We reported prior to launch that we thought PlayStation 5’s launch lineup was Sony’s best-ever on paper, but that now looks like it’s poised to be committed to history. While there are still review scores coming in and nothing is set in stone just yet, every single one of the Japanese giant’s four launch games has attracted critical acclaim.
This is how the Metacritic picture looks right now, but keep in mind that Demon’s Souls has been bouncing up-and-down all weekend, so could yet settle on 93 depending on other verdicts:
- Astro’s Playroom: 83
- Demon’s Souls: 92
- Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales: 85
- Sackboy: A Big Adventure: 78
To compare, this is how the lineup looked on the PlayStation 4 seven years ago. We’ve excluded the likes of Flower and Sound Shapes because they were ports and had already released elsewhere:
- Killzone: Shadow Fall: 73
- Knack: 54
- Resogun: 84
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two platforms – aside from the scores – is that all three of the PS4’s launch titles could only be played on the new console at the time, whereas there are a couple of cross-gen releases in the PS5’s lineup. Nevertheless, it’s clear that Sony’s next-gen device wipes the floor with its predecessor from a launch game perspective. Hats off to the platform holder in a challenging year!
Comments 42
I actually think some of those PS5 scores are harsh. Sackboy and Astro are both a bit better than what they've scored in my opinion.
What is clear is that Knack scored much lower than it deserved and probably Killzone as well to be fair.
Even with that its no contest between the 2 launch lineups
Sackboy is brilliant, I’d definitely rate it higher myself.
@get2sammyb I think 3d platformers not called Mario are often harshly scored, Astro Bot looks an easy 9 minimum from what I've seen and heard plus my experience with the VR game, whilst Sackboy has looked great in every video I've seen of it
I really enjoyed Killzone, was a great early showcase for PS4s power. The ps5 launch games have to go down as the best rated launch games of any console?
I still have great memories playing Knack on my new PS4. It may not have been perfect but I had a lot of fun unlocking the platinum - my first of the new generation.
Knack II built on the foundation of the original game and was an excellent sequel. Better than anyone expected and greatly overlooked because of the animosity towards the first game.
I’d take Knack III over Sackboy or Astrobot any day. Hopefully, one day...
I haven't played any of the ps5 games, but Sackboy and Astro deserve higher scores, and Miles Morales could be a bit higher too.
Well.....the PS4 had weak launch exclusives so this shouldn't be surprising
Shadow Fall was a fun time. I never finished Knack lol. But the PS5's lineup is definitely better.
After ghost of tsushima only get about low 80 on metacritic although I really like the game, now I don't care too much about score anymore. I decide whether to buy games (or not) from pushsquare and some of youtube reviewers, and maybe from watching the game stream. I do still read other website reviews for info about bugs/mtx/etc.
@carlos82 you are correct. If Astrobot Rescue Mission VR had Mario on the box, it would be in the discussion for game of the generation.
Knack was robbed.
Knack 3 should have been a launch title for ps5. The memes would have been glorious.
Love that you excluded some PS4 titles for being ports, but include Demon's Souls, which is a PS3 remaster, and Miles Morales, which is on PS4.
Uncivilized brains cant comprehend the genius of Knack.
Killzone shadowfall still looks amazing.and yeah demon soul is a masterpiece.word up son
All this does is prove how both consoles have had a really poor limited release line up.
I'm hyped to play Sackboy, probably going to get it for Christmas. I haven't played it so I can't say if its as good or worse as it's metacritic, but I definitely noticed some complaints in reviews that would have been disregarded in other platformers.
Demon's Souls the only one that's worth it for me.
@Cyrus29 I think the PS5 launch lineup is strong, but I'd also say Switch's exclusives were strong also...
Breath of the Wild: 97
Fast RMX: 81
Snipperclips: 84
1-2-Switch: 58
Super Bomberman R: 62
World of Goo: 84
These are only the exclusives.
@get2sammyb
Haven't played Sackboy: A Big Adventure but Astro's Playroom is definitely more of high-80s, or even a 90 than an 83, imo. Still, anything 80 or above is great, especially for a launch game and in this case a free pack-in nobody expected much from. I also think the cross-gen approach has benefited PS5. Nintendo has twice done this - Twilight Princess in 2006, Breath of the Wild in 2017 - and if you have the right game, or in this case games, it works.
It also helps that Insomniac was there for launch day again. Resistance, it could be argued, was the best PS3 launch game. Depending on how people feel about Souls games (they're not for me but I respect the work that goes into them), you could argue Spider-Man: Miles Morales is the best PS5 launch game. Certainly I'd say it's between these two games.
Overall, there's no competition in regards to these two launch lineups. The PS4 became a fantastic console, second best in the entire PlayStation family after PS2, but it took a while to get there. The launch lineup was very disappointing, especially Killzone which from trailers had potential just fell flat. No such problem with the PS5, it has hit the ground running, and 2021 looks really strong as well.
@Kienda
Breath of the wild was the switch's biggest launch title, and it wasn't an exclusive. In fact it was a Wii U port that dropped as low as 20fps.
Some of PS5's are cross-gen too I know, but just saying
I still love Knack. It's criminal the reception it gets on the internet.
Shadowfall was just "meh" at best. I liked it more than KZ3, it did some cool things, I had fun with it. But it wasn't an amazingly memorable title, either. Then again, I'd prefer that to Soulsborne!
@Kanji-Tatsumi 1. It still doesn't change the fact BotW is one of the best games of all time (and they patched the FPS issues on Switch). 2. You could argue the same for Sackboy and Miles Morales being taken off the list of PS5 on that front. Also Demon's Souls is also a remake.
All I was trying to say was that both Switch and PS5 had strong launch lineups when looking at Metacritic scores.
Now, if I was choosing the games between both consoles, I'd go for a mixture of the two: BotW and Snipperclips from Switch and Sackboy, Astro and Miles Morales from PS5.
#Justice4Knack #KnackLivesMatter #J4K #KLM #FreeBritneyB*tch
@get2sammyb I was actually looking at Sackboy's score and thinking something must be wrong. I've seen so many people praising it, it's at least an 80 for sure...I am actually super excited to play it!
Some of you have said this already but oh well I'm going to be redundant and echo y'all anyway.
Any 3D platformer that isn't Mario arbitrarily gets like 10 or more points knocked off of thier metacritic score
Made up for it in the end though eh?
That is cool, good job for sony to start out strong.
Killzone was, and still is, a fantastic game and one that still looks incredible at the end of the PS4 generation.
There aren't many titles that seem to still be pushing the hardware 7 years after they release. As good as some of the PS5 launch titles undoubtedly are, I'm certain that they won't be blowing us away in 7 years time.
No mention of Godfall? A 63, or because it is on PC as well?
I just made an account specifically to say I CAN'T BELIEVE KNACK SCORED SO LOW. It's not the best game out there, but c'mon. I enjoyed Knack.
Also Shadow Fall was pretty damn good.
@get2sammyb
And these launch titles released the same year as The Last of Us 2 and Ghost of Tsushima. A certain Sony competitor might put out that many quality games in a generation. Sony did it in a year.
That is insane.
I really enjoyed killzone!
Then you toss in that you know you are getting every big AAA game in the next 6 months.
Regardless of exclusive/launch - I always start each generation with a PlayStation. It is the best long term investment when it comes to publisher support.
@Kienda there some good scores also. I’ve never owned a Nintendo console. Looking at getting the switch, or I may wait till next year. I remember seeing somewhere that there may be a new switch comming out?
@get2sammyb What's Sackboy like on the PS4, Sammy? Just wondering how the Pro stacks up against the new kid.
Metacritic... Riveting stuff...
What about Xbo....oh wait, they don't have any!
Really it's astonishing that they have zero Xbox launch titles and still receive favourable reviews and feedback. All because of Game Pass!
Anyone would think you couldn't play PS4 titles on a PS5.
🤔
I like Morales but based on game preference preferred the PS4 launch lineup.
@__jamiie
Killzone especially the train scene looks amazing on PS5.
@aj102404 I'll have to wait to find out for myself as I'm not planning on getting a PS5 within the first year.
I'll happily replay it from the beginning once I do though.
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