For decades,PlayStationhas remained one of the towering giants of the gaming industry. This is in part thanks to a steady stream of bestselling consoles that have found their way into millions of homes worldwide. While it may be the fancy hardware that initially attracts gamers toPlayStation, the consistent release of quality exclusives is what makes them stay. Exclusive franchises likeGod of War,Gran Turismo,WipEout, andUnchartedhave helped cement the PlayStation brand in the history books and the minds of gamers.
With therelease of the PS5in late 2020, the public has been paying close attention to PlayStation as they eagerly wait to see what new exclusives will grace the platform. Fortunately, while some releases were not too well received, the majority of them were stellar titles. Taking a look back at 2021, it is clear that PlayStation has offered many quality exclusives with enough variety to please most gaming communities.
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The Year of Director’s Cuts
When the PS4 was released in 2013, it lacked backward compatibility with PS3 games. Consequently, a good number of PS3 titles had to be ported to the PS4. While this often meant buying the same game twice, it also allowed developers to touch up their games and make them look better on more advanced hardware. Although the PS5 boasts good backward compatibility with PS4 games, many developers have decided to revisit their older titles and spruce them up with DualSense controller support and updated visuals and audio.
Two significant PlayStation exclusives got upgrades for the PS5 and had the “Director’s Cut” label slapped onto them. One of these titlesisDeath Stranding Director’s Cut. Developed by Kojima Productions,Death Strandingwas originally released on PS4 on November 19, and on PC in July 2020. As one would expect from a Kojima game,Death Strandingis rather eccentric. Set in a dystopian version of America plagued by isolation, a man named Sam Bridges is tasked with making deliveries that will reunite society once again.
Death Stranding Director’s Cutwas releasedexclusively for PS5 in September 2021. Plenty of new content was added to the game. It supports widescreen mode as well as 60 FPS gameplay. Furthermore, it now has racetracks, a shooting range, additional weapons and equipment, and some new songs to make hanging out in Sam’s private room a more relaxing experience.Death Stranding Director’s Cutis the perfect entry point for gamers who want to try Kojima’s unconventional offering, and it is also a great upgrade for existing players who want to squeeze more fun out of the game.
Equally as good asDeath StrandingisGhost of Tsushima, a game that takes players to an artistic reimagining of Japan’s Tsushima Island. The game centers on Jin Sakai, a samurai who must learn to fight in a new way if he is to defend his people against the Mongol invasion. When it was released on PS4 in July 2020, it amazed gamers with its picturesque environments, immersive world, and gripping narrative.
Fortunately, for those who did not get enough ofGhost of Tsushimathe first time around, Sucker Punch released an upgraded version of the game for PS4 and PS5 in August 2021.Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cutfeatures allof the goodness of the original game and introduces Iki Island, which contains new lands to explore and adventures to indulge in. On PS5, the game also features DualSense controller support, 4K resolution support, and Japanese lip sync. The Director’s Cut turns what was already an amazing game into an unmissable masterpiece.
PlayStation’s New IP
For some, rereleases of older games are not attractive, even if they do have upgraded features. Luckily, PlayStation has also been heavily investing in new IPs. Consequently, 2021 saw the release of some good new IPs that could spawn new franchises.
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Housemarque is a studio that has had a long history with PlayStation. It has developed several PlayStation exclusive titles, most of them being bullet-hell shoot-em-ups. In 2021,Housemarque releasedReturnal, an exclusive PS5 game. The game features Selene, an ambitious astronaut who finds herself stranded in an alien world. As she further explores, she discovers she is in a dangerous location filled with mind-twisting mysteries and deadly extraterrestrials. She also learns that time seems to loop every time she dies.
Returnaldiffers from most games by taking the bullet-hell gameplay of previous Housemarque titles likeResogunand translating it to a gripping third-person shooter. The gameplay is non-stop excitement and a flurry of lights, and the audio design leaves nothing to be desired.Returnalalso makes excellent use of the DualSense controller, allowing gamers to feel every impactful moment in their hands. On top of showing off some of the PS5’s unique features,Returnaldemonstrates that PlayStation is willing to give a platform to games that buck trends and trailblaze their own path.In the case ofReturnal, the experiment turned out to be a resounding success.
If the horrors of outer space are not to one’s liking, there isalsoKena: Bridge of Spirits, a console exclusive, which was released in September 2021. The game features beautifully lush environments, a tear-jerking story, and characters cute enough to seamlessly blend into a Pixar kid’s movie. Players take control of Kena, a spirit guide who must help troubled souls make the transition to the spirit world. For anyone who is looking for a game with a cheerier feeling alongside genuinely challenging combat,Kena: Bridge of Spiritsis not to be missed.
Of course, there were a couple of PlayStation console exclusives that did not garner themselves a large fanbase but nevertheless have their supporters.This includesDestruction AllStars, a vehicular combat game featuring online play. Although such titles may not be blockbusters likeReturnal, they still ensure that gamers with different preferences all have something to play.
A Good Year for Longrunning PlayStation Franchises
PlayStation has had so many franchises over the years that have brought a broad range of gamers together onto one platform. Whether it be the brutal combat ofGod of War, the car-crazy realism ofGran Turismo, or thegripping narratives ofThe Last of Us, there is something for everybody.
One of PlayStation’smost popular franchises isRatchet & Clank, a platformer that features Ratchet the lombax teaming up with his robot friend to strive for heroism. The latest entry in the series,Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, is a PS5 exclusive that shows off the impressive power of the console. Ratchet’s latest adventure is delivered in jaw-dropping graphical fidelity while making good use of the PS5’s SSD to have him leaping through dimensional rifts. Environments are loaded in instantly, and the game also introduces Rivet who is a female lombax with just as much gusto as Ratchet.Rift Apartis an appreciable addition to the series that is both a visual treat and a technical wonder.
The year was an incredible one forPlayStationexclusives, and things are only looking better for 2022.WithGod of War: Ragnarok,Horizon Forbidden West, andGran Turismo 7set to release in 2022, it appears that the year will be yet another amazing one.
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