Review: Sony Playstation 3 console

The PS3 is an undeniably impressive system on paper. It features the much-vaunted IBM/Toshiba/Sony-developed Cell processor and Sony is more than happy to tell you all about the 1.8 teraflops floating point performance of its RSX GPU or the 25.6GB per second bandwidth of its system Ram.

In practice, the console comes off looking like a slightly less accomplished Xbox 360. The interface (borrowed from Sony’s handheld, the Playstation Portable) is pretty straightforward but nowhere near as intuitive as the 360’s dashboard.

Many other aspects of the console, from the instant access PS button in the middle of the controller to Sony’s online services, seem like imitations of ideas we’ve already seen on Microsoft’s 15-month-old console.

These are only minor criticisms, however. Less forgivable is the fact that for all Sony’s talk of ‘true’ HD, the console doesn’t come with an HDMI or even a component cable. The only connector you’ll find in the box is a composite video/analogue audio ‘multi-out’ cable – the same one that came with the PS1.

Speaking of which, while it’s good that the PS3 is backwards compatible with virtually every PS1 and PS2 game, it’s a shame the system can’t upscale the graphics to HD or at least smooth over the jaggies a little with some on-the-fly anti-aliasing.

Update: Since writing this review, Sony decided to remove the Emotion Engine (the chip that makes it backwards compatible with PS2 games) from the UK version of the PS3. Sony still plans to make around 1,000 PS2 games available when the PS3 launches in the UK and has set up a site that will detail new announcements.

It won’t even upscale DVD movies in the way that many of the better standalone DVD players will do these days. Upscaling is well within the powers of the Cell processor, so perhaps issues like these will be addresses in forthcoming software updates.

As a Blu-ray player, on the other hand, we were pretty impressed, especially when we hooked the console up to a 46-inch 1080p-ready Sony Bravia screen. With rich colours, sharp edges and incredible detail, it beats many of the dedicated high-def disc players and PC-based Blu-ray options we have experienced – and for a fraction of the price. Until the outcome of the current HD movie format wars has been decided, however, the real benefit of having Blu-ray on board will remain a moot point.

As always, it’s the games that will make or break the system. And, while the launch titles (or the ones we played at any rate) are unlikely to blow you away, the Playstation 3 has a release schedule that both Nintendo and Microsoft would be envious of, with key exclusive titles like Metal Gear Solid 4, Heavenly Sword, Devil May Cry 4 and Gran Turismo HD looking particularly promising at this stage.

See our video preview of the PlayStation 3

Also consider:
Nintendo Wii games console
The easy-to-pick-up controller system could well win console gaming a fresh following, but only a steady stream of strong software will get everyone bursting for a Wii

Microsoft Xbox 360
Fantastic gaming machine, but you need a lot of supporting hardware to get the most out of it

Sony Playstation Portable
Great for gaming, but a few niggles keep it from scoring top marks