In addition to the Game of the Year awards voted by our staff, each of our writers have compiled their own personal lists of their top five PlayStation 5 and PS4 titles of 2020. Today it’s video producer Liam Richardson’s turn.
Confession time – I have one more game to make within Dreams. I know, pretty embarrassing right? The thing is, I find dreams are at their best when I treat it like an obscure secondhand store that I’ve discovered in a dingy little ally, tucked away from the beaten track. Which exciting trinkets 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 doesn’t just encourage players to express their creativity; it embraces them to enjoy the absurd. For that reason alone, it’s 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 with beautiful hand-drawn illustrations, reviving returning characters and newcomers. The soundtrack, composed by multiple artists, is a synth-wave treat that builds on the tracks in the original three titles. And the gameplay? Well, that’s where the real magic lies. Unchanged in the first place, a few new mechanics result in one of the most satisfying combat systems in the genre. It may have taken 26 years to arrive, but trust me, it was worth the wait.
Is Astro’s Playroom the best console package since Wii Sports? It’s certainly up there, but maybe not for the reasons you’d expect. You see, Playroom is Sony’s Super Smash Bros, a celebration of the brand in a way the company has never been able to achieve before. Sure, the PS3 had a literal Smash Bros clone in the form of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, but it was missing something that Astro’s Playroom has in abundance. Heart. This is a love letter, a letter so admired that it contains a photo-realistic 3D model of the PSP’s GPS attachment as a collector’s item. Nothing made me smile like Astro’s Playroom in 2020. A sparkling jewel in PlayStation’s crown.
Activision has been on a bit of a winning streak when it comes to remasters lately, but none have been handled with as much care as this year’s excellent Tony Hawk collection. THPS1 + 2 is as much a celebration of the series as a whole as it is a remake of the original two games, but incorporates features from later titles (such as the Essential Revert) to create arguably the best skateboarding game ever made. The bird man is back, broski, and he’s more edgy than ever. I hope Activision takes advantage of the huge success of this release with a real sequel as soon as possible.
Ghost of Tsushima is at its best when its katanas are securely sheathed. When the roar of invading Mongols is replaced instead by calming birdsong, gurgling brooks and the soft whisper of a leading wind. In a tough year like 2020, gaming’s ability to cope with escapism has never been so warmly welcomed. Of all the digital worlds I have visited, none was as pleasant as the Japanese island of Tsushima. Driving through golden forests, lush fields of blooming flowers and along coastal cliffs is an almost meditative experience, the game’s vibrant art direction results in striking vistas unlike anything else on PS4. Do yourself a favor. Take a trip to Tsushima and experience its beauty for yourself. You will not regret it.
What do you think of Video Liam’s top 5 PS5, PS4 games? Film your reaction in the comments below.