Ubisoft delivered a bombshell this week with news that it had pushed the release of Watch Dogs back to spring 2014. As one of the most anticipated games of this year, as well as a highlight among the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One’s launch line-ups, the delay has been a tough pill to swallow — especially for those who pre-ordered the game as part of a hardware bundle.
Still, it’s not all bad news. As such an ambitious title and a new IP to boot, Ubisoft has assured us that the extra split and polish will result in a much more refined experience for the game. Still, Watch Dogs’ omission from the PS4’s launch line-up leaves a considerable void for early adopters to fill; fortunately, there’s a couple of gems worth picking up while you wait for Ubisoft’s Chicago-based action-adventure.
We like to think of ourselves as a ‘glass half full’ type, so here’s 3 PS4 games you should play while you wait for Watch Dogs, that will be on shelves between launch and early next year.
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Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series returns this year with the pirate-themed Black Flag, also a launch title for the PS4 in addition to its arrival on current-generation formats. Packing around 80 hours worth of gameplay (assuming you attempt all side activities too), Black Flag is easily one of the meatiest games out for Sony’s next-generation console, and is sure to eat up a chunk of your time in the process. Just the sort of remedy you need in light of Watch Dogs’ delay. Aside from the action-packed campaign that has you plundering and stabbing your way through a richly-detailed Caribbean setting, this latest addition to the stealth-action franchise features a full-fledged multiplayer component to ensure you’ll be hooked on Edward Kenway’s sea-faring shenanigans long after you conquer the single-player mode. As such, Black Flag is the perfect alternative to Watch Dogs for those looking to get their open-world kicks this year.
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inFamous: Second Son
While not out until early 2014, inFamous: Second Son is yet another great distraction to nullify those post-delay blues. Due in February, Second Son has been built from the ground up for Sony’s next-generation powerhouse, offering scrumptious visuals, super-charged gameplay and a rich, diverse sandbox to muck around in to your heart’s content. Of course, Second Son isn’t merely just the PS3 games with a next-gen coat of paint; the game introduces a whole new protagonist in Delsin Rowe, and with him a host of new superpowers with which to rain down destruction upon your foes. Make no mistake: jumping up walls and pulling yourself up on precarious ledges across a sprawling metropolis has never played or looked as good.
Killzone: Shadow Fall
Guerrilla Games’ Killzone: Shadow Fall should already be on your list of PS4 launch games this November, but if it’s not, then Watch Dogs’ delay is just the ticket you need to pick it up. Out of any PS4 game this year, Shadow Fall is unequivocally the best-looking game you’re going to see on Sony’s new box of tricks this year — but it’s not all pretty graphics and no substance. Shadow Fall attempts to inject new life into the tired-and-tested Killzone paradigm, offering a less linear gameplay experience and revamping the multiplayer component with a new progression system that eschews the traditional XP mechanics seen in past games. Add all this up, and you have the star of the PS4’s launch that is sure to keep you glued to you screen for months.
Were you planning on picking up Watch Dogs at launch? What title(s) do you plan on getting instead? Let us know in the comments section below.