As much as fans love getting lost in a carefree world for a while, the real stories that leave an impression on the mind are the ones with a twist, making players think they're on one path and pulling the curtain back to reveal the grizzly underbelly. It makes them stand out among the crowd and forces fans to rethink their entire position on the game.
The twist can go one of two ways; players are left in awe of the creator's ability to weave a compelling narrative or drag the rest of the game into horrible muck. Obviously, there are plenty of examples of both on PlayStation consoles, and here are five examples of each.
10 Nier: Automata: The Real Enemy
Though this game is interwoven with twists and turns throughout, it's the discovery of the protagonist's true identity that really flips the plot on its head. People who are new to Yoko Taro games will be caught off guard when the person they thought they were playing gets the curtains pulled back.
Moving from a dismissive sidekick relationship with 9S into a sadistic, prolonged serial murder, it changes the entire tone of the game, bringing an entirely new level of sympathy for both characters. It will also make sense of a lot of previously disregarded dialogue earlier in the game.
9 Heavy Rain: Revelation
A controversial plot twist lies in the ending of Heavy Rain, splitting the audience into categories. The reveal definitely took most by surprise and also betrayed the player's sense of control in the whole narrative, turning the protagonist they had been playing through into the enemy.
Everything the player had done in the game was to cover up for the murders of the Origami Killer. The intimate relationship that's built with Scott Shelby and his saint-like attitude makes for an especially gut-wrenching reveal.
8 Final Fantasy 7: A Big Loss
Final Fantasy 7 is one of the most robust JRPGs of the decade, meaning players invested countless hours building up their team and learning about the characters. This gave the death of Aeris, an integral part of the group, an extra sting.
One of the most shocking and effective moves in gaming, the fact that it doesn't even happen in the endgame makes it all the more gutting, giving you just enough time to get strategically and emotionally attached, but not long enough where it won't affect a large portion of the game.
7 Until Dawn: Fakeout
Until Dawn makes for a great flashback for fans of the thriller/horror genre, fully embodying all the pros and cons that come with it. The original twist makes players feel a little foolish and takes away the suspension when it's revealed that the masked killer is actually just an elaborate prank.
The real turn comes when the Wendigos start appearing, bringing all the fear rushing back in true horror fashion. Creating a fake sense of relief makes the combination hit all the more effectively and leaves fans constantly wondering what's next.
6 Assassin's Creed 3: Haytham's Ruse
Throughout the entire series, players are fighting against a corrupt power structure and killing in the name of the greater good. That's why when the protagonist's father figure comes into play, among almost every other clue, it makes the most sense to assume he's also an assassin.
It's not until Connor's own father is revealed to be a Templar that the story structure gets warped, no matter what side players fall on. If fans align with the assassins then the first part of the game has been fighting for the enemy, while also throwing which side is the right one into question.
5 inFamous: Protagonist Switch
Many who have played inFamous know the game has multiple plot twists, and it's what makes the game so special, being one of the most underrated series of its time. However, there comes an integral twist to the story in which the character is forced to make a choice, one that didn't sit well with many.
The antagonist forces Cole to choose between saving a group of people of the love of his life, one of the most cliche and overplayed choices in storytelling. This is further backed by the fact that it doesn't matter what you choose, as his sweetheart will die anyway.
4 Silent Hill 2: The Reveal
Silent Hill 2 is one of those games that sticks with you, mainly due to its distressing setting and morose monsters. The game follows a man that is trying to find out what happened to his wife, all while being tormented by all kinds of ghouls.
It is only when players have cleared the battleground that he will find a tape revealing what happened to his beloved. It shows him taking her life after a prolonged illness wore her down, causing the tormented mind and dismal scenery at Silent Hill.
3 God of War: Pandora's Box
2018's God of War is now one of the hottest titles in gaming, but, before its most recent release, there was God of War 3, the worst-received game in the main series. The build-up for Pandora's Box created far too much hype for the final product, promising something with the power to save the world.
Following the tone of the entire series, players were expecting an ungodly weapon or maybe even an ally. Unfortunately, hope was released into the world, a cute idea, but not at all fitting for the title, and definitely not enough to satiate the battle-hungry fanbase, even if it does correctly align with ancient Greek mythology.
2 Fallout 3: Game Error
One of the only times that a plot twist has been blundered in such a big way was Fallout 3, a shock to most considering the level of detail that goes into the series. At the end portion of the game, players are forced to make a choice: who goes into the radiation-flooded room, never to be seen again?
What employees failed to consider was the permanent ghoul companion that can be used at this point. Immune to radiation damage and perfectly capable of completing the task, it removes any need to sacrifice anybody. Later fixed in a patch, this twist fell flat on its face from day one.
1 Uncharted 4: Nathan's Brother
Sam shows up in the game and represents the person that nobody wants in their life but are stuck with. He lies to his own brother as a means to an end to discovering the treasure, even at the expense of Nate's own marriage. All this coupled with the unearned screen time throughout the game and Uncharted 4 becomes a little played out by the end.
It also makes all the progress that the player makes with Sam up until the betrayal reveal worth next to nil. Fans are forced to get acquainted with and develop a relationship to the misfit brother only to be shafted in the end, it's a hollow twist that does little but frustrate all involved.