THERE'S a reason Sony's latest creation bears a "4 the players" slogan.
The PlayStation 4 doesn't focus on television or movie-streaming, though it offers the latter. It doesn't ask you to control it with your voice out of the box. It doesn't even insist you log into its online network.
The PlayStation 4 instead narrows its focus on video games.
It gives players better graphics than those of its rivals, a more advanced controller, remote play to go, a simplified menu that lists all titles you own, and an online store that lets you download games so large they'll make your internet service provider blush (Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag weighs in at 21.7GB).
It's an approach clearly appealing to the masses, with all Australian pre-order stock sold out until next year, and one that comes in a cheaper, more attractive package than before.
In fact, the shape and size of Sony's fourth PlayStation shares more with the PS2 than the PS3. A rounded top has been replaced with sharp edges and asymmetrical lines; the hefty, noisy body of the original PS3 traded for a slender, 2.8kg creation with a barely audible fan out the back.
Likewise, its controller has undergone a makeover worthy of its own reality TV special and, unlike such a show, the renovation is more than cosmetic.
The PS4’s DualShock 4 controller Source: Supplied
The PS4's DualShock 4 controller is larger, with longer, more comfortable grips. Its joysticks are stubbier, moulded and seem more sensitive, and it focuses on sound for the first time.
There's not only a standard headphone jack for plugging in a headset with microphone, but this controller features a speaker. Not all games use this feature yet but those which do give players a jolt when audio jumps from the TV into their hands.
Sony has also added a lightbar to the top of the controller (for identification) and a touchpad at the top for added game control. This touchpad isn't used in many games yet (Killzone: Shadow Fall being one exception) but it has the potential to become useful in time.
As with any game console upgrade, however, its biggest leap forward is in power.
The PlayStation 4 has power to spare with an eight-core processor, 8GB RAM, and an AMD graphics processor that bests that of the Xbox One at 1.84 teraflops per second to Microsoft's 1.31.
What does this mean on the screen? Two things stick out: startlingly realistic graphics, and quick multi-tasking.
The power of this games console, and its GPU, delivers detail impossible from its predecessors. Faces in Killzone: Shadow Fall have more than a touch of uncanny valley-realism about them, even when covered in sparkling rain droplets. Call of Duty: Ghosts delivers full high-definition graphics that stand out, whether you're playing as a dog crouching in grass, or a man looking out over a decaying Los Angeles landscape. Even the graphics in LEGO Marvel Super Heroes have an extra bit of sparkle, with a glossy look to its plastic characters.
Would you notice the graphical boost over the Xbox One without a side-by-side comparison? Probably not. But the PS4's image delivery is outstanding.
Multi-tasking is also remarkably easy on this new console. Tapping the PlayStation button during a game will immediately bring up the system menu, which you can forage through without losing progress in your open title.
This main menu has also been redesigned, even though it doesn't lose the hallmarks of the well-worn XrossMediaBar.
A new menu lists all games you load, with its soundtrack, images, and your achievements from the title within easy reach.
A What's New section also lists your achievements and those of your PlayStation Network friends, beside shortcuts to a web browser, plus video and music-streaming services.
Move the left joystick up, and a familiar menu delivers settings, messages, notifications, your profile and access to the PlayStation Store with movie and game downloads for the offing.
All in all it's a very simple system to navigate and Sony deserves kudos for its uncomplicated interface.
Another major benefit to PS4 ownership comes if you own Sony's PlayStation Vita handheld console.
Remote Play was listed as a feature of the PlayStation 3 but was merely complementary. It comes into its own with this console.
Should someone in your house cruelly demand to use the television for something other than games, Remote Play lets you transfer gameplay to the PS Vita's screen, streaming it over wi-fi.
It does mean you'll have to play at a lower resolution on a smaller screen, but you can control the game as you would with the console and, if you have a strong home wi-fi network, lag is minimal.
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia managing director Michael Ephraim and singer Reece Mastin play test-drive the new PlayStation 4 games console. Source: Supplied
While the PlayStation 4 is clearly impressive, it has downsides too.
Its processor is clocked slightly slower than that of the Xbox One and if you want a camera and microphone for interactive controls, you'll have to buy that separately for $89.95.
You'll also have to lower your expectations as the PlayStation 4 Camera doesn't deliver as many features or the precision of the Kinect 2.0.
There are fewer apps available for the PS4 than the Xbox One too, and games are yet to take full advantage of its new power and controls. We're likely to see both improve over time.
The PS4, like its main rival, also lacks backwards compatibility for old games, so you'll need to keep your old console to save your library.
The new console also has two USB 3.0 ports on its front, yet it's unable to read external storage, and it has a Blu-ray player yet it's unable to play music CDs (Sony's working on this).
Plus, its inability to work with an existing TV box or its own PlayTV tuner from the PS3 means it's less likely to be turned on all the time.
As a games machine, however, the PS4 excels and is truly hard to beat. Some of the highly detailed graphics available in its launch games are breathtaking and its performance is likely to get better as developers push the boundaries of its powerful hardware and interactive entertainment itself.
PlayStation 4
Sony, $549
au.playstation.com
4/5
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