I’m going to assume that PlayStation read my article from last month, where I exclaimed that every PlayStation Plus update can be described as “varied.” That’s the only explanation I can think of to justify the indi-rific line-up we’re being treated to in September.
As announced on the PlayStation Blog, the PlayStation Plus Essentials games for September are Psychonauts 2, Stardew Valley, and Viewfinder. All three games will be available on the service on September 2.
A sequel to the cult classic action-platformer from 2005, Psychonauts 2 picks up where the original left off, with protagonist Raz now a member of the psychic spy agency that gives the game its name. The first game was loved by its rabid fanbase for its imaginative setting, memorable characters, and wacky dreamscape levels. Psychonauts 2 doubles down on all three aspects, delivering a follow-up that doesn’t just stay true to the spirit of the first game but lives up to the 16-year wait that fans had to endure. Our very own Kieron Verbrugge would tell you that the OG Psychonauts is one of his favourite games of all time, and the perfect 10 slapped on his review would hint at the sequel being right up there with it.
The quaint farming sim has never quite managed to draw me in, but I’d be crazy to ignore the insane popularity of Stardew Valley. Inheriting a rundown farm in a small country town, your player-created character moves in and gets to work rebuilding and managing the house and the land around it. Growing crops, expanding your ranch, attempting to date the cute purple-haired girl from the nearby town, these are just a few of the wholesome activities that keep people coming back to Stardew for hundreds of hours. Sure, we weren’t overly chuffed with the board game adaptation, but the source material is a bona fide modern classic of the genre.
I swear it, I came within inches of buying Viewfinder last week, and oh boy, I’m glad I held off. Viewfinder is one of those puzzle games that has me wondering just how the developers worked their magic, as the technical component of the puzzle-solving turns my brain into a liquid. The core concept has you using the titular device to transpose images from the viewfinder into reality, creating new and interesting ways to interact with the environment, breaking laws of physics as you do. I’ve played the demo, I loved the demo, and I’m very keen to see if the full game can keep the excellent pace it sets early on.
If you haven’t downloaded Lies of P, Day Z, and My Hero One’s Justice 2, you have until September 1 to do so. As always, please remember that you can add these games to your library and download them later if you don’t have any precious space on your hard drive.
Which game will you be downloading first? What games would you like to see in October? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.
Adam's undying love for all things PlayStation can only be rivalled by his obsession with vacuuming. Whether it's a Dyson or a DualShock in hand you can guarantee he has a passion for it. PSN: TheVacuumVandal XBL: VacuumVandal Steam: TheVacuumVandal
