Over the past decade the PlayStation brand has grown to encompass so much more than single-player and local multiplayer games. It now thrives in an ecosystem grounded in social interaction. As such, there’s competition everywhere you look. Players are always on the look out for how they can one-up others, showing that they’re masters of the DualShock controller in the process.
If you’re a PlayStation gamer, chances are you take part in some of this competition, especially when friends are around. Instead of letting them get the best of you, learn how winners win by reading the information below and getting ahead.
Be Patient and You Will Be Rewarded
One of the biggest mistakes any gamer makes when playing in multiplayer is being impatient. Players who run out into the fray, or play offensively without a sound game plan, are prone to being taken advantage of. Rarely does good aim make up for being out in the open, susceptible to damage with no cover.
This is particularly meaningful in The Last of Us Remastered where players who run can be seen through walls by the enemy. Tread lightly, and find value in being a methodical player. Your friends will fear you.
Make Your Shot Count
While at times it might seem like a good idea to just throw all your ammunition toward the enemy, precision can many times be the better option, and in some cases is much more fun. In many games, including TowerFall Ascension, you’re given limited ammunition anyway. You’re better off being cunning until you feel you have a solid chance of stomping your buddy with one fell swoop.
Quality Over Quantity
If you’re an achievement hunter, and frequently like to see how you stack up against the competition, it’s good to bear in mind that the Silver and especially Gold trophies are far more valuable than Bronze (1:2 and 1:4 ratios). So, instead of working down the list of trophies, tackling dozens of Bronze along the way, you may just want to focus on the bigger, more rewarding objectives.
Stop Aiming at the Ground
One of most simple things you can do to get ahead of most other players in shooters like Destiny is ensuring that your aim reticle is always where an enemy may appear. Most players tend to point at the ground when moving around, which means that they’ll have to swing their reticle farther in order to acquire a target.
The main objective here is to try and limit the amount of movement necessary to take out a target. By keeping your aim at corners where you suspect an enemy may pop out, you can get your first shot off faster than your friends.
Know Your Opponent
There is a lot of skill when it comes to fighting games, but there’s also a rock, paper, scissors element, too. If you’re playing a game such as Injustice: Gods Among Us, one of the best ways to get ahead is to learn what the weaknesses of each character are. Some tend to be poor at defending sweeps, while others don’t do well against a character that has a tough defense and waits for an opportunity to strike.
Sometimes Cooperation is More Satisfying Than Competition
If you’re playing a cooperative game such as Diablo 3: Ultimate Evil Edition or Final Fantasy XIV Online and making a competition out of it, you may want to reconsider. Sure, it feels good to know that you’re the main contributor in a team, but working together with others to topple a challenge can be much more meaningful.
Mix Things Up
Nothing is harder to deal with than a dynamic opponent in a game, especially in sports titles like NBA 2K15 and Madden NFL 15. If you change your offense and defense often, your friends will have to adapt to those new strategies. That’s annoying to deal with.
Use the Shortest Path to Victory
Although this applies to several genres, it’s more important in racing games than any other. Known as the Apex, the shortest path on a track is one where you brake just enough that you can cut through the inside of the turn and exit on the outside with full throttle.
If you’re playing Need for Speed: Rivals, or any of the hot racers coming out in the next year such as Gran Turismo 7, you’re going to want to Apex as many turns as possible. Your friends will wonder why you’re going so much faster. Tell them it’s ‘physics’.
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
One way that many games have incorporated competitive multiplayer is through leaderboards not unlike the ones found in inFamous First Light. If you’re looking to show your friends that you can get a better score than them, there’s no better way than to repeat the challenge until you’re successful. You’ll want to observe how you can improve each time you play, and incorporate those into future tries. Eventually, you’ll be at the top of the totem pole.
Grind Your Way to Victory
Looking to outgear your friends in Destiny? Unfortunately, there really is no formula to acquiring better loot. To increase your odds of finding Exotics, you’re just going to have to grind as much as you can handle. If you get lucky, you’ll find something truly special to show off to your friends. They’ll know how rare it is and probably be jealous.
Share Your Ownage
When you’re successful at topping your friends, don’t forget to press the DualShock 4’s Share button and save the moment forever. You may just want to upload a video clip to Facebook or YouTube so others can see how awesome you are.
