PlayStation Plus new free games are retro bangers we've dearly missed

PlayStation Plus is the gift that keeps on giving and it has given its users three of the best retro gems. Gems that not only stand the test of time but helped define and redefine the genre of first-person shooters. The Timesplitters games, the original, Timesplitters, Timesplitters 2, and Timesplitters: Future Perfect, are each beloved for various reasons. Whether that’s the slightly bonkers campaigns, the original and imaginative weaponry, or the delightful minigames. All three games are on PlayStation Plus currently.

What made these games so revolutionary was the ‘out-of-the-box’ ideas and the feeling of a formula going right. They came along not far after hits like Goldeneye and Perfect Dark, giving us more arcade shooters that were less about gruff men playing up their machismo, and more about the quirky humans on the sidelines.

That’s not to say these games didn’t have epic setpieces or action-packed moments - they’re games about jumping through time and finding time crystals in various centuries. They were tremendously silly though, something that was slowly fading out for more serious and ‘gritty’ exploits in the genre.

Anyway, they’re still thrilling to play, if a little janky in places. But what’s a little jank between time-hopping friends, eh? Arguments abound as to which was the best game in the series with many voting for the second, mostly out of nostalgic moments playing against mates on the same system, while others prefer the third because it finally went online and we could frag strangers.

While many loved these games for the aforementioned ludicrous stories, the Timesplitters games came alive in arcade mode - imaginative modes of play that went beyond mere shooting. Each was loosely based on either deathmatch or capture the flag, but they all had some quirky rule, or you had nonsense weapons. These could be played with bots too, so it’s still possible to have a game today.

The spirit of Goldeneye lived on through this franchise. Combining both a robust story mode with that edge of humour like the paintballs and big head modes in the 007 title. You would think that the shooting in these games would be dire, but honestly they felt great to play. Sadly, the franchise is in hell, with the rights to the series being very muddy. While the original developers could create a new entry, it’s hard to know how the industry would take to it, or whether nostalgia could carry another game. For now, you can enjoy them on PlayStation Plus.

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