There is no getting around the fact that the console itself is ugly, and not everyone will appreciate its unique aesthetic. The PS5’s enormous size guarantees that it is silent and maintains an appropriate level of cooling, which is a positive. The console may still be set up either horizontally or vertically, although we truly wish it didn’t require a support when lying on its side. More importantly, we haven’t encountered any significant hardware problems like hard crashes or data corruption since launch. The PS5 represents a significant improvement over Sony’s successes with the PS4. With its sophisticated SSD technology and 4K-capable graphics power, it is a beautifully approachable workstation with a forward-looking strategy for the current generation. The PS5 is one of the best consoles available right now when you add this to an engaging user interface, expanding range of exclusive experiences, and a general environment that appreciates what came before it.
PS5 review: Design
Although the PS5 has been extensively explored, it is a very enormous piece of technology. Including the PS4 Slim and PS4 Pro, Sony’s 15.4 x 10.2 x 4.1-inch console eclipses all game consoles released in the last ten years. It dwarfs the Xbox Series X, its new next-generation rival, and makes the Xbox Series S appear like a toy. In relation to positioning, the PS5 comes with a retractable stand that enables you to set the enormous console either vertically or horizontally. The stand clamps onto the PS5’s rear port area in horizontal mode and screws into the console’s bottom in vertical mode (the PS5 comes with a screw, but no tool to screw it in). It would be wonderful if the PS5 came with a tool for unscrewing the base, but we found it to be simple enough to attach and detach with a quarter. With the base attached, the system stands up well in vertical mode, but we discovered the base to be much more erratic in horizontal orientation. Before we could get it to lay flat and securely on the base, it took me a few tries. We ultimately managed to get the PS5 to remain horizontal in my entertainment centre, but the fact that the console readily slipped off the base unless it was in the ideal position makes me wonder.
PS5 review: Features
The PS5’s Cards feature, with Activity Cards having the greatest impact, is one of the more noticeable new additions. Cards serve a variety of purposes, including tracking trophy progress, launching specific game features like challenges or multiplayer modes, determining how far ahead you are in a level, and viewing developer-related news. Picture-in-picture option allows you to watch a livestream of your friend’s games, which is very neat. As you explore a game’s information, which is now nicely displayed on the home page, cards are also present. You can quickly view the available Cards by pressing down on the D-pad or flicking down on the analogue stick, eliminating the need to access a game’s main menu or specific mode. They should be helpful for players of all skill levels as well because they can incorporate in-game hint videos for supported games that assist you in completing certain tasks or locating the last collectible.
PS5 review: User Interface
Aside from a much-needed fresh coat of paint, the PS5 home menu also has a few tricks up its sleeve, much like the controller. The new UI is more than just an iterative upgrade. Die-hard Fans of the PlayStation will be happy to learn that using the menus hasn’t altered all that much. Installed games are still displayed on a row of tiles, but this row—the legendary Cross Menu Bar—is now more subtly located at the top of the screen. Your gaming achievements and media now command attention, whereas on the PS4 they appeared to be an awkward afterthought. These are located in the new Game Hub, a menu tailored to that particular game from which you may also launch directly into your most recent save file, skipping the opening credits and major menus in the process.
PS5 review: DualSense Controller
The PS5 DualSense controller might be the system’s most cutting-edge feature. The combination of the gamepad’s haptic feedback, adjustable triggers, and built-in speaker results in a level of physical immersion we’ve never before felt when playing a game. The free, pre-installed game Astro’s Playroom, which was created exclusively to demonstrate off the capabilities of Sony’s new controller, really brings out the DualSense’s strengths. In this vibrant 3D platformer. You may, for instance, skate over ice and get a smooth gliding sensation, as well as feel and hear the delicate impact of sand grains as you stroll through a storm. Force feedback is produced at an incredibly precise level by everything from pulling on a rope to flying about in a jetpack. You really have to feel it in order to believe it.
PS5 review: Game Library
The launch threshold for the PS5 was relatively low because most consoles don’t come with a full library of games right out of the gate. Having said that, your opinion of the PlayStation 5’s current game selection will mostly depend on whether you completed the PS4 era’s crown jewels, including Uncharted 4, The Last of Us Part II, God of War, and Marvel’s Spider-Man. Backwards compatibility allows you to enjoy more than a dozen great games right away on your PS5 if you haven’t finished them or haven’t played them at all. Some of these games, like Ghost of Tsushima and Days Gone, have been enhanced with a 60 fps upgrade. Since Sony’s new PlayStation Plus Collection includes 19 iconic titles from the previous generation that you can download right away, having PS Plus may also provide you access to older games that you otherwise would not have known about. Astro’s Playroom is another pre-installed PS5 feature that serves as an exciting demonstration of the system’s capabilities.
PS5 review: Game lineup
The launch roster for the PS5 is off to a strong start. Spider-Man: Miles Morales, a magnificent and entertaining sequel to 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man featuring ray-traced graphics and a selectable 60 fps performance level, is the console’s main launch title. Astro’s Playroom, the free pack-in game that showcases the DualSense controller, maybe even better than Sackboy: A Big Adventure, a straightforward but endearing 3D platformer with loads of character customization. The last time a console launched with a major title included right away was the Nintendo Wii in 2007, and Sony’s new platformer is dripping with entertaining goodies and easter eggs for die-hard PlayStation fans. If mature action is more your style, Godfall is a charming and enjoyable action-RPG that evokes both the intricate loot system of Destiny and the gritty fighting of God of War 2018. Need something more fashionable? The outstanding 2019 slash-em-up Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition has been improved, and it now includes ray-tracing and 120 frame-per-second performance levels. Demon’s Souls, a gorgeous remake of the famous action/RPG game of the same name from 2009, is one of the largest true launch exclusives for the PS5. We’ve only just begun testing Bluepoint’s updated interpretation of the cult classic, so check back for further observations.
PS5 review: Performance
We can immediately see the potential in Sony’s enhanced technology, even though few of the launch games really gave the new setup a run for its money. Importantly, more games created expressly with the PS5 in mind are on the way. Most new PS5 users will initially notice a significant change in load times. For instance, load times in Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered have decreased from 15-20 seconds on the PS4 to under a second on the PS5, and Demon’s Souls literally takes seconds to load up full, expansive levels. Another game that particularly benefits from the PS5’s lightning-fast SSD is Returnal, which lets you explore infinite biomes without ever seeing a loading screen. The next obvious advantages of PS5 gaming are the graphic enhancements, especially in terms of resolution. Nearly every game we’ve played is either playable at 60 frames per second by default or offers a 30-frames-per-second mode with additional graphic flourishes. Astro’s Playroom operates at a rock-solid 60 frames per second at a 4K resolution. It’s a striking and welcome change from the PS4, where games were frequently 1080p/30fps.
Price and Availability
The price of the PlayStation 5 ($499/£479/€549) for the basic console and the discless Digital Edition ($399/£389/€449) are both premium consoles. Following a price hike in August 2022, that’s really £30/€50 more than it cost at launch in the UK and Europe, albeit for the time being the US price has remained the same. However, when compared to a gaming PC, particularly one that produces 4K@60fps games, it’s undoubtedly a wonderful deal. Although the competitor system has advantages over Microsoft’s choice, it costs about the same as the Xbox Series X and doesn’t come close to offering DualSense.
Conclusion
The PS5 is a capable platform that provides an excellent current-generation gaming experience. Utilizing the DualSense controller, 3D Audio, and the console’s blazing-fast SSD, its catalog of unique games excel. Though a few flaws prevent it from being perfect, it might be too big for some settings.
