Sony Playstation 4 review - A true gamer's console

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As one of the major game consoles around, the Sony Playstation 4 is Sony's return to their roots. Rather than make an entertainment system as they did for the Playstation 3, the Playstation 4 beefs up the hardware, streamlines the interface and not-so-surprisingly makes it a lot more social. Is it enough to sway your decision away from the other major gaming console (sorry Nintendo, the Wii U is not competition)? Read on and find out in our Technave.com review of the Sony Playstation 4.

Design - Better ergonomics and some new features

In pictures the Sony Playstation 4 may seem large with it's monolithic and angled planes look, but it is actually quite small, about the size of two dualshock controllers stacked on top of each other. Comparing it against previous versions, it is about the size and height of the Sony Playstation 3 Super Slim version which is quite small, all things considered. On top of that it also has the power pack built into the system, so no more bulky external cables to make a mess off. Game discs load in smoothly through the slot loader allowing the Playstation 4 to fit well with your piano black HDTV and sound system. Other accessories like the controller and camera are fittingly black but we have to say that the camera doesn't look very symmetrical with it's rather lopsided camera placement.

The Sony Playstation 4 intro video

The new DualShock 4 controller has been slimmed down somewhat, but it is actually larger and heavier than the previous DualShock 3 controller. The handles feel rounder and fits into the palm of your hand better while the L2 and R2 shoulder buttons are satisfyingly larger. The first thing you'll notice is that there is now a multi-touch capable touchpad smack dab in the middle of the controller. The second thing is that there are no Start and Select buttons, as these have been replaced with Share and Option buttons. The third thing is that it doesn't use mini-USB anymore (thankfully) and has gone up to micro-USB which is now the current standard choice of cable connection. Another new addition is the light bar at the front of the controller, which according Sony is there to communicate player status but is mostly there so the Playstation 4 can better track the controller. It does look cool on the outside, but you can't see it when you're actually using it.

A bit more detailed explanation on the DualShock 4 controller

Tech Specs - Better hardware all around

Few gamers really care about what tech specs or hardware their game consoles are running but for the record, the Sony Playstation 4 is running a low power AMD Jaguar processor with 8 cores and AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next engine with 8GB of GDDR5 RAM. Compared to the XBox One, the Playstation 4 has more graphical power and a simpler way of working. A 6X Bluray drive and 8X DVD drive round it out. Comparing this against the previous Playstation 3 is like saying the Playstation 4 is nearly 4 times more powerful. In terms of storage the Playstation 4 packs a 500GB hard disk drive which is a lot larger than the 60GB hard drive the Playstation 3 came with. However, due to the way the Playstation 4 works, it needs to rip or install game data before it plays, this 500GB can get filled up very quickly, especially as many of the games are 1080p quality (meaning huge very detailed multimedia).

The design team talking about the Sony Playstation 4

This can be easily solved by replacing the hard disk drive which Sony says can be done as long as the hard disk drive is 2.5-inches, has a speed of 5400 RPM and has at least 160GB worth of space (for system files). While you do get more stuff like social media interaction, sharing and others you don't have to be always connected to the Internet to play games. Nor are you restricted by DRM (Digital Rights Management) technologies so if you want to share a game disc with another Playstation 4 gamer, just go ahead.

The now famous "How to share your games on the Playstation 4" instructional video

You will need to set up a PlayStation Network account initially and download whatever updates are required so you will need an Internet connection at first, but afterwards, there isn't any always-on Internet requirement. While you can watch Blu-ray movies and browse the Internet, the new UI has been streamlined to be more games oriented and in a more social way. You can take screenshots or videos (useful for high score bragging) and have people comment on your screenshots and videos. Or you can view and comment in return or be notified who is playing what game at the moment. You can still browse the Internet but the browser seems worse than before.

Check out the Remote Play feature on the PS Vita fpr when someone else needs to use the TV

One feature that does stand out from the rest is the Remote Play feature on the PS Vita, which basically allows you to play Playstation 4 games on the handheld game system. While there are limitations in terms of controls (mainly because the PS Vita doesn't have all the buttons that the DualShock 4 controller does) most games look great on the PS Vita. You will need to do some PSN account shuffling but once it is set up, gameplay with Remote Play is relatively seamless.

Games - Just a few really 'killer' games

Sad to say, but there aren't that many games that take full advantage of the Sony Playstation 4's raw power. Sure, you have KillZone: Shadow Fall, Resogun and Knack, but Knack plays more like a kid's game, a very nice looking kid's game we grant you, but still not what most gamers would want so much they'd buy a console like the Playstation 4 for. Thankfully, 1080p gaming looks awesome and super smooth on the Playstation 4 and while there are other games, they don't bring out the best of the console. This isn't to say that these other games don't look good on the Playstation 4, just that they don't pop as much as the three games named above. The latest Metal Gear or Uncharted game with full 1080p effects and graphics would have helped us make the decision on the spot, but because there isn't, it doesn't make us want to whip out our wallets and buy the Playstation 4 right here and right now. Thankfully, the same can be said about the Xbox One which also doesn't have a full complement of leading games.

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Only Sony Playstation 4 exclusive games like Killzone: Shaddow Fall bring out the best in the Sony Playstation 4

Infamous: Second Son for the Playstation 4 is coming but won't be available until March 2014

Performance - Faster and more quiet

Starting up the Sony Playstation 4, you'll notice that boot time got faster and that the console is a lot more quiet this time around. The console doesn't get overly hot unless you've blocked the cooling vents or done a 24-hour marathon and is a bit more quiet than the previous version. We will say that it does get noisy when the disc is spinning (when the game is being ripped) at first but for the most part, the console doesn't make any constant hums, buzzing or beeping.

Take a 360 look at the Sony Playstation 4

Taking a closer look at the DualShock 4 controller, we found it to be a lot more comfortable than the previous version. It didn't feel like a toy too much (too light) but we have to say that the new additions of the touchpad and lightbar seem mostly underutilized in all the games currently available for the Playstation 4. We're thinking that this is for games of the future but for now, these future features are probably why the DualShock 4 controller is a lot more expensive now. Motion controls are a lot more accurate now though with a more responsive feel to them that is much smoother than the previous sixaxis.

The special features of the Dualshock 4 controller

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The bottom handles are better rounded for the DualShock 4 controller and while the touchpad doesn't do much for now the motion controls are more accurate

The PlayStation Eye camera doesn't come with the standard package, but you can buy it for the optional voice control as it also packs in four microphones on top of the two cameras. For the most part, the camera isn't very useful, just like the touchpad on the dualshock controller, but we're guessing it could be once a game or app comes out for it. If you don't have an app or game in mind, then you're better off leaving it out of the package for now.

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The Playstation Eye camera doesn't do much for now, but it does get you ready for future games (like the next EyeToy game)

Price - Jacked up as usual

As usual of Malaysia, everything initially from overseas gets jacked up prices, including the Sony Playstation 4. While it was priced at $399 (RM1330) in the US, it retails for RM1799 here in Malaysia. However, this isn't a hard and fast value as there are sellers who are willing to offer it at a cheaper price with discounts of about RM100 to RM200. RM1799 is a rather steep price for buying a game console but gamers are definitely getting their money's worth with it.

Conclusion - More for the gamer than the masses

When the Sony Playstation 3 came out many saw it as Sony's attempt at gaining more buyers. The design and interface were all geared more for the masses instead of the gamers, most of whom usually buy the game console in the first place. However, for the most part, trying to position the Playstation 3 as a home multimedia hub did not work. Thankfully, instead of trying again, Sony are focusing back on the gamers with the Sony Playstation 4. This focus has resulted in a better and more streamlined gamer's interface with social media well integrated. Game performance is excellent and graphics are better than any other game console currently on the market.

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If you're a gamer or are buying the Playstation 4 for a gamer, then this is the right choice despite the higher than before price tag. But if you're just a casual gamer or similarly buying for a casual gamer, then most of the features here may be wasted or worse misinterpreted (like it's lack of media streaming) as not being very user-friendly. Many of the new features on the Sony Playstation 4 still seem like they haven't been taken advantage of fully yet but it also means that we can look forward to even more innovative and super realistic looking games on the Playstation 4 in the future.