After a long anticipated wait, Next-gen gaming is finally here! I was so excited when I picked up my PlayStation 5 and when I got it home, unboxed, and set up, I was completely blown away… for multiple reasons. So I thought I’d share my thoughts on the PS5 and tell you about my first week with my PS5.
First of all, she’s MASSIVE!
After everything I had heard about the PS5, I was expecting a large console, but when I opened the box and took her out (which I struggled to do – check out my unboxing video below) I was holding in my hands a beast of a machine that looked like an architectural concept model of a Dubai skyscraper. Don’t get me wrong, this console is beautiful, and I’ll get to that in a moment, but this thing is huuuuuge! I understand that it is a powerful machine, it after seeing the new Xbox and knowing how powerful that console is, I think the PlayStation 5 is excessively large. It takes up so much space on my desk and I can’t even fit it in my tv unit… but she’s beautiful so I’ll deal with it and it can be a feature piece in my setup.
She’s a beautiful machine
Moving on from the size of this thing, the PlayStation 5 is a cosmetically beautiful. It is so sleek and futuristic, and as I mentioned, it looks like a Dubai skyscraper… but the beauty doesn’t end there. What first looks like a grainy surface is actually tiny PlayStation symbols covering the shell of the console. This is a detail that just blows my mind – it’s such a small detail, it it makes all the difference.
The PlayStation logo on the side is beautiful… but I am disappointed that it doesn’t light up. I think that it would look so nice if it lit up.
Speaking of lights… I love the way the console lights up inside the curve. It’s just so beautiful.
Overall, the cosmetic design of the console is absolutely beautiful. When I first saw the design when the console was announced I thought it was so ugly, but having it in my possession and seeing it first hand, I have to say it has to be my favourite of all the PlayStation consoles. The only negative thing I have to say about it is that it is so freaking huge.
The User Interface
I love the new UI! The layout is so simple and easy to use. The game store and library does remind me a little of the Xbox, but that’s not a bad thing because it is presented so much better than it used to be and it’s easy to see and access everything. I also like that the PlayStation store doesn’t open into a whole new app like it used to, it just opens up kind of like a drop down and it’s all there ready to browse without having to wait for an app to open and load. I also love that the gaming and the media are separate. Couldn’t be happier with this UI.
The PlayStation Collection
For those that aren’t aware, the PlayStation collection is a bunch of the top PS4 titles available for those with a PlayStation plus subscription. There are so many good games in this collection and it’s so good to have so many games to choose from. Between these games and your monthly PlayStation plus games, you’ll be spoiled for choice in your game library and will never have nothing to play.
The DualSense Controller
I’m not gonna lie, when I first saw this controller I thought it was the ugliest piece of crap I’d ever seen… but seeing it with the console and seeing it first hand, it’s actually a pretty good looking controller. Like the console, the controller also has the grainy surface that is actually the PlayStation symbols, which I think is super cool.
As for functionality, the dualsense is something else…
The new haptics in this controller creates such an immersive gaming experience like nothing else I have experienced. Subtle things like the vibrations being responsive to what is happening on the screen, whether that be soft or hard or on the left or the right, to more obvious things things like motion control and the use of the touch pad and microphone to control. And yes, that’s right, this controller has a built in microphone. This is such a cool feature because it means that you can communicate without the use of a headset.
I loved the DualShock 4, but the dualsense is quickly becoming my new favourite controller. The immersive experience and overall functionality of this controller just blows my mind. Moving away from how it looks and functions, it just feels nice. It’s light and comfortable, fits well in my tiny hands, and the buttons just feel so nice when pressed. I can’t wait to see what kind of designs with future dualsense controllers are released… I really hope I can get a purple one!
My first week experience
I’ve spent my first week with my PlayStation 5 playing Astro’s Playroom (which comes with the console), Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War, SpiderMan Miles Morales, and Bugsnax, and also binge watching Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and Amazon Prime. It’s been so great having everything in one place so I can game and take a break and watch something then get straight back to gaming.
Astro’s Playroom is a must play. Not only is it a fun little platformer, but it is such a great introduction to the dualsense controller and everything it can do. Also, I got my first ever platinum trophy and I am super happy to have got it on such a great game. If you have a ps5 and you haven’t played Astro’s playroom yet, what are you waiting for?!
Call of Duty is Call of Duty… nothing new to report there… it’s just as full of campy, sweaty gronks as any other Call of Duty, but we have new maps and new camos and a new campaign so there’s still a whole bunch of new raging fun to be had.
Spider-Man Miles Morales is amazing and I am well on my way to getting my second platinum trophy with this game. I am loving it so much. I loved the first Spider-Man game and this continuation is just as amazing. I’ll be writing a separate and full review on this game in the future, but for now just know that it is amazing and I highly recommend you play it.
Bugsnax is a surprisingly good game. It’s an indie game (I love a good indie) and is free for PlayStation plus members on PS5 this month, so I figured I’d download it and give it a go… and I’m glad I did. It’s actually a lot of fun.
Streaming is good on the PS5 too. I found that on my ps4 I had so many issues with streaming so I just would use my computer or the xbox, but now it’s working great on my PS5 and I can switch seamlessly between gaming and watching.
It’s a Yes From Me!
So, my first week with the PlayStation 5 has been pretty great. I am so excited for this next-gen gaming experience to continue and see what comes next.
Did you get your hands on a PlayStation 5? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Until next time…
– MuffinBear. 🐻
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