I have owned many gaming consoles over the years. I’ve been a gamer for as long as I can remember. In fact, my first video game system was the the first version of the Nintendo Game Boy. I remember it perfectly: it had two pink buttons and was the size of a brick. I stared at it for a good 15 minutes after my parents gave it to me wondering what it was before turning it on, and started playing Super Mario World. The rest is history. I was hooked. My first console was the Sega Megadrive and I remember beating Sonic 2 many times. I owned many other consoles after these. Truly, consoles have come a long way since then and I have often thought about is my favorite. After much thought and consideration, I can say with full confidence that the PlayStation 3 is my favorite console of all time.
Why, you ask? Read on.
The PlayStation 3 is a very special console because it is just loaded to the brim with features. Lets take a closer look at them.
Blu-Ray Player
The PS3 was one of the first Blu-Ray Players on the market, it is also one of the best. Video playback is excellent and sound quality is fantastic. It utilizes HDMI (High Definition Media Interface) at 1080p so video and sound output is stunning. Also, Blu-Ray allows developers to build much bigger and higher quality games, and also provides a whole new level of detail to movies. In addition, due to the massive storage capacity of Blu-Ray discs (50 GB) multiple disc games are a thing of the past – another welcome convenience for gamers.
Built in Wifi
The PS3 has built in wifi. This is great because I dislike having cables running everywhere in my home. The ability to connect online wirelessly to download media and play online is a huge plus in my book. Other consoles like the Xbox 360 require you to buy a grossly over priced wireless dongle to go online. I also love being able to watch movies on Netflix and use the web cam to see and speak with friends out of the box. Way to go Sony!
Built in Hard Drive
My current PS3 has a 160 GB hard drive. I have hundreds of videos and songs loaded onto my PS3 which I can access within seconds. I just transfer all the data using the built in USB ports, which is another thing I adore about this console.
Bluetooth
The PS3 utilizes Bluetooth for it’s controllers. What I love about this is that I can pair the console with my own Bluetooth headset. Also, just the fact that the console uses wireless controllers is a huge plus as well. I shudder at the thought of playing my PS2 now because of the wired controllers. Wireless controllers provide full freedom of movement and a greater degree of control to the gamer.
Backwards Compatibility
The original PlayStation 3 had backwards compatibility. This means it could play PlayStation 2 games as well as many PlayStation 1 games. This is incredible because the PS2 and PS1 game libraries are massive. Gamers could play their old games on the PS3 and not take up valuable room keeping their old systems hooked up. Unfortunately Sony removed backwards compatibility in later system revisions to be able to drop the price of the system. However this doesn’t bother me personally as I have a PS2 when I’m feeling particularly nostalgic.
Amazing Graphics
The graphics in games just look amazing on the PS3. The Cell processor coupled with the Nvidia “Reality Synthesizer” graphics processing unit is a powerful combination. In fact, some people stopped gaming on the PC when the PS3 came out as it’s so expensive to keep upgrading, whereas with the PS3 this is not the case. As developers got to know the system better, graphics improved considerably. If you haven’t already, play Final Fantasy 13 on the PS3 – I think “mind blowing eye candy” would’ve been an equally appropriate name for this game.
Free Online Gaming
One of the most talked about features of the PS3 is the PlayStation Network (PSN). Unlike it’s primary competitor, the Xbox 360, the PSN is free of charge to game online. This provides tremendous value to the gamer as it saves them hundreds of dollars over the years.
The Games
I saved the best for last. The games make the console. A console could tie my shoes and make my coffee, but I still wouldn’t care if it doesn’t have good games. I’m glad to say the PS3 excels in the games department. The PS3 has some of the best exclusive titles out there. Uncharted one and two by Naughty Dog are some of the biggest selling games of all time. Why? Because they are very high quality games and are a lot of fun to play. Gran Turismo is another great title that is available only on the PS3. Whether you love RPG’s, FPS’s, etc – the Playstation 3 has something for everyone. Don’t forget that their are tons more games you can download through the PlayStation Network as well!
Conclusion
The PlayStation 3 exceeds in two key areas: software and hardware. The console itself is loaded with features and offers tremendous value for money. It has a large variety of quality games that are a lot of fun to play, and their is something for everyone. It is for these reasons the PlayStation 3 is my favorite console of all time. Now, please excuse me while I blow my mind thinking about the PlayStation 4.