2015 was a great year for gamers on PlayStation. Bloodborne was released, smashed fan's expectations and garnered much critical acclaim. Kojima's swan song, Metal Gear Solid V was released and fans were even able to get their hands on a limited edition console inspired by the game. Until Dawn gave horror fans a great game that explored the tropes of the genre in new and inventive ways. The Uncharted Collection gave players the chance to revisit the adventures of Nathan Drake with remastered graphics. It looked fantastic, ran great and was the perfect experience to prepare for Uncharted 4.
In terms of digital content PlayStation players were able to get their hands on extra content earlier with Assassin's Creed Syndicate, Call of Duty Black Ops III and Destiny: The Taken King.
But enough about 2015, let's have a look at some of the best releases coming in 2016. It looks like it is going to be a great year for games and PlayStation 4 has a great collection of exclusives due out this year. Here's a look at the games that should be on your radar this year!
Due 23rd February
Far Cry Primal takes survival to another level. Set in the Stone Age, you take control of Takkar a seasoned hunter and the only survivor of his group. You'll have to live the brutal life of a man trying to survive against the wild and ensure that you rise to the top of the food chain.
One of the biggest complaints of Far Cry 4 was that is felt too similar to the previous entry. Primal should remedy that by putting players in a completely different environment and eliminating the gunplay and driving mechanics. It will be a more stripped down approach that could explore interesting themes and a new dynamic of hunt or be hunted.
By placing players in the Stone Age, the balance between wildlife and the player will be turned upon its head. In 3 and 4 it felt like you were in control and could easily hunt down the local fauna for crafting and getting hold of better equipment. But with Primal you're pitted against large predators such as the dire-wolf, sabretooth tiger and the fearsome woolly mammoth. This combined with the lack of any powerful long-range weaponry means that it will take everything you have in order to survive.
Here at GAME you can get your hands on our exclusive Far Cry Primal Special Edition, it includes a SteelBook and the "Legend of the Mammoth" DLC which adds 45 minutes of additional content.
For fans of: Far Cry, Metal Gear Solid V, and Assassin's Creed
Due 29th April
Uncharted has been one of PlayStation's flagship titles for a number of years now. Naughty Dog have managed to create a series full of action and adventure that is clearly influence by Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones, but has managed to step out of their shadow and become a powerhouse in gaming.
Uncharted puts you in control of Nathan Drake, the ancestor of the much-loved by the British but hated by the French: Sir Francis Drake. As Nate, you travel across the world to hunt down rare artifacts, fight the bad guy's private army, and occasionally invoke the odd curse or level an ancient civilization.
Uncharted 4 is set to be Nathan Drake's final outing so expect him to go out with a bang. Naughty Dog have introduced a number of intriguing gameplay mechanics such as dialogue choices, a feature that has never been seen in an Uncharted game before.
I had the chance to play the multiplayer beta that was offered with Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection, it looks like it will be a nice addition to the single player campaign and is something I look forward to jumping into after completing the game.
At GAME we have a number of exclusive editions that are available to pre-order. The Collector's Edition comes with extra in-game content and a 12" Nathan Drake Statue. As well as that if you pre-order Uncharted 4: A Thief's End with us you will receive Nathan Drake's original outfit to use in multiplayer as well as golden weapons skins and Naughty Dog points to unlock new multiplayer content and character upgrades.
For fans of: Uncharted, Tomb Raider, Indiana Jones, The Last of Us
Due 11th March
Think of the next entry to the Hitman franchise as a soft reboot, with this title focusing more of delivering a better sandbox experience over a variety of larger maps. In terms of story it's set after Absolution, but like previous games the story will not be the main driving force behind the game.
In Hitman, the focus will be on gameplay and allowing players to freely choose how to tackle an objective. With maps set in locations such as Paris, Italy, Marrakesh each with different missions that take place at different times in the day. More maps are going to be added as they are developed so they'll be plenty to keep Hitman fresh.
For Fans of: Metal Gear Solid V, Thief, Dishonored, Splinter Cell
Due June 2016
No Man's Sky is one game that should definitely be on your radar. It's an independent game by Hello Games, a small UK based developer. The main selling point of the game is that it features an infinite universe. No two planets are the same, but it goes even further than that, each planet is procedurally generated so you'll find different flora and fauna on different planets.
Your main objective is to get to the center of the universe, how you get there is your choice. It's all about making your own adventure, whether you focus on exploration and choose to try and categorize different lifeforms, or engage in dogfights across the universe in your kitted out starship.
The other interesting point about No Man's Sky is that if you opt to play the game online you'll be playing in a shared universe. That doesn't mean the game is an MMO and you'll be able to play with friends (it is an infinitely large universe after all) it means that whatever wildlife or planets you discover will all be compiled in a server wide atlas.
I've spoken in great lengths about No Man's Sky in this GAME Talks piece. If there's any game that should be on your radar for 2016, it should be this one.
For Fans of: Elite: Dangerous, Sci-Fi
Due TBC 2016
WiLD was revealed back in 2014, all we knew about it then was that it was an open world game and players would be in control of a Shaman character. In 2015 another trailer dropped revealing gameplay elements.
You see, what makes WiLD such an interesting new IP is the mechanics. As a Shaman, your character isn't exactly a warrior. But luckily you have a pretty awesome skill at your disposal, you can take control of animals and use them to you advantage. If you see an Eagle flying overhead you can enter its mind and get a different perspective of the map.
The main enemies in the game are other tribes, so you'll have to use your skills to even up the odds. If stealth is more your thing you can slip into the mind of a smaller creature and get the lay of the land and tactically take out your enemy. Or you could decide to cause carnage and take control of a wolf and attack the tribe in a pack.
The open world is procedurally generated and is roughly the size of Europe so there's plenty of ground to cover, the only thing we don't know much about is what kind of missions or objective you'll have. But Michel Ancel, the creator of the Rayman series and Beyond Good and Evil is behind this interesting new IP and it's one that I am very interested in finding more about.
For Fans of: Fallout, ">Far Cry, ">Metal Gear Solid V, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Due TBC 2016
Horizon Zero Dawn is a new IP from Guerrilla Games the studio behind the Killzone franchise. It's an action role-playing game that puts players into a post-apocalyptic land ruled by mechanized creatures (basically mecha-dinosaurs).
The gameplay is said to be a mix between Assassin's Creed and Skyrim. The protagonist is a hunter called Aloy, her weapon of choice is a bow and arrow so fighting the hulking mechanized beast that roam the world will take all of your speed and cunning. You'll have to learn about your enemy to exploit their weaknesses and come out triumphant.
The main appeal of Horizon Zero Dawn is the unique setting. The environment is rich and full of life, with incredibly detailed forests and mountains, but this environment is full of mechanical beings that feel like they shouldn't belong. It is an interesting take on the post-apocalyptic genre, which shows humans reverting back to more primitive technology while the wildlife seems to be more technologically advanced and at the top of the food chain.
For Fans of: Assassin's Creed, Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor, Skyrim, Killzone
Due TBC 2016
Final Fantasy VII has always had a special place in many gamer's hearts. For many it was the first experience of the Final Fantasy series and a gateway to the JRPG genre. At the time the visuals were groundbreaking, it was the first game in the series to use 3D graphics and to move away from Nintendo.
So PlayStation's bombshell reveal at E3 2015 struck a chord with fans, myself included. Final Fantasy VII is the entry to the series that has spawned the most spin-offs, including an animated film titled Advent Children. This film showcased all the characters with 3D visuals and fanned the flames of a possible remake.
Final Fantasy has evolved a lot since 1996, so the remake of VII has had to reflect these changes. Now, environments feel more grounded in reality and you are able to completely explore. The fighting has moved on from the static turn based approach that was traditionally found in the JRPG genre, it has become a much more dynamic, action orientated affair.
It'll be interesting to see how much these changes will alter the way we see Final Fantasy VII, at the moment it looks like it's only going to improve on an already great game! If you want to find out more about the game, then check out our preview here.
For Fans of: Final Fantasy, Persona, Tales of Zestiria, Bravely Default, JRPG Games
There's a lot to look forward to in 2016, plenty of great exclusives for the PlayStation 4 and a good variety of genres that will be sure to keep you entertained. At least until E3 and a slew of new information about other titles coming later on in the year.
Honorable Mentions:
Persona 5
Due TBC 2016
In my opinion Persona is the JRPG franchise at the moment, Persona 4 and a number of spin-off titles are available to pick up on the PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 3, give them a try. You won't be disappointed.
Due TBC 2016
The much anticipated title by Team ICO, the studio behind ICO and Shadow of the Colossus two of the best titles released for PlayStation 2. It remains to be seen if this title will be released this year, it has already undergone several delays. But we can dream.
Due TBC 2016
The Ni No Kuni was an outstanding JRPG title that was made in a collaboration between Studio Ghibli and Level-5. With gorgeous art and an incredible story, Ni No Kuni became one of my favorite games on the PS3 and its sequel is looking great!
Written by Jon Davison.
Published: 14/01/2016
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