![[Complimentary Game] The Tale of Bistun Available on PlayStation 5 and Switch (North America)](https://www.nogameover.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Review-of-The-Tale-of-Bistun-on-PlayStation-5-360x180.jpg "[Complimentary Game] The Tale of Bistun Available on PlayStation 5 and Switch (North America)")
Handheld gaming consoles are often celebrated for their vibrant displays and fluid refresh rates, pulling gamers into a vividly immersive experience. Yet, the upcoming ‘Ink Console,’ set for a Crowd Supply launch, is veering off this beaten path to carve its niche in the gaming world. Rather than boasting about fast frame rates and OLED brilliance, the Ink Console opts for a charmingly distinctive 7.5-inch e-ink screen with a resolution of 800 x 480. Inspired by the allure of classic games and the adventures found within choose-your-own-adventure books, the creators aim to deliver something uniquely engaging.
At its core, this novel device is akin to an e-reader enhanced with an analog joystick for seamless navigation through gamebooks. Furthermore, it offers a user-friendly development kit, empowering enthusiasts to craft their narratives to enjoy personally or share with others. In keeping with its flexible appeal, the console features a built-in SD card reader, inviting the expansion of your gaming library with adventure stories still in the making.
A unique addition in the Ink Console is its operating-system-based inventory feature, letting players collect and manage items crucial to their adventure’s journey. Coupled with a health status system, it’s ideally suited for fans of text-based RPGs and adventure tales.
The concept of the e-ink gaming console is rooted deeply in nostalgia, drawing from the text adventures that captivated readers in the ’80s and ’90s, such as the iconic Zork I and Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine. These adventures hinged on choices made by the reader, determining how stories would unfold. This inventive device breathes digital life into those classics, making them interactive and appealing for today’s youth, with the hope of sparking a passion for reading.
Beyond this, the added digital elements, like the health and inventory systems, infuse an exciting complexity into these adventures. The intent is to create an all-ages captivating experience, potentially attracting both young and old.
While the Ink Console is unlikely to rival the powerhouses of modern handheld gaming like Lenovo’s Legion Go S, or offer the multi-functionality of tablets such as the iPad, it carves out its own space. Designed solely for immersive adventure reading, it ensures an interruption-free experience, void of app notifications and distractions. It’s a haven for enthusiasts who treasure reading and text-centered entertainment, provided it hits the market at an accessible price point.
