Yesterday, Microsoft announced their Games with Gold line-up for February, and to call the list of games underwhelming would be a bit of a misrepresentation. Yes, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is an exceptional game – but it’s one that PlayStation Plus subscribers got last year. The hope is that Sony’s “free” games line-up would be better. I’d like to think it is. Here’s what PlayStation Players get as part of their subscriptions next month.
PlayStation 4 owners get Supergiant Games’ Transistor – the sci-fi RPG that Zoe – and many others loved the hell out of. They’ll also get the side-scrolling hacky-slashy game that looks like Greek artwork, Apotheon.
That’s not all though – they’ll also get the frankly excellent cross-play rogue-like lite, Rogue Legacy, a procedurally generated castle-exploring action platformer. PlayStation 3 and Vita owners get this little gem too.
PlayStation 3 owners get two decent games too. SEGA’s Yakuza 4 lets players explore a digital, seedy underbelly of Tokyo in the closest thing we’ll get to a new Shenmue. It’s a niche series that many haven’t given a second glance to – but it’s one that I hope more people play now that it’s free.
The last game for the old-gen club is the newest Thief – a game that I thought was an underwhelming, poorly designed mess. This iteration of Garret is unbearably dull, as is the whole game – though some actually managed to enjoy the game.
In addition to Rogue Legacy, Vita owners also get a game called Kick & Fennick, which I’ve never heard of before, so I have nothing of insight to add to this. It does seem to me though, that if you only own a Vita, the appeal of PlayStation Plus must be waning. The games on offer for Sony’s handheld aren’t particularly exciting overall, even if Rogue Legacy is bound to give players hours of frustrating entertainment.
I’m happy with the line-up this month. Sure there’s no retail game for the PS4, and DriveClub is still very much missing, but Transistor is a great game – and it’s certainly a better one than the Xbox One’s odd #IDARB.
Last Updated: January 30, 2015
Mandom (Umar)
January 30, 2015 at 08:04
Damn, hope people give Yakuza a shot, Y4 was awesome with 4 playable characters. What a great month though I played most of em.
Hammersteyn
January 30, 2015 at 08:11
Never bought it, but sure as hell will play it now.
Mandom (Umar)
January 30, 2015 at 08:15
YASS!
L337J1MB0B
January 30, 2015 at 08:06
Transistor is THE SHIZNIZ… enjoy, dudes.
Hammersteyn
January 30, 2015 at 08:13
Transistor! Yes! Also give Rogue Legacy a go. It is really addictive. Starts easy but then you get bosses like this…
Brady miaau
January 30, 2015 at 08:17
I cannot play platformers. At all. I do not get the appeal. Or I am too ham-fisted to get it?
Quo Vadis?
January 30, 2015 at 08:24
You’re not alone. Maybe we should start a support group?
Hammersteyn
January 30, 2015 at 08:26
I’ve no idea. This is strange. Did you play platform games growing up?
FoxOneZA
January 30, 2015 at 09:15
Basically 90% of my childhood games were 2D platformers.
Hammersteyn
January 30, 2015 at 09:21
Same here
Brady miaau
January 30, 2015 at 11:39
no. Master of Orion. Civ 1 + 2. Pirates!
Test Drive
Tosh MA
January 30, 2015 at 08:29
Rogue Legacy is a lot of fun, I have to say. I’d heard nothing about it, saw it on special, thought “why not” and don’t regret it.
Binding of Isaac has also been giving me grey hairs, in the good way.
Hammersteyn
January 30, 2015 at 08:32
Binding of Isaac is effing twisted, especially the part where you fight your mom
Fnuik
January 30, 2015 at 08:20
I feel totally underwhelmed with Feb’s lineup. Iv’e tried lots of times and I’m just not one for indi games. Start them, get bored(or frustrated) and never play them again.
And I just cannot get myself to turn the ps3 on for games anymore. It’s now only used when my kid wants to watch his movies.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 30, 2015 at 08:21
Give Transistor a try. It’s good stuff.
Fnuik
January 30, 2015 at 08:23
I will. Always try the games at least. Only indis I’ve played from start to finish I can think of were Hotline Miami and Brothers.
Hammersteyn
January 30, 2015 at 08:23
Did you ever try Mercenary Kings?
Fnuik
January 30, 2015 at 08:25
I played it with my brother before I had my own ps4. Was fun but I’ve never felt the need to install it on my ps4.
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 30, 2015 at 08:24
I enjoyed Thief. Okay the story itself wasn’t the greatest, and it wasn’t particularly difficult, but I had a ton of fun roaming around the city looking for stuff to steal.
L337J1MB0B
January 30, 2015 at 10:11
Thief gets a hard rap, and yes it’s flawed but it’s not terrible. I had a good time playing it.
WitWolfy
January 30, 2015 at 08:27
Yea it seems Decent.. Already have Yakuza 4 on PS3 but the rest are so going on my download list.
Tosh MA
January 30, 2015 at 08:28
I own half of those on PC already XD
Apotheon looks interesting though.
RinceThis
January 30, 2015 at 08:29
Coool. Free games, that you pay a subscription for… Um…
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 30, 2015 at 08:29
EXACTLY!
Tosh MA
January 30, 2015 at 08:31
Free games that are actually not expensive on Steam. Specials mean it’s about $15-$20 for the lot of them. How much is the PS plus sub, that you have to pay to be able to play with your friends?
RinceThis
January 30, 2015 at 08:31
LOL. Exactly!
Fnuik
January 30, 2015 at 08:33
About $65 a year, including $15 to $20 of free games each month…
Tosh MA
January 30, 2015 at 08:36
And if you have no interest in those games?
At least Steam lets you choose what to spend that money on.
Fnuik
January 30, 2015 at 08:38
Yes, but say we get 6 months of the year with games we like, still better than having to pay $15-$20 for games for each of those 6 months
Tosh MA
January 30, 2015 at 08:40
heh, I got Rogue Legacy for $3.25, Transistor for $6.66. It’s also about the fact that whether or not you like the games on offer, you still have to pay to be able to play with your friends online. That irks me no end, and Xbox is just as guilty (albeit with a more lacklustre set of games).
Fnuik
January 30, 2015 at 08:45
I do not think of it as paying to play with friends, I would have payed it anyway. Part of the fun of ps plus is it’s like buying a lucky packet. You cannot wait to see what you are going to get. Sometimes its just n lame plastic army man, but just maybe in the next one you open you get a sweet toy car!
Tosh MA
January 30, 2015 at 08:48
That’s, actually a good way to look at it. Heh. O_O
Ok, fair enough then.
Hammersteyn
January 30, 2015 at 08:38
Haven’t happened yet. But choice is nice. Also PSN also has specials. Not nearly as cheap but pretty good value from time to time
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 30, 2015 at 08:36
Find me Yakuza, and Infamous: First Light on Steam? 😛
Tosh MA
January 30, 2015 at 08:36
Touche 😛
Hammersteyn
January 30, 2015 at 08:36
Hahahaha Kthx
RinceThis
January 30, 2015 at 08:37
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Mandom (Umar)
January 30, 2015 at 08:42
G just dropped all the mics
Rock789
January 30, 2015 at 08:48
You shut your whore mouth! :p
house_hero
January 30, 2015 at 08:47
Transistor ftw!
schitsophrenic-toothbrush
January 30, 2015 at 10:41
Super stoked, only heard good things about transistor. Still in the process of trying to finished “The last of us” and “swapper”. Rogue legacy is also awesome just need to hold myself back when I want to punch my screen!
house_hero
January 30, 2015 at 16:04
Me in 2011: “Yakuza 4? No way… never gonna play that game!”
Me in 2015: “Yakuza 4 for free on PS+! No way… Can’t wait to play that game!”