NOSTALGIC PUZZLERS

It’s not all about Triple-A blockbusters – PS Now has some neat retro puzzlers, too

Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD Remix

The worlds of Street Fighter and DarkStalkers collide in this gem-stacking puzzler. It’s addictive, but best played against a friend. As you explode gems on your side of the screen a Counter Gem appears on your opponent’s; when their screen fills you win. Chibi versions of characters from Capcom’s favourite fighting series battle as you smash gems, adding to the feel. This PS3-era HD Remix edition upscales the visuals, adds the Dreamcast’s game modes, and offers more tweaks.

Fantasvision

This PS2 launch game was the Resogun of its day. Starting life as a tech demo to showcase PS2’s lighting tech, it was turned into this, a simple puzzler where you have to ‘capture’ three or more firework flares that are fired across the screen. The more you can link the bigger the fireworks display, and the more points you earn. A two-player mode is a race to set off a defined number of fireworks. Graphically Fantasvision isn’t the hero it once was, but on PS Now we get the PS4’s emulated version. As a blast from the past, it’s worth firing up.

Trash Panic

An eco-friendly puzzler that asks you to pack and decompose as much rubbish as you can into a bin before it overflows, Trash Panic is a one of a kind. There’s an ecosystem at play inside your bin: igniting flammable garbage will break it down faster, but not near liquid containers as it’ll put out the fire, and heavy items will crush lighter ones. Managing the flow of rubbish, ordering it as it drops, as well as saving Mottainai (precious items discarded by mistake) is the kind of Tetris-y fun we love.