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| Sony PlayStation 4 display at a store in Chicago. While the PlayStation 4
came out on Friday in the US, the Xbox One, goes on sale next week. |
Sony's PlayStation 4 is now
in stores, ushering in a new era of high-definition video games. Perhaps you've
already read the largely enthusiastic reviews, pored over the tech specs and
watched the eye-catching online videos. And you've decided to fork over $400 and
invite the new machine into your home.
Of course, you have to buy some games too. That's easier than ever, thanks to
the online PlayStation Store, through which you can download any of the 22 PS4
games now available. If you prefer the more traditional approach - buying a game
on a disc that comes in a plastic box - you can drive back to the mall and grab
14 of those items.
Whichever way you go, here are the best titles available so far for the PS4:
* "Need for Speed Rivals" (Electronic Arts, $59.99): This addictive arcade
racer pits cops against crooks in an alternate California that's blissfully free
of traffic jams. The cars and environments look gorgeous, but what makes
"Rivals" compelling is the smooth flow of events. You can start off in an
innocuous head-to-head race and end up on the run from half the highway patrol.
* "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag" (Ubisoft, $59.99): This swashbuckling
pirate adventure, set in the Caribbean during the 1700s, is even more rousing
with the PS4's vivid graphics. When the waves are crashing onto the deck of your
ship, you can almost taste the salt water.
* "NBA 2K14" (2K Sports, $59.99): The reigning champion of sports sims
bounces into the next generation with a new "Eco-Motion" engine. Not only are
physics, lighting and player animations more realistic, but the ballers seem to
react emotionally to events during the game. You don't want to make Kobe Bryant
angry.
* "Battlefield 4" (Electronic Arts, $59.99): Console warriors have never
before seen combat on such an epic scale. You can join forces with or against up
to 63 other humans online, and EA's "Levolution" system turns the theater of war
into a constantly changing circus of destruction. Think gunfire is scary? How
about having a skyscraper collapse on you?
* "Killzone: Shadow Fall" (Sony, $59.99): The only shooter built from the
ground up for the PS4, "Killzone" is a somewhat hackneyed tale of humans
fighting a relentless alien foe. But it looks phenomenal, showing off the
machine's graphic power with breathtaking landscapes and an uncanny attention to
detail.
* "Skylanders Swap Force" (Activision, $74.99): The Skylanders phenomenon -
collectible figurines who come to life on your TV screen - has exploded over the
past two years. "Swap Force" was already the best of the Skylanders adventures,
but on the PS4, the animation approaches Pixar quality. Best of all: If your
kids already own a bunch of the figurines from earlier years, they can still
play with them on the PS4.
The following are available via download only:
* "Resogun" (Sony, $14.99): This retro outer-space shoot-em-up will appeal to
fans of the arcade classic "Defender." It's a fast-paced, nerve-racking test of
reflexes as you fight off wave after wave of smartly designed alien invaders.
Before you set off that smart bomb, be prepared for a jaw-dropping fireworks
show.
* "Flower" (thatgamecompany, free): This mellow, contemplative journey * you
control the wind as it races across a meadow - is even more hypnotic on the PS4,
whose graphic prowess brings every bit of grass to life. And Sony's new
DualShock 4 controller, with its upgraded motion sensors, makes exploring this
peaceable kingdom smoother and more intuitive than ever.
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