Image property of Sony Computer Entertainment
With the Playstation 4′s release last year, the games have been slowly trickling in. Killzone: Shadowfall was a tech demo – a way to show off the pure power of the new machine, while Knack was a family-friendly romp with not a whole lot else going for it. As 2014 rolled around, some great new experiences, such as the free for PS+ members Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition and the visually stunning inFAMOUS: Second Son, arrived to grace our consoles. It’s left us wanting more. Luckily, it looks like 2014 is going to be the year the console comes into its stride.
Having just unveiled a list containing a whopping 102 games coming to the system this year (in North America at least, and of course the release schedule is subject to change), Sony’s new beast is looking to continue taking the gaming market by storm. But of this mass of games, what are the standout gems? Which games are glittering amongst the rest? Naturally some of these games will be appearing on other platforms, but for whatever reason, here are twelve Playstation 4 games you must own this year.
12. Child Of Light
Image property of Ubisoft
This charming side-scrolling RPG is said to have been inspired by the works of Studio Ghibli – if that isn’t reason enough to want to snap it up, then what is? As young Aurora, you wake up in the mystical and frankly beautiful world of Lemuria, where you have to recover the Sun, the Moon and the Stars, all of which are being held captive. This unique premise is partnered with some traditionally solid looking RPG platforming. However, the absolute main draw of the game is its stunning art style.
Ubisoft are utilising the same UbiArt framework that they used on Rayman Origins and Legends, two utterly stunning-looking games. With the power of the PS4 bolstering those already wonderful graphics, you can be sure your eyes are in for a great time. Its development team is comprised mainly of people who worked on Far Cry 3, so, you know they know how to make a damn good game.
11. Watch_Dogs
Image property of Ubisoft
Despite its recent delays, Watch_Dogs is still shaping up to be one of the year’s finest games. With an innovative ‘hacking’ system, whereby you can essentially control components of the sandbox city through your in-game mobile device, this is a fresh new approach to the open-world genre.
The level of detail is astounding, both in the next generation graphics and the ability to gather information on civilians in the street through your hacking prowess. If that wasn’t enough, Watch_Dogs has recently been confirmed to have an online free roam gameplay mode, somewhat akin to that of Grand Theft Auto 5. Let’s just hope the launch is a bit smoother!
With a hefty single player, apparently coming in at 35 – 40 hours long, Watch_Dogs, with its extensive multiplayer aspect too, should keep you busy for a while. At least until that next game comes out anyway.
10. The Elder Scrolls Online
Image property of Bethesda Softworks
An MMO? Coming to consoles? It’s happening. Despite the steep monthly fee, The Elder Scrolls Online is looking to be a must-have for fans of the series. With three factions to choose from, players can roam the entirety of Tamriel in this gorgeous looking game. Join up with your friends and take the throne of the Emperor together!
The Elder Scrolls Online is what people have been hankering for pretty much since the release of Oblivion in 2006, possibly even before that. There were some hiccups along the way – such as the game only being playable in 3rd person, which any self-serving Elder Scrolls fan will tell you is nonsense – the developers listened and now, the game looks and feels like an Elder Scrolls game. Time will tell if they can keep up with sufficient end game and expansion content, and for that asking price, they really should do.
Speaking of price, there’s an additional reason to buy it on the PS4, alongside the sheer strength under the hood. Those of you who have a PS+ membership will not be made to pay the additional membership fee, unlike a certain other next-gen console. You see that? Good guy Sony.
9. Evolve
Image property of 2K Games
The Left 4 Dead guys are back. Those games were monstrous fun, especially played in multiplayer with hordes of brutally unforgiving zombies shuffling, at sometimes intensely high speeds, your way. Now the formula has been mixed up a little. As a team of four (wait for it) it’s your job to tackle one, giant alien that is constantly evolving thanks to your surroundings. This dynamic evolution system is likely to lead to intense games of cat-and-mouse as you try and flush the creature out before it becomes powerful enough to trample you.
The game will also feature a single player mode, but let’s face it, it’s multiplayer you’re after and Evolve is likely to bring something new and exciting to the oversaturated first person shooter market. If teamwork is your thing – because you’re going to need it in droves – then Evolve is looking like a must-buy.
8. The Witness
Image property of Jonathan Blow
Sometimes you just need a game to relax and unwind. The Witness is that game, though only if you find maze-style puzzles and wandering around a mysterious, vibrant island to be relaxing. In what looks to be a truly surreal and beautiful experience, The Witness is unique in its execution – just walk around and solve the island’s puzzles.
The puzzles are interesting and quick, with plenty of variety in their various pathways and methods of completion. Walking around the island is looking to be a dream too, with absolutely stunning graphics, allowing the PS4 to really show off a wide array of colours and effects. Looking and feeling like something of a spiritual successor to Myst, this serene game is truly a standout on this list.
The Witness also makes great use of the PS4′s touchpad, allowing you to draw your finger along the maze’s multiple pathways to complete them. Developers are finding more and more ways of using the touchpad, and while some of them feel a bit shoehorned in (the mobile command units in inFAMOUS spring to mind) this looks like a perfect fit.
7. The Evil Within
Image property of Bethesda Softworks
While Resident Evil continues to flounder with its identity crisis, the man behind the evil, Shinji Mikami, now brings you The Evil Within. So yeah, lots of evil to go around. If you miss true survival horror, and I mean true, then The Evil Within looks perfect for you. Tight corridors, dark lighting, low ammo, terrifying foes...it’s got it all. The game represents a new start for the genre. Mikami has already expressed his desire to move away from the clunky, restrictive controls of old and bring the survival horror genre into a well-tuned mix of atmosphere and action.
Expect intense lighting thanks to the power of the new consoles and some truly horrific moments. After the initial reveal trailer, cleverly shot using practical effects and real actors, The Evil Within has cemented itself as potentially the new go-to game for survival horror enthusiasts.
6. #DriveClub
Image property of Sony Computer Entertainment
Considering the fact that #DriveClub was initially touted as being a release game for the PS4, the game’s development has suffered some rough setbacks as of late. Developed by the team behind MotorStorm, so you can imagine it’ll be a graphical powerhouse. With a large emphasis being placed on the social features of the game – hence the use of a hashtag in the name – #DriveClub plans to make full use of the PS4′s unique ‘Share’ feature.
As well as being a fully-fledged release, a special, stripped down version of the game will be made free to PS+ subscribers. Sony continues to emphasise the innovative social features of #DriveClub, and from what little we’ve seen, the game looks absolutely stunning, with dynamic weather and lighting. The skies look real!
Despite its problems, Sony released a statement recently claiming the game is going from strength to strength and to expect a release date in the weeks to come.
5. Assassin’s Creed: Unity
Image property of Ubisoft
Alongside the likes of Batman: Arkham Knight, this is another well-known, established franchise that is making the jump to PS4 and Xbox One. Well, not quite, but Unity certainly is. Set during the French Revolution, the new Assassin’s Creed has only revealed alpha game footage so far but boy, does it look wonderful. The streets of Paris are littered with tiny details and the scale and beauty of Notre Dame is breath-taking.
This looks to be a series that will truly benefit from the move to the current generation of consoles. While absolutely nothing else is really known about the game, expect to see a flurry of information soon. The idea of an Assassin’s Creed built from the ground up for the PS4 is a truly exciting prospect.
4. Batman: Arkham Knight
Image property of Rocksteady
Rocksteady are finally back to finish what they started. After the phenomenal Arkham Asylum and City games, to many, Origins felt like a letdown. Now, Arkham Knight is here to rectify that. With the return of Kevin Conroy as Batman, things are falling back into place. Not only that, but perhaps the most exciting thing about this game is the fact that the developer is moving away from ‘last-gen’ consoles, PS3 and Xbox 360.
A bold move, yes. Perhaps even risky. However, with the PS4 install base moving on past the six million mark and Xbox One doing impressively too, they don’t appear to have much to worry about. In a world massively bigger than the already sizeable City, Arkham Knight sees the return of old foes in glorious new graphics. The wait is almost over for what is likely to be the best Arkham game yet and the only one available on the next generation of consoles.
Oh yeah, and you get to drive the Batmobile. Just let that sink in.
3. Destiny
Post-Halo Bungie have come up with something special. Not to say Halo wasn’t special, it was, but this…this looks amazing. Emphasising that the game’s universe will be ‘alive’, Bungie have brought to the table a console MMO of sorts. Set in a colossal universe spanning multiple galaxies and planets, traverse the many different terrains with your friends as you fight hordes of aliens and other players scavenging the many worlds for loots and prizes.
The game functions similarly to an MMO with a quest system and a dynamic world events system, somewhat akin to that of Guild Wars 2, yet differs from an MMO in the way it match-makes players and has them fight one another, rather than naturally interacting with them. After the collapse of Earth, a few people were saved by The Traveller, a mysterious white sphere that now lingers over the ruined planet.
With such an interesting premise and absolutely enormous potential for astounding visuals across planets and stars, Destiny looks to be a must-buy. Want to get in on the action early? Playstation players will have access to the beta faster than anyone else. Gear up and go in.
2. The Order: 1886
Image property of Sony Computer Entertainment
Here is a must have. Purpose built for the PS4, The Order is tantalising in its secrecy. What we have seen though is pure gold. Set in a steampunk version of Victorian London, a futuristic version of the Knights of the Round Table must now defend the world from an unknown evil. That right there, is awesome. Not only that, but the graphics are a pure achievement and are perhaps the best seen on a console. Admittedly the final judgement will be made on release, but from what we’ve seen so far, it’s looking great.
The third person style of gameplay has been compared to Gears of War, which is no bad thing, and The Order promises to deliver a stunning single player experience that you can only find on Playstation. When you witness the vast, intricate expanse of London and then notice that there are zeppelins in the sky...yeah, you know you’re in the right place. More information on this game is likely to rear its head soon.
1. Tom Clancy’s The Division
Image property of Ubisoft
This game simply is next-gen. The very definition. While we don’t know an awful lot just yet, what we do know is shaping up to be one of the finest gaming experiences of the year. Set in a post-apocalyptic America, the game shares some similarities with Destiny in that it is something of an MMO. Could this be a trend forming – that these new MMO hybrids will be some of the best games around? Only time will tell.
For now though, The Division boasts a mind-blowingly realistic world, where you and your friends must fight for survival against equally desperate humans. Ubisoft is leaking slivers of information and each bit looks as awesome as the last. Ubisoft has said that players must fight to ‘save what remains’. It’s likely that other games will be doing that after The Division blows them out of the water. Stay tuned for more information in the future.
That’s the list. Naturally the year will be full of Call of Duty and FIFA too, but were any of your most anticipated games left off? Perhaps you’re really looking forward to the quirkiness of Hohokum, or the flash visuals of Transistor? Leave a comment below.