When it comes to the latest generation of console releases, I think the PlayStation 5 is the best of all. Between the original titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon’s Souls, and major multi-format releases like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, there’s a lot to play for. But every system faces a harsh cold reality six or more weeks after launch: its fledgling library simply cannot compete with the nearly decade of content that its predecessor hosts.
I remember that this is particularly true with the PlayStation 4 for a frighteningly long time. As soon as I finished Killzone: Shadow Fall, I went back to PlayStation 3 for what felt like forever. I ended up playing dozens of games on the latest generation device, including some new releases like Gran Turismo 6. In fact, it was only around 2015 that I really transitioned to PS4.
But with PS5, there is no danger of that happening. While it’s basic and needs iteration, I largely prefer Sony’s next-generation console ecosystem, and backward compatibility means that I never need to leave it as I did with my PS4 almost a decade ago. I’ve already won major PS5 titles, including Sackboy: A Big Adventure, but I’m playing my new system for hours on end every day. You literally have to get me out of the thing right now.
Now, part of that is due to my personal circumstances – I’ve been lucky enough to have a little more time to play lately, and the block has only increased my sessions – but I’m really having a great time browsing my library. I went back to Days Gone recently to clean my Platinum Trophy, and it felt like a different game running at 60 frames per second on Sony’s new system; I am currently revisiting Hitman 2 before his successor.
It’s disappointing that not all titles have been enhanced for the system – Final Fantasy VII Remake, a title I recently won, would have been a dream at 60 frames per second – but I love being able to just install the game on my PS5 and enjoy it on most efficient and fastest operating system that Sony has created. I am planning to get Death Stranding off my shelf of shame soon, and the fact that I don’t have to keep my PS4 connected is a godsend.
Now, obviously, a console needs to stand out in its own strengths, and the PS5’s native library looks set to grow a lot this year. But we’re in a period of transition, it’s okay to admit that, and backward compatibility has completely transformed my relationship with Sony’s new console. Where I spent most of the first 12 months of PS4 with my PS3, I am absolutely loving playing PS4 games on my PS5. It’s convenient and fun, and I hope that all PlayStation platforms are backward compatible from now on.
Do you think backward compatibility has also kept you glued to your new console? Which games have you played the most on PS5 and why? Save your PS4 in the comments section below.