So let’s take a look at 15 of those creepy glitches here!

Broken Face Textures – Assassin’s Creed Unity

No list of glitches is complete without mentioning Assassin’s Creed Unity and it’s missing face textures. The nature of the glitch is also amazing – one instance produces only the character’s teeth and blood-shot eyes, searing into your soul. Another was suitably more terrifying with its mess of textures, eyes and teeth coalescing into what might be a smile. Thanks to the game’s problematic launch, these glitches maintain their infamy to this day.

NOMINEES

Horizon Zero Dawn: 

Freed from the confines of the Killzone franchise, Guerrilla Games spread their wings and delivered Horizon: Zero Dawn, a stunning, memorable open world action RPG in the vein of The Witcher 3 with incredible combat, an amazing story, and some of the best graphics and art we have ever seen. In a year as great as 2017, Horizon is one of the best games we got- that should tell you what an amazing game it was.

Nier Automata: 

Platinum Games and Square Enix teamed up to deliver an action RPG unlike any other with Nier Automata, a frankly incredible game that pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling beyond anything we have seen in the medium, with few exceptions. Throw in a haunting soundtrack, with great gameplay, and an arresting premise, and is it any wonder Nier is as beloved as it is?

Persona 5: 

After a nine year long wait, we finally got Persona 5- and it was worth it. Fusing a killer soundtrack, a fantastic story with hugely resonant themes and developments, a fleshed out cast of characters you could’t get but fall in love with, and an overwhelming sense of style, with the same addictive formula that made Persona so popular to begin with, Persona 5 stole everyone’s hearts upon launch, and instantly became the most successful game Atlus has released, ever. Flat out one of the best games of the year, this stands tall as a part of the cream of the crop of the PS4’s offering.

Yakuza 0: 

Sega’s Yakuza franchise finally found the success it deserves with Yakuza 0, a game that takes us back to the beginning of Kiryu’s journey, and refines the series’ long running formula to deliver its peak and zenith. If you haven’t played Yakuza 0 already, you’re missing out- it is, without a doubt, one of the best games you will find on the PS4.

Uncharted: The Lost Legacy: 

In the wake of Uncharted 4 concluding Nathan Drake’s adventures, there were many who wondered where Naughty Dog and Sony’s flagship franchise may go next. The Lost Legacy answers that question, by delivering a high energy, well paced, fun new adventure in the series that reminds us of the spirit of buccaneering swashbuckling that made us fall in love with the franchise to begin with.

Nioh:

After 13 years, Nioh finally released- and it almost justified that wait. An impeccably deep combat system, mixed with the kind of loot drops that have made loot RPGs so popular, and a fusion with the winning Dark Souls formula, all combine to make Nioh the best game Team Ninja has put out since Ninja Gaiden Black, and one of the best PS4 games of all time.

Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy: 

Naughty Dog’s lovable bandicoot returned in a big way this year with the Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy, a loving remaster of the PS1 platforming classics that so many hold such fond memories and nostalgia for. This remake finally showed us two things- that Crash deserves the fondness that so many read him with, and that, really, a new Crash game would do gangbusters. Get on it Activision!

Gravity Rush 2: 

Sony kicked off this year with Gravity Rush 2, and it was a portend of things to come. An utterly fantastic follow up to the PS Vita original, Gravity Rush 2 goes bigger and better in every way, while retaining the strengths of the original and addressing its flaws. A forgotten classic, do play this game if you haven’t already—I guarantee you will find it worth your while.

MLB The Show 17:

Sony San Diego quietly puts out one of the best sports games of the year every year, and this year was no different. Building on the long running franchise’s strengths, and adding new modes and new content to justify veterans returning to it, MLB The Show 17 is a surprisingly compelling proposition, even to those who may not be fans of baseball.

Gran Turismo Sport:

Polyphony Digital decided to do something different with the newest Gran Turismo. Instead of delivering the same game as they always have, but prettier, they delivered a ‘live service’ game that actively ties into FIA events in real life, and lets you engage in them via the video game in a way that has never been done before. This, along with the fact that Sport retains the series’ characteristically strong driving gameplay, makes it an admirable, if flawed, attempt at reinventing a long running franchise.

And the winner is

Horizon: Zero Dawn: 

What can we say about Horizon that hasn’t already been said? From the intriguing story and the mystery of the world to the fantastic main character whose journey you want to follow, to the great open world to the thrilling combat with, and say it with me, robot dinosaurs, Guerrilla Games’ action RPG is going to be one for the ages—and years from now, when people talk about the games that defined the PS4, this one will be at the top of everyone’s lists.

Note: GamingBolt’s Game of the Year categories, nominations and awards are selected via an internal nomination, voting and debate process. You can check the rest of categories and the respective winners here.

In the past, the series has been a staple for graphics technology with crisp textures and detailed character models. Compared to previous entries, MLB The Show 17 features greatly improved models, better graphics and realistic looking players that look similar to their real life counterparts. Much of the improved graphical effects can be attributed to the lighting and shader models used in this year’s version. To add to the brilliant image quality and the detailed character models, each stadium is a near-perfect representation of what each one of them looks like in real life further adding to the authencity factor of the game. With a shaper and unique look and feel to each stadium, more face-scanned players than ever, and major improvements in the animation and physics system, the game benefits from that extra level of realism which was lacking in previous entries. MLB The Show 17 might possibly be the best looking sports game on the PS4 and that is saying something given the likes of NBA and FIFA set new benchmarks for visuals in the sports genre every year.

"MBL The Show 17 comes packed with a number of modes and amongst them is the new Retro Mode. Consider it as a throwback to the older days…a kind of a “pixelated” game mode that’s similar to that of the NES era, and it looks and plays great."

MBL The Show 17 comes packed with a number of modes and amongst them is the new Retro Mode. Consider it as a throwback to the older days…a kind of a “pixelated” game mode that’s similar to that of the NES era, and it looks and plays great. With the 8-bit feel mixed along with modern day physics, this mode rekindled my nostalgisa of 1990s gaming. This mode features retro text fonts, a rather simple control scheme (which relies only on a single button by the way) but most importantly it’s truly fun and a blast to play. Of course, hardcore fans will not find it to be anything special, but it does add a bit of spice to the mix, something which annual franchises like MLB The Show needs to freshen things up.

“Road to the Show” is back in MLB The Show 17 with a story mode titled “Pave Your Path” and it’s an improvement over last year’s iteration in just about every way. In previous editions, the player would take on the role of a character and play with him to improve his skills. However, in this year’s version, the game gives a look into your character and shares insights into what he’s going through with each player action. So what happens in your on and off time will determine your skill level later on. For starters, this mode is like an RPG, your decisions matter on and off the field. For example, your coach may ask you try out a different position/role and it’s upon the player to either agree or disagree via a number of narrative/conversation choices. Those who aren’t fond of wielding around their black mage and  traversing deep dungeons to thwart the dragon and save the princess don’t have to worry. It’s not that type of RPG, and it’s not severely deep, but it is interesting nonetheless. The only glaring flaw of this mode is the repeated conversation options which kind of impacts the overall experience, albeit in a small way.

"The two standout modes in “Dyanasty” are “Conquest” and “Battle Royale”. “Conquest” is a single player strategy focused experience in which you take on other MLB teams whereas “Battle Royale” requires your team to participate in an elimanation style tournament to access rewards. "

Once you are done with the story mode, it’s time to jump into the game’s fantastic “Franchise” mode. Featuring a brand new system called “Critical Situations”, players will be allowed to simulate almost every aspect of the game including no-hit bids and other game winning situations (with the exceptions being late-innings and individual milestones). Furthermore, the game allows you to play in “Player Lock” mode, which means you can play the entire season in this mode. Essentially, this mode gives you all the freedom you want by allowing you to control how you want to play. 

And finally, we have the “Dynasty Mode” which allows you to build your team of 25 best players. The roaster is pretty decent in this mode, ranging from legends such as Ken Griffey Jr. to Jackie Robinson. You can unlock top level players via a ton of different ways such as playing  a lot MLB matches and earn reward items or participate in Weekly Missions and Program Challenges. Once your team is ready, you can then participate in several sub-modes such as “Ranked Seasons”, “Events”, “Conquest” and “Battle Royale” modes. The two standout modes in “Dyanasty” are “Conquest” and “Battle Royale. “Conquest” is a single player strategy focused experience in which you take on other MLB teams whereas “Battle Royale” requires your team to participate in an elimanation style tournament to access rewards. 

"After everything about The Show 17 is said and done (and if you are able to ignore the repetitive commentary and conversations), what is left is a game that’s full of enjoyment match after match."

Despite the addition of so many modes, the developers have ensured that The Show 17 offers a great perspective of baseball in the field while on your couch. It’s afterall a baseball game and it doesn’t compromise or shy away from delivering an exceptional on field experience. Each action is lightning fast and is perpetually better. The on field actions are fluid and the player character potrays them in an almost realistic fashion. The AI may be a a little stiff at times but they aren’t bad enough to express any sort of frustration towards them. Each session with this game made me realized how close MLB The Show 17 is close to the real life experience. Each ball pitch and strike felt well crafted. The controls were tight and felt perfectly suited and possibly even better than the previous games. There are only a few sports games out there that are so immersive that they make you feel like you are the part of the experience…actions that you perform on screen feel like you have performed them in real life…this “connect” between the two worlds is something that MLB The Show 17 excels in.

After everything about The Show 17 is said and done (and if you are able to ignore the repetitive commentary and conversations), what is left is a game that’s full of enjoyment match after match. With the added modes in the form of the Road To Show giving us some more interesting moments than in previous years and turning the entire experience into an RPG, it’s very nice to see what the developers are still trying to pull off so many games later. Throwing in the Retro Mode was a nice nostalgia twist that I didn’t see coming. And though it wasn’t a huge game changer, it definitely added some charm that keeps the game from feeling stiff. And finally, adding in Ken Griffey Jr. was surely another aspect that this game threw in for another throwback, and it was such a amazing flashback to the baseball games of the 1990’s that I can’t wait to go back and play more.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

Sony San Diego has gone ahead and detailed MLB The Show 17‘s flagship game mode, Road To The Show, in a new post on the PlayStation Blog. The new mode will let players create a brand new player, down to the most minute detail, and guide him through a journey into the minor leagues, to the Major league, all the while as he gets better, earning more abilities and perks, and eventually becoming a legendary baseball player.

For a lot of baseball fans, this is purely a power fantasy- and it is good to see that the game will have such a full featured and extensive career mode at all. You can check out full details on this mode over on the PlayStation Blog for yourself.

MLB The Show 17 will launch exclusively on the PS4 (yes, no more versions of the game for the PS3 or PS Vita). Stay tuned to GamingBolt for more information and coverage on the game.

Super Bomberman R

Your first thought is probably, “Konami is making a game that people actually want?!” Yes but it’s surprising to see it be Super Bomberman R and that too exclusive (currently at least) to the Nintendo Switch. Regardless, our favourite bomb-thrower is back in his 2D grid-based domain with a 50 stage story campaign. Multiplayer is the main appeal of the series though. Super Bomberman R features eight player competitive play for the old-school masses who simply want to blow up their friends. Look out for it launching with the Switch on March 3^rd.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Arguably the most hotly anticipated Zelda title of all time, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is Nintendo Switch’s flagship launch game. Link returns in a Hyrule far larger than anything seen till now and will once again face the forces of evil. How is everything connected to the Ocarina of Time, if they’re indeed connected at all? Dynamic weather, wide-ranging landscapes, looting mechanics and a new Zelda are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Breath of the Wild which releases on March 3^rd for the Switch and Wii U.

Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey

The Atelier story may be unfamiliar to most at this point and Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey won’t really change that. However, if you’re looking for a solid JRPG series with enough alchemy to make Edward Elric’s head spin, you’ve come to the right place. Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey will feature a time limit like the previous game and you’ll be gathering items and synthesizing them together with Catalysts changing up their bonuses. Those interested in combat can take four party members into battles and see abilities and tactics change depending on the weather and time of day. Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey will arrive for on PC, PS4 and PS Vita on March 7^th.

Lego Worlds

The sandbox exploration title featuring the lovable Lego art-style is finally out in March for Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Lego Worlds has actually been in Steam Early Access for a while and impressed us with its sheer variety of worlds, vehicles, NPCs and more. Plus you can ride dragons, encounter Bigfoot (and incinerate him accordingly) or just cross the sea in a grand pirate adventure. It releases on March 7^th with a Nintendo Switch release also coming in the future.

Nier: Automata

Break-neck hack and slash action, open exploration, side-scrolling platforming, overhead bullet-hell battles – Platinum’s Nier: Automata nearly has it all. The explosive action RPG turned heads with its demo in December and the awesome combo-ridden combat and expansive locales have us salivating. You can even venture out into the world to find your previous corpse and animate it to fight for you. Don’t even get us started on the boss battles. It’s out on March 7^th for PS4 in North America.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands

The recent open beta presented a new region and challenges but the consensus is clear – this isn’t your average Ghost Recon. Set in Bolivia, Ghost Recon: Wildlands features an open world to explore with vehicles and multiple tactical approaches to completing objectives. Go it alone with AI teammates or rope in three friends to bungle missions together. Partake in higher difficulties and prove your mettle as a Ghost, ideally after the open beta when Ubisoft tweaks the AI some more. The possibilities are endless when Ghost Recon: Wildlands arrives on March 7^th.

Star Trek: Bridge Crew

The oft-delayed virtual reality title from Ubisoft sees you (and your friends) occupying the eyes and ears of the USS Aegis. A story campaign is included, taking place after Star Trek (2009) but players can also engage in randomly generated missions as well. The main hook of Star Trek: Bridge Crew is that each player of a total four can take on a different role. You could occupy the Captain’s chair while someone else serves as engineer. Star Trek: Bridge Crew finally arrives on March 14^th for PS4.

Styx: Shards of Darkness

Cyanide’s fantasy stealth sequel sees the return of Styx as he infiltrates Körangar to find out more about the alliance between Dark Elves and Dwarves. Cloning, traps and invisibility return along with ropes and grappling hooks for traversing to higher areas. Co-op support has also been added, allowing you and a friend to sneak together. With a new engine and higher production values, Styx: Shards of Darkness could a decent time-waster for stealth fans when it arrives on March 14^th for Xbox One, PC and PS4.

Mass Effect: Andromeda

Shepard is gone but the intergalactic journey of exploration continues. Mass Effect: Andromeda follows a new crew helmed by Pathfinder Alec Ryder with the player assuming control over either Scott or Sarah Ryder. Conflicts with new enemies called the Ket, an improved Mako, larger levels and open world activities to partake in, improved movement, revamped combat mechanics for switching classes and load-outs on the fly – the only real criticism at this stage is how long we have to wait. Mass Effect: Andromeda releases on March 21^st for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Toukiden 2

There’s a new Toukiden out in March and no, it’s not Age of Demons. Taking place two years after the events of Toukiden Kiwami, the Slayers return to do battle against the demons. With a focus on open world exploration, you’ll now engage in battles seamlessly, identifying which regions to assault based on their hazard levels. Hunting Grounds also make a return along with a new day and night system, customization options. Those suffering from a Monster Hunter hangover take note – Toukiden 2 arrives on March 24^th for PS3, PS4, PS Vita and PC.

Vikings: Wolves of Midgard

Gauntlet meets Norse mythology in Vikings: Wolves of Midgard. Travel the world as a hulking male warrior or a nimble shield maiden, battling ice demons and growing your Viking village with rescued survivors. Combat is complex with different abilities like projectiles, charging attacks and much more. Each character has their own unique attacks and the sheer beauty of this frozen wasteland makes it worth a look for its co-op. Vikings: Wolves of Midgard is out on March 24^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix/Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix

Okay, so Final Chapter Prologue may have been a venerable mixed bag of sorts for the Kingdom Hearts faithful on PS4. But with the release of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5/2.5 Remix this March, you get a lot more Kingdom Hearts goodness for your buck. Along with Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts 2: Final Mix and Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Final Mix as playable games, you get 358/2 Days and        Re:coded as cinematic retellings. Will they help you understand the whole convoluted mess of a story? Probably not but both HD remaster collections arrive on March 28^th for PS4.

MLB The Show 17

Have you seen those hair textures? You must have seen those hair textures but regardless, there are plenty of other reasons to check out SCE San Diego’s MLB The Show 17. There’s the Retro Mode which throws the action back to the two-button controls of yore and Road to Show, a branching storyline mode packed with excitement. Want a team of Legends and All-Stars? Diamond Dynasty’s got you covered and we can’t wait to see how this all looks when MLB The Show 17 releases on March 28^th for PS4.

Strafe

Old-school Doom/Quake action meets rogue-like mechanics in Strafe. This pixelated first person shooter from Pixel Titans pays homage to the granddaddy of all shooters while featuring randomly generated levels, gore that constantly remains in your surroundings and tons of replay value. Strafe also supports Oculus Rift for those who want to frag out in virtual reality – it’s out on March 28^th for PC, Mac OS X and PlayStation 4. Now if only Glory Kills could be patched in post-launch…

Has-Been Heroes

Frozenbyte’s rogue-like RTS/turn-based strategy hybrid is something different. It follows a team of heroes as they escort some princesses to school. Baddies lie in the way and along with collecting tons of epic loot to vanquish them; you’ll need to think on your toes amidst the constantly approaching enemies. It’s an interesting mix of strategy and action, one that we didn’t expect given the studio’s last major release Shadwen. Has-Been Heroes releases on March 28^th Xbox One, PS4, PC and Nintendo Switch.

March promises to be a busy time for PlayStation fans this year- not only will most be making their way through Guerrilla Games’ upcoming Horizon: Zero Dawn, they will also have other games like Nier Automata and Mass Effect Andromeda to make their way through. And, naturally, there will be the annual release of MLB The Show.

Sony has released a brand new video for this year’s edition of MLB The Show. The video walks players through the Diamond Dynasty mode, which is all about building the perfect 25 man team from a pool of over 2,000 players through the ages- something that baseball fans should especially appreciate. Now, Ken Griffey Jr and Mike Schmidt can play on the same team!

MLB The Show 17 is developed by Sony San Diego Studio, and will be launching exclusively on PS4 (no PS3 or PS Vita versions this year) on March 27. You can check out the new video showcasing this mode below.

Sony San Diego’s vaunted MLB The Show series will be returning next year with MLB The Show 17 launching on March 28th 2017 for PS4. You can check out the gameplay trailer below, which features decision making on the part of players, way too many emotes from the players (ah, the art of showboating) and more.

Watch till the end because we also get a peek at the game’s Retro Mode which takes the gameplay back to the good ol’ days of console baseball.

MLB The Show 17 will have two versions – the Standard Edition which retails for $59.99 and the MVP Edition which costs $69.99. The MVP Edition will include the Golden Season Starter Pack, 5000 in Stubs, 10 Standard Packs, 1 Sponsor Pack, 31 MLB PS4 themes and a limited steelbox as packaging.

What are your thoughts on the trailer? Let us know in the comments below and stay tuned for more news and updates from PlayStation Experience.