Introduction:
I got a hold of a Playstation 3 about 2 months ago. Since then I have been trying it out, messing around with its functions and trying a lot of the top exclusives on the system. I will break it into a few parts so it is easier for you and me to get the full review. Keep in mind this is the PS3 review as compared to the Xbox 360, which I owned first and still own now.
Hardware:
for $400 right out the box you get the Playstation 3 itself and a controller, just the bare essentials. The model I got was the 80 gigabyte model which is one of the two PS3 models in production. It has 2 USB ports and built in Wi-Fi.
The controller is also familiar to Playstation 1 and 2 owners. Thank goodness they put the rumble back in. And the Six Axis is sometimes gimmicky in games but over all cool.
Blu-Ray is a cool thing if you're into high definition movies. Personally I'm fine with DVDs but if I ever want to rent a Blu-Ray movie I now have a BR player. Pretty nice bonus.
Pros: Built in Wi-Fi, big hard drive, sleek futuristic look, Six Axis controls, Blu-Ray
Cons: No Mic, the outside of the console is a fingerprint and dust magnet, no HDMI cable. No backwards computability, high retail price
Dashboard:
The dashboard is simple and exactly like that of the PSP for those who have used one. Everything you need can be accessed pretty simply. I noticed that it isn't as user friendly or inviting compared to that of the Wii or 360 which tend to decorate the dashboard a bit instead of using rows and columns of icons. That is all a matter of preference though.
Pros: Easy to use, familiar to fellow Playstion console users
Cons: Not as "casual" looking as the Wii or 360 but everything you need is there, well set up and easy to use
Online: Gaming/Friends
This was the part I was most interested in exploring. Now days you see articles all the time "PSN v.s. XBL" and since I own both a 360 and PS3 I can really compare them.
First off I would like to say that the online is free and that is very awesome. I don't mind paying the 50 dollars every 13 months for XBL but you are still saving 50 dollars. On top of that there is built in Wi-Fi so you don't have to pay for the online, a wireless adapter or a cord. A much cheaper process to getting online than the 360.
The community online is exactly the same as the 360s. I've been in matches where no one talks (due to lack of microphones because it doesn't come packaged perhaps...) and I've been in loud, obnoxious, crude, racist, soulja boy blasting games. I experienced no more and no less lag than on the 360 and over all it was the same thing.
One thing I wasn't impressed about was the friends system. You can't do a lot of things you can do the the 360 like party chats. The friends list doesn't look all that nice and you can't get a feel for the person as much as you can on the 360. It is much easier to connect interact with your friends on the 360.
Pros: Free, equivalent community members, no more, no less lag
Cons: Not as tightly held together community, clunky friends system/profiles
Online: Marketplace
The PlayStation store has a lot of content to offer. It doesn't have nearly as much content as the 360 but what it does offer is very cool. A lot of the themes you pay for on the 360 are free on the Playstation 3. Some themes you do have to pay for but there are plenty of free ones that aren't just backgrounds but change all your icons a long with it. Much like the premium themes on the 360.
The game selection is a bit smaller but I noticed on the PS3 that they have a lot of unique exclusives that would just never make it on the 360. Fl0w, Fl0wer, etc. Some games that 360 users should be jealous of are Warhawk, Pain, Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty and many more.
One game in particular that blew my mind was Fl0wer. It is a game in which you use the Six Axis (motion controls) and move glide around a beautiful world and putting color and life into it. It is short but it is literally only possible on the PS3 and best of all it wasn't gimmiciky.
Perhaps the best part of the PSN is that you have the ability to share your downloaded games for FREE with 4 other people. This is totally legal and legitimate. You do have to give the other PS3 owner your information but it is safe as long as you delete your credit card information. Anything they download you can download if they allow you. After downloading the games you do have to download them, which was kind of annoying but doesn't take long. The PS3 were not as fast for me was they are on the 360. I have a very fast connection, I guess that is just the way it is. Download speed can vary from poor to excellent. I will differ for each person but over all it is steady/fast.
Pros: Cool exclusives, free game sharing, good legitimate free themes
Cons: Not as much content to offe, after downloading games you have to install them
Trophies:
These are the same thing as achievements. The only difference is they are broken up into levels: bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Bronze being the easiest and platinum being the hardest. They add some extra replay value to the game but I found them not to be as satisfying as achievements. Again, it is a personal preference. Another problem is not all games have trophies and ever will. Trophies were just recently added as a thing for PS3 games where as every 360 game from launch has had Achievements. Trophies are now mandatory for all games.
Pros: Adds replay value, level system, Trophies now mandatory.
Cons: Not every game has them
Software:
At launch the PS3 really didn't have that big or great of a library but as of 2008 it really does have a good line up. Metal Gear Solid 4, Drakes Fortune, Killzone 2, Ratchet and Clank, etc are all great games on the PS3. There are plenty of great games coming as well like God of War III, Heavy Rain, Drakes Fortune 2, and more. The games are also obviously on Blu-Ray which means they can be much bigger than the other console's games. This leaves much room for potential and awesomeness.
The one game I really played was Killzone 2. The game is great looking and fun to play but it does nothing new. Still it is a great game for the PS3 and shooter fans will love it. It is the one shooter exclusive that every hardcore console needs.
The only problem I ever had with PS3 exclusives is that a lot of them are over hyped and under deliver. Lair, Haze, etc That's not to say the other consoles haven't had their big exclusive flops but you really have to watch out for the PS3 exclusives because they can really catch you off guard and you may end up buying a 70-80 range game when you thought you were buying a 90-100 range game in score.
Home is another story. It is essentially sims. You can load it up, walk around, buy clothes, talk to people, play pool, bowling, etc. It is an interesting world but there really is no point in booting it up more than once. Unless you're into cybering or picking up little boys to rape this isn't really a system seller.
Pros: strong game library foundation built, more to come
Cons: Nothing really. Just watch out for over hyped PS3 exclusives
Conclusion:
All and all the PS3 is a pretty good console. I think it is really starting to find its place in the gaming world and start brining what it promised. If I had bought a PS3 a year ago this review would be much different and a lot more negative. A lot of the pros for this console are very new and just implemented. Trophies, Rumble, in game messaging system, Home, and the must own exclusives were not available from the start.
If you're looking at a strictly online community stand point for a system, the 360 wins I'm sorry. It is much more connected, receives a lot more exclusive content and gets a lot of demos before the PS3.
The PS3 might have a high initial price point but it is a good investment. The good exclusives are here now, blu-ray player, built in Wi-Fi, free online, motion controls, free game sharing, trophy system, and much much more. The replay value of the console is good and it isn't just a dust collector anymore. There is much room for improvement and has a lot of catching up to do compared to its competitors but it is doing a lot better of a job providing entertainment than it had been before.
