Returning to PlayStation After the PlayStation 3

From a young age, I was kind of indoctrinated into the PlayStation and Nintendo family of consoles. At least, what ones were available from the very early 2000s. My earliest memory playing games is actually on the original Gameboy, and watching my brothers play The Legend of Dragoon on the original PlayStation (which is desperately in need of a modern remake). But from there, we fluctuated from different consoles, like the original Xbox, to the PlayStation 2, and the PlayStation 3 where I got to experience only some games from each of those consoles.

Whether it was Halo CE, Halo 2, and Fable that I very much knew I wasn’t supposed to be playing those types of games as a kid. To PlayStation’s offerings of games that were more appropriate, like Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Jak and Daxter, and even Rachet and Clank. While also playing in secret, games that definitely were not appropriate growing up, like the God of War series for instance. There was a lot to enjoy, even in my poor upbringing that had to be alleviated by my brothers and I getting jobs when we weren’t out of school.

But for my journey beyond that, when I was able to choose the console I wanted to buy and own with my own money. I chose the Xbox 360, and rediscovered so much of what I missed when I had to start taking on double minor shifts at a fast-food joint to help with finances before I was even an adult. I remembered playing Halo and Fable, so I started from there and found the 360 was able to broaden my gaming horizons. So much so that when I bought it, I stayed in the Xbox ecosystem and never left. From the Xbox One, to the Series X even a month ago. I was just playing Killer Klowns from Outer Space and even HyperCharge: Unboxed. But something changed in June for me.

A Surprise Gift

In the middle of June, Senior Staff Writer, Gene Schaffmeir gifted me the PlayStation 5, and that day I was completely shaken. Prior to arriving, he did ask me where I lived, and considering I had given my information other members of the Lords of Gaming staff in the past, I saw nothing wrong with the request and did not expect anything, especially a PlayStation 5.

From here I immediately, like a kid that just unwrapped this on christmas morning, set it up and began my journey. If buying my Xbox 360 felt like buying my first apartment and adjusting to adult life. Opening up the PlayStation 5 that was gifted to me felt like returning home. There was a sense of familiarity, but some somberness, and not knowing just how far down the rabbit hole I was going to go.

A Helping of PlayStation Crow

The very first game I played on the PlayStation 5 was Astro’s Playroom. A tech demo that existed to show off the capabilities of the console, and its signature Dualsense controller. Obviously, when it comes to marketing and gimmicks, from an outsider’s perspective a lot of it can be overblown. While some of it was, Astro’s Playroom not only hit me with a lot of nostalgia, but it also made me understand why the buzz around the Dualsense even started.

The level of sheer brilliance on display from blending the game’s overall design from sights, sounds, and feel into multiple parts of the controller’s design is unbelievable. From the haptic feedback causing soft vibrations that feel magnetic, and not rumbly when walking across different surfaces with varying degrees of how it feels is something I never expected. Especially when you can hear the sounds of those surfaces from the Dualsense’s speaker, it creates a sense of immersion that I think even a home theater set up cannot match one to one.

The Dualsense also features gyroscope aiming that is used in four levels of the game to an almost annoying degree, however. In two off these sections, you have to play as a frog and tilt the controller to aim moving left or right as opposed to just using, say the left or right thumb sticks. As well as another two where you play as a monkey where you have to climb using both the adaptive triggers and the gyroscope to move it from rock to rock. I will admit that some of the level design elements of this stuff was cool, like the frog breaking glass and feeling that through the haptic feedback, and even having to move the Dualsense in an upwards circular motion to swing from handlebars. But these sections are not comparable to the roller ball sections that use the trackpad to move, and even the rocket ship that just used the triggers normally.

So, while I am not a fan of every feature in this controller, the experience from Astro’s Playroom made the minute frustrations worth it. So much so that I even went back to get the Platinum trophy after missing a good amount of the trophies initially. From there I went onto try some of the local exclusive cuisine, some free, some not.

A Sampling of Premium Goods

While waiting for the PlayStation 4 reboot of Rachet and Clank to arrive after ordering it online. I decided to try Genshin Impact, and while I could see the appeal, it was just too big to fully enjoy. I found myself getting bored exploring when I had to, just to progress the story, which admittedly the story of the game is very excellent. So, after playing through both the reboot of Rachet and Clank, and Rift Apart and being able to appreciate both of them with their strengths and flaws. I decided to try the latest release from Hoyoverse, Zenless Zone Zero.

This is the one that has made me into a daily player of the PlayStation 5, aside from Warframe thanks to their cross-save efforts. The game is a lot of fun, and despite not really using everything the Dualsense has to offer, it was able to wow me by using door and doorbell sound effects from entering buildings, and feeling and hearing a cat purring when you pet it. It’s not a lot by any means, but even the slightest touch elevates the experience and keeps me feeling like I am actually in the game I’m playing.

Despite only having a few highlights from my month and a half, I have a lot to look forward to, owing to the PlayStation Plus service, which also surprised me.

PlayStation Plus is Actually Good?

Back in 2022, PlayStation reformed their normal PlayStation Plus and Now streaming services to become one multi-tiered subscription service. Back then it was ridiculed for being overpriced compared to Xbox Game Pass, and maybe I am still too new to see what the problems are. But after subscribing to PlayStation Plus Premium, I have so much I want to play and already have played thanks to it.

There are so many cool first and third-party games on there that I have already filled up my hard drive with. Considering I missed the PlayStation 4 generation, having on demand access to games like Gravity Rush, Concrete Genie, The Last of Us and various newer third-party titles like Tales of Kenzera: Zau, and Final Fantasy 7: Remake Integrade is quite a bargain. The Premium tier even gives access to so many classic games like the old Jak and Daxter and Rachet and Clank titles. Even at its steep monthly cost, there is a lot on offer I am looking forward to playing.

Looking to the Future

When it comes to 2024, it is definitely not as stacked as last year, but there is at least one major thing to look forward to from PlayStation themselves. That being Astro Bot, and if the experience from Astro’s Playroom is anything to go by. It should be a phenomenal experience that will be cherished for years to come.

But beyond that? I am not too sure what to look forward to, and hopefully due to having a backlog to catch up on, there will be a clearer roadmap that I can really sink my teeth into. Especially when I still have games like Ghost of Tsushima to play. When it comes to the PlayStation 5 itself, I thought little things like the consoles design or even console going into rest mode if you try to turn it on via the PlayStation button press on the controller when the TV is off would bug me. But the cons just do not outweigh the pros at all, even with the month and a half I’ve had to play on it.

With all of that being said, a surprise gift making me into a daily player of a console company I have not been associated with for over a decade was definitely not on my 2024 bingo card. But I am very thankful to be in this predicament, and I am very excited to see what all is in store in the months, and years ahead.