The DualSense is the Next Generation of Gaming— by Tyler John Westhause
The next generation of gaming has arrived, and I’m fortunate enough to have gotten my hands on both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Yet with that in mind, I feel the true next generation is in my hands. In my control(ler).
The DualSense is already my favorite gaming controller of all time, far and away. It feels ridiculous for me to not only feel that way after a week using it, but also having been gaming for two decades.
Many brands and studios have IP of note: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, Lucasfilm, Marvel Warner Brothers.
I love all of these organizations, but not all of them can produce entertainment that only builds upon my excitement time after time. PlayStation does this.
I’ve always been a PlayStation guy, with the earliest game I remember playing being Crash Bandicoot.
In my mind for several years, PlayStation first party games were Crash Bandicoot, Ratchet & Clank, Sly Cooper, and Jak & Daxter.
The fact that I’ve daydreamed about replaying these staples of my childhood having the haptic feedback of the DualSense speaks magnitudes about it’s impact on myself and the next generation.
The partnership and cohesive union between these generations of PlayStation is incredibly exciting to think about.
I’m writing these thoughts firing from the hip, which is generally how I communicate about things I’m passionate about (see: Star Wars, NBA Basketball, Chicken Wings, Games, Baseball, Star Wars and Halo and …).
I like to think the DualSense could help revitilize some of these PlayStation classics. Collecting Blue Eco in Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy gives Jak the power of rapid movement, electrifying speed, and quick responses.
I’ve felt the effect of Miles Morales using the Venom Strikes in Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales. The buzz of electricity I feel in the controller would translate perfectly to Jak & Daxter. A cool simmer of collecting Red Eco. The light rumble of Yellow Eco. A wave of movement when collecting a full Green Eco burst. The Dualsense could usher in a new era of Remastered titles.
For Ratchet & Clank, I want to refer to Sackboy’s Big Adventure on the PlayStation 5. In Sackboy, you collect bubbles. I think they’re bubbles. My friend and I have had at least 3 conversations about it, and we’ve gotten nowhere.
Anyway, there is a slight rumble or pop you feel in the DualSense controller for each bubble you pick up as the Sackboy. Ratchet & Clank uses nuts & bolts as it’s in-game currency. I’d love to feel the clanky (author’s not: heh) feedback from collecting 100 bolts.
That’s a trivial mechanic, but it is what stands out as next-gen to me. You can take it a step further and imagine the trigger feedback you could receive from each of Ratchet’s unique weapons. If the RYNO doesn’t give me a workout trying to fire, I’ll be devastated. If Mr. Zurkon doesn’t personally recite me a bedtime story, what left do I have?
I might update this with more thoughts. I thought about posting to Facebook, Twitter, Instagra, MySpace, but I like Medium. It lets met babble to no one in particular. A good outlet. I’m going to copy/past some reddit comments and hyperlinks where people discuss why they love the DualSense, and if you’ve made it this far, I recommend clicking on them! Some really insightful writing can be found in those comments, you just need to sift through to find them :)
A Confession: The Magic of DualSense on Sony’s Masterpiece
“I want to start this post by coming clean. I have been playing video games for over 20 years, and a lot of that has been on PlayStation hardware. I am a devoted fan of Sony’s gaming products — whether it’s the console or the studios that make their spectacular games.
I will confess, though, that I have never been keen on sensory features for controllers. Whether it’s vibration or motion control, those features have always felt gimmicky. I didn’t want to “steer” my controller or violently shake it.
When Sony announced the DualSense, my worst fears were being realized — Sony was trying to create something for a generation of gamers that isn’t me. I just wanted a plain controller that works well and doesn’t break.
At first, I was disappointed that PS5 games wouldn’t support third-party PS4 controllers. I own an Astro C40, a ludicrously expensive controller, and I felt betrayed that I couldn’t use it on the PS5.
Well, now I know why. And oh boy, I was wrong.
The DualSense is a triumph in so many ways that I can’t even begin to describe how amazing it feels to play Astro’s Playroom with it. It is such a leap in hardware that I can understand completely why PS5 games are meant to be played with a DualSense. I can’t imagine playing Astro’s Playroom with any other controller, and as more developers use the features of the DualSense, it will become more and more apparent why Sony thought this change was necessary.
I’ve only been on the PS5 for a couple of days, but this console has to be Sony’s magnum opus. The gaming experiences I’ve had so far with the DualSense have rekindled those feelings of joy and discovery that I thought were buried in childhood. The PS Plus Collection is also unparalleled in value — a library of classics that play extremely well on the PS5, and will probably be upgraded with time. I was ready to be letdown by the PS5 because I figured it wouldn’t live up to the hype. Nothing ever does. Again, I was wrong. The hype is real, and the PS5 is a revelation. If any of you haven’t bought the console and are having those doubts, consider the change of heart I’ve had. I know I’m preaching to the choir, but online reviews cannot possibly capture the magic of playing games with this hardware. If you’re considering switching to PC, well, I’ll say this. If you’re someone who plays Call of Duty’s online multiplayer almost exclusively, get a PC.
But if you’re gamer who loves unique experiences and tries different titles, and loves exploring new worlds and gaining satisfaction through all kinds of challenges, there is no better place to do that than the PS5.”
Cold Wars’ DualSense Features are Incredible.
“I’ve noticed there is currently no chatter about the hands-on experience of Cold War, so here we go!
Cold War aggressively implements the adaptive triggers per weapon to create tactile resistance. In the hands, you can feel the trigger on each weapon, this varies immensely between pistols and shotguns for example, providing stronger tension on the latter.
In-game this genuinely makes you want to use every single weapon, simply to feel the difference in your hands. This encourages experimentation and as each weapon class is so varied, players will develop favourite classes purely due to tactile preference.
In multiplayer, the highest setting of resistance can prove an obstacle due to the increased time to fire caused by the tension. I wouldn’t say it is a downright handicap, as it can be adjusted to user preference.
Overall, this has increased the immersion of the title greatly, as simply engaging with the game becomes a tactile experience. In my experience, the implementation of the dual sense is mixed across titles and I feel like shouting Cold War out as it has surprised and impressed me, as I hope it will for you.”
What triggered this idea in my head was the Speed Run mode and doing the all the suit versions of each world. Now I’m trying to imagine a online or couch co-op game with 80–100 so mini games with multiple boards showcasing the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.
Then for characters we can choose customizable Astro Bots and/or unlock the PlayStation IP themed Astro Bots.
