Along with the Game of the Year awards, chosen by the team, each of our writers drew up their own personal list, covering the top five titles for PlayStation 5 and PS4 in 2020. Today is the turn of video producer Liam Richardson.
Confession time – I haven’t played a single game within Dreams yet. I know, very embarrassing right? What happens is that I think Dreams does its best when I treat it like an obscure used goods store that I discovered by a dark little ally, hidden from the beaten path. What exciting gadgets will I discover today? Ah, a game where Kermit the Frog has a machine gun! Oh my, a Sonic game where all enemies are Sora from Kingdom Hearts! Dreams don’t just encourage players to express their creativity; embrace them to taste the absurd. For that reason alone, it is one of my favorite experiences of the year.
Oof, Streets of Rage 4 is a bit of a winner, isn’t it? Not only is it a faithful (and canonical) sequel to the original Mega Drive trilogy, it also successfully reinvents it for the modern era. 16-bit sprites are replaced by beautiful hand-drawn illustrations, giving new life to returning characters and newcomers to the series. Its soundtrack, composed by several artists, is a delight of the wave of synthesizers that is based on the tracks found in the three original titles. And the gameplay? Well, that’s where the real magic lies. Basically unchanged, some new mechanics result in one of the most satisfying combat systems of its kind. It may have taken 26 years to arrive, but believe me, it was worth the wait.
Is Astro’s Playroom the best console package since Wii Sports? It is certainly there, but perhaps not for the reasons you would expect. See, Playroom is Sony’s Super Smash Bros, a celebration of the brand in a way that the company has never been able to accomplish before. Sure, the PS3 had a literal Smash Bros. clone in the form of the PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, but something was missing that Astro’s Playroom has in abundance. Heart. This is a love letter, so adorable that it features a photo-realistic 3D model of the PSP GPS accessory as a collectible. Nothing made me smile as much as the Astro Playroom in 2020. A brilliant jewel in the PlayStation crown.
Activision has had a winning streak recently when it comes to remastering, but none has been treated as carefully as this year’s excellent Tony Hawk collection. Both a celebration of the series as a whole and a remake of the two original games, THPS1 + 2 incorporates features from later titles (such as essential rollback) to create arguably the best skate game ever created. The birdman is back, broski, and he’s more radiant than ever. We hope that Activision will take advantage of the huge success of this launch with a real sequel as soon as possible.
Ghost of Tsushima is at his best when his katanas are safely sheathed. When the roars of Mongol invaders are replaced by the calming song of birds, bubbling streams and the soft whisper of a guiding wind. In a year as heavy as 2020, games’ ability to meet escapism has never been more warmly welcomed. Of all the digital worlds I visited, none was as enjoyable as the Japanese island of Tsushima. Riding through golden forests, lush fields of blooming flowers and along coastal cliffs is an almost meditative experience, the game’s vibrant art direction resulting in stunning views that are unlike anything else on PS4. Do yourself a favor. Take a trip to Tsushima and experience its beauty for yourself. You will not regret.
What do you think of Video Liam’s top 5 PS5 and PS4 games? Film your answer in the comments below.