Playstation Plus - April 2014 Update

Hooray! Its that time of the month where we all get to learn we free stuff we can get for the month ahead. For the first time though, I am looking forward to getting and playing free games on three PlayStation platforms. Yes the future is here and I am loving all of the shininess, but there is something coming for PS4 owners that has me very excited! So what is in store, on the store come 2nd April?



Mercenary Kings - PS4

Mercenary Kings was one of the Indie titles shown at the PS4 E3 show. It is a 2D shooter, reminiscent of Metal Slug, Contra and Green Beret. The hook for me here is the developer, Tribute games are formed of people who worked on the brilliant Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: The Videogame. I loved Scott Pilgrim and in particular I loved the art style of Paul Robertson, the animator who made the amazingly titled Pirate Baby's Cabana Battle Street Fight 2006, a black and white 12 minute animated short that took its inspiration from nineties beat em ups (Part 1, Part 2).

I personally can't wait to play this game and you should be excited for it too.



Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 - PS3

PS3 owners get quite a mixed bag this month. First up Pro Evolution Soccer 2014, the latest interation of Konami's long running football title. For many years, Pro Evo ruled the roost, with Fifa always lagging behind in terms of gameplay and features. Recently, thought the tables have turned and the soccer heads have turned away from PES and onto to Fifa. Personally, I have never played a Pro Evo game so getting a chance to play one for free is very nice.

Also, it should be noted that this version of PES is using the Fox Engine, the same engine that is powering Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain on all platforms. So it will be interesting to see how the Fox engine handles games that arent about sneaking and lengthy cutscenes.



Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time - PS3(Cross Buy)

Here's is the first of this months extra bonuses. Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is a Cross Buy title which means that when it joins the instant game collection next week, you can also download and play the Vita version as well. It also supports Cross Play, Cross Save and Cross Eyed. That last one is only available if you play it for too long.

Once again, being absent from the PlayStation party has meant that I have never played a Sly Cooper game and although this one is not developed by creator, Sucker Punch (of inFAMOUS fame), it is looks to be a great platform romp through time.



Hotline Miami - PS Vita (Cross Buy)

Vita owners get Hotline Miami as their first title this month. Which is a waste of time, because if you have a Vita and don't already own this game then you deserve to have your Vita taken off you. Originally a PC Indie smash, Hotline Miami is based on the Ryan Gosling flick, Drive. Well at least its based on the violent bits of Drive. The game is basically a puzzle game... a puzzle game where you lots of knifes, swords and other implements and you have to figure out the best way of inserting these tools in every bad guy in the level. This leads to carnage like you have not seen in a game since the nineties and its great!

One of the most addictive games, with the best soundtrack ever and the Vita version is the best version of the game. Plus, its Cross Buy, so you download the game onto your PS3, but also onto your PS4 when it is released (soon).



MotoGP 13 - PS Vita

Finally, its a game about racing motorbikes.

No... just no!



So, mixed bag, some to look forward to and some that may just sit in the old collection until a day when there is nothing else left to play. Until next month, have a great month of free gaming!

In summary

Leaving PS Plus on 2nd April:

Dead Nation Apocalypse Edition
Tomb Raider
Borderlands 2
Smart As
Pixeljunk Monsters Ultimate HD

Entering PS Plus on 2nd April:

Mercenary Kings
Pro Evolution Soccer 2014
Sly Cooper Thieves in Time (Cross Buy)
Hotline Miami (Cross buy)
MotoGP 13