Alongside our staff-voted Game of the Year awards, each of our writers have crafted their own personal lists, covering their top five PlayStation 4 titles of 2019. Today, it's the turn of reviewer Ken Talbot.
5. Kingdom Hearts III
The (very) long awaited return of Disney and Square Enix's mega collaboration Kingdom Hearts, this latest instalment doesn't quite hit the highs of the series' best, but it remains a magical experience that always feels like a gift from the creative studios to the fans. Vibrant visuals, great combat, and Tetsuya Nomura's distinctly bonkers storytelling is here in full force.
4. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
A From Software game now carries a weight of expectation that it may one not be able to meet. Not so with Sekiro, a truly distinct experience with a unique combat style that was nails hard in a whole different way to Dark Souls. The feudal Japanese setting is grim and beautiful and the story of the one armed wolf is by turns epic and tragic.
3. Devil May Cry 5
Even though its fourth instalment is great and the Ninja Theory reboot isn't as bad as some fans make out, Devil May Cry has never quite scaled the heights of its third game. Devil May Cry 5 isn't just a return to form, it's a guitar-led explosion of what makes the series so unique in the brawler arena. Its three main protagonists have distinct and satisfying combat styles and are a joy to play. It's also hilarious and visually stunning.
2. Resident Evil 2
The original Resi 2 was the high watermark of the franchise before the Leon went to Spain and changed the gaming landscape forever. This remake feels like it does the impossible task of updating, improving, and paying authentic homage to its inspiration. It's gorgeous, controls brilliantly, and Mr. X adds a terrifying extra dynamic to your fight through RCPD.
1. Death Stranding
One of the most anticipated games in the medium's history? Maybe. The tragic firing of Hideo Kojima from Konami was quickly flipped on its head after it was announced he would come over to Sony and form a new studio. Five years later, we have the gloriously confusing result. A mind bending, singular experience from start to finish, Death Stranding is about connections, loss, and new beginnings. Yes, all you really do is walk around delivering packages, but only Kojima could take that concept and make it into a blockbuster 50 hour game... With pee mushrooms.
Do you agree with Ken's personal Game of the Year picks? Whatever your opinion, feed us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Comments 9
Apart from Sekiro, I just can't agree with this list.
But then again, there wasn't a game this year that really blow me away. To be fair, most of them I didn't played: I allways liked DMC and I haven't tried this one yet. I was never a fan of kingdom hearts or resident evil, so didn't try those too, and maybe they're good.
I'll try to finish Death Stranding, but I have to connect a coffee machine to my veins first.
I haven’t played either Kingdom Hearts 3 or DMC 5. Resident Evil 2 is in my backlog pile. I started Sekiro...and erm, that’s it’s! Too hard for me 🙄 I got Death Stranding for Christmas and am about 6 hours into it so far. I think I like it 🤔 the graphics are fantastic, and I’m certainly not bored with it yet, I’m just not sure what I make of it!
@LowTech To be fair, it’s hard to agree or disagree with a list if you haven’t played most of the games on it. I’ve played all of these except DmC5 and yeah, these are the biggest and probably best games of 2019. I’d stick a couple of indie games that I think were better than KH3 and Sekiro but otherwise it’s not the most controversial of lists.
@Nightcrawler71
Same. Got Death Stranding for Christmas and have put a decent amount of time into it. I definitely like the story and the game is a real looker but I'm not sure what to think about the gameplay yet. Still early on, and I've heard the game doesn't really pick up until Chapter 4 so I'm looking forward to seeing what I think after I get to that point. Right now, I wish there was more action but at least there's cool looking scenery and a solid soundtrack as I traverse the world.
Unfortunately, Death Stranding wasn't for me. It's funny to think that the stuff that made me walk less (zip lines) were the only things fun in the game. I really don't like the "you must walk, but we'll punish you if you do" thing.
I can see how Death Stranding would be on this list and Kingdom Hearts but Sekiro? I'm upset that Days Gone Didn't make it on this list that was definitely my favorite game of this year
@nessisonett I was trying to be ironic by showing that the best games of the year for someone like @kendomustdie, most people didn't played (or that's the idea that I have).. And my best games of the year, a lot of people didn't played either.. Which tells me that 2019 was not a good year.. Hoping for a better gaming year in 2020..
It couldn’t be anything other than Death Stranding for me. I really do understand the position of it’s many critics and negative reviewers, but for me it’s a pure Kojima joint and I was intoxicated by it. Still trudging through the mountains now. As for the rest, they were the games that had the biggest impact on me. DMC5 has toppled 3 as my fave in the series, Sekiro is jostling Bloodborne for my Soulsborne top spot and Resi 2 was everything I could have expected from a remake of a classic and so much more. Kingdom Hearts didn’t live up to expectations, but it still made me feel like I did back in the PS2 heyday. I’m usually a bit behind on indie games, Return Of The Obra Dinn was hands down the best experience I’ve had with a game this year...but it’s a 2018 title
@m1349 of course that a lot of people played it. but not as in a massive way as other games.. What I meant was that most of them are not the kind of game everyone wants to play and for me, that says something. It doesn't mean that they're not good. Just that they are not that good.. In truth, since I haven't tried most of them, I can't really say anything. And I can't say that my top 5 is much better..
What I'm really trying to say here is that I really think 2019 wasn't a great year in terms of gaming.
I miss the feeling that I had when I played for the first time a game as Kotor, mgs, the first Mafia, tes oblivion or the witcher 3.
There's also the possiblity that I didn't bought the right games.. lol.
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