I recently had the opportunity to dive deep into the gaming experience of "Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name" on two handheld gaming devices: the ROG Ally and the Legion Go. My exploration started with analyzing the game's performance at 1080p resolution, utilizing the low preset with FSR 2.1 on quality mode to achieve an optimal gameplay balance.
Performance
I noticed that while the R.G. Ally, at 1080p, didn't maintain a constant 60 frames per second (fps), its performance was reasonably stable, especially in combat and cutscenes. The frame rate hovered in the mid-50s, with occasional dips into the 40s, which was quite minor. Interestingly, both devices, even when set to the forced 30-watt mode with power plugged in, didn't seem to utilize the full 30 watts, a phenomenon I observed on both the R.G. Ally and the Legion Go.
Audio Quality Comparison
The Legion Go, with its new sound profile, offered slightly better audio quality compared to the R.G. Ally. The top-firing speakers of the Legion Go provided a different sound experience, albeit the R.G. Ally’s front-facing speakers had a bassier output.
Screen and Resolution Analysis
What truly stood out was the Legion Go's 8.8-inch screen, providing a remarkably vivid and immersive experience. Comparing on-screen footage side-by-side at 1200p, both devices showcased similar quality and performance. However, the Legion Go's screen quality did make a noticeable difference.
Running the game at 1600p on the Legion Go, I observed that the performance was better sustained at 30 watts compared to the lower resolution, although the frame rate still fluctuated between 30 to 40 fps. To achieve better clarity at this resolution, it was necessary to adjust the FSR 2 down to balanced mode.
Exploring Lower Resolutions
On the ROG Ally at 720p, with a custom 20-watt profile, the frame rate exceeded 60 fps, sometimes reaching over 100 fps in less busy scenes. This made it clear that 900p was the sweet spot for the ROG Ally, balancing quality and performance effectively. On the Legion Go, at 800p, the larger screen size seemed to enhance the gaming experience, providing cleaner visuals at a similar performance level to the R.G. Ally.
Final Thoughts
Both devices performed exceptionally well with the Xbox Game Pass version of the game. The Legion Go's screen quality slightly edged out the ROG Ally, but the audio and speaker differences were less noticeable when using headphones. As someone passionate about gaming and technology, I found the experience on both devices enriching and satisfying, and I look forward to seeing how future driver updates will enhance their performance. If you're considering either device for your gaming needs, rest assured, you won't be disappointed with your choice.