Playstation 4 Review

The next generation of gaming is finally upon us and I decided to start it off with a brand new Playstation 4, developed by Sony.  The Playstation for takes the next big step in gaming evolution with its many new features and capabilities.  This powerful console tops its predecessor tenfold in almost every way possible from its sleek design, to its PC equivalent hardware.   I’ve had about two weeks with the system and I have yet to be let down.  I have been nothing but impressed since I took it out of the box.  The interface is clean and fast.  Everything is snappy and responsive.  And the best part is that it’s the go to system for hard core gamers. 

OVERVIEW AND SET UP:

Once you open the box to your new Playstation you will find that its contents include the new Dualshock 4 controller and a charger for it, a mono headset, a power cord, an HDMI cable, and a Playstation 4 system. 

At first glance the console is surprisingly small for the amount of hardware and power it has under the hood and still retains an internal power supply, I’m still boggled by how Sony managed to pull this off.  Setup is

literally as simple as counting to three.  You plug the power cord into a wall outlet, connects the HDMI to your TV, and turn the console on.  Once you boot up your PS4 you will be asked to create a username and a Playstation Network account.  If you already have an account on your PS3, you can easily convert it over to PS4.  Once you have done so, you can connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.  After that’s done you are pretty much ready to start playing games, you can still continue to customize your profile but it is optional. 

SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS:

The PS4 is Sony's attempt at a gaming focused console, rather than one that tries to be a media center.  This played a big part in my decision between the Playstation 4 and its competitor, the Xbox One by Microsoft.  Sony states that the PS4 was created with gaming in mind and that it was essentially created by gamers, for gamers.  While Microsoft tried to go the all in one entertainment route with the Xbox One as opposed to gaming centered, they ended up losing my interest with this approach and because I consider myself a gamer, Sony caught my attention big time!   The Playstation 4 is a very powerful system, it is based on a supercharged PC architecture with an X86 processor, enhanced PC-style GPU, and 8GB of GDDR5 unified high-speed memory.  This is a tremendous benefit for game developers as for the time being they can simply focus on immersion and story rather than the limitations. 

USER INTERFACE:

The new UI or PS Home is a great improvement over its predecessor.  Everything is a quick as a snap and easy to access.  I never found myself getting lost in all the options, it took me very little time to figure out where everything is as it’s all conveniently paced for ease of use.  The UI keeps track of all your most recent activates such as games and apps.  It then lists them under our main bar for easy one click access.  There are

a wide range of apps and with returns form the PS3 such as Internet Explorer, Netflix, and Hulu with many more to come.  Thanks to the high RAM speed, you can instantly snap between PS Home and the game you’re playing without having to quick or even pause.  The new speed also allows for you to actually play games as they are downloading and installing.  You can even run multiple applications at once, and all is accessible through PS Home. 

DUALSHOCK 4:

The Dualshock for controller improves oppugn everything Dualshock 3 had going for it.  With changes that fans have been wanted for a while now such as concave thumbs sticks, out-curved triggers, and an improved D-Pad.  The controller is slightly bigger than before and feels much more solid and sturdy when holding it.  The select and start buttons have been scraped and replaced with the “Options” button.  There are also completely new features added such as a touch pad and the “Share” button.  The touch pad is in the center of the controller and behaves exactly like a mouse pad found on any laptop.  This adds for real cleaver and

interesting ideas for games.  For example, swiping the pad in certain direction can activates different abilities in Killzone: Shadow Fall.  Or you can use it to overview the world map faster in Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag.  The “Share” button is the most innovative feature on the controller.  By pressing the share button you can instantly upload clips, create a live stream, or take screenshots of the games you play.  The PS4 is always recording, so if you happen to nail that 360 degree no scope Call of Duty: Ghosts, you can immediately hit the share button and upload up to the last 15 minutes of gameplay, all fully editable.  Or let’s say you want to show off a game to a friend who don’t have it.  You can hit the share button and go live on Twitch or U-Stream and have your friend’s watch you play and comment.  All of this is possible thanks to that one button.  The Dualshock 4 brings the most innovation to a console controller to date. 

The Playstation 4 is an amazing gaming experience that should not be passed up.  It has improved upon everything the PS3 did successfully and went even further.  It has literally took gaming evolution to the next level!  And this is just the beginning of the generation, I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this system.  And at a price point of $399 and Sony’s full customer support, you can’t beat it!  I recommend this to anybody who enjoys videos games.  The Playstation 4 truly is “The Future of Gaming”.