I got a PS5 pro to try out some games since Bestbuy had it stock and a youtuber i like said he was going to return his. Figured what the hell, i know I can return it within 14 days and get a full refund.
TLDR; Not impressed. $700 for a 25-35% more powerful console isn't worth it. Maybe if it performed like the gpu specs and offered 67% more performance then sure. Bestbuy lets you return opened items within 14 days and during holiday season, they are extending the return period till January 31st so if you really want to try it, just try it for a few weeks then return it. this thing is going back as soon as I try out demon souls, ratchet and ff7 rebirth. Not worth $700. hell, not even worth $399. I expected better than 30% from cerny. DO NOT get this from a place that doesnt accept opened returns. There is a good chance you wont notice any difference.
Tried 3 games.
HFW - Looks amazing. They must have improved graphics in the fidelity mode. I wouldn't be surprised if they have enabled better AO, and shadows. Now its performance mode feels great but i can definitely say its not as sharp as fidelity.
Spiderman 2- this one just hurts. PSSR in performance mode has the same shimmering as the OG ps5 performance. Overall image quality is fine if you are not flying at fast speeds, but the moment you do the shimmering begins. I don't even think its running at 1440p internal resolution. this must be pssr 4k performance or 1080p internal resolution just like the base ps5.
The new RT effects are good. especially the distant shadows. I really like the skyline which already looked great but now they don't stand out and feel grounded if that makes any sense. Honestly, i think Horizon FW could really use these because a lot of the pop-in is shadow related.
TLOU2 - This is the one game that delivers on the Cerny pitch. great 4k pssr quality image. looks identical to native 4k. maybe a little better.
But it's the performance mode of the original game that explains all the compromises in Spiderman 2. My og ps5 runs the same section at 85 fps, ps5 pro? 105 fps. that's a mere 23% upgrade. it should easily be running at 120 fps locked. the only time it runs at a locked 120 fps is when the base ps5 would run at 95 fps. Turning on PSSR which renders at the same internal resolution gets us 78 fps. that means it cost us 34% just to use PSSR despite running at the same internal resolution.
And there in lies the problem. You have around 30% more GPU but PSSR is expensive so you have to settle for fewer RT effects at 60 fps at lower resolutions.
I wonder if GG didn't add RT shadows here because that would mean dropping to 1080p which would add shimmering like it does in Spiderman 2. ugh.