PlayStation 4 upcoming games preview: Hands-on impressions of 'Final Fantasy VII Remake', 'Monster Hunter World: Iceborne' and more

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By YP cadets Natalie Kainz and Miriam Lo
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Demos of Dragonball Z: Kakarot and Iron Man VR were also available at the special media preview

By YP cadets Natalie Kainz and Miriam Lo |
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'Monster Hunter World: Iceborne' looks to be an expansion pack worthy of the franchise.

Young Post got an exclusive look of some of PlayStation’s unreleased games at a 2019 PlayStation 4 media preview. Here are our initial thoughts about the latest PS4 VR and video games.

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne

Monster Hunter World: Iceborne is the latest expansion in Capcom’s Monster Hunter: World action role-playing game series. The new game features an updated cast of beasts including the new Elder Dragon Velkhana, a horned, boulder-hurling creature called a Banbaro, and a giant cat-like dragon called a Barioth.

Instead of just managing your fur pelt clad hero’s health in battle, the expansion’s new icy environment means that you also have to ensure that body heat also doesn’t drop too low. The graphics are simply stunning, with the treacherous landscape growing in detail as you explore icicle-filled caves and villages.

Although the game is only an expansion of its original, we felt that it could easily stand alone as a sequel.

Release date: September 6, 2019.

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Monkey King: Hero Is Back 

Based on the 2015 animated film of the same name, Monkey King: Hero is Back is its first gameplay adaptation. The objective of the game is to control the monkey king as he navigates through a rural Chinese village, saving kidnapped villagers and slaying goblin-like monsters. 

We felt that there could be more variety to the monkey’s actions as you mainly rely on a swinging punch and the ability to throw objects to slay creatures. In general, the gameplay is smooth but the subtitles disappear too quickly, making it quite hard to follow the directions. Nonetheless, if you’re an avid enthusiast of action-packed adventure games, give it a try.

Released date: October 31, 2019. 

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot 

Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot is an action role playing game adapted from the Japanese anime of the same name. Playing as the protagonist, Goku, you venture through different battlefields with a few companions to defeat villains and save Earth.

We thought this game was one of the more difficult ones we played as the given instructions are sometimes unclear and the game is very fast-paced. The graphics are similar to that of the original TV series, so it wasn’t too impressive. But you do get to turn into a Super Saiyan!

Release date: 2020

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Marvel’s Iron Man VR

With the 2019 release of Avengers: Endgame and Spider-Man: Far From Home, Marvel is a hot topic amongst people of all ages. The new Iron Man VR PS4 allows you to step into the shoes of Tony Stark himself. As you are guided by your AI companion Jarvis, you place both hands in front of you to wear the Iron Man suit and fly over the shimmering blue ocean to reach land to begin your first adventure. 

Although we didn’t get to play the full game due to technical difficulties, the graphics sure looked promising and we would definitely check it out again if we get the chance. 

Release date: To be confirmed

Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted

If you are lucky enough to own a PlayStation headset, and are a fan of screaming so loud you burst your own eardrums, Five Nights at Freddy’s VR: Help Wanted is sure to impress.

It’s a collection of mini-games set in the Five Nights universe where the goal is to survive the night in a building overrun with killer animatronics. The game started out simple, as you sit in front of a desk full of CCTV monitors and flip between the different channels, but when the lights go out and the creepy music starts, you can bet we squealed.

Release date: Summer 2019

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Code Vein 

Set in a desolate wasteland replete with wreckage, Code Vein is a post-apocalyptic game played from a third-person perspective. Two anime characters explore the landscape, attempting to defeat hordes of gas mask-wearing beasts. 

The 3D graphics are excellent and the colour palette of red, orange and brown reinforces the game’s dystopian theme. We found killing beasts arduous as we had to rely solely on swords with no ranged attack

Although the game’s objective is straightforward, its unique setting makes it stand out amongst other open-world action games. It’s great for anyone who loved dystopian game franchises like BioShock and Half-Life.

Release date: September 26, 2019

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 - The Official Video Game 

This PS4 game is an animated version of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. As the player, you can choose which type of sporting event you want to try your hand at, including a 100m track race, swimming, tennis, volleyball and ping pong. Once you’ve chosen your event, you become a competitor in three consecutive rounds. 

We felt that the graphics were rather average but would nevertheless recommend it to anyone looking for more simplistic gameplay. 

Release date: July 24th, 2019. 

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Final Fantasy VII Remake

The PS4 Final Fantasy VII remake was undoubtedly the most impressive game at the event. With hyper-realistic graphics, easy-to-understand controls, and great world-building, it’s sure to draw in the crowds when it is released. 

The highly requested remake of the 1997 Playstation game Final Fantasy VII reimagines the story of the original game. It follows Cloud Strife, a member of an eco-terrorist group with the goal of taking down the nefarious Shinra Corporation.

Featuring full polygonal graphics instead of the pre-rendered illustrations of its predecessor, we felt as if we had stepped into a film while switching between Cloud and his machine-gun wielding companion, Barrett. The game is so precise that even minute details like the shadows or scratches on weapons were carefully rendered.

Release date: March 3, 2020. 

Edited by Jamie Lam

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