The lineup of the PlayStation 4 is easily one of the best selections of games that have come on any console ever. From perhaps the greatest Spider-Man title of all time to a God of War game that revitalized the franchise in the most resounding manner possible, there’s no end to the sheer number of ways in which the PlayStation 4 has completely dominated the console market when it comes to their amazing exclusives.
Speaking of which, it would be impossible to mention the best PlayStation exclusives without naming the absolute masterpiece that is Bloodborne. After showing his flair in Dark Souls, Miyazaki came back onto the gaming scene with the bang once Bloodborne was released. Considered by many to be the greatest From Software game of all time, one can argue that Bloodborne is easily the best exclusive to come out on the PS4.
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This is quite a bold claim, given the sheer number of exclusives present on this console. So, keeping this in mind, here are five reasons why Bloodborne is arguable the best PS4 game, coupled with five other exclusives that are better.
10 BLOODBORNE: The Lovecraftian World Is Truly Breathtaking
One thing that absolutely needs to be said about Bloodborne is that it definitely does justice to its Gothic and Lovecraftian roots.
The world of Bloodborne is equal parts breathtaking and nerve-wracking to explore. Players have no idea what will be waiting for them around the corner — they could either be greeted with some beautiful Gothic architecture… or an eldritch nightmare that simply cannot be explained.
9 BETTER PS4 EXCLUSIVE: Persona 5 Royal
While it might be unfair to compare a turn-based JRPG to a real-time combat game, there’s no denying that Persona 5 Royal is definitely a great game in every sense of the word.
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The fact that the Royal edition managed to improve upon everything in the base game — which was already a masterpiece in itself — is the testament to the work done at Atlus and how they consistently try to one-up themselves with every title.
8 BLOODBORNE: The Combat Is More Fast-Paced And Exhilarating
Unlike the slow, measured combat approach that most people had to take in Dark Souls, Bloodborne pretty much forces players to adapt to the new style of combat or suffer a painful death — something that is made abundantly clear with the Father Gascoigne boss fight.
There’s a reason why there’s no proper shield in Bloodborne — players need to dodge around more often and figure out the perfect moment to counter. This, coupled with the Rally mechanic, is a way to tell players to be aggressive and improve their reflexes in combat.
All in all, this makes for a truly exhilarating combat experience indeed.
7 BETTER PS4 EXCLUSIVE: God Of War
For a while, people assumed that God of War had become nothing more than a remnant of the past and a reminder of the glorious PS2 days. Pretty much every fan had given up any hope of a good God of War game releasing… and that’s exactly when the new God of War game was announced.
Upon release, God of War absolutely wowed fans and critics alike with its amazing visuals, brilliant combat, and a story that was surprisingly heart-wrenching. Perhaps the biggest achievement of God of War was that it brought Kratos back into the mainstream and solidified the franchise once again as a brilliant PlayStation product.
6 BLOODBORNE: The Difficulty Is Perfectly Balanced
The discussion of difficulty is unavoidable when it comes to From Software. While some critics end up stating that the difficulty of these games serves as a major barrier to entry, the fact of the matter is that the first Dark Souls expertly weaved its difficulty to be just the right amount of challenging without being too unfair.
While Dark Souls 2 might’ve faltered quite a bit in this regard, there’s no denying that that Bloodborne absolutely nailed the element of difficulty. Aside from a few minor exceptions, no scenario in the game feels unfair in any way. If the player does die, then they have no one to blame but themselves.
5 BETTER PS4 EXCLUSIVE: Uncharted 4
It would be impossible to talk about great PlayStation exclusives without mentioning the powerhouse that is Naughty Dog. From the early days of the first PlayStation, Naughty Dog has consistently delivered stellar gaming experiences for these consoles.
Uncharted 4 was the first game that Naughty Dog developed for the PlayStation 4, and it goes without saying that this game completely blew everyone out of the water upon release. The visuals were on a whole new level, the gameplay was as tight as can be, and the story itself felt like a next-gen upgrade as well.
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Suffice to say, Uncharted 4 was universally acclaimed across the board as one of the greatest PlayStation exclusives of all time.
4 BLOODBORNE: The Bosses Are Truly Awe-Inspiring
It’s impossible to talk about Bloodborne without mentioning its amazing lineup of stellar bosses that are breathtaking, intense, challenging… and downright grotesque at times.
While there are some bad apples in the bunch, the majority of bosses in Bloodborne are truly brilliant in every sense of the word. This is especially true in regards to the DLC… but that’s a separate conversation altogether.
3 BETTER PS4 EXCLUSIVE: Shadow Of The Colossus
While this is technically a remake, one can’t deny that Shadow Of The Colossus still holds up as one of the most innovative and brilliant games to have ever come out on the PlayStation.
The remake makes the game look even more incredible and is easily the best way to experience this classic.
2 BLOODBORNE: The Old Hunters DLC Is Absolutely Brilliant
It’s a testament to Bloodborne and From Software that the DLC of this title is so amazing. From Software has a track record of releasing amazing DLCs for their games as is — barring one notable exception — but The Old Hunters DLC is in an entirely different league altogether.
From some amazing areas to boss fights that are equal parts breathtaking and challenging, it goes without saying that The Old Hunters DLC is an absolute must-play if one wants to enjoy the complete Bloodborne experience.
1 BETTER PS4 EXCLUSIVE: Marvel’s Spider-Man
Marvel’s Spider-Man burst onto the scene as one of the best Spider-Man games of all time. Insomniac Studios did a brilliant job of translating Spider-Man‘s movement and combat to the next generation, crafting an experience that was breathtaking in every sense of the word.
The foundation set by Marvel’s Spider-Man is incredibly strong and has already paved the way for future titles in the same series.