Category: PlayStation

We’re only halfway through 2024, and it’s already been a banner year for indie games. These games from small developers offer big-time fun, showcasing new and unique approaches to gameplay, visuals, and storytelling. This year’s bounty of indie goodness offers an amazing variety of experiences, from old-school throwbacks to bold new experimental designs. Whether you want to immerse yourself in the foreboding wilderness on your big screen monitor or make some poker hands on the PlayStation Portal before bed, something here is sure to please.

Ultros

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As you awaken in the depths of a ship floating in space, a stunning neon landscape spreads before you, teeming with bizarre lifeforms and untold mysteries. What happened here, and what has transformed this craft into a womb of cosmic horror? Combat vicious foes with an arsenal of hard-hitting combat skills, then nurture the strange seeds you discover on your travels to sprout secrets. Strengthen yourself and explore all you can before a time loop engulfs everything and begins anew. Will you be able to escape the cycle of birth and destruction?

Publisher: Kepler Interactive | Developer: Hadoque | PS5, PS4

Penny’s Big Breakaway

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A rollicking 3D action adventure for all ages, Penny’s Big Breakaway sees the titular heroine getting up to comical shenanigans in a bright, colorful fantasyland. Small-time performer Penny thinks she’s found her path to success with a special string that brings her yo-yo to life, but when her newly sentient accessory pulls a humiliating stunt on Emperor Eddie, her freedom’s left hanging by a thread. Use Penny’s yo-yo to attack, swing around, and ride through the numerous skill-testing stages in this speedrunning-focused platformer that’s packed with charm.

 Publisher: Private Division | Developer: Evening Star | PS5

Pacific Drive

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Take it from a resident–the Pacific Northwest is a very strange place. There’s the constantly changing weather, the bizarre terrain, and so many trees. As beautiful as nature and wilderness are, it’s very easy to isolate and consume you, so how will you survive when it’s just you, your trusty station wagon, and a handful of other humans stationed in an abandoned garage against bizarre phenomena transforming hundreds of miles of wilderness into a life-sucking hellscape? Each trip is unique, exciting, terrifying, and perhaps the one where you’ll finally escape.

Publisher: Kepler Interactive | Developer: Ironwood Studios | PS5

Harold Halibut

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Stop-motion animation’s distinct look and feel combined with Harold Halibut’s narrative-driven gameplay. Set in an alternate history where a space colonization expedition was launched in the 1970s, things went disastrously wrong, and now the ship’s stuck at the bottom of a hostile planet’s sea. As Harold, a wholly average handyman, you meet and befriend the various personalities onboard while doing your duties, learning about the various ideas everyone has to escape this decades-long rut. When the time to act comes, what role will Harold play?

Publisher: Slow Bros. | Developer: Slo Bros. | PS5, PS4

Balatro

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So, you think you’re a real card shark, huh? You might think you have an unbeatable poker face, but we all know the house always has the advantage, or does it? The first (and only) poker roguelike sees you constructing decks with special Jokers, Vouchers, Tarot, and Planet cards. Play your cards well, score big, beat the Blinds (or even strategically skip them), and take on the Bosses who have some of their own aces up their sleeve–then earn new decks to expand your strategic possibilities even more.

 Publisher: PlayStack Limited | Developer: LocalThunk | PS5, PS4

Tales of Kenzera: Zau

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Journey through a gorgeous world inspired by African tribal art, music, and culture. Abubakar Salim, the voice behind Beyek in Assassin’s Creed Origins, weaves a story of loss and self-discovery inspired by his experiences. As the headstrong shaman youth Zau, you must pass an arduous trial, offering up the souls of three beasts to the God of Death to revive your fallen father. Switch seamlessly between the Sun and Moon masks with different navigation and combat skills as you amass the power you need for your goal.

Publisher: Electronic Arts | Developer: Surgent Studios | PS5

Another Crab’s Treasure

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Do you love the gameplay and exploration of games like Demon’s Souls and Elden Ring, but feel a bit weary of dark fantasy? Another Crab’s Treasure is an undersea adventure with a colorful, cartoony aesthetic and all the skill-testing challenges you’ve come to love. Take over the claws of hermit crab Kril, whose underwater paradise is ravaged by pollution. Use the trash you find as weapons and armor to take on the nastiest underwater baddies on this side of Amity Bay. Find the legendary treasure and get back your precious shell!

Publisher: Aggro Crab | Developer: Aggro Crab | PS5

Animal Well

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The debut game from new publisher Bigmode takes players on a dark, wild exploration adventure. Here in the labyrinth, there’s very little light–but plenty of creatures, several of which are less-than-docile, let’s say. You control an odd little something and are here to delve into the labyrinth’s mysteries, assuming you can survive. Beautiful, atmospheric pixel art blends with exquisite exploration and an atmosphere that’s both beautiful and terrifying to create a game packed with secrets, discovery, and replayability.

Publisher: Bigmode | Developer: Billy Basso| PS5

Crow Country

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Edward Crow’s famous amusement park, Crow Country, shuttered years prior, and its founder went missing, but something remains in this wonder-wasteland. Travel back to the 90s in this survival horror adventure inspired by ‘90s PlayStation classics. As special agent Mara Forest, you’ll traverse the abandoned park to discover why it abruptly closed, savoring the creepy atmosphere packed with brain teasers, environmental storytelling, dangerous encounters, and terrifying surprises.

Publisher: SFB Games | Developer: SFB Games | PS5, PS4

Hello, I’m Shigeo Komori, the Game Director at Atlus and we are excited to bring Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance to PlayStation fans. In celebration of today’s new trailer, I want to share more details about the game ahead of its June 14 launch on PS5 and PS4.  

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Battle system　

SMT V: Vengeance introduces a multitude of new skills across 270 new and familiar demons, including powerful new Magatsuhi Skills. These unison skills are unlocked after receiving a new kind of talisman called a periapt, which states the skill and demons required to use it. Gather these demons as your allies to command the tactical advantage in battle: unleash fearsome attacks, improve your chances with support skills, or bestow life-saving healing effects on your team. 

More powerful skills mean more powerful foes – explore the apocalyptic netherworld known as Da’at and encounter glowing red enemies called Magatsuhi demons. These enemies are stronger than your typical demon and will hunt you down if you’re not careful! Emerge victorious and you will be rewarded with higher amounts of Macca, EXP, and even stat-boosting Incense. Be on your guard, as unlike normal enemy encounters these demons will wield fierce Magatsuhi Skills.  

As a reward for our devoted fans, when certain conditions have been met the level cap will be increased from 99 to 150. Additionally, upon completing specific tasks the game will unlock the punishing Godborn difficulty mode, with all enemy demons now level 150 – a challenge that will test the prowess of even the most hardened SMT veteran. 

The battle system has also received various updates and adjustments, such as being able to use magic skills during auto-battle. These system updates and new elements will be applied to Canon of Vengeance and Canon of Creation. 

New demon experiences 

Players can now take control of an individual demon during special side quests. During these quests the player will guide the actions of a demon, such as fan-favorites Alice and Pixie, as well as new characters like Nahobeeho, to complete a variety of non-combat tasks around various locations throughout the game. These quests give players a better understanding of an area by using each demon’s particular skills for exploration and allow players to spend more time with their favorite demons. They also allow players to better understand demons and their personalities, especially their thoughts about humans. Upon the quest’s completion, the demon may become your new Demon Navigator! 

SMT V: Vengeance also adds more ways to interact with demons through a new feature called Demon Haunts. Here the player can enjoy special conversations with demons, friends, and even Aogami to improve the Nahobino’s abilities. Receive new rewards and level up through conversations, and even take a nostalgic picture of your favorite demon or ally with the free camera mode (available only in Demon Haunts). Talking with your demon party members will increase their stats as well, so be sure to return to these safe areas to chat often and create an unstoppable team! 

Greater field exploration

Map exploration has been enhanced by including elements like Magatsuhi for fast travel, a sky view for a wider look around the area, and a full map view unobstructed by the Abscesses that previously blocked the path. Magatsuhi Rails provide shortcuts and open more areas to explore compared to the original, including secret locations that can only be discovered via rail travel. The Canon of Vengeance storyline includes entirely new locations in Da’at, and we hope players feel a sense of wonder as they explore the vast Shinjuku Ward and mysterious dungeon Shakan. 

Traversing Da’at is never a chore with a Quest Navigator by your side, and with a greatly increased number of friendly allies we know you’ll find the perfect companion to accompany you on your epic journey. Netherworld investigation is also even easier with the addition of two support features for Quest Navigators: they now leave a vapor trail to track their movements, and stopping points will emit a pillar of light from the spot where they are first discovered. Reading the map is also easier with additional unique icons and quest markers.

New accessibility features

There have been dozens of small updates and revisions to make things more interesting and accessible, such as the increased pick-up range of relics, the ability to read tutorials at any point, gaining the initiative even after enemy detection by striking them from behind, reduced ambushes from aerial enemies, an increase in the number of Miracles (which have various positive effects), and the further enhancement and variety of actions for demon encounters.

Lastly, there are two big changes from the previous game: the ability to save anywhere on the map rather than the limited leyline founts, and Estoma, a shield to avoid enemy encounters has been updated from a skill to a Miracle, allowing the player to spend Magatsuhi instead of MP, freeing up a valuable skill slot. 

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance launches June 14 on PS5 and PS4. I hope you enjoy the game!

Today is my lucky day because I get to talk about Tomba with legendary creator Tokuro Fujiwara. Before leaving Capcom to develop Tomba, Fujiwara worked on many games, including some you might have heard of, like Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Commando. 

Tomba is a colorful action platformer originally published by Sony Computer Entertainment and beloved by hardcore PlayStation fans. In an era where side-scrollers were being left behind for polygon-pushing 3D gameplay, Mr. Fujiwara decided to do something different: a beautiful blend of old and new, something truly unique.  

Now, after almost twenty years, Tomba returns to PlayStation on August 1 with new features as Tomba Special Edition

Alena Alambeigi: In 1997, when you made Tomba, most developers focused on making 3D games like Tomb Raider or Crash Bandicoot. You instead decided to mix 2D sprites with perspective-shifting 3D environments. Why?

Tokuro Fujiwara: Tomba runs on 3D technology, with gameplay designed around 2D principles. This is why it’s described as a 2.5D game. I think 2D games have a certain kind of charm that 3D doesn’t. I also wanted to push the limits of what could be done. To bring my vision to life, I needed to use 2D principles along with 3D CG visuals. This allowed me to create something that felt new on the PlayStation. 

There were times when I wondered if I should go 3D instead, 3D games have a very clear sense of space. In 2D, all the action takes place on a flat plane, and multiple layers provide a sense of depth. This means you have to design the game in creative ways so that the different layers don’t conflict. This results in something interesting that can only be achieved with 2D. 

Alambeigi: What do you hope new players will take away from Tomba Special Edition?

Fujiwara: Tomba has many side quests. These come in different varieties and are hidden throughout the game. I encourage players to seek them out. Various items allow players to learn new moves, expanding how levels can be beaten. I hope players search and seal away the Evil Pigs scattered throughout the world, which will unlock even more to see! There are many discoveries to be made. I hope players can relax and enjoy the world of Tomba.

Alambeigi: Speaking of genre-bending gameplay. Tomba feels like an open world despite being described as a side-scrolling platformer. This was largely due to how nonlinearly the levels could be played. Was this done intentionally, or was it something that just happened through development?

Fujiwara: I had envisioned this open-feel game from the very beginning. It was all a blur when things started, but as development progressed, it began taking shape. 

You could consider Tomba an open-world title, a term that was rarely used back then. There’s a wide area with a lot of different content in it. You encounter, discover, and collect various things as you move around. For example, you have to complete certain tasks in Tomba, but you can wander around freely and complete them however you like. Some tasks and main objectives can even be skipped entirely. Many of the ideas I envisioned for Tomba back in the day were ideas we see in open-world game design today.

I initially wanted to include 100 quests, but the final game exceeded that. It was hard work for the team to fit it all together on a timeline. What started out as vague ideas in my head ballooned into an amount of content so large it blew my mind!

Alambeigi: The original PlayStation was a massive leap in gaming technology. What was it like to experience it back then? 

Fujiwara: Game development is an ongoing battle against technology growth. This was the case back then and is still true today. I felt that the PlayStation was such a remarkable improvement in terms of hardware, allowing for greater possibilities. Games went from being rendered in pixels to CG. Game developers had to learn many new skills. Expectations ballooned along with the scope of game ideas. Development environments evolved, which made things challenging but exciting for developers. The introduction of the PlayStation and the advancements from that era still impact games today.

Alambeigi: Finally, why do you think it’s important to bring Tomba back now?

Fujiwara: Tomba has been around for a long time, but continues to be loved by many. I’ve long wished that the game could be accessible to more people on modern systems. Now that the opportunity is here, I think PlayStation fans today will get a ton of enjoyment out of Tomba 

Tomba Special Edition leaps onto PlayStation 5 on August 1, with PS4 to follow.

Last week we asked you take a leap in the game of your choice and share using #PSshare #PSBlog. Here are this week’s jumping highlights:

DexM_ds shares Celene leaping over obstacles in Returnal.

sorathluna shares Jin leaping from his horse in Ghost of Tsushima

Hedronik shares Eivor making a leap of faith in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Dario_OtherEyes shares Yuffie leaping in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.

Tigas_VP shares a Cal leaping down to strike the Spawn of Oggdo in Star Wars Jedi Survivor

secondcapture shares the ballerina doing a graceful backflip in Bound.

Search #PSshare #PSBlog on Twitter or Instagram to see more entries to this week’s theme. Want to be featured in the next Share of the Week?

THEME:  Hidden

SUBMIT BY: 11:59 PM PT on June 5, 2024

Next week, we’re going into sneak mode. Share moments where characters are hidden in the game of your choice using #PSshare #PSBlog for a chance to be featured.

We are delighted to finally announce the launch date for Silent Hill 2. Since our first announcement in 2022, we have been met with passionate expectations from fans across the globe. In order to meet such high expectations, we have taken ample polishing time and carefully decided on when we would be able to deliver the game with confidence. This game is at its best, a remake with respect toward the original. We have revealed one gameplay movie and one new trailer to accompany the start of pre-orders, so please give it a look.

The 13-minute gameplay footage that we revealed during the Silent Hill 2 Transmission showcases exploration in the town and the hospital so that players will have a better idea of what actual gameplay will be like. The new trailer revealed during the PlayStation broadcast includes scenes with Angela and the Otherworld.

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Next up, Bloober Team Creative Director Mateusz Lenart talks through new gameplay and narrative details for Silent Hill 2.

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Silent Hill 2 Remake – What to expect

The original Silent Hill 2 ignited our imaginations. When we set out to create the remake, our main goal was to recapture that same spark by fully fleshing out Team Silent’s original vision using cutting-edge technology.

So how exactly does our remake compare to Konami’s original game? Let’s take a closer look under the hood to find out from the point of narrative and gameplay.

Narrative and gameplay

Story and characters

Silent Hill 2 is known for its gripping and multilayered storytelling, and that’s something we wanted to preserve in the remake. The setting of some events may change, but their impact on the story will remain the same. Even when new locations are introduced, we’ve sought to refer to the original whenever possible so that returning players will feel right at home when they venture out into the foggy streets of Silent Hill again.

The central characters from the original story, James and Maria, are at the heart of our remake as well. Their emotional arcs have been preserved, with great care being given to showcasing their emotions with motion capture technology. This allows us to employ “show, don’t tell” techniques more often, which is why some of the dialogue has been slightly altered to add an extra layer of nuance to the character dynamics.

As many fans are already aware, we did not use the original voices to create the remake. This was due to many factors, both creative and technical. Relying solely on preexisting dialogue would’ve been limiting and would mean that many gameplay improvements, such as player guidance, could not be introduced. Instead, we’ve decided to employ an all-new cast of voice actors who’ve brought their A-game to channel the performances of the original game. We believe that Luke Roberts and Salóme Gunnarsdóttir were born to play James and Maria, respectively, and both have approached their roles with the kind of care and nuance that the original characters deserve.

Camera and combat

Overall, we wanted players to feel more in control of James in our remake, while maintaining the pervasive feeling of dread that characterizes the original. Therefore, we decided to go with an over-the-shoulder camera that supports greater gameplay immersion and the feeling of being in the game’s space.

However, this does not mean that we are changing the style of the game itself. Players will still be afraid to venture out into the fog, where limited visibility provides ample cover for a variety of monsters lurking outside the player’s field of vision. Meanwhile, James’ radio builds tension and creates a sense of uncertainty about what is out there, waiting for them in the dark, and also provides helpful audio cues for players to base their movements on.

The combat in this remake is designed to allow for a wider variety of approaches – the player’s arsenal of actions has been expanded, while also preserving the feeling of playing as an inexperienced everyman. James is not a skilled fighter and he doesn’t feel overpowered. His range of attacks is very limited, so he must use more prudent tactics, stay mindful of his surroundings and, if necessary, run instead of fighting. The way he deals with enemies is never a flashy spectacle, but rather a desperate struggle for survival.

Giving James more opportunities led to changes in how the enemies he encounters fight as well. He will still have to deal with familiar opponents from the original game, but returning players will notice how their movements and attacks have been fleshed out in order to make them more distinctive and unpredictable in combat scenarios. For instance, going against the frantically aggressive Nurse will pose a completely different challenge than a skirmish with the silent and stealthy Mannequin.

Puzzles

The puzzles in the game have been slightly altered to present a new spin on their original designs, but still maintain their eerie connection to the game’s overall theme and narrative. We’ve taken great care to build upon the memory of the original Silent Hill 2 by sometimes twisting and confounding player’s expectations with regards to certain puzzle solutions, in a kind of a tribute to the inventiveness and playfulness of the original game.

We believe that this approach, alongside the numerous and often surprising references to the original present in the game, will bring joy to fans of the classic Silent Hill 2, while at the same time offering them something new and interesting to solve. We like to think of it as our way of expressing love for the original game – by enriching the experience, while still being mindful of preserving its essence.

Standard Edition and Deluxe Edition details

The deluxe edition includes various DLCs, such as a digital artbook full of concept art for the town of Silent Hill and its monsters, a digital soundtrack with tracks by Akira Yamaoka, and a Pyramid Head mask made from a pizza box (Note: The digital artbook and soundtrack will be distributed in the form of a bonus application. The contents will not be available for download in specific audio formats, such as MP3.). The Pyramid Head mask is available as a cosmetic item for in-game characters.

If a pre-order is placed, the standard and deluxe editions will include a Mira the Dog mask and a Robbie the Rabbit mask (*PlayStation 5 exclusive) DLC as pre-order bonuses. Likewise, each mask can be used as a character’s cosmetic item. Deluxe edition pre-orders also come with 48-hour early access. These are great deals full of content, so we recommend pre-ordering and purchasing through the PlayStation Store.

We will be revealing more information for Silent Hill 2 as the launch date approaches, so stay tuned. Our other titles, Silent Hill: Townfall and Silent Hill 2f, are also currently in development. We will follow up on these games when the time comes, so please look forward to more.