Games

Hands-on with the PS4

Hands-on with the PS4
Gizmag goes hands-on with the Sony PlayStation 4
Gizmag goes hands-on with the Sony PlayStation 4
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We spent a few minutes playing the PS4
1/6
We spent a few minutes playing the PS4
The console doesn't offer any kind of radical – or particularly memorable – design
2/6
The console doesn't offer any kind of radical – or particularly memorable – design
Gizmag goes hands-on with the Sony PlayStation 4
3/6
Gizmag goes hands-on with the Sony PlayStation 4
PS3 gamers will have to make some adjustments when playing the PS4
4/6
PS3 gamers will have to make some adjustments when playing the PS4
We played a game called Warframe
5/6
We played a game called Warframe
Graphics were impressive in our demo, but nothing PC gamers aren't already used to
6/6
Graphics were impressive in our demo, but nothing PC gamers aren't already used to
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In two days, the PlayStation 4 has gone from a faceless list of features to something we've actually played. Gizmag just got some quick hands-on time in Sony's E3 booth. Interested in our first impressions? Read on.

What it's like

Graphics were impressive in our demo, but nothing PC gamers aren't already used to
Graphics were impressive in our demo, but nothing PC gamers aren't already used to

I had a few minutes with a game called Warframe. If it sounds familiar, that's because the free-to-play PC version is already available in beta. It's a four-player Borderlands-style third-person shooter (with some stealth mixed in for good measure). A Sony employee told me that they're aiming for a day one launch with the PS4.

But this isn't about Warframe. You want to know what it's like on the PS4. My impressions? Well, it's definitely next-gen, but it's going to take a while to fully know what that means.

The console doesn't offer any kind of radical – or particularly memorable – design
The console doesn't offer any kind of radical – or particularly memorable – design

It always takes a few years for developers to really learn how to get the most out of a new console. So, while the PS4's graphics are clearly a step up from the PS3's (what I saw was along the lines of a 2012 or 2013 PC game on high settings), we aren't yet looking at "holy crap, this is like nothing I've seen before" graphics.

As always, you'll need to give that part time.

New DualShock

PS3 gamers will have to make some adjustments when playing the PS4
PS3 gamers will have to make some adjustments when playing the PS4

One of the biggest new things that PS3 gamers will notice about the PS4 is the DualShock 4 controller. It feels more compact and contoured to the hands than its predecessor. The action buttons (square, circle, triangle, X) are all in the same place. The biggest point of confusion that it provides is the absence of start/select buttons. You'll need to use the new options button to access those.

The DualShock 4 also gives you a touchpad on the front face. I didn't get to do much with it in my demo, but it feels nice, is easy to reach, and gives developers a new tool to play with.

We'll update this post as we spend more time with the PlayStation 4 this week. Stay tuned to Gizmag, as this will also be the first of several big hands-ons during E3 2013.

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1 comment
1 comment
Eddy Young
Will the ps4 be able to play ps3 games?