fbpx

PlayStation State of Play August 2020 Recap: Godfall, Crash Bandicoot 4, Bugsnax, And More!

The State of Play showcase for August 2020 may not have announced any big PlayStation 5 news, but there was still plenty of gaming spirit to go around. With a focus on third-party games heading to the PlayStation platforms, both new and familiar titles took enjoyed the spotlight

From highly-anticipated titles like Crash Bandicoot 4 and Godfall to indie gems like Pathless, here is what went down over at the grand stage.

Advertisement ▼

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

The first new game in the franchise in over 10 years, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is a direct sequel to the PlayStation series, and features a sleek, finely-polished art style influenced by the animated cartoons in the original.

There are plenty of fresh features shipped with this entry, such as the ability to zipline and wall run, and an Inverted Mode, its version of a mirror mode that changes various elements to encourage replayability. The best part is that you don’t have to play as Crash all the time: Coco and Dingodile are both playable, so feel free to switch around when the game arrives on 2 October 2020 for the PS4.

Godfall

The Diablo-like looter-shooter is perhaps the biggest reveal of the event. Described as “in part gear-driven, in part player-skill driven”, Godfall exudes the shine of a new gameplay reel, giving a more detailed look at weapons and combat.

Players can choose between five main picks: longsword, dual blades, polearm, two-handed warhammer, two-handed greatsword. Each of them has unique skill sets and caters to different play styles, with shields forming a core part of combat. The concoction of pretty scenery, swift movement speeds, and sleek fighting is something that we have certainly seen before, but the game makes it work great. Get your weapons ready this holiday season.

Hitman III

IO Interactive’s Hitman III gets a new PSVR mode, which means assassinations are about to feel a little more personal. Don the suit as Agent 47 once more, and get those clean kills when it drops for the PS4 and PS5 in January 2021.

The Pathless

Giant Squid’s The Pathless shows off its gorgeous visuals in a new PS5 gameplay reel, unravelling the beautiful game environments and creatures in all their glory.

It is a little reminiscent of Breath of the Wild, featuring a mix of stealth, strategy, exploration, and great soundtracks. You will play as the Hunter, a master of archery, as you fly over worlds and defeat hostiles with a tug of the bow. Holiday 2020 is the date to note.

Bugsnax

Bugsnax is looking all preppy with some first-person bug-nabbing action, a dose of great humour, and charming personalities. The game will be coming to the PS4 and PS5 this December.

Spelunky 2

The platforming roguelike darling returns to the fray. Spelunky 2 builds upon the difficult-yet-rewarding gameplay of its predecessor to offer a richer, dyanmic world complete with online multiplayer. Boo yeah. Players will be able to explore in a lot of ways, including finding hidden pathways, adopting various brands of pets, and perhaps most amusingly, ride turkeys. Keep a lookout for it on 15 September 2020.

Genshin Impact

Embark on the journey to master seven elements (Anemo, Pyro, Cryo, Dendro, and Geo), fight mighty enemies, gather trusty allies, and discover the riddles of the world of Genshin Impact. The JRPG title promises plenty of adventures in store, and will arrive to the PS4 in Fall 2020.

Aeon Must Die

“Go all out or go home, Emperor,” rasps a character in Aon Must Die. Indeed, it seems chaos and breakneck action will reign, as you travel across the city of Pantheon to destroy and subdue those who have betrayed Aeon, the dreaded big bad, through a unique beat-em-up, risk-reward combat system. Guns out, folks. Or swords. Or blasters, whatever.

ANNO: Mutationem

2020 is truly the year of cyberpunk. Coming to PS4 in December 2020, ANNO: Mutationem challenges the action-adventure genre by combining pixellated 2D and 3D graphics, resulting in a colourful kaleidoscope of colours. Expect a rich, dark, and bizarre plot to go along with.

Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series

Get to wield a light saber in your hands and learn the ways of the Jedi. Vader Immortal: A Star Wars VR Series drops earlier than expected, which means you will be able to slash and slice enemies from 25 August 2020.

Control Expansion 2 AWE

“Whatever you do stay in the light”. Remedy Entertainment’s Control welcomes Jesse Faden back into the fray with additional story content and side missions, new weapons, and…hold up, is that Alan Wake we see? Hop back into the heat of things on 27 August 2020.

Braid: Anniversary Edition

The 2008 time-reversing classic title is getting a facelift, swapping out the charming graphics of the original for a brand-new, painterly look. It launches early next year, and will come with fresh behind-the-scene content in tow.

The Pedestrian

A charming little title slated for a January 2021 release, The Pedestrian takes on a blend of traditional 2D and dynamic 3D art style, where players have to build levels and guide their character through it. Think Portal, with less insanity.

Hood: Outlaws and Legends

Being the goody two-shoes can get boring, which is why it is sometimes better to play the morally-gray outliers of society: outlaws, vigilantes, hitmen, and the like. Hood: Outlaws and Legends allows you to be an well, outlaw, and build a legacy for yourself – or with others, if the trailer is any indicator. The medieval title is primed for launch in 2021.

Temtem

Temtem is a family-friendly game in the same vein as Pokemon, with players collecting creatures, battling friends, and exploring the in-game world together. Arriving 2021 to the PS5.

Autochess

The wildly-popular Auto Chess gets a PlayStation iteration. ‘Nuff said.


It was a good decision on Sony’s part to manage expectations, because this State of Play was not exactly a mind-blowing event. It was far from a mediocre showing, however, with Godfall, Pathless, and Crash Bandicoot 4 taking the honour of being main highlights. The only thing now is to wait for an official PS5 event, which should not be too long from now given that the console is targeting a Holiday 2020 launch. Late this month or next month, perhaps?