PS PLUS FREE GAMES OF FEBRUARY
PS Plus vs. Xbox Games with Gold
Another month is upon us, and that means another lineup of free games from PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold. As with every month, we will run down the games offered by each company, how much they typically cost, and which service has the best deal for the month of February 2017.
Here are the games, platforms and store prices for the free games from PlayStation this month:
PS4
- LittleBigPlanet 3 – $20
- Not a Hero – $13
- Torquel (also on PS Vita) – $10
- Starwhal (also on PS3) – $12
- Ninja Senki DX (also on PS3) – $5
PS3
- Anna: Extended Edition – $13.50
Total: $73.50
Sony’s offerings for the month of February include one AAA title and a handful of indie games, each with very distinct visual styles and gameplay. The biggest of the lineup is LittleBigPlanet 3. The latest entry in the cute and colorful creative platformer was not developed by Media Molecule, but by Sumo Digital, who took the base laid by the first two games and expanded upon the concept of play, create, share. It isn’t the best entry in the series but it still holds its own, offering up an engaging campaign, tons of player made levels, and an expanded creative suite that is better than ever.
The indie games for the month all bring something special to the table. Not a Hero is a 2D action platformer with plenty of characters to choose from, each with their own set of skills to wield. In it, the charismatic BunnyLord has traveled back in time to save the world from utter destruction. The action is fast-paced and hectic, requiring you to utilize cover and quick reflexes. Ninja Senki DX also offers up 2D platforming, but takes a more retro approach. The beautifully stylized 8-bit art perfectly recreates the action experienced in games of the NES era. Navigating each level and tossing shuriken stars at enemies has never felt better.
Torqeul, on the other hand, is a completely different kind of platformer. You control a thin, top-hatted gentleman encased in a box. Each side is a different color and interacts with the environment in its own way. Each level is a puzzle unto itself, and the challenge lies in navigating the rows of intricate puzzles as quickly as possible.
The other major releases are Starwhal and Anna. The former is a crazy competitive multiplayer game where each player controls a narwhal and attempts to pierce the other player’s hearts with their own horn. Controlling the Narwhals is almost as difficult as scoring points on others, which is half the fun. Anna is a horror game set in an abandoned sawmill. Your character’s past is shrouded in mystery and you’ll have to gather clues and solve puzzles to put the pieces of the puzzle together.
All of these games would usually run you $73.50, but you’ll get it all for free. And if you only have a PS4, you’ll be saving $60. This more than makes up the $49.99 entry price to be a PS Plus member. You get a nice assortment of games to try out while you wait for some of this year’s biggest titles to make their way to store shelves.
XBOX GAMES WITH GOLD FREE GAMES OF FEBRUARY
PS Plus vs. Xbox Games with Gold
Here are the games and original prices for Xbox‘s offerings for the month if February:
Xbox One
- Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime – $15
- Project Cars Digital Edition (from February 16 – March 15th) – $30
Xbox 360
- Monkey Island 2: SE (From February 1 – 15) – $10
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (February 16 – 28) – $20
Total: $75
As per usual, Microsoft is offering Xbox Live Gold subscribers four games, two for Xbox One and two for Xbox 360. But the two 360 games are playable on Xbox One through backwards compatibility.
First up is Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. Besides having an outrageously cool title, it’s also an adorable and smartly designed co-op game where players must work together to pilot a large spaceship. There are multiple rooms, each with controls to a different part of the ship. One person can fly the vessel by themselves, but with great difficulty, so you might want to get some friends together to tackle this title.
The other Xbox One exclusive title is Project Cars. It still stands out as one of the best racing sims on the market. The vehicles and courses are all meticulously designed. Fine-tuning and customizing the cars will be a dream come true to any motorhead. It’s a great title to jump into if you aren’t a fan of the Forza series but still want a healthy dose of realistic racing.
The Xbox 360 also has some great games this month. Monkey Island 2 Special Edition continues the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood, redoing the graphics and updating the game for a modern era of players. It still offers up a unique blend of puzzle solving and comedy and is great for anyone craving a classic adventure game.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a great action title set in the very center of the Star Wars universe. The game takes place between episodes 3 and 4 and puts players in the angst-filled boots of Starkiller, Darth Vader’s newest apprentice. Gameplay is a mix of dazzling lightsaber swings and powerful force moves. Over the course of the game, you get to decide whether you will join Vader on the Dark Side or instead follow the path of light. The game offers up good action, visuals that bring the Star Wars universe to life, and a great story. What more do you need?
All four of these games will save you a whopping $75. February has a great lineup of free games so there is absolutely no reason not to add these gems to your library.
BEST SAVINGS OF THE MONTH
PS Plus vs. Xbox Games with Gold
If you only have a current-gen system, Microsoft has beat out Sony for this month, offering $75 worth of saving compared to the PlayStation manufacturer’s savings of $60. If you own both a PS4 and PS3, however, Sony edges a bit closer at $73.50. Both services also offer great games, but PlayStation has more indie titles while Microsoft offers up some older AAA titles. The year is still in its infancy so it’s likely that we will start to see some really great games and savings as the summer months draw near and AAA releases slow down
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