DUALSHOCK 4 Controller

I've owned a Playstation Four for a while now, but I've used the provided controller to the point where I've worn down the analog stick covers, degraded the vibration rotors, and rendered the R2 button unresponsive. However, let the status of the controller stand as testament to my dedication to the PS4 dualshock controller. The thing is extraordinarily comfortable.Before I actually got the PS4, I seriously wondered if the changes to the Playstation system altogether would be worth investment. I was afraid I would be paying more money for more of the same. Fortunately, I made a great investment in the new-gen system, and the controller is a definite improvement over the former controller. The analog sticks aren't as close together as they were for the PS3 controller, and the addition of the touchpad certainly was, at first, the subject of amusement and speculation given its early limited uses. However, it has been a useful feature for games and other non-game related features.The addition of the headphone input was, at first, not very useful to me given I didn't have any games where I needed headphones, but that has changed over time. The alteration of the select/start button setup to the share/options configuration isn't anything I consider worth mentioning since the option button is sort of designated as an all-in-one feature of the PS3's start/select, but the change may be confusing to anyone who is not familiar with the new controller layout. I play Battlefield Four, and at first I was confused how to "spot" an enemy without the select button, but a different button is designated with this task, and it's really easy to learn the controls for games even with the start/select change. The new controller also has a large blue light strip along the front. It doesn't really have many functions other than to look cool, but it does serve some various offhand functions for the Playroom "game". This is usable only for people who own the Playstation Eye, though. The light does change color based on different functions/uses of the controller. Everything else is, for the most part, similar if not the same as the PS3 controller. You'll have the classic Playstation direction keys and shape buttons associated with all the previous Playstation controllers.Despite the early odd experience with the controller, I really noticed the difference between the PS4 and PS3 controllers. I have used the PS3 more sparingly given the handles are a little larger yet "roomy" (spaced apart) than the PS3's controller. The controller is very comfortable and is also somehow lighter feeling than the PS3 controller, for all of its added mass. The controller is altogether vastly better than its predecessor and certainly merits more praise than I thought was possible, but I'll try to be concise. The share button deserves its own discussion, though, so I apologize for this rather lengthy review.The share option is nothing short of awesome. I had always wanted to record gameplay from the PS3, but the money necessary to buy a decent game capturing device simply drove me away from making the investment. Now, however, I can simply plug in a USB drive into the PS4 and export my gameplay files to the USB and then transfer and edit the files to my liking. Admittedly, the quality of the videos I make aren't as great when compared to a person who uses a good game capturing device, but the tradeoff is simply the fact that I'm not looking to be a frontman for a particular game title or company. The system works well enough without spending a crapload of money on really expensive gaming equipment. The PS4 and its controller really help amateur gamers like me feel comfortable and happy playing games without much further investment in other equipment. This may not be the same for every person looking to have a good time playing on the PS4, but the new features to the system and, for that matter, to the controller make gaming so much better than it ever has been.

I touched on the DS4 in my PS4 review, but I think it's fair that I reiterate my favorite features here, since I purchased a 2nd controller, and my favorite feature really shows itself when you have more than one.it is a remarkable improvement to the PlayStation controller line. My fiance is incredibly impressed by how comfortable it is, and the fact that we both agree - even me with my large mitts - shows how much effort was put into the ergonomics of the controller. The weight and size feels perfect, and really does the system as a whole justice. One really neat feature, that gets glanced over in some reviews, is the ability to plug any standard headphones into the controller and pump all of the system audio through the controller, wirelessly. No delay, either. I've been using my iPhone earpods (later version), and the quality is great. Microphone works well too. When not using the headphones, the speaker on the controller adds a layer of depth to games like Knack and Resogun that is a real treat.One really awesome feature that we didn't realize from all of the pre-release reviews is that each controller can be assigned to a user, and that user can be connected to a PSN account. Whenever you turn on a controller, it asks "who's using this controller?". Which ever account you pick, that person will log in. In a game like Knack, both me and my roommate have our own PSN accounts and are both logged in. Depending on which controller is used to launch the game, that user is the primary player and is playing to earn trophies on their profile. Each user, though, has their own "home screen", meaning at any time I can press the PS button on the controller and go to MY home screen, see my friends, change my settings, etc. During this time my roommate can't interact with the screen - it's my home screen after all. We can hop back into the game quickly, or he can press the PS button on his controller and go into his homescreen, where he gets to interact with his friends, change his settings, etc. Because we're both logged in, the status of both of our accounts is "Playing Knack". It's a fantastic way to utilize the account system and tie it directly with a controller. If we're playing with his game save, and he is earning trophies for his account, as soon as he wants to stop, he can end the game and put his controller down and I can go to my homescreen with the PS button and launch a new game. I am instantly using my account and earning trophies for me, now, without having to log out of the system first or changing which controller is "Controller 1". It is one of the stand out features of the system for us.Having used several controllers over the past 20+ years, the DS4 is my favorite. It's obvious why as soon as you hold it in your hands. And having an extra one for your console really shows of Sony's attention to detail with the PS4.