Looking for PS4 game suggestions
December 27, 2014 2:53 PM Subscribe
Our family was surprised with a PS4 for Christmas and I'm looking for suggestions of games that meet certain criteria, as well as general info about the console.
My daughter knows what games she wants based on already having played with friends. I, having only played a Wii before, have no idea where to start. I'm happy to buy discs, or download assuming the network starts working again at some point.
I'm generally put off by the idea of first-person shooters or games with lots of fighting. I like the idea of exploring environments or worlds, preferably with puzzles to solve. I love puzzles such as The Room on iPad.
On Wii I enjoyed Lost Winds for a while, for example, but got frustrated when it wasn't clear what to do to proceed, so games with good help/hints would be preferred.
I see that Peggle 2 is available for PS4 and have enjoyed the original... Is it worth getting, realizing that maybe it's not the best use of such a console?! Any other good physics-based games?
Finally, what does the camera do? Does it make for more movement-based games like tennis etc? Is it worth buying?
Any other PS4 info I should know! Looking forward to game suggestions?
My daughter knows what games she wants based on already having played with friends. I, having only played a Wii before, have no idea where to start. I'm happy to buy discs, or download assuming the network starts working again at some point.
I'm generally put off by the idea of first-person shooters or games with lots of fighting. I like the idea of exploring environments or worlds, preferably with puzzles to solve. I love puzzles such as The Room on iPad.
On Wii I enjoyed Lost Winds for a while, for example, but got frustrated when it wasn't clear what to do to proceed, so games with good help/hints would be preferred.
I see that Peggle 2 is available for PS4 and have enjoyed the original... Is it worth getting, realizing that maybe it's not the best use of such a console?! Any other good physics-based games?
Finally, what does the camera do? Does it make for more movement-based games like tennis etc? Is it worth buying?
Any other PS4 info I should know! Looking forward to game suggestions?
Best answer: From a friend with a PS4:
- Says the camera isn't worth it yet, it's only really good for some dancing game or other. He adds, after a moment, that the camera is also a microphone, so that might be useful in other games.
- Shooter games are the thing he's played the most of lately, isn't quite sure what to suggest other than those.
I just noticed that Fez is downloadable on PS4 according to this list. It's an excellent exploratory game, there are no enemies and there's no rush, you can win with a bit of effort, but if you enjoy it enough to go for 100% you'll be going for weeks.
My friend mentions there's a PS4 version of Little Big Planet. Maybe look into that.
posted by JHarris at 4:03 PM on December 27, 2014
- Says the camera isn't worth it yet, it's only really good for some dancing game or other. He adds, after a moment, that the camera is also a microphone, so that might be useful in other games.
- Shooter games are the thing he's played the most of lately, isn't quite sure what to suggest other than those.
I just noticed that Fez is downloadable on PS4 according to this list. It's an excellent exploratory game, there are no enemies and there's no rush, you can win with a bit of effort, but if you enjoy it enough to go for 100% you'll be going for weeks.
My friend mentions there's a PS4 version of Little Big Planet. Maybe look into that.
posted by JHarris at 4:03 PM on December 27, 2014
More suggestions from my friend:
Terraria is out for PS4, which is like a 2D Minecraft. And hey, there's also Minecraft.
There's a number of Lego games. Lego Marvel Heroes has an explorable Lego Manhattan to poke around.
posted by JHarris at 4:08 PM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Terraria is out for PS4, which is like a 2D Minecraft. And hey, there's also Minecraft.
There's a number of Lego games. Lego Marvel Heroes has an explorable Lego Manhattan to poke around.
posted by JHarris at 4:08 PM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: General platform questions:
The only real game that uses the camera is Just Dance. (there's also a built-in game called the Playroom that's basically just a tech demo for the camera). It also lets you do voice control and if you stream it can show your face in a little window while you're playing. Unless you want to stream or play Just Dance, don't bother.
Download vs disc: Every game is available for download. The bigger-budget ones are also on disc. Disc-based games will install to the hard drive once you put them in the console, and once you've got them, the experience will be identical. Discs can be damaged or lost, and take up space, but you also can sell them or trade them in. Downloads don't make you put on shoes, but if your internet is slow or PSN is down might take longer than going to the store.
PlayStation Plus is a subscription service - every month you get a couple games you can download for free. Once you've gotten them, you can play them for as long as you're subscribed. (It's also required for on-line multiplayer, but it doesn't sound like you care about that). I think it's generally a good deal, if you wait until a month that has games you're interested in, and then get it by the year.
Also new games are always added to the online store on Tuesday nights, for some reason.
Actual games:
It's not very explorey but Little Big Planet 3 is a bunch of cute physics-puzzley levels. It's got a significant emphasis on local multiplayer.
I'm also not big on FPS's. I've mostly been enjoying the smaller downloadable games. A lot of these don't fully tax the hardware, and many of them have been available on other platforms.
Exploration wise, there's three semi-rogue-likes that I personally enjoyed. All of them you will die a lot and when you die you start over, and the game is as much about figuring out how the world works and what various things in it do as it is about any one play through it. Don't Starve was my fave of them, The Binding of Isaac Rebirth is more actiony, and Road Not Taken is more puzzley. Roguelikes are certainly not everyone's cup of tea.
Peggle 2 is pretty similar to Peggle. I personally thought it was ok. My roommate likes it more than I do.
If you haven't played it on another platform, Fez is an extremely clever puzzle-platform game.
The Swapper is on my to-play list as an puzzle platformer. Apparently it'll be free with PS+ in January.
Stick It To The Man is kind of like a classic point-and-click adventure game. I really liked the writing but it's a very weird game. It's mostly the kind of puzzles you'd expect from the genre.
Weird & pretty stuff:
Flower is a PS3 game that has also been released for the PS4. It's very pretty and different; you play as the wind, blowing around through fields of flowers and stuff.
Hohokum is a pretty game where you are a snakey thing going around doing stuff, and finding other snakey things. It's often not clear what there is to in a particular screen, but it's a pretty environment to explore, and there's a lot of neat ways to interact with it.
(Disclaimer: I work for SCEA (playstation), but these are my own opinions. )
posted by aubilenon at 4:13 PM on December 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
The only real game that uses the camera is Just Dance. (there's also a built-in game called the Playroom that's basically just a tech demo for the camera). It also lets you do voice control and if you stream it can show your face in a little window while you're playing. Unless you want to stream or play Just Dance, don't bother.
Download vs disc: Every game is available for download. The bigger-budget ones are also on disc. Disc-based games will install to the hard drive once you put them in the console, and once you've got them, the experience will be identical. Discs can be damaged or lost, and take up space, but you also can sell them or trade them in. Downloads don't make you put on shoes, but if your internet is slow or PSN is down might take longer than going to the store.
PlayStation Plus is a subscription service - every month you get a couple games you can download for free. Once you've gotten them, you can play them for as long as you're subscribed. (It's also required for on-line multiplayer, but it doesn't sound like you care about that). I think it's generally a good deal, if you wait until a month that has games you're interested in, and then get it by the year.
Also new games are always added to the online store on Tuesday nights, for some reason.
Actual games:
It's not very explorey but Little Big Planet 3 is a bunch of cute physics-puzzley levels. It's got a significant emphasis on local multiplayer.
I'm also not big on FPS's. I've mostly been enjoying the smaller downloadable games. A lot of these don't fully tax the hardware, and many of them have been available on other platforms.
Exploration wise, there's three semi-rogue-likes that I personally enjoyed. All of them you will die a lot and when you die you start over, and the game is as much about figuring out how the world works and what various things in it do as it is about any one play through it. Don't Starve was my fave of them, The Binding of Isaac Rebirth is more actiony, and Road Not Taken is more puzzley. Roguelikes are certainly not everyone's cup of tea.
Peggle 2 is pretty similar to Peggle. I personally thought it was ok. My roommate likes it more than I do.
If you haven't played it on another platform, Fez is an extremely clever puzzle-platform game.
The Swapper is on my to-play list as an puzzle platformer. Apparently it'll be free with PS+ in January.
Stick It To The Man is kind of like a classic point-and-click adventure game. I really liked the writing but it's a very weird game. It's mostly the kind of puzzles you'd expect from the genre.
Weird & pretty stuff:
Flower is a PS3 game that has also been released for the PS4. It's very pretty and different; you play as the wind, blowing around through fields of flowers and stuff.
Hohokum is a pretty game where you are a snakey thing going around doing stuff, and finding other snakey things. It's often not clear what there is to in a particular screen, but it's a pretty environment to explore, and there's a lot of neat ways to interact with it.
(Disclaimer: I work for SCEA (playstation), but these are my own opinions. )
posted by aubilenon at 4:13 PM on December 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: If we're talking quasi-roguelikes, my friend informed me that Spelunky is out on PS4, and that's a wonderful game. It's quite difficult though, but it's still fun just to play around in any slowly make progress. If you don't stress out over winning, Spelunky can be tons of fun.
posted by JHarris at 4:21 PM on December 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by JHarris at 4:21 PM on December 27, 2014 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Spelunky is hard, but right up your alley.
posted by Metafilter Username at 5:02 PM on December 27, 2014
posted by Metafilter Username at 5:02 PM on December 27, 2014
Best answer: Haha, I completely forgot Spelunky. (I did remember Rogue Legacy, but only long enough to pause and shake my fist at it halfway through writing about other sorta-roguelikes)
posted by aubilenon at 5:08 PM on December 27, 2014
posted by aubilenon at 5:08 PM on December 27, 2014
Best answer: I recommend a PS Plus account. At least 80% of what i've played on my PS3 has been a result of my subscription, and the monthly cost pays off.
Given Sony's security track record you may be better off buying cards in retail stores to pay for the subscription.
I recommend starting download on everything that looks interesting, then canceling if you don't want to spend the bandwidth or storage. Once a game is registered as "purchased" you can download it any time in the future but if you don't trigger it with a download, you can't get it once it is removed from the PS Plus list.
posted by cCranium at 5:28 PM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Given Sony's security track record you may be better off buying cards in retail stores to pay for the subscription.
I recommend starting download on everything that looks interesting, then canceling if you don't want to spend the bandwidth or storage. Once a game is registered as "purchased" you can download it any time in the future but if you don't trigger it with a download, you can't get it once it is removed from the PS Plus list.
posted by cCranium at 5:28 PM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Spelunky is a much better game than Rogue Legacy. Rogue Legacy subscribes to the kinds of grind cycles that have driven me away from most other games. In short: play Spelunky.
posted by JHarris at 5:37 PM on December 27, 2014
posted by JHarris at 5:37 PM on December 27, 2014
Be prepared for some frustration with connecting to PSN. There was a major hack/DDOS in the last 2-3 days. It appears that Sony has things back online as of this evening (12/27), but there will still be spotty connectivity over the next 3-4 days.
posted by kuanes at 6:56 PM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by kuanes at 6:56 PM on December 27, 2014 [1 favorite]
Pixeljunk shooter is my second favorite game for the PS4. I got it free with PS plus (which I also recommend) and it's one of the few that held my attention.
posted by hellojed at 7:29 PM on December 27, 2014
posted by hellojed at 7:29 PM on December 27, 2014
Best answer: What I have on my PS4 right now, enjoyed with a family with a six year old girl, ten year old boy, and teen girl (this is off the top of my head, I may have missed some):
Minecraft
Lego marvel superheroes
Spelunky
Unfinished swan
Peggle 2
Fez
Guacamelee
Flower
Lego hobit
Game of thrones
LB3 (the reason I finally got the PS4)
Raymans
Binding of Isaac
Don't starve
Octodad
Oddworld
Trine 2
The swapper
The selection of games is still *very* limited. I n'th getting PS plus, great way to get good games for free that you probably would never have heard of, plus AAA titles after they have aged a bit.
posted by saucysault at 12:02 PM on December 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
Minecraft
Lego marvel superheroes
Spelunky
Unfinished swan
Peggle 2
Fez
Guacamelee
Flower
Lego hobit
Game of thrones
LB3 (the reason I finally got the PS4)
Raymans
Binding of Isaac
Don't starve
Octodad
Oddworld
Trine 2
The swapper
The selection of games is still *very* limited. I n'th getting PS plus, great way to get good games for free that you probably would never have heard of, plus AAA titles after they have aged a bit.
posted by saucysault at 12:02 PM on December 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks for all the suggestions & info!
posted by valleys at 1:37 PM on December 28, 2014
posted by valleys at 1:37 PM on December 28, 2014
OMG I FORGOT ABOUT OCTODAD THAT GAME IS A HOOT
posted by aubilenon at 2:04 PM on December 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by aubilenon at 2:04 PM on December 28, 2014 [2 favorites]
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