First impressions and Review
So after 2 days of ownership of my ps4 I would like to sum up some thoughts I have about the system.
#1: The hardware
This system is pretty, simple as that. It's simple and conservative in design, but it has some elegance to it. The two tone color is a nice touch, compared to the old original ps3 mine sits next to. Far more simple design, but looks about 20x better than the launch ps3. It's much smaller, and almost unnoticeable next to it the way I have mine set up. Sony was aiming for it to be their best looking hardware, I'd have to agree with that. And also the light bar, subtle but looks dang good.
As for the DS4 controller, night and day compared to the DS3. It is far more comfy to hold and game on. It feels more premium and precise. It may still be plastic, but it's that sort of higher quality plastic we've come familiar with on our phones, and it doesn't feel like a toy compared to its predecessor. I put in about 3hrs of AC4 straight last night and at no point were my hands fatigued. The huge downside to it is the battery life, 3hrs and my battery was half dead. So marathon sessions will be short, or you better have a second, maybe even third controller on standby. And the concave thumb sticks, about time Sony implemented it, world of difference that I'm sure 360 owners already know about, something I always envied of the 360 controller.
#2: The games
I admit to not picking up the games that really push the system to its limits; COD, BF4, and KZ probably take that crown. I personally grabbed AC4, 2k14, and Madden. All 3 are better on ps4 than they ever were on ps3. I can play AC without the lag that's become all too common with the series. 2k14 plays about the same as 2k13 did (which is an excellent game), but the graphics are night and day. The graphics really immerse you into the game. And as for Madden, same old formula, but looks prettier. I wouldn't say the graphics are as significant from ps3 to ps4 version as with 2k, but it does look pretty darn good.
I did try out KZ for a bit, and was really impressed with the graphics. It reminded me of KZ2 when it launched for the ps3, show off the potential of what the system can push.
#3: The UI
The UI is familiar but far improved. If I had to compare it, I would compare the jump from Gingerbread to Ice Cream Sandwich.
The fact you can leave a game and browse the web or something else is awesome. The UI is fluid, fast, and looks great. With future updates I'm sure there will be more features, but from what little I tried, it was great.
The share feature is pretty slick. Lets you edit and upload straight to Facebook. I've shared a few things that way and it's pretty cool. I have yet to do the livestream yet though.
#4: The app
I cannot tell you how helpful the official playstation app is. Letting you use your phone or tablet as a keyboard has been amazing, especially with the amount of messages I send. I wonder if in the future an update would allow the device to really be used as a second monitor or even a virtual controller. One good way I can think of the app to be used is with Madden, allow users to draw up their own plays.
Closing thoughts:
The launch lineup is pretty weak, it basically appeals to two types of players: FPS and sports. I wish they had an exclusive with more following than KZ, but it is what it is and I am happy with my choice of games, they'll keep me entertained for months to come. That being said, I think the launch games show what next gen is capable of and that we can definitely expect better games. Sports games are off to a great start and feel more genuine. Games that require alot of power such as AC and KZ are running smooth and without much of a hiccup. What the future holds for games on the ps4 is something truly exciting, especially since these launch titles are only at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to pushing the system.
I do have one gripe and it's going to happenw ith the next generation of consoles too; initial setup. The first thing I did with my brand new, fresh out of the box ps4 is, update the firmware. That's annoying. The fact that day 1 servers are slammed, downloading a patch takes twice as long as it should. Once it's downloaded you gotta install it and that is another wait. Total time of initial setup including install of firmware and game installation of 2k14; 48min. That is ridiculous. Now 2k14 lets you play a quick game of set teams, but c'mon... I really miss the days of cartridges where you just stick the game in and you play; no install, no wait, no blood pressure spikes.
All that being said, I am happy with my purchase. Right off the bat two games I really enjoy were launched, 2k and AC. As I said I have yet to try out all the features, but so far I'm impressed and I'm sure the PSCamera adds a whole different dynamic. Games will be easier to develop compared to ps3 and I think in turn means higher quality games. Everyone feared console gaming was dying, I think with this release and the One next week, consoles could be on the rise again. Price point may be a bit high in this economy still, especially with initial purchase, but I see these two consoles really pushing the industry forward.
Just like my ps3, I look forward to the future of games. I can now officially say, the ps3 feels dated. I never thought that until this weekend.
