Now the dust has well and truly settled on PlayStation’s first showcase since 2021, I have had time to think about my opinions on it and come up with a list of 5 games that I think will be ones to watch going forward.
First up we have the gorgeous-looking Phantom Blade 0 from S-Game. This was easily one of the standout trailers from the showcase, and since its reveal, a few details have emerged. You will control an elite assassin by the name of Soul, serving under a powerful and elusive organisation known as “The Order”. You have been framed for the murder of The Orders patriarch, and are gravely injured in the following manhunt. Soul will get saved by a mystic healer, but the makeshift cure will only last 66 days, so time will be of the essence as you hunt down the mastermind behind it all, going up against powerful foes and inhuman monstrosities.
The game will be a semi open world affair, that will utilise authentic kung fu moves, so although it immediately screamed Souls on first viewing, don’t be expecting slow methodical combat with this one. The developers have also said that each weapon will affect gameplay with their own unique moves and combos, which will allow for a lot of experimentation. They are also looking to get the most out of the DualSense controller. There will be Souls-like elements, but they are looking to make this game more approachable for players rather than punishing difficulty.
Phantom Blade 0 will be one to watch for those who are fans of the Souls series, but more specifically those who are fans of Sekiro, Ninja Gaiden and Tenchu. Next one to keep an eye out for is from Devolver, and when that name is attached, you generally know it’s going to be a hit. I am of course talking about The Plucky Squire. This charming looking RPG will follow the hero of this adventure, Jot. as he explores the land of Mojo looking to stop the evil wizard, Humpgrump.
The Plucky Squire will allow players to seamlessly jump from 2D and 3D levels as they take on a variety of ways to play the game, from 3D platforming to top-down dungeon crawling. Its safe to say The Plucky Squire will have something for every RPG fan, and it is due to hit consoles this year, so you can expect to hear more on it in the coming weeks.
One that caught my eye personally, was the announcement of Helldivers 2 from Arrowhead Game Studios, The sequel to the top-down co-op shooter from 2015. As with the previous title, you will be able to wage war on Super Earth against the alien scourge threatening the planet with up to three friends, however, this time Helldivers looks to have ditched the top-down aspect, and instead gone with a more traditional over the shoulder 3rd person perspective.
As is the way these days, you can’t have a co-op shooter without a host of superpowered primary weapons and customizable loadouts. Helldivers 2 is looking to feature Arrowhead’s best cooperative gameplay yet, stating that collaboration will be vital to survive and complete each mission. This is also due to drop later this year and will be one to keep an eye on for fans of games such as Outriders and Aliens: Fireteam Elite.
One that’s sure to have caught the attention of a lot of gamers out there is Bungies next big title, Marathon. Marathon is a PvP-focused extraction shooter that takes place on the planet of Tau Ceti IV, and is home to cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners. It is these Runners that players will embody as they explore the lost colonies of Tau Ceti, either flying solo, or in a group of 3, searching for alien artifacts and other valuable loot, weapons and gear to add to their collections.
Marathon will feature a full cross-save and cross-play feature so no matter your system, you will be able to log on and play with your Runner. When asked about Marathon, the games General Manager, Scott Taylor said the following:
“Marathon is the start of an amazing journey for Bungie, one that is inspired by our studio’s legendary history while pushing boldly into the future. We’re taking all of the lessons that we’ve learned from more than 30 years of creating amazing worlds and innovative PvP experiences and putting them into a game that looks, sounds, and plays like nothing Bungie has ever made.”
Safe to say fans of Destiny will be keeping their eyes on this as development continues.
Lastly, there is a game that everything about it screams get in the bin and has the makings of a title that will probably die on its arse at launch, but I think there could be potential for this to be a surprise hit.
Yes, I’m talking about Foamstars from Square Enix. There’s not a whole lot to be said for this, other than it’s Splatoon, and instead of ink, you’ll be firing foam, and instead of lovable looking Inklings and Octolings, you’ll be playing a character that looks like it’s been ripped straight from Fortnite.
It is for these reasons alone, that I think this is one to watch, not because I think it’s going to be amazing, but because I think Square Enix has been very clever by styling this game to play like Nintendo’s smash hit and have it look like the powerhouse of Fortnite that this game if marketed correctly, could be a hit.
-Jim
