PixlBit

In the last part of my PS4 tribute blog, we looked at the games I enjoyed on the PS4 that were classic collections or remakes.  And on this one, we’ll look at the more AAA titles (well as AAA as I get anyway), as well as the indie titles on the opposite end of the spectrum.  Like I said before, most of these games you can enjoy on other platforms, I just played them on PS4.

Tearaway Unfolded

We’ll start off with the ‘biggie’ titles.  This was kind of a port/1.5 sequel to Tearaway on the Vita.  I had gotten a Vita for Christmas after it had ‘died’ and Tearaway was my favorite game on it.  It’s a 3D platformer but like other Media Molecule games (LittleBigPlanet) there is a lot of user customization.  And it does the papercraft thing even better than Paper Mario.  Just a very charming game and it’s a real shame that Sony didn’t support the Vita like they should’ve.

Square-Enix

Probably their biggest game on the PS4 I played was Kingdom Hearts 3.  I don’t really get into the stories of those games, but I sure do like tromping around Disney worlds.  They also had Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory, which was a music game and kind of a spin-off of the Theatrhythm games.  Speaking of which, they did have a ‘new’ Theatrhythm game as well, but I’m kind of suspicious that they released it right around the time the 3DS eShop went down.  Just had to find a way to make more DLC money.  Dragon Quest Builders was pretty fun even though you did everything in the first level.  And World of Final Fantasy was another Vita game I wanted to play on the PS4.  World of Final Fantasy got my GOTY back in 2016, as that was a rough year for Nintendo.

LEGO Games

I played a lot of LEGO games on the PS4.  DC Super Villains, Marvel Heroes 2, and that third person looking Star Wars one.  The LEGO Movie 2 game stood out as it took a different approach and was more open world like LEGO Worlds.

Nickelodeon Games

I reviewed a lot of these games, too.  There was the Smash Bros. clones Nick All-Star Brawl 1 and 2, and Nick Kart Racers 2 and 3.  I like that most of these had Garfield in them.

Psychonauts 2

I loved the first Psychonauts game.  It was my GOTY back when it was released.  So I was really excited for the sequel.  While it was a fun game, I ended up not beating it because we live in such a different world now rather than when the first game was released.  And nowadays everyone is so afraid of offending people that they don’t know how to be funny anymore.  And the sequel was missing the humor from the first game.  And it had subject matter that I just didn’t want in my video games.

Ys Games

You could say the PS4 was my Ys machine, as I pretty much played all the Ys games on it.  Ys Origins was a return to the classic top down era of Ys with nothing but dungeons to tromp through but it worked very well.  One of my brothers called Ys 8 “Jurassic Park: The JRPG.” And Dana was cool.   Ys 9 took the new elements of Ys 8 and streamlined them, although I do like the setting of Ys 8 better.  But the characters in 9 were so memorable and this game along with Animal Crossing New Horizons helped me cope with my mom’s breast cancer and got my mind off of it (she’s cancer free now thankfully).  Ys X (10) tried new things with a pirate/Viking theme and only two characters to control, and while I liked the other ones more, this one was still very good.

Soul Calibur 6

My last of the AAA games.  I love this series but I didn’t get into this one as much as I did on the 360.  All the character customization was already in those games and they didn’t add too much. It’s still a fun game, though.  I guess I just played 4 and 5 to death on the 360.

Hoa

Now we’re onto the indies.  I don’t remember much about this one but it still stuck out in my mind as a good 2D puzzle platformer.

Intrepid Izzy

Another surprisingly good 2D Metroidvania style game.

Minit

This one used all black and white graphics and you played in top down fashion like classic Zelda.  But you only have one minute to do things before you get swept back to the beginning.  Way more fun than it sounds, and really made you think differently on how to tackle objectives.

No Straight Roads

This combination of 3D platforming and music rhythm gaming had the feel of a Dreamcast title.  I hope the sequel comes to consoles.

Oceanhorn

It played like a classic top down Zelda game except in an isometric perspective.  I hear the sequel was more like a 3D Zelda, but I never got to review that one.

Princess Farmer

Really unique take on match three puzzling.

RIME

The main thing I remember about this game is that it had one of the saddest video game endings I’ve ever seen.

Rifftrax: The Game

One time I reviewed a game called What the Dub? which I said was the closest thing we’d get to a Mystery Science Theater 3000 or Rifftrax game.  And then the same folks went and made Rifftrax: The Game.

Shantae

I had two Shantae games on PS4: Half Genie Hero and Seven Sirens.  Both are great.

Snakeybus

It’s basically the game Snake except you’re a bus getting longer when you pick up passengers.  And you can jump over your bus worm.  It’s really funny to see.

Stardew Valley

I reviewed this phenomenon when it first hit the PS4.  It’s fun, but I had a hard time seeing why this game was such a big deal when Harvest Moon was doing the same thing decades prior.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics

I’m a big fan of Jim Henson, and the only way you’re going to get me to play a tactics game is to make it out of a property like this.  But the game was pretty fun, too!

Them’s Fightin’ Herds

This 2D fighter featured cartoony hooved animals designed by the same lady who helped make the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic cartoon.  In fact, this game started out as a fan project with My Little Pony characters in a fighter, but then Hasbro stepped in.  Still a neat one, though.

Tinykin

This was one of the best indie games I’ve played in a while.  It’s like a cross between Pikmin and Chibi Robo and plays like a GameCube classic.

Yoku’s Island Express

Speaking of one of the best indie games I’ve ever played, this one is a cross between pinball and…a Metroidvania?

Yooka-Laylee

A spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie.  Didn’t turn out as good, but still fun.  The next game was The Impossible Lair, which was a 2D platformer imitating Donkey Kong Country. Also good, but very hard.

Bridge Constructor Portal

Typical physics puzzle game but it was sure nice to hear GlaDOS’ voice again.

Freedom Planet 2

Oh man this 2D Sonic clone was SO GOOD.  I wish they’d make the next 2D Sonic game with these folks.

PHOGS!

What a weird game!  You controlled a weenie dog with a head on each end.  Kind of like CatDog, but DogDog.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo

I loved how this game had that GBA feel to it, and was a top down Zelda game in a modern setting.

Power Wash Simulator

What a crazy idea for a game!  I loved some of the DLC packs, like the Wallace and Gromit one that let you power wash their inventions!

Sea of Stars

It’s a classic styled RPG that plays like Chrono Trigger, a very good start.  It’s also a prequel to The Messenger, a 2D platformer, so that’s interesting.

Shovel Knight: Pocket Dungeons

It’s a Shovel Knight puzzle game.  And just like the original, it’s very hard!

Wattam

This game was made by the same guy who did Katamari Damacy!  So it’s very weird.  The Prince even makes a cameo!

Blade Strangers

I reviewed a lot of 2D fighters on the PS4, but this one stood out as it had a lot of indie game characters in it like Shovel Knight!

And that’s all I have to say about the PS4!  I hope you enjoyed my tribute blogs.  I certainly enjoyed the PS4 more than the PS3.  I wish I could get a PS5, but at 700 bucks, I don’t think I will any time soon, if ever. It’s not really a fun time to be a gamer right now.  Also, there are only two PS5 games I want to play right now anyway.  There’s a Ratchet and Clank game on it, and Astro Bot and that’s it.  Anyway, that’s all for now!  Later!  --Cary