keep up the amazing work Emily

[@snipesentertainment9037]

I upgraded from PS4 slim to PS4 pro and I'm amazed how this slipped under the radar for many people. I'm not ready for PS5 until there are more games to play.

[@bedsolitaire]

PC gaming online-only DRM is something to definitely be aware of.

[@autobotleo]

Fantastic video. I have also been on the fence with Analogue pocket and emulation handhelds in general. You definitely helped me out with my choice

[@orbalology]

Glad I could help! :)

[@ShanGamer1981]

Love my pocket especially with all the emulation

[@m4dh4dd3r]

The Analogue Pocket is kind of a novelty / adventure in nostalgia but it’s a great experience doing so. Just to be able to use your cartridges and play here and there isn’t worth it unless you’re flush with cash. However, I think it’s worth it if there’s those games you wanted to play as a kid or other classics you’ll really get into and spend time with the system. For me, that’s RPGs - hands down - they simply maintain their fun factor even after all these years. Ultima Runes of Virtue 2 is what I’m currently tackling.

[@OldGrizzledGamer]

I had an original Switch and regretted buying it because there were only a couple of games I really enjoyed, but I later regretted selling it more because I missed those games a lot!

[@johnathanrhoades7751]

I picked up a switch OLED in fall 2002 and no regrets. I kind of want a PS5…but not enough to save up for it and commit to it. I still have a gazillion games on switch to play and the few games that I want to play that aren’t on switch I have a decent laptop for.

[@DavidBoggs-pk8nr]

Allot of good points. I would only say that for the ps5 slim, that's actually the better version to get for physical media. You only register the drive once, after that you never need to again. The reason the slim is better for this, is you can register a back up drive and keep that. So down the road if your drive goes up, you'll have a back up. the switch mini was too small for me. The very poor quality of the screen was nearly too much to bare lol. Along with how unreliable the joysticks can be, didn't want to be stuck with a device that requires complete disassembly to fix. With that said, I can appreciate the switch mini for travel. The oled is quite large!

[@broken1394]

I've only ever played my switch in handheld. Have a lite an OG. The only thing you may need to watch is that your able to read the in game text on HH. The next Ninty Console must arrive soon imo.

[@crazycgames]

Totally get your feelings on the Pocket. I've been working on getting a living origin dex the last year or so before the 3DS services go offline, and being able to play the Gen 3 games was great on the screen, but totally agree with your points on the shoulder buttons!

[@Buzz231094]

Physical copies of games that you want to play potentially for years to come, digital for ones where you aren’t as bothered (such as sports games or Call of Duty, ones that are updated every year anyway) also depends on price and availability 👌

[@BrianFo]

Good reviews on the three systems. I love the Switch OLED for handheld use, and I do find myself using more as around the house than a travel device. with having larger hands, I can only play with hori split pad pro (which I was so happy that they made a Zelda version finally). As for the Analogue Pocket, its best feature is how it can be like a Switch for old games. I keep my Switch SNES controller paired to the dock. I do feel the same way about the shoulder buttons with a game in it, but once I moved everything over to a micro SD card, I no longer have to worry about it. I can understand people being unsure of it, but I feel it is the best way to play the old Nintendo stuff (NES, SNES, GB, GBC, GBA) while giving you a Switch like experience and the screen is better then any modded console can be. I finally have able to play so many of the old games I missed out on as a kid. I personally prefer it over my modded GBAs too. As if you go for all the main mods in it, it still ends up around the same price of Analogue Pocket and possibly even more when you include a good flash cart for it.

[@felipemonroy4711]

I don't own a pc, always had a PS, but I bought a steam deck recently, and it has allowed me to play games that i never thought of playing before. So it might be a good way to get into pc gaming, even though it is still a hand held. Should give it a try!!

[@justinu1182]

great video as always! Sad to hear you haven't gotten as much enjoyment out of the Analogue Pocket as you were anticipating, though I certainly understand that going back to nostalgic titles (especially longer form games) is hard with a modern backlog as well. I've had mine from the first batch of releases, and honestly I haven't gone back to play many childhood favorites myself. For the most part I hit some games that I didn't get to play as a kid (Golden Sun, Fire Emblem GBA) but after I hit those highlights my biggest use case with the pocket has been to explore libraries that I was never exposed to when I was younger like the Neo Geo Pocket or the Wonderswan, or if I just have 15 or 20 minutes to kill it's nice to load up a quick pick up and play game like a classic puzzler or shmup. Tetris, Bubble Bobble, Gunpey, and Kuru Kuru Kururin get a lot of mileage on the puzzle end, along with Iridion 2, Judgement Silversword, Gradius and R-Type on the shmup end

[@orbalology]

I'll have to test out newer games on the Pocket - I'm sure that's the solution to make me fall in love with the device too haha. And you make a good point about exploring other libraries too outside of the Game Boy ecosystem. At some point I'll have to carve out a good chunk of time to make the most out of that experience.

[@jamesgoodwin3444]

I got the Switch OLED as my first switch console last year, and kind of regret getting it over the Lite as I too only use it for handheld play. The size and weight are quite off-putting, especially when travelling. I'm tempted to get the new Gold Hyrule Switch Lite coming out in September, and possibly sell the OLED.

[@steventran9288]

I started going down the path of buying retro systems and games last year. I have a dual gaming PC desk setup but after working in the video game industry, I realized I was more happy with older games and owning the physical media, not needing internet connection. Far too often games these days come unfinished and require tons of updates *cough Cyberpunk 2077. I only had a Nintendo (original) growing up, mainly played on friend's consoles and rented games at Blockbuster. Last year I started going down the rabbithole of buying everything I could, spent several thousand dollars. In one year, I bought NES (bought one complete in box), SNES, N64, Game Cube, PS1/PS2/PS3/PS4, X Box 360, Intellivision, Sega Genesis/Saturn/Dreamcast, and Neo Geo X. I basically made up for lost time. Basically made a list of the games I rented to buy, any chance I could get a complete boxed game, I did, including expensive ones like the Left Bros Super Mario Bros 3. If you ever get a chance, go to Pax West, you'll get to check out pretty much every game in existence, they even had an old Mac with Oregon Trail. I ended up making a giant list of things I need to purchase.

[@ZuccoFigures]

As a big GBA collector I've always wanted to buy an Analogue pocket. Just sorta made sense to get at some point. Initially the high price kept me away as I had other priorities, but later on I got pretty annoyed at the company aggressively using FOMO tactics with constant "limited edition" variants and whatnot. Made me not want to buy into their products, but I could see myself cracking eventually as the handheld really is nice

[@orbalology]

Yeah I was a bit salty they announced the limited editions like a week after my black one arrived 🙄 The screen is honestly so nice though, really makes the GBA games pop. Though you may want to consider waiting for something that has the classic GBA or SP form factor - the black bars on the Pocket to fit the GBA dimensions can look a bit odd. And as I mentioned with the trigger buttons' placement in the back is a bit awkward.

[@qchtohere8636]

Hearing you may consider getting into PC, and given your gaming taste here's my tip for you: *Get a Steam Deck* (an OLED version is available too), your get all the benefits of PC on a simple streamlined console styled device. And as a collector (that stopped buying physical last-gen), it's THE way to futureproof your collection by emulating on a single open portable device (a single microSD with roms is usually more than enough for time, and you can have multiple microSDs can also be used as pseudo-cartridges, hot-swappable and all).

[@orbalology]

The steam deck seems neat! I've tried it because my brother has one. I'm looking to get a desktop however not just for gaming but for other work reasons so seems like a natural next step for me (I also played a bunch of CD-ROM games as a kid so would be neat to go back to that space).

[@qchtohere8636]

@@orbalology as long as you're not a designer dependent on Adobe products, the Desktop Mode should be more than enough for most workflow (and even if you need Windows for apps like Office, you can setup a low-profile VM on an app called Boxes that can even run from within Gaming mode like a non Steam game, virtual keyboard, sleep active and all 😅). Oh, and you can connect a usb DVD/blueray drive and launch games directly from it (haven't tried on the Deck, but I know for a fact a Saturn emulator has worked like that since years ago under Linux). Hope you get to experience it, but the important thing is you enjoy what you have. Happy gaming!

[@orbalology]

@@qchtohere8636 I run statistical models using high dimension data, so I kinda need a heavy PC for some of it.

[@jakesouthard9175]

I can only speak for the analogue pocket, but I got a glow in the dark one a few weeks ago and am obsessed

[@ajzammuto1937]

Great video! I really enjoyed all of your honest insights. I also mostly play my switch in handheld mode. I recently impulsed bought a slim ps5 with the disc drive. The issues with the drive registering it almost made me regret my choice as I also have series S. Also a gaming pc is worth it once you’re ready for it. Again, really great content!

[@orbalology]

Thank you for watching :)

[@beckchileno]

I own the transparent red Analogue Pocket and it's awesome playing original cartridges on it. I love it!

[@orbalology]

Glad to hear you were able to score one of the limited transparent editions!

[@beckchileno]

@@orbalology I had to buy it the second it was available on their site to avoid the scalpers.

[@charlie-ks2uu]

I have the switch & an original ps5 too love them both. I also had an atomic purple gameboy colour as my first ever handheld! Born in 1990 & I would highly recommend if your into retro gameboy stuff- I brought a retroflag gpi case the first model. It has a retro gameboy feel to it, its well made and easy to use, has all my gameboy games i ever played on it, sega games and will even run ps1. Its great for nostalgia. I have a little daughter now so currently not able to game much but I’ll come back to it one day for sure 😊

[@shyguy64000]

I get motion sickness pretty bad, in games that offer it I'd recommend looking for FOV sliders in the options for games. Raising it has brought games I couldn't play to totally fine, also trying to sit further away from the screen can help as well, there are some games on PC I play with a controller just so I don't have to be as close to my monitor. Having games physical is better and I go with that most of the time, but some games can just get so expensive that I can't justify it. My general rule is if a game (that isn't a collector's edition) is over $100 on the used market and theres a digital version available, I go with digital. I love PC gaming for the prices on games, I got a Steam Deck too so it's so nice to play a game on PC, go somewhere and I'm continuing right where I was because of Steam cloud saves

[@shabberplasm32]

I have medium sized hands, and I mostly agree with you on the PS5 controller. It's not the most comfortable for me. Although I love the PS5 in general yeah the controller isn't super comfortable. Also its definitely not shallow to collect physical media, that's just what you prefer which is totally normal as a collector. Its kind of like picking up figures of favorite characters or Pokemon plushies of your favorites from them.

[@GambinoGameroom]

I love my pokemon switch oled I play it all the time. I’ve been on the fence about the ps5 or Xbox series X for some time now both seem like good ideas in different ways but I also would rather play my switch. As far as the analogue I’ve got the GB Operator which is kinda the same thing but it’s hooked up to your pc and was way cheaper. Just wanted to say I love your content and how much your channel has been growing over the past months! Keep it up

[@orbalology]

Thank you so much!

[@easymodenerd]

My first game system was the original GameBoy. I credit that system with my love of handheld gaming.

[@orbalology]

It was such a fantastic system that launched a new handheld gaming era!

[@bobbymoss6160]

Thanks for sharing Emily! Amazon and Home Depot probably has me on their naughty list for returning a large percentage of products. I'm just a very picky consumer. I tend to watch/read a lot of reviews before buying things, unfortunately that's still other people's opinion/preference not my own. But I keep a lot of stuff too, things I'm happy with and things I actually use. I bought the NYXI Hyperion joy-cons for my Switch a while ago, but ended up just using the default joy-cons after upgrading the joy-sticks to gulikit hall effect joy-sticks. I don't regret getting the NYXI Hyperion, because they're in fact very comfortable, comparable to the official Switch Pro Controller.

[@orbalology]

They make some cool color ways for the nyxi hyperions! I've considered testing them out to see how they compare to just using the regular grip. Maybe I'll give them a try someday!

[@mcdonald8240]

I highly recommend a steam deck. I absolutely love mine. It is an emulation beast. If you are concerned about preservation of some of your older games you can always dump the game and back it up on a hdd. This for me personally allowed me to keep some of my valuable games on the shelf while I play the digital dump of the game off my sd card.

[@adamwragg4606]

Great video! Love my switch! I'm thinking about getting a steam deck for emulation and the last of us mainly but some AAA games so I can play portably

[@amarcellus1714]

My Oled is gathering dust because I'm playing Yuzu on my PC. I love my analogue Pocket. I've been writing rom hocks to my spare cartridge carts i had laying around and I bought custom shells. The PS3 is sitting in my closet. I'm mostly gaming on PS5. I'm doing some PC games just so i can apply mods.

[@geoffbows9246]

Good to hear in depth about these consoles. I too bought a Switch OLED and an Analogue Pocket and a couple of Vitas in the last year. Don’t regret a thing. All amazing machines, but they do compete with PS5 for time.

[@larelare1]

Whoa, I also bought the Analogue pocket and only played A link to the Past. I put in a randomizer seed of ALtrP though. Really fun to play the randomized game on a handheld.

[@DavidRBrown7]

I bought a Switch OLED for travelling a while back as I was away for about three weeks. I cannot imagine a smaller screen as an older game with presbyopia. I still use it that way when I travel but I really prefer it in docked form (again for my eyes). Regarding the PS5 controller, I always have it in my lap as it reduced the need to grip it so tight.

[@orbalology]

That's perfectly understandable! I guess coming from the Vita & 3DS screens I didn't mind the Lite screen much at all. But I can certainly see a large difference now in screen sizes.

[@TremelJackson]

Some games have accesiblity settings that allow you to turn off camera shake or other game effects If you're feeling nauseous from playing

[@mechaotakugamer]

I'm getting a ps5 this Friday and I'm so excited. It's an early birthday gift to myself. (My birthday is next friday) and I'll finally be caught up with my friends

[@orbalology]

Happy early birthday!

[@mechaotakugamer]

@@orbalology thank you, you are too kind

[@Slayer-777-]

Your videos are always interesting to watch and it’s always nice to hear your personal opinion on games and consoles etc

[@orbalology]

Thanks! Glad to hear you find them interesting.

[@russb93]

I got the Analogue Pocket as a Christmas present, so no way of buyers remorse, and it’s been fantastic playing my old games again. Sometimes it’s nice just playing the hits. I understand why my parents played the same few albums all the time now lol

[@mastershakelock]

You should really give the Analogue Pocket another shot and lookup a guide on how to use the OpenFPGA feature. There truly is a remarkable difference between emulation software and emulating hardware that does make or break your gameplay experience IMO. If you bought the AP just to replay your old physical carts... you're doing it wrong. Also when you use openFPGA to play your backup roms on AP there is absolutely no difference between playing the physical carts or rom backups when it comes to openFPGA on AP. That's the magic of AP.

[@possim6870]

I say play whatever game will make you happy. If it's one of the new shiny games, awesome! If you want to play a game that you've played a million times, then that's what you should do!

[@jdn538]

I just got a ps5 too and there is a huge backlog of classic games, GOW, Spiderman, Horizon, etc, while u wait for new exclusives 😊

[@TrinhNguyen-85]

It’s nice to start off my Monday with a new video from you! Thanks. Yes, I agree the ps5 controller is very uncomfortable. I find disabling adaptive trigger helps a lot especially on games like Hogwarts Legacy where you press the trigger button 80% of the time. But the other solution, I did was to set up remote play and now I’m just streaming the ps5 game on my steam deck. There’s no latency that I can perceive and it feels like playing a Switch but with much better graphics. I think you can also remote play with a phone and there’s controller accessories. I love my Analogue Pocket. I’ve actually beaten quite a few gb and gba games recently because of it. I own a modded gbc and gba but I still prefer the pocket. The screen with filters just look too good. The trigger button placement is not ideal for gba games that relies on it. But if you play the rom and have no cartridge inserted, it actually feels pretty good. And the best feature is its ability to go to sleep like the Switch so I can resume the game later

[@orbalology]

Oh I have been thinking of getting the PS portal for a handheld streaming option... but $200 is still a bit more steep than I'm willing to pay atm 😅 It's nice to hear you've had success streaming through the steam deck though! I will have to give my Analogue Pocket more love this year. I have a feeling that I'll fall for it hard too, and as you suggested using roms to play may make for a more comfortable experience.

[@BespokeSlipp]

Have you tried remapping the GBA trigger buttons to the X,Y face buttons? I’m thinking about doing so, but I guess it’ll really depend on the game

[@sinthetic4878]

I would not have bought my Pocket if it weren't for the Dock accessory. I have a bunch of GB/GBA carts, but emulating for NES and SNES and to play those on the TV with a PS4 controller is pretty awesome.

[@ZeroFksGvn]

I definitely invested in a GBA with a backlit screen to play all my classic games when I get the urge. But yeah same issue where I find myself playing more modern consoles to tackle backlog. I’ve knocked 5 games out so far and am currently playing Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth.

[@orbalology]

It can be tough returning to old favorites when there are so many new adventures to go on! I also partly worry that some of my older favorite games may not impact me the same way as I remember 😅

[@jace7o2]

You are probably used to the joycons but there’s also an option to do handheld with the pro controller through an adapter called the Fixture S2. It’s a very flexible adapter that I have used since my OG switch as my joycons kept falling to drift issues

[@cjeelde]

I saw a video about DS games on 3DS vs on DS. Looks SO much better on DS. It's as you said: and it's because the 3DS' display got a higher res. So the games are always "zoomed in". I believe there's a "pixel perfect" mode for DS games on 3DS and then the game will just fill maybe 75% of the display so it's smaller than the display. If you really want the best experience for DS games, you should always play them on a DS. A DS in good condition of course. About GameCube games I have to say that these works great on Wii! I hope the next console from Nintendo will have a wonderful Switch mode!

[@jovo9000]

The original steam deck LCD version is discounted right now because of the OLED release. The OLED is better for various reasons, however, the original deck is a very decent price right now and is probably the most affordable jumping in point for PC gaming. Keep in mind it does have it's limitations, but it's also a very highly reviewed and capable machine for pc gaming (and emulation).

[@stephengoodman9058]

I’ve had my PS5 about two years now and I love it. It’s almost a one stop entertainment server ( I’m old enough to have a lot of cd’s, so its not quite perfect). I agree that its annoying that PS Plus is forced on people but as someone who’s only a very casual collector of physical games I find it to be good value for me. It’s also a great way to discover games I might not have taken a risk on if I had to buy them individually (Deliver us the moon being a good recent example). I also think my basic Switch is a great device albeit badly in need of a new model.

[@EriesAston]

I only use my dock to charge my Switch, handheld gaming all the way. I have no problems with taking the Oled Switch with me, I'm used to the Steamdeck

[@orbalology]

That's totally fair! I try to pack as lightly as possible when I travel (i.e. just a small backpack as my carryon when I travel for work). But maybe one of these days I'll test out how traveling with the OLED works for me 😅

[@Gryzor88]

Thanks for sharing your experience with these devices. A higher frame rate usually helps to avoid nausea, so try switching Ratchet & Clank to performance mode on PS5.

[@eries347]

I had a gaming pc years ago and I got tired of the constant fidgeting with the settings so it could play games properly. I could not afford the better graphics cards and every year or so was a new better one so i just gave up trying and just back to only console and handheld. I also like to view my physical games so buying physical is my priority. Especially with all those digital stores closing.

[@orbalology]

Yeah the constant hardware upgrades required of PC gaming sounds like a pain. Something I'm certainly not looking forward to 😅

[@eries347]

@@orbalology I'd say the safest choice and the cheapest might be a steam deck. There will still be some fidgeting with settings but no need for graphics card upgrades. Downside it won't play everything. But there is an oled version out or coming soon. I recommend you go back to ps3. You are missing out on alot of great games that most likely never be ported to anything else. Also the games are relatively cheap.

[@BespokeSlipp]

@@eries347I have an unopened Steam Deck OLED Limited Edition in my room tempting me everyday. Excited to play it soon, just need to find some time. What are some of your favorite well-optimized games?

[@JBird101010]

I got a PS4 in 2022 for $150 on eBay and I have no regrets! One of the best systems to collect for and fantastic games to play as well! I love my switch but I find when buying pre owned games they still are pretty close to full price even for niche titles which can be a bummer sometimes. PS4 has been my favorite to collect for so far!

[@orbalology]

The PS4 is great to collect for right now! There's still a lot of games I still need to pick up for it.

[@sanjithechef]

The analogue pocket is definitely a luxury. Fortunately, I haven’t played or finished a lot of classics from GBC and GBA like the Zelda’s you mentioned and Golden Sun. The bumpers are pretty annoying - I agree. Good point on trying games out before trying to buy a physical copy - it’s nice to have a curated small collection. If only analogue didn’t make such expensive/exclusive consoles lol oh well

[@orbalology]

Yeah, it's a shame that the Analogue systems are so expensive! Would be nice to just have them become a more affordable standard so that they're easier to recommend.

[@HenryenX]

PC is definitely odd for collectors. On one hand, there are great sales and lots of customization. It's also assuring that it's highly unlikely Steam and therefore our Steam collections will go away within our lifetimes... at least while Gabe Newell is in charge. GOG is also a nice option, but it tends to be older games as it is DRM free. On the other hand, there is lots of maintenance with updates for many aspects of PC gaming. Hardware updates can be tricky, but there are lots of guides out there. If you were to move to a remote location with poor internet, you'll have a bad time as well. Lots to consider! Another great video though!

[@orbalology]

Certainly lots to consider! But I have a feeling sooner rather than later a lot of gaming will shift more heavily towards PC. So we'll all have to adapt at some point 😂

[@HenryenX]

@@orbalology PC is great as an option, hopefully consoles will always be there for when we just want to be on a couch :)

[@HeroAvereld]

Last year, my original Switch stopped reading game cartridges properly, so I went ahead and bought an OLED model with white Joy-Con. A short while later, the Tears of the Kingdom OLED Switch was announced. I had a ton of regret after that. So, I wound up buying a TotK OLED and selling the standard OLED toward the end of 2023. Not a fun endeavor, haha.

[@orbalology]

I don't enjoy selling large items like that either, but glad to hear it worked out at least!