Over the past year, a trend had begun to settle into Sony’s PS+ freebies on a month to month basis.  The company would offer a handful of secondary, yet intriguing games that fall in the indie, arcade, or just straight up under-the-radar niches, but neglect to pair them with a substantial AAA or noteworthy title to bolster subscriber enthusiasm.  After a righting of the ship over the past few months with the right balance, now Sony has gone in the opposite direction. They’ve included one very strong title as the cornerstone of its free downloads, then surrounded it with uninspired, often lukewarmly received indies of several platforms. It begs the question: can one game carry an entire month? It comes close, but not quite this time. Let’s take a look at ’em.

Click Here to Grab a 1-Year PlayStation Plus Subscription at Amazon

Sucker Punch Productions

PS4

inFAMOUS Second Son

Morality systems in videogames — which also falls into the spectrum of a Karma Meter — can be tricky, as they often wobble along the line between authentic transformation and role-playing of a character and the reward-based system of the player experience. It’s an issue that other action-RPGs have tackled with varying degrees of success across roughly twenty years, from Knights of the Old Republic to Fable, and it’s surprising how little certain contemporary games stray from the lopsidedness of that paradigm. inFAMOUS Second Son delivers a robust third-person superhero experience befitting the entries that came before it. Jumping ahead ahead seven years to tell the story of new protagonist Delsin Rowe, the player navigates a sandbox environment with his newly-gained powers to control elements commonly found in urban environments.  That aspect of Second Son works splendidly, but the game’s responses to his decisions fall into the binary “good vs. evil” morality system that’s existed for decades, and it shows.

 Strike Vector EX

Arcade flight simulators have been in short supply on consoles over the past decade or so, to such a degree that the announcement that Crimson Skies — a game going back two generations — would become backwards compatible sent a legion of fans into euphoria. In swoops the like-minded Strike Vector, which sets its sights on crafting an experience that captures both the classic, fast-paced energy of arcade cabinet experiences from yesteryear with a science-fiction edge.  Toggling between first-person precision and third-person speed controls similarly to regular FPS games, Strike Vector accelerates through tight spaces for breakneck arena-style multiplayer combat, though a lack of additional content surrounding its well-executed, nostalgic premise might cause it to run out of gas for some.

Nordic Games

PS3

Truck Racer

In the Twisted Metal car-vs-car fighting franchise, there’s a semi-truck named Darkside that provides a unique experience when selected as the combatant in the game. Surrounded by fast speedsters and large clunky behemoths with specific powers, the semi’s blend of moderate acceleration, power, and control involved with balancing its wheels while hooking around corners offered a compelling, albeit underappreciated alternative in the arena battle design. That’s the same kind of appeal presented by Truck Racer, which essentially duplicates the same-old formula of track racing games with a pack of semis speeding and swerving along both dusty and stable roads. With a graphical interface and visual tone similar to Burnout Paradise, Truck Racer lets its concept speak for itself, capturing the destructive mayhem of the races in a simple, unrealistic, but lively package.

Handball 2016

The sport of handball fits somewhere between basketball and soccer, two games that, obviously, have been highly represented on consoles for decades now. Of course, while playing handball in person, there’s enough deviation in strategy and physicality to lead someone to pursue the sport as an interest; whether the same holds true for a videogame of said sport, which maintains popularity in countries outside the US, is another thing altogether. Handball 2016 gives it a whirl, though, replicating the sport’s maneuvers alongside dozens of real European teams and with play-by-play commentary.

Vertex Pop

PS Vita

We Are Doomed

If the folks at PixelJunk had decided to tackle the Asteroid-like twin-stick shooting arcade game, then it probably would’ve looked a whole lot like We Are Doomed.  Much like Geometry Wars, Vertex Pop’s creation boasts vibrant colors, unique geometric shapes, and a unique soundtrack, only the aesthetic they go for — blocky designs for transitions and explosions, more pastel and softer colors — lands on something categorically different. Unfortunately, the diversion in art design tends to be the only real distinguishing trait here, almost as if We Are Doomed functions more as a skin layered atop previous games than its own creation.

Hatoful Boyfriend

And finally, there’s Hatoful Boyfriend, which is also called … Pigeon Boyfriend.  It’s a dating sim visual novel that takes place in a school for pigeons, and, well, you can put two and two together in terms of what you’ll be doing in this oddity.

Semi Racing, Handball, and Pigeon Dating Comprise Infamous PS+ Games for September

The Humble Bundle usually focus on Steam and Android games, but every once and a while we get a console bundle. Now is one of those times with the Humble 2K PlayStation Bundle, with a slew of PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation Vita titles for your playing pleasure.  Let’s get right into the good stuff:

$1 Tier

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Plus (Vita)

XCOM: Enemy Unknown made some big waves when it first released on the PS3 and PC, and this portable version is a port of this popular game.  This version, as it may not be readily easy to tell, also includes the content from the XCOM: Enemy Unknown expansion.

Civilization Revolution 2 Plus (Vita)

Civilization Revolution 2 is a simplified version of the 4x Civilization series, and the tweaks make it far more accessible on a handheld console like the Vita.  This Plus version adds new leaders, scenarios, and units over the original version.

The Bureau: XCOM Declassified (PS3)
Includes all DLC

While XCOM is more well known now as a strategy series, but The Bereau: XCOM Declassified is a shooter in that same series.  The Humble Bundle version of this PS3 game also comes with all the DLC, making this the definitive experience.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NiWSTXaiLc

Evolve (PS4)

Evolve has four human players going against one gigantic monster, trying to work together to defeat the enemy that can so easily defeat them.  The player playing the monster can work to evolve their character, making them more deadly and able to wipe out the four human team.  Remember that you need PlayStation Plus in order to play online on the PS4.

Beat the Average Tier

XCOM: Enemy Within (PS3)

XCOM: Enemy Within is an expansion of sorts to Enemy Unknown, but the game is standalone so there’s no worries about being unable to play it if you don’t have the PlayStation 3 version of Enemy Unknown.  Enemy Within really ramps up the difficulty with scenarios that can affect your ability to defeat the alien threat, particularly because the humans still can’t stop fighting long enough to unify and fight the common enemy.

BioShock (PS3)

BioShock is a very well known first person shooter, with a fascinating narrative explored in the ruins of the utopic Rapture.  If you haven’t had a chance to experience this iconic game yet, now’s the perfect chance to pick it up with a slew of other titles.

Battleborn (PS4)
Includes Platinum VC

Battleborn is essentially Gearbox’s answer to Overwatch.  The title has recently gone free to play, but the bundle includes that Platinum VC, which gives you some extra goodies.

Borderlands (PS3)

Borderlands has become a well-known series for mixing first person shooter and RPG elements into a crazy game with its own unique setting.  This version of Borderlands is on the PS3 too, so no need for PlayStation Plus to play online.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9aW1ZrI1HM

Borderlands 2 Ultimate Edition (PS3)

Not only do we get the first Borderlands, but its sequel, too.  Borderlands 2 improves on many aspects of the original title, and this Ultimate Edition comes with a ton of the DLC.  It’s valued at $100 on the PlayStation Store, so seeing it here in this bundle is a hell of a deal.

Mafia II (PS3)

Mafia II has you playing as a gangster working through the ranks of the Mafia crime families, clawing and killing your way to the top.  This is an open world game similar to the Grand Theft Auto series, and released to critical acclaim on the PlayStation 3.

Spec Ops: The Line (PS3)

Spec Ops: The Line may seem like a typical military shooter, but it manages to impress gamers with a plot that really makes you question what you’re doing.  It’s interesting to have to face what is essentially second nature at this point, and the truth may leave you unsettled.

$20 Tier

XCOM 2 (PS4)

The sequel to XCOM: Enemy Unknown, XCOM 2 takes the series to the current generation with updated visuals and gameplay.  Even at the $20 tier, XCOM 2 is a relatively recent release and is a steal at that price… not to mention all the other games you’ll get with it!

Everything in the Humble 2K PlayStation Bundle

It’s hard not to feel nostalgic while looking at the roster of freebies available to PS+ subscribers for the month of August.  Familiarly-shaped blocks dropping on top of one another, ships zooming around  in the expanses of space, and energy blasts fired off at robots in a closed-off arena?  Sounds more like the cabinets in an arcade during the ’80s than a slate of new games released on the latest consoles. Save one heavy-hitter sequel in a semi open-world franchise, the offerings from PlayStation this time around are mostly small-scale, pick-up-and-play diversions.

Click Here to Grab a 1-Year PlayStation Plus Subscription at Amazon

Double Damage Games

PS4

Rebel Galaxy

Rebel Galaxy welds together the thrills of classic space-warfare simulators, the choice-based flair of an RPG, and the general attitude of a space opera. Hot on the heels of No Man’s Sky, which also boasts lots of freedom in terms of planet-hopping combat and commerce, Double Damage Games strikes first with its fusion of ship-to-ship warfare, vessel customization, bartering and choice in where to travel throughout a randomly-generated environment. Some have taken issue with a few of the game’s drawbacks, namely the two-dimensional controls in combat and the grinding nature of its progression. That doesn’t seem to have slowed down the satisfaction that Rebel Galaxy offers folks longing for the return of this style of game, earning praise for its amusing writing, audiovisual delights, and capturing of the spirit of the space-pirate adventures from yesteryear.

Tricky Towers

Imagine trying to line up and fit together Tetris-style jigsaw pieces without walls on either side of the playing field to keep everything together. Then, flip the concept so that the objective is not to eliminate rows, but to pile up as many pieces together as possible while working against the push and pull of gravity and the pokiness of the pieces’ angles. Toss in competitive multiplayer, and that’s Tricky Towers. The brand-new puzzler from WeirdBeard games was released at the beginning of August for the PSN, so it still needs a bit of time to build a consensus on how the game stacks up to other tower-building or competitive puzzler games. While its influences are pretty plain to see, the vibrant style and fast pace of Tricky Towers have something going for it.

SEGA

PS3

Yakuza 5

After four successful entries, there’s little reason for SEGA to deviate from what’s previously worked so well in the Yakuza franchise. Instead of changing things up, Yakuza 5 merely expands its scope, incorporating five distinct fictionalized locations across Japan — all inspired by real cities — while allowing the player to control five different characters as it tells their stories.  Continuing the narrative from Yakuza 4 while focusing on a truce between clans that’s on the cusp of being broken, SEGA unites authentic open-world exploration with sharp hand-to-hand combat in its realistic take on gang warfare on the streets of Japan. Being that it was only released on the PS3 and considering its “competition” in The Witcher 3 and Fallout 4, Yakuza 5 understandably fell somewhat under the radar in North America.  Now’s the time to give it the attention both critics and fans feel it earned.

Retro/Grade

It’s not uncommon to hear somebody talk about getting in the groove of an action or shooter game, but that’s literally what has to happen in Retro/Grade to keep propelling forward. The game essentially takes place in reverse, where a fighter pilot named Rick Rocket must follow the sequence of his shots during a massive battle with rival spacecraft to prevent a tearing in the space-time continuum. This occurs by way of rhythmic controls that play like a fusion of Guitar Hero and Gradius, where the player navigates the ship into the pathway of the blasts and moves away from inbound hostiles. Colorful visuals, a nifty soundtrack from Skyler McGlothlin (aka Nautilis), and a uniquely engrossing mood created by the controls and audiovisual tempo make for a totally different kind of rhythm game.

Puppy Games

PS Vita

Ultratron

Humanity has been wiped out by evil robots, and all that remains is a humanoid battledroid with one thing on its mechanical mind: vengeance.  If that sounds like something straight out of the ’80s, then the sights, sounds, and controls of Ultratron will do nothing but reinforce that. Dual-stick shooter controls akin to Geometry Wars — and many, many others from the old-school arcade era — collide with profoundly retro aesthetics in this indie from Puppy Games, with 40-plus vibrant levels to keep the legacy goodness going for quite a while. Whether the nostalgia will hold one’s interest throughout those levels likely depends on the player, but those who relish racking up high scores and fighting out of tight spaces will likely get a charge out of this one.

Patapon 3

For a while in the middle of the PSP’s popularity, the original Patapon was one of those most-play games for the handheld console.  The rhythm franchise that put the player in control of a tribe of black silhouettes, who journeyed forth to recover their land and discover true contentment, enjoyed success in two sequels that more or less duplicated the strengths of the original entry.  Patapon 3 finds the tribe nearing the end of their voyage, to which they’ve encountered many obstacles on the way to nirvana, illustrated against handsome graphical backgrounds and marching to the beat of a catchy drummer. Unfortunately, the notable presence of multiplayer and a lack of innovation within the premise prove to be obstacles that the final installment couldn’t conquer, leading to a positive yet unenthusiastic reception from both critics and longstanding fans of the little tribe.

August PS+ Offerings Dominated By Spaceships, Blocks, and Robots

It’s finally arrived! After months of waiting, gamers are cracking open PlayStation 4 boxes and booting up their new consoles. After testing the new hardware for a short period ourselves, here’s our impressions of Sony’s new offering to the gaming masses.

PS4 Hardware

Can I use it as a giant scented eraser? Mmmmm, smells like plastic.

Look at that fat PS3 that Sony released in 2006, then look at the PS4. It’s just night and day. The PS4 is actually smaller than the PS3 slim and, of course, more powerful. It’s slightly heavier than the Slim, but that’s ideal if you prefer to position the PS4 vertically rather than horizontally. The slanted design and white/blue LED on top also make for a cool talking point when you have friends over. In addition, the smaller form factor means the console is more portable, ideal when taking the PS4 over to a friend’s house or on the road when traveling.

One big difference you will notice between the PS3 and PS4 is noise reduction. The PS4 is significantly quieter and doesn’t really make much noise unless a Blu-ray movie is spinning. Games don’t make much noise since they are installed to the 500GB hard drive. The PS4 also stays relatively cool to the touch after several hours of play.

Be aware that all the heat is expelled from the rear of the console. It’s a good idea to place the PS4 in an area where all the heat won’t get trapped at the rear of your home theater furniture. Of course, installation is a breeze: just connect the power cable and included HDMI cable to get started. Be aware that HDMI is the only option for this generation. There’s no additional A/V outputs for older televisions.

Regarding the hardware’s power, it will be some time before you see the full effect of the PS4’s capabilities in games. For the moment, you will see small improvements over the previous generation in multi-console releases. Smoother framerates, added lighting / smoke / fire effects, more populated and lifelike levels and a greater level of detail in character models, just to name a few upgrades. However, don’t expect the huge visual leap that occurred between the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3. We already live in a high definition world.

User Interface

UI background music doubles as a lullaby for putting babies to sleep so Dad can play more Call of Duty.

Two words to describe the new UI? Cautiously Optimistic. Sony has evolved the PS3 Cross-Media bar significantly, but there are some potential issues as gaming collections grow. My biggest concern is the single row of content that features all games and Sony’s applications. Very similar to the UI design in early Roku devices, the single row may take a while to navigate when you have 30+ games to look through. Sony should update the menu to provide more user control over what’s displayed along the bar. However, the most recently used app does cycle to the front of the row, thus someone constantly playing the same game won’t have to hunt down the icon each day.

The “What’s New” icon at the start of the bar is an interesting addition. Adopting a Pinterest-style display, players can check out visual notifications of what games their friends are playing, friend connections made, trophies earned and other interesting facts. The only downside is that the feed contains advertisements for games on the Sony store. In addition, your friends have to own a PS4 for their updates to appear in the feed. Otherwise, it will be completely blank.

Above the main content bar, users will find a icon menu that’s similar to the Cross-Media bar. It provides direct access to notifications, the friends list, trophies, the PlayStation Store, the message system, party chat lobbies, general settings and the power shutdown options. You really need to explore to see all the tweaks and improvements in those sections, but some standouts include worldwide percentages of people who have earned specific trophies, granular control over notifications and external device management.

Two of the biggest improvements to the UI include background downloading and the PlayStation Store interface. Regarding downloading, users can queue up new game downloads and go play a game rather than having to sit and wait through download / installation screens. It’s a subtle, but impressive touch that will make you appreciate the new generation of consoles. The PlayStation Store looks absolutely fantastic now. Huge box art is plastered all over the screen in glorious high definition and it’s quite easy to find new games to download.

DualShock 4 Controller

Includes a nightlight for scary games like Knack, the scariest launch title of them all!

Where to begin? The DualShock 4 controller improves on the DualShock 3 by leaps and bounds. The controller has evolved for an older, more adult audience. There’s a heft to it that makes the DualShock 3 feel like a plastic toy. The controller fits more comfortably along the palm of your hands due to the extended length of the sides. The shoulder and trigger buttons each have a specific feel and responsiveness, more so than the DualShock 3. The rear panel of the DualShock 4 is slightly textured for a better grip.

Very similar to the Roku 3 or Wii U, the DualShock 4 also includes a headphone jack designed to transfer the game’s audio to headphones. It’s fantastic when the other members of your home don’t want to listen to you blasting away in yet another CoD deathmatch. You can also route all multiplayer chat communication through the controller, so you don’t need to invest in a wireless headset. By the way, don’t bother using the mono earbud and microphone that comes with the PS4. The audio is absolutely horrible.

Unfortunately, all this awesomeness comes at a price. The battery life of the controller stinks. On average, the controller lasts about 6 to 8 hours before requiring a recharge. Alternatively, my DualShock 3 lasts triple that figure. The only upside to the poor battery life is that the PS4 can charge the controller while in standby mode, a feature woefully absent from the PS3.

It’s possible that the battery life is partially being drained by the light bar on the rear of the controller that doesn’t appear to have much use outside of PlayStation Camera-enabled games. It’s odd that Sony didn’t include an option to turn it off or at least dim it. There’s also a speaker built into the DualShock 4 that seems to be used sparingly in the launch games, similar to the touchpad on the DualShock 4. Anyway, PS4 owners will have to remember to plug up the controller after playing each night until Sony improves the battery within the controller.

PlayStation Camera

It’s just like Kinect. If Kinect was optional, somewhat crippled and the majority of game developers ignored it.

I was a bit disappointed in the camera’s image quality. Perhaps I’m spoiled by Logitech’s 1080p C920 webcam, but the 720p PlayStation Camera has issues with lighting and produces grainy pictures. It reminded me of a laptop webcam and the constant struggle to find the perfect background lighting. However, I did like the field-of-vision (ideal for multiple players) as well as the compact design of the camera. Unlike the Xbox 360 Kinect, I can place the PS4 camera within my home theater system without drawing much attention.

Regarding gesture and voice controls, the camera performs admirably with the Playroom mini-games and the control functions. I didn’t have any trouble with the few basic voice commands, but it seems slower than simply using the controller.

To date, there’s no compelling reason to own the camera for a specific game. However, developers could include camera functions in multi-console games that use the Kinect camera. At the moment, Twitch / UStream is the biggest reason to pick up the camera. The resolution of the camera works well with the PIP function within both apps.

I just don’t see the majority of PlayStation 4 owners opening up their wallet for an additional $60 expense when that could go to an additional controller or another game. And that’s exactly why the PlayStation camera will remain a secondary peripheral rather than a feature heavily integrated into the system and games. Adoption rates will dictate how much time and effort is put into further development of camera features. This accessory could be the equivalent of the PlayStation Move controller, a great accessory for a niche group of PS4 owners.

The Share Button

The world must be interested in my leet gaming skillz! I got 40 views on my last YouTube video.

To be completely forthright, I’m not the guy who’s going to be sharing my gaming clips over PSN or Xbox Live. I’m lucky to get an hour a day to play video games. I just don’t have the time to become amazing at a game for an instructional video or run a live-streaming event to show how many times I can get riddled with bullets during Battlefield 4.

That being said, I’m mildly impressed with Sony’s integration of the sharing tools on the PS4. One tap of the Share button and the player can look through the last 15 minutes of gameplay in order to trim out a segment for a new video. While the editing tools are fairly utilitarian, the entire process can be completed within minutes after you understand the layout and options.

Clips can be encoded in HD, given specific names and uploaded to social networks. However, voice support is limited at this point. You cannot record introductions or voiceovers after the fact. You have to record live audio while playing, definitely difficult if attempting to concentrate on the game.

Beyond clips, the player also has the ability to share a live stream of their game with the Twitch or Ustream audience. Both are easy to set up, and comments made through the two sites appear below the gameplay window (which covers about 75 percent of the screen). This allows the user to receive real-time feedback immediately, both accolades and insults. One downside is that popularity often leads to missing comments as they scroll off the screen quickly. Similar to recording live audio for a clip, it’s a bit difficult to concentrate on playing a game and responding to comment feedback at the same time.

Remote Play

Serious question; can I keep playing while I’m in the bathroom?

As with most living rooms in America, control over the main television is hotly contested among family members. Enter Remote Play, the feature that allows you to mirror and control games currently running on the PlayStation 4 within the home, assuming you own a PlayStation Vita. I’ve tested it up to about 25 feet away from my home’s router with a couple walls in between and it works extremely well.

I do have my PlayStation 4 connected directly to my router through a wired connection rather than wireless, something that Sony recommends in order to keep the connection lag free. You can also turn on the PS4 using the Vita, assuming the PS4 is in standby mode. Navigating the user interface and launching games are also a breeze.

However, there are a couple downsides to playing PS4 games on the Vita. The control scheme of the DualShock 4 download translate well to the Vita, specifically the triggers. Since there are only two triggers on the Vita (opposed to four on the DualShock 4), the triggers are mapped to the four corners of the rear touchpad.

While that’s probably the best placement due to the hardware limitations, I often found myself cramping up on the tiny Vita controls. It’s not impossible to learn, but it’s uncomfortable. There’s also the issue of trying to read text on the screen. Games for the PlayStation 4 have been built with a large HDTV screen in mind. Squashing that image down to the Vita’s 5-inch display means you will be squinting from time to time.

Second Screens

Wait a second, is this actually a feature at launch? Not really…

If you weren’t aware, the Vita can also act as a second screen. This is also an option for any iOS or Android device after downloading the PlayStation app. Conceptually, the second screen is supposed to provide supporting content. For instance, someone driving around Los Santos in GTA V could take a quick glance at a second screen displaying a large, real-time version of the on-screen map. Or perhaps you could flip through a playbook on a second screen in a sports game.

Unfortunately, early support for this feature has been extremely weak from developers—pretty much non-existent. However, it was never likely that developers like EA and Ubisoft would go the extra mile to include a second screen option in multi-console games like Madden NFL 25 and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. That being said, Microsoft is also pushing along the second screen feature with the Xbox One, thus developers will move more quickly to include this option on both consoles in the future.

Until that time, the second screen feature does come in handy when you are forced to type anything on the PS4; vastly better than hunting and pecking with the DualShock 4. The Android / iOS app can also be used to check up on user profiles, trophies and friends as well as purchase digital versions of games while away from the console.

Home Theater Functionality

First movie to christen my PS4? There’s no contest. Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2

Oddly enough, the PlayStation 4 currently has fewer streaming media applications then the PS3. However, the majority of the big streaming video applications (Netflix, Hulu Plus, VUDU, Amazon Instant Video) are still included.

PS4 users are still missing out on a handful of video applications like YouTube and HBO GO. Sony has also left out the major music streaming applications like Pandora, likely to push the company’s internal music subscription service.

One aspect of the user interface that I love is that you don’t have to reload a video app when switching between games and other PS4 functions.

For instance, I started watching Skyfall on Netflix, paused it, popped out into the menu, started up Resogun, played a couple rounds and then went back into the Netflix app. The app was still loaded as if I hadn’t stopped watching the movie and I could push play to jump right back into Bond’s most recent adventure. On an added note, the PS4 version of Netflix is the new user interface that Netflix rolled out earlier this week. It’s extremely well-polished.

After the 1.5 firmware update (which took all of 60 seconds), I had no problem playing both Blu-ray and DVD movies. The interface for discs is extremely similar to the PS3, no major changes. Sadly, the deep, granular control over audio and video settings included with the PS3 is woefully absent from the PS4 interface. The PS4 is also missing all the fantastic DLNA media support offered by the PS3. If you want to use a game console heavily in your home theater, you are better off with the PlayStation 3 at this point.

Exclusive Games

This is where fanboy arguments are born. And ultimately devolve into mindless blather.

Just like the debut of many game consoles, the critical reception of the PlayStation 4 lineup of exclusive titles has been fairly weak so far. Take a look at the early Metacritic averages:

• Knack: 56%
• Contrast: 63%
• Killzone: Shadow Fall: 73%

Only Resogun, a well-polished PSN arcade shooter, is trending above the 80% mark. (It’s fantastic, by the way. And included for free in a PlayStation Plus subscription.) If I had to guess, Sony was betting that Killzone was going to be their saving grave for the launch. In my opinion, that franchise is no replacement for a new Uncharted, God of War or Infamous game.

However, you can’t really blame the developers. While Sony will probably sell a few million PlayStation 4 consoles in the next few months, that’s a ridiculously small number compared to the number of PS3 consoles already out there. Developing cross-console titles is the smart play for the next two to three years. Developers also haven’t had enough time with the finalized PS4 hardware to develop seriously amazing games.

Should You Buy the PS4?

It’s the million-dollar question! Oh wait, no. It’s the $400 question!

The answer to this question will change based on when it’s asked and what you own already. If you already have a PS3, the PlayStation 4 simply isn’t a good investment right now. The best launch games can be purchased for the PS3 or Xbox 360. Any slight performance upgrade for the multi-console games or small portion of exclusive content simply isn’t enough of a selling point, either.

However, ask me the same question a year or two from now and I guarantee the answer will be different. Sony has created a truly powerful successor to the PlayStation 3 and the PS4 will take off as soon as an exclusive system seller emerges. The hardware is a beast, the controller is phenomenal, the user interface is a breath of fresh air, streaming gameplay is relatively solid and Remote Play is quite useful. The downsides include the limited home theater functionality, the absent second screen support and the disappointing PlayStation Camera. But those features could be improved over time, as well.

If you currently don’t own a PS3, investing in the PS4 now will eventually pay off down the line. It’s inevitable that Sony will bring the PS3 library to the PlayStation 4 over time, likely in digital form. Thus you would be better off owning the superior hardware in preparation for future exclusive titles. And that future looks pretty damn good. However, just because the PS4 has amazing potential down the line doesn’t mean it’s a success right now.

Final Rating: Sad Keanu

Search for PlayStation 4 Deals on Ben’s Bargains

PlayStation 4 Review: Did Sony Stumble at the Starting Line?

Announced earlier today in Japan at Sony’s pre-TGS press conference, Sony plans on launching a new set-top box that plays PS Vita games without actually owning the Vita. Approximately the same size as a deck of cards, the PS Vita TV allows you to play Vita, PSP and PSone classics on a regular sized HDTV while using a standard DualShock 3 controller.

In addition, you will be able to play PlayStation 4 games over your home network using the Remote Play feature. The streaming functionality also works in the opposite direction allowing PlayStation 4 owners to play Vita games through the PS4. This type of feature is definitely ideal for homes in which the PlayStation 4 is hooked up to the home theater. Someone can simply hook up the PS Vita TV to another TV in the home in order to continue playing a game while the TV in the living room is used for something else.

On the actual PS Vita TV, Sony has included a memory card slot in addition to a slot for Vita games. Similar to set-top boxes like the Roku 3, users can also watch streaming video from services like Hulu Plus and Netflix through PS Vita TV. It’s likely that any streaming video application currently on the PlayStation Vita will work on the PS Vita TV.

Although Sony has only announced the PS Vita TV for release in Japan, it’s likely that North American audiences will also have access to the device in the future. The base unit will go on sale in Japan on November 14 for approximately $95. In addition, the company is selling a version of the device bundled with a memory card and DualShock 3 controller for about $150. Check out an intro video as well as more shots of the device below:

Shut Up And Take My Money: PS Vita TV

If you have been disconnected from the Internet today or simply busy working, you may have missed all the news out of the Gamescom 2013 conference. No worries, here’s a recap of the gaming glut of today’s announcements. Both Microsoft and Sony came out of the gate with launch titles for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Here’s a full list of titles with links to Amazon for pre-ordering:

Available for both consoles:

• Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag (PS4 / Xbox One)
• Battlefield 4 (PS4 / Xbox One)
• Call of Duty: Ghosts (PS4 / Xbox One)
• FIFA 14 (PS4 / Xbox One)
• Just Dance 2014 (PS4 / Xbox One)
• LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (PS4 / Xbox One)
• Madden NFL 25 (PS4 / Xbox One)
• NBA 2K14 (PS4 / Xbox One)
• NBA LIVE 14 (PS4 / Xbox One)
• Need for Speed: Rivals (PS4 / Xbox One)
• Skylanders: Swap Force (PS4 / Xbox One)
• Watch Dogs (PS4 / Xbox One)

PlayStation 4 Exclusive:

• DriveClub (Amazon)
• Killzone: Shadow Fall (Amazon)
• Knack (Amazon)

Xbox One Exclusive:

• Crimson Dragon (Currently Unavailable)
• Dead Rising 3 (Amazon)
• Fighter Within (Amazon)
• Forza Motorsport 5 (Amazon)
• Killer Instinct (Currently Unavailable)
• Lococycle (Currently Unavailable)
• Powerstar Golf (Currently Unavailable)
• Ryse: Son of Rome (Amazon)
• Zoo Tycoon (Currently Unavailable)

Be aware that bundles will also be offered with the new consoles that may allow you to save a bit of money during November. November is also the month for the seasonal buy 2 get 1 free sale at Toys R Us, thus you could save money on launch titles assuming they are included within the promotion.

In addition, Sony announced a price reduction for the PlayStation Vita as well as the official launch date of the PS4 hardware (Friday, November 15th in North America). Microsoft has been silent on a launch date for the Xbox One, however it’s likely that the console will be released prior to Black Friday to take advantage of the start of the shopping season.

The base Wi-Fi version of the PlayStation Vita has dropped from $249.99 to $199.99 and the 3G version is being offered at an identical price at most retailers. In addition, you can find bundles like the Walking Dead bundle on Amazon for $199.99. There are other bundles available on Gamestop and other retailers for similar prices.

It’s possible that the price drop on the PlayStation Vita will stimulate more sales of the handheld gaming system, specifically to take advantage of the PS4 connectivity. When the PS4 launches, gamers will be able to play PS4 games remotely on the Vita, somewhat similar to the Wii U’s video screen controller. It’s also possible that Sony could announce a PS4 / Vita bundle prior to the November 15 launch of the new console.

Next Gen Gaming Glut: Launch Titles, Price Drops and Release Dates