What's up, guys? I've recently decided to pick up a PS4 Pro, and it's been a neat experience so far, so I thought I'd share.

I started this console generation thinking I would be all PC all the time. Fast forward a couple years to 2015 when I decided to buy an Xbox One and was enveloped in that warm and fuzzy feeling of console comfort that I didn't know I was missing. Now, after another couple years, I've decided to finally dive into the PlayStation ecosystem once again. My most recent experience with Sony's machines has been with my Vita, and while Persona 4 Golden is great, I didn't find myself toting that thing around for very long. As mentioned, I've decided to go with the professional version of Sony's video game parallelepiped. I figure if I'm going to buy it at this point, why not get the new one. I'm really liking the experience a lot. It provides a good alternative to the Microsoft ecosystem, with plenty of different ideas and exclusive games. Speaking of which…

The very first game I started downloading once I got my system home was none other than Horizon: Zero Dawn. It seemed like the obvious choice given it's just come out and by all accounts seems to be amazing. I like this game a lot! Surprising, I know. I do have some problems with it, but the moment to moment action is satisfying, and the world that's been built is legitimately rewarding to explore. Horizon accomplishes the difficult feat of making the data and audio logs scattered around the world feel worth reading and listening to. The way they make modern day or near-future concepts seem like ancient history to these characters is fun and interesting. I guess the one aspect of the game that feels like it's holding this back from being super engrossing is just the open world nature of it; the way it just feels a little too much like any of the Assassin's Creed or Far Cry games. It's that same formula that's become all too ubiquitous by now. The formula is executed very well here, don't get me wrong, but at the end of the day it's still all the same stuff. It's really gotten me thinking about my taste in games, and whether or not I truly enjoy the current state of open world games. I mean, I can sit down and play Overwatch for several hours on a good day, no problem. Games like Horizon, though, just have a harder time keeping me engaged for those long stretches, despite a lot of quality work shining through at every turn. Makes me wonder how I'd feel about Zelda Breath of the Wild if I were to play it in the near future.

The only other game I've bought thus far has been the 2015 remake of Ratchet and Clank. Hey, that game's fun! It just feels like this frivolous, fun adventure that is the kind of silly and goofy I need when taking a break from something like Horizon. I've played some of the Ratchet and Clank games back in the day and liked them, but I never got too far into them, so this has been a nice game to dive into. Some other games I'm looking at potentially picking up soon:

• Bloodborne
• Nioh
• Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
• The Last Guardian
• Yakuza 0
• Night in the Woods
• Uncharted 4

And…

Persona 5 of course! If I'm being real honest with myself, Persona 5 is what made me buy a PS4. I do own a PS3 (currently sitting in my parents' garage) and could have bought it for that, and at $10 cheaper, but I felt like the investment in new tech was the way to go. I'm already having a real good time with the PlayStation 4, and I'm sure once I get around to the rest of that list of games I'll be having an even better time. I really just can't wait to dive into Persona 5 come early April, though. I'd better finish Horizon before then to clear the way a bit.

Anyway, if any of you guys are on PSN and want another friend to compare trophies to or whatever, my name there is the same as it is here: JJWeatherman. I welcome any and all fellow duders.

And since I don't do too much writing here on Giant Bomb these days, I want to take this opportunity to make sure and wish Drew luck on his new endeavor, Cloth Map! It seems like the perfect thing for Drew to be doing, and as sad as I am thinking about not having him around the site, I know he'll love working on such an exciting and ambitious project. Drew, the way you've shared your many interests and passions with us over the years has seriously been an inspiration for me to go out and explore my own interests and find my own passions, so thank you for that. It was great to hear you on the last podcast, and I hope you'll keep crashing the studio on Tuesdays! Later, duder.