PlayStation 5 Review

By H. Gullo

The future of gaming is here
 
 The PS5 is an amazing console that offers a breathtaking next-generation gaming experience. It proves itself to be both powerful, and well designed, although it might be too big for some setups. Some issues hold it back from being a 5 star product at it’s release, but it’s a welcome upgrade over the PS4 and an exciting portal to next-generation gameplay.
 
Pros:

• 4K/120 gameplay, 8K/60 support (meaning your video quality will be vastly improved, together with more FPS (frames per second), resulting in a smoother experience.
• The PS Plus collection (subscription for more games and online play) offers some great and enjoyable games.
• Insane controller haptics (see DualSense controller).
• Beautiful, fast, newly redesigned user interface (see UI).
• Faster game load times.

 
Cons:

• The console itself may be too big.
• Memory card fills up rapidly.
• Launch library (library of games that comes with the console) could be a little fuller.

 
We were hoping for great things from the PS5, and Sony’s next-gen consoles delivers where it matters most. They have re-imagined the key parts of the experience – from a simpler setup and new user interface, to the revolutionary DualSense controller and added bonuses for PS Plus members. Sure, there are problems with the number of exclusives at launch, but the PlayStation 5 feels like a solid investment.
 
Price
 
The standard PS5 costs from $499/R$2794, and the Digital Edition from $399/R$2234. The PS5 is now available in Brazil, but at a much larger cost due to taxes and shipping. Some of the places where you can get one right now are:

• Mercado Livre
• Shopee

 
Specs and Performance
 
The PS5 has a custom GPU (graphics card). It is what gives all the detail to the games, and is responsible for the higher video quality. It also has a custom processor, which has resulted in higher frame-rates up to 120 FPS (frames per second), resulting in an overall smoother experience.
 
A big part of that GPU setup is support for 8K and ray tracing in the PS5. It is a technology that mimics the way light bounces off objects, particularly reflective ones. It also turns out they are adding a custom unit for 3D audio in the console too. For gamers though, the largest improvement is the huge decrease in loading times.
 
Design
 
The design is a bold step away from that old black box, with both versions of the console having a white and black color scheme and serious curves. Kind of looks like Eve from Wall-E.
 

 
DualSense controller
 
The PS5 controller, also-known-as the DualSense, is the successor to the DualShock line. The company revealed the controller before the console, in April, and now, we can confirm that it is a thing of magic. The controller may be different from the PS4 controller, but follows the same guidelines. It is a bit rounder, with a sleek white-on-black aesthetic, rather than the usual jet black. The light bar is now on the sides of the touch pad, and there’s a new create button replacing the share button.

​
 
The biggest changes are:

• Haptic feedback: the controller delivers a variety of sensations you’ll feel when you play. The DualShock had the ‘rumble’ function, but the vibrations on the DualSense go way beyond that.
• Adaptive triggers: the famous L2 and R2 buttons can match tension in a game. When firing a heavy machine gun, the triggers will show resistance, and Sony says the the angle of the triggers has been slightly tweaked relative to the whole controller.
• 
  Built-in microphone: you read that right; the controller has a built in microphone, making chatting with your friends online way easier.

 
 
 
Other accessories
 
Here are the official best accessories, ranked from best to worst

1. Pulse 3D wireless headset – offering 3D audio and dual noise cancelling microphones.
2. HD camera featuring dual 1080p lenses for gamers to broadcast themselves with their epic moments.
3. Media remote with built in microphone to navigate movies and streaming services with ease.
4. DualSense charging station for convenient charging of two controllers.

UI (User Interface)
 
The User Interface is how the home page, and other pages look like, and it is one of the most essential things in the console. It is what makes the inside of the console as beautiful as it's design.
 
The UI was the last piece of the puzzle to be revealed, which was revealed in late 2020, just before release. We got a look at the PS5 user interface, and it’s quite different from what we’ve become familiar from the PS4. This includes the new control center, which gives you access to a ton of features in just a press of the PS button, evolving from the sidebar in the PS4. You can do everything without leaving the game.
 
Above the control center, you can find a series of cards that will give you information based on the games you play or follow.  You’ve also got a new feature called activities. These are part of Sony’s mission to remove barriers from gameplay, allowing you to see the objectives in a mission, how long you’ve got left to finish the level or phase, and even get you guides for the game you are playing.
 
Should you buy it?
 
Buy it if...
You plan on buying a next-generation game console in the next six months
The PS5 is a seriously great next-gen gaming console – and one we’ll be recommending to our friends and families for the next six months, at least. The new controller is revolutionary, and the whole experience feels fresh, fast and satisfying to use.
You want a taste of next-gen without losing your PS4 games
One of the best things about the PlayStation 5 is that it acts as a bridge between generations. Your entire library of digital PS4 games is there from the moment you log into your PSN account, and any great games you missed will likely be part of the PlayStation Plus Collection.
You're tired of loading screens and ready for higher frame rates
Don't buy if...
You're looking for a great Dolby Atmos and Vision Blu-ray player
If you're a home media enthusiast who has a collection of 4K Dolby Vision Blu-rays at home and a Dolby Atmos speaker system, you probably won't love the PS5. Yes, it will be able to play 4K Blu-Ray discs, but because it doesn't support Dolby Atmos or Dolby Vision's cutting-edge formats, we won't be recommending it to the audiovisual community.
You expect a full launch library on release day
The PS5's launch catalog isn't very big – we only counted about a dozen PS5 games on the PlayStation Store that will be available on or around launch day. That doesn't mean things won't improve; they most certainly will, but right off the bat, don't expect to be overwhelmed with options.
Your entertainment center is cramped already
It might not be an issue for some, but it's worth calling attention to how big the PS5 is one last time. If you're short on space, and you physically don't have room for a gargantuan console on your entertainment center or desk, then you might want to hold off for the smaller version of the PS5 that will inevitably be released in a few years time.
 
 
 
 
Sources:

• Tech Radar
• Games Radar

Most Improved Article - Giulia Dassoler 
 

---