Strider and Towerfall Ascension free for the PlayStation 4 on PSN in July

Being a PSN member with a PlayStation 4 keeps getting better and better as Sony has started putting out TWO free games per month, with this month’s titles being updates of classic titles, “Strider” and “Towerfall Ascension.”

Strider was originally released by Capcom in 1989 and this month, the HD remake of the title is available for free to PSN members. Strider is a fast-paced side scrolling action title where you, as Strider Hiryu, cut through innumerable faceless soldiers to try and depose an evil dictator (or something like that). As in the original, Strider is incredibly agile and quick and you must use these attributes, as well as his trusty sword, to cut a swathe through the highly detailed and brightly colored world.

Strider utilizes a “Metroid-Vania” progression system where you need to unlock abilities to reach new areas. Reaching these new abilities often means fighting a massive boss battle, which you’ll often need to use every one of Hiryu’s abilities to defeat. The map is also non-linear, meaning there’s chances for exploration to discover power-ups as well as bonuses like concept art.

Strider is a single player only game (which also utilizes leaderboards) but the other free game this month is perfect for people looking for a good, single screen multiplayer game.

TowerFall Ascension is an 8-bit inspired co-op/competitive arcade title where you can choose to battle up to three friends in a frenetic, single-screen battle or a Quest mode where you can team up with friends to complete stages, clearing waves of enemies.

In Quest mode, you pick one of the four playable characters to clear waves of enemies from a single-screen stage before moving onto the next level. These stages are reminiscent of the first Mario Bros. game, in that you can exit the sides or bottom of the screen and show up on the other side or top of the screen. You’ll need this mobility to stay a step ahead of the numerous, fast-moving enemies as you try to take them out with a limited number of arrows (which must be picked up before they can be used again). A dash maneuver and wall clinging also helps navigate these stages and evade enemies. There are also lots of power ups to be found which can change the way you play too. I never played the original TowerFall but I was kinda disappointed to find out that each character is essentially the same. I had hoped for different classes with unique abilities but each character is basically a different colored archer.

One of the biggest draws of TowerFall Ascension is its fast-paced, competitive mode where you can battle up to three friends on the same screen, in wild arenas packed with power ups. It’s a great game to any get-together or hang out as many people can get in on the fun together and play many rounds in a short amount of time. It’s a great call back to 8-bit games of old where the emphasis was on having fun with friends in the same room as you, instead of playing against strangers online.