The PlayStation 4′s Top-Rated Game is Not What You Would Expect

A discussion on what the qualities that make a video game using the hit video-game Flower as an example.

[badboy776]

Let's go back in Time.

http://n4g.com/news/1308603...

[PoSTedUP]

was just playing this a few days ago on the vita. man... it's therapy-- it's art-- it's a game. Flower is something special.

[JoGam]

I just hope Journey makes it over to the Four.

[TheTowelBoy]

Agreed this and journey.. it's something else man

[SG1_dapunisherX]

please sony stay away from six axis lmao

[FunAndGun]

Please Sony, don't listen to this guy ^

If it fits the vision of the game and works well, keep sixaxis in play.

[Yui_Suzumiya]

Think he's still having nightmares about Lair

[SG1_dapunisherX]

@solidgear3 my nightmare was heavy sword before the patch

[Prime157]

Gyroscope is a known technology now, I'd say use it more now that the vita, ds4 and 3ds have sensitive gyroscope sensors in them.

Still proven better than Kinect, and I hate myself for saying this.

[Clunkyd]

@SG1
lol this isn't ps3.
Sixaxis works amazingly well on ps4 judging by playing flower.

[dantesparda]

This is exactly why scores/ratings dont matter. Now dont get me wrong, i like Flower, got all the trophies on the PS3 ver, most of them on the PS4 and Vita. And i think its a great game and a very relaxing and different experience. But in no way am I under the delusion that Flower is the best game on the system (according to Metacritics it the highest rated PS4 game). I judge games on all their merits and technical accomplishment. And while Flower is a good game, it proves that scores and ratings are bs. After all, the only opinion that ultimately matters when it comes to these games, is your own.

[admiralvic]

Can we stop with the "lets look at Metacritic and make an article" articles?

Anyway, Flower has a whopping 10 reviews. Now, I am willing to bet that no codes were supplied and everyone who reviewed this game was a fan of the PlayStation 3 version and most likely just reviewed their upgraded copy. On the other hand, we have a game like Tomb Raider, which is ranked 7th with 6 less points and 5x / 50 reviews. While the bias that propelled Flower into first might exist here, there is still infinitely more reviews that add creditability to TR holding an 86 score.

Long story short, Flower might be an impressive game and first, but it also didn't have a lot of critical scrutiny to get there either.

[JoGam]

Long story short, Flower might be an impressive game and first, but it also didn't have a lot of critical scrutiny to get there either.

That didn't make any sense to me. You are saying its impressive so based off your thoughts wouldn't you just say yes its a great game? Why would you need other people to say it isn't?

[admiralvic]

"That didn't make any sense to me."

Eh?

"You are saying its impressive so based off your thoughts"

I never gave my thoughts on the game. I just said might be, which you can see what that means below.

might be
Web definitions
That which might be or happen; a possibility; Denoting that which might be or occur; possible; potential; hypothetical

"wouldn't you just say yes its a great game?"

If I wanted to give my opinion, yes.

"Why would you need other people to say it isn't?"

Context of the article?

The whole post was suppose to get this point across "Regardless of how good or bad Flower is, it has a small pool of reviewers who were most likely fans of the game (because it's unlikely review codes were sent out and the reviews came from people who already had the game), which simply isn't that surprising or impressive when other games like Tomb Raider maintained a pretty good average despite having 5 times the reviews".

[ZodTheRipper]

^You're trying way too hard, just stop the hating.

[BitbyDeath]

I for one support our new flower overlords.

[Bathyj]

Can you be called upon for rounding up others to toil in their underground pollen caves?

[Prime157]

http://blogs.seattletimes.c...

"Now, I am willing to bet that no codes were supplied and everyone who reviewed this game was a fan of the PlayStation 3 version and most likely just reviewed their upgraded copy"

I agreed with you about the metacritic part, but the rest showed discontinuity. Maybe these few reviews were people playing it the first time too. You don't know.

Regardless, Smithsonian.

Edit: btw, cross buy this for $7 (or $3 like the last flash sale had it) and then test the difference between the three systems... Yes, ps4 is a big upgrade in vibrancy, framerate, draw distance for many reasons, and motion controls.

Tbh, I think a lot of you skeptics are afraid you will like it...

[Destrania]

I really like hopping on Flower every once in a while, usually after a particularly rough day at work. It's very soothing to me.

[Tedakin]

Can we honestly say Flower is a PS4 game? Why not just port the Last of Us up and say "Hey, another top rated game!" Maybe MS should put Halo 4 and Mass Effect 2 on Xbox to get some big games.

[Prime157]

The fact that many nay-Sayers are having trouble wrapping their minds around is that many, many people didn't get to experience games like this on ps3.

Working at gamestop the last few years I got to see this even amongst my co workers, yet alone the many guests that came into the store. I finally played fat princess with a gs friend last night (ironically) for the first time as that game still has a huge following and was the start the "psn indie craze."

I love the Ports, they're cheap and allow all the people to catch up on new gaming experiences (that seem lack its competitors) for cheap.

There's a reason the pendulum is swinging the other way far and fast this generation's start.

[Tedakin]

Yes, hype and price. It's not because of games clearly.

[OmegaShen]

One of the best download games you can get, unlike alot of other games. Flower does something new an yeah its just a upgrade of the PS3 one.

But it is one of those games that you can sit back and enjoy.

[DualWielding]

to be fair updated rereleases need to be reviewed not only on base of the quality of original game but in terms of how much they improve over the original version, the PS4 version of flower only adds upscaled graphics and nothign else

[Remy_S]

It seems to control a lot better than the ps3 version.

[Prime157]

I hope halo remakes make you just as critical. Yes, the ps4 version is a big upgrade in vibrancy, framerate, draw distance (for many reasons), and motion controls. There are a few smaller reasons too, but at the miniscule price of $3 (on sale) to $7 what's stopping you from trying it on all systems (cross buy).

[tweet75]

this is why i dont own a ps4 ....the biggest games for it already exist in very similar form on previous gen console at lower prices.

[DJustinUNCHAIND]

The highest-selling PS4 exclusive is about 360p's less than we'd expect too.

[Locknuts]

Rayman Legends is the PS4's best game IMO. Sick game. The exclusives so far have been really disappointing. Hopefully Second Son ends this trend.

[Run_bare]

I Love Flower and Journey, very soothing games. I can't wait what "That Game Company" makes next.

[MasterCornholio]

When will there be a game about deflowering?

;)

[ILikeGamesNotCorps]

I absolutely loathe titles like this. Why not just say..."game X is surprisingly the PS4s top rated title" I understand the need to bait clicks but this type of title will never get a click from me.

Too close to, "Learn the top rated PS4 title with this one weird trick"

[cyber_daemonx]

Typical xbot comments.

'If it ain't Titanfall, it ain't worth a w**k'

Titanfall is literally all you have got.

[Father__Merrin]

in there mind nothing can top titanfall or ryse, I think they have been drinking to much toiletries tbh

[Rhezin]

wow really? guess a lot of people didn't play it on ps3…I would have thought it would have been a NEW game ya know?

[hkgamer]

game being old or new doesnt really mean it would get a higher rating.

flower was pretty good, but i guess it just shows that the other PS4 games kinda got lower results.

Also metacritic is kinda stupid, having a average rating across multiple sites where different sites use different rating systems is stupid. Example being some games get 5/5 rating but would never get a 10 or 100% rating. 4/5 is also a fantastic score but that would mean its getting an 8 or 80% which doesnt sound anywhere near as good.

[Flames76]

Wow thats pathetic