In PlayStation Plus We Trust: October 8, 2013

Sony’s PlayStation Plus is a subscription-based service that allows members to get weekly and monthly access to discounted games on the PlayStation Network, as well as the occasional free game. Sony has calculated that the $50/year service has granted thousands of dollars in savings.

Everyone loves free games, but nobody likes a free game that’s a piece of HDD-hogging garbage. “In PlayStation Plus We Trust” is a weekly feature outlining the new free addition(s) to the Instant Game Collection to help you decide whether that newest freebie in the Store is worth your time.

This week, enjoy the award-winning Shadow of the Colossus.

Shadow of the Colossus

Team ICO continues its astonishing success from ICO and crafts another great adventure. Shadow of the Colossus once again breaks the mold of action adventure games as a lonely, epic adventure about a young man named Wander who has set out to resurrect a maiden named Mono. In exchange for resurrecting Mono, an ancient spirit demands that Wander kill the sixteen colossi roaming the land. These colossi are simultaneously beautiful and terrifying, and it can be a bit sad to fell one. 

The gameplay revolves almost exclusively around tracking down the colossi on Wander’s horse, and, upon finding one, scaling it to find and attack its weak spots. These sequences are very exciting, and each colossus is just a little bit different. The story becomes more compelling as time goes on, and is intensely atmospheric throughout.

Verdict: Must Download

Deals

There are a host of deals this week, both large and small. Unfortunately, a majority of them aren’t really worth your time. If you’ve got the itch for a nostalgic title, the original Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon are a mere $3 apiece, and the apparently-excellent Tony Hawk Pro Skater HD is only $8. Prototype is fun, but you could honestly do better than $10.49.

Let us know what you’re picking up, and we’ll see you next week!