When it launched, Sony's PS4 Pro was the best way to see the PS4's fantastic library of games at their best in 4K. That's changed now that the more powerful PS5 has launched, but that doesn't mean the PS4 Pro isn't a great system and a step up from the standard PS4.
Your real problem these days will be getting your hands on the console because it has been discontinued. This means that Black Friday 2021 and Cyber Monday sales are unlikely to produce great PS4 Pro bundles, so if you're looking for a Sony console with 4K capabilities, you're better off checking out the bundle deals. PS5.
However, if you already own a PS4 Pro, Black Friday might be a good time to pick up some Pro-compatible games at a discount. When it comes to stocking up on new games, we have to point out that it pays to do your research. There are plenty of PS4 Pro games on offer and some will take advantage of the console's 4K HDR technology more than others. Not all PS4 Pro games are the same.
The point is that even calling them PS4 Pro games isn't entirely accurate. Sony has required, long after the lifecycle of the PS4 Pro, that all PlayStation 4 games be able to run on both older and newer PS4 consoles.
This meant that the developers had to get creative to create a great experience that would fit both machines. This effort is something that some seem to have been able to handle better than others: some developers only use it to firm up the performance of stuttering titles on older, less powerful hardware.
However, let's not focus on the missteps. Instead, if you want to harness the power of the PS4 Pro for resolutions as sharp as Nathan Drake's rapier mind or frame rates as fast and smooth as Sypro's swipe, these are the games that will serve you best.
Tsushima ghost
PS4's swan song, Ghost of Tsushima is a fitting end to the PS4 generation, and proof that there's still plenty of life left in the PS4 Pro despite the PS5 kickoff that's now on the horizon.
Playing the role of the wandering samurai Jin Sakai, you will need to use your swords and wits to fend off an invading Mongol horde from the shores of your home island Tsushima. It's a truly magnificent game, with developers Sucker Punch taking inspiration from samurai film master Akira Kurosawa to build a superbly crafted Japanese feudal setting.
When played on a PS4 Pro using "Best Frame Rate" mode, the new console and base PS4 render at a native 1920 x 1080 resolution, with a locked frame rate of 30 fps. PS4 Pro in "Highest Resolution" mode displays a 3200x1800 resolution using Pro's checkerboard rendering, while also offering downsampling when outputting at 1080p, improving performance on older displays.
Whichever way you decide to play, Tsushima is a real feast for the eyes, with lush forests and golden sunsets to enjoy. Oh, and a good drop of blood too.
Stranded death
Death Stranding worried us a bit. When Kojima Productions' debut title was announced at E3 2016, it did so in front of a confused and excited crowd. And the road to release didn't change those feelings much, they just shifted more to the side of confusion.
We've seen bottled babies, sea otter costumes, and even a Conan O'Brien appearance, and each new trailer filled us with more fear than hype. But it was worth it.
Death Stranding is an amazing title that is just as beautiful and unique, especially when played on the Pro. Without giving too much away, the premise is that you play as delivery man Sam Bridges (played by Norman Reedus) delivering a special shipment in the wake of Death Stranding, a mysterious phenomenon that has claimed many innocent lives. But, obviously, not everything is so simple.
Death Stranding is something to experience. It's definitely an essential PS4 Pro game, if not the essential PS4 Pro game.
See our entire Death Stranding Review.
Red Dead Redemption 2
It was the most anticipated (and arguably the best) game of 2018. Proving that Rockstar pulled it out of the bag once again with Red Dead Redemption 2.
A giant open-world Western epic, it lets you live the cowboy life, ride horses until the sun goes down, ride horses with a band, and fight your way through all the bars of old West. Take Rockstar's attention to detail, with the 4K capabilities of Sony's PS4 Pro console that this era has seen.
However, there is still work to be done on Red Dead 2's HDR offering, which appears to use a system that doesn't use the High Dynamic Range setting to its full potential. While its 4K detail is impressive, an update to improve HDR technology would make it a real standout showcase for all PS4 Pro owners. Either way, it's a monumental game that you can't miss.
Take a look at our Red Dead Redemption 2 Easter Egg Guide.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is awesome, but throw in a few PS4 Pro upgrades and it really is a gorgeous game.
Assassin's Creed Odyssey is the newest edition in the epic Assassin's Creed RPG franchise. Odyssey is set during the Peloponnesian War and sees you don the sandals of Alexios or Kassandra as they try to uncover the truth about their history while navigating the troubled world of ancient Greece as a mercenary.
Odyssey is a graphically stunning PS4 game that will take you deep into the heart of ancient Greece, easily securing it a place in our collection of the best PlayStation 4 games. Just make sure you make time to play because there's more. 100 hours of content to enjoy here.
Take a look at our Assassin's Creed Odyssey Critics Record for more.
marvel spider man
Spider-Man on PS4 Pro looks absolutely stunning, even if it's not native 4K. When played on Sony's ultra-powerful console, Spider-Man is capable of native 1440p resolution at a rate of 30 frames per second, which is then upscaled to 4K. This impressive feat is made possible by dynamic resolution scaling that will increase or decrease the level of detail depending on the frenzy of the action.
That said, before you complain about the fact that it's 30fps, the game looks absolutely stunning and plays beautifully on console. In our time with gaming, we've hardly noticed the lower framerates and animated visuals making up for it in the long run.
If you need a colorful, HDR-ready showcase for your system, this is it.
Do you need more info ? Don't miss our full Spider-Man Live Review.
Nobody's heaven
No Man's Sky is a game to love or hate. It offers an almost infinite procedurally generated universe to explore, with unique biomes and aliens to discover. For some, it's ridiculously exciting. For others, it is the party of boredom.
However, since its disappointing launch, Hello Games have come up with numerous updates to the game that have seen it expand far beyond what it originally was. Many have seen their opinions change and the number of players has not stopped growing. It's not a new game, but it now offers a lot more compared to its initial release, including character customization, a long-awaited multiplayer, VR support, and story-based events, which players can take part in.
Read our guide to everything new in No Man's Sky Next and why this is the perfect time to start your space odyssey.
God of War
Easily one of the most impressive games on PlayStation 4 (or any console for that matter), the new God of War takes the series to epic new levels of presentation. The game looks amazing when played on a standard PS4 console, which just goes to show how foolhardy the team at SIE Santa Monica Studio is when it comes to optimization. However, when played on a PS4 Pro, the game picks up a boost.
In the game settings you will find two graphics modes: focus on resolution and focus on performance. Naturally, the former makes the game look particularly sharp and clean, bringing the resolution up to a checkerboard 4K and holding steady at around 30fps, while the latter displays at 1080p and stays close to 60K. around XNUMXfps most of the time.
As cinematic as it is, we had no problem playing God of War on the favored resolution settings, as we were able to enjoy the incredible detail the game provided, using the extra resolution to see the pores and lines in the images. character faces, and the incredible level of art on their costumes and armor makes the whole game even more amazing (if you ask us). It also helps make the game's HDR presentation even more engaging.
See our entire God of War revision.
Shadow of the Colossus
Hailed as one of the greatest video games of all time, Shadow of the Colossus is back and better than ever on PS4, with its Pro update bringing major visual and performance improvements to the game.
Shadow of the Colossus offers two graphics settings: "Performance Mode" offers smooth gameplay targeting 60 FPS at 1080p, while "Cinematic Mode" plays at a higher "dynamic 4K" resolution with enhanced textures, while maintaining a solid 30 FPS.
Whichever mode you choose, the team at Bluepoint have brought some other delightful visual treats to their remake of the Japanese classic, including a gorgeous new lighting engine (which looks amazing when paired with the game's HDR support) and some advanced rendering techniques, which make things like the skin of the Colossi look particularly realistic.
Simply put, the improvements...