One of the core factors of a console’s quality of life comes from the look and feel of its controller. In the same way tires merge a car with the road it drives on, a controller is the interface between player and console. The DualShock has been with the PlayStation brand since its humble beginnings, adapting slowly over time to include newer technology and features. Now, as the PS4 launches into stores across the US, gamers are finally getting a chance to use the latest evolution of Sony’s family of controllers, the DualShock 4.
Trying to pick out a single new feature that stands out among all of the changes would be difficult, but the single quality that will remind you that you are no longer using the same DualShock from previous generations is the shape and texture of the new controller. Although a bit larger than its predecessors, it feels as rich in quality as it looks. The shoulder buttons, which are sure to get tons of action, are a major improvement; long gone are the days of your fingers slipping off in the middle of a race or firefight. The d-pad has also received some attention and we can safely say that PlayStation remains the home of the best d-pads on the market. It’s one of the best we’ve used and has hints of influence from the PS Vita with a high level of feedback.
The shape of the DS4 isn’t quite as ergonomic as we had hoped, though. Its lack of defined curves and protruding spine in the center back make it feel as if it isn’t really trying to make your hands feel comfortable. We’ve had the most comfort by hugging the two grips with our three support fingers, but those with larger hands may not be able to do that. As such, your experience may be different depending on your hand size. Part of this is shrouded by the outstanding tactile materials it’s constructed out of, though. The mixture of smooth matte black finishes with a more “grippy” plastic where your fingers rest is delightful.
The convex rubber mushroom joysticks we’ve become accustomed to are no longer present. Instead, the joysticks are a little smaller and shaped to plant your fingertips into the center where they’re supposed to remain. It requires different mechanics than before since there is less surface to push on. We even found our fingers slipping off when rotating from one direction to the opposite. If you can keep your fingertips engaged, that shouldn’t be a problem.
One of the more debatable additions to the DS4 is the new Touch Pad that sits directly on the front of the controller above the analog sticks. As the utility of the new pad is still being shown off through various games, it has become clear that not all titles are going to capitalize on its potential. Call of Duty: Ghosts only uses the Touch Pad to check the multiplayer scoreboard, but in Killzone: Shadow Fall, it adds a great deal of function as you use it to command your OWL drone. Its long-term impact is questionable, but the Touch Pad feels incredibly sturdy and works as another click-able button, so it shouldn’t be too hard for developers to find a use for it.
The feature that has quickly become one of our favorites, besides feeling somewhat gimmicky, is the Light Bar that rests on top of the controller. With its ability to change through a variety of colors and be tracked by the optional PlayStation Camera (the new PS Eye), it’s an integrated PS Move of sorts. Besides simply being a motion feature that the majority probably will not use, some developers have utilized the bar’s color range to determine player order, as well as to signify damage in certain games —meaning we might see more out of this feature than initially expected. Sadly, this feature does seem to play a role in the DS4’s noticeably diminished battery life, as this controller will rarely give you more than 9 hours of playtime, down from the 25-30 of last generation. Ouch.
The internal speaker for the DS4 is a minor addition. Even though the speaker is moderate in quality, it’s no more than a way for developers to push on-screen sounds closer to you. For reloading weapons and interacting with objects, it’s cool, but we’d prefer more battery life.
Supposedly, the DS4 has ‘Enhanced Vibration,’ but having gone through a number of games, we have yet to feel anything remarkably different.
The PS4 has gone to great lengths to integrate the ability to live-stream and share your gaming sessions with your friends and general on-lookers, so much so that Sony has added the SHARE button in place of the classic SELECT button. Depending on which setup you use, tapping the button or holding the button will allow you to stream game footage to Twitch or to Ustream, or post a screen shot to Twitter or Facebook. Given how substantial the streaming software is on PS4, this is a great move by Sony.
Overall, the DualShock 4 deserves praise for its magnificent build quality, but has some questionable design flaws. Its improved triggers and d-pad are welcomed. On the other hand, its Light Bar, Touch Pad, and speaker have diminished its battery life immensely. We’d love to be able to say that the shape and joysticks are as great as they are promising. Unfortunately, we encountered moments where they proved uncomfortable. This evolution of the DualShock has some cool tricks up its sleeve, but isn’t as fundamentally sound as we hoped.
Review written by Dan Oravasaari, a Contributor for CraveOnline, with additions made by Jonathan Leack, CraveOnline’s Gaming Editor.
