With the PlayStation 4, Sony opens the door to the next generation of console gaming and puts forth a serious challenge to Microsoft’sXbox One.
It’s packed the system with future proof specs, improved the controller, lined up tons of great developer support and undercut the competition on price.
We won’t beat around the bush: it’s a great machine. But is it worth diving into now, or should you wait for a that new Uncharted? Lets break it down.
We liked
Gaming on the PS4 is fantastic. The graphics are good, not mind blowing if you’ve used a decent gaming PC lately, but a big step up from last-gen consoles.
It’s not the visuals but the performance that’s really impressive though. There’s hardly thirty seconds of loading time between the dozen launch titles we tested, and multiplayer sessions can get massive, like the 64 player showdowns on Battlefield 4.
Setting up is a doddle, and we loved the no-fuss packaging and the ease of use.
The interface is fast too. Everything is speedy and responsive right from minute one, and the interface is full of clever design choices that speed things up. Games begin to install the second you pop in the disc, firmware updates download while the system is on standby and game patches do too if you have PS Plus.
The DualShock 4 controller is a significant upgrade. The most bothersome aspects of the DualShock 3 have been addressed, resulting in a comfortable controller that’s more functional for games of all genres. The touchpad, while currently underused, is well built and nicely placed, the light bar makes player identification simple and the system can finally charge a controller while it’s off or in standby.
PS Vita Remote Play works well over WiFi. Using it on a different network or 3G is a no go, but being able to play Knack in bed or Killzone when someone else is using the TV was reliable and lag free over our home WiFi, plus a lot of fun.
The system looks great and has no power brick. On a purely aesthetic level, the PS4 is very cool. The asymmetrical design is striking, even if it makes it difficult to get at the rear ports, and it’s also a restrained size. It makes you wonder how the Xbox One could be so massive and still have a power brick.
PS Plus is totally worth it. While it’s a bit disheartening to see online multiplayer go behind a$50/£40 paywall, Sony has tossed in a lot of stuff to sweeten the deal. You get improved standby functionality, discounts on games in the digital store and freebie downloadables that are actually quite good, right now anyway.