This was, without a doubt, a great final year for thePS4. It not only had a lot of exclusives from the other consoles likeGhost of Tsushima, The Last of Us Part II, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and so many others, but they all reviewed well. Anyone can get an exclusive game but nailing the delivery is even better.
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It was overall a great year for the PlayStation brand as the new system, the PS5, finally came out. There is a lot to celebrate on the AAA side of things, but there were also a number of titles that got overshadowed for one reason or another. This, is their story.
West of Deadisa roguelike cover shooterthat looks like the art style from the Hellboy comics. That’s rather fitting because Ron Perlman voices the hero who also voiced the titular Hellboy in the first two films. Anyway, progression is a grind meaning this roguelike will be harder to get into than some others released this year. It’s no Hades but the art style and golden voice of Perlman alone make it worth checking out.
9Foregone (64)
Foregonelooks likeDead Cells, which was a roguelike action platformer. That’s the same gameplay style in this as well except it isn’t a roguelike. There is death involved and the experience-like system does regress upon death but there is no randomization in the world besides loot. A better way to describe it would be to liken Foregone toDark Soulsbut a more colorful 2D and easier take on that style of game.
8No Straight Roads (70)
2020 was actually a pretty good year for new entries in the music/rhythm genre.No Straight Roadsis an action platformer that takes place in a city where music is everything.
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Well, EDM music that is but players are hellbent on bringing rock and roll music back. The boss battles, soundtrack, and art style all make it worth checking out even if the gameplay itself is just average based on reviews.
7The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope (71)
This is the second chapter inthe anthology seriesfrom the creators ofUntil Dawn. This still doesn’t live up to that game, but it does double down on the scares and adventure game elements. Part of the backlash seems to stem from the way it wraps it. That’s something most horror written forms of media struggle with though. Overall, the journey is worth it.
6Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning (72)
Whenthis game launchedin 2012, it received about the same reviews. It was a huge, massive RPG that was praised for its combat and unique world. The story wasn’t anything special though. This re-release doesn’t really remaster much except for a little polish on the graphics along with including all DLC. Still, it was a hidden gem in 2012 and remains one now.
5Mafia: Definitive Edition (76)
The firstMafiacame out in 2002. Unlike the two otherMafiaremasters that relaunched this year, the first game got the most upgrades. It is a sight to behold when comparing the two. Unfortunately some the gameplay shortcomings were not fixed, still making it feel likea PS2 game, but a more polished one at that.
4Minoria (76)
Minoriais a spiritual sequel to Bombservice’s previous game,Momodora. It too isa challenging Metroidvaniabut one that replaces the crisp bright and colorful pixel designs with something out ofthe PS1’s catalog. Everything looks cel-shaded but in low polygon form. A Metroidvania about hunting witches sounds like a good idea and in a typical fashion it is fun to play. This PS4 version reviewed highest, but every platform is in the 70s. It should also be noted this came out in 2019, but for PC only so this year was the console debut.
3Dungreed (80)
The 80 Metacritic is actually based on the Switch release. The PC and PS4 versions have no aggregate so this is close enough. What really matters is the game inside which is like a light version ofRogue Legacy.
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It too features roaming castle dungeons in the hopes of rebuilding a kingdom as a roguelike. It’s not as refined, but also not bad.
2Going Under (80)
This roguelike pokes fun at Internet startups. Players are a newly hired intern at a soda company that was built on the backs of several now defunct startups. The workers of these failed projects have turned into monsters and it’s now up to the player to clean house. The upgrade path leaves something to be desired for a sense of reward, but the chaotic nature of the brawling action with an art aesthetic that can best be described as Muppet adjacent, makes it leave a good mark on 2020.
1Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 (82)
The first retro themedBloodstainedwas a nice surprise to satiate the appetites of fans clamoring for the main game.Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nightwas toCastlevania: Symphony of the NightasBloodstained: Curse of the Moonwas to theNESCastlevaniagames. This sequel also came out of nowhere before it released. It doesn’t really do anything new from its predecessor. Still, for those craving a modern NES game, this is it. This aggregate is based on the Switch review because no other platforms had one besides PC at 80.
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