Yahoo Finance We Got Our Hands on the PlayStation 5 – Here’s Our Review
We don’t need to tell you just how manic 2020 has been, and since BoJo’s putting us all in a second lockdown for the rest of November, you might be looking around your house for some entertainment.
Thankfully, the next generation of gaming consoles is here, with the PlayStation 5 arriving in the UK on November 19 with a decent library of games to get stuck into on launch day. Microsoft is also releasing the Xbox Series X a week earlier, on November 10, but we have to admit we are a little bit more excited about Sony’s offering.
Men’s Health managed to get hold of a PS5 early, enjoying three weeks of unrestricted gaming on the super-advanced machine, and we think it could be the ideal remedy to clear the lockdown blues.
With gyms and pubs closing again for the foreseeable future, playing a few video games at home is also a great way to stay connected with friends and combat quarantine boredom.
How Can Video Games Help Your Mental Health
Dr Sachin Shah, a psychiatrist working with gamingthemind.org, says gaming is a constructive way to help relieve stress and give yourself a break.
“During the pandemic, loneliness has increased among younger people. Studies show an association between loneliness and worse health, both mental and physical, so being connected gives you social support, which is so important in difficult times.
“Online games are one way to stay connected, with polls suggesting that a large part of why people play video games is to take a break from everyday life and to enjoy time with friends.”
Games also help keep your brain active during this fairly sedentary period, with studies suggesting playing games can help improve your memory and cognitive ability and had great benefits to visual and spatial learning.
PlayStation 5 review: Games - What can you play?
For the online players who have spent years knocking in goals on the various FIFA games, the PS5’s system will improve the experience. With enhanced graphics on FIFA 21 and Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War, you can get your competitive fix in the digital arena if you’re missing the gym or training field.
The console also has an impressive list of exclusive single-player games, like Death Stranding, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, The Last of Us Part 2, and Demon’s Souls, that all focus on a story-driven, solo journey that you won’t find on its rival console, the Xbox Series X.
These games are great for lockdown, with compelling stories and hours of gameplay to melt the days away.
PlayStation 5 review: Features - I Have A PS4, Is It Worth The Upgrade?
One of the biggest upgrades is the incredibly fast loading that cuts down wait times when you boot up a game.
The power of the console’s new SSD Drive means that you can turn on your PlayStation, load up FIFA 21 and be in your first game with your mates within 15 seconds – a task that would have taken several minutes on previous consoles.
And if you’re into graphics, the PS5 is out of this world for performance. With new features like 4K resolution, ray-tracing, and 3D spatial audio enhancing the realism of the visuals and sound from your games.
The PS5 has all the same social features as the PS4, so you can catch up without having to leave the house, so long as they have any of the Sony PlayStation consoles – a damn sight better than those weekly Zoom quizzes you used to have.
PlayStation 5 Review: Price And Release Date - How Much Is It And When Can I Buy It?
There are two varieties of the console, both out on November 19. The full-fat PlayStation 5, costs £450, or the all-digital version, which doesn’t have a disc-tray, for £360.
If you buy the cheaper option, you won’t be able to play physical disc-versions of your games, but you can use the digital store to buy next-gen games.
We do have to mention here that the console is physically massive, and you will definitely need to make room to accommodate the sheer size of it.
Pre-orders on the console are all off right now, with most retailers out of stock, but there will be more in stock for release day on November 19.
PS5 review: Verdict
The PS5 is the complete package when it comes to entertainment and gaming. With next-gen graphics, a huge list of fun games to work through, and a wealth of impressive features to improve your experience.
Owning a powerful gaming console like the PlayStation 5 can go some way to dealing with a lot of those issues, helping you stay connected, and giving you something engaging to do with your time away from the usual Netflix binges.
You can download apps like NOW TV, Netflix, and Sky Sports to turn it into an entertainment centre for all your needs.
If you’re a gamer you’ll love playing on the PS5, you’ll not think twice about picking up the new console, it’s a no-brainer.
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