

Problem is, the majority of Android apps don't recognize your controller-and when that happens, you're forced to use the right joystick as a mouse cursor or get your fingers all over the touchscreen. You'll find a curated list of games that play nice with the Shield some standouts include Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, Sonic CD, and hack-'n'-slash Eternal Warriors 2, all of which have built-in controller support. The Shield's library isn't limited to Steam games-you can grab any Android game or app you can think of off the familiar Google Play store. You'll hate: When the controller isn't supported Expect around 8 hours of solid playtime before the Shield needs more juice.ĭark cloud: For $299, you'd expect nothing less than a high-end construction. The Shield's battery life is also quite impressive, able to go days without charging depending on your use, though Stream gaming will definitely drain the battery quicker. It can also output a respectable amount of bass-something all too uncommon with handheld devices. In addition, the Shield has an impressive audio suite, with built-in speakers that don't crackle or squeak no matter how loud the action gets. Best of all, you won't notice any trace of finger smudges during use, a phenomenon that can plague the smartphone gaming experience.
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When you're not preoccupied with using the touchscreen as an input device, it's undoubtedly gorgeous to look at, pumping out crisp visuals with a 720p retinal display. Once you've gotten a grip on the Shield controller, the next thing you'll notice is the screen. You'll love: The impressive quality of the device as as a whole In terms of weight, the Shield is surprisingly light your arms aren't likely to get fatigued from marathon gaming sessions, and it rests nicely on your chest if you're streaming Steam games in bed.ĭark cloud: If you have particularly petite hands, holding the Shield will feel beyond bulky. The clamshell-style screen is attached in such a way that the controller's balance always feels just right, and the screen's angle is easily adjusted without ever sliding around on its own. And not to fear-the D-pad feels much more natural than the 360's. The shape of the Shield's grip is nearly identical to that of a 360 controller, with the same X-Y-A-B button layout and seemingly identical joysticks. You could think of the Shield as a fusion between the buttons and triggers of an Xbox 360 controller with the joystick orientation of the Dual Shock 3. But once you've gotten your hands on it, it's as comfy as a broken-in baseball glove. Oh sure, the Shield might not look like much at first sight. You'll love: How sturdy the controller feels Silver lining: The PC streaming is still in beta, and will very likely improve over time as patches iron out the kinks. You'll pick up where you left off once you reconnect, but being wrenched out of the game in such a jarring way will completely deflate the action. Should the Shield's signal waiver due to any network interference, your audio and video connection will be severed instantly. What's worse is when you're unceremoniously ripped out of your experience altogether. Depending on how OCD you are about the authenticity of your gaming experience, even a milliseconds-long pause between the flash of your muzzle and the sound of a gunshot in a game like Metro can be absolutely maddening. The audio is the most prevalent problem, because even the slightest delay between sight and sound threatens to sully the whole experience. With any wireless device, latency is bound to be an issue, and while the Shield has some impressive power, it can't escape the feeling of a little lag.

You'll hate: When the streaming doesn't work perfectly Android games are nice and all, but they're not the reason why anyone would buy a Shield.ĭark cloud: The list of officially supported games is fairly small at the moment, with a heavy emphasis on FPS and racing titles. But the mere fact that games like Borderlands 2, Metro: Last Light, and Dirt 3 can be played in the palm of your hand is astounding, simply for the sheer novelty of it. It may not be a one-for-one duplication of what'd you see on your computer monitor the framerate suffers slightly due to the streaming. The end result: you can play Skyrim while reclining in your bed, along with a host of other graphics-intensive Steam games.

Your computer does all the processing grunt work, sending a wireless video and audio signal to the Shield, which acts as the controller. Playing PC games away from your keyboard is the main draw of the Shield, and when it works, it's undoubtedly impressive. You'll love: Streaming PC games on a handheld
