The slim PS3 is more than a mere games machine: it’s a way to plug your telly into the old information super highway, and do everything from frag snotty teens on the other side of the world to high def movie streaming. But with the Xbox 360 and Wii adding online updates all the time, is it the best option? Read on and find out in our full slim PS3 online review.
Read the rest of our slim PS3 review
Slim PS3 review: Six months on
Slim PS3 review: Media and storage
Slim PS3 review: Design and build
Firstly, the slim PS3 deserves credit for flexibility in how you get online compared to an Xbox 360. You can use either an ethernet port or connect over Wi-Fi, and while it’s not the latest N-standard speed, it’s still much more convenient than reshaping your entire lounge to get your console near a cable.
The slim PS3 and the Xbox 360 are almost evenly matched nowadays when it comes to online gaming though. You can hunt out your friends easily and dive in to multiplayer gaming sessions straight away on both. If you’re making a decision based on this, it cuts two ways: the slim PS3′s PlayStation Network is completely free, but doesn’t allow for cross game voice chat with your mates, and the Achievements points system for completing games on Microsoft’s console is certainly more straight forward and competitive, even if it merely is a “Who’s is biggest?” contest. It’s just you have to pay £35 per year for the privilege, and unless you’re an addict by nature, we think Sony’s online offering is more attractive.
Slim PS3 review: Six months on
What isn’t though, is the lumpen bland mess of PlayStation Home. A virtual world where your PS3 avatar can wonder and interact with others, it’s utterly devoid of interest, despite Sony stuffing it full of themed areas for games. Why play this when you can play Modern Warfare 2 with your friends instead? Don’t bother to try it.
Sony’s made a much better job of the browser on the slim PS3 however. Usefully, it supports Flash, so most streaming video on the web can be flung to your telly. Sites look fine, but as you can imagine, trying to tap out URLs with a controller and on screen keyboard is a Herculean task, so it’s a relief that you can plug a USB keyboard and go instead. You can even have multiple tabs, but media browsing aside, if you have a PC (or even a smartphone) you won’t need it for anything else beyond this.
Much more of your online time spent on the slim PS3 outside gaming will be on the PlayStation Store, which lets you download full games and demos. The demos are always worth checking out before a new purchase since they’re quick to download, and there’s no longer any need to buy a pricey mag for the disc. Should you want to snap up a whole game, the PlayStation Store’s tendency to deal in proper currency rather than points also makes the whole process much more transparent.
One fairly recent addition that should make the PlayStation Store on the slim PS3 worth a second look is the advent of video downloads in the UK. They work almost identically to Xbox Live Zune movies: you can buy or rent a title, download in the background and start streaming whenever you like with a fast enough connection. It’s well stocked with new and classic titles, and the design even factors in useful abilities like a filter by studio. Unless you use a PSP heavily, the DRM locks on purchases seem a bit limiting so we’d always rent where possible: unfortunately HD options aren’t universal, and it’s not clear at first glance what can be rented or only bought.
Slim PS3 review: Media and storage
BBC iPlayer is also a winning inclusion, letting you stream Auntie on demand. It works just like on any other set top box or the Wii, is free, and in most situations is much more useful than having Sky Player on an Xbox 360 (Which requires a Sky subscription in the first place).
Over the years, Sony’s steadily updated its offerings online for the PS3, and step by step the PlayStation Network has reached a strong stock of features that’ll have you doing much more than gaming on the big black box. Now, it’s a worthy and crucially free rival to Xbox Live on the 360, and vastly superior to the Nintendo Wii’s internet channels.
Read the rest of our slim PS3 review
Slim PS3 review: Six months on
Slim PS3 review: Media and storage
Slim PS3 review: Design and build
