Inverse Reviews

PS5 Review: Why it's better than the new Xbox

With its sleek design, helpful UI, and beautiful games, the PlayStation 5 feels downright futuristic.

by Tomas Franzese
Design

A futuristic look that stands out

The PS5 will dominate any entertainment center with its router-like design that demands attention. It won’t blend in seamlessly like Microsoft's Xbox Series X, for better or for worse.

It can be placed horizontally or vertically with a detachable stand, making for a bit more work than the Xbox Series X, which can be laid on its side without any fuss.

In addition to one front-facing USB-C port and one USB Type-A port, the PS5 has two USB Type-A ports, an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, and a two-pin power port on the rear.

User Interface

The PS5’s user interface is a step up over the PS4’s but still has a few problems.

The PS5 smoothly transitions between games, media apps, and the PlayStation Store with a totally new interface, including a card system that lets you jump into specific parts of a game.

Some important functions, like turning the console off, are inexplicably hard to find. Something like the Xbox Series X's quick resume would’ve worked very well within the Cards feature.

The Controller

The PS5's DualSense controller is a beefier item with more features than the PS4's DualShock.

Haptic Feedback gives the controller more detailed vibrations, while adaptive triggers resist the player and have different inputs depending on how much force the player exerts.

The Games

A fantastic launch lineup

Astro’s Playroom, which comes pre-installed on every PS5, demonstrates the next-gen potential of haptic feedback and adaptive triggers as players feel different surfaces and control different vehicles.

PS5 versions of games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and next-gen exclusives like Demon's Souls truly feel like a leap forward. Ray tracing, fast loading times, and DualSense controller features make everything more immersive.

Demon's Souls

Demon’s Souls demonstrates the visual power of the PS5 in terms of its staggering frame rate and higher resolution. Despite being a remake, it's the most impressive game on the console thus far.

While there is room for improvement, choose PS5 if you want the system that feels next-gen.

9/10

Inverse Score

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