Summary
After what feels like an endless amount of rumors, Sony’s PlayStation 5 Pro is finally here, and it’s bringing with it a set of new tech and specifications that will enhance some of the original system’s classic titles. This beefier console includes AI upscaling for improved visual fidelity, and more GPU power to enhance gameplay speed and stability, alongside advanced ray tracing and a plethora of other graphical improvements.
Though the PlayStation 5 has already amassed a respectable collection ofoutstanding titlesthat have been met with praise from players and critics alike, it’s clear that a few of them have been pushing that system to its limit, resulting in a few drawbacks. With the PlayStation 5 Pro though, these already amazing games are going to look and play even better, especially the ones listed below, which have all been confirmed to be receiving Pro updates.
NEOWIZ’s Pinocchio-inspiredSouls-like,Lies of P, became a surprise smash hit when it was released in September 2023. Based in the unnerving city of Krat,Lies of Ppairs gorgeous graphics with fluid gameplay, but upon loading up the game, players would need to choose which mode they want to go with. There’s a 30 FPS quality mode, a 40 FPS hybrid between performance and quality, and finally, a 60 FPS mode which dials down the graphics and textures.
For the PlayStation 5 Pro, the quality mode still exists, but the frames can now exceed the original 30, resulting in a smoother gameplay experience. Additionally, performance mode will now also support full native 4K resolution, so that those terrifying bosses can look even more realistic and scary when P is forced to take them on throughout his grueling adventure.
The remake of Capcom’sResident Evil 4actually played pretty well on the PlayStation 5, but it still wasn’t without its issues. Though the game runs at 60 FPS when choosing performance mode, there will still be slight stutters and slowdowns, especially when moving between areas. The bigger issue though was the textures and smaller details of the environments, which could look a little blurry without the graphical boost in place.
This won’t be affectingResident Evil 4 Remakeon the PS5 Pro though, which keeps it locked at a stable 60 FPS and improves graphical fidelity, but if players want to go even further, they can disable ray tracing and hair effects to reach upwards of 120 FPS. Anyone who has played this much-beloved retelling ofCapcom’s classic entrywill know how fast-paced and action-heavy it is, so being able to run at a smoother frame rate will greatly benefit the overall experience.
Early PS5 Pro reviews showcasedStellar Bladeas being one of the games that received the most notable improvement from the PS5 Pro’s specs, primarily due to how it uses the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR). This results in an incredibly noticeable graphical upgrade where Eve, her allies, and the multitude of enemies she faces off against all manage to pop out of the screen thanks to how refined and sharp the visuals are.
In fact, the PSSR is said to provide an even cleaner image than native 4K, andStellar Bladeis certainly the best game for showing that off in practice.Stellar Bladedidn’t suffer too much from FPS drops originally, but bumping this up to an 80 FPS cap will make each strike and slash feel that much more responsive, which of course, is crucial in ahack and slashas fast as this one.
Admittedly, people were a bit baffled when Sony announced a remake of the cult classicUntil Dawn. This was a game that already looked great, even for a late PS3 title, but with the remake, the graphics had received a complete makeover, and amodernized third-person camera anglewas chosen over the original fixed camera of the original.
However, technical issues have resulted in the game receiving a lukewarm reception from critics and fans, with many citing this as an example of the downsides of using Unreal Engine 5 for older games. Luckily, the random stutters, lighting issues, and outrageous frame drops are said to be smoothed out with the Pro upgrade, allowing players to enjoy the game at a more stable framerate while also experiencing the brand-new graphical overhaul without being forced to hamper the performance.
Simply put,God of War Ragnarokis a game that looks downright outstanding in its performance mode. The land of Midgard has been expanded since the first game, allowing Kratos and Atreus to venture into a multitude of different environments, from swamp-like realms full of greenery to snowy tundras, and it’s truly breathtaking to see these areas in all their beauty up close.
However, most players went with the performance mode in order to keep up with the action-packed gameplay, but even then, the standard PS5 would struggle to uphold this frame rate during chaotic encounters with multiple enemies at once. The PS5 Pro merges both performance and quality modes together to reap the benefits of a high frame rate with graphics that are even more jaw-dropping thanks to the AI upscaler working overtime in the background.
Despite the doubts many people had, Bloober Team managed to knock it out of the park with their retelling ofSilent Hill 2, at least, in most areas. While the story and gameplay are top-notch, the game does suffer from several technical issues, especially the constant shimmering and odd light effects that can be seen when indoors most of the time. These are lingering problems that the Pro will surely iron out as part of its many enhancements.
The boost in graphical fidelity and AI upscaling will also go a long way in making each and every grimy detail of the game that much more realistic and will work wonders on the already amazing-looking motion cap used for the cutscenes. As ifSilent Hill 2 Remakecouldn’t get any scarier, Sony is offering players the chance to up the scare factor and reduce some of the immersion-breaking technical issues with the PlayStation 5 Pro.
Similar to theSilent Hill 2 Remake,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthwas viewed by many as being an excellent game that improved upon much of what made its original counterpart great. One major issue people noticed early on though was the strange blurriness which was especially evident when roaming around the open world. This forced players to either go with quality mode and adjust their eyes to 30 FPS or to attempt to ignore the visual issues to keep the core gameplay fast and fun to play.
When Mark Cerny first announced the PS5 Pro, it almost felt like he was speaking directly toRebirthplayers when he suggested the idea of merging graphics and performance modes together, but that’s not allRebirthwill benefit from. The PSSR technology will enhance the environments and character models, while the machine’s higher GPU frequency makes frame drops in more intense battles a thing of the past. Square Enix probably could have done a better job at optimizing the game in the first place, but thankfully, the PS5 Pro rectifies pretty much every technical issue so that players can feel fully immersed inCloud and the gang’smission to hunt downSephiroth.
