Although the PS4 is on the tail-end of its lifespan, it still has a host of amazing games lined up to guarantee that its send-off is a sweet one. Here are 4 upcoming PS4 games that will ensure you still show your console lots of hype until the PS5 arrives.
1. The Last of Us Part II
Anyone who is familiar with gaming will be well aware that The Last of Us Part II is on the horizon. As far as upcoming PS4 games go, it is likely the most anticipated. The Last of Us was released on PS3 in 2013 to near universal acclaim. The game was praised for its touching story which strayed from typical gaming narratives and focused on the delicate relationship between a man and young girl.
The Last of Us presents us with a brutal post-apocalyptic USA where death hides around every corner and ordinary people are pushed to do horrific things to survive. Urban landscapes are teeming with infected zombie-like humans who will rip apart anything that moves. However, they might not be the most dangerous enemies you come across in a world where humans have been stripped of all civilization.
The story is spearheaded by Joel, a single parent who is permanently changed following the death of his daughter. In the anarchic world which emerges following the apocalyptic outbreak, he lives as a smuggler and relies on his own brutality to survive. The hardhearted Joel faces a challenge of a new variety when he is tasked with delivering a young girl to a rebel group known as the Fireflies. The girl, named Ellie, is special because she is immune to the virus that plagues the infected. Hence, her body could potentially contain the cure that would end the apocalypse and save humankind.
Joel and Ellie share a heartfelt moment.
After taking players through an emotional journey with breathtaking highs and impactful lows, the game ends on a note that has left gamers with complex moral dilemmas to think about.
The Last of Us Part II promises to be yet another memorable experience from Naughty Dog. There are several improvements you can expect. One of them is a nimbler Ellie to control. As the developers explain in the video below, Ellie will be able to jump, crawl in grass and hide under cars. This will allow for more creative uses of the environment.
Several questions remain regarding The Last of Us Part II. How do Ellie and Joel survive in this new world? Will Joel’s lie be uncovered? How do they find the will to live? All these answers, plus more, will hopefully be explained on the 19th of June 2020.
2. Cyberpunk 2077
CD Projekt is a Polish video game development studio that has, as of recent, become the most valuable European video game company. This is in part thanks to the monumental success of the Witcher series which is based on books written by Andrzej Sapkowski. The Witcher 3, which was released in 2015, still continues to sell well and enjoys renewed interest ignited by the recent Netflix series, The Witcher.
All eyes are on CD Projekt again this year thanks to the upcoming release of Cyberpunk 2077. Although much of the game has been kept under wraps, we do know that it will be a first-person dystopian game set in the future. It is an adaptation of a tabletop board game created by Mike Pondsmith.
One of the features that has drawn the most intrigue is the level of customization promised. Every aspect of the main character’s body from their eye color to their scars will be customizable. In a bid to be more inclusive, Cyberpunk 2077 will also do away with traditional gender options. Rather than offer binary gender options, the game will allow players to mix and match attributes however they wish. Hence, masculine bodies can be combined with feminine voices or whatever else your imagination may come up with.
Another interesting aspect of Cyberpunk 2077 is how it is set to deal with failed missions. According to CD Projekt’s quest designer Phillipp Webber, an unsuccessfully completed mission will not trigger a game-over screen. Instead, the game will move on. This brings an additional weight to each mission, as players will have to live with the consequences of failure.
A futuristic city in Cyberpunk 2077.
Cyberpunk 2077 is also set to have an impressive soundtrack thanks to the inclusion of music from popular artists such as A$AP Rocky, Grimes and Run the Jewels.
The game is due to be released on the 17th of September 2020. It is one my most anticipated upcoming PS4 games.
3. Ghost of Tsushima
Sucker Punch Productions are certainly not newcomers to the AAA scene. Their Infamous series, which has players taking control of young adults with superpowers, has long been a favorite among PlayStation gamers. Ghost of Tsushima, however, promises to be Sucker Punch’s most ambitious project yet.
Ghost of Tsushima is a third-person action-adventure game that is set during the first Mongol invasion of Japan. The protagonist, Jin, is one of the few survivors of his clan following an attack by the Mongols. Jin learns that the fighting style he has grown up with is insufficient to deal with the problem at hand and, consequently, develops stealth techniques. This allows for two gameplay styles: one which focuses on direct combat and another that requires stealth. Luckily, you will not be limited to one play style and the option to switch between both will be present. As Jason Connell, the creative director of Ghost of Tsushima, explains:
The game is about a samurai who evolves and turns into the ghost over time. So there’s never really any kind of binary switch. You don’t have to play this way or have to play that way.
The recent gameplay trailer for Ghost of Tsushima reveals three features that show great promise. The first is the use of wind to help players navigate. Rather than rely on a HUD that can clutter the screen and break immersion, Ghost of Tsushima will make use of natural elements such as the wind to show players where they need to travel to next. Furthermore, animals can be followed to find interesting places and items.
A second notable aspect of gameplay revealed in the video above is the ability to greatly customize the main character’s attire. The kinds of armor worn will affect gameplay. Furthermore, flowers can be collected and used to dye armor different colors. Lastly, and most importantly for some, Ghost of Tsushima will feature a cinematic black and white mode that will make the game feel like an old samurai movie. The long-awaited game is set to be released on the 17th of July 2020.
4. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
The last entry on the list of upcoming PS4 games is technically a double feature. Many have noticed the paucity of any skating games in the current generation. This is a disappointment to those who are fans of the genre. Thankfully, right at the end of the PS4’s lifespan, this drought has been brought to an end with the rejuvenation of the Tony Hawk’s franchise. This will come in the form of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. Both games are remasters of highly popular titles released at the beginning of the millennium.
Seeing the upgraded graphics on much beloved games evokes a lot of nostalgia and anticipation for the fun that the remastered games will bring.
The games being released together is no coincidence, and the two remastered titles are intended to complement each other. As Simon Ebejer of Vicarious Visions says:
“We didn’t want the game to be ‘Okay, you play Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1, and then play THPS2 and start over from scratch, just like you would have if you bought the games back in the day,” Ebejer says. “The meta that sits over top of everything allows players to not feel like they’re losing progress by playing either one of the games.”
While many of us likely lack the skills to do kickflips and ollies in real life, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 will allow all of us to become digital skateboard masters. This is one upcoming PS4 game that will draw longtime fans of the series and, hopefully, introduce new players to the cartoon-ish fun Tony Hawk’s games. The game is set to be released on the 4th of September 2020.
