Team Talk | PS5 reveal: What do you think about The Future of Gaming?

23/6/2020

Not too long ago, Sony unveiled the PlayStation 5 with an hour-long stream, finally showcasing the console itself, a bunch of accessories and a glut of upcoming titles that we can look forward to this year and next. Here are our highlights from The Future of Gaming.

by Chris Brand

@SuperCrisco

by Team PTC

@pass_controller

Chris

There was an impressive number of games on show; some third-party titles, some exclusives, some timed exclusives and, frustratingly, some unknowns. Oddworld: Soulstorm was one such unknown (and the one I'm most excited about), though I suspect it will be a timed exclusive, much like New 'n' Tasty.

It might seem dismissive to call out the reimagining of a decades-old game as the standout title, but it had very little real competition. GTA V is still relevant, thanks to the continually updated online component, but it first released on Xbox 360 and PS3 in 2013. That particular hype train left the station a long time ago and everybody with even a passing interest has probably taken a ride already.

DEATHLOOP was undoubtedly the biggest let-down. Like many, I was intrigued by the premise when it was first announced at last year's E3. Clearly taking too much inspiration from the original Roof-Crouching Simulator, Arkane Lyon have presented us with Dishonored: Groundhog Day, a mash up which no-one asked for and fewer people want.

Games aside, I thought the PlayStation 5 looked quite dapper, standing in stark contrast to the hideous controller. This sort of design is what results from putting your kids art on the fridge, instead of telling them they suck.

Soulstorm is looking slightly more chaotic than the original.

Sam

While not nearly as down on the event as Chris, I can echo that the DualSense gamepad is ugly and DEATHLOOP was underwhelming. Bethesda stablemate GhostWire: Tokyo was too, which is especially disappointing with Shinji Mikami at the helm.

Probably the most impressive reveal was Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, which really showcased what the PS5’s SSD can do. Players are able to instantly transition between several completely different levels without so much as a whiff of a loading screen. That likely wouldn’t be possible on PS4, and most certainly wouldn’t be possible while also boasting a level of visual polish akin to the Ratchet & Clank feature film.

While I’ll definitely be playing Rift Apart and Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the exclusive game that really has me excited is the Demon’s Souls remake. The most appealing PS5 game being a PS3 game might not bode well, but my undying love of Dark Souls is well known and exploring its main point of origin (complete with online functionality, since the original servers have been shut down) is a hugely enticing prospect.

Horizon Forbidden West as the grand finale didn’t do much for me, since the original’s reliance on the repetitive Ubisoft formula landed it in the middle of the road. Resident Evil: Village would’ve occupied the prestigious slot more comfortably, appearing to be an excellent mix of old and new.

And still just as creepy as ever.

Liam

I love cats, so my favourite part of the event was the Stray trailer, in which a ginger cat with a little backpack explored a rather intriguing neon city. I’ve always thought animal sims/protagonists were a good idea (people did seem to enjoy Untitled Goose Game) and I look forward to catching robot mice and pooping in a box as well as playing detective.

My biggest disappointment from the show was the lack of any PS VR 2 news. I have an unused PS VR bundle just waiting for a shiny new PlayStation to enjoy it on, but if there’s an upgraded headset on the way, I’d rather keep it all boxed up for maximum trade-in value (although with StarWars: Squadrons out this winter, I could be tempted to break the seal).

As for the PS5 itself, I don’t think it looks terrible. Ideally I’d like to own both of the new consoles one day, but with space for only one machine under my TV (literally, if the sizing specs are to be believed) it might have to be the PS5 – the mini obelisk that is the Series X would stand out less sitting next to the set, after all.

Let's hope the customisation options are up to scratch.

James

Having been off the PlayStation train since the 90s, I gave the event itself a miss – a stark contrast to the E3 season events I would have undoubtedly been glued to in previous years, and different times.

The game to drag me back to Sony most recently was Marvel's Spider-Man, which I thoroughly enjoyed despite being late to the party.

An outing for fan-favourite Spidey, Miles Morales, was a nice showcase, and given the push for next-to-no loading from this hardware, it's likely to be reflective of the final experience.

Putting a new suit on the world's favourite web-slinger isn't quite enough to fork out £500 or more by itself though, so it's fortunate for Sony they have spent this generating a suite of series ripe for sequel treatment.

Horizon Zero Dawn broke records for new IP on the PS4 and God of War was no slouch either. More Horizon was announced and it's extremely likely that Kratos and other colourful characters are already being rendered at the newly rebranded PlayStation Studios. The biggest question left, besides the exact price, will be how long I hold off playing this time.