PlayStation Classic plays well, but it's an experience in its own right



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With the release of the PlayStation Classic arriving in less than a month, I spent three hours on the PlayStation HQ this week with Sony's nostalgic mini-console. He plays his selection of 32-bit classics as Final Fantasy VII and Resident Evil: director's break very good, but the features of the device are pretty much the bare minimum.

The PlayStation Classic, with $ 100, will be available from December 3rd. It will contain 20 games from the first console of Sony and includes two controllers: not Dual Shock, but standard D-Pad models, originally delivered when PlayStation is available for the first time in 1994. NES and SNES Classics, the machine is a perfect replica of the original. Unlike Nintendo's machines, Sony uses a standard USB connection for controllers.

A PlayStation Classic sitting on an original PlayStation.
Photo: Chris Kohler (Kotaku)

The PlayStation Classic also replicates one of the slightly annoying features of the Nintendo boxes: to return to the game selection menu, you have to reach out to the console and press the reset button. The button that would have opened the disc player on the actual PlayStation is also functional on the Classic; you use it to change discs during multi-disc games. Power is always power.

It's never guaranteed that a plug-and-play system like this will get the correct emulation, but judging by the time that has elapsed between PlayStation Classic games, it seems to me that this part is sufficient. The games have a precise appearance and sound, their jagged pixels dating from the mid-90s give the impression that you could grate a block of cheese with them. (A list of open source software licenses available in the PlayStation Classic menu indicates that it uses the PCSX ReARMed PlayStation Open Source emulator.)

Final Fantasy VII. (The game's screenshots of this story were captured from a video provided by Sony and did not come directly from a PlayStation Classic. Our final unit analysis will contain screenshots in full resolution.)
Screen capture: Sony

Some games display a lot better on a HD screen than others. Ridge Racer Type 4 in particular, its text has a fuzzy and wavy effect which, I imagine, looked very nice when using a cathode ray tube, but which is difficult to read with a modern set.

Oddly, most of the PlayStation Classic games were European versions. When I started Final Fantasy VIIFor example, I had the classic startup screen "Licensed by Sony Computer Entertainment of America." But when I ran Arena Toshinden Battle, Grand Theft Auto, or Tekken 3, the display shows "Authorized by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe". There are some small differences that I could identify in the games, such as choosing the UK flag in a menu if you wish. Grand Theft AutoThe text to display in English. (I'm not sure there are any major differences buried later in the games.)

Grand Theft Auto.
Screen capture: Sony

PlayStation Classic assigns a separate virtual memory card to each game. When you exit a game you have registered and return to the menu, a memory card icon under each one allows you to view or delete your backup data. , as you did on the original PlayStation. The data backup icons appearing in this menu are identical to those of the original. Final Fantasy VII save will be represented by a Cloud icon, the second by Barrett, etc.

I am less impressed by the way the Classic handles its "record anywhere" function. You only get one location for each match. When you press Reset, your game will be automatically saved to this location. Start the game, play again, and then press Reset again. No second slot will be offered. You will simply be asked if you want to overwrite the game saved in this slot. Nintendo systems have four backup slots, which would have been nice to see here.

The original controller of the PlayStation (L) and that of the PlayStation Classic.
Photo: Chris Kohler (Kotaku)

"The least possible" is probably the most accurate summary I can make of the PlayStation Classic up to now. There is no special screen edge or graphic display options. A QR code allows you to load the manuals on the PlayStation website, but it did not work during the preview. There is a screen saver option that darkens the screen after a few minutes. Even the game selection menu itself is strictly utilitarian; there is no nostalgic theme song or other cute additions.

At least, PlayStation Classic will do the job. The controller feels excellent, identical to the original. The box itself is adorable. The emulation is accurate. The game selection … well, your mileage may vary accordingly. If you want to go on a nostalgic trip and relive games like The siphon filter As before, Dual-Stick controls, PlayStation Classic will be here soon for you.

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