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The best PlayStation 4 games
There's a big reason why the PlayStation 4 is the best-selling console: It has a smattering of games that you can't play anywhere else. Think: blockbusters like Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, Horizon: Zero Dawn and Bloodborne. But even if Indiana Jones simulators and massive open worlds where you hunt down robo-dinosaurs aren't your thing, there are still plenty of exclusives to pick from. Whether it's the best baseball video game franchise, a choose-your-own-adventure horror or an engrossing social simulator/JRPG hybrid, there's a lot to play on Sony's latest console. And then there are games from massive third-party publishers like Activision and Ubisoft, along with quirky indie offerings to round out the selection.
The next 'Horizon Zero Dawn' patch ups Aloy's selfie game
Horizon Zero Dawn is already a fantastic game, but that doesn't mean it can't get any better. Next week, Horizon patch 1.20 will go live and bring a raft of changes to the game, with a focus on improving photo mode and squashing bugs (in the code, that is). Sony and developer Guerrilla Games laid out the fixes on the European PlayStation Forum.
The strange life of video game voice actor Ashly Burch
It took two years for Ashly Burch to record all of Aloy's dialogue in Horizon Zero Dawn. This was after about a year of auditioning for a mysterious new project from the creators of the Killzone series -- Burch had no idea what this new game was or even which role she was auditioning for. She had no idea it was the beginning of a new mainstream, multi-million dollar franchise from Sony Interactive Entertainment, and she didn't even realize she was reading for the lead role. "I think I'm just extremely lucky," Burch says. "I had no idea what Life is Strange was going to be when I auditioned. I had no idea what Horizon was going to be when I auditioned."
Let's play 'Horizon Zero Dawn'
This is the strangest death I've suffered in Horizon Zero Dawn. I can handle taking a laser beam to the face from a gigantic metal bobcat or being knocked to the ground by an overzealous robot velociraptor, but this? What a way to go.
'Horizon Zero Dawn' made me fall in love with open-world RPGs
There's something about Aloy. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's an enchanting kind of magic in the way she shoots a bow, speaks her mind and sprints across vast valleys littered with monstrous metal beasts. Aloy is powerful and loyal, an underdog outcast who rises to glory on an epic scale, and it's impossible to not root for her. She's as clever as Hermione Granger, as tough as Lara Croft and better with a bow than Katniss Everdeen -- and she's the reason I fell in love with Horizon Zero Dawn. As is often the case, love hit me out of nowhere, when I least expected it. See, Horizon is not my typical kind of game. I'm generally drawn to experiences I can play in bursts, like League of Legends, TowerFall, Neko Atsume or Overwatch, and I've never been tempted to play all the way through massive, open-world role-playing games like Dragon Age, Skyrim or The Witcher. I see the appeal of these series -- I'm a nut for the fantasy and sci-fi genres in general -- but they never hold my attention for long.
Four hours with 'Horizon Zero Dawn'
Personally, I don't put much stock in video game previews. Pre-release gameplay events for major, AAA titles are generally controlled and precise experiences, with scenes handpicked by developers to show only the best, most complete parts of a game. They're representative of the studio's goals, but not necessarily the final product. However, most preview events aren't four hours long. For Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games and Sony opened up the robot-dinosaur-infested world and set me loose for nearly four hours. I played straight through the very beginning, skipped a section that apparently includes some spoilery story points, and then ran around the game's massive world completing side quests and following the main narrative. It was a sizable chunk of the game that actually felt representative of a complete experience. I can't say definitively whether Horizon is a good game just yet. But after playing it for a few hours, I can say one thing wholeheartedly: I'm more excited than ever to play Horizon when it comes out on February 28th.
Motherhood, nature and technology in 'Horizon Zero Dawn'
Horizon Zero Dawn is Guerrilla Games' first original creation since releasing the original Killzone in 2004. Not only is it Guerrilla's first foray into a brand-new universe in 13 years, but it's a completely new genre for the studio: an open-world, action RPG. These are generally massive games with intricate narratives and winding sidequests, as opposed to the constrained, linear nature of most first-person shooters. In order to make sense of a story in Horizon's vast open world, Guerrilla brought on Fallout: New Vegas lead writer John Gonzalez. Gonzalez helped create Aloy, Horizon's protagonist, and the massive landscape that she inhabits -- robot dinosaurs and all.
'Horizon: Zero Dawn' pushed back to February 28th, 2017
Did Horizon: Zero Dawn's 2016 release window seem overly optimistic to you given its open world game mechanics, David-versus-Goliath battles and novel setting? Your concern was well-warranted. Guerrilla Games has delayed the release of the PS4 title to February 28th, 2017. It needs the extra time to live up to its "ambitious vision" for the title. That's not a gigantic setback, but it's bound to be disappointing if you were hoping to hunt gigantic robot dinosaurs by the holidays.
Morpheus mech game 'Rigs' uses color to make VR less overwhelming
My most vivid takeaway from PlayStation 4's new Project Morpheus game Rigs wasn't what I expected. Sure, the first-person mech shooter handled like a dream at 60 frames per-second, and targeting my enemies simply by gazing at them was impressive. But how fluid the locomotion was and how aiming system performed were nothing compared to the game's use of fun, vibrant blocks of color to keep the mood light and subtly nudge me in the right direction. I spent a ton of time in virtual (and augmented) reality at E3 this year and it was Rigs that was perhaps the easiest game for me to pick up, play and not feel like I was floundering about. Sorry, EVE: Valkyrie. With smart color palette choices developer Guerrilla Cambridge, responsible for PS Vita's Killzone: Mercenary, was able to tell me exactly what to do and where to go without saying a word.
Robot dinos, archery and mystery in 'Horizon: Zero Dawn'
Horizon: Zero Dawn was a bright spot of Sony's E3 press conference, largely because it was so unexpected. It broke through the monotony of sequel and remake reveals, and it was surprising to see a new IP from Guerrilla Games, a studio that's been dedicated to the Killzone franchise since 2004. Horizon is a post-apocalyptic action, survival and crafting game starring Aloy, a huntress and expert archer who lives in a world where nature has overrun everything man ever built -- except for the robot dinosaurs. The violent, hulking, terrifying robot dinosaurs. During the game's reveal at Sony's conference, Aloy crouched through the brush, shot arrows through the metallic hearts of sleek silver beasts and absolutely dominated a gigantic, robotic monster. Turns out, that was only the half of it.
Blu-ray or bust says Killzone producer
Killzone 2 producer Steven Ter Heide and Guerrilla Games managing director Herman Hulst would be out of jobs if it weren't for the PS3 and Blu-ray. In an interview with Official PlayStation Magazine UK, Heide and Hulst tag team to deliver major props for their system of choice, all while bashing a certain competing console."We really need Blu-ray to make the game. I don't know how you could fit it on Xbox 360 without taking some shortcuts", producer Heide explains. And with graphics like those seen in this 25 minute video, there's little doubt that he isn't just speaking the company line.Continuing on about Killzone 2's Blu-ray dependency, Hulst adds, "Blu-ray isn't important for watching movies; we need it for making games". Something tells us that a few companies beg to differ.
Killzone 2 developers talk development, E3 2005
Sony released a new Q&A with the Killzone 2 developers at last night's event. The Sony-published interview doesn't provide the most critical look at the game's development, but nonetheless offers a new look at this hotly anticipated game. How big is the team currently at Guerrilla? 135 people Please describe the work atmosphere at Guerrilla. It's a very creative environment, with a great international workforce. We have over 20 different nationalities inside the studio. What is the premise of Killzone 2? It's 2 years later and the ISA are invading the Helghast home planet of Helghan. The goal is to capture the Helghast leader and bring the war machine to a halt.
Killzone to have public beta, 'of course'
Killzone lead tester Seb Downie has confirmed that the Dutch mega-project will eventually open its doors to a multiplayer testing phase. "Of course there is going to be a public beta," says Downie (aka motherH), posting on the Killzone forums. "I have always said that any game that has an online mode needs to go through a public beta to ensure it works as intended." But what ensures that a beta works as intended?Guerrilla Games could avoid such temporary disaster by continuing to keep development and PR low-key throughout its beta. Since the shooter's spectacular, but oft-criticized E3 preview two years ago, Killzone has become vaporware, resurfacing from time to time through rumor, but never in reality. Buzz will begin again when further beta details are disclosed -- Downie says more info "later this year" -- but don't count on Killzone's public beta becoming the sort of hype-potion that Microsoft and Bungie have recently concocted. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
Sony: 'Killzone won't be [at] GDC at all'
And like a rifle butt to the ocular cavity, the spark of hope in our eyes was handily extinguished with SCEA Manager, Ryan Bowling telling IGN, "No, Killzone won't be [at] GDC at all." Really? The game was a no-show at both E3 and TGS last year; in fact, the only thing we've heard (besides rumors) following the title's infamous E3 2005 debut is that it's the "biggest multimedia project in Dutch history." So, if that rumored Killzone 2 demo won't be making an appearance at GDC after all, and E3 is gone, when will it crawl out of the foxhole it's been hiding in for the last two years? Says Bowling, "The time for that game is coming and we'll have new information about it in the future, but not at GDC."[Thanks, Nav]
Killzone returns: "biggest multimedia project in Dutch history"
Dutch newspaper de Volksrant brings word of PlayStation 3's reclusive shooter Killzone, in an article titled, "A video game more expensive than the most expensive film." Guerrilla Games has allegedly hired some 120 developers to complete the project, which made its dubious debut at E3 2005 and promptly disappeared from the public eye.According to de Volksrant, the next-gen Killzone sequel will cost more than Black Book (Zwartboek), Paul Verhoeven's World War II thriller and the most expensive film in Dutch history (totaling roughly $21 million). Killzone director Arjan Brussee would not quote a specific figure, but did confirm that the bill would exceed Black Book's budget; driven in part by large-scale localization, which will see Killzone translated into 20 different languages.Brussee also hinted at the possibility of downloadable episodic content, telling de Volksrant, "The Killzone that is in stores is only the beginning." Indeed, the article suggests that additional "chapters" will be added after the game's initial release. *Sniff, sniff* Smell that? Halo-killer? Nah, couldn't be...
