For the month of September there are again three free PlayStation games for Plus subscribers. TECHBOOK checks what the new titles are good for.
In 2022, Sony repositioned PlayStation Plus. Since then there have been three subscription options: Premium, Deluxe and Essential. While the former offers a catalog of free-to-play games, Essential subscribers continue to receive a selection of monthly changing titles.
The PlayStation Plus games for October in check
In October, PS Plus subscribers will again receive three titles that will be available to download at no additional cost from October 3rd to November 6th.
The Callisto Protocol (PS5 and PS4)
“The Callisto Protocol” takes place on Jupiter’s moon Callisto in the year 2320 and is a survival horror game from the creators of cult classic “Dead Space”. In the role of the fateful victim Jacob Lee, games have to escape from the high-security Black Iron Prison and uncover its terrible secrets. To survive, Jacob must fight his way through other prisoners who begin to transform into monstrous creatures. To take on the different types of enemies, there are unlockable weapons, equipment and skills.
According to the Metacritic score of 69, the game is not well received by all critics. Some praise the exciting story and the dense horror atmosphere. However, others complain that the game copies too much from “Dead Space” and doesn’t set much of its own accents. The players themselves largely agree with the critics, which is reflected in a rating of 6.9 out of 10. Players mainly complain about clunky gameplay mechanics and uninspired characters. However, there is praise for the graphics and the scary setting.
Farming Simulator 22 (PS5 and PS4)
With “Farming Simulator 22” the name says it all. More than 400 machines from 100 well-known manufacturers such as John Deere, Claas and Fendt and three different environments in North America and Europe are available for virtual farmers to choose from. Whether agriculture, livestock or forestry – players have more options than ever before in the 22 version. You can even start your own production chains and customize your farms and characters with advanced customization options. Seasonal cycles are also new, making the simulation seem a little more realistic.
The game has a pretty good Metacritic score of 75. What’s notable is that none of the reviews are negative. The main criticism is the complexity of a production chain and maintaining a farm – just like in real life. “Farming Simulator 22” receives praise for the numerous technical and graphical improvements as well as the new customization options and additional functions. The player ratings themselves are slightly worse with a score of 6.3 out of 10. They criticize the higher level of difficulty compared to previous versions as well as a number of technical bugs. On the other hand, the graphics and the sheer amount of new content are positive here too.
Weird West (PS5 and PS4)
“Weird West” is a dark fantasy reimagining of the Wild West where lawmen and gunslingers coexist alongside fantastical creatures and magic. As different characters, players must make difficult decisions that affect other factions or even locations. The background story of the individual characters is played out over five episodes until they meet in the finale.
The Metacritic score is mostly positive at 76. Many critics praise the unique setting and the immersive game world. However, a number of technical bugs and problems with the combat mechanics are noticeable. The players themselves see it similarly. With 7 out of 10 points, the rating is still rather positive, but most people fail the checks. However, the special, dark design and the comic-like graphics are also well received by the players.
Last chance for PlayStation Plus games in September
The three free PS Plus Essential games for the month of September are available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. All three titles are available to download until October 3rd.
Saints Row (2022) (PS4 and PS5)
In 2022, this game was released as a reboot of the entire series as the fifth part of “Saints Row”. The fictional town of Santo Ileso is ruled by three criminal gangs. As a player, you build a new organization by recruiting dissatisfied members of the others. It is then a matter of taking over the individual districts of the city little by little.
At Metacritic, the PlayStation 5 version of “Saints Row” has a rather mixed score of 61. The user rating is even worse at 2.9 (out of 10). To be fair, however, it has to be said that the game was subjected to massive review bombing, especially at launch – not at all unusual for reboot titles. Criticism was repeatedly expressed about the fact that the old mechanics and basic pillars were being used again. Others, however, praise the game’s story and graphics.
Black Desert – Traveler Edition (PS4)
The MMORPG “Black Desert” is enjoying some popularity. As is typical of role-playing games, you can explore a variety of regions, fight opponents and complete quests. In addition to the complete game, the Traveler Edition also contains several value packages, including a mount.
At Metacritic, the reviews are quite mixed with a Metascore of 61 points. In general, according to many comments, the game has the problem that many tasks become quite repetitive over time. The game world and character design, however, were well done.
Generation Zero (PS4)
The first-person shooter “Generation Zero” is set in an alternative Sweden in 1980. Malicious machines have taken control and must now be defended against. You also have to find out what happened to the remaining people – and whether they even exist?
With a Metascore of 45, the PlayStation version of the game wasn’t necessarily well received by critics. The users rated the game with a solid 5.9. The main reasons for this are a few technical bugs and a game world that is quite empty in places. Since the release, developer Avalache has at least worked on the former. However, many praise the look of the game and the entire atmosphere as well as the tricky battles.