Sony PlayStation Classic first look - It's good, but not great

A Little Bit of Disappointment: The PlayStation Classic Experience

The PlayStation Classic is a miniature retro console that brings back nostalgic memories of playing iconic games on the original PlayStation. However, it's a shame because many of the games included on the classic come with dual analog control features, which are not required but would still benefit from them in some way. If you're hoping to play Metal Gear Solid with the more precise dual analog controls, unfortunately, it's a pretty basic no-frills experience.

Playing a game like Vais II, I noticed that it was almost identical to the original game, down to the point where there were no extra frills or filters available. The only real change in the experience came when switching between games – while still having to lean forward and press the reset button, the console would automatically create a resume point every time you pressed reset, bringing you back to where you left off. If you exited the game again, the system would ask if you wanted to replace your existing resume point with a new one.

The PlayStation Classic also has a limited settings menu, which only includes basic information screensavers, language settings, and options for resetting the console back to its default settings. The guides mode is available, but it's not much more than a link to the product website and a simple console guide that tells you how to quit the game, turn off the console, or change virtual disks during gameplay.

One notable feature of the PlayStation Classic is its limited ability to play games with multiple virtual disks. While many games on the original PlayStation required this feature, the console doesn't actually open the lid, but it does give you the chance to change virtual disks and move to the next point in the game. Unfortunately, this is only necessary for a few games, like Final Fantasy 7.

The library of games on the PlayStation Classic is also limited, with only 20 titles available at launch. While this includes some iconic games like Metal Gear Solid and Oddworld, there are still many great titles missing from the original PlayStation lineup. For example, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six was a super iconic game that spawned a huge franchise, but its controls are still tough to wrap your head around from a modern perspective.

Another problem is that the console has lost some of its most beloved games due to licensing issues or other reasons. Iconic games like Tomb Raider and Crash Bandicoot are nowhere to be found on the PlayStation Classic, despite both being playable in demos of their respective buildings. This lack of exclusive content is disappointing for fans who would love to experience these classic games again.

The PlayStation Classic's design and build quality are also worth mentioning. The console looks remarkably like the original PlayStation, but it's clear that some compromises were made during its development. While it doesn't have any extra special features beyond the 20 games included on the disc, fans will appreciate the nostalgic value of playing their favorite childhood games once again.

In conclusion, while the PlayStation Classic is a fun way to revisit nostalgic gaming memories, it falls short in terms of content and functionality. With only 20 games available, limited settings options, and no extra special features beyond what was on the original console, it's clear that this is not a console for everyone. However, if you're looking for a simple, basic experience with some of your favorite childhood games, then the PlayStation Classic might be worth checking out.

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: ena little over 23 years ago Sony launched the PlayStation Empire with this console now it's taking that same device making it smaller cramming 20 games into it and selling it back to us as the PlayStation classic we're seeing it for the first time today let's go check it out the console itself is a really nice miniaturization of the original hardware from the buttons that feel not exactly like the originals but pretty close to again the really really nice controller port look and even a lot of details on the back the power ports in roughly the same position is on the original console as well as the HDMI port was the other thing but it's even got the axillary port that you used to be able to plug accessories like the game genie into unfortunately although it really looks like a very real latch this does not come off so please don't try to open it you'll probably just break what is otherwise a very nice sculpt the PlayStation classic boots up with the classic PlayStation startup Sony logo that you remember from the 90s and straight into this really simple basic menu its bare-bones it doesn't have any background music at all it's just exactly what you see the simple square artwork for each of the 20 games a small settings menu down below and a spot for the memory card and the safe State Games boot up and finish the sequence with the PlayStation logos you don't quite get the whole effect you did in the original PlayStation where you get the Sony logo and then the PlayStation logo together but this is actually really similar to what you would get if you blew that one of these games on the PlayStation 3 starting straight for the PlayStation logo and then going into the game itself one thing I like that differentiates Sony's PlayStation Classic from Nintendo's efforts is that its controller is USB that means there's no proprietary connector it plugs into a standard port that you're already familiar with and you already know how it works there's no word yet if plugging this USB for it into a computer will let you use this on PC games or any other device that uses USB controllers like Playstations other consoles but it's nice to see a standard connector and my favorite part about it is the connector has this thick Sony PlayStation 1 star I'll pour it on the bottom that looks just like the connector from the original PlayStation controllers effectively it doesn't do anything but when you have a plugged into the console it makes it look way more like the original controllers are plugged in there unlike Nintendo's console which are using these weird sort of bulbous Wii controller extension boards the controller itself feels really good it has that same classic PlayStation d-pad which is a really nice separated directional input and the basic face buttons the same controller shoulder buttons are here smaller but one thing that you'll notice is that it is the basic Sony Playstation controller that means if you grew up using one of the dual analog variants or the more iconic Dual Shock controller this is going to be just the simplest control scheme and that's a little bit of a shame because a lot of PlayStation games including some of the ones they think that are on the PlayStation classic they don't require dual analog control but they actually do benefit from them in some way so if you were hoping to play Metal Gear Solid with the more precise dual analog controls you're just out of luck once you actually boot up a game it's a pretty basic no-frills experience Here I am playing a Vadis II and it's not at all different than the original game down to the point so that means there's no extra frills you can't change any filters there's no special turbo modes it's exactly as you might have experienced it on the original PlayStation except for the slightly more clear HDMI output in fact the only real change in the experience comes when you want to change games still have to lean forward and press the reset button but when you do it brings you to a main menu that automatically creates a resume point every time you press reset the game will automatically create a safe state of where you were if you go back into the game it picks you up right where you left off and if you exit out one more time the system will ask you if you want to replace your existing resume point with a new one and that's about it as far as special save features go every game does have a standard virtual memory card that will hold the same 15 spots is the original though so you don't have to worry about managing multiple games across a single memory card every game has its own dedicated one apart from that there's really not much of the PlayStation Classic beyond that basic experience there is a settings menu but all it has is health and safety information screensaver settings your basic language that you set up at first boot and if you want to reformat the console back to this default settings similarly the guides mode only just has a link to the product website and a simple console guide that tells you how to quit the game turn off the console or change a virtual disks during game play if you're playing a game like Final Fantasy 7 that require multiple disks there's gonna be a point in the game where it'll ask you to change discs that seems to be the only point in which the eject button is used on the PlayStation console sadly it doesn't actually open the lid but it will give you the chance to actually change virtual disks and move to the next point of the game a lot of the games on the PlayStation Classic are definitely products of their time though all 3d graphics with jagged edges and lines low textures and really funny-looking polygons it's just sort of what happens when you play 3d games from the 90s era some games really do show their age but others like 2d games like Raymond and mr. driller have really clean looking 2d graphics and they're smooth and because of their style that they weren't pushing the edge of 3d from the time they just don't show their age as much show how old a game is going to look on a Playstation Classic well he depends on what style that's in like any classic console though the biggest thing where it wins and loses on is the library of games and like the Nintendo and the Super Nintendo there are a lot of great titles on the original PlayStation and nailing it down to just 20 that's a hard task there are great games on here that are huge classics like Metal Gear Solid and I'd love the original odd world and Resident Evil but it also kind of makes you wonder about what's missing for instance twisted metal is on here but I would argue that twisted metal too was definitely disappear your game and Resident Evil the original is one of my favorites but again Resident Evil 2 is a little bit better another problem is that well some of the games on here are super iconic they're maybe not the best experience now Tom Clancy's Rainbow six may have spawned a huge franchise of games but the original game on PlayStation just has some really tough controls to wrap your head around from a modern perspective there's also countless games on here that fans will be hoping for that just aren't around iconic games like Tomb Raider and parappa the rapper aren't present even Sony's 1990s ish mascot isn't here Crash Bandicoot despite it being playable in the lobby of the Sony Playstation building we saw this demo in if you've been trying to decide at the playstation classic is for you we can tell you up to this first look that what you see is pretty much what you get you get a small console that looks remarkably like the original but it just doesn't have that many extras just the 20 games we already know it comes with a single controller and no extra special features but if you want a simple basic experience you'll be able to get it on December 3rd for $99.99a little over 23 years ago Sony launched the PlayStation Empire with this console now it's taking that same device making it smaller cramming 20 games into it and selling it back to us as the PlayStation classic we're seeing it for the first time today let's go check it out the console itself is a really nice miniaturization of the original hardware from the buttons that feel not exactly like the originals but pretty close to again the really really nice controller port look and even a lot of details on the back the power ports in roughly the same position is on the original console as well as the HDMI port was the other thing but it's even got the axillary port that you used to be able to plug accessories like the game genie into unfortunately although it really looks like a very real latch this does not come off so please don't try to open it you'll probably just break what is otherwise a very nice sculpt the PlayStation classic boots up with the classic PlayStation startup Sony logo that you remember from the 90s and straight into this really simple basic menu its bare-bones it doesn't have any background music at all it's just exactly what you see the simple square artwork for each of the 20 games a small settings menu down below and a spot for the memory card and the safe State Games boot up and finish the sequence with the PlayStation logos you don't quite get the whole effect you did in the original PlayStation where you get the Sony logo and then the PlayStation logo together but this is actually really similar to what you would get if you blew that one of these games on the PlayStation 3 starting straight for the PlayStation logo and then going into the game itself one thing I like that differentiates Sony's PlayStation Classic from Nintendo's efforts is that its controller is USB that means there's no proprietary connector it plugs into a standard port that you're already familiar with and you already know how it works there's no word yet if plugging this USB for it into a computer will let you use this on PC games or any other device that uses USB controllers like Playstations other consoles but it's nice to see a standard connector and my favorite part about it is the connector has this thick Sony PlayStation 1 star I'll pour it on the bottom that looks just like the connector from the original PlayStation controllers effectively it doesn't do anything but when you have a plugged into the console it makes it look way more like the original controllers are plugged in there unlike Nintendo's console which are using these weird sort of bulbous Wii controller extension boards the controller itself feels really good it has that same classic PlayStation d-pad which is a really nice separated directional input and the basic face buttons the same controller shoulder buttons are here smaller but one thing that you'll notice is that it is the basic Sony Playstation controller that means if you grew up using one of the dual analog variants or the more iconic Dual Shock controller this is going to be just the simplest control scheme and that's a little bit of a shame because a lot of PlayStation games including some of the ones they think that are on the PlayStation classic they don't require dual analog control but they actually do benefit from them in some way so if you were hoping to play Metal Gear Solid with the more precise dual analog controls you're just out of luck once you actually boot up a game it's a pretty basic no-frills experience Here I am playing a Vadis II and it's not at all different than the original game down to the point so that means there's no extra frills you can't change any filters there's no special turbo modes it's exactly as you might have experienced it on the original PlayStation except for the slightly more clear HDMI output in fact the only real change in the experience comes when you want to change games still have to lean forward and press the reset button but when you do it brings you to a main menu that automatically creates a resume point every time you press reset the game will automatically create a safe state of where you were if you go back into the game it picks you up right where you left off and if you exit out one more time the system will ask you if you want to replace your existing resume point with a new one and that's about it as far as special save features go every game does have a standard virtual memory card that will hold the same 15 spots is the original though so you don't have to worry about managing multiple games across a single memory card every game has its own dedicated one apart from that there's really not much of the PlayStation Classic beyond that basic experience there is a settings menu but all it has is health and safety information screensaver settings your basic language that you set up at first boot and if you want to reformat the console back to this default settings similarly the guides mode only just has a link to the product website and a simple console guide that tells you how to quit the game turn off the console or change a virtual disks during game play if you're playing a game like Final Fantasy 7 that require multiple disks there's gonna be a point in the game where it'll ask you to change discs that seems to be the only point in which the eject button is used on the PlayStation console sadly it doesn't actually open the lid but it will give you the chance to actually change virtual disks and move to the next point of the game a lot of the games on the PlayStation Classic are definitely products of their time though all 3d graphics with jagged edges and lines low textures and really funny-looking polygons it's just sort of what happens when you play 3d games from the 90s era some games really do show their age but others like 2d games like Raymond and mr. driller have really clean looking 2d graphics and they're smooth and because of their style that they weren't pushing the edge of 3d from the time they just don't show their age as much show how old a game is going to look on a Playstation Classic well he depends on what style that's in like any classic console though the biggest thing where it wins and loses on is the library of games and like the Nintendo and the Super Nintendo there are a lot of great titles on the original PlayStation and nailing it down to just 20 that's a hard task there are great games on here that are huge classics like Metal Gear Solid and I'd love the original odd world and Resident Evil but it also kind of makes you wonder about what's missing for instance twisted metal is on here but I would argue that twisted metal too was definitely disappear your game and Resident Evil the original is one of my favorites but again Resident Evil 2 is a little bit better another problem is that well some of the games on here are super iconic they're maybe not the best experience now Tom Clancy's Rainbow six may have spawned a huge franchise of games but the original game on PlayStation just has some really tough controls to wrap your head around from a modern perspective there's also countless games on here that fans will be hoping for that just aren't around iconic games like Tomb Raider and parappa the rapper aren't present even Sony's 1990s ish mascot isn't here Crash Bandicoot despite it being playable in the lobby of the Sony Playstation building we saw this demo in if you've been trying to decide at the playstation classic is for you we can tell you up to this first look that what you see is pretty much what you get you get a small console that looks remarkably like the original but it just doesn't have that many extras just the 20 games we already know it comes with a single controller and no extra special features but if you want a simple basic experience you'll be able to get it on December 3rd for $99.99\n"