Category: Culture

hope you like playing free demos because there’s quite a few of them on the PlayStation Store for the week of August 7th! The idea of an adventure platformer mixed with pinball gameplay might sound weird on paper so Team17 has released a demo for last month’s indie darling, Yoku’s Island Adventure. Sega has a new demo out as well for Valkyria Chronicles 4 in hopes that you’ll take the plunge and pre-order ahead of its September release.

Lastly, Spike Chunsoft has a demo of 428: Shibuya Scramble, the PlayStation 4 port of their very, very old visual novel that goes all the way back to 2008. Call it a 10th Anniversary Edition of this peculiar visual novel title that originally hit the Wii, PlayStation Portable, iOS, and Android. This latest iteration will be out on PlayStation 4 and PC in September.

Elsewhere we’ve got goodies for a handful of games including, umm, one that isn’t out for another week. TerraTech has been kicking around Steam Early Access since 2015 but you can grab a free pack of skins ahead of its console debut on the 13th, unless they pull it down as this appears to be a premature release. There’s another console debut this week — a totally legit one — in the form of Daybreak Games’ H1Z1 and you can grab a PlayStation Plus Launch Bundle if you’re a subscriber to decorate your character with a flashy backpack. Lastly, Trove is back with another monthly Blocky Bonus for PlayStation Plus members: the Bounding Bundt Cake.

Rounding out the week are a handful of free Avatar icons from ResetEra with a matching, flashy dynamic theme and a static theme featuring Smite, in case you forgot it was still a game.

Grab ‘n Go gang!

It’s August 1st which means the hyperactive video game release season is upon us. But it won’t really break loose until John Madden pokes his head out of a hedgehog hole and curses another player for being featured on the cover of his latest game. That’s why we’re a little thin on freebies this week with a pair of demos, a beta for a hockey game (!?), another free VR music video, and just a few free Avatar icons.

Grab ‘n Go, but bring an extra snack because the offerings are light.

The Walking Dead: The Final Season demo
Is it really the end of Clementine’s Walking Dead story? Check out the beginning of what Telltale is calling The Final Season and see what’s changed over the last six years of these games.

Kabounce Trial
Get your hands on this peculiar 4-player, self-professed pinball game that looks equal parts Rocket League and… maybe Faceball 2000? Yeah, it’s strange.

NHL 19 Beta
No idea what’s up with hockey so I’ll let the copy do the talking: “Play the NHL® 19 Open Beta* and be among the first to experience the World of CHEL and RPM Tech. Step onto the pond in NHL ONES, THREES Drop-In, EASHL Drop-In and Clubs game modes while you unlock gear for your create-a-player. Use traits and specialties to improve your skater or goalie, and express yourself like never before.”

Tom Greenan VR
Also no idea who this guy is so I’ll let the copy do the talking, again: “Join acclaimed UK music artist Tom Grennan and witness a unique behind-the-scenes recording at London’s iconic Metropolis Studios. Enjoy an unforgettable immersive musical experience as Tom and his band perform ‘Royal Highness’ and ‘Found What I’ve Been Looking For’, two of the biggest tracks from his debut album ‘Lighting Matches’.”

Castaway Paradise
Embody the likeness of your favorite townsfolk from Castaway Paradise, a very Animal Crossing inspired new release on PlayStation 4, with these four free Avatar icons.