The Video Game Critic presents the
Sony Playstation 5
2020-present
Manufacturer: Sony
Format: Ultra HD Blu-ray optical disc
Controller ports: 0 (wireless)
USB ports: 4
Save capability: 825 GB Hard disk
Video output: HDMI
Initial price: $499 USD
The Playstation 5 was not the first console I had a hard time getting my hands on. I recall waiting in a long line for a Wii months after its launch. I have memories of going from store to store hunting for an elusive Xbox 360. I once spent the night outside of a Best Buy to get a Playstation 2. But that was nothing compared to my Playstation 5 quest! This bad boy took me the better part of two years to acquire. It actually might have been much longer if my buddy Newk didn't come to my rescue with a special bundle deal coupon.
The odd thing is, I didn't feel as if I was actually missing anything. Most new consoles are launched alongside a series of flashy titles that show off its new capabilities, but the PS5 launch titles were pretty run-of-the-mill. There was a Spider-Man rehash and upgraded versions of Demon's Souls, Borderlands, and Dirt 5. Most of these PS5 games were already available for the PS4, albeit with slightly degraded graphics. And the PS4 was still going strong.
I believe it was the decline of the Xbox which really propped up the Playstation 5, making it the premier console of its time. The PS5 was almost impossible to obtain during the COVID years, especially with all the scalpers running wild. The Switch had won over the casual gaming crowd but it wasn't really competing for the high-end market. With state-of-the-art hardware, the PS5 became the default system for hardcore gamers.
Armored Core VI
Aesthetics: B. Many have been critical of the system's size and shape. Can you blame them? At 15.5" x 10.5", this thing rivals my Atari 5200! Still, I appreciate its style and bold originality. Most modern consoles are boring black boxes. The PS5's sleek, white, swan-like appearance looks like a work of art. That said, its considerable size makes it hard to place in the typical family room.
There is however one surprising flaw, and that is the console's inability to lie flush on its side. You actually need to wedge in a small piece of plastic (included) to allow it to remain level. It feels kind of clumsy and even a bit unstable.
Hardware Functionality: A. Its two buttons (power and eject) are clearly visible, easy to press, and you don't have to hold them in for N amount of seconds. The disc slot is not where you'd expect, located underneath the front edge and somewhat out of view.
Software Functionality: C. The PS5 still requires a tedious install process before you can play a game, and frankly it's not much of an improvement over the PS4. Fortunately the hard disk is bigger so maybe you'll spend less time clearing out space. That said, this is far from the ideal pick-up-and-play console experience.
Reliability: A. It's too early to tell for sure, but from my limited experience the PS5 seems durable enough. The fact that it doesn't run hot is a good sign.
Noise: A. I have never really noticed this system making any noise so I'd call that a win.
Graphics: A. The PS5 was designed to be top-of-the-line when it comes to graphics and it succeeded. It can handle cutting-edge features like ray-tracing as well as present games in 4K. The box says "8K" but frankly I'm not even sure that's a thing when it comes to gaming, at least in 2024.
Playstation 5 controller
Controllers: C. The PS5 controller is heavier and sturdier than its PS4 cousin. The black-and-white color scheme is appealing, but the all-black model makes it look nearly identical to its PS4 cousin.
The new haptic feedback provides subtle vibration effects and trigger resistance like the excellent Xbox One controller. On the downside, in order to maintain backwards compatibility it's stuck with the same awkward button layout. The option button remains all but invisible and the touchpad is worthless except as an oversized button. The shoulder button can be accidentally depressed when setting the controller down, making it tricky to use as a remote control for Blu Ray viewing. It is nice how you can recharge the controllers via a USB wire.
Playstation 5 game box
Media/Packaging: D. The cases feel slightly less flimsy than the PS4 games, but it's still minimal packaging. There are no instruction manuals; just the occasional download code slip.
Astro's Playroom
Pack-In Game: C+. Astro's Playroom. This cheerful platformer demonstrates the various capabilities of the controller, including motion control, microphone, and haptic feedback. It's mildly impressive but what makes the game charming is how it pays homage to all the previous generations of Playstation machines. It serves as a great intro but is pretty much a one-and-done kind of thing.
Launch titles: D. As I stated before, there wasn't a whole lot to get excited about even for the first two years of the system's existence.
Library: C. Many of the PS5's biggest hits hold no appeal to me as I do not play online. I'm funny that way. The good news is, a substantial number of PS5 games are available via physical media, and they tend to fine run straight out of the box. Some may prompt you to download updates. Just ignore those!
The PS5 runs all the big hits like Hogwarts Legacy, Madden Football, Mortal Kombat 1, God of War, and Street Fighter 6. While I enjoyed these, I wouldn't characterize any as "must have". Mostly sequels and reboots. It seems the PS5 library is lacking in imagination.
God of War: Ragnarok
Collectibility: C. A large portion of the PS5 library relies on online servers which are not likely to exist in the long term. The good news is, the games available on physical media should pretty much last forever.
Innovations: This category is the most surprising. I struggled to come up with a single innovation I could credit to this system, even consulting readers for suggestions, and came up empty. I have never run into this situation before. Perhaps console technology has reached a plateau.
Pros and Cons:
+ Unique, bold design
+ Solid controller with effective haptic feedback
+ Large 825GB hard drive
- Sizeable footprint makes it hard to place
- Uninspired game selection
- Installation process still slow and tedious