PlayStation Plus: October Preview

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PlayStation Plus: October Preview

I’m a sucker for fantasy. If a game allows it, I’ll create an elf mage because magic is awesome. This month I can do just that as Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is entering the Instant Game Collection. With a tale crafted by NY Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore, stunning visuals from Todd McFarlane, and a customizable combat system, Reckoning has a lot to offer RPG fans. The mix-and-match combat means I can get my magic fix while also smashing things in the face with a hammer, or stabbing them with a sword and other various pointy weapons, which is pretty cool if you ask me.

Sine Mora on PS VitaKingdoms of Amalur Reckoning on PS3Poker Night 2 on PS3Shadow of the Colossus on PS3Hotline Miami on PS Vita

You may remember that last month we added Team Ico’s original cult classic ICO to the IGC, so their equally beloved sequel Shadow of the Colossus seemed like a natural follow-up. Slaying the majestic Colossi should make you feel something (read: incredibly guilty), but hey, you gotta save your #1 girl, right? In a completely different vein, Plus members will also receive Poker Night 2, which is an amusing twist on the classic card game. With GLaDOS as the dealer and opponents like Claptrap from Borderlands and Ash from Army of Darkness you can sit back, have a laugh and bet all your fake money away.

PS Vita owners are in for a couple treats – both the gorgeous shmup Sine Mora and the critically acclaimed top-down shooter Hotline Miami are joining the Instant Game Collection later this month. Sine Mora boasts stunning backdrops and cinematics as well as a slightly different shoot-em-up mechanic – you are in a constant race against the clock and the only way to get more time is to kill enemies. Hotline Miami embraces hardcore twitch-based play, which means you may need to repeat levels multiple times, but once you get through it it’s incredibly satisfying. Since Hotline Miami is a Cross-Buy title, you’ll be able to download it for both PS Vita and PS3.

These games will hit the Instant Game Collection at various times throughout the month, so check back with us every Monday morning for that week’s update.

October PlayStation Plus Preview



PlayStation Plus: October Preview

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (PS3)

PlayStation Plus: October Preview

Free for PS Plus members, Regular Price: $19.99
Immerse yourself in an all-new massive universe from the minds of bestselling author R.A. Salvatore, world-renowned artist Todd McFarlane, and legendary game designer Ken Rolston. Choose your path and battle through a sprawling master-crafted world featuring some of the most intense, responsive, and customizable RPG combat ever.

Shadow of the Colossus (PS3)

PlayStation Plus: October Preview

Free for PS Plus members, Regular Price: $19.99
Experience a majestic journey through ancient lands, on a quest to bring a girl back to life. The only way to save her is to slay sixteen Colossi. Explore expansive landscapes and seek out each gigantic beast in its own natural habitat. Armed with only a sword, a bow, each Colossus presents a unique challenge to test your wits, determination, and skill.

Poker Night 2 (PS3)

PlayStation Plus: October Preview

Free for PS Plus members, Regular Price: $9.99
The chips are down and the ante is up in this sentence already bursting with poker clichés! Take the fifth seat in Poker Night 2, at a table featuring Claptrap (Borderlands 2), Brock Samson (The Venture Bros.), Ash (Army of Darkness) and Sam (Sam and Max series). Your dealer is GLaDOS (Portal), but at no point will you be considered as a candidate for a visit to Aperture Science’s Enrichment Center. Unless you lose.

Hotline Miami (PS Vita/PS3, Cross-Buy)

PlayStation Plus: October Preview

Free for PS Plus members, Regular Price: $9.99
Hotline Miami is a high-octane action game overflowing with raw brutality, hard-boiled gunplay and skull crushing close combat. Set in an alternative 1989 Miami, you will assume the role of a mysterious antihero on a murderous rampage against the shady underworld at the behest of voices on your answering machine.

Sine Mora (PS Vita)

PlayStation Plus: October Preview

Free for PS Plus members, Regular Price: $9.99
SINE MORA is a horizontal shoot’em up that provides a unique take on challenge, where time is the ultimate factor. Mixing classic shooter sensibilities with contemporary presentation, SINE MORA is a gorgeous shmup that offers a Story Mode that weaves an over-the-top tale and an Arcade Mode that provides deep, satisfying gameplay to challenge fans of the genre. With many ways to manipulate time, SINE MORA features over 60 weapon combinations to complete each beautiful stage that form fits to the player’s skills with scaling difficulty.


If you’ve got feedback on PlayStation Plus make sure you take the poll above as well as leave a comment below. To chat about all things PlayStation, including this update, you can head over to the PlayStation Community Forums. You’ll also find other topics you can contribute your thoughts to, or you can start your own discussion.

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474 Comments

7 Author Replies

  • Go to Google

    Search “Let’s Get FlatOut Head On PS Vita Compatible”

    Click on the first result.

    Sign the petition please.

    Thank you

  • “still disappointed with the service. I really feel as Nortg America Playstation Plus is like little brother program next to EU Plus. The last few months have been awful on contact, or just EU “hand me down” and that shouldn’t be.”

    +1

    Overall, I’m pleased with the service, but the last few months have made me feel like NA is the red-headed stepchild of EU.

  • My plus subscription expires on Oct 7th, but I don’t want to renew because I’m not sure what is going to happen when the PS4 launches. Are we going to get less PS3 and Vita IGC games? With plus being mandatory for online play, I’m also concerned the quality of the IGC and the discounts are going to get even worse as well. The only game that interests me this month is Hotline Miami. I own Sine Mora, and I’ve already played KOA and SOC. I may sign up for the 3 month though if we have some good sales in the next couple weeks.

  • Very cool variety this month, I’ll be trying all of them out!

  • October is looking good.

  • I already own 2 of these games (I actually have Shadow of the Colossus both the original PS2 one, and the PSN digital HD version) but at least Hotline Miami is a game I’ve been wanting to get but never got around to. If I didn’t already have 2 of these games, I’d be excited for this month.

    Keep up the good work with PS+! Been a supporter for over a year and I expect I will be for some time to come.

  • First of all, Thanks Kristine for the update. I’ve been waiting for it all week ^^ I thought that we would have to wait until monday.

    Okey, now about the games… I’m a bit confussed. I mean, I was a bit dissapointed after knowing which games were coming in Europe (especially Dragon’s Dogma). I wasn’t expecting the same games, in fact I didn’t know what to expect. Let me give my humble opinion about this line-up:

    Kingdom of Amalur: Okey, it’s not Dragon’s Dogma, but IS an RPG and many users here (like me) are RPG lovers, so kudos :D I’m excited about this one, since the last RPG you offered in the IGC (Demon’s Souls) was a game that I already have. Thanks ^^

    SotC: I didn’t see this coming. I already have it, I’ve bought it on sale last year, although the ones that don’t are in for a treat, first ICO and now SotC. Despite this, I think that is a bit unfair that EU got both games as one a couple of months ago.

    Poker Night 2: I wasn’t even aware of this game, seems nice though. I don’t know how to play poker, maybe is time for me to learn :P

    Continues in the following

  • Sine Mora: I don’t own a Vita, but I’ve heard good things about this one.

    Hotline Miami: HELL YEAH! At first I thought that was only for PSVita, but then I saw that it was cross buy, so finally I’m able to play it. It calls my attention that I’ve heard so many good reviews, so thank you very much for this one in particular, definitely didn’t see it coming.

    Good line-up, much better than last month’s.

    One last wish, I’m with @73 I would love to see any of these in the IGC:
    • Dragons Dogma: Dark Arisen
    • Catherine
    • Okami HD (especially this one, it’s been killing me for months :P)

    Thanks! Keep up the good work

  • This is an uncharacteristically good month for NA Plus. These always seem to follow after particularly sparse months- I hope this signals a change for the service. This is a large selection of titles, some of which went overlooked upon release, from a variety of genres; this is exactly what Plus should be. Keep this up, guys.

  • Awesome update guys.. I always get angry when I own one of the titles lol but I’m pretty pumped about sotc! Never played it always wanted to. Kingdoms is pretty sweet I own it but haven’t played it much yet as I have a massive backload of games. good to see a western RPG make the IGC good job guys.

  • All of you are saying this is good? wtf, EU Plus gets 3x more games, they get Far Cry 3 for free in October, but we get these? Garbage

  • Okay, before the “but EU gets such better releases than US” gets into full swing, I have to say this: I’m confused.

    About a month ago, Shadow of the Colossus was on a really awesome sale, and I was bummed because money was so tight, that I had to skip it. So today I find out I’ll eventually get it for “free” – and I’m perversely GLAD that I was unable to take advantage of an awesome sale. That just seems so wrong, somehow.

    The choices that are being made about what goes on sale and what’s free are just confusing. It almost feels like you’re SEEKING controversy.

    I just hope the trickle of free PS3 games don’t completely dry up and blow away from Plus when the PS4 is released (that whole “money is tight” thing will keep me away from the PS4 for a couple years, probably).

  • there is a jesus i been waiting to play shadow since ps2 never bought it cause i always picked up another game but im so hyped son cant wait im hyped son im hyped

  • Wow. Nice month. I’m going to have to free up a bunch of room on my HDD though! Or I’ll need to buy a new one as my 500GB drive is totally full!!!!

  • None really peak my interest this month. But at least get to test out what the hype is about Hotline: Miami. Others seem to love it, so it’s a great month.

  • This is an awesome month for Plus! Not every month is awesome but there is always at least one or two things of interest. I’m excited about four of the games and the fourth one (Sina Mora) I will give another try after thinking the demo was just ok. I’m glad all of the Vita games are true Vita games and not PSP.

  • Woah, I’m getting all of them!

  • This is one hell of a month! Awesome! Thanks Sony!

  • Sounds good to me! I might have to take a break from my San Andreas vacation to give Kingdoms of Amalur a shot.

  • Very nice update. Looking forward to KoA.

  • Nice to see KoA:R getting some PS+ love! I’ll definitely jump on that. Sine Mora is an absolutely awful excuse for a shmup. IMO every press outlet that gave it a positive score needs to take a step back, and take off their fogged up Suda goggles – game is seriously terrible!
    /mini rant

  • no denying that’s a great lineup. I’ve been wanting to play Poker Night. I tried SOTC once before but didn’t get very far, always wanted to go back and try again. KoA is a lot of fun, looking forward to getting back into that as well. Now I just need to get a vita since I’ve already got about a years worth of games for it from PS+

  • Very good stuff, already own SOTC and Sine Mora, but will enjoy Hotline Miami and Poker Night 2, Kings of Amalur don’t make my taste but looks a great game.

  • Doh, just bought Kingdoms of Amalur 2 weeks ago..that’s ok, it’s amazing I’m happy for others who get to play. Regardless, Shadow of the colossus should keep me plenty busy as I finish up Amalur. I’ve been a PS+ subscriber for 3 months now, and this is by FAR the best selection of games that has been offered in that time. Thanks for making up for a poor showing last month…and keep those RPGs coming :)

  • *sigh*

    Just want to point out that’s a completely **** move IMO. EU had the Ico/SOTC collection all at once, and you guys purposely split it up over two months. >.>

    After seeing how great EU was this month, however, I pretty much expected a paltry month. Again.

    You didn’t disappoint on that front at least Sony.

    Poker Night….what’s next, fishing??

  • This update put a smile on my face! Nice to see a good update of both quality and quantity of good games and even great ones . Thx for this month, I hope you’ll continue this trend.

  • I recently payed for sotc, and those other games are crap. But I was expecting it.

  • @Kristine Steimer , would you mind stopping by the Spanish version of the blog and answering some questions? Mainly, when are we getting the missing content from the store in Argentina and Chile. Thanks a bunch!

  • I have SotC already but haven’t played. It should be mentioned that SotC can be played on the Vita via remote play on your own wi-fi.

    I got KoA when it first came out years ago. To use that internet cliche: meh. I didn’t run into a game-breaking bug, unless you count boredom, but maybe a lot of you will enjoy it more than I.

    So, nothing for me, but I continue to appreciate the Plus program anyway.

  • I own all of these games already decent list though. Hopefully we can see some great sales like last October those Halloween sales were awesome.

  • Thoughts:

    -Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning – put in over 100 hours on 360 until my save file suddenly became corrupted. Bought it for PS3 not too long ago so I guess this saves me from inserting the disc
    -Shadow of the Colossus – already own ICO/Shadow HD Collection, so again this saves me from using the disc. Unless the digital version save files and disc version are not compatible, ala Sly Cooper HD
    -Poker Night 2 – Cool, always wanted to try this
    -Hotline Miami – already own it on PC, but can’t get enough of it!
    -Sine Mora – don’t own a Vita and already own the game on PC, so this one is moot

  • Very nice…4 out of 5 are of interest to me. I’ve been itching for an RPG to play, and KoA looks like it will fit the bill. October is looking to be a great month!

  • Above average month I’d say. Hotline Miami looks cool. Sine Mora looks cool too. And it’s not a PSP game. I’ll definitely try Kingdoms of Amalur even though RPGs aren’t my thing. Poker Night seems like just a filler. It’s supposed to be a horrible game. It would have been cooler if we got Ico and sotc at the same time. They usually go together.

  • Quite possibly the best month we’ve gotten this year. Only game I already own here is SotC. The rest I’ve always had interest in getting. Keep up the great work guys.

  • nothing for me but keep up the good work PS+

  • Man, people will complain about anything! This is a good lineup well worth the cost of admission regardless of what the EU is getting. I’m pretty sure if we go back a few months we’d fine plenty of people complaining about why the EU got KOA and SOTC when we didn’t. Well, now we did. It’s going to be OK. Please, find your happy place.

  • Ugh, once again another month with nothing of interest to me. Poker Night 2? Really?

    Why the U.S. can’t get on board with the amazing updates the EU gets is beyond me. I’d take Far Cry 3 over ANYTHING the U.S. has gotten in the last several months. Such a great service being drowned by a superior “competitor” (EU).

    I think it’s about high time, I not renew my US account and get EU instead. Because their updates almost ALWAYS appeal to me and the U.S. just can’t keep up. Which is sad really, considering we were once the better region for PS+.

  • I used to like when they give us a decent ps3 game, now they give 3 lame ones.

  • I have everything this month, though Amalur and SOTC are on disc, and since I got ICO last month, I suppose I can trade those in.

    Which actually works out pretty okay in my book.

  • I am also not renewing my subscription. Is useless.

  • Another month of PS Plus, another month of US owners getting fu**ed.

    I called it. Last month we got Ico separately as a retail game, this month we get Shadow of the Colossus. I think that’s bs that we’re getting treated like this but in Europe, the same game was released together as both games. Last month Jak collection was released, not just one game. It’s a first party game, it’s not like you have to pay anything to release it to the customers. It’s bs we’re getting fu**ed over like this.

    Then in comparison to the one digital only game, two ps3, and two vita retail games in Europe, us in the US gets one retail game, half of a retail game, and then three cheap digital only games. And Poker Nights at the Inventory? Seriously? Thanks. I’ll play maybe one or two games of this garbage slow as hell poker game and then never play again because I’ll already listen to all the conversation by then.

    Here’s a new PS+ ad suggestion. “12 months of disappointment. Only $50. Order now through PSN for three months free..”

  • Prepare for ps2 GOW in november and dicember. One every month. With some of the AC that are on sale.

  • PS+ North America is still waiting on…

    Okami HD

    The Jak and Daxter Trilogy (cross-buy)

    Far Cry 3

    Assassin’s Creed III

    Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen

    Please rotate the titles a little faster come this holiday season.

  • I owned Kingdoms of Amalur for the PS3 (retail version) and it would regularly freeze up my PS3. Is this something I’ll have to worry about with the digital version of it?

  • @2 Ride that thing!!

    Anyway, it’s an improvement over these terrible past months. Still a long way to go from freakin Dragon’s Dogma and Far Cry 3. Parity…. that is all I ask.

  • 2 things impressed me on this blog:

    the awesome games on october alone

    and that there are some people whining

    Haters gonna hate, one day they will own a business and give everything away for free (yeah right), how entitled must one be to complain about all the games that can be played wih a year sub of $50.

    Great job PS+ team

  • Great lineup. Thanks Steimr! Gregwayyyyyyyyyyyy

  • Kingdoms of Amalur: metacritic score 81
    Shadow of the Colossus: metacritic score 91
    Hotline Miami: metacritic score 85

    If you don’t like the games, that’s completely fine and fair, but don’t whine about how the US is getting screwed. If you look through the past years worth of offerings, I’m pretty sure you’d see you’ve gotten more than your $50 worth. The EU is a different market with different priorities. You aren’t entitled to something someone else has just because you want it, that’s not how life works.

  • @146

    It would be a lot easier to just shrug one’s shoulders and say “Free is Free!! :D” IF the guys on the other side of the pond were not subscribed to the exact same service yet get offers that blow ours out of the water.

    And people are paying $50 for the service. “Troll” is the most overused word on the internet. “Entitlement” is not far behind. Learn it’s meaning before using it.

  • @OddmrT those games are old and bad. Nobody cares if they got a good score. And the fact they sold sotc for 5 dls and then give it away, its just lame. And thats what they do all the time.

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