PlayStation Plus subscribers will get a number of free games every month, and for March 2020, they’ll be getting two titles: Shadow of the Colossus and Sonic Forces. Out of the two games, Shadow of the Colossus is arguably the more interesting title.
Shadow of the Colossus was first released on the PlayStation 2 15 long years ago in 2005, and it was then remastered for the PlayStation 3 in 2011. This particular version, however, is a proper remake for the PlayStation 4, which was released just two years ago in 2018.
Even though Shadow of the Colossus has been re-released a few times in the past, the core gameplay still remains the same. You play as the mysterious Wander, who roams the vast environment looking for (surprise) colossi to take down in order to save a girl. It’s a tall task – sorry for the pun – especially considering the fact that Wander only has his trusty horse, Agro, a sword, and a bow.
On top of that, each colossus in Shadow of the Colossus has its own set of weaknesses, and you’ll have to figure out what they are to defeat them. To make the task a little easier, you can use Wander’s sword to reflect sunlight, which you can then move around until the ray of light is focused on a single point of any given colossus: that’s the weak point.
Once you’ve identified a colossus’ weak point, that doesn’t mean you can just start shooting arrows and swing your sword at it to take down the imposing figure. Rather, you’ll need a strategy to defeat them, and it doesn’t help that some of them can actually fly and dig underground. If you’re having trouble figuring out how to take them down, the game does give some hints, but most of them are quite vague and cryptic.
These don’t necessarily make Shadow of the Colossus a difficult game; finding out exactly how to defeat each colossus is what gives this title its charm. The story is also one of the game’s appeals, though it may not be for everyone, given the limited narration.
Nonetheless, Shadow of the Colossus is a great free game for PlayStation Plus subscribers for March 2020 – there’s a reason why it’s considered one of the best cult classics for the PlayStation 2. Plus, who doesn’t like taking down huge bosses?
If you’re not subscribed to PlayStation Plus yet, you can do so over at the PlayStation Store. Both Shadow of the Colossus and Sonic Forces will be available to claim from 3 March until 6 April. Of course, once you’ve claimed these games, you’ll have access to them as long as you have an active PlayStation Plus membership.