Thanks to you I have a good feeling about them (PQ and SMTIV).  On a number of occasions in the past I have been more able to get into DS installments of games (even if they were asides or gaiden games) even if the canon entries on console were a bit hard for me to enjoy.

They're a little pricy (about 40 euros each) with the possible exception of SMTIV which is a download (and I should have really bought it a few weeks ago while it was heavily discounted.)  That's more than I'm used to paying even for console games but you gave me a very good feeling about them.  I should really stop thinking about them as "handheld games" which are somehow less substantial than console games ... especially since these particular ones are meatier and more substantial than many a console game.  And I have been sort of hankering to play some JRPGs in recent months.  I may take off STEAM from that list as it sounds like it didn't really grab you despite the good qualities you found in it

OH, I LOVE STEAM, but many others did not. It's very typical Intelligent Systems and since they put the Fast-Forward option in for the enemy turns, it's probably even better now than it was before. I haven't had a lot of time to play it lately, though, sadly.

As for Etrian, it's more of a Mystery Dungeon game now, along the lines of Shiren the Wanderer, Izuna the Unemployed Ninja or the Pokemon Mystery Dungeon games. I love IT too!

Yeah. You have to stop thinking of them as "handheld games" as they are meatier and you get much more of a value out of them than a lot of console games these days! The fact that they are portable... means the world to me!

If you are REALLY into portables at the moment, and you ever even think of getting a New 3DS, add XenoBlade to the list! If you doubt for the slightest moment that handhelds can do tremendous, console-quality games... give it a try! MASSIVE! I am so impressed what they could do with the new system!  

If you only play handhelds at home surely the Wii U gamepad and copy of the Wii Xenoblades is nicer due to the bigger screen (perhaps?).

bugsonglass said:

Now you're being very bad!  I really must resist buying another 3DS (even if it's an actual upgrade on the hardware) and a game I have already on a home console.

Didn't remember if you had it or not, and didn't remember if you actually expressed any interest in a New 3DS or not. Depending on how much travelling you do versus how much you are actually home, I thought it might be something you would make use of...

aspro said:

If you only play handhelds at home surely the Wii U gamepad and copy of the Wii Xenoblades is nicer due to the bigger screen (perhaps?).

I've taken them out with me and played my 3DS systems every single day for years...

I haven't turned my U on since February, I think...  

Ravenprose said:

Wii games are viewable on the Upad screen, but the buttons do not control the game. You have to use a CC or Wiimote to play. It's annoying.

Oh. Well. Then. EDIT: That will save me a lot of money, I was planning on using gamepad to play old wii games around the house.

I downloaded Hearthstone for my phone since it can actually run it better than my bottom rung tablet. That was a mistake... I should never have touched this. Anyway it was lovely being a contributing member here, but I have to go now.

phantom_leo said:

...also doesn't help that you walk three feet away from the system and the gamepad loses the signal...  

That truly sucks.  There are countless times when I've wanted to play in another room or in bed and couldn't.

Ravenprose said:

Really? I haven't had that issue. I sometimes take my Upad downstairs and play while I'm cooking. Works just fine for me.

OK, so the uPad works ... but how does playing while you're working work?

When I worked at the store, I brought my U and Gamepad.  We used to have a hd tv but a douchebag that I worked with spent so much time playing games that he would ignore customers.  So it was taken away.  I turned on the U and would play on the gamepad during my downtime, which could amount to five or six hours of game time a day.  Most games let you see what you are doing so you can switch to view on Gamepad on the fly.  Not Batman Arkham Origins.  I had to count how many times to press the button and move the stick until it showed up on my Gamepad.