PlayStation 4

If the impending next generation felt like a far away dream when you lurched out of bed this morning, then today’s initial roster of hardware and software reviews should have shaken you out of your slumber. Indeed, at the time of writing, Sony’s next generation console is mere hours away – but how have the first batch of verdicts affected your anticipation for this week’s North American launch?

It’s not exactly been a glowing start for the super system – but neither has it been a disaster

It’s not exactly been a glowing start for Mark Cerny’s super system – but neither has it been the disaster that some cynics may want you to believe either. Knack was never expected to set the world alight – the abovementioned director describing it as a “small game” in pre-release interviews – but it perhaps fared a little worse than predicted, drawing criticism from some outlets for its repetitive gameplay and needlessly prolonged campaign.

Meanwhile, fellow first-party exclusives Killzone: Shadow Fall and Resogun performed much better, with the latter drawing critical acclaim for its pretty presentation and addictive action. The reception to Guerrilla Games’ first-person shooter may have been a teensy bit more tepid, but it still attracted plenty of praise for its pretty visuals and clever combat sandboxes. Sadly, it sounds like the Dutch developer still hasn’t quite mastered the art of engaging storytelling.

As for the hardware itself, the consensus appears to be that it’s a powerful, well-designed box with plenty of potential to grow. Polygon summarises that it’s a slick system built for gaming, without the software to yet back it up – but this is arguably true of any new console launch, as it’s virtually impossible for a fresh piece of hardware to compete with devices that have had years to build up compelling catalogues.

The great news from Digital Foundry is that the tech is top-notch. The site states that the console is as compelling under the hood as the platform holder promised back at its PlayStation Meeting in February, and that it’s surprisingly quiet given the meaty components that it’s packing. Additionally, features such as voice recognition work unexpectedly well, while the user interface is organised if still in need of a little iteration.

The common consensus appears to settle upon the idea that you’re very much paying for potential

Even better, it sounds like the PS4 is built with this evolutionary aspect in mind. While the Japanese giant’s alarming lack of foresight left the PlayStation 3 difficult to overhaul, background downloads and a much less rigid architecture mean that its latest console will change a lot over the coming years. We’re already seeing the fruits of that, with the platform holder claiming that it’s already working on a patch to add in missing CD and MP3 support down the line.

Nevertheless, the common opinion appears to settle upon the idea that, as with so many other consoles before it, you’re paying for potential. There are undoubtedly a handful of good games to play on day one, but they may not be enough to move the hardware alone. Those of you that have been around for previous launches will be familiar with this idea, but it’ll be interesting to see just how much it’s soured your opinion hours ahead of this week’s North American release.

Has your hype for the Sony’s next generation system increased or decreased since the expiration of this afternoon’s PS4 embargo? Has your launch haul changed based on some of the media’s verdicts? Umm and err in the comments section and poll below.

How have the first reviews affected your anticipation for PS4? (66 votes)

  1. Nothing has changed, I’m still giddy for the next generation machine88%
  2. I still haven’t really had a chance to read any of the reviews fully12%
  3. My finger’s hovering over the console cancellation button right now  0%

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