Hello. Justin here and welcome to the Otaku Mind. In June of this year Sony revealed the PS5 set to release this holiday season to thunderous joy. With the announcement of the PS5 and the holidays here that means the final days of the PS4 are upon us and I think many game historians and gamers will look fondly back and say: “Wasn’t the PS4 great?” It sold over 110 million units making it Sony’s most successful console since the PS2 and left the other consoles of its generation in the dust. A large part of the PS4’s success lies with its exclusive library. Next to Nintendo, Sony has always had an impressive library of exclusives and the PS4 brought that exclusive library to the forefront to make the PS4 the best console of its generation. In honor of the console’s success and with the imminent release of the PS5 I think it only seems fair to take one final look back at the PS4’s best exclusives. Keep in mind, I’m only looking at games that were exclusively on the PS4 console so you won’t be seeing games like Red Dead Redemption on here. If the game did get a release on PC down the line than it still counts as an exclusive as you can only play it on one console. With that said, I’m Justin and these are the top 11 PS4 exclusives.
#11. Rachet and Clank Remastered
The lovable duo of Rachet and Clank made their debut on the PS2 and instantly won people over with their comedic banter, cool weapons, and fun sci-fi adventures. The duo would continue to have adventures on the PS2 and PS3 but would be absent for the PS4 much to the sadness of fans. Cut to 2016 where to the surprise of fans Insomniac Games announced that they were remastering the original game from the ground up for the PS4. I missed out on the original, so I was excited to play the remastered version and was very impressed with what they did with the game. The time, care, and love put into this game really does show. You can tell everyone who worked on this game was really passionate about it and wanted to make it fun. I’m proud to say they accomplished it and then some. The updated graphics look excellent, the weapons are a lot of fun, and of course the chemistry between our duo is great. I can’t help but think that this game inspired the remastering of Crash Bandicoot. With a new game already announced for the PS5 I can’t wait to see what happens next for them.
#10. Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Ni No Kuni is one of my all-time favorite JRPGs and one of my favorite games from the PS3. When a second game was announced for the PS4 I was excited and looked forward to seeing what they would do differently this time around. Like I said before this game takes on a more traditional approach from its predecessor and I did find myself getting more invested into the characters, their story, their struggles, and political themes than I did the first game. Not to say the first game didn’t pull me in. It was more heartfelt and innocent, but it was obvious it was a game geared toward kids and not adult gamers. Revenant Kingdom on the other hand did seem like it was trying to reach both kid and adult gamers as well as introduce new play mechanics and features to make itself stand out. The game still looks good despite Studio Ghibli not helping out this time around and I enjoyed every minute of the game. It had an adventure and goal I always dreamt about as a child and had struggles and lessons that spoke to me as an adult. If you like JRPGs definitely check this series out as well as the remastered version of the first game for the PS4. There’s been no word of a third game as of yet, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be an announcement for the PS5 down the line.
#9. The Yakuza Series
Yakuza has been a part of the PS library since the PS2 era where it gained a good following in Japan, but due to a subpar localization and system limitations, the series never really took off here in the west. Even during the PS3 era the series still went unnoticed by many in the west. Fast forward to the PS4 era and the series would finally get the attention it deserved thanks to Yakuza 0, Yakuza 6 and Judgment which was a good spin-off series. The games do a good job at pulling you into the story of series protagonist Kiryu who keeps finding himself trapped within the underworld of the yakuza and trying to break free all while sticking to his morals and way of life. The series has a good balance of comedy and drama. It knows when to be funny and over the top, but also knows when to get serious and pull you in to make you feel sorry and relate to the characters and what they’re going through. Each character in the series is interesting and never comes across as boring or pointless. They each have their own personality, goals, and way of life that they live by and follow just like Kiryu. While the open world isn’t all that big compared to other open world games, there’s so many side missions, side activities, and other stuff to distract you that you’ll forget all about how limited the world is. It’s a good example of quality over quantity (or in this case size) for open world games. The fights also have some level of strategy to them. Yakuza 0 and 6 were such big hits that Sega would go back and remaster games 1-5 for the PS4. If you’ve got time to spare, I highly recommend checking out this underrated series. It’s worth your time and you’ll definitely get invested in the story and characters.
#8. Uncharted
Uncharted made a name for itself on the PS3 and would go on to close out its story and win over more fans on the PS4. Naughty Dog’s version of a modern-day Indiana Jones was so much fun to play. Gamers got so invested into the games that they forgot they were playing a game and felt like they were watching a really good live-action movie. Gamers fell in the love with the witty and charming Nathan Drake and his interesting treasure hunting adventures that took you on a tour around the world and we enjoyed every minute of it. While the second game is considered the best by fans the fourth which came out on the PS4 finished up the series on a high note and actually brought a tear to my eye to see Nathan get the ending he deserved. Just like Yakuza, the first three games were remastered for the PS4 so definitely check this series out if you want to see a modern-day take on Indiana Jones.
#7. Horizon: Zero Dawn
Horizon is a game that really shocked a lot of people. In a year where we got the Switch as well as GOTY candidates coming out each month, this game went unnoticed by a lot of folks. A few months later after its release, gamers were all over it where it quickly became one of the contenders for GOTY. The game added a whole new spin on the post-apocalyptic future where machines and technology have become our enemies and we as people have to rely on nature and survival instincts to beat them. The game had a good mystery surrounding it that kept getting better as the game progressed as well as a good level of strategy and combat where you had to take down these technologically advanced machines using only a spear, bow and arrow, and anything else you could get your hands on that would be helpful. It was always fun and challenging seeing which enemies I could beat and exploiting the weaknesses of bigger and stronger enemies. You felt like a badass hunter picking your spots and knowing when it was time to retreat or change up your strategy. With the sequel to the series set to come out next year I can’t wait to see what we’ll discover out west and the various machines we’ll be facing.
#6. Marvel’s Spider-Man
The videogame history of Spider-Man has not been all that great. The last truly good Spider-Man game came out on the PS2 and was based off of the Spider-Man movies. After that, games featuring everyone’s favorite web slinger were met with disappointment until Insomniac came along and showed everyone how to make a good Spider-Man game. The game would have its own original story and universe while taking ideas and villains from the comics. The game did a good job at making you feel like Spider-Man as you swung throughout New York performing tricks and stopping crime. The game also managed to work in a lot of famous Spider-Man villains including villains that I myself wasn’t familiar with and bringing you into the life of an older and more mature Peter Parker doing his best to balance out his life. This game really did feel like Marvel’s answer to the Batman Arkham games and it was a good answer as the game delivered. With the second game set to be a launch title for the PS5 and focusing on Miles Morales, it feels like more incentive to get a PS5 over an X Box as the game just looks great just like its predecessor.
#5. God of War
God of War was a big hit on the PS2 and PS3. After the third game it seemed like Kratos’s journey was at an end as he accomplished his goal and overthrew Olympus. However, that wasn’t the case as the series would make a return. The game would receive a massive reboot on the PS4 as Kratos now found himself in the land of Norse mythology battling gods and monsters with his son by his side. Many things that fans complained about in the first games were addressed here. The combat was fast, intense, engaging, and never felt unfair or repetitive. I also learned a lot about Norse mythology I didn’t know before as I love learning about the different mythologies of the world. What won me and a lot of people over was the story of Kratos and how he’s changed. He’s no longer that vengeful man consumed by hatred and rage. He’s learned to let go of his past and move forward where he has become a much wiser man and wants to keep his son from going down the same path as him. This game was truly fantastic and I look forward to seeing what they do with the 9 worlds in the second game.
#4. Final Fantasy VII Remake
After years of waiting the remake of Final Fantasy VII came. Not only did it live up to the hype it surpassed all of our expectations. This game pushed the graphics of the PS4 to the absolute limits. It looks gorgeous and the real-time fight scenes flowed wonderfully with the game as loading screens were few and far between. The new content and scenarios really do add to the story as well as add to the emotions of the characters and what they’re feeling. As someone who hasn’t played the original, I can say for certain that this game was an amazing experience and I look forward to playing the rest of it when it comes out.
#3. The Ghost of Tsushima
When this game was first revealed in 2018, I knew this was going to be great game, but I didn’t think it would be this great of a game. This was nothing short of spectacular as you play as a lone samurai fighting against the Mongol invasion of Tsushima where you are forced to throw away honor in exchange for survival. The atmosphere and graphics were on a whole new level as you really do feel like you’re playing a samurai movie and the game does a great job at making you feel like a samurai and bringing you into the world of Tsushima as you get to decide if you want to stick with honor, chose the more dishonorable route, or mix the two together. Whatever style you decide to play, there’s no doubt that you’ll enjoy the game from beginning to end with its beautiful locations, awesome showdowns and fighting mechanics, and well-written story. This was definitely the last big game for the PS4 and it was an excellent game for the system to go out on.
#2. The Last of Us Remastered
The Last of Us was the swan song of the PS3. It ended the lifecycle of the PS3 on a high note and won many awards. The game was so good that a PS4 copy had to be made as those who didn’t get a chance to play it on the PS3 got a chance to play it on the PS4 and those who played it on the PS3 played it again on the PS4 to relive how great the game was. The game added a whole new spin to the zombie genre, managed to bring you into this world and make you feel a number of emotions for the characters and what they’re going through. While the story may be basic not having many twists until the end, the way in which it’s told makes the story feel so realistic that you find yourself engrossed in it. The characters of Joel and Ellie are wonderful and work off each other perfectly. The AI is very competent and never really feels useless or dead weight. Despite the game being more than 8 years old now it still holds up strong and one of the best games on the PS4 in my honest opinion.
And number one. . .
#1. Persona 5 Royal
Come on, you all knew this was coming. Persona 5 was already a 10/10 masterpiece, but Persona 5 Royal managed to make it an 11/10. The game would introduce new and great characters to the series, rework the confidant of a fan favorite to make it more engaging, add in new locations and music as well as scenarios, new personas, and a whole new semester which expands on a story that was already awesome to begin with. Persona 5 took the world by storm and stole the hearts of gamers everywhere and Royal capitalized on that success by making the game worth playing through again and again and again. With rumors of Persona 6 in the works it won’t be too long before Atlus is stealing our hearts, money and attention again.
So that’s my list. Did I leave any out? Let me know what your favorite PS4 game was. The PS4 had a good run and I’m sure the PS5 will have an even better one in the years to come. Thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time on Project Nitsuj.
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