Owners of PS4s and Xbox Ones: Thoughts, Feelings, and Judgements

[BQE]

I wanted to do a pulse check and see how any escapists that picked up the newest consoles are feeling about them, particularly the Xbox One. I was finally able to pick up a PS4 at my local GameStop and I'm having a great time with it.

I like the UI changes, the way everything looks and interacts reminds me quite a bit of my Vita. As I'm sure many people feel however, the lack of games as of current is disappointing. That can be easily remedied however. I'm enjoying Battlefield 4 (special thanks to the Escapist who actually thought well of it), and Don't Starve. I'm hoping some of the newer RPGs hit the console and I'll have plenty to do (Dragon Age 3 and Dark Souls 2). I'm actually saddened by the fact I won't be able to play Dead Rising 3, having been a big fan of the series thusfar.

So I'd like to see how you folks thought? Did you buy a new console, and if so, are you enjoying it? Why or why not? If you haven't bought it, are titles on the horizon poised to change your mind?

 

[Andy Shandy]

Xbox One owner here, and I love it. All that media stuff that looked boring as fuck on stage? Really good in practice. Switching between a game, then Twitch, YouTube or Netflix (or having them snapped on the side) is great. The Kinect is good too. I haven't actually tried any games with it, but the voice recognition is great for me (which I wasn't expecting with my Scottish accent) and it recognises when I have the controller and signs in as me, which is neat The HDMI in is really neat as well, since it means I can have my Xbox 360 pass through it - which is helpful because there are only so many HDMI ports on the TV I have) and it also means I can use the Xbox 360 to play music (via snapping the TV tab) to solve the problem of the Xbox One not having DLNA support yet.

As for the games, Dead Rising 3 is still as silly and wonderful as ever, Zoo Tycoon was an unexpected gem of a game and Peggle 2 is pure, unadulterated fun. Killer Instinct was surprisingly great considering Double Helix's track record and finally (at least out of the exclusives I've played so far), Forza 5 is that same Forza quality (and I've never had to go near the microtransactions once). I do still have a lot of games to get round to though.

As for exclusive (I figure there's not much point talking about multi-platform) games I'm looking forward to, there's Titanfall, D4, Below, Project Spark, Quantum Break and Sunset Overdrive. And, if the rumours are true, Crackdown 3 and the Platinum exclusive.

So yeah, contrary to internet opinion, I'd say the Xbox One is a great console. And to answer your last question as to why I haven't bought a PS4? Not enough exclusives I'm interested in yet. I'm sure that'll change with time though, as it did with the PS3.

 

[BQE]

Xbox One lauding.

That's pretty interesting. I'm not sure why I'm surprised, but it seems that despite the doomsaying and unrest with the ideas and policies of Microsoft this time around, they've still put out a respectable product that's garnering fans and attention. I don't think I'm actually going to end up purchasing one though, not because of anything about the console but the fact I play a lot of PC games and have a full time job and attend school means I can't give the consoles the attention they deserve.

I'm hoping that the number of exclusives diminishes somewhat so I can play what I like on the system I prefer.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

I'm hoping that the number of exclusives diminishes somewhat so I can play what I like on the system I prefer.

And to answer your last question as to why I haven't bought a PS4? Not enough exclusives I'm interested in yet.

That would effectively diminish his reason to buy a PS4, let alone anyones really, theoretically what's the point ever in buying a console if that flat out happened?, it's a proper no brainer answer as to what should then be the most played and sought out of platforms then, all based on a few peoples mere preferences at that, I don't want the market to go that way because some people want my value in different areas devalued.

I mean sure it would be amazing if you could but you've now made it known what your primary preference is for a platform and with the time you have for your everyday life, you've pointed out no desire for a PS4 or Xbone so really the answer has always been those exclusives and desire of wanting them but not wanting the consoles.

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in there.

 

[Zeh Don]

I pre-ordered a PS4 in early November, and somehow I was able to pick it up just before Christmas. It was a damn fine Christmas present to myself, let me say. Frankly, its the best home console I've ever had the pleasure of using. I unplugged my Xbox 360, plugged in my Playstation 4, and I didn't skip a beat. I really appreciated how simply the console assimilates itself into my entertainment setup; instead of having to rework everything, I just plugged it in and turned it on.

The UI is incredibly responsive, and it does everything you'd expect. Using the gyroscope in the controller to control the onscreen keyboard was easily the first "next gen" moment for me; whoever thought of that should get a raise. I don't have much more to add, other than its a really well designed console. You're less than 5 seconds from anything, sometimes less with voice commands if you wanna go that route. I tried them; personally, its not my thing. Felt like a lunatic, and its embarrassing as all hell to use in front of other people.

The games are solid; Killzone Shadow Fall's singleplayer is average, but it's multiplayer is ridiculously good. Coming from Halo and Call of Duty on the 360, it leaves them both for dead. It lacks the personality of Halo, but the raw gun play is just light years ahead. Assassins Creed IV looks amazing - the sharpness and crispness of the image is incredible. Seeing the details in even the background stuff is pretty incredible. Getting out onto the open seas in my ship, sailing through a storm with my crew singing, and just drinking in the sheer smoothness and sharpness of the game, was another "next gen" moment for me. The download titles are pretty sweet, too. Resogun is the Geometry Wars of this generation.

Looking forward to The Order, Driveclub, Second Son and the new Uncharted - never played an Uncharted, so really interesting to see if its any good.

Overall, cannot recommend it enough. Its the ultimate games machine.

 

[TallanKhan]

I have the PS4, very strong console although i am not keen on the updated dashboard. The launch titles were strong although ideally we would have a more extensive list. Looking forward to a good number of the releases set for this year.

The downsides for me are the touchpad on the controller (awkward and unneccesary), the lack of backwards compatibility and the fact you now have to pay for PSN.

Still very much worth the money spent.

 

[Casual Shinji]

I got a PS4, and all in all it's a great system.

The new dashboard feels a bit sterile though, and I hope Sony will give back the ability to give it your own touch. I miss my Flower background.

I guess it sucks that you need to pay for online gaming now, but thanks to my PS+ subscription I already got Resogun and Don't Starve for free, with Outlast and Metro: Last Light on their way in febuary. So yay!

The Playstation Store is a zillion times faster to boot up. But then this wouldn't have been a problem in need of fixing if they hadn't screwed up the original PSS, which ran totally fine, in the first place.

Ironically the only retail games I have for it as of yet are upgraded 7th gen games. I held off with Assassin's Creed 4 till I got a PS4, and yesterday I bought Tomb Raider Definitive Edition for 16 bucks. Both look fantastic. The frame rate on Tomb Raider is so smooth it's nearly giving me a headache.

 

[Arkayn]

Loving my PS4. The best thing about it is the controller. I feel it is even better then the 360 controller and will be using it on my PC too.
The PS4 console itself is fantastic as far as games being playable while installing (from like 40 secs in unlike the X-One) and the seperate processor for all the UI stuff making it snappy while keeping the grunt for the gaming is another great design decision by Sony.

I have used the Vita streaming a bit and it works a treat but I just use the TV myself. People who want to play PS4 games in bed though, well it is also another no brainer for getting the console.

I will be interested to see what Sony patch in to keep the console in the lead on the Xbox One as far as console features go. If the Sony exclusives keep up like previous gens then I think Sony will have the biggest install base for the right reasons.

***I also got a Wii U and it is very under-appreciated. I hope people start getting them.

 

[Evonisia]

Got an Xbox One via pre-order but it was changed to some 'special day one edition' and I was forced into owning Forza 5. Racing games aren't my thing, but seeing "Day One 2013" written on the absolutely wonderful Xbox One controller is quite a delight. Dead Rising 3 is great fun and it's a worthy installment to the series (Though it still goes DR2 > DR1 > DR 3 to me). I own Assassin's Creed IV on it, too which I guess is good quality, I've mostly just watched my Dad playing it because AssCreed can't really hold my attention. Ryse is alright I guess, a bit boring at times and some of the boss fights are just stupid. I might pick up Tomb Raider 2014 if 2013's version (which I have yet to play but own currently) is any good. Call of Duty: Ghosts is absolutely appalling (But it was a Christmas present) but it at least showed me that the Xbox One controller is really good with shooting.

I do like how I can keep my console running at the same time as my TV (well, actually watching the TV) and the snap system is just wonderful. I really haven't been bothered by supposed frame rate issues, I only noticed it sometimes in Dead Rising 3 which was open about it's condition. Though I am not the biggest fan of the Kinect, I usually have it off so I can have the arm flailing off at all times.

 

[Arina Love]

Owner of PS4 here, so far i had great time with it but i still spend most of my gaming time on PS3 because i have quite a backlog of games. Next game i'm buying for PS4 will be Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes followed by Infamous: Second Son. It will be a while before i can say PS4 is my main console. Ps3 still a king of my gaming life and with all upcoming j-RPGs it will stay that way for a while longer.

 

[L. Declis]

Got myself a PS4.

I think the PS4 is a wonderful, beautiful machine... and there isn't very much to do with it. I've finished Assassin's Creed IV, and Don't Starve was kinda fun, and Resogun was cute. Contrast is nice... And there's BBC iPlayer which is pretty neat to have...

And that's it for me. I'm waiting for Final Fantasy XV, and the next Metal Gear, and Watchdogs, but that's just it; I'm waiting to use it. I have more or less returned to my PS3 in the meantime; the next Final Fantasy is on there, the PS+ gives you FAR more games for free (since you need PS+ for the PS4), the Walking Dead is on there as well, etc.

And more often than not, I'm using Steam because I actually have games to pick from on there. I know you can make the argument of "Well, it has just released..." but for £400 not including games, I'd expect a bit more from it.

So I'm left looking at the PS4 and using the PS3 and PC.

 

[Elijin]

The Xbox One is pretty solid. Though there isnt a lot to play currently, but from what I understand the PS4 suffers from that condition too.

The tv stuff is pretty decent, same can be said about the snap features, and the ability to bounce around between functions. The kinect doesnt interest me and is sitting in its packaging, but from my friend who does use it, he enjoys its base utility, but finds sometimes when we're playing games and chatting in party chat, it just executes random commands in a way which seems like its hearing so much talking and just panic guessing at what needs to be done, rather than understand its not being addressed.

The interface is nice, but there are a lot of little nagging things, which are supposedly being worked on. From the top of my head, these include:

No battery indicator for the controller.
No ability to set an account to automatically sign in on boot.(There is some kinect functionality linked to it detecting the user holding a controller, buy without kinect, you have to manually sign in)
No friend online notifications.
No access to HDD, which means no ability to manually cull things from the HDD.
No core ability to disable the vibration within the controllers (which in turn makes it a game to game option, with not all games offering the ability to disable it)

All in all, the games play solid, and its definitely a worthwhile console. Just needs some more games, and some minor UI tweaks.