It’s hard to believe that almost two decades have passed since the original PlayStation was released and changed the face of gaming forever.
Today sees the UK release of the fourth generation of Sony’s system and GetWestLondon has been putting it through its paces for the past week.
PS4 was launched two weeks ago in the US and the console has been warmly received if the sales figures are anything to go by, with one million units shifted in 24 hours.
Back in the mid 1990s, when the original PlayStation hit the shelves, Sony only really had Nintendo for company in the video games market place.
The arrival of the Xbox, created by software giant Microsoft, saw the landscape shift once more and Sony have had to up their game.
Xbox One is Microsoft’s latest offering and goes head-to-head with the PS4 this winter. With the console wars in full-swing, what has Sony done to entice gamers to their model?
Upon taking PS4 out of the box, you are instantly struck by the sleekness of the design. It’s all angles and lights, a vast improvement on the previous installment.
PlayStation 3 was a bulky, cumbersome, unit that seems years behind the current model now. Although, Sony did address the problem by releasing a re-designed version of the PS3.
An unexpected, but welcome surprise, was the absence of a power pack. This has somehow been squeezed into the slim casing of the system.
Xbox One still uses the same hefty brick-like power supply found on the Xbox 360, certainly giving Sony the victory in that department.
DualShock 4 is a significant improvement too. The third generation controller was criticised by many for being uncomfortable, however the same cannot be said of this new version.
It even features a built-in speaker, a first for a Sony control pad, and a touchpad. These are elements which will surely become more widely utilised by developers in years to come.
A light bar on the front of the DualShock 4 is functional and aesthetically pleasing, while being able to charge the control while the system is switch off is another highlight.
The camera (sold at £45) is another aspect which one feels will come into its own further down the line. Although it is great fun for the more casual gamer and excellent for family play-time.
The PS4 system enables game developers to realize their creative vision on a platform specifically tuned to their needs, making it easier to build huge, interactive worlds in smooth 1080p HD resolution
Its supercharged PC architecture, including an enhanced Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and 8GB of GDDR5 unified system memory, is designed to ease game creation and deliver a dramatic increase in the richness of content available on the platform.
The end result for players is an abundant software library, as more than 180 games are currently in development, with GetWestLondon testing five ahead of today’s launch.
We got our hands on Assassin's Creed Black Flag, Call of Duty Ghosts, Killzone Shadow Fall, Knack and Lego Marvel Super Heroes.
Killzone is a PS4 exclusive and is visually stunning, however, sadly there are not enough titles matching this one at launch. Call of Duty and Assassin's Creed are undoubtedly superb games, but can also be found on other systems at this time.
Upcoming titles like Watch Dogs and the latest Uncharted offering will soon remedy this slight problem.
Unlike with PlayStation 3, online multiplayer is not free on PS4. PlayStation Plus is a subscription-based service, similar to Xbox Live, with free downloads available every month as a sweetener for gamers.
It is those gamers, pure gamers, who Sony have really targeted with this piece of kit. Microsoft has attempted to create an entertainment hub with its Xbox One, catering to all of a person’s media interests, but the PS4 has adopted a different approaching.
Rolling back the years, PlayStation 4 is a hark back to when Sony ruled the gaming world.
Priced at £349, Sony has undercut Microsoft on price. Should that affect your decision on which console to buy? Possibly. What’s more important to consider is what you want out of your unit. Do you want a pure gaming machine, with superior hardware and graphics? If so, the PS4 is definitely worth putting at the top of your Christmas list this year.
