Shrink down the original, make it look cool, load it with classic games, and sit back and watch the money come in.
Unfortunately for the PlayStation Classic, it feels as if something is missing.
What isn’t missing, however, is charm. The console itself looks brilliant, smaller than you’d think yet it retains its old-school charm. The console comes with an HDMI port for connecting to the television, two controller slots, two controllers and is powered via micro USB cable.
Resolution-wise the games play at 720p, which is better than it was back in the day but obviously not great by today’s standards.
The controllers feel and look great, also miniaturised but still comfortable. No analogue sticks takes some getting used to.
If the console itself is so good and cool, why the middling review? That would be the games library, and its overall value.
Twenty games seems like a reasonable number, but Sony has tried to cater to a wide range of players in one hit. What you end up with is a system that has two or three games every gamer will love, a couple they won’t mind and the majority they won’t play.
For me, the notables were Destruction Derby, Tekken 3, Grand Theft Auto and Final Fantasy VII. Considering Rockstar offers GTA free online, and Final Fantasy VII is readily available to play on PS4 and PS Vita, it really limits the value of buying this console.
It’s really just a novelty item you will play a few times before putting away in a cupboard. You might get it going when a friend comes over and have a ‘‘Hey, that’s cool’’ moment every now and then, but it just has no legs. It’s a gimmick, and an expensive one at that.
The decision to put mature titles on there earns it an R16 rating, which diminishes its value as a present for kids who might want to experience ‘‘retro’’ (feels so sad to say that, as the PS1 was the console I grew up on!).
Ultimately, it’s a cool unit that looks great and works well. It’s just a shame that, in my eyes, it does very little.
PlayStation Classic console
Price: $169
Comes with: Twenty pre-loaded games
Rating: ★★+
- by Simon Bishop
