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The sheer simplicity of flower makes it a difficult game not to fall in love with. It's a relaxing, calming, and curiously moving experience that has the power to change the way that you look at the outside world. Moreover, the improved motion sensors inside the DualShock 4 coupled with the enhanced horsepower of Sony's fresh hardware breathe new life into the experience, ensuring that this former PS3 favourite blossoms all over again on the PS4.
A lacklustre campaign shouldn't stand in your way of experiencing Battlefield 4's top of the line multiplayer. While it can't quite shake the feeling of being an iterative entry in the series rather than truly revolutionary, it does enough new things, and sees the return of enough fan favourites that it shouldn't go unnoticed. Next-gen visuals and 64-player online combat mean that if you don't want to sink money into a high-end PC, this is without a doubt the best way to play DICE's latest destructive hit.
Knack offers a refreshing return to the PSone platformers of old. The title may not be particularly ambitious, but it has a nostalgic quality that can make it difficult to put down. Checkpoint hiccups, framerate issues, and difficulty spikes prevent it from reaching its maximum potential – but much like the titular hero himself, the title will definitely grow on you.
Aside from the simplistic online co-op and lack of local multiplayer, it's hard to pick a fault in this explosive PS4 exclusive. Much like Super Stardust HD before it, Resogun offers an almost perfect fusion of challenging and rewarding action. While the core arcade mode does lean a little on the short side, this is a title that you'll struggle to put down while you battle your way to the top of the online leaderboards. Plus, did we mention that it looks amazing?
Trine 2: Complete Story is an impressive realisation of a magical and whimsical tale that you can see and play. The plot is innocent fun; the graphics, colourful environments, and audio are unbelievably captivating; and the gameplay, while falling short in minor areas, shines with excellent puzzles and platforming. Simply put, it's an exemplary indie game that has the makings of a blockbuster title – and that is no fairy tale.
Tearaway is a handheld masterpiece, and a shining example of how unique hardware features should be handled. Its short running time is mostly overshadowed by its compelling mix of platforming, combat, and personalisation – a brilliantly crafted gameplay combination that'll keep you glued to the wonderful world that Media Molecule has created. This papercraft adventure is easily one of the best that you'll unfold on Sony's portable system.
Despite being beyond brilliant at times, Killzone: Shadow Fall misfires in many of the same areas as previous entries. It undoubtedly does an exceptional job of demonstrating the power of Sony's next generation system, but the single player pacing issues and narrative flaws let it down. These issues are accentuated by the fact that the core combat and multiplayer is outstanding – even if the lack of voice chat augments an unnecessary obstacle when communicating with your team.
A relatively short excursion into the lives of Didi and her imaginary friend is ruined by an astounding number of bugs. While Contrast is worth completing for the sake of seeing the gorgeous scenery and hearing the exceptional soundtrack, don't expect to have any real burning desire to play this game again over the coming months.
Occasionally aggravating controls and careless AI aside, the action is largely slick and intense – although some out of place commentary and server issues let the experience down. This is still a strong purchase for fans of the sport, but waiting until the bugs are inevitably ironed out would be highly advised.
Super Motherload is a game that will appeal to casual gamers and hardcore gamers alike. Solving the puzzles and blasting your way deep into the heart of Mars is entertaining, despite it feeling somewhat repetitive at times. Throw in a few friends and the formula definitely comes alive, though, making this something of an unpolished gem.
Call of Duty is a series that's getting stagnant. This latest edition is a solid shooter, with highly tuned mechanics, an addictive multiplayer offering, and a plethora of content to play through – but it very much feels like a familiar game with a few minor adjustments. The new Extinction mode is particularly good, but it's the highlight in a title that's following a tired recipe. Fans of the series will enjoy Call of Duty: Ghosts regardless, but those of you looking for something new will have to dig out those night vision goggles and search elsewhere.
The Vita plays the perfect host to Spelunky. Its intense, fast-paced gameplay feels right at home on the portable device, where quick stints of gameplay can help to alleviate the frustration that the title's unforgiving difficulty inevitably unearths. If you're fortunate enough to dig your way past the rock-solid opening hours, a never-ending supply of treasure eagerly awaits your discovery.
Okami HD is a timeless classic, full of charm, subtle ingenuity, and beauty, remade in stunning HD, yet sadly it's embellished with some graphical issues. It's a must-have for first-time buyers, but offers little improvement for those who have already enjoyed all 40+ hours of the game on other platforms.
For those yet to experience this brilliant 2D horror title, we can’t recommend it enough – but there’s absolutely no reason to double dip if you’ve already got it on the PS3 or Vita. It’s still a remarkably well produced experience, but if you’ve already played it, spend your money on one of the myriad other horror titles on the PS4 instead.