Five Suggestions for the PlayStation 4 Launch Lineup

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Sony has slightly lagged behind Microsoft in the console race since the generation started, and while it's likely nothing changes until the eighth round, the Japanese giant can begin anew. Going into the hypothetical PlayStation 4, the far-ranging amount of exclusives trounces the Xbox lineup considerably, therefore the prospects of an early Sony lead are great.

But as I said before, the choice of which games to promote is a necessity. The Xbox 360 grasped the lead originally and never let go, on the heels of a multiplayer revolution. And Microsoft emphasized that and the console succeeded. Sony should utilize the same strategy, but focus on the PS3's major strength: its graphical capabilities. What is shaping to be a pivotal aspect of the eighth generation, and from the long list of exclusives, pushing the PS3 as equivalent to PC (and by keeping Steamworks) is possibly something Sony toys with as release dates approach.

Anyway, to the bulk of this post. Sony gets the Volatile Mode treatment with five suggestions for its launch lineup.

1. God of War IV. The God of War series is one of two visual darlings of Sony's unique bunch of exclusives, the other being Killzone. And with an announcement slated for tomorrow, Sony is obviously committed to continuing the franchise, but in what fashion remains to be seen. What better to commit to than the spine-ripping, decapitating, senseless fun of Kratos' march for vengeance?

It's unclear whether the game is early or later in development, thus a release date is unknown. But similar to Halo, if God of War IV is planned for the PS3, I strongly believe both corporations are releasing games prematurely. As the age of exclusives dwindles, and as the gaming industry becomes more competitive, forming an identity is more important than ever before. And associating a new trilogy within a popular franchise with a console is a great way to achieve that.

2. Gran Turismo 6. This entry I debated because of the elongated development cycle of its predecessor. However, not to include Sony's premiere racing franchise seems criminal. We learned last month that Digital Polyphony was indeed photographing tracks to recreate in GT6, confirming development. Although Sony would be crazy not to push a sequel given GT5 is the highest-selling game on the console.

In my list for Microsoft, I included Forza 5, which Gran Turismo could knock out of the park. Based purely on sales alone, evidently Gran Turismo trumps in popularity. Furthermore, the general resentment of Kinect from mostly everyone in the gaming community further outcasts Forza, whereas the limited profile of Move makes the controller a rarity among GT players.

If Gran Turismo 6 is planned for the PS4, the prospects are great.

3. LittleBigPlanet 3. I'd be disappointed in myself for not having this entry. Media Molecule, somehow, paved the way for players to frame other genres within a platformer. Both main games received critical praise and the adoring fanbase has done everything from racing to first-person shooters. Needless to say, the creativeness shines through.

But more importantly, LittleBigPlanet is one of Sony's strongest exclusives, and consistently performs both critically and financially. Completing the trifecta is inevitable, so delaying to another console expands the possibilities even further. For a franchise of this uniqueness, that may seem impossible; but the projected graphical boost could lead to even more interesting adventures for Sackboy and friends.

4. Heavenly Sword 2. Sadly, the unlikeliest option on this list. Ninja Theory, currently working on the reincarnation of Devil May Cry simply called "DmC", initially planned for a Heavenly Sword trilogy. Enslaved was mistakenly regarded as a sequel, but the studio later clarified. Then the disheartening news: an IT manager at Ninja Theory stated a series revival is improbable due to a studio focus on multi-platform support.

Coveted by fans for having an admirable heroine and engaging story, and collecting critical praise, Heavenly Sword 2 makes its mark as a lost opportunity. However there's always a chance.

5. The Last Guardian. Yes, I went there. It's been three years since The Shadow of the Colossus followup was officially announced -- E3 2009 to be precise. In that three-year span, only miniscule tidbits surfaced with no concrete information. Then Fumito Ueda left the project, throwing development into disarray. As time marches on, it's apparent the project won't be finished before a PS4 release.

The trailer looks remarkable and could pass as a next generation title. Let's hope the full game pans out soon!

If, on the slim chance any Sony executives take a gander at this list, I have no formal background in games producing. And this is only five recommendations -- many variations of this list exist I'm sure, so don't take my opinion purely into account. But don't forget it either. Jeff out.

What are some games you'd recommend? Leave your suggestions or dispute mine in the comments below. 

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