Way back in 2013, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One sought to go head-to-head following a very close contest between the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Both of the older Sony and Microsoft consoles were loaded with top-class exclusives, and entering the eighth generation, they had set-up quite nicely to do the same.
However, the Xbox One leaned too heavily on unpopular hardware and requirements, failing to follow up with appealing, exclusive games. The PlayStation 4, on the other hand, opted for accessibility and waves of impressive exclusive titles. The result? The PS4 outsold the Xbox One twice over, and then some.
Now, with the ninth generation of console gaming underway, we look back at the PS4 exclusives that have added to the legacy of the indomitable games unit.
Everyone was thinking it; Sony finally did it
Over the course of what is now the previous console generation, another massive entertainment brand soared into the stratosphere in a similar way to the PS4. The Marvel Cinematic Universe went from strength-to-strength on the big screen. However, Marvel’s feeble attempts to create video games to tie-in either failed to impress or flopped outright. Increasingly so, though, the cinematic successes had people craving top-class, modern Marvel games.
A point of contention on-screen ended up being the perfect arrangement to allow the floodgates to open. With Sony owning the rights to Spider-Man, the company was free to give the license to the studio of their choice. In 2016, it was announced that Insomniac Studio would be the ones to finally bring Marvel superheroes to triple-A gaming for the PlayStation 4.
Utilising the fast-paced, roam-anywhere gameplay mechanics of the underrated Xbox exclusive Sunset Overdrive, Marvel’s Spider-Man proved to be what many have called the best superhero game ever made. Proving to be a tremendous success with critics and players, the hope was that a new age of superhero gaming would be on the way. Soon after, Marvel’s Avengers and then the Miles Morales spin-off were announced.
Showcasing the depth of seldom explored, centuries-old tales
In previous generations, and early in this console generation, ancient Rome, Greece, and their mythologies have been the primary focus of such historical-themed games. This is where the God of War series started, but for the next project, which commenced in 2014, the developers went with the bold decision to move their famous protagonist, Kratos, into the realms of Norse mythology.
Very few games had ever ventured into the Norse theme, with even fewer doing so in significant depth while also being a top-class game. God of War created the ultimate Norse mythology experience, with the creatures, tales, setting, characters, and absurdly immersive use of a single-shot camera surging the long-neglected theme to the forefront of pop-culture.
The attention earned by the 2018 release convinced several other studios to follow suit. Now, it’s a primary draw across all forms of gaming. In the most competitive scene of gaming, that of online gambling sites in the UK, new slots are the main draw, with providers like LeoVegas topping the bill due to their over 780 games. Among them, there’s been a surge of Norse games, including Thor’s Lightning, Viking Clash, and Asgardian Stones. Of course, video game developers have dived in too, with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla releasing alongside the new consoles.
The apocalypse doesn’t have to be so grim
Post-apocalypse landscapes have been prevalent for years. With an almost clean slate, creatives are able to infuse disposable monsters, focus on collections of characters instead of droves of extras, and offer free roam in a sparse, worn-down landscape. However, the ocean of these games set the standard of dull landscapes, grizzly characters, and a focus on survival-based gameplay.
Horizon Zero Dawn went in the other direction. Guerrilla Games’ now-iconic creation is very much a post-apocalyptic game, with warring pockets of humans and a need to discover how this new world was forged. However, they added their own twists which allowed for lush environments to be explored and massive mechanical creatures to roam the landscapes.
While it does follow the open-world, story-driven template, as well as several post-apocalyptic tropes, Horizon Zero Dawn made tweaks to the famous formula to create seemingly huge changes. The infusion of tech-driven enemies and incredible scenery brought colour and intrigue, making it a truly unique experience. The post-apocalyptic theme isn’t going anywhere, but hopefully, Horizon Dawn will usher in more far-out and aesthetically appealing creations.
Sticking by talented studios to get a superb end product
Perhaps it’s more due to the increased access to gaming news over the last seven years, but this generation appears to have seen more promising projects and studios killed by major publishers. Electronic Arts Killed off the much-loved Visceral Games and their single-player Star Wars game, and Microsoft axed their would-be exclusive Scalebound as well as the developers of Fable, Lionhead Studios.
While Sony has certainly brought down the hammer on games and studios in the past, it has several more stories of the PS4 generation sticking it out. The prime example of this is, of course, The Last Guardian. Development on the game commenced way back in 2007 and was initially slated for a PS3 launch in 2011, but continued to endure troubles.
A key segment of the team working on the game started their own venture, the game was given a relatively late platform switch, and there were several development-based delays. However, the team that left continued to work on The Last Guardian, and Sony stuck by the vision. Eventually, in 2016, the action-adventure game launched to widespread acclaim, and even made it into the exclusive ten-title ‘Only on PlayStation’ collection.
Above all else, storytelling still matters
Coming through the seventh generation of consoles, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 staged the massive surge in the popularity of online multiplayer modes. Being easily monetised with additional longevity, the Xbox One-PS4 generation was tipped to be reliant on its online services and multiplayer titles. It proved to be false, with titles that lacked single-player depth falling by the wayside, and Sony’s single-player exclusives bringing in the crowds.
Along with all of the games above, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II, Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, Detroit: Become Human, and several others proved that single-player games haven’t died-off, as some industry commentators predicted. Instead, the PS4 established itself as the console where you can find the quality and depth of experience desired by gamers.
The legacy of the PlayStation 4’s best exclusives will reflect Sony’s trust in creative studios to explore new ideas and build some of the best story-driven games ever produced.