By Jonathan Hurd

The next generation of console gaming has finally arrived. The PlayStation 4 and
Xbox One are available in stores. Being a loyal PlayStation fan, I had to pick
up Ps4. Out of the box, you get the system, a headset, a HDMI cord and a dualshock 4
controller. The headset works, though not too well. Good for a starter one. Should be
noted that you can also use almost any other headset that has a mouth piece; such as
the iPhone’s headphones. Another note to take into consideration is that the system
doesn’t support SD output anymore; you will need to purchase a HD TV to run it.

The Dualshock 4 controller is much better than the 3 of last generation. It feels more solid
and a tad smaller, the reworked triggers and thumb sticks feel amazing. I haven’t used
the share button, but doing so will generate the last 15 minutes of gameplay and allow you
to edit it and post to twitch. The touch screen works, though it is early on so not many
titles have been developed to utilize it. The speaker on the controller is also a nice
touch, and the volume could be raised or lowered with the new options button.
You can use Hulu, Netflix or any number of other video services for free with the
system however to get online you will need to purchase Playstation plus, Sony’s paid
service for online. Comparable to online services for the Xbox 360, you can monthly
or pay for a year. The yearlong subscription is $50 compared to Xbox’s $60.
Playstation plus is more than worth it, I myself only purchased battlefield 4 and yet I
received 4 free games via download. These are not simple games either, we’re talking
solid titles. DC universe online, Resogun, Blacklight retribution, contrast and Warframe
are the launch titles for free. PlayStation also promises to releases 2 free games every
month.
Now that the hardware is out of the way, how does it work? The answer is
phenomenally. It was a big release with one million units sold in the first 24 hours. I’d
be lying if I said it was a flawless release. I couldn’t connect to PlayStation online for
the first 3 days. This was rather upsetting, I didn’t mind too much because I had
battlefield single player, however I was very limited with options. Once I got connection
though the system soared. The visuals for battlefield 4 online are flawless. 32 vs. 32
games, with no lag (using ccsu wifi) are amazing. Resogun is a spectacle of colors an
action that looks like no other. At any time in game you can also be in a group chat
with friends, even if they’re in a separate game. You can press the PS button and load
up the menu in seconds, which isn’t too impressive to most, but all last gen gamers
will really appreciate the smoothness. The standby mode is also a great addition, as it
can charge your controllers and complete any downloads you might have (games and
system updates).
Overall, if you have internet PS4 is amazing. Without it, you are limited to single
player games and any video services you have be it Hulu, Netflix or even Crunchy roll.
The games look great, the system runs smooth. A great buy for the holidays.