The originalPlayStationfirst emerged in 1994 and was released worldwide a year later. Since then, the console has remained a staple of the gaming industry, standing beside Nintendo and Xbox. Each generation has brought something new to the table, from groundbreaking series to features that make playing games all the more fun.
Of course, some generations of the PlayStation are better than others or have had a bigger impact on the gaming community as a whole. So, putting each generation side by side, which one takes the crown as the true monarch of the console series?
7PlayStation 5
You Got Games In This Game Tour Right?
While the PlayStation 5 is the most powerful PlayStation generation, it is also one of the weakest in terms of games. There are plenty of remasters of older games that may serve as tech demos, but nothing that truly stands out among the crowd. Those that do, such as Spider-Man 2, God of War: Ragnarok, and Horizon Forbidden West, end up on PC during the console’s lifespan. This takes away from that feeling of exclusivity the PlayStation used to have.
While this is great for games as a whole, it doesn’t make having a PlayStation 5 feel any more special than having an Xbox Series X. On the bright side, at least the graphics are good, and the console itself brings back some of the backwards compatibility that was lost during the PS4 era.
6PS Vita
A Powerful Yet Expensive Hand-Held
While not necessarily a mainline generation, the PS Vita was an evolution of the PSP with its own game library and features. Unfortunately, the price of entry, as well as the very necessary memory card, would prevent the PS Vita from truly flourishing as much as its predecessor. However, in a time before the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, this was the closest you could get toplaying some of the biggest games on the go.
With games like Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3, Uncharted, and Minecraft available, it’s an interesting experiment to say the least. It could even take advantage of PS Now to play games remotely. This generation had great ideas but poor execution.
5PSP
Innovative And Fresh
The PSP truly was ahead of its time. In comparison to other generational handhelds, the Nintendo DS lacked some key features that made the PSP appealing. For starters,the PSP played fully 3D games more often. With graphical capabilities that were far beyond what could be expected from a handheld, it often felt like you had a PS1 or a PS2 in the palm of your hand.
Where the PSP truly excelled was in media. This handheld has a built-in browser allowing you to surf the web, download videos, and even other games. It also succeeded as a way of watching movies on the system through special discs, making car rides even more enjoyable.
4PlayStation 4
Quick To Start The Race
The PlayStation 4 is where the console generations began to blur. As far as graphics went, the PlayStation 4 got a head start, considering it could run games at a full 1080P instead of the Xbox One’s 900P. It also had the benefit that many of the games that would be released for the console would stay exclusive during the console’s lifespan. Without much competition from the Xbox One or the Wii U, the PS4 would become the default winner.
However, it also lost the backwards compatibility that the PlayStation was known for. PS Plus prices went up, putting an end to the free online play from the PS3 era. While the PS4 was definitely worth getting in its prime, it would become the last PlayStation console to truly feel essential.
3PlayStation 3
Branching Tones
The PlayStation 3 may have been overly expensive when it first came out, but as far as console generations go, it was worth getting. This is when every console was trying to go in its own separate direction. Xbox 360 wanted to do more for online multiplayer, while the Nintendo Wii focused on innovating the industry with motion controls. Meanwhile, the PlayStation 3 tried hard to tell larger-than-life stories, from post-apocalyptic tales to grand adventures akin to Tomb Raider.
The PS3 could also play Blu-ray discs, and some versions even sported backwards compatibility with PS2 games. With online becoming more of a prominent feature in gaming, it even had the advantage of free online. It also experimented with its own version of motion controls with the PlayStation Move.
2PlayStation
The Genesis Of PSX Style
The original PlayStation is fantastic. Not only does it have a great selection of exclusive games, but the art style is so iconic, it has been adopted by indie game devs everywhere. This console saw the genesis of series such as Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, and Metal Gear. One trip to your older relative’s house with this bad boy installed, and you’d never look at the Nintendo 64 the same again.
The PS1, may not have had the online capabilities or anything to be backwards compatible with, but it had games with groundbreaking graphics that were actually good. This is Sony’s first console, and they weren’t playing around. It even cemented the fact that teens and adults could be gamers too, as it explored the demographics with its content.
1PlayStation 2
The Best PlayStation Of All Time
The PlayStation 2 offered the greatest deal in gaming history. Sure, the GameCube had plenty of exclusives as well, but the PlayStation 2 made it easy to sell to parents. I get a gaming console, you get a DVD player. It’s a win-win situation. As for the games, they shaped various genres. Silent Hill 2 is a groundbreaking horror sequel, while Kingdom Hearts kickstarted the collaboration between Disney and Square Enix.
Even if the games would eventually become more accessible to other platforms, they were there to push the PlayStation 2 forwards during its lifetime. Speaking of lifetimes, the PlayStation 2 had a longer than average lifespan for a console. It lasted for 12 years before finally stopping production.
