No matter how much we mature, certain things retain a charm we find irresistible. Growing up as a gamer surrounded by boxy CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TVs and monitors, I developed a deep affection for them. Despite now owning TVs capable of 4K 60FPS, they don’t evoke the same feelings as those old TV sets. So, when a CRT TV arrived at the AzMo Tech office, I had a wild idea: what if I combined the modern appeal of a PS5 console with the nostalgia of a CRT TV? Although my editor was skeptical, I proceeded with the experiment. Here are the results!
The Setup Was Half the Battle
While I’ve romanticized CRT TVs, it’s undeniable that modern devices offer plug-and-play convenience. Therefore, even before commencing this test, the first challenge was connecting these two devices from different eras.
The PS5 is designed for high-resolution visuals and features only an HDMI port, which is the standard. The old CRT TV, on the other hand, relies on the old red, white, and yellow RCA connectors for input.
Naturally, I had to order an HDMI to RCA converter to bridge the gap between the two devices. While it was a minor inconvenience, I chose to view it as an affordable time machine.
PS5 Games That Made the Cut
Now, onto the exciting part. I had to select some of my favorite titles to play on this Frankenstein-like setup. Although I would have enjoyed playing every game available, not all of them would look better on a CRT TV. After consulting with our in-house gaming expert, Upanishad, we settled on these five titles:
1. Control
2. God of War (2018)
3. Doom: Eternal
4. Street Fighter V
5. Hollow Knight
We chose these games because they blend modern graphics with a nostalgic feel. I included Street Fighter because a retro setup would be incomplete without a fighting game, and for a solid platformer, I selected Hollow Knight.
First Boot: I Can’t See Anything!
To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Instant regret was the first feeling that hit me. The moment the PS5 booted up, I realized this was a standard CRT TV. The first thing I noticed was the blurry text—so much of it. I had to squint to make out the icons and rely on muscle memory to navigate the PS5’s interface.
After a while, I gave up and resorted to using PS Remote Play to install games and adjust their settings. My initial gameplay experiences made it clear that things wouldn’t go smoothly. The visual quality was far from what flat panels offer, and this was consistent across all the games I tried. It was time to remove those rose-colored glasses.
The poor visuals made tasks like navigating the map in Control or reading the HUD in Doom: Eternal nearly impossible. Fortunately, Doom natively supported a 4:3 aspect ratio, making it a perfect fit for our CRT.
Doom, along with Control, was one of the better-looking games in terms of gameplay. Strangely, God of War seemed to blend 2D and 3D with a cell-shaded style. But, that was just the classic CRT effect.
Looking past the Problems (There’s a Saving Grace)
After a couple of hours of gameplay, my eyes adjusted to the CRT display, allowing me to focus on other visual aspects. Once I got past the initial discomfort, I began to notice the incredibly deep black levels in dark and shadowy areas. This was especially noticeable in Control’s eerie abandoned hallways and in Hollow Knight.
The depiction of Earth’s invasion in Doom: Eternal was particularly striking, with boosted colors that highlighted the hellish regions. Street Fighter V’s arenas and characters also benefited from slightly enhanced colors and a higher contrast ratio.
In God of War, the snow or fire effects from special attacks looked fantastic on this display. Cutscenes and close-ups of characters in Control and God of War were well-presented (though lacking in detail) on this low-resolution screen during fight sequences.
The animation was also notably clear in both Street Fighter and Hollow Knight. Despite reducing the resolution to 720p, the games remained relatively clear due to the blurry visuals acting as a hardware-based anti-aliasing solution.
The Gameplay: Smooth like Butter
In terms of gameplay, I can only describe it as fluid and smooth. Whether I was taking down opponents, executing finishers, or engaging in high-octane demon-killing, everything worked exceptionally well. CRT TVs excel at handling motion, which was particularly evident in games like Hollow Knight.
Unlike typical LCD/LED displays, I experienced no motion blur regardless of the action in the game. I also felt a sense of depth within the game, especially when traversing the expansive halls of Control. Additionally, it’s worth noting that you can enhance performance or enable ray tracing without any issues since you’re playing at just 1080 or 720p.
PS5 Games and CRT TVs: Was the Trip down Memory Lane Worth It?
Unless you happen to have a high-resolution CRT monitor lying around, attempting something like this might not be worthwhile. However, this little experiment did help rekindle and develop a newfound appreciation for old CRT technology. The TV boasted superior black levels compared to LCDs and offered excellent motion clarity and a good contrast ratio.
In addition to these advantages, the TV delivered smooth motion, enhanced performance, and an overall satisfying experience. Furthermore, arcade-style games felt particularly well-suited for a CRT TV. So, if you can overlook blurry text, CRT flicker, and poor video quality, pairing your PS5 with a CRT TV could be a fun choice.
As someone who has now stepped away from the nostalgia, I believe I’ve finally removed my rose-tinted glasses. While it was a technology of a past era, I’m grateful for its existence, but it’s time to embrace the future.
What are your thoughts on CRT TVs? Please share them with us in the comments below!
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