There’s something undeniably satisfying when you minimize a game and all of a sudden you’re hovering your mouse over Google Chrome to check an email. Coming from primarily the PS4 to PC gaming has me utterly convinced; this is truly the optimal way to play video games. Although my time as a PC gamer has been brief – I’m still learning about frame rates – I’ve been able to experience minimal loading times, a crisper visual fidelity, and above all a relieving yet surprising sense of ease. PC gaming is not this gargantuan hill of uncertainty and intimidation I once thought it was. And perhaps the PC gaming landscape has changed over the last several years but the ease of access for me thus far has been exceptional. Below are my current specs.
- 15.6 inches Full HD
- 144Hz 3ms IPS Display
- Intel i7-9750H
- GTX 1660 Ti 6GB
- 16GB DDR4
- 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD
With these specs, I’ve been able to enjoy Ori and the Blind Forest at a thunderous 140 FPS and even dipped my toes into some Halo: Reach which runs at a smooth and consistent 60 FPS. PC Gaming not only has me excited to try new games but it also has me excited for things I never knew I could be excited for. I’m excited to run through each game’s graphics settings and toggle away with eager anticipation. It’s a new obsession and it really makes me feel like I’m doing something more. I have a hand in improving my gaming experience and it’s a feeling you just can’t get with gaming consoles.
I’ve also run into some questionable issues that have left me scratching my head. While most games perform flawlessly, some games glaringly don’t. Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for some reason cannot keep a steady frame rate. I’ve seen the game go from a buttery 90 FPS to a choppy 18 FPS in seconds. I tried turning down the resolution and turning off some settings but even then, the frame rate continued to chug. It’s worth noting that I’ve been able to run Gears 5, SoulCalibur VI, and Metro: Exodus with no issues.
Why is Bloodstained, a game I’m certain does not require as much computing power as those titles, struggling so much with my hardware? It’s definitely frustrating but it’s the good kind of frustrating because, again, these are solvable issues that I can control. Or maybe not, maybe Bloodstained just flat out stinks on PC? Nevertheless, I’m enjoying the process of figuring problems out and finding the right balance between optimizing and upgrading.
PC gaming has been a revelation for me. I love how Steam allows me to use my PS4 controller with their Big Picture interface. I love how it sort of acts like a console with the Big Picture UI, making me feel right at home. Most of my friends say I’ve converted to the PC master race regime but to be honest, nothing beats the convenience of the console. You know exactly what to expect with your Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch; that’s a comforting feeling. It’s comforting to know that you don’t have to worry about your drivers being up to date or your components running too hot. You can’t compete with the plug and play aspect of consoles and I believe PC and consoles will coexist for a very long time as they already have.
I just like the freedom gaming on PC gives you. All of the different storefronts such as Steam, Humble Bundle, Xbox Game Pass, Epic Game Store and the like. I just splurged on my very first Steam sale and I honestly feel like I got away with robbery. I’m excited to see where this takes me and I’ll be updating my experiences, ups and downs, with you all as I venture further into the PC gamescape. Any advice for me? What could be wrong with my Bloodstained game? Leave your comments and wisdom down below.
