When it was released in November 2013, thePS4was a great console that managed to deliver powerful graphics and take advantage of the newest game engines available. Along with these visually stunning capabilities, came entertaining exclusives and carefully crafted titles that defined an era in gaming, not only through pristine AAA, multi-million dollar games but also through more independent AA titles developed by mid-sized studios with considerably tighter budgets and far fewer employees.
AA titles have always lived in the shadow of their much more expensive AAA counterparts. However, smaller studios typically have more creative freedom and are forced to try harder to stand out in a sea of games, which often results inmasterpieces that surpass mainstream gameswhich cost a fortune to make. Here are some of thebest AA games on the PS4.
GreedFallis an RPG that puts players in the shoes of the main character, De Sardet, who, alongside his companions, must go to the magical island of Teer Fradee in search of a cure forthe dreadful Malichor plague. Along the way, players will be faced with many challenges, including arduous bosses, like Nadaig Baro, and obstacles that they’ll have to conquer to progress through the story and reach their goal.
In general terms, the game is well-balanced and the world design is beautiful; however, it does lack polish in certain areas, as bugs are a bit frequent and immersion suffers because of it. Combat is a little clunky, but it forces players to try different fighting styles to be successful.
After crashing on their way to Jericho City, the anonymous main character known as the “Warrior” ends up stranded in the outskirts, only to wake up weeks later inside the city walls. Players will have to deal with the threat of lethal robots and insane city residents, which are the result of the failed efforts of CREO corporation to solve the world’s ecological problems through the use of nanobots.
The Surge 2is better than its 2017 predecessor in many ways, as it has specific limb targeting during combat,a solid parry system, and a large variety of weapons that feel refreshing to use. On the negative side of things, most of the NPCs in this game are forgettable and side-quests can, more often than not, feel a bit tedious.
Little Nightmareswill have players controlling a little girl named Six, as they explore an eerie underwater vessel called “The Maw”, that’s full of creepy enemies. Six will only survive if players solve the game’s puzzles and manage to evade the ever-present danger, but even if they’re successful, they won’t manage to shake the thrilling feeling of anxiety this title provides.
All in all,Little Nightmareshas great, spine-chilling enemy designsthat feel cohesive with their environment, which adds to the suspense and will have players wondering where the next attack will come from.
Times of plague have always been a dreadful part of human history, so a horror game set in such periods has a lot of potential if it’s developed well. Set in 1348 AD,A Plague Tale: Innocencefollows the story of Amicia and her younger brother, Hugo, as they’re hunted down by the Inquisition through the Kingdom of France. To survive, they must fight off swarms of rats and malicious humans with the help of other orphans.
The game does wonderfully well in terms of its puzzles and the stealth system it’s based on. However, combat isn’t too challenging, and while Amicia’s slingshot is fun to use, players looking for melee/stealth-based gameplay like that found inAssassin’s Creed,might be a bit underwhelmed.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrificewill have players enter the mind of Senua, a Celtic warrior from the 8th century on a quest to rescue her dead lover, Dillion, from the depths of Helheim. As she progresses through the underworld, Senua will have to battle vicious demons and the voices in her head, hoping to reach the Goddess Hela before succumbing to The Dark Rot.
The game has received a lot of criticism and was even called a walking simulator with pretty graphics. And while that’s partially true, it also has several wonderful elements. Puzzle design is masterfully done, as it will require players to truly focus and look for patterns in trees, rocks, and even burnt-down shacks. Enemy and boss designs also shine, as they all feel formidable and instill fear when faced. The voices in Senua’s head never go away and are part of the experience, so it’s strongly recommended to play the game while wearing headphones with spatial audio capabilities.
SOMAis asci-fi survival horror gamethat puts players in the shoes of Simon Jarrett. After a cataclysmic event in 2104 wipes all life on Earth, the only apparent survivors are the crew of an underwater research facility called PATHOS-II. Throughout the game, players will have to explore the facility to find other survivors and regroup, but the path is arduous, as they’ll have to face off against insane humans, robots, and other creatures that dwell under the ocean’s surface.
The combat isn’t particularly challenging, as it relies on the old game mechanics of hiding where the player is invisible to bosses and waiting for the perfect moment to strike. That said, there’s a ton of variety when it comes to world-building and the different areas to explore. Not to mention the various ethical dilemmas players will encounter along the way.
Nex Machinais an arcade-style shoot ‘em up with an uncomfortably possible premise. Humans have become so dependent on technology, that machines have evolved, becoming self-aware and reaching the obvious conclusion: humans are unfit to be the dominating race. As the main protagonist tries to save what little remains of humanity, they’ll have to face nearly impossible odds through a series of visually stunning levels packed with fast-paced combat.
WhileNex Machinaisn’t breaking the mold in any perceivable way, it’s still a blast to play and demands players’ undivided attention, as a single hit from an enemy will result in death. All in all, players who liketop-down shootersand arcade-style games that feel nostalgic, yet offer a more modern approach to graphics and combat, will love this title.
