Sony’s PlayStation 5 is futuristic, fast and smooth
Company kicks off its next-gen play with fantastic controller, tech
With over 110 million PlayStation 4 units sold since its launch in 2013, Sony has been the longtime leader and winner of the last generation of the console wars. As it prepares to launch the PS5 on Nov. 12, the company wants to try to hold onto that lead and take its audience into the future.
Gamers like winners and Sony’s PS5 is an update that immediately feels more futuristic than its main competitor.
Like the new Xbox, there are two different models of the PS5: the top end model for $629 that comes with an Ultra HD Bluray disc drive and a disc-less digital-only version that retails for $499. Sony has already warned that supply will be scarce beyond the quickly soldout preorders, so it’s a safe bet these will be some of the most sought-after devices of this holiday season.
Here’s a breakdown of what I thought about the PS5.
It is shiny and new: The PS5 arrives looking like something designed by Starfleet by way of Frank Gehry with it curves and fins. It’s a big console that looks cool and weird. The design is supposed to help keep the innards cool, as the PS4 was known for having a loud fan. The PS5 runs so quietly that when it did make a noise for a few minutes, it kind of surprised me and I couldn’t figure out whether it was the fan or the disc drive.
As soon as you turn it on, there is new user interface that feels like it glows off the screen. It now has two rows of icons on the bottom of the screen, a top row filled with larger cards related to the game you were playing and, below that, the more familiar control icons, which used to be at the top of PS4 interface. It feels sleek but a little busy and, at first, I was confounded by how to turn the console’s power off, which used to be done by holding the home button but now needs to be navigated on that bottom row.
Hands up: The new DualSense controller feels like a futuristic toy. It has been upgraded in many ways, with a much more sensitive touchpad and haptic feedback in the handles, which can be used in interesting ways. Sound emanates from its speakers, and it can showcase environmental effects like feeling rain. The more sensitive touchpad, which offers a few new control schemes, is cool, but the fear is that it eventually gets used in gimmicky ways. One thing to note is that the older PS4 controller will work with the new console, but only with PS4 games.
The specs: Prettier graphics that take advantage of more top-of-the-line TV technology, and games that load quicker and faster, are the promise of next generation gaming. A lot has been made of the Xbox Series X’s 12 teraflops of computing power versus the PS5’s 10.3, along with their respective SSD hard drives, which will be faster. Plenty of gaming sites, like Digital Foundry, will to do the stopwatch analysis in the coming weeks. After using the PS5 on multiple TVs, the games do look fantastic, but the bigger improvement is how quickly games load and get running. From “Rocket League” or “Injustice 2” to “Batman: Arkham Knight,” new and older PS4 games run and load incredibly smoothly. This is the best reason to buy this now.
New and old games: While there will be plenty of multiplatform games arriving soon to showcase the PS5’s power, like “Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla” and “Cyberpunk 2077,” the biggest problem with the new consoles launching this week is that there are not enough new games coming with them.
Sony does a little better than the new Xbox, as it has one true launch exclusive: “Astro’s Playroom,” which comes downloaded on every PS5. Made to showcase the controller, this is far better than what could just be a quick tech demo. It has the craft and quality of a Mario game — the highest compliment — and does a fantastic job of showing off the many control schemes, like tilt to control, and swiping or blowing on the touch pad. It is delightful.
“Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales” is considered a PS5 launch title, but will also be available for the PS4. I am not finished the game but, as with “Marvel’s Spider-Man” from 2018, I am savouring every minute. If you loved that game — which I did — you will not be disappointed. If you buy a PS5, it is a must buy.
It feels like Sony doesn’t take backwards compatibility as seriously as Xbox, as it only going back to the PS4 generation, but titles work quickly and smoothly. Put in PS4 discs, they copy and away they go. Again, what’s optimized and what isn’t is hard to tell, but all the games I tried ran well and felt faster than on my PS4. PlayStation Plus is Sony’s online subscription service, which requires a monthly fee to play online, and one of the benefits is free games every month. Exclusive to the PS5 is the PS Plus Collection, which is made up of 20 greatest PS4 hits, including “The Last of Us,” “Uncharted 4” and more. á A few words on accessories: The console is never the only thing, as you will likely have to buy accessories. It costs extra, but Sony sent along its Pulse 3D wireless headset, which can showcase the PS5’s 3D spatial audio capabilities. They do sound amazing but need to be used better in games, as opposed to hearing a bad guy taunt you over and over again until you take them out. I was also glad to see the PS5 is supporting the older PS VR headset, but you need to sign up for a free adapter that will be mailed out. á The bottom line: The PS5 feels immediately like a nextgen experience, which runs the few new and older games incredibly smoothly. The new controller is fantastic as is its showcase game, “Astro’s Playroom.” It’s expensive, but that’s the premium you pay to get in on next generation gaming at the start. It’s good to remember consoles get cheaper and better over time as the game library fills up. At this point, its only real flaw is that it needs more exclusive games, but if you have a PS4 collection or sign up for PS Plus there should be enough to keep you busy as you wait for the new stuff.
That’s if you can get your hands on one.