PlayStation Magazine - 05.2020

BATMAN: ARKHAM KNIGHT

Rocksteady sends the Bat out with a bang. A

compelling, cathartic story adds new layers to the

Dark Knight, while PS4 allows Gotham to blossom

with a truly amazing engine. The stealth still sings,

the fisticuffs are fab, and the Batmobile is brilliant.

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PERSONA 5

Atlus’ anime wonder dazzles thanks to its mix of

friendship building, stylish dungeons, and speedy

turn-based combat. Add a story oozing with

darkness and taboo-busting confidence and you

have the gold standard for JRPGs on PS4.

THE LAST OF US REMASTERED

This modern masterpiece just gets stronger with

age, like a full-bodied stilton. A brutal, emotionally

honest take on the end of the world, Naughty Dog’s

stealth shooter is simply one of the best games

ever, even if this PS4 port doesn’t add much to it.

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retrostation

DISHONORED 2

The follow-up to a PS3 great, mixing a creative skillset

with impressive level design to create a Kaldwin-

ning immersive sim. From the shifting rooms of The

Clockwork Mansion to learning to link your powers,

there’s so much scope for experimenting.

SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS

Bluepoint completely overhauls the visuals of Team

Ico’s masterpiece but still manages to match the

original step-for-step in its remake. New controls and

a beautiful photo mode add to the package. Wander’s

tragic quest has never looked or played better.

METRO EXODUS

Larger but maintaining an emphasis on storytelling

and experimentation, this sequel to Last Light pulls

no punches. If you’re looking for one of the best

narrative-led shooters on PS4 this mix of FPS,

horror, stealth, and survival shouldn’t be ignored.

RESIDENT EVIL VII: BIOHAZARD

Capcom’s greatest series returns to terrifying

form thanks to a trip to Louisiana to meet the Baker

family, who stalk you around their mansion. While the

second half of the game doesn’t match the intensity

of the first, this is still essential for any horror fan.

DEVIL MAY CRY 5

Another classic PlayStation series returns to form

on PS4. Slicing up demons and doing so stylishly has

never felt better, especially when each of the three

characters (Nero, Dante, and V) plays so uniquely. It

looks stunning, and plays even better.

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VANQUISH

Oscar Taylor-Kent has got to go fast

Vanquish gave PS3 cover shooters a shot of

adrenaline. Youcouldhide behind cover, but

that’s boring and you’ll get pinned down. Instead,

Sam’s mech suit allows him to react ultra-quickly

and zoom around, giving you bullet time with sci-

fun guns and seriously weighty thruster-melee

action. Remastered for PS4, it’s slicker than

ever, making an ahead-of-its-time shooter ever

more so. Can other shooters even keep up?

THE SURGE 2

Ian Dean embraces the body horror

There’s nothing wrong with 7/10. Some of my

favourite games score 7/10. And of those, The

Surge 2 is one of the best. More accessible than

a FromSoft soulsborne, this sequel delivered

some of the best combat on PS4. The act of

cutting away armour, weapons, and body parts to

craft new gear lends every fight a new strategy.

Just ignore the story andthatfinal boss battle,

and embrace the fun of the cut and thrust.

We mine the library for gold. This

month: our personal favourites

PICK #1

PICK #2

PICK #3

REMASTERED FOR PS4, IT’S

SLICKER THAN EVER. CAN OTHER

SHOOTERS EVEN KEEP UP?

QThe Surge 2 picks its fights, and as it delivers some of the

sharpest combat on PS4, you shouldn’t shun this one.

BUBBLING UNDER

Alternative picks

ATELIER LULUA:

THE SCION OF ARLAND

Jess Kinghorn whips up something lovely

This is a JRPG that’s comforting like katsu curry

on a cold night, like a Studio Ghibli marathon

when the state of the world is getting you down,

like a hug after a day staring at Twitter. In this

alchemy adventure, everyone wants the best for

everyone else and sometimes that’s just what you

need... also, the protagonist’s best friend fights

with a giant hand cannon and I’m all about it.

TOWERFALL ASCENSION

You haven’t lived until you’ve enjoyed a four-player

free-for-all in this instant couchplay classic. The solo

campaign is fine by itself, but almost nothing beats

the arrow-grabbing, death-defying last-second kills

of local multiplayer’s mayhem.

DAYS GONE

A beautiful, epic story told at its own pace, Days

Gone is a modern western played out across a

society that’s just crumbled. The challenge of the

hordes and the emotional clout of the narrative

manage to push above the cookie-cutter ideas.