Official PlayStation Magazine - 04.2020

101

T

hree minutes 50 seconds.

No, that’s not the length of

your average AO2 online

contest – that’s the shortest time

I’ve waited to find someone to play

a ‘quick match’ against. Set up a

custom match, in which you define

the number of sets, venue, and so

on, and that wait doubles, which is

definitely more ‘out’ than ‘ace’.

Once you do find someone to

play against, the tennis is robust

and punchy, much like in the single-

player mode, but with no option

for an online tournament – in a

game named for the Australian

Open! – there’s limited scope or

depth. Developer Big Ant Studios

did a fine job of patching and

expanding AO1 (there were a lot

of patches), and it again has a fair

way to go to make the sequel’s

net-playcompelling.

A likeablesports title offline that

feels all-too-vanilla once you’re

faced with real human opponents

• if, indeed, you can ever find
  any online. Ben Wilson

INFO

VERDICT

FORMATPS4

PUBBIGBENINTERACTIVE

DEVBIGANTSTUDIOS

REVIEW#172,7/10

T

his one’s BYOF – Bring Your

Own Friend – but when you

do go exploring with a pal,

the online works wonderfully well.

The entire game can be played in

co-op, and without the pair of you

having to be tied at the hip. As long

as you’re in the same large area,

you’re free to splinter off and

explore, sharing resources and

upgrades as you go.

The only downside is that as the

game’s content is so specifically

about finding new collectibles

and hidden areas, if you’re not

exploring side by side you might

find yourself feeling like you missed

out on things. Still, there are few

other co-op games that offer such

a robust and complete adventure

that can feel like a unique one with

your friend. It should be top of the

listfortryingout.

If yougoco-op,it’s best to

commit to seeing the game

through with that player. Savage

Planet is happy to accommodate

you both. Oscar Taylor-Kent

INFO

VERDICT

FORMATPS4

PUB 505 GAMES

DEVTYPHOONSTUDIOS

REVIEW#172,7/10

Evenbetteronline than off, Zombie
Army 4: Dead War is a slick and
rewarding horde shooter. It may not
be particularly original, but it works so
well you just won’t care. Ian Dean

VERDICT

you can also make use of mines and
tripwires ahead of a wave beginning

• prepping a stage successfully
  becomes oddly satisfying.
  Keeping you in the game are
  countless rewards and ranks to level
  up. It’s rare for a Horde match to end
  without the satisfying zip-pang of a
  level-up noise and a new gun mod or
  perk unlocking. There are no lootboxes,
  just rewards for a game played well.
  Adding to the catnip sense of
  accomplishment-teasing are weekly
  events offering bespoke loadouts,
  rewards, and XP. And with new maps,
  weapons, and more planned for future
  DLC, Zombie Army 4 feels like a game
  worth investing in online. That said, let’s
  be clear, there’s very little revolutionary
  hidden in here. Zombie Army 4 is a good
  example of the horde shooter genre,
  nothing more – but sometimes that’s
  all that you need.

Deuces wild? The very

opposite, sadly

Only best friends

need apply

AO Tennis 2

Journey To The

Savage Planet

LTYOU CAN

e first Season of content

ersa new story campaign,

l Cult, for solo or co-op

y. There are also weapon

ndles, character packs, and

fitbundles coming soon.

Taking on the hordes

is more fun with a few

buddies of your own.

CU

The

offe

Hel

play

bun

out