The overall value of Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation TV micro-console will depend on what you wish to do with it. If you expect it to be a suitable replacement for owning the much more expensive PlayStation Vita (At this point in time) or want to use it as a device to browse video streaming services / non-game related apps then you will likely walk away disappointed. However there is more than enough on offer for those looking to play a good majority of their PlayStation Vita game library on the big screen, or wish to beat the Summer heat by streaming their PlayStation 4 to a television in a much cooler room.
Not that much bigger than a typical deck of cards, the PlayStation TV is essentially a PlayStation Vita unit albeit considerably smaller, with the same user interface and support of PlayStation Vita, PlayStation Portable and PS1 Classics. The device connects to any television with HDMI support, which like the PlayStation 4 has a cable included in the box. Unfortunately what the PlayStation TV doesn’t come with is a DualShock controller, and will require a separate purchase if you do not already own one. I highly recommend shopping around to see if any retailers are offering any discounts on controllers with your purchase.
The PlayStation TV supports games both downloaded onto a standard PlayStation Vita memory card and games purchased at retail, with slots for both found on the side and back of the console. A memory card is not necessary for those looking to exclusively stream PS4 games or play PS Vita retail games either, with 1GB of internal memory built into the device. Transferring files from a PS Vita unit is as simple as taking out the memory card and popping it into the PS TV.
As some others have rightfully noted, not every PlayStation Vita game is supported on the PlayStation TV, and it is plausible that some will find huge gaps in support amongst their library. Some games have received dedicated updates, some have automatically had support at launch and others may or may not be supported in the future. I found that most of the newer games were supported, while it can tended to be hit or miss with older games. Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation and Uncharted: Golden Abyss are two major titles that are simply not compatible with the device, whilst Persona 4 Golden and Freedom Wars for example work like a charm. It also seems like the international PlayStation TV model can handle games supported by Japan’s PlayStation Vita TV, with a selection of my imported games functioning properly (Criminal Girls: Invitation, Monobeno: Pure Smile for the purpose of this review). A larger variety of PlayStation One Classics and PlayStation Portable games are supported, and also work swimmingly well.
One obvious downside of the PlayStation TV is that you will want to play your portable games on a screen as small as possible. As Vita games have been originally developed for a small 5-inch display, there is some visible degradation in visual quality as the console upscales to your television screen. In any case you should be presented better on-screen quality than you would by a PlayStation 1/2 console. The differences are more noticeable with PSP/PSOne games,and may have benefited from an option to reduce screen size in order to counter the decreased quality. If visual quality is a major factor for you, then I strongly recommend remaining with the PlayStation Vita.
The PlayStation TV supports both DualShock 3 and DualShock 4 controllers, and for games like Freedom Wars this was a noticeable improvement over the portable layout. Most games transitioned over to the DualShock controllers well, with no issues with any of the games I tested. On the other hand, without a touchscreen this means that games which predominantly use touchscreen controls are more or less unplayable. There is an exception for small touchscreen commands such as Persona 4 Golden’s Vox Populi feature where it is possible to use a pseudo-touchscreen, however this would not be practical for anything more than the occasional use.
Future success for the PlayStation TV depends on how much developer support goes into it. If a majority of developers get behind the device and support it for all their future non-touchscreen exclusive games, then I could see it being a solid compliment or alternative to owning a PlayStation Vita. In this event it could very well be a jump start that the console needed to help get development surging for it. While the visual quality leaves much to be desired in comparison to the PlayStation Vita’s 5″ screen, the PlayStation TV makes up for it with controller support and playability on a bigger screen – which in some cases is a fair trade-off.
Currently retailing in Australia at a price of $149.95 with three free downloadable games (Worms Revolution Extreme, Velocity Ultra and OlliOlli), this was in my mind a fair deal for what was on offer. Those looking for social media / television apps or support for older games however may be better off looking elsewhere. I recommend everyone compares this list of supported games against your collection of games prior to making a purchase.
