PS5 review: Sony's exploration of "immersion" has given it a perfect score, and the experience is exactly the same as other versions

As a classic game console, PS4 has accompanied global players for seven years, produced countless classic games, and achieved sales of over 100 million units worldwide. For its successor, PS5, such achievements have laid a huge mass base for it on the one hand, but on the other hand, they have also raised people's expectations for it, causing considerable pressure. In this way, in November 2020, PS5 officially debuted, marking the full launch of the next generation.

Friends who follow the gaming industry must remember the grand occasion when the PS5 was released last November. Players were excited but also a little disappointed. On the one hand, it was hard to get a machine at a normal price. On the other hand, it was because the PS5 was "launched in mainland China" at that time, and the Chinese version was still a long way off.

It is somewhat unexpected that Sony launched the Chinese version of the PS5 only half a year later. You should know that the Chinese version of the PS4 was launched a year later than other versions. In addition, the price of the optical drive version of 3,899 yuan is also very attractive, which attracted the attention of countless players. Recently, I was lucky enough to get a Chinese version of the PS5 first. This article will test and introduce the Chinese version.

The appearance is bold and novel, and the desktop layout needs to be reconsidered

To sum up the appearance of the PS5 in five words, it is: big and bold.

The size of the PS5 is very intuitive, and you can feel it from the moment you unbox it, and it will be even more obvious if you put it next to the PS4. It can be seen that compared with the PS4 Slim, the PS5 is more than a circle larger in length, width and thickness, and even makes the former look a little "smaller".

It is bold because its design language has undergone radical changes compared to its predecessors. It is neither like the oval of the PS3 nor like the square of the PS4, but adopts a streamlined design. In terms of color matching, the PS5 also changed the tradition of the PlayStation family's first release in black and designed a "reverse Oreo" color matching of white and black.

To match this design, the PS5 comes with a base. After actual testing, it is still stable when placed vertically without the base installed, but it is still recommended that you install the base regardless of whether it is placed horizontally or vertically.

The PS5 has a USB Type A and a Type C port on the front of the body, and an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB Type A ports and an Ethernet port on the back. The total number of ports is one more Type C than the PS4, but the two Type A ports of the PS4 are placed on the front of the body, while those of the PS5 are placed on the back.

In general, the streamlined appearance of the PS5 makes it look more technological, which is in line with the positioning of the next-generation console. However, this design will bring two problems when placing it, which players need to pay attention to: First, a larger body naturally requires more space. For players who are used to placing game consoles in closed spaces such as TV cabinets, they need to see whether the PS5 can be placed in it. On the other hand, the streamlined surface of the PS5 makes it impossible to carry other things when placed horizontally, so players who are used to placing some small objects on the PS4 need to rearrange them.

System testing: The Chinese version can provide the same experience as other versions

Next, let's answer the question that most players are concerned about: Can the Chinese version run foreign games? The answer is yes, and the backup function of PS5 has not changed compared to PS4.

For PS4 players, as long as they register a Chinese version account and log in, and then log in to the same Chinese version account on PS5, they can transfer the data of all accounts in PS4 to PS5. After the transfer is completed, the foreign version account can also log in normally and access the store without any problems.

If you don't have a foreign account, the Chinese version console can also run normally and update foreign PS4 and PS5 physical discs. But one thing to note is that if you use a physical disc to install the game when logging into a foreign account, you still can't play it after switching to the Chinese version, and it will prompt "Please buy first". When logging into the Chinese version account, inserting a foreign game disc can run normally.

The games currently on sale in the Chinese store are all approved PS4 games, and the payment methods and membership prices are also the same as those for PS4. The Chinese PlayStation Collection includes 12 games, namely "Horizon Zero Dawn", "Gravity Rush 2", "The Last Guardian", "Journey", "Hardcore Mech", "LittleBigPlanet 3", "Final Fantasy 15", "Wipeout Collector's Edition", "Tearaway", "Bad Diver", "Ratchet & Clank", and "LocoRoco Remastered". You can play them as long as you open a Chinese PlayStation Plus membership and log in on the PS5.

Except for the above-mentioned parts, there is basically no difference between the Chinese version of PS5 and the foreign version. The content introduced below is valid for both the Chinese version and the foreign version.

In terms of compatibility with old games, PS5 can run most PS4 games. Physical games can be played by inserting the disc, while digital games need to be re-downloaded. But it should be noted that if you want to play physical games purchased on PS4 on PS5, you still need to insert the disc. Therefore, if you have purchased a lot of PS4 physical games and still want to experience them on PS5, it is not recommended to buy the PS5 without a disc drive.

Finally, there is a more obvious change in the operating logic of PS5 and PS4. In PS4, the commonly used message center and power options are called up by pressing the cross key "up" on the main interface, while in PS5, you need to press the PlayStation button and press the cross key "down" to call them up, which requires players to adapt.

Game test: Ultra-fast loading speed and greatly improved image quality bring a true next-generation gaming experience

As a next-generation console, the PS5 has naturally made great improvements in performance. In order to verify the degree of improvement, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Cyberpunk 2077, and Assassin's Creed: Valhalla were selected to run on PS4 and PS5 respectively. Final Fantasy 7 and Cyberpunk 2077 are PS4 versions running on PS5 in compatible mode, while Assassin's Creed: Valhalla was upgraded to the PS5 version for free.

The biggest upgrade of PS5 is its customized SSD, which can greatly improve the reading and loading speed of games. In this test, this is also the most obvious place for us to feel. When loading the game from the start interface, it takes about one minute for PS4 to load Cyberpunk 2077, while it takes 40 seconds for PS5; Final Fantasy 7 takes about 42 seconds to load on PS4, and about 11 seconds on PS5; the most exaggerated is Assassin's Creed: Valhalla, which takes only 11 seconds to load on PS5, while it takes 1 minute and 42 seconds on PS4.

The huge upgrade of the hard disk also brought about a huge adjustment in the operating logic.

To close a game on PS4, you need to long press the PlayStation button and choose to close the game. This operation becomes more complicated on PS5: short press the PlayStation button, find "Switch Function", select the running game, press the "Option" key, and select "Close Game".

The reason why the entrance to close the game is hidden so deeply is that the powerful hard drive of the PS5 allows multiple games to run at the same time, and switching between games is as smooth as silk. In other words, on the PS5, players do not need to completely close the game. This feeling reminds me of the shock of discovering that there is no need to shut down smartphones when they first became popular.

Also based on the huge improvement brought by this hard drive, PS5 has added the option of "mode entry". Through this function, players can choose to directly enter a certain node in the game, and the reading speed is also very fast. However, this function needs to wait for more developers to adapt. I believe that as PS5 becomes more popular, this function will also become standard.

After talking about storage, we naturally have to talk about image quality. The image quality of PS5 has also been greatly improved, making 4K 60 frames a standard feature, and some games have also launched an impact on 8K and 120 frames. During the test, the contrast in image quality was very obvious.

On PS4, the frame rates of the three test games were all locked within 30 frames, while on PS4, all three games can run smoothly at 60 frames. In terms of image quality, 4K is a dimensionality reduction attack compared to 1080P, which is particularly obvious in Cyberpunk 2077: in the same scene, looking at the same character at a similar distance, the outline of the character in the PS4 version has become blurred, and even a little mosaic has appeared, while on the PS5, everything has become very clear.

In general, the graphics of PS5 are indeed a cross-generational improvement compared to PS4. Both the clarity and smoothness of the game have made a qualitative leap. Coupled with the ultra-fast reading speed brought by the customized hard drive, it will give players a subversive gaming experience.

Controller: Sony's brave exploration of "immersion"

"Immersion" is a high-frequency word used by game manufacturers in recent years. Generally speaking, improving immersion mainly starts from the sound and picture aspects, through more realistic pictures and more impactful sound effects, making players feel as if they are in the game world.

From the perspective of graphics, the PS5 has made great improvements, but the sound effects require the cooperation of other devices and are largely not determined by Sony itself. Therefore, Sony has found a new breakthrough to enhance immersion: the handle.

The first thing we have to mention about the upgrades made to the PS5's Dual Sense controller (hereinafter referred to as the DS controller) is the touchpad. The touchpad of the DS controller is much smoother and more responsive than the PS4 controller, and the accuracy rate is also higher when entering account passwords.

In order to help players get familiar with the DS controller of PS5 more quickly, PS5 has a built-in mini-game "Guide to Using the Space Robot Wireless Controller". This game makes the internal structure of the PS5 into a game map, and cleverly integrates the characteristics of the controller into the game. It is recommended that all players try it.

Although the sound effects part of the immersive experience requires the cooperation of external devices, Sony has also put a lot of effort into the DS controller.

I have used my PS4 for more than five years, and I have always known that its controller can make sounds, but I remember that it made sounds no more than five times. On the PS5 controller, the speaker has also become an important part.

Through Astro Robot, you can clearly feel that the speaker of the DS controller is not just a small amplifier, but actually shares part of the sound-generating task. In the game, the footsteps of the characters are all emitted by the speaker of the controller, which makes the player feel that the footsteps are close at hand without overshadowing other sound effects. Moreover, when hitting metal objects or being hit by metal objects, the speaker on the DS controller will be responsible for making a crisp "clang" sound. If you hold down the speaker and only rely on the TV to make sound, the sound will become dull. Similarly, when using a rocket backpack, the "sizzling" sound of the airflow is also emitted by the controller.

This type of speaker is responsible for the main sound production, and the solution of using the handle speaker to supplement the sound details is still very novel. It can make the sound more three-dimensional than stereo, and can also indirectly reduce the requirements for audio equipment. It also reflects Sony's excellent understanding of "immersion".

But the biggest feature of the DS controller is the "adaptive trigger". There is a gear motor inside the DS controller, which can provide different levels of damping for the trigger button after power is turned on. In layman's terms, it is to adjust the tightness of the trigger button. In "Astro Robot", the trigger button is needed for both bow drawing and climbing, and it can be clearly felt that the trigger button feels heavier when drawing the bow.

Adaptive triggers have also been used in many games. "Call of Duty" simulates the recoil of different firearms through this principle.

Another major feature of the DS controller is tactile feedback, which is achieved through delicate vibration. The vibration changes of the DS controller are not only reflected in the strength, but also in the way and direction of vibration. In "Astro Robot", there is a scene where you swipe the touchpad upwards to pull up the zipper. When operating, you can clearly feel that the vibration of the controller is also from bottom to top. In racing games such as "Dirt 5", the DS controller can also simulate the texture of different tracks through vibration.

Through adaptive triggers and tactile feedback, the DS controller starts with the dimension of touch, which has been somewhat neglected before, allowing players to feel the game world with their hands in addition to vision and hearing. Sony's exploration of "immersion" is undoubtedly surprising.

Does “immersion” equal “realism”?

Finally, the characteristics of the DS controller also make me think about the "feeling of immersion".

At present, whether starting from the picture, sound effect or touch, improving the "sense of immersion" often means improving the "realism" of the game. This sounds natural, but it also brings some problems.

Adaptive triggers are also used in FIFA21: if a player's physical fitness decreases, the damping of the trigger button will increase, making sprinting more difficult. The impact of this feature runs through the entire game: in the second half of the first half and throughout the second half, the trigger button will become more difficult to press than before; even in the opening stage of the game, after using a player to sprint a long distance, once the trigger button is released, it will become very difficult to accelerate again. It is even more difficult to dribble the ball by double-clicking the trigger button at the end of the game.

This naturally brings a lot of freshness and realism to the game, but many players just want to get corresponding feedback when they press the button. Therefore, this improvement actually leads to a decline in the gaming experience.

The degradation of the gaming experience caused by adaptive triggers is also reflected in the process of player switching. In FIFA, every pass is accompanied by a player switch, and when defending, the player will frequently switch the player to be operated. It can be said that this is the most frequent action in a game. The physical condition of each player is different, and the adaptive trigger may make players experience completely different feel in a short period of time. For many players, this may not enhance the immersion of the game, but distract themselves. A design designed to enhance immersion makes it impossible for players to focus on the game, which seems to be a bit counterproductive.

Generally speaking, for a fast-paced competitive game like FIFA21, the DS controller can help players "experience" the game better, but it may not help players "play" the game better. Therefore, to what extent "immersion" should be equated with "realism" has become a question worth thinking about for Sony and all manufacturers.

Of course, the DS controller's adaptive triggers, vibration feedback, and speaker design are undoubtedly revolutionary and have epoch-making significance for the gaming industry. It is the addition of these features that allows manufacturers to go one step further in enhancing the "sense of immersion."

Summary: An authentic next-generation experience that gamers should not miss

In short, the hardware of the Chinese version of the PS5 is no different from that of the foreign version, and the software problems can be solved with simple methods. Therefore, it can be said responsibly that the Chinese version of the PS5 can bring gamers an authentic next-generation gaming experience. Considering the two-year warranty provided by the Chinese version, it can be said that as long as it can be purchased at the original price, the Chinese version of the PS5 is undoubtedly worth trying for all players.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.