PS Plus April 2025 Essential Games Unveiled: Dive into Digimon, Chain Saw Massacre, RoboCop!

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Although they originate from well-known intellectual properties, the selection of PlayStation Plus Essential games for April 2025 offers an astonishing diversity. You’ll find a Role-Playing Game (RPG), a unique asymmetrical horror multiplayer experience, and a first-person shooter that each delve into distinct power fantasies. The three games up for grabs are Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and RoboCop: Rogue City. Here’s a brief overview of each title.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory

The game titled “Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory,” which was initially released in Japan in 2017 and subsequently in other regions the following year, is a role-playing game. This sequel to the original “Cyber Sleuth” received a moderate reception with an average score of 72. Notably, “Hacker’s Memory” draws significantly from its predecessor, as it incorporates many elements from it.

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Some recycled aspects are the game’s settings, battles, and development systems. The battles employ basic elemental vulnerabilities and a system that offers depth while remaining easy to grasp for those with even casual knowledge of JRPGs. Building an optimal team of creatures and nurturing their growth aligns well with the franchise and provides players with a less taxing means to engage with its RPG mechanics. Additionally, the hacker-focused narrative appears geared towards Digimon fans and aficionados, although its conformity to the genre might not appeal to those who aren’t as invested in this particular type of digital creatures.

The arrival of “Hacker’s Memory” on PlayStation Plus Essential could spark anticipation for “Digimon Story: Time Stranger,” which is scheduled to release in 2025. “Time Stranger” is the upcoming sequel in this sub-series, developed by Media Vision.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre

As a horror enthusiast, I can’t help but express my excitement over the reimagined version of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” which made its debut in 2023 and garnered impressive reviews with an average score of 75. Similar to games like “Dead by Daylight” and “Predator: Hunting Grounds,” this online horror gem places survivors in a challenging scenario where they must outwit and escape the killers. However, what sets it apart from many of its peers is the presence of multiple killers, adding an extra layer of suspense and making each playthrough a unique experience.

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As an online multiplayer game, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” has evolved significantly since its initial release, thanks to a continuous flow of updates and downloadable content (DLC). The developers, Sumo Digital, have addressed bugs, introduced a more tranquil Museum Mode, a mode similar to Friday the 13th, restructured the skill tree, attempted to improve lobby experiences by penalizing quitters, and included a new map and its variations. Although it hasn’t quite reached the popularity of other genre giants such as “Dead by Daylight,” the thrilling cat-and-mouse gameplay has managed to maintain the interest of its dedicated fanbase, despite concerns about its shift towards receiving fewer updates.

Since its launch, the core game has undergone various free updates, however, these enhancements have been accompanied by a variety of paid Downloadable Content (DLC). To date, seven new characters have been added and numerous cosmetic packs, totaling over fifty items. The prices for these DLC range from $4.99 to $15.99. While the Content Pass offers some combined deals, the majority of the additional content is not included in it.

Recently, the game “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” has faced criticism due to extended wait times for matches, with some players waiting as long as 10 minutes. However, a surge of new PlayStation Plus users could potentially resolve this issue on all platforms since it supports crossplay. The game’s approach to crossplay is somewhat unique; PS4 and Xbox players can only match with others on their respective platforms, whereas PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X|S players share one large pool (crossplay can be turned off).

The significance of a strong community cannot be overstated for games like ours, and the future development of this specific game, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, is uncertain at present. Without a definitive plan for the coming months or years, its previously announced roadmap was concluded in February, leaving us in suspense about what’s to come next. The level of support it will receive moving forward remains to be determined.

RoboCop: Rogue City

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2023’s “RoboCop: Rogue City” is a first-person shooter game, developed by Teyon. It has gained recognition through its licensed titles, with each release outperforming the last. Unlike 2014’s “Rambo: The Video Game,” which received widespread criticism, and 2019’s “Terminator: Resistance” and its 2021 current-gen upgrade, which were considered decent shooters, “Rogue City” has been generally praised. It earned an average score of 73, marking a significant improvement over “Rambo’s” 35 average and “Terminator’s” 57 average.

In contrast to many other games of its genre, which emphasize parkour and rapid-fire combat, Rogue City distinguishes itself by staying true to its source material and focusing on unique shooting mechanics. Unlike others, the game adopts a slower, more deliberate pace as RoboCop navigates the crime-ridden streets of Old Detroit. This strategic approach lends a distinct flavor to the game that aligns well with the character’s persona. Enemies disintegrate into red mist clouds upon slight contact and can be effortlessly picked up and flung, enhancing the player’s sense of power. Fortunately, the intuitive controls and impressive explosive effects contribute to this fantasy’s appeal, while certain skill tree upgrades prevent RoboCop from feeling overly sluggish.

Rogue City isn’t just about running through endless corridors shooting bad guys; instead, players can also explore the police station and local neighborhoods, handling everyday justice tasks, taking on side quests, and getting to know the residents. These slower-paced sections provide a nice break and allow players to immerse themselves in the game world without too many interruptions. For instance, players might assist a local man in renting movies from the neighborhood’s video store or issue parking tickets. The narrative effectively explores the themes of violence and capitalism from the original movie, but it becomes even more engaging due to these side missions that enrich both the world and the characters.

In addition to fixing issues, the game “Rogue City” recently underwent a significant update, introducing features such as New Game Plus, extra weapon mods, a golden weapon skin, and a tougher difficulty level. It also offers two premium skin packs that outfit the main character with armor reminiscent of the original film and the blue-tinted armor from “RoboCop 2”. The timing of this update on PS Plus might offer players a sneak peek of the game before the standalone expansion titled “RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business” is released in summer. This expansion will feature a new story, additional weapons, extra enemies, and more content.

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2025-04-01 21:46