Sony PS Plus
Now that Sony has dropped its support for PS3 and PS Vita titles, we’ve only the two PS4 games to talk about. I guess that means they don’t so much headline the selection anymore as they do comprise its entirety…
Nevertheless, PS Plus’ ‘free game’ selection for May isn’t a bad one, though it isn’t plush with the AAA games that many subscribers will undoubtedly want to see. What they get instead is What Remains of Edith Finch and Overcooked, two superb games that stand beside some of the best titles in their respective (and polar opposite) genres.
What Remains of Edith Finch was very well received by critics when it launched back in 2017. In particular, its use of clever puzzle mechanics and exploration gameplay to bring to life each of its poignant mini-stories presented as an anthology of Edith’s family. These mysterious, sometimes eerie tales flesh out a wider plot about the tragedy of the family and the strange circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Overcooked, meanwhile, couldn’t represent a more different experience. A frantic co-operative puzzle game, Overcooked charges you with cooking up various recipes for hungry customers in some of the most dangerous and downright poorly designed kitchens ever built! It’s an absolute blast playing with friends, though be warned: hysterical laughter can quickly turn to friendship-testing rage as you desperately try and coordinate your culinary skills.
PS Plus Games (May)
- What Remains of Edith Finch
- Overcooked
Xbox Games with Gold
Golfing fans can look forward The Golf Club 2Â headlines this month’s Xbox One ‘freebies’ over on Games with Gold. Outside of golf enthusiasts, though, this isn’t a gaming experience that’s likely to move the needle for anyone else. The Golf Club 2 is very much a simulation game that isn’t the most accessible or interesting for any who isn’t a hardcore gold enthusiast.
Marooners at least ups the pace with its party-suited multiplayer design that offers players a host of different mini-games to play in couch co-op. These range from side-scrolling platforming games to competitive arena games, to puzzle games. Are they any good? Honestly, not especially, according to the reviews.
The backward compatible offering is perhaps this month’s saving grace. Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon is a fondly remembered third-person shooter for anyone that played it back in its 2011 heyday. Its simple but entertaining gunplay is still fun, though it’s certainly dated by today’s standards. It was actually considered a bit of an old-school sort of experience back in 2011…
Comic Jumper is another blast from the past, though it isn’t as well remembered as Earth Defense Force. This 2.5D side-scroller has a unique art style that still holds up today, some genuinely witty writing, and tough gameplay. Most of the game is platforming, but there’s melee combat, shooting, and quick-time elements that mix things up.
Games with Gold (May)
- The Golf Club 2 Featuring PGA Tour (May 16 – June 15) Xbox One
- Marooner (May 1 – 31) Xbox One
- Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (May 1 – 15) Xbox One/360
- Comic Jumper (May 16 – 31) Xbox One/360
Who Wins?
Yikes, just as we thought that last year was signaling the point at which PS Plus and Games with Gold Games were improving, we’re faced with May 2019’s offerings. This has not been a good month for either service, honestly.
Even if PS Plus’ two games are absolutely worth playing, they’re also both short indie experiences that perhaps don’t represent the value that many subscribers will feel they’re owed –both in regards to the monetary amount they pay annually and the fact that Sony has dropped four games from the service per month recently.
But at least they are quality games, and we genuinely do recommend downloading and trying them even if they’re not typically your sort of gaming experience. Trust us, they’re very good.
The same can’t be said of the Games with Gold offering. This month we’re questioning what the folks over at Microsoft are playing at; two very mediocre Xbox One titles, and two ancient 360 games that won’t pique many players’ interest given how dated they are.
It’s a clear win for Sony this, but hardly in the face of any competition.
Don’t forget to download last month’s games, most of which are still available on both services.
Published: May 3, 2019 09:00 am