I beat #AstralChain!!

That final boss battle offered the perfect level of challenge. It took me over a dozen attempts. I didn't have any items that replenished my health, which made it harder, but luckily I did have items that gave me more lives. I had 8 total and I needed every single one of them.

I started this game at the beginning of 2022 and my save file says my playtime was 30 hours, but my Switch says I've played it for 40 hours or more. I think that is the perfect length, especially since there was still a ton of side content I didn't do and a bunch more just introduced in File 12, which becomes available after the credits roll. There is also a ranking system and you can retry missions if you wanted to get the highest rank.

Highly recommended Switch exclusive!

I got my new #Anbernic RG40XX H #emulation handheld on Tuesday. Installed #Knulli (a custom firmware) on it and then spent way too long figuring out how to import my #FinalFantasyIX save file. It should've been easy since I've done it so many times but unfortunately not.

Things I like about this device:
-Looks awesome (I'm a sucker for rainbow RGB on black)
-Great ergonomics (the d-pad and joysticks are both easily reachable)
-Very pocketable
-Quiet face buttons
-Good sized 4:3 aspect ratio display with minimal backlight bleed that seems to get bright enough to use it outside

Things I don't like about this device:
-It's just barely too underpowered to play FFIX at 2x resolution without slowdown during some battle animations
-Speakers aren't great
-Bumpers and triggers are very clicky and loud
-Colors aren't very vibrant and blacks aren't very black

Overall, I'm happy with this device and plan to keep it. Definitely worth $50.

While waiting for the RG40XXH handheld I ordered from AliExpress to arrive, I impulsively bought the #RG505 from Amazon since it was one of the few that would arrive next-day and it seemed like it may fit my requirements of being pocketable and having quiet buttons. Plus, it’s OLED!

Well, I got it yesterday and it seemed like something I may want to keep. I was happy with the buttons and the overall build quality but it was barely pocketable. However, I thought having the OLED panel would be worth the bulk… until the sun went down and the mura effect on the screen revealed itself.

I probably should have expected this as I had the same problem with the RG503 I tried out a year or two ago and they both use the same OLED panel.

Anyway, I’ll be sending this back as I wouldn’t be able to enjoy playing it in bed.

This was a learning experience, though, as I now know exactly how pocketable a device of this size is. And I also realized the Switch Lite is technically pocketable…..

I finished Shin Megami Tensei III !

Yet another game I started back in 2020. Originally I was emulating the PS2 version but I accidentally deleted a save file in 2022 and lost a bunch of progress.

Not long after that I decided to get the HD remaster on Switch and restarted the game on New Year's Eve 2022.

This time last year I got the game on Steam after finding out I could download a save file that would put me at the same spot I was at in the Switch version and edit it so I had the same stats and items.

I have a lot to say about the ending of this game but I'll save that for another post with a content warning.

#smt3 #megaten #shinmegamitensei

Any seasoned #Linux users know why I keep getting these spots on my display?

I can get them to go away by adjusting the resolution scale but they keep coming back.

I’m using an Nvidia GPU which I figure may have something to do with it.

#cachyos @CachyOS

I’ve been thinking about getting a new #RetroGamingHandheld again…

I got the BatleXP (#Anbernic) G350 last year and find it really nice for the very low price I paid for it. I just got around to installing a custom firmware on it called #Pan4Elec and it is so much better now. I also put my ROM collection on it and my PS1 memory card, mainly to play #FinalFantasyVI. Now I can really get a feel for this device and see what I would want in a more mid-tier handheld.

My main problems with the G350 are its lackluster display and the horizontal form factor, which is not very comfortable to hold. I do like its build quality, inputs, and pocketability.

I really want to figure out #Syncthing or something similar so I can sync my save files online and continue the same games across multiple devices. That said, the G350 doesn’t have WiFi so that wouldn’t help me out in this case.

2025:Windows::2026:Linux

#Linux #CachyOS