Forza Motorsport 5 is one of the first batch of games available on the Xbox One.
After viewing the original Kinect with disdain, it is a hugely pleasant surprise to find how impressive the new model is included with Xbox One. Voice commands actually work and the camera sensor is far more accurate. Dead Rising 3 offers the best in-game implementation so far, in calling out support commands to allies while slaughtering zombies.
Many of the launch titles – conspicuously, largely first-party titles published by Microsoft – are filled with micro-transactions (ie charging you, albeit small amounts, for extras). Forza Motorsport 5, although a great racer mechanically, offers constant nagging to buy better cars with real money, while Crimson Dragon and Ryse both lure you into the Xbox Marketplace for upgrades. Digital consumables in full-price games is disheartening, to say the least.
More a suite than a single feature, Xbox One's dedication to all-encompassing media consumption is very well implemented. Alongside Blu-ray playback and the usual array of on-demand services (Netflix, LoveFilm, iPlayer et al), an HDMI input allows you to control and record TV. The 'Snap' function is also useful, running a second app, such as Skype alongside game sessions.
Improvements to the Xbox One controller over the 360's are largely "under the hood", with dedicated rumble motors on each trigger. On the surface, the A, B, X, Y buttons are a whole millimetre closer together, start and back are replaced with menu and view – largely retaining the same functions – and the battery compartment is less intrusive. Comfortable, but unremarkable.
Microsoft's SmartGlass, a companion app for tablets and smartphones, is coming into its own on Xbox One. While the strength of each title's integration lies with developers, functions such as being able to control your apps remotely, pre-load movie purchases, participate in multiplayer games and reply to messages using your device's touch keyboard are fantastic.
The maximum number of Xbox Live friends now clocks in at a monstrous 1,000, a vast and welcome increase. Players can also form parties, groups they play with regularly or only on specific games, and communicate through Kinect or a headset. Once you've downloaded the free Upload Studio app, sharing clips of your gaming prowess is quick and easy too.
Killzone: Shadow Fall is one of 22 launch titles for the PlayStation 4.
The PlayStation 4 demonstrates a refreshing self-awareness from Sony. Gone is the advanced Cell processor that put developers off getting properly acquainted with the PS3, so while the PS4 is powerful, it's simpler to develop for. It's less bulky than the PS3, too, and old hands will be relieved to know that the controller is significantly improved.
Unfortunately, early purchasers will likely struggle to justify buying their console at launch. Promising games such as DriveClub and Watch Dogs have been delayed, and the exclusives Killzone and Knack are only mediocre. However, plenty of great multi-platform games – such as Assassin's Creed and Lego Marvel Superheroes – look even better on PS4, with some in higher definition than on the Xbox One.
One feature to make Xbox One owners jealous is "Remote Play", through which you can play PS4 games on your handheld PlayStation Vita. Lag makes the streaming experience less than perfect, especially if you connect from afar, but being able to use the Vita as a second controller in games such as Knack and Lego Marvel Super Heroes is a blessing.
The DualShock 4 strikes a balance: is similar enough to the previous DualShock controller to maintain the brand but without its significant flaws. Both the touchpad and speaker are interesting additions – in Killzone the former is used for menu selections and the latter to play audio logs – but most welcome are the concave triggers and a shape clearly designed for comfort.
Aside from the DualShock 4 and Vita, you can also have some control over your PS4 with the PlayStation Camera, an optional accessory left out of the basic console bundle to keep costs down. However, its response to voice commands is inconsistent, and its facial recognition feature, while impressive, is no quicker than using a controller to log in.
With long-awaited group chat and the ability to log up to 2,000 friends, it's clear the interactive aspect is a key component to the PS4. While the record of everything your friends have done is excessive, the ability to capture segments of in-game footage and to stream as you play shows a real understanding of the modern gaming landscape.
As the PS3 and all it has to offer have evolved over the years, so too will the PS4. Let's hope it won't be too long before Sony releases an update with options to customise the home menu, which is currently no more than a horizontal line of every game and app installed on the device.