Over the past couple of weeks,I’ve delved considerably into the PS Plus catalog to bring you all kinds of recommendations,and I’ve discovered that many games are rarely discussed.
Obviously, within a service that has hundreds of products vying for your attention, many will inevitably go unnoticed,even if they’re titles with high production values.
Missing out onBloodborneorUncharted 4: A Thief’s Endis practically impossible, but overlooking the existence of independent titles or titles from smaller publishers is more of a daily occurrence.
Therefore, in the interest of maximizing my newly acquired knowledge of the ins and outs ofSony’s subscription and recommending the kind of obscure games I love to suggest, I’m sharing this list ofseven underrated AA games currently on PS Plus.
7Mortal Shell
An Unjustly Forgotten Soulslike
Mortal Shell
Fextralife Wiki
With each passing day, numerousSoulsliketitles are announced, leading us to feel a sense of collective weariness with anything that resembles a FromSoftware video game but isn’t actually theirs.
AlthoughMortal Shelldidn’t arrive during the subgenre’s peak, it was still underrepresented over time, despite the great option it is, asit adds fascinating concepts to the mechanical loop of the original formula.
I won’t lie: it’s clunky, and the story is inconsequential, thoughthe setting is impressive and has stellar momentswhere its class system and shell hardening not only create interesting but also spontaneous combat within the universe it presents.
Mortal Shellis a tight experience and doesn’t go on any longer than it should, so each step carries a weight greater than the common denominator. While I know most people would have liked more content,I appreciated the fact that it does its best with what it has,which elevates it above average.
6Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
Novel Dramas and RPG Fights
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
After titles likeJusant, absolutely everything bearing theDon’t Nodseal deserves all the attention it can get, a focus I’m glad led me to discoverBanishers: Ghosts of New Eden.
In general, the developer’s games tend to be underrated, buttheir latest ARPG combines their best side—incredibly written characters and a compelling story—with action, a word they tend to shy away from.
Given the genre has been plagued by Soulsborne imitators,it’s strange to see a title that relies so heavily on a more traditional narrative, much less focused on concepts like love and loss, in such a compelling way.
Decisions with consequences, drama, emotions…Banishers: Ghosts of New Edenis a graphic adventure at heartbut an action RPG in execution, creating an incredibly interesting combination that works much better than it seems.
5Child of Light
A Different Version of Ubisoft
Child of Light
Child of Lighthas an indie essence no one can take away from it, just as it can’t be denied that it’s made byUbisoftand, therefore,it’s not exactly a minor project.
However, for the French studio, it’s a game thatbreaks with all the stereotypesthey’re accustomed to, tellinga tangible and emotional story with a magnificent soundtrack without lasting 80 hours.
With its turn-based combat system and thoughtful worldbuilding,Child of Lightseems anything but a Ubisoft game, as they completely stepped out of their comfort zone to create an adventure brimming with identity.
If Ubisoft were to create projects like this andOutlandagain,I’m sure it would take them no time at all to win back the public’s hearts. However, for now, we’ll have to continue relying on its past history, within whichChild of Lightis among themost special titlesit has to offer.
4Gravity Rush Remastered
A Franchise to Treasure
Gravity Rush Remastered
Among the biggest losses the video game industry has experienced in recent years was the closure ofSIE Japan Studio, which has given us countless gems likeGravity Rush.
Its remastered version is not only on PS Plus as one of the most distinctive games in the catalog, but it’s alsothe best way to relive one of the most underrated franchises PlayStation has ever had the pleasure of distributing.
What began as a project for the PlayStation Vita to exploit the idea of manipulating gravity to save the world ended up becoming synonymous withuniqueness,ambition,and beauty—something every owner of a console from the Japanese brand should try at least once.
That being said, you’ll get dizzy, confused, and feel like you’re not playing a traditional action-adventure, butthose are the things that setGravity Rushapart, so revel in the chaos while you fall in love with Kohei Tanaka’s soundtrack.
3Cities: Skylines
City Builders' Reference
Cities: Skylines
I’m not good at either traditionalstrategy gamesor theircity-buildingvariants, but I am adept at playing games I don’t understand and still find satisfying, likeCities: Skylines.
Can I manage a district, ensuring my policies align with the needs of the population and the availability of resources? Absolutely not.Is it still incredibly mesmerizing to play God with this level of detail and refinement?Absolutely yes.
DescribingCities: Skylinesas accessible is a tricky thing to do because the genre’s nature isn’t exactly newbie-friendly, but as someone unfamiliar with the style,it’s easy to see the quality,depth,and hours of entertainment this game offers those willing to dive in.
A decade after its release, it remains an immutable benchmark for modern city-building experiences, andwhen a game can redefine the foundations of an entire genre,you know it’s a transcendent title.
A Great A-RPG with Excellent Influences
Remember how I mentioned that I’ve been blindly following Don’t Nod after several of its releases? Well, the first reason for said confidence was, precisely, the greatVampyr.
As one of the first AA games I ever played, the ill-fated journey of Dr. Reid is a glorious combination of vampire mythology,Bloodbornecombat, andMass Effectnarrative, creating an absurdly immersive result.
Spending entire minutes staring at the screen before making each decision,knowing it would influence not only the narrative but also its demanding gameplay, is among the best experiences I’ve had on PlayStation 4, and it doesn’t get talked about enough.
The dialogue, characters, bosses, abilities, setting, and more are worthy of praise,asVampyrworks wonderfully as a whole, making it a great recommendation, especially for ARPG fans.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience
Nostalgia and melancholy are two powerful tools for increasing the impact of an adventure, but combining them with a political message likeRoad 96’s creates an inexplicably astonishing dynamic.
In that regard, going from a procedurally generated odyssey,where you meet fantastic characters and listen to numerous songs from an incomparable soundtrack, to a critique of American democracy is an unexpected and striking transition.
The way it addresses the hardships of emigration and brings together the concerns of youth in times of autocracy is splendid, even more so when you add its decision-making and resource management system,making each trip feel tense and on edge.
Road 96combines many strange elements that initially don’t collidebut end up working wonderfully. When you see the credits, it’s impossible not to stare into space thinking about the kind of adventure you just experienced and how you’ll probably never repeat it.
However, the not-repeating-it part is good, as it makes you appreciate it even more. Since I finished it,I always look back and remember it with a sad fondness, the same feeling I felt throughout its glorious campaign.
