I’ve decided I need a launch PS4. I’ve been a strong supporter of Sony ever since the original PlayStation, and my love for its consoles and handhelds rivals my affection for Nintendo. In fact, I believe I’ve been more loyal to Sony over the years, seeing as how I didn’t get in on the N64 or GameCube until after I’d already owned a Wii.
Of course, there’s a problem. Things can never go perfectly smoothly when a console launches, and there’s bound to be some issue. Mine is one that I’m sure many others share. I know I want and need a PS4. (I have to be prepared for Dragon Age: Inquisition and Mass Effect 4 .) I just don’t know what I’m going to do with the console once it launches.
As crazy as it may sound, the PS4’s debut marks the first system launch in recent history where I’m getting in within the first few days, weeks, or months, but have no idea what I’m going to play.
My day-one purchases were easy with the DS. I wanted Feel the Magic: XY/XX , Sprung , and had even imported Daigasso! Band Brothers . The initial games available weren’t stellar, but there were plenty of games that I did want and ended up truly enjoying. ( Sprung , not so much, but it earned points for unintentional hilarity.) The only real problem was a touch-screen issue, but since I upgraded to a DS Lite the second a pink one was available, it wasn’t too much of an issue.
It went so well that I actually decided to get the 3DS the week it launched as well. Again, I wasn’t really thinking about the launch games. I was concerned with the future. I did get burned a little, what with the quick price drop, but the array of Ambassador Virtual Console games, Nintendogs + Cats , Samurai Warriors Chronicles , and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time made for a better first impression than the DS.
My launch experiences with the Vita and Wii U went even better. Yes, both systems have a reputation of having “no games,” but I had no problem finding a way to keep busy with both of my launch window units. I waited a few months for both, and was pleased with what was immediately available. My Vita kept me busy with Gravity Rush , Dynasty Warriors Next , Touch My Katamari , and Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention . While the Wii U didn’t have as much variety, I was still happy with New Super Mario Bros. U , ZombiU , and Lego City Undercover .
Except now that I’m getting a PS4, I have no idea what I’m going to play. I’ve been pouring over the launch games list, and I can’t see anything I have to own. Contrast looks interesting, but I’ll be getting that for free with PlayStation Plus anyway, so I’m not even bothering to look at that. I own Trine 2 on my computer already, and I don’t really care for FPS or sports games. I already have Sound Shapes and Flower , so no sense in bothering with those.
It’s a tricky situation, and as I look at the list, the only things that look remotely appealing are LEGO Marvel Super Heroes and Knack . The former would be a guaranteed good time, but the LEGO games always get really cheap, really fast. I’d feel ridiculous buying it at launch, then seeing it $10-20 cheaper in a month. As for Knack , I’m not really feeling it. I know it looks great , and it could be a promising platformer, but I’m just not that into it.
It’s hard to fault the PS4’s launch. Having 23 games immediately available is commendable ( despite some setbacks ). However, there isn’t a lot of diversity, and many of the titles aren’t exclusives. Other launches, like the ones for the 3DS, Vita, and Wii U, all had a wider variety of games available for early adopters, with a promise of more coming in a month or two. Many of the games could only be found on that system, so it was easy to even go ahead and say something like, “I’m buying a 3DS for Nintendogs + Cats !” When I think of the PS4’s offerings, I keep generalizing and only seeing shooters or sports games, and the coming December-January release lull only makes things worse.
I know a year from now, I won’t regret owning a PS4. There’ll be plenty of games available, and I’ll be happy to know I can play any one of them. In the meantime, I have no idea what I’m going to do with my system. I’ll probably settle for Knack , just so there’ll be something to play, and I’ll download Contrast . Once those are done, I suppose there’ll be a lot of Netflix nights.