Introduction and Review

Hi everyone. I'm new to the Installation 04 team and, as the title suggests, this is my introductory post. You can all refer to me as Raider, Raiderbear, or RaiderBear30, take your pick. Anyways, just a little background into my gaming experience, I got a Super Nintendo when I was six, seven, or eight; I honestly can't remember. Ever since then, I've loved games and have been a gamer. I still own that SNES, as well as an N64, Gamecube, PS 2, Xbox, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, Gameboy Color, Gameboy SP, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, the Wii, Xbox 360, and very recently (2 weeks ago) I purchased a PS3. My job here at Installation 04 is mostly going to be about me speaking on the PS3 and PS3 games.


First, about the PS3. I consider myself an Xbox 360 guy; however, I have been blown away by the PS3. From a hardware stand-point, I can 100% say that the Playstation 3 is the best system on the market. It has a nice, sleek, black look that beats the other systems from an astethics perspective, it has a massive hardrive (on average 80 GB but you can customize to buy as big as over 200GB), it has ports for Micro SD cards, picture cards, etc. Graphically, you can actually tell the difference between it and the PS3 (this one, I must admit, I used to think was BS but after playing games that are both on PS3 and 360, the PS3 has the graphical edge). Lastly, the controllers are all wireless with an easy to charge USB-system and long battery life.

So, what exactly are the flaws in the PS3? For one, the cost. Relative to other systems, the PS3 is still the most expensive. The fault can no longer be blamed on the built in Blu-Ray player, because Blu-Ray players are quickly dropping in price and a friend of mine even purchased one for $120. The real reason is that the hardware is so advanced that the cost for this system will be high. HERE IS A WARNING THOUGHT: how did prices drop? Economically, to lower cost, you gotta lower quality or find cheaper inputs. Sony decided to lower it's quality, by cutting down on USB ports (which, I must say, are necessary, especially if you play with friends), and removing extra hardware like the PS/PS2 reverse compatibility component. To me, this was a HUGE LET DOWN. Yes, it is true, the newer systems are lower quality than the original PS3's. That is why I purchased the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle from Amazon.com. It has 4 usb ports, the Dualshock 3 controller (avoid the Sixaxis controller from the very first models, it was a fail), 80 GB hardrive, MGS4 (obviously), and reverse compatibility so I can play my favorite PS2 games like MGS3 and Dragon Quest VIII.

Another *alleged* flaw of the PS3 is poor game choice. If you are a Metal Gear Solid fan like I am, MGS4 is such a great game (this will be one of my upcoming game reviews) that the game alone is worth it, but don't be fooled. The PS3 has enough fun, entertaining, and outstanding games that make it worth buying. I've only beaten 2 and am on my third to be honest, but I've tested about 12 PS3 games and all of them are at least worth the money. Just to list a few of the awesome PS3 exclusive games, Resistance: Fall of Man, Resistance 2, Killzone 2, Time Crisis 4 (with Guncon 3), Ratchet Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Metal Gear Solid 4, Heavenly Sword, and many more that I could go on about. If your beef against the PS3 is games, then that my friend is not a valid reason.

The Final Verdict: The new PS3s do have their flaws, but are fairly affordable for the quality good you are getting at $400. Especially since Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is included in the newer bundles. If you don't care about reverse compatibility and have the money, I highly recommend buying the new systems since the only difference is 2 usb ports and the playback problem. On a plus, the new systems don't get hot and make no noise, whereas mine can get noisy at times with the cool-down fan blowing. If you are like me, I suggest tracking down the 80GB MGS4 bundle which is the best quality PS3 system made (it is rumored that Sony sold these at a loss of $350 each system). I bought mine for $500 off of Amazon.com as I said earlier, and I believe Amazon still has some, so for $100 more you get a monster system. If you can't find that bundle, then here is the sneaky way around it. You buy a thin PS2 which sells for $100, place it on top of your PS3, and for the price I paid you have both, just not as conventient.

Here's the important stuff, the rating. Once you've tested out a PS3, you are hooked. In one word, the PS3 is beauty. Beauty. If the PS3 were a woman, she'd be #1 on Maxim's Hot 100 every year. I give the PS3 a solid 10. I said it before and I'll say it again, it is the best system on the market and ever created.


Coming soon, I will review Metal Gear Solid 4, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (the 2 games I've beaten), and Ratchet Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (game I'm currently playing).