The last few years for PlayStation 4 have been full of blockbuster hit after blockbuster hit and set high standards for PlayStation 5 games. With PlayStation 5 releases slowly rolling out from just about every major studio, let’s take a look back at four titles that you HAVE to play before playing their newly-released or upcoming sequels for the new generation of consoles.
Before playing God of War Ragnarök (PS4 & PS5), play God of War (2018, PS4).
Undoubtedly one of the past decade’s best titles, and winner of the 2018 Game of the Year Award, Santa Monica Studio’s God of War is one of the flagship titles of the PlayStation brand. Highly regarded as a game-changer, not only for the platform, but for the entire industry, God of War is a highly polished action-adventure game that follows father and son Kratos and Atreus.
This installment of God of War is a fan and critics favorite, and rightly so, with mythological lore and backstory that is meaningfully crafted, a nuanced and fun combat system, and a rich environment that reflects the personality of the different realms. Although at first glance, the game seems pretty focused on the action, the journey and and characterization of the two main protagonists is probably the element that will stick with you the most, even months after completing the game.
The upcoming God of War game will be the ninth in the nearly two decades since the first game launched. As one of the most anticipated titles coming up, you’d want to make sure you finish 2018’s installment first, to truly enjoy what the next installment of God of War has to offer.
Before playing Horizon Forbidden West (PS4 & PS5), play Horizon Zero Dawn (PS4).
One of the most-anticipated releases is the follow-up to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn, a gorgeous and colorful action-adventure game with a fresh IP coming out of Guerilla Games.
Highly regarded as the studio’s best work, Horizon Zero Dawn follows the red-headed heroine Aloy in what seems to be a world much like ours centuries ago, except that it’s been taken over by machine beasts. Zero Dawn was highly praised for its ridiculously detailed but also massive open world, creative combat techniques and weapons, and robotic foes. But what was most surprising about the game was its twist on where it’s set — or rather, WHEN it’s set. We’ll keep this spoiler-free, but Aloy’s adventures of meeting and learning about different tribes and characters, conquering different machine creatures, upgrading her weapon stash, collecting pieces of civilization across the map, lead to eventually discovering the truth to who she is, and her role in this world. Also, expect your gameplay to constantly be interrupted by opening Photo Mode a little bit too often, so you can capture the magnificence of the animation.
Bonus: The Frozen Wilds DLC greatly expands the world for those who can’t get enough of the lore of Horizon Zero Dawn, delving deeper into the history and challenges of the Banuk tribe in the north, and but leaves players with some clues for what to expect in the upcoming game.
Horizon Forbidden West release date is on February 18th, 2022 but much about the upcoming Horizon Forbidden West has been kept under wraps. Nevertheless the legend of the Forbidden West has been sneakily referenced in the 2017 game, so players that pick up on those Easter eggs might know a bit more about what to expect!
Before playing Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (PS5), play Ratchet & Clank (PS4).
The 15th installment in the nearly two-decades old Ratchet & Clank series, 2016’s Ratchet & Clank follows the same two characters that made previous games so successful. As a reimagining of the original classic PlayStation 2 game released over a decade before, it features much of the same gameplay mechanics, puzzle types, and weapons, but with a sleek look and polish made for today’s audience.
Five years on from the 2016 version, and Ratchet & Clank still astounds with its level of cinematic detail even during gameplay. Much of it will be familiar to the O.G. R&C gamers such as hoverboard races and wacky weapons, but the breathtaking visuals when the main characters enter full 3D flight are still a lot of fun. PlayStation 4’s Ratchet & Clank is made for both older-generation fans of the original game and console first-timers, providing exciting action for everyone in the family.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is the most recently released sequel title in this list, but before getting your hands on the newly-released 2021 game, it’s the perfect time to brush up on your Pixelizer shooting abilities.
The Last of Us Part II (PS4), play The Last of Us: Remastered (PS4).
It’s been quite a while since the groundbreaking The Last of Us was released for the PlayStation 3, but playing the classic years later doesn’t make it any less captivating.
Naughty Dog’s 2013 PlayStation 3 masterpiece The Last of Us garnered over 200 game of the year awards, and rightly so, with critics consistently hailing it the best game of the generation. A year later, The Last of Us was brought back to life through The Last of Us: Remastered, upgrading the experience for the user to the PlayStation 4 era, in Full HD at 60fps.
On the surface, The Last of Us is a survival action-adventure game. However, it subverts the genre by making it less about the perils of the post pandemic United States, but instead humanizes that by fleshing out its core characters Joel and Ellie. As a player, you fill the shoes of main character Joel, a survivor navigating United States after a pandemic changed the face of humanity. The game’s main objective is quite simple: to take another survivor, Ellie, across United States to safety. However, the journey is filled with complications that will test your patience, utilize your strategic planning, and make you care a lot more than you thought.
In the first installment of the riveting The Last of Us series, you’ll be able to explore the beautiful but eerie scenes in post-pandemic US, learn the difficult but satisfying art of crafting weapons and health packs from scarce resources, and maybe even answer some questions about what makes us truly human. 2020’s The Last of Us Part II further builds on the world established by its predecessor, with some brave twists and turns in the narrative along the way. The second installment is a work of art in itself, with more of what we loved about the first, including terrifying combat, intelligent gameplay strategy, and heartwarming moments.
With an incoming HBO series in the making, playing The Last of Us: Remastered now will introduce you to this strange but eerily familiar world. Familiarizing yourself with the world through The Last of Us: Remastered will be one of the most unforgettable action-adventure gameplays and will set the tone when you play Last of Us: Part II.
