PlayStation 4: Preview

PlayStation 4: Preview

Following the launch of the XBoxOne last week, it's all eyes on Sony to see if they can match it in Europe.

The PlayStation 4 has already launched in America, where it's sold around 1 million units and whipped many up into a frenzy. The console officially launched on Friday 29th November and has since sold out, but I had 48 hours (with sleep) to play with it and take a look at some of the titles around for the next gen launch.

The first thing to note (aside from the box having Watch_Dogs and Infamous Second Son on the back, which are not out till next year) is just how simple and sleek it all is. Clear cut, well defined and simplicity seem to be the modus operandi of the new console from its actual sloped physical design through to its on screen appearance - which sounds like a stupid thing to say but there's a clarity of performance which is evident right from the beginning.

The initial start up is simple - you basically plug in the PS4 to the TV and wall, and turn it on. That sounds like a bizarre thing to say, but there were no real updates/ downloads needed there and then to get it all underway; with clear blues on the screen and a simplicity of purpose. Simply move left and right on the screen or up and down; it's great that it means that if you've got kids screaming to get on with it, all you have to do is chuck a game in and you can play. Menus are quick and responsive and you can drill to exactly where you need to go in seconds.  (I'll come to downloading a game in a moment.)

The new DualShock controller is also an improvement. It feels beefy, chunky, almost driven to sitting in your hands. The major adjustment is the lack of a select / start option with just two buttons, Share and Options, sitting either side of the touch pad. It takes a little time to get used to that and there were times when I'd crunch the wrong buttons as I wasn't quite on fire. The Light bar is pretty slinky too; at various times, it flashes different colours, either during games or while you're in the Playroom. (More on that in a mo, too.)

Perhaps some of the nicest touches with the controller is the speaker within and the vibration - it's a lot smoother than before and doesn't sound like the old rattling that used to be prevalent in the prior DualShock. The speaker (and socket for using the headphones within) is a nice touch, making you feel a little more part of the game and more of the experience. A spongy set of L1 /R1 buttons add to the whole thing feeling more cushy - the whole controller's incredibly responsive with it feeling more in tune with the console rather than simply being attached to it. Nowhere is that more evident than in the Playroom, which is the area that relies on the PS camera, the controller and the touchpad.

Once you've gone through the relatively painless rigmarole of taking your picture / face-recognition software (I come to gaming to slob out not to preen and primp), pressing the touchpad releases the chance to play with the AR Bots. First up, you get the almost Terrahawks-like Asobi (a round spherical droid thing) which floats above your head. Tickling it gives giggles, and hitting it is not allowed (though I confess I did). There's also an option to play AR Hockey (needs two controllers) and the AR Bots themselves. Flicking and rubbing the touchpad activates the light bar which spews forth little droids onto your virtual floor and you can muck about with them.  It's more cute than purpose-led (even the blurb suggest there's no real reason for it) and recalls parts of the PS Move tech; maybe at some point, it'll be part of the gaming experience.

Talking of the gaming experience, let's get to that, as that's mainly what most people are coming to the PS4 for - and unfortunately, some of its major game changing titles which were promised for launch have sadly been pushed back until next year (Drive Club, Watch_Dogs) so it means there's a degree of launch titles not quite living up to the hype or offering a major title as a showpiece to demonstrate the console at its best.

But the biggest factor in these games is just how quickly they now load up on first use. It's clear the PS4 is a more grunty machine with some serious lag times being cut down to get you back into the gameplay rather than making you regret inserting a new disc. The titles I previewed loaded up quickly and painlessly, meaning there was less time waiting for updates and for scenes to play. (Bear in mind, these are previews, not reviews of the games, given time and console constraints)

First up, Killzone: Shadow Fall - and the first title to really showcase the depth and breadth of the technical steps the PS4 appears to have taken. A beautiful title sequence shows the sci-fi nature of this game as a sweeping shot takes in the world around a la Blade Runner - it's a breath-taking display of what graphically the console can offer. In terms of story, a wall divides the Helghast and Vektans after a massive war on a world far away - but the tensions between the two sides are palpable with various missions needing to be completed. Dark and gritty, Killzone: Shadow Fall promises to expand the Killzone experience and the sci-fi setting gives you access to a whole range of other weapons - including an OWL,a floating robot which can help tackle the enemy.

The other big title, exclusive to the PS4 is platform smack-em-up game, Knack. It's a perfectly charming little platformer where you play the titular Knack who's the last line of defence against the Goblins invading the world. As you go through levels, Knack, a collection of relics which can be assembled into a fighting force to take on the Goblins. Basically, the more power Knack gains, the more of a fighting force he is. It's got a heart and an ease that makes it simple to play and will find you going back and forth - particularly if the kids are interested in it. It's perhaps not the best title for showing off the PS4's graphics - even though the intricate details of Knack's being held together by bits and bobs give it a real sheen. It doesn't really initially appear to embrace the new tech of the controller, but it's got plenty of potential for solid gaming and also DLC potential.

The rest of the titles are already out there on PS3 or other formats- but the PS4's grunt and HD qualities have added a spit and polish to their look and feel which is suitably impressive if you have a big screen TV for gaming.

Lego Marvel Super Heroes is the latest in the LEGO franchise and it's a great cartoony riff on the Avengers and the Marvel Universe. It's good LEGO fun, which doesn't tax the mind too much and scores as you can control upto 150 characters with their own powers. The story's simple and the game's eminently playable - but it's the graphics on it which really excel. It doesn't look blocky (sic) and there's some real polish in this with things like Iron Man's gold sheen really sparkling in the HD rendering.

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is the same as you'd expect from the recent release - except once again, the HD output is incredible and the visuals as you stand on top of a church surveying all around you or looking into the crystal blue water are just mouth-wateringly good; a sign that the next gen graphics are delivering more than what was promised.

Call of Duty Ghosts is an incredible next gen outing; again, it's the graphics which make it excel on the console - from the fighting through to the action, the frame work is eye-poppingly good and almost cinematic in its execution. It looks and sounds impressive, which seems like a bizarre thing to say, but given the high frame rate that it runs in and the frenetic pace of some of the sequences, I couldn't help but feel I was watching a CGI film - which is a real compliment for those involved.

All in all, the PlayStation 4 is off to an impressive start; sure, a lack of quantity of exclusive launch titles may dampen the spirits of some gamers, but the potential to surprise, impress and effectively blow our minds at some point soon is evident from the get go. The console's already sold over 1 million units in the USA and I can't see it being any less popular over here. Sure, there's not quite the depth of content yet available, but the machine more than delivers on the Greatness Awaits campaign - it's effective, sleek, fast and utterly impressive with what it has so far. The future is extremely bright for Sony's PS4 and I can't wait to see where it goes next.