Gamers could use this info: PC or console?

[Craig234]

Games get reviews, and even reviews on specific platforms. But gamers with a PC and console often face a choice which to buy a game on.

A lot of variables go into that - locked frame rates, graphic resolution, one or the other enhanced - PC usually comes out ahead on those things.

But there are other factors as well, including whether the basic gameplay is better suited to controller or KB/mouse (though PC's can use a controller).

What we don't seem to have much are reviewer opinions about the question, 'which games if any are better to get on a console than a PC?'

Sure, one answer could be 'none' ad leave it at that and only get console exclusives for a console.

But maybe there are some? And then there's the question, how much better are they on PC - if we see a sale where console is half the price of PC (ya, typically it's more likely the other way), are they close? Etc.

 

[Tweak155]

I've yet to buy a game on a console that was available on PC and then thought after the fact "I'm glad I did that".

Only good reason would be is if your friends are playing on the console because they don't have a gaming PC and it is a multiplayer game.

 

[TheELF]

I've yet to buy a game on a console that was available on PC and then thought after the fact "I'm glad I did that".

Only good reason would be is if your friends are playing on the console because they don't have a gaming PC and it is a multiplayer game.

If you have a very good PC then yes,otherwise anything with a high amount of texture streaming (batman arkham knight/GTA V ... ) will run smoother and with less problems on the console then on a cheap low-mid end PC.

 

[JTsyo]

I just picked up Steam Link on the sale they were running. Now I can play the games on my TV with my PS3 controllers. I had my eye on the Batman games.

 

[Arshad Hussain]

PC for the lifetime, More HD Graphics, high frames, AA with smooth gameplay and most importantly with easy to use controls.

 

[ImpulsE69]

If I can play it in some way on a PC, that's where I'll play it. Generally the experience will be better overall. I've moved away from console more and more over time because of how they try to make them locked down subpar PC's.

 

[Midwayman]

Lots of issues with consoles, but the biggest two for me are
1) Control scheme. Everything is designed around a game pad which means simplistic controls are needed. No mouse for FPS is a no-go
2) No way to get a 'premium' experience. Console focus on the lowest common denominator. 30fps is considered acceptable. I mean If I could buy a $1000 version of a console with 4x the power I would just for higher resolution and frame rate.

 

[quikah]

You can use a controller on a PC too, so anything that is better with a controller can be achieved on PC. Generally it is going to be up to each persons setup. If you can afford a good PC and big monitor then the PC is probably better. If you cannot spend that much then console could be better even for games that work better with keyboard/mouse. Of course you can get a Xim adapter for keyboard/mouse on a console too.

 

[Craig234]

There's a subjective element to it. When I played some games on consoles, it just didn't 'feel right' to consider playing it on PC - an example Burnout paradise.

Strangely, Dragon Age: Origins is the same - I can argue why it's so much better on PC, but it just 'felt' better playing on PS3, probably because I got used it there first.

Usually, the PC seems so much better I don't want to play it on console. It left me wondering if there are any games I should buy for console other than exclusives - and I don't like any of those yet.

The two above are the only ones I preferred on console.

 

[Stuka87]

If the game is available on PC, I WILL buy it for PC over console every single time. The ONLY games I buy for console are console only games.

 

[whm1974]

You can use a controller on a PC too, so anything that is better with a controller can be achieved on PC. Generally it is going to be up to each persons setup. If you can afford a good PC and big monitor then the PC is probably better. If you cannot spend that much then console could be better even for games that work better with keyboard/mouse. Of course you can get a Xim adapter for keyboard/mouse on a console too.

The only real advantage of consoles is cost due to current prices of GPUs and memory.

 

[DigDog]

although i nowadays despise console players, i don't despise consoles themselves. i loved my playstation, the first one.

if i had a ps4 at home, i would probably choose whether to buy the game for pc or ps based on teh type of gameplay and controls.

if they are cinematic games, such as COD, action games, such as GoW, racing games, or broadly speaking casual games designed for FUN, rather than for competition, then i would get them on console. the ps4 twin-stick controller is just a great invention and when it comes to fun, it's the best control there is.

for SERIOUS games, it's got to be mouse and keyboard. if you come into my PC shooter and i see that your movement clearly shows you are using a controller, i will have you votekicked.

 

[Blitzvogel]

I wonder if the continuing GPUocalypse is pushing people towards the premium consoles. If I was guaranteed a 60 FPS performance mode and mouse & KB support, I'd be tempted to just use a PS4 Pro or XBX.

 

[Thebobo]

Only time I've ever played a console game is at like Best Buys.

 

[Craig234]

I got a PS4 Pro, and went to play a game or 2, and it was just 'bleh'. I did not prefer the controller compared to mouse/keyboard, and I know the experience generally is worse, graphics, sound.

So I asked, why do I have this thing - the only answer seeming to be console exclusives.

This raised the question, are there some games where the console controller playing is a better experience - the two games I mentioned, I enjoyed on PS3 a lot and they weren't as appealing on PC. But it's hard to find any reviews discussing the ones that might be good for console. The discussion here is suggesting 'none'... But I suspect that's not quite right.

The ones I started on PS4 are Fallout 4, and while it's 'ok', I'm missing the PC for it, and probably the top reviewed title on PS4, Horizon Zero Dawn, and it's just not feeling that fun..

 

[quikah]

This raised the question, are there some games where the console controller playing is a better experience

Driving games and platformers, but then that question is pretty pointless, you can just use the controller on the PC.

My experience is that it is nice to play games on a big screen sitting on my couch, so console is a good experience. You can do that with a PC, but it takes some work to set it up properly and a lot more money to get it going. Console is very easy, just plug and play and relatively cheap. Competitive multiplayer FPS are pretty terrible on a console, but I have realized I just don't enjoy those types of games anymore. Single player story driven games are really good on console, even FPS ones (enjoyed Gears of War on Xbox).

There are 4 main arguments for console:
1. Cost
2. Ease of use
3. Multiplayer anti-cheating
4. Local multiplayer (splitscreen co-op/party games)

 

[Tweak155]

Ever since the controller support in Windows has been a lot better (it's pretty much a standard no-hassle feature to every newly released game since ~Win7), there aren't a ton of of pros to the console anymore. Even the PS4 controller has decent support these days.

 

[calyco]

PC all the way, I tried going back and forth many times and even bought the same games for both. PC almost always wins out in graphics and controls. I only buy consoles now for exclusives.

 

[FreshBross]

PC will always come first. The only time I ever purchase a game for one of my consoles is because my friends only own a console and not a gaming PC or more often because I want to relive playing games on the gamecube and nintendo 64.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I've yet to buy a game on a console that was available on PC and then thought after the fact "I'm glad I did that".

Only good reason would be is if your friends are playing on the console because they don't have a gaming PC and it is a multiplayer game.

Batman Arkham City says Hello. It was a mess on PC because it was a 3rd party port. I bought and played it on PS4 because it is a terrible experience on PC. It was so bad that WB was offering full refunds for the game. There was lots of graphical features that were even fully missing from the game on PC too.

So I wholly disagree with you. There are lots of times when it's better for me to buy a game for console. I could also name others for me like Forza Horizon 3 not having HDR support on PC, same for Gears of War 4.


EDIT: Just realized this was an old thread that got bumped.

 

[FreshBross]

Well, personal experiences affect what one would think, and for sure some ports have been horrible on PC, but you came up with one title and 2 games that don't have HDR support. For me HDR makes everything look plastic and I don't even use it to take shots with my phone camera. Performance wise, I think you will find dozens upon dozens of side by side reviews online showing how much better x game is on PC vs console x.

That's not to say sticking to your console is a bad choice if that is your preference, because it's a choice of preference, but it won't and doesn't change facts. The same can be said for an old PC with lagging GPU, it can get an whoopin from the PS4 if just as old.

 

[Tweak155]

Batman Arkham City says Hello. It was a mess on PC because it was a 3rd party port. I bought and played it on PS4 because it is a terrible experience on PC. It was so bad that WB was offering full refunds for the game. There was lots of graphical features that were even fully missing from the game on PC too.

So I wholly disagree with you. There are lots of times when it's better for me to buy a game for console. I could also name others for me like Forza Horizon 3 not having HDR support on PC, same for Gears of War 4.


EDIT: Just realized this was an old thread that got bumped.

That's fine, your experiences don't have to match mine.

 

[FreshBross]

That's fine, your experiences don't have to match mine.

Right, I didn't mean to come off harsh either @cmdrdredd. it's actually relative to what you play and what you like in a given timeframe, although the number on console titles that outshine PC are much smaller, one could argue that's most of their favorite library. To each their gaming joy to experience and share!

 

[cmdrdredd]

Well, personal experiences affect what one would think, and for sure some ports have been horrible on PC, but you came up with one title and 2 games that don't have HDR support. For me HDR makes everything look plastic and I don't even use it to take shots with my phone camera. Performance wise, I think you will find dozens upon dozens of side by side reviews online showing how much better x game is on PC vs console x.

That's not to say sticking to your console is a bad choice if that is your preference, because it's a choice of preference, but it won't and doesn't change facts. The same can be said for an old PC with lagging GPU, it can get an whoopin from the PS4 if just as old.

I don’t think you know what HDR is then. Go look up videos about HDR video. It’s simply a better picture.

 

[Midwayman]

https://skylum.com/blog/what-is-tone-mapping

Tone mapping can look weird, kinda like wide gaumet displays did before color profile management got better. Once you have a real HDR display you can show the HDR image without the janky tone mapping.