PlayStation Store Turns 20: Developers Name the Games That Surprised Them Most
To mark 20 years of PlayStation Store, PlayStation Blog asked studio developers which games caught them off guard, from Balatro to God of War.
PlayStation is celebrating two decades of PlayStation Store by asking developers which games caught them off guard. The feature, published on PlayStation Blog, collects short reflections on titles that people in the industry did not expect to enjoy as much as they did.
The brief was not to name a favorite game of all time. It was to pick a game from the past 20 years that either exceeded expectations or won the developer over in an unexpected way.
The games developers picked
Naoki Hamaguchi, Final Fantasy VII Remake series director at Square Enix, chose Balatro. He said that although it is built on the familiar rules of poker, he became hooked on watching his scores grow through progression and different combinations. He called it a reminder of why games are fun to play.
Ramone Russell of San Diego Studio picked God of War (2018). He said it was "mind-boggling" that Santa Monica Studio pulled it off on PlayStation 4. He added that the story won him over, because earlier games defined Kratos largely by anger and rage, while this one explored fatherhood, self-control, grief and identity.
Other contributors, whose names are not clear in the source text available to us, wrote about the following:
- Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (PS4, 2018): One developer praised its story, character design and world, and said it kept breaking expectations with unexpected twists.
- Inscryption: A developer who expected a creepy card-based tabletop game said they were fascinated by how cards and modifiers interact. They also praised how the game trusts players to unravel its mysterious narrative.
- Inside: Another developer called Playdead's game a masterpiece. They highlighted its lack of UI and dialogue and how it teaches players without obvious instructions.
- Sayonara Wild Hearts: A developer who does not usually gravitate toward rhythm games said the colorful style and soundtrack drew them in. They said they could not put it down until they finished the story.
The anniversary showcase
Alongside the feature, PlayStation says a 20 Years of PlayStation Store Showcase goes live today at 11:00am local time. It promises deals on games and a curated selection of hand-picked hits. The blog post does not list specific discounts in the text provided.
What it means for you
If you are looking for something new to play, the list offers a mix of genres, from card games and rhythm games to big story-driven adventures. The showcase is the place to check for deals tied to the anniversary. Check PlayStation Store for the actual prices and titles on offer in your region.
Also read Sony Unveils Prism Collection of Transparent PS5 DualSense Controllers and Console Covers
Quick answers
When does the 20 Years of PlayStation Store Showcase start?
According to PlayStation Blog, it goes live today at 11:00am local time.
Which game did the Final Fantasy VII Remake director pick?
Naoki Hamaguchi of Square Enix picked Balatro. He said he became hooked on watching his scores grow.
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