Last September, the company Sony announced the output of its "nostalgic" console PlayStation Classic. Outwardly, this is a copy of the original PS, but already without a drive and much smaller. And all available games are sewn up in advance in the built -in memory, and their list is firmly limited: players are waiting for only twenty items.
Open the box
Package Included:
- console;
- Two classic controllers with wired USB connection;
- Micro-USB/USB Type-A bilateral cable, as well as HDMI;
- necessary waste paper like user guide.
The console is 45% less than the original, although it looks exactly the same. Dimensions – 149 x 33 x 105 mm, not much wider iPhone 7 Plus. Moreover, the weight is 170 grams, that is, it is easier than the same smartphone!
Two USB ports are located in front to connect gamepads, above them are decorative inserts, visually copying slots for PS memory cards. In this model, progress is recorded in the internal memory. On the rear panel there are HDMI and Micro-USB outputs, on the sides-cooling grilles.
True, you will have to look for a 5V power supply with a current force of 1 A and the USB Type-a port, which is not included. On the other hand, it will be possible to squeeze the console from the usual Powerbank. But keep in mind that in terms of power, the novelty is quite fertilized, so look for a quality device. The optimal solution would be to use free IPhone PSU, which are ideal for the connector and characteristics.
The dimensions are pleasing! The console really became portable: put in his pocket and went to play a friend for an apartment
Gampads
PlayStation Classic is equipped with first -generation controllers – no analog sticks and other things. Although if desired, you can buy for $ 20 an adapter of production 8Bitdo , which will connect any gamepads.
The controllers have a standard set of buttons: arrows, cross / square / triangle / circle, SELECT and Start keys, trigger L1 / L2 and R1 / R2. There are no analog sticks – however, on the original model of 1994 they were not there either: the first Dualshock appeared only in 1997.
At the same time, although controllers are connected to USB ports, they can not just be taken and stuck in a PC or another console. However, this is the common misfortune of all the old PS-gapades: we must shaman with drivers.
Buttons
Given that the PlayStation Classic repeats the design of the first “curling”, there are buttons on the box. And if in the original version they were all used as intended, then questions arise to the “classical”. Judge for yourself: the Power, Reset buttons and the discovery button with the disk are placed on the Classic. And if the former are responsible, in fact, for the same thing that the console is turning on and off, as well as for going to the global menu (in the original version, Reset restarted the game from the disk), then the trail opening button only simulates the opening of the tray. No, serious! This is necessary to programatically run the second disc inside the game. Recall: all default games are sewn in memory. Simply put, the button is sometimes asked to join … just to attach. Without much sense.
A message that jumps out onto the screen when you press the Open button unnecessarily
But if this detail is at least funny and in some way nostalgic, then in other characteristics of the console there Big Wins Casino are much more dubious solutions. It's about hardware and software.
Iron and software
Technical Specifications PlayStation Classic:
- MediaTek MT8167A processor with four ARM Cortex-A35 computing nuclei and up to 1.5 GHz frequency;
- PowerVR GE8300 graphic accelerator;
- 1 GB of RAM DDR3-1866 Samsung;
- 16 GB of constant memory EMMC 5.1, also samsung;
- Sound processing – MediaTek MT6392A.
The aforementioned processor often serves as the basis for inexpensive tablets, smartphones and television prefixes. It supports video processing 1080p up to 60 FPS, and is also able to work with Wi-Fi in two ranges and supports 64-bit instructions. Given that games are reproduced in a maximum of 720p, it is enough.
The only problem is that PS Classic uses an open PCSX software emulator. He is good in itself, but according to the publication Digital Foundry , Some titles are played worse than on the original console. And this will no longer be able to justify authenticity! Yes, it used to be slowed down on PS1 games, but when even those projects that worked decently on the original version are gathered on the new product ..
PCSX software emulator. What is funny, at one time, about twenty years ago, Sony tried through the court to prohibit PCSX development, resting on copyright disorders. However, in that confrontation, the law sided with the free
Thus, in technical terms, PlayStation Classic is a “team hodgepodge” of ambiguous iron and open. It seems that the company has developed only controllers by replacing the proprietary connectors with USB.
And given the open nature of the emulator, hackers and independent developers have already managed to create tools for bypassing restrictions on twenty memory games. At first it turned out that the usual keyboard connected to the PlayStation Classic allows you to go to the service menu (no passwords!), and now the program has appeared in addition BleemSync , allowing you to run any games from flash drives.
Of the shortcomings of this method, we note only the need to connect a USB drive, after which, as a result, there remains only one free port for the gamepad. And first you have to prepare the file structure of the flash drive. But, as they say, if you really want to, then I can: IT-Kulibins in our bulk.
Built -in games
Battle Arena Toshinden (1995) – one of the first three -dimensional fighting in the history of the gaming industry. In addition to PlayStation, it was also available on Sega Saturn, Game Boy and MS-Dos.
Cool boards (1996) – Snowboarder simulator. Given that such a genre is not too popular on other platforms, the feasibility of its appearance in the collection in question ..
Battle Arena Toshinden
Cool boards
Destruction Derby (1995) – one of the first representatives of a series of survival races. At that time, it was too innovative for the consoles a genre, and before the exit Carmageddon There were two more years left. It would be better to put the second part, which was much more popular!
Final Fantasy VII (1997) – Immortal classics.
Destruction Derby
Final Fantasy VII
GTA (1997) – no less immortal "car carrier". Ponalgie, but nothing more.
Intelligent QUBE (1997) – a rather strange hybrid of the platformer and three -dimensional tetris. Although given that there are almost no similar projects now, someone may be liked by someone.
GTA
Intelligent QUBE
Jumping Flash (1995)-one of the first 3D platformers on consoles. In this game you need to control the robot-crolis. It is important that the game shows the world in the first person, and at that time it was something unimaginable for the consoles. Now the game is almost forgotten.
Metal Gear Solid (1998) – The legendary game from that very Hideo Kojima. If you like stealth-beers and the sources of the genre are interesting-be sure to go through! Only the lack of feedback is upset, because the vibration in the gamepads is not provided.
Jumping Flash
Metal Gear Solid
Mr. Driller (1999), in a modern opinion, more suitable for smartphones: you just need to drill multi -colored cubes and periodically replenish oxygen reserves. But twenty years ago she went with a bang: “Drilller”, which they wanted to make a part of a popular series Dig Dug , He became a hit in Japan – there he was then even re -released for PS2.
ODDWorLD: Abe’s Oddysee (1997) – an adventure platform in the spirit of the Prince of Persia, which at one time collected a lot of awards and subsequently acquired three continuations. In 2014, a remake with modern graphics and improved videos were released for the game, but on PS Classic the game was ported in the original, unequivocated, varint – exactly the one that could be played on the real first “curling”.
Mr. Driller
Oddworld Abe’s Oddysee
Rayman (1995) – Verse platformer of authorship Ubisoft. It was originally released on DOS and Atari Jaguar, then ported to PS. The game is quite complicated, but the genre will probably come in to connoisseurs.
Resident Evil: Director ` S Cut (1996) – an improved version of the original. The PSC version received a slightly modified gameplay, several sets of costumes and a new level of complexity that changes locations and increases the number of enemies.
Rayman
Resident Evil
Revelations: Persona (1996) at one time was popular, but a pretty focused version was added to the console. For example, even the slightest hints of Christian symbols were removed, and some characters have changed skin color and ethnicity. The translation was no better: the meaning of many dialogs is simply lost, and the player ceases to understand the essence of the narrative. They even cut out a whole plot branch with the end in the dungeon!
Revelations: Persona
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (1998) – one of the best arcade races on the original PlayStation. Three hundred cars are available for a choice, and also the possibility of drift is provided.
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (1996) – another project for smartphones. Characters decorated in the form of the heroes of the fighting wings throw multi -colored crystals into each other, filling the enemy glass. The one who will do this is the first to win.
R4: Ridge Racer Type 4
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
Syphon Filter (1999) – the first part of a popular and undeservedly forgotten action movie from a third person. There are good shootings, an interesting plot and stealth. One problem is the lack of analog sticks on controllers: without them it is difficult to get used to management.
Tekken 3 (1997) – one of the best fights of that time and a worthy competitor Mortal Kombat.
Syphon Filter
Tekken 3
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six (1998) – Another inconvenient in the Hit Management.
Twisted Metal (1995) – and again survival races. Although they could choose one of the more popular sequels.
Wild Arms (1996) – Japanese role -playing game in the setting that unites the world of the Wild West and Fantasy. Interesting even now!
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six
Wild Arms
Twisted Metal
At the same time, none of the parts of space letals fell on the list Colony Wars , as well as the second and third Ace Combat , Action AUTO DESTRUCT , dilogy G-Police and many other games. For some reason not Gran Turismo 2 , Crash Bandicoot , as well as the main hit – Need for Speed..
The device turned out to be ambiguous. A strange list of games, including both unconditioned hits and very mediocre developments, can only be explained by a confusing scheme of copyright protection scheme. Apparently, Sony just did not want to spend money on it. It is confused and the decision not to put a power supply in the box – although the creators of retro -consumes sinned like that Nes And Snes Classic. Yes, you can technically connect any block from a smartphone, but still it looks like "saving on matches".
As for alternatives, AliExpress, Amazon and other sites are actively sold by various designers from Raspberry Pi and periphery, which will allow you to collect an analogue in half cheaper and in any desired case – at least PS, at least Nes, at least SNES. In addition, the notorious Malinka supports wired and wireless networks, memory cards, and so on. However, I do not insist: one of the Sony fans will probably want to keep the original on the shelf. PlayStation Classic is available in Russia at a price of 8999 rubles.
And I liked Sony PlayStation Classic!
Andrei, our specialist in the "iron" and the main author of this article, on duty to be harsh and criticize each chip. But I will express a civil position. Of course, you should not expect from a device that seemed to be conceived by a “ideal gift for Christmas”, nothing supernatural. Let this be just an emulator in a beautiful shell designed to put pressure on nostalgic feelings – I do not care! After all, the gadget performs two primary tasks: it works uninterrupted when pressing one button and perfectly entertains. And entertaining, introduces to the classic video game. Not everyone today is ready to bother with the setting of emulators on the computer, especially in the console era “pressed the button – everything works” to get acquainted, for example, with the very first Grand Theft Auto. The days are not the times when torment with drivers, codecs and iron is considered the norm.
Blessed collection. Any-expensive to watch!
By the way, about the classic GTA. Perhaps it was this game from the "Big Twenty" that became the most important for me. Once I tried to master the PC GTA 2 and even advanced a lot in the plot, but with the very first creation Rockstar Games It didn’t work out: management from the keyboard and mouse seemed too unfriendly. Now, on the replica of the classic gamepad, maybe I will catch up!
And, of course, Resident Evil! Unlucking classic, in which everything is fine: from directing rollers to sound design. I played late in the evening and in the dark – so it is still terrible to go to the toilet without light. And nothing that the picture in the game looks … rare.
Old new new gamepads Nes Mini, Snes Mini and PlayStation Classic. And everyone has wildly short wiring – you have to sit with your nose to the TV
It is for this that the prefix is criticized by experts from the world of iron: they say, in different built -in games, the picture became worse than on the old original console. I admit that somewhere the application may be fair. But this is with what kind of magnifier it was necessary to look at the TV screen to distinguish where the “soap” is better, and the pixels are less: in the new iteration of the console or in the original! Games with a twenty -year -old exposure of exactly the picture of expressionists – you need to look at them from a distance. Then, among a pixel pixel heap, the figures of your favorite heroes are recognized in Re, and in R4 the performance of the racing car in the upper right corner of the screen is read without problems.
But don't think I'm an enthusiastic retrourist. Not at all, and I have something to fight PS One Classic: So, when the console is turned on, you are met by a very ascetic interface of the main menu with a list of virtual discs with games. On the one hand, the menu repeats the original, on the other, it was definitely possible: in the recent Nes Classic Mini and Snes Classic Mini, interfaces are much richer. Large games of games, a ruler with miniatures for the convenience of navigation, running around the Mario screen as an interactive … From such trifles a general benevolent impression is made up. Whereas in the Sony product we have a simple scroll-without hints and any additional animations.
Just compare how bright and rich the Snes Classic Mini menu looks and how poor Sony creation interface looks
But worse than another. Remember, all in the same Nes Mini and Snes Mini were different display modes? "Retro" simulated a picture from the original prefix of the 90s with all twitching, occasionally running stripes and other artifacts; “4: 3” stretched the picture, making it wider on modern TVs; And in the “original resolution” mode, the games were displayed in a completely authentic form from the nineties. So, there is nothing similar in PS One Classic and at all – and sorry! Of the modern trends, only the opportunity to survive at any time and in any game was added – even in those that it was not assumed in the original.
This is how the process of "preserving the memory card" of game progress looks like. Works in all built -in games. It became not so scary to die. Here are just no functionality with the “locking” of the siva from the households, but such an opportunity appeared in Nes Mini!
Nevertheless, in general, I am pleased with the gadget. As already said – I liked it! If there is free money and you don’t need anything in this life, buy.
Rodion Ilyin, editor -in -chief
Pleased
- canonical design, compact dimensions, light weight;
- two gamepads in the kit (there could be one!);
- If desired, you can play other retro -players by connecting a flash drive to the console;
- Idea and its embodiment.
Sharped
- modest list of built -in games "from the store";
- lack of power supply in the kit;
- lack of additional visual settings for modern TVs;
- High price for souvenir for the Christmas tree.
How we played
What: 20 different built -in games
On what: Sony PlayStation Classic
How many: A couple of weekends
Achivka of the editorial office
"The most soap pixel in the whole Wild West"
Set aside the ultramodern and sophisticated Red Dead Redemption 2 for the game of the mid -nineties.
About localization
The interface of the main menu is Russified. However, the cat cried there the text there.
Play?
Yes
Verdict
Sony PlayStation Classic came out to be imperfect, but it will stop fans and collectors? It is hardly. Although, of course, it will not be difficult to find the original prefix from the nineties on the notorious advertisement boards – with a large collection of games as a free bonus.
PlayStation Adventures in Russia. Why the console from Sony became the legend of the domestic market