2015 is almost upon us, and though there are still many games from 2014 that will keep us going for many months to come, it’s a good a time as any to look ahead at what titles we’re all looking forward to this coming year.
With a list that includes the likes of Batman Arkham Knight, Uncharted 4 and The Witcher 3, we could well be set for one of the greatest years ever for PlayStation gamers.
Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
Release Date: May 19, 2015
With every new piece of footage that we see of CD Projekt RED’s glorious-looking Witcher 3 the more our anticipation grows. It’s not just about graphics though, as the narrative-driven focal point of The Witcher 3 is something that deserves special praise, too. More often than not RPG’s of near-insurmountable length seem to lack a thematic focus with their options and branched-out choices nothing more than a ruse, masked with the tagline of ‘important’. The Witcher 3’s an entirely different beast, with the sheer amount of consequential choices nearly overwhelming – providing a practically custom playthrough to cater for gamers’ specific tastes.
The Order: 1886
Release Date: February 20, 2015
During our short time with The Order: 1886 back at E3 2014, Ready at Dawn proved that not only is its debut console effort one of the most beautiful games yet produced, but it’s also capable of powerful storytelling. The Order’s alternate-history London is a world that we can’t wait to explore and sink our teeth into, and the partial reveal of the Lycans only makes us want to learn more about the game’s lore and their role in it. As a game that previously occupied only a blip on our radar, The Order: 1886 now has our full attention and is one of our most-anticipated titles for 2015.
Bloodborne
Release Date: March 25, 2015
With Dark Souls creator From Software at the helm, you have to sit up and take notice of its latest action-RPG. Plague-ridden humans on the verge of grotesque transformation walk among us, and the player character–plague-ridden himself–has taken up the call to arms. We hope learning about his motives and significance in Yharnum doesn’t dramatically shift attention from what looks like Bloodborne’s strongest hand: tense battles, always exciting, that penalize wrong moves and keep you on your toes.
As an action-RPG, Bloodborne has to nail these gameplay fundamentals. If it does (and it’s certainly on the right track), we’ll feel inspired to push through the maddeningly difficult parts to fully immerse ourselves in the world and story proper. The hauntingly beautiful Yharnum, replete with the visual and material trappings of Victorian horror, deserves no less. Even in its pre-alpha state, Bloodborne looks fantastic. Souls fans have a PS4 exclusive to be excited about, and the disenfranchised have reason to pay attention.
More anticipated games over the page….
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Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
Release Date: 2015
Sony’s PS4 exclusive action adventure is undoubtedly the most anticipated game of 2015 among PlayStation fans. Naughty Dog has proven time and time again that it can create a quality narrative while delivering a cinematic experience complete with addictive platforming, visceral combat and jaw-dropping set-pieces. The 15-minute gameplay demo that was shown earlier this year gave us a glimpse of things to come, showcasing another game world that we can’t wait to explore. As always, Naughty Dog is keeping its card close to its chest in terms of what players can expect this time around, but with Drake’s older brother, Sam, confirmed to make an appearance, we can bet that it will an emotional roller-coaster of a ride.
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
Release Date: Q2 2015
Keeping a game franchise that’s over 25 years old feeling fresh and still interesting to today’s audience is a tremendous achievement. The Metal Gear games have accomplished such a feat, with each entry in the stealth action-adventure saga capturing the intrigue of veterans and newcomers alike. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain is no different as it get set to take the series to new heights with impressive visuals and open-world gameplay. Thus far, it certainly looks to be the natural evolution of Metal Gear, and we can’t wait to play it.
The Division
Release Date: 2015
The Division has received high praise for its graphics on both PS4 and Xbox One with the release of some stunning-looking trailers and demos. Though the game is billed as a third-person shooter, it also features heavy RPG elements, including a levelling system, characters skill sets and the ability to collect loot. Players can take on missions alone or join up with friends online in an open-ended adventure where freedom of choice allows players to pick and choose mission types.
On the surface, it looks like usual the usual Ubisoft fare, but if the developer can get the RPG features right, and they’re as deep as promised, we could be looking at one of the best games of 2015.
Batman Arkham Knight
Release Date: June 2, 2015
Rocksteady Studios has created an incredible gaming franchise out of one of comic books and movie’s most-loved super-heros, Batman. There’s a lot to get us excited about this latest entry too with features including, a game world that is five times larger than Gotham City, the ability to call the Batmobile at any point in the game, new moves (including the option to use gadgets in-flight) and enemy riots with up to 50 people on screen at one time. With the PS4 at its disposal, we’re expecting great things from Rocksteady, and judging by the trailers so far, we won’t be disappointed.
Wishful thinking: Kingdom Hearts 3
Release Date: TBC
Square Enix’s Kingdom Hearts III is equivocally one of the most-anticipated sequels of the past decade or so, and with good reason. Not only is it arriving on the back of two massively-successful console RPGs – not to mention a series of great spin-offs to boot – but the game has been a long time coming. It’s been nearly a decade since Kingdom Hearts II arrived on the scene, and fans of the Disney-Square-RPG hybrid have been clamoring for a full-fledged follow-up ever since.