So I got a PlayStation 3 yesterday. Sure, it's a pre-production debug machine that lacks all the multimedia and network facilities, but it plays games and actually exists which is more than good enough for me. Here are my initial impressions...
Well, it's certainly heavy and - whisper it - a little ugly. But while the console itself may not win any beauty contents - a "shiny black pillow" was my wife's most generous description - it has a weighty substantial feel with tactile buttons and, more importantly, runs very quietly. After year with the 360 you certainly appreciate the relative silence.
The PS3 has built in power supply - unlike the 360's huge power brick - which makes it feel a much tidier, if heavier, package. The build quality is good too. With no tray - discs are elegantly sucked in - and touch sensitive buttons for power and eject, you certainly get the impression of quality. Though let's face it, at the price Sony are likely to charge, decent build quality is the least you'd expect.
Switch on without a game and you enter the front-end - a PSP style cross media bar that lets you choose between Users, Settings, Photo, Music, Video, Game, Network and Friends. It's far too early to tell how this will all fit together - this prototype console "only" plays games - but the minimalist layout and design is in stark contrast to the 360's noisy, but perhaps more friendly blade system. But what about the games?
Resistance: Fall of Man is perhaps the biggest launch title. A first person shooter, RFOM essentially mixes Call of Duty with Halo. Oh, and a lot of brown and grey as far as I can make out. Yes, this is yet another moody shooter although the 1950s UK setting - the action starts in York and soon moves on to Nottingham - is pleasingly different. But after what I've seen so far, it looks like the action fails to match the interesting plot - this is bog standard FPS territory. RFOM shares Call of Duty's bombed out European architecture but seems to lack the intensity of that series despite being quite challenging. Similarly, blasting alien enemies is reminiscent of Halo, especially the vocal effects, and is enjoyable enough but there is nothing here that couldn't be seen or done on the 360. Bear in mind that this is initial impressions of unfinished code so things could get more inspiring. But as it stands Gears of War has nothing to fear.
Next up was MotorStorm. Ah MotorStorm, the last time I saw you was in video form at the 2005 E3 conference. How pretty you looked then, how deceived we all were. But, in a genuinely shocking surprise, MotorStorm is pretty damn good. The environment in the one level I have access to is mightily impressive - think dusty canyon - while the wide range of vehicles - ranging from bikes to trucks - make for a satisfyingly redneck racing experience. I'm keen to see more.
Sadly the same can't be said for Lair. Controlled using the motion-sensor built into the pad, Lair sees you guiding a dragon around some pretty-ish environments while breathing fireballs aplenty. Fans of Panzer Dragoon may enjoy but I was unconvinced. The controls felt quite loose and though it was only a demo I won't be holding my breath for this one.
Elsewhere the new joypad - aka SIXAXIS - takes a little getting used to, mainly because it feels so light. In fact it is almost too light and feels slightly cheap, though the triggers have got a satisfying feel. The lack of rumble doesn't seem a major issue at the moment but it is likely to be missed in the longer term.
After a tortuous gestation period the PS3 is finally here, which is some kind of achievement in itself. It's very early days but I've been unexpectedly impressed with what I've seen so far and that's without any of the multimedia or network elements that will make up a huge part of the whole PS3 offering. The games may offer little new - has any launch game since Super Mario 64? - but they have a visual polish uncommon in launch titles. More impressions next week...
