Even though credible rumors are circulating on the internet that suggest Sony is about to reboot it’s PlayStation-themed subscription services, the publisher has continued to coyly update its current offerings whilst remaining suspiciously tight-lipped on the topic. While it remains to be seen just what the alleged and curiously named project Spartacus truly entails, players that have bought into PlayStation Now and PS Plus can still get their hands on an eclectic selection of exciting games throughout 2022’s introductory month.
January’s PlayStation Now offerings are particularly appetizing, as the six new titles accessible to PS4, PS5, and PC subscribers represent a diverse array of different genres. Between brutal fighting games, iconic JRPGs, and delightful side-scrolling indie hits, there’s arguably something on offer for most tastes and sensibilities. As has become tradition for the current iteration of Sony’s streaming service, it should be noted that the titles on offer are all their respective directly-downloadable PS4 versions. If a free PS5 upgrade is available for a game, subscribers are sadly locked out from accessing it, as PS Now currently doesn't support upgrades to Sony's latest console.
Mortal Kombat 11
Headlining January 2022’s PlayStation Now lineup is the latest entry in NetherRealm Studios’ iconic fighting game series, Mortal Kombat 11. Originally released back in April 2019, subscribers can now download and experience the title that was ultimately crowned as the fighting game of the year, at 2020’s Game Awards celebration. Featuring unparalleled levels of customization and bold new fighting mechanics, the critically acclaimed Mortal Kombat 11 still retains the franchise’s iconic over-the-top atmosphere and macabre fan-favorite fatality finishing moves.
In terms of the narrative on offer, NetherRealm’s latest entry in the series continues the action-movie-esque story that Mortal Kombat X started. While prior experience with the series is far from necessary if newcomers wish to enjoy the rollercoaster adventure, it should be noted that the latter was conveniently featured as one of PlayStation Plus’ free titles back in October. With Mortal Kombat 11 having also launched on Microsoft’s comparable Xbox Game Pass last month, the increase in publicity could be an indicator that the studio is gearing up to announce its next venture soon.
Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age
The appearance of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age in PlayStation Now’s January lineup won’t be much of a surprise to eagle-eyed subscribers. That’s because the iconic JRPGs' eventual arrival was first heralded all the way back in September, around the same time that the series’ departure from Xbox Game Pass was conversely revealed alongside far less fanfare. Since then, fans of the 12th mainline entry in Final Fantasy’s anthology have had to wait patiently, as the likes of Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9 have all gradually landed on Sony’s subscription service.
With that wait finally coming to an end this month, subscribers to PlayStation Now can dive into Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age’s expansive 40-hour adventure. Thanks to a cast of charming down-to-Earth characters, and a once pioneering semi-open world and real-time battle system, subscribers that choose to embark on that quest are in for an immersive treat. Originally released back in 2006 for the PlayStation 2, this entry in the long-running series has often been underappreciated by many. Thanks to the arrival of the remastered version of the game on PS Now, subscribers have an opportunity to right that wrong.
Fury Unleashed
Pitched as a combo-driven roguelite action platformer where every kill powers up the player, Fury Unleashed initially made its way onto the PlayStation ecosystem in 2020. Brought to life by the charmingly named Krakow-based Awesome Game Studio, the PlayStation Now debut boasts an eclectic array of inspirations including the likes of Metal Slug, Contra, and Dead Cells.
What sets the indie title apart from those games, and other genre contemporaries, is the fact that Fury Unleashed’s high-octane gunplay takes places across the pages of several visually distinct comic books. Having attained a respectable Metacritic score of 76%, subscribers can now divide into the ever-shifting adventure in order to unravel the meta-humor-esque plot found within the game.
Unturned
Unturned is a curious survival-themed title developed by the two-person Canadian indie studio, Smartly Dressed Games. Having attained a respectable level of popularity as a free-to-play PC title in 2017, a paid console version eventually made its way to PS4 and Xbox One in the closing months of 2020.
With Unturned‘s arrival on PlayStation Now this month, subscribers within Sony’s ecosystem have the opportunity to subsequently dive into an array of zombie-infested maps for free themselves. Featuring a Roblox-inspired aesthetic and level of customization, inspired by the studio’s prior experience working within that game, Unturned comes complete with all of the core PvE and PvP gameplay mechanics that have made titles like DayZ popular.
Super Time Force Ultra
Super Time Force Ultra is the second retro-inspired side-scrolling shooter that’s making its way onto PlayStation Now this month. However, as the title of Capybara Games’ indie hit suggests, STFU revolves exclusively around the concept and manipulation of time. Across the game’s diverse array of historically set locations and missions, players are imbued with the ability to rewind time on 30 occasions when they meet an untimely demise. This unique mechanic enhances the bullet-hell nature of Super Time Force Ultra, as those former incarnations remain in action even when the regular flow of time is restored.
Featuring a genuinely funny narrative and cast of over-the-top characters, there’s a chance that long-term subscribers to PlayStation Plus might have already experienced the game thanks to its inclusion within Sony’s September 2015 lineup. For those that missed Super Time Force Ultra on that occasion, its arrival on the publisher’s alternative digital subscription service represents an opportunity for history to be corrected.
Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition
The final title to arrive within the orbit of PlayStation Now this month is the space faring simulator Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition. Developed by Mexican indie studio Squad, the main gameplay loop of the title tasks players with getting a space program off the ground and into the stars.
Despite the adorable cartoony appearance of the titular Kerbals themselves, Squad’s game is a challenging affair to master. Considering that Kerbal Space Program revolves around the literal concept of rocket science, that’s not entirely surprising. While the path to the star is naturally riddled with trial and error, the sense of eventual fulfillment that players get, coupled with the charm of the Kerbals arguably makes the space simulator a must try.
