Performance Overview
Sometimes games make this job easy, and that’s the case with Creative Games Computer Graphics Corporation’s The Legend of Tianding. On the Steam Deck, performance is tight. The game consistently hits 60 frames per second even with TDP turned down low.
There are times when there’s a lot happening on the screen, and even then, the performance is crisp and fluid. There really isn’t much to gripe about here.
The Legend of Tianding Overview
Imagine a side-scroller with the art of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure, the fast-paced, thoughtful combat of Dustforce, and the puzzle elements of a friendly version of Super Meat Boy.
The Legend of Tianding packs a lot into its four-to-five-hour runtime. Combat is the main focus and the thing you’ll remember when the credits roll. Tianding utilizes punches, kicks, and a variety of different weapons he yanks away from enemies to unleash a calculated frenzy, all of which ends with a boss fight.
Plus the story is based on the real-life Liao Tianding – a Taiwanese Robin Hood-style vigilante. It’s a nice change of pace. Sure, we have plenty of Japanese games and games based on Chinese characters but rarely do we see anything based on Taiwanese stories, and that helps to make the game feel fresh (even if my mind instantly went to Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure).
Recommend Settings
As mentioned, The Legend of Tianding works right out the box, with zero need to change anything in-game. The only real thing I’d remind you to do is to change the TDP. This game doesn’t need anywhere near the full amount, so if you want a quiet fan and longer battery life, drop that right down to eight.
| The Legend of Tianding (In-game Settings) | |
| Resolution |
1280×720 |
| Fullscreen | On |
| Frame VSync | On |
| Steam Deck Settings (Quick Access Menu) | |
| TDP: 8 (60 frames) | Estimated Battery Life: 3 Hours |
| Docked Mode Resolution: 1280×720 | FSR: On (Docked Mode) |
| GPU Usage: 40% | Temperature: 52 degrees |
| Extra Info | |
| Fills the Entire Steam Deck Screen | Yes |
| Valve Grading | Verified |
| Performance Rating: 4/5 | |
Issues
Ignoring the difficulty spike on the final boss, The Legend of Tianding worked exceptionally well without any major bugs or issues. I did have a problem while I was testing in docked mode where the framerate would lock itself to 30, but that’s easily fixed by going into the quick access menu and changing the refresh rate and changing it back again. No biggie, in other words.
Other than that, everything I tested worked without any issues, and there were zero crashes to speak of.
Conclusion
Do you like cartoon visuals, a fresh story, and gripping combat? If so, The Legend of Tianding comes easy to recommend.
The combat is slick and stylish, and the ability to steal enemy weapons is unique in all the right ways. It lets the player decide to play how they want. Want to blow people away with a bazooka? Rob that guy’s! How about thwacking someone with a bo? Just punch this guy in the face a few times and you can yoink it. It’s original, even though the game’s influences are clear to see.
Combine all of the above with an interesting story and excellent performance and this is one side-scrolling beat-’em-up that hits the mark.
Disclosure: Review code provided by PR. | All screenshots captured on Steam Deck.| To learn more about our review policy click here. | Alternatively, click here to find out why you can trust me.
