(SPOT.ph) Want to feel old? In just a few months, the PlayStation 5 is turning two years old. Okay, it might not seem like much, but that's a lot of time to have passed for a console that you don't even have your hands on yet. With limited supplies and stocks that disappear in a blink of an eye here in the Philippines, we're sure you've questioned yourself on whether getting this first model of the PS5 is even worth it.
Should you take the time to sign up for another PS5 raffle giveaway? Should you just shell out the extra cash and buy a PS5 bundle that will include games you won't even play? Well, we break down below the key differences between the PS5 and PS4, as well as the games currently available exclusively on the PS5 and the upcoming PS5 games dropping soon, in order to determine if getting a PS5 is already worth it.
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Is it Worth it to Buy a PlayStation 5?
Differences Between PS4 and PS5
The key differences brought about by the "next-generation" hardware of the PlayStation 5 are the massive boost in graphics quality and overall performance speed (read: you'll have to suffer through less loading time to see even prettier pictures than what your PS4 can display). The PS5 can play games at 4K resolution, just as the PS4 Pro can, but if you're on the regular PS4, then this will be an improvement for you.
With base storage, you're not getting an increase from the PS4 to the PS5. You may actually even see a slight decrease in base storage if you have the later models of PS4, so get those backup drives ready.
The bottom line for tech improvements from the PS4 to PS5 is, unsurprisingly, graphics and performance. You'll see this later on with the exclusive games, but the PlayStation 5 brings a whole new level of immersion to the games that you play due to its detailed rendering and the artists' capability now to create richer environments on the new platform.
Currently Available PS5-Exclusive Games
For PlayStation 5-exclusive games, we expectedly have a few remakes/remasters of popular titles, such as Demon's Souls, Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered, and Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade, all of which were received fairly well as showcases of next-gen capabilities. The former two, especially, made enough of a leap in terms of quality and design (in Spider-Man's case, literally changing Peter Parker's whole face) to justify their existence as separate releases.
Some original titles for the PS5 include the Ratchet & Clank sequel Rift Apart, the live-die-repeat, sci-fi shooting game Returnal, and the action-adventure game Ghostwire: Tokyo. It's your typical line-up of video games for an infant console. The games feature interesting stories and cool graphics, but their strength lies more in the new console experience.
Finally, while not PS5 exclusives per say, we think games like Horizon Forbidden West, Elden Ring, Ghost of Tsushima, and the new Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection do benefit from the deeper immersion offered by the PlayStation 5. These are games with distinct worlds and deep lore that you'll no doubt spend days exploring, so an increase in graphics quality and performance, even if a lot of the time not consciously identifiable, will make a huge difference. It's like the difference between watching a blockbuster epic in a regular movie house or in big-screen IMAX. Essentially the same, but you will feel more immersed.
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Upcoming PS5 Games
For upcoming games, God of War: Ragnarok, Forspoken, Hogwarts Legacy, and The Last of Us: Part I are the games to watch out for. Forspoken looks like the game to highlight next-gen features, as its gameplay trailers look incredibly close to the Unreal Engine 5 tech demo that was revealed in 2020. It's not confirmed to be using Unreal Engine 5 or not, but what we've seen so far has looked spectacular.
Meanwhile, the fantasy worlds of God of War: Ragnarok, Hogwarts Legacy, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora seem to be the most fitting for the PS5's capabilities. God of War, in particular, focused on immersion for its previous release back in 2018, which went on to win Game of the Year. Not that we're expecting anything less for its sequel, but we have high hopes that it'll leave us in awe when it drops on PlayStation later this year.
Additionally, new gameplay footage from the latest remaster of The Last of Us has recently been revealed. The game now looks incredibly more cinematic than it did when it first dropped back in 2013 (and back then, it was already considered a leap forward in gaming!). The PS5, with its improved graphics and performance, will no doubt elevate this survival horror to greater heights.
All four games mentioned are dropping by the end of the year and are feeling like the line-up that'll propel the PS5 into its sophomore slate of video games.
Other Useful Features
The PS5 supports backwards compatibility, so your old PS4 games won't go to waste, as you can play them on the new PS5. Most online games now support cross-platform multiplayer, so you can still play games like Fortnite or Fall Guys online with your friends on PS4 or other consoles when you're on your new and improved PS5. Just be prepared for every time you win to be chalked up to "next-gen buff," instead of your actual skill.
Verdict
The PS5 is undoubtedly still in its infancy, and while we've seen a few games take advantage of what the next-gen console is able to do, the selection is still a ways away from making the PS5 an urgent buy. We'd say that at the present moment, there's no rush to hop on the PS5 train. The next best time is looking to be the end of this year or early next year, when the new, better-looking PS5 games have dropped and when you're ready to splurge all your holiday money.
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The PlayStation 5 retails for P27,990 for the regular console and P23,990 for the digital version.
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