Gamers, please accept my apology. I didn’t mean to; it was a complete mistake. I take all the blame, and I hope that one day you will be able to find it in your heart to forgive me.
I pre-ordered Watch Dogs a few days ago.
I know, I know. If only I hadn’t pre-ordered the game, I wouldn’t have jinxed the whole thing, and the game never would have been delayed. Believe me; I’m just as devastated as you. Now my PS4 lineup will be without the title that I was looking forward to most. But hey – I don’t like to dwell on the past. I’m a half-full kind of guy. So I wiped my tears and got to searching for the next great next-gen game. And you know what I found? It looks like some of the best games won’t be coming from hundred-developer teams and multi-million dollar budgets. My friends, this generation is all about the indies.
While doing my research on what PS4 launch game to get to while I wait for Watch Dogs, I was a bit let down. Sure, there are some good choices, like Call of Duty: Ghosts and Killzone: Shadow Fall, but those didn’t really jump out at me. I’m already getting Knack, and I don’t have too deep an interest in sports or racing games. It was only when I started perusing the downloadable titles that I really started to get excited. And you should too. So here’s just a few upcoming PS4 independent games to use that Watch Dogs money on.
Please be advised that three of these games are not scheduled for the PS4’s launch, so you’ll be saving some of that money for just a bit longer to play those.
Outlast
I don’t have a high-end PC. My computer can barely run Slender. So imagine my surprise when I found out that indie horror-fest Outlast is heading to the PS4. In Outlast, you play as a reporter who, acting on a tip, visits a former mental asylum to investigate the strange goings-ons that have been rumored to be happening in the decrepit building. Naturally, what’s inside the asylum ain’t fun
I love a good survival horror game, but lately many games forgo the “survival” aspect of the game by giving you overpowered weapons and a wealth of ammo. This is why I am so interested in Outlast. You have no weapons: your only option when faced with danger is to run and hide. That feeling of complete helplessness, hiding under a bed and seeing only a pair of legs slowly walking, searching for you, is truly terrifying. Check out some Let’s Play videos; Outlast is what survival horror is all about.
Octodad: Dadliest Catch
Switching gears a bit from the horrifying to the hilarious,Octodad: Dadliest Catch looks like an absolute riot. Octodad asks you to become an octopus trying to pass amongst humans by pretending to be one of them. You wear people clothes and try to do normal, everyday activities (like mowing the lawn) without anyone discovering your secret. Unfortunately, being that you’re, you know, an octopus, makes those tasks extremely difficult. Remember Chicken Boo from Animaniacs? Kind of like that – but in video game form.
What makes Octodad: Dadliest Catch so hilarious is the physics. Everyone loves some good ragdoll physics: the darts mini-game in Flatout was a hoot. Mobile game Stair Dismount cracks me up every time I play it. Just watching gameplay of Octodad brings back those memories. It’s the kind of game that’s going to be just as fun to watch as it is to play. And it also reminds us that video games are, at their core, meant to be fun.
Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty
Now this one I really can’t wait to play. Oddworld: New ‘N’ Tasty is a 2D puzzle/sidescroller/adventure game that stars Abe, an alien slave laboring for an evil corporation. This corporation, who specializes in food production, is set to make his race the main ingredient in their next product. The game tasks you with rescuing your fellow Mudokons and escaping the factory of death.
The original Abe’s Odyssee on the first PlayStation was such a great title, both in visuals and gameplay, that it spawned several sequels set in the same universe. And to have the original classic title completely redone and a fresh coat of HD paint? Yes, please. The other good thing about Oddworld: New & Tasty is it’s also coming to the PS3. So those of you who are playing the waiting game for the new system can also experience this awesome title.
Rime
Not much is known about Rime save for the reveal trailer at this year’s Gamescom, but if the trailer is any indication, it’s looking to be one fantastic title. The game looks to take the cel-shaded beauty of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, and mix it with the platforming elements of Ico and the desolation of Shadow of the Colossus. In other words, it’s going to be awesome.
The game will be pretty heavy on the exploration aspect, and judging by the trailer, you’ll have to fend of some creepy-looking creatures. Hopefully we’ll hear some more about the title soon enough.
Minecraft: PlayStation Edition
And what indie article would be complete without the most famous indie title of them all? Originally an Xbox 360 exclusive (in terms of consoles), Minecraft is now coming to the PlayStation family of systems. That’s right – the title will be hitting the PS3, PS4 and Vita. If you don’t know the point of Minecraft – and shame on you if you don’t – it’s all pretty simple. You start off in a randomly-generated world, and must utilize your surroundings to survive. Knock down a tree, and use the wood to make an axe. Use that axe to chop down more trees. Build a home. Make a pickaxe and start digging for more valuable materials. And so on and so forth. It all sounds pretty basic, but there’s so much to Minecraft that you’ll find yourself a victim of “five more minutes” syndrome. There isn’t a whole lot more to know about Minecraft – let’s just hope that you’ll be able to swap saves with your Vita. Because if there’s any game that begs to be played on the go, it’s this one.
There are plenty of other indie titles coming to the PS4 to be excited about, as these are just a taste of what’s to come. Now, not all games are scheduled for the system’s launch, and as always, dates are subject to change. But it still makes you feel better about that Watch Dogs delay, right?
