When it comes to launching the latest generation console, I think the PlayStation 5 is the best ever. Between the titles of the first parties, such as Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls, and the key multi-format releases such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, there was a lot to play. But each system faces a harsh and cold reality six weeks after launch: its fledgling library simply can’t compete with nearly ten years of content that its predecessor plays.
I remember that this was especially true with the PlayStation 4 for an awfully long time. Once I was done with Killzone: Shadow Fall, I went back to PlayStation 3 for what seemed like an eternity. I ended up playing dozens of games on the latest generation device, including a few new releases, such as Gran Turismo 6. In fact, it wasn’t until around 2015 that I really switched to the PS4.
But with the PS5, there is no danger of this happening. Although it’s a bone and needs iteration, I much prefer the state-of-the-art Sony console ecosystem, and reverse compatibility means I don’t have to leave it like I did with my PS4 almost a decade ago. I’ve already won the major PS5 titles, including Sackboy: A Big Adventure, but I play my new system for hours every day. At this point, you have to literally break me.
Now, part of it comes down to my personal circumstances – I was lucky enough to have a little more time to play late, and the lock only increased my sessions – but I really enjoy digging through my library. I recently returned to Days Gone to clean up my Platinum Trophy and it seemed like a different game running at 60 frames per second on the new Sony system; I am currently reviewing Hitman 2 before its successor.
It’s disappointing that not all of the titles have been improved for the system – Final Fantasy VII Remake, a title I recently won, would have been dreamy at 60 frames per second – but I like that I can install the game on PS5 and enjoy you get it within the faster, faster operating system created by Sony. I plan to remove Death Stranding from my shelf soon, and the fact that I don’t have to keep my PS4 tied is a godsend.
Now, obviously, a console has to build on its own strengths, and the native PS5 library seems to be growing a lot this year. But we are in a period of transition, it is okay to admit this, and backward compatibility has completely transformed my relationship with the new Sony console. Where I spent some of the first 12 months of PS4 with my PS3, I really enjoy playing PS4 games on PS5. It’s convenient and fun, and I hope all PlayStation platforms will be compatible with previous versions from now on.
Do you find that compatibility with previous versions has kept you glued to your new console? What games have you played the most on PS5 and why? Put the PS4 in the comments section below.