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PS-X Review guide

@PS_2

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Playstation

· 5 years ago

PSX-Rev.guide
1.0 19.06.95

MAIN "PS-X Review"

Welcome to this PS-X Review Amiga Guide Written By Peter Lind 19.06.95

What Is The PS-X?
Technical Specifications Of The PS-X
How Do I Connect It?
How Does It Compare To Other Platforms?
Games Reviewed
Final Words

1 "What Is The PS-X?"

The PS-X, or the Playstation as it's also known, is Sony's step into the video-games market. The small machine wields incredible power from its small frame.

It was released in Japan last november, and sold 300,000 copies during christmas alone.

Sony have poured millions into this project. They've streamlined the production, and are now finishing the US and PAL versions of the machine. Although why the US version hasn't surfaced yet, can only be a question of marketing strategy.

Sony is a company IMMENSELY more powerful than it's nearest competitor; Sega. Nintendo, on the other hand are busy making their ULTRA64 work!

2 "Technical Specifications Of The PS-X"

CPU
33 MHz 32bit R3000A chip, with a clearing capacity of 30 MIPS The CPU also contains the 66 MIPS GTE (Geometry Transfer Engine), DMA controller and Sony's 80 MIPS MDEC video decompression scheme.

The MDEC circuit decompresses graphics on the fly (in 1 frame or less), in fullscreen. It is also capable of decompressing MPEG-1 files, although these are inferior to Sony's own MDEC scheme. It will also be possible to view DVD encoded Video-discs. DVD is the standard for CD movies, agreed on by both Sony and Philips. It is also compatible with the oddly named H.261 files, and of cause JPEG.

GPU
The GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) handles all sprites etc.

SPU
The sound hardware is as impressive as anything. The machine has a 16bit SPU (Sound Processing Unit) delivering 24 channel ADPCM at 44.1 KHz (CD quality).

MEMORY
The machine has 2Mb DRAM, 1Mb VRAM (screen(s)), 512Kb sound RAM and 512Kb CD buffer RAM.

The Machine has 2 RAM card slots, allowing anything from hiscores to how far you got, to be stored.

CD
The CD drive in the PS-X is by default a dual speed drive giving it 300Kb per second. The CD's themselves can hold 790Mb. The dual speed, can be misleading as the amount of data read off the cd is more like 600-700Kb, due to everything being so well compressed. And when we're talking graphics being pulled off the CD - forget it. That must be MEGABYTES/ second. The philosophy behind Sony's choice of drive is that it's 'cheap, and easy to replace with a new one.' The CD controller also holds a DSP and contains a CD-ROM XA converter.

The CD's themselves are black and encrypted.

OS
The PS-X's Operating System is only 512Kb in size, and is therefore very programmer friendly. It recides in a single chip.

GRAPHICS
The machine uses 24bit (of cause) at resolutions of either 256*224, or 640*480. It can handle 4000 8*8 pixel sprites with individual scaling and rotation. Since everyone develops in C, and since Sony's supplied libraries are in C, some kind of speed increase WILL occur once core routines are written in assembler.

OUTPUT
Taking a look at the machine's backside, is truly HEAVEN. From left to right: External I/O connector, Link connector, L+R audio out (jacks), DC out 5V 25ma (????), Composite Video out (jack), S-VHS out, RGB out (encrypted), AC in.

The RGB lead is by far the best option, but it's not cheap. Expect to pay around £30 for it. The RGB lead has the advantage of working on a TV which accepts 60Hz, directly off the machine, because RGB is NOT NTSC or PAL - it's RGB, and gives by far the best picture quality to boot.

BUS BANDWITH
132Mb/sec

3 "How Do I Connect It?"

Let's say you're going to buy a japanese PS-X. How will you know if it'll work on your telly?

Here's a test:

Get the TV's manual. If it states that it can handle NTSC 3.58, then you're home free.

If you can't find the manual, or you don't think it can handle NTSC 3.58, get a friend to bring his japanese or american SNES over. It must not be PAL modified. Hook the SNES up to your TV using the RF lead! If the picture rolls over endlessly, then you have a CRAP TV, and should replace it immediately, as it's no use. If the TV displays a FULLSCREEN image in color. Then it's capable of receiving NTSC 3.58, as that's what it's doing. If on the other hand, it displays a FULLSCREEN b/w image. Then you TV is NOT capable of receiving NTSC 3.58, but indeed capable of receiving a 60Hz signal. This is the most normal, and next best thing.

Following is a list of what equipment you'll need if you live in a PAL country.

 
TV           PS-X  220-110  NTSC-PAL  NEW TV   

NTSC 3.58    X      X  

Only 60Hz    X      X        X 

Roll over    X      X                   X

PS-X = NTSC PS-X (Probably japanese)

220-110 = Step down transformer (220V - 110V) with US/JAP type 2 pin input (from the PS-X's AC in)

NTSC-PAL = NTSC - PAL signal converter. All it does is code the NTSC signal's color component for PAL. The output is STILL 60Hz, otherwise it wouldn't work.

NEW TV = Obviously you'll by a Sony multistandard TV.

Some of you might say 'Why don't I wait until the official european launch? That way I'll get it cheaper, and I don't have to fiddle with NTSC signals etc.' Well first off, the PAL machine runs at 50Hz instead of 60Hz, giving a speed reduction right there, plus it might not be able to play JAP/US games, because of 50-/60Hz, and or NTSC/PAL problems.

So, the best bet would be to either buy a JAP machine on import, or wait for the release of the US machine.

4 "How Does It Compare To Other Platforms?"

PS-X vs SEGA SATURN
The PS-X has more computational power, and far more impressive overall graphical capabilities, better video playback etc.

The Saturn has a better sprite engine, and better sound hardware.

The PS-X is CHEAPER than the Saturn.

The Saturn has longer joypad cables.

You can buy a wide range of third party controllers for both machines, eliminating the PS-X's short joypad leads. You can even get extender cables for the PS-X.

There are more games in the works for the PS-X, and the PS-X is leading in terms of quality at the moment.

Big, REALLY big software houses have signed on as developers for the PS-X. CAPCOM, NAMCO, KONAMI, PSYGNOSIS (bought by Sony), BULLFROG, VIRGIN, MIDWAY etc. etc. etc. I fact everyone except Sega and Nintendo - basically.

Sega is depending mostly on in-house teams.

Alledgedly 700+ PS-X development kits have been shipped worldwide. there's 200+ japanese developers alone!

PS-X vs JAGUAR
The PS-X compared to the Atari Jaguar? Don't make me puke! They claim the Jaguar is 64bit - Don't believe it! 32+32 might be 64, but not 64bit!

PS-X vs 3DO
Don't make me laugh!

PS-X vs 3DO-M2
The new upgrade for the existing 3DO, named M2 (formerly Bulldog) could be a serious contender for best next-gen hardware. But as it has been known in the past, 3DO are no marketing geniouses.

PS-X vs ULTRA64
We'll simply have to wait and see. ULTRA64 could have the edge, but with Nintendo's typical tyrannic rule over its developers, the software for it could suffer.

PS-X vs THE REST
Again, don't make me laugh!

5 "Games Reviewed"

I've only had the pleasure of playing 4 different games on it yet, so here's a review:

 
TEKKEN 

It's a 3D beat 'em up in the same mould as Virtua Fighter, only better, with better graphics, better sound and better gameplay. 

Access time                                               10/10  
  
+ While the game boots, you can play a few levels of Galaga 
+ No NOTICEABLE access 

Presentation                                               9/10 

+ ABSOLUTELY great rendered intro - HAS to be seen! 
+ 8 rendered endings for the main 8 characters 
+ No japanese text in the game 

Graphics                                                   8/10  

+ 60fps SMOOTH texture mapped 3D fighters 
- Texture glitches now and then, especially with very complex 
  charcters meeting eachother (like Kuma) 

Sound                                                      9/10 

+ INCREDIBLE sound  
+ You can select the original arcade sound as well       

Gameplay                                                   9/10 

+ Better gameplay than Virtua Fighter. Many more moves per 
  fighter  
+ Loads of secret moves 

Gamelife                                                   8/10 

+ 17 fighters in all. 8 initial, 8 special and 1 boss. ALL 
  selectable I might add! 

+ If you play with the boss (Heihachi) you get to meet the 8 
  special fighters instead of the initial 8 

- No rendered endings for the 8 special fighters, and none for 
  the boss either 

Options                                                    9/10 

+ Many options to tweak the gameplay. 5 difficulty levels 
  ranging from easy to ultra hard 

+ Saves best times etc. on memory card 

Impress factor                                             9/10 

+ Watch your freind's jaws drop as the see the intro, and as 
  they play the game - AWESOME! 
  
Overall                                                    9/10 

 
GUNNERS HEAVEN 

Straight platform shooting game. 

Access time                                                8/10 

- Noticeable delay after a level is completed 

Presentation                                               7/10 

+ Okay intro, showing the characters. 
- Not much else 

Graphics                                                   8/10 

+ Nice animations, and very colorful 
  
Sound                                                      8/10 

+ Okay most of the time 
  
Gameplay                                                   8/10 

+ Easy to get into, not TOO hard (in the beginning) 

Gamelife                                                   7/10 

- Once you've completed it I wonder if you'd do it again 

Options                                                    5/10 

- Not many 

Impress factor                                             6/10 

+ Massive explosions all over the screen, very impressive 

Overall                                                    8/10 

 
PARODIUS DELUXE 

Weird shoot 'em up - VERY weird! 

Access time                                                7/10 

- The action freezes sometimes when the disc is accessed 

Presentation                                               7/10 

- Weird, and looking 16bit 

Graphics                                                   7/10 

- Very Very weird. Nicely drawn, but again - very 16bit 

Sound                                                      9/10 

+ Incredible sound, TOTALLY crazy renditions. Hear the 3 pop songs! 

Gameplay                                                   8/10 

+ Easy to play. Even FUN! 2 Players simultaneously 

Gamelife                                                   7/10 

- Again, once you've completed it... 

Options                                                    8/10 

+ Loads, you can even play the Super Famicom version of the game! 
Impress factor                                             4/10 

- Close to no-existant, except for the music 

Overall                                                    7/10 

 
KING'S FIELD 

Doom style game with RPG elements. 

Access time                                                5/10 

- Very slow at boot-up 

Presentation                                               5/10 

- Poor 

Graphics                                                   7/10 

- Nothing to drool at. Very smooth though 

Sound                                                      7/10 

- Atmospheric - nothing more 
  
Gameplay                                                   7/10 

+ If you REALLY make up your mind, that you're gonna play it, 
  it's probably fun 

Gamelife                                                   8/10 

+ Seems very big, with many levels etc. 

Options                                                    6/10 

- Not many, You can save, and little else. 

Impress factor                                             7/10 

+ Looks promising, but then... 

Overall                                                    7/10 

 
GAMES TO LOOK OUT FOR 

Wipeout                  Futuristic flying racing game 
Mortal Kombat III        What can I say? 
Vampire Hunters          Darkstalkers 2 (Beat 'em up!) 
Syndicate Wars           Molyneux strikes again! 
Magic Carpet             And again! 
Philosoma                Shoot 'em up 
Toh shin den 2           3D beat 'em up 
Crossfire                Sequel to flashback 
Eleventh hour            Adventure 
Boxers road              Boxing simulation 
Alien Trilogy            Alien - Doom style - KEEEEWL! 
Demolish 'em Derby       Racing game with a twist 
?                        Tron style game 
Ace Combat               Afterburner style flying game 
Ridge Racer 2            Racing game 
Thunderhawk 2            Chopper game 

+ many, many, many, many, many, many more!