A challenging but addicting platformer, Spelunky free on PSN this month

Free this month on the PlayStation Network is a platformer called “Spelunky.” Originally developed by two guys (Derek Wu and Andy Hull), the PS4 version was developed by Blitworks. It was initially released in 2009 with PS3 and 360 remakes released in 2013.

I always download these PSN games because who doesn’t love free stuff? I was expecting the usual points-based platformer but what I got was a lot different. Spelunky is brutal. Spelunky is unforgiving. This cutesy, colorful, seemingly kiddy platformer about collecting treasure will kick you when you’re down with pleasure. Honestly, the Dark Souls “You will die” tagline would also fit Spelunky perfectly.

I hated Spelunky at first. I told myself I hated it and I told my friends I tried it but wasn’t crazy about it. But I kept playing. I kept going back for more and eventually I realized why.

I thought at first that Spelunky was too much, that it was overly difficult, the learning curve was too steep and that it was far too unforgiving. But as I kept playing, I kept picking up on ways I could play better. How I could tighten up my game, keep an eye out for traps and play quickly but play smart. It sucks when I accidentally sprint off a ledge, take fall damage, get hit by a bat and bounced into a spike pit and killed within moments of starting a new game (and yes – that actually happened to me) but the more you play, the more you realize how you can avoid those hazards in the future.

In Spelunky, you play as a treasure hunter exploring a strange series of caverns that is constantly changing and comprised of several different areas. The levels are randomly generated so every time you play, your experience is different. There are also I think, five different areas that each present their own traps and enemies. There is lots of treasure to collect which counts toward your high score, but that treasure can also be used to buy items which aids in your progression (like a parachute that saves you from fall damage or a compass which points to the exit in each level). You also have bombs to reach inaccessible areas (or damage enemies) and ropes to reach higher areas (or allow you to descend). There is also a “damsel” in each level which, if taken to the exit, gives you an extra hit point.

The most difficult aspect of Spelunky aren’t the relentless enemies or traps but the fact that you only have one life with four hit points. If you die, you start back at 1-1. Doesn’t matter if you make it to the second, third or fourth level – if you die, you go back to the beginning. Some people won’t be able to get past this aspect. Gamers these days seem to expect check points and save spots and Spelunky doesn’t offer anything like that. Granted, you can access later levels by completing the four levels of an area and giving Tunnel Man items to complete a shortcut to that area, though if you use that shortcut to start your game, your high score won’t be recorded.

Spelunky originally had 8-bit inspired visuals but are very clean and cartoony in the PS4 version. The music also calls back to earlier eras of gaming and is very reminiscent of Sega Genesis music. Honestly, the music is one of my favorite parts of Spelunky and I’ll often catch myself humming various tunes throughout the day. There are also several different characters to choose from and more that can be unlocked through the course of the game.

Despite the tremendous challenge that Spelunky presents and it’s still an incredibly well-made game and one that you could play for hours on end and have fun with yet never quite master. The challenge will always be different every time you boot it up and with random level design, unique challenges and level types, Spelunky will always keep you on your toes and is a platformer that deftly spans the gap between fun challenge and absurdly difficult. Spelunky is free this month on PSN but even if you have to pay for it, it’s well worth the price.

P.T. demo will scare you senseless

Watch out. The gap in the door…

It’s a separate reality.

The only me is me.

Are you sure the only you is you?

These cryptic words are the first things you see when you boot up the mysterious PlayStation Network demo simply titled “P.T.” The eerie, foreboding sentiment they muster is only the beginning of a strange, incredibly creepy and chill-inducing journey. Skip to the next paragraph if you only want a little more info on the demo, as I’m about to talk about what this is a demo for. It’s been noted for several days on various websites that P.T. is actually a teaser demo for the upcoming “Silent Hills” game, being made by Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro and starring Norman Reedus, best known as Darryl from “The Walking Dead.”  Upon completion of the demo (which I haven’t been able to figure out yet), you get to view a short trailer, teasing the collaborators and star of the upcoming survival-horror game.

I’ve always been a fan of horror video games. The original Resident Evil series, the first few Silent Hill games (1 and 2 were great, 3 was just OK and The Room and Downpour were forgettable) and Outlast really stand out as some of the best scare-inducing titles I’ve ever played. But thanks to the advanced power of the PlayStation 4, P.T. takes the disturbing horror aesthetic to another level.

This screen of P.T. was posted on Reddit earlier by u/LukeLOL. This creepy guy isn't an enemy and you'll never interact
with him. I didn't even know he was there til I saw this...which makes it even worse.

 

The demo takes place all in first person, not allowing you to do much besides walk and zoom your view slightly with R3. It begins with you waking up in a small, bare, concrete room with a single door, slightly ajar. When you walk through, you enter a long hallway with pictures on the wall, empty bottles strewn about, a phone off the hook, a radio playing in the distance and several doors you can’t open. Walking to the end of the hallway, you find an open door which leads you…back through the doorway you first entered.

As you traverse this hallway, elements change, odd, discomforting sounds ring out in the distance and you get the feeling you aren’t alone in this strange, seemingly endless environment. Sometimes the layout changes, sometimes mysterious messages are written on the wall, sometimes a second voice comes through on the radio that seems to be speaking directly to you, making for a very creepy experience, heightened by the fact that all you can do is move and look around.

The visuals in P.T., while only of a simple, modern household, are truly stunning – almost photorealistic. The use of light and shadow will make you very uneasy as shadows cloak corners and distant hallways and strange sounds ring out on all sides.

There are allegedly different endings to P.T., though I haven’t finished it myself so I can’t say for sure. If you have the fortitude to get the true ending (or a good walkthrough), you’re rewarded with a teaser trailer for the game that P.T. is a demo of and fans of the survival-horror genre will be ecstatic when they discover this game’s true identity. Check out the video below for a walkthrough (without commentary) of the demo but don’t click to Part 2 if you don’t want the ending spoiled.

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.