A PSN Revival
2009 was an outstanding year for downloadable games on the
PlayStation Network. I had finally embraced the permanently-online, home
console and had reached the conclusion that online multiplayer wasn't entirely
evil, revelations that encouraged me to seek out quality downloadable titles
via PSN. Before I knew it I was enjoying new found access to a collection of
entertaining and affordable games across my Japanese, UK and US accounts,
ensuring that I was never without something to play in a vintage year of gaming.
Shatter is one of my favourite games of this generation,
Flower and Battlefield 1943 two of my most memorable, and Trash Panic had my
wife and I shedding tears of both frustration and joy. Final Fantasy VII
received its first digital re-release and went straight onto my PSP, becoming a
summer long distraction for those nightmarish rush-hour journeys on the Tokyo
subway. Experienced with a group of friends, Worms allowed me to hone my trash
talking skills in preparation for Call of Duty, and Fat Princess and Marvel vs.
Capcom 2 kept me entertained, if only briefly. I was a late comer to Noby Noby
Boy, but it is another example of the simple charms and innovation that were to
be found on PSN in 2009.
The next two years would pale in comparison. If you
ignore the older games that came with the sorry-we-fucked-up, welcome back
package, then I can count on one hand the number of downloadable games that I
really enjoyed in 2010-11, with Pac Man Championship Edition DX and Joe Danger
being the only ones of note. Each week I'd dutifully check my three stores and
would invariably come away disappointed. However, things started to improve at
the tail end of last year and have continued to get better and better. Two
thirds of the way through 2012, and we already have a collection of games to
rival some the best of 2009.
I started the year off on a high, playing a late 2011 release,
PixelJunk Sidescroller. It reminded me of how much I enjoy short-burst, stylish
downloadable experiences and whet my appetite for more digital gaming. Journey
would follow in March, and for a few wonderful days we all put down our machine
guns to consider our existence, death, companionship
and how much fun it is to ride a sand dune - also scarves, big fuck-off
scarves. Journey recaptured the spirit and grace of Flower, appealing to gamers
of all flavours and becoming the fastest selling game in PlayStation Network
history.
PixelJunk 4am gave me something to point my wand at and
fooled me into thinking that I'm a chilled-beat maestro. Its appeal may be
limited – you’ll already know if a virtual audio canvas and visualizer is your
thing – but I found it to be a great way to wind down after a bit of Skyrimming.
Sound Shapes continues the musical theme, part side scrolling platformer, part
musical project, and has become the first download-only, must-play title for
the embattled Vita. The tortuous death modes and their infuriating reliance on
blind luck does sully the experience somewhat, but otherwise Sound Shapes is an
excellent game, boasting some of the most enjoyable user generated content this
side of Little Big Planet and bolstered by a campaign that varies in sound and
style. Although it lacked the impact of the PS3 classic, Super Stardust Delta
worked well on the Vita and this was the year that I finally completed Alex
Kidd in Miracle World thanks to a SEGA, digital re-issue with a very generous
save system.
A beneficiary of Sony's Pub Fund for smaller developers,
Papo and Yo may be a little rough around the edges, but a lack of polish does
not prevent it from leaving a lasting impression. It is a very simple
adventure-puzzler that benefits from a colourful and fantastical design, behind
which lurks the story of a frightened child and an abusive father. The boy’s imaginary
world is all colour and sentient toys, but is corrupted by a sad reality that
manifests itself as the hulking Monster, and while the narrative succeeds in being
thoughtful and moving, it never forgets that it is a game and should be fun. I ran through it a second time almost immediately after reaching
the finish, somewhat of a rarity these days with my ever dwindling attention
span, and I would highly recommend checking it out.
While it may have been a disastrous roll-out, the PSOne
Classics are now on the Vita store. This newly accessible library has already
encouraged me to buy a new memory card which, considering the price, I was
fully expecting to be jewel encrusted. And it's not just Sony that has me
checking available memory, as the 360 has also enjoyed a bumper year for
downloadable games. Trials Evolution had me completely hooked for a fortnight
earlier in the summer and I've heard nothing but good things about Fez,
Spelunky and Dust: An Elysian Tale.
Of the bunch, Papo and Yo would be my pick for PSN game
of the year, but with a strong line-up still to follow it may yet be bested.
Dyad and Counter Strike: GO have yet to arrive in Europe, Jet Set Radio and Joe
Danger 2 are due before the end of the year, and let us not forget the
thoroughly unique Tokyo Jungle, with its promise of Pomeranian blood baths and
well-dressed Hippos. With all those
and more, I once again find myself looking forward to Wednesdays and the PSN
update. Along with the continued growth of PS+, PSN looks set to continue its
impressive stretch; giving 2009 a run for its money, it is providing a rare
bright spot for a company that is in desperate need of one.
While it has been a kind of lackluster year for retail releases for me, I think it has been a good one for downloadable games. I still need to get a few you mentioned here. I have enjoyed Shank 2, Sound Shapes and a few other PSN games. My favorites might be on XBLA with Dust: An Elysian Tail and Mark of the Ninja which I just started.
ReplyDeleteJust got the Sound Shapes platinum. Those death mode levels were really frustrating, but worth it for the double plat (Vita and PS3)!
ReplyDeleteSeems to be a lot of good games on XBLA at the moment.
Cheers