PlayStation Concert Wows with Music, But Misses the Mark on Live Performance

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Lately, I attended The PlayStation Concert, an extraordinary live music event that Sony touts as redefining entertainment. With a live band and a mix of popular tunes from renowned PlayStation series, I was eager to witness the company’s rich history brought to life on stage during their 30th anniversary festivities.

It came as quite a shock to discover that the PlayStation Concert was primarily a tribute to the past two generations rather than any previous era, and the only aspect it was “reshaping” was the very definition of a live band.

Although there were aspects of the concert that I took issue with, overall it was a delightful evening filled with PlayStation-inspired music. My friends and I found humor in the references, winced at certain presenter’s jokes, but most importantly, we marveled at the exceptional quality of some of the soundtracks from popular PlayStation games.

Unlike other live bands or orchestras I’ve attended previously, what makes this event unique is the use of striking visuals. The PlayStation Concert showcases a large high-resolution screen behind its band, as well as five banners that move up and down over the stage front.

These signs feature additional movements, outlines, or video clips that play on top of them, yet they remain semi-transparent, enabling a clear view of the signs, the band, and the large screen simultaneously, resulting in some very impressive layered visuals.

Every primary collection showcased an extraordinary tale of the games using pictures and animations, seamlessly blending various elements to keep things engaging. I found myself continually searching the stage for fascinating details, fully immersed in the overall captivating experience.

Nevertheless, this high level of immersion wasn’t sustained consistently, as not all game elements received the same AAA-quality polish. While certain games boasted custom, fully animated visuals, others relied more on animated PNGs.

In these games such as Uncharted and Bloodborne, the static visuals remained unchanged for about 5 to 10 minutes while they were being showcased. This approach was noticeably inconsistent, and when less visually dynamic games were displayed, they paled in comparison, seeming rather dull.

However, my primary reason for attending was the music, and unfortunately, The PlayStation Concert didn’t quite meet my expectations in that regard. Even though it may not have been obvious right away.

Initially, if you’re expecting an accurate portrayal of PlayStation’s 30-year history in this event, you might be disappointed. Games like Final Fantasy, Crash Bandicoot, Killzone, Resistance, inFAMOUS, Metal Gear Solid, Shadow of the Colossus, LittleBigPlanet, Ratchet and Clank, among others, were noticeably absent from the show, even though there were numerous mentions of some throughout. It’s possible that legal issues are preventing some of these games from being featured, but their absence still leaves me with a sense that they should have been included.

Rather than presenting a mix of various tunes, the program primarily showcased extended medleys from four major franchises, with a few additional pieces interspersed. The main focus was on Horizon, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, and God of War, each featuring medleys lasting over 20 minutes. Although I was somewhat disheartened by the limited variety, these extended medleys were truly impressive.

I don’t particularly enjoy the Horizon soundtrack, but listening to tracks from pivotal scenes in Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, and God of War was incredibly stirring. Often, these moments would give me goosebumps or even make my eyes well up a bit. For me, it underscored the crucial role that music plays within these productions.

The melody from Ghost of Tsushima hasn’t crossed my mind since finishing the game, but when I heard the tune that accompanies the climactic battle, it instantly transported me back to those moments and evoked the feelings associated with that particular scene.

During the violin solo from The Last of Us, there was such silence you could cut it with a knife – a moment that powerfully echoed Sarah’s tragic death long ago. To this day, it continues to move listeners deeply, and experiencing it live, coupled with the vivid visuals, only made it more impactful.

Despite the grandiose God of War soundtrack playing throughout the show, boasting large, dramatic choirs accompanied by an orchestra, the live band on stage was relatively small. It consisted of only a few musicians: two violinists (one being absent due to a stomach bug during my viewing), a cellist, two French horns, a multi-instrumentalist playing both trombone and other wind instruments, two drummers, two guitarists, and just two vocalists.

In other words, it’s important to note that The PlayStation Concert incorporates pre-recorded tracks in certain parts. For instance, during a portion of the Ghost of Tsushima medley, a musician playing the Koto was displayed on the large screen, rather than physically on stage. On the other hand, the God of War medley often showcased backup choir members on the screen, while only two singers were present on stage.

As I continued to tune in to the performance, it became increasingly clear to me that the sounds I was hearing weren’t solely produced by the artists on stage. Despite the excellent audio quality, knowing I had paid for a full orchestra to perform live but only saw half of it left me feeling a bit let down, and it diminished some of the enchantment.

For me, The Last of Us stood out as the most captivating among all. Beyond my fandom, what truly resonated was its minimalistic soundtrack that allowed the performers on stage to bring the music to life. In contrast, during God of War’s climax, the lead singer’s dramatic pose left me questioning whether the powerful performance I heard was actually live or pre-recorded.

I prefer a minimalistic visual setting accompanied by a live orchestra and choir, as the quality of the music in video games like PlayStation can stand alone as a form of entertainment.

Despite some issues with visual discrepancies and audio hiccups, I had an enjoyable experience at The PlayStation Concert. The music was terrific, the visuals were generally impressive, and there were numerous entertaining moments, such as receiving a cup of fictional “liber-tea” during a short Helldivers 2 segment.

If you share my fondness for these franchises, you’re likely to enjoy the thrill of hearing them played in a large stadium filled with fellow PlayStation enthusiasts, accompanied by a live band. And that’s precisely what I experienced – an enjoyable time. However, I couldn’t help but wish for a broader representation of PlayStation’s rich history and more efforts to maintain the authenticity of a live performance.

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2025-04-28 21:07