LAST MONTH ON PS PLUS

You know what they say: New year, old-new adventures. Well, someone somewhere says that. We think. We finished 2019 by looking back and declaring Uncharted 2: Among Thieves our top game of the decade. January’s PS Plus lineup suggests it’s only right we begin as we mean to go on.

Last month’s headline act was Uncharted: The Nathan Drake

Collection. That’s Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception all in one shiny PS4 package. Chances are, you already have some of Naughty Dog’s finest cinematic action in your collection. However, if you’re anything like me, you’ve never actually played it and this is the perfect opportunity to get round to it. Talk about being late to the party – but it’s better to be late than not turn up at all, right? The trilogy has, much like lead voice actor Nolan North, aged like a fine wine. As for things that have instead aged like smelly cheese left out too long, we turn to January’s second offering.

Goat Simulator is like Destruction Derby by way of a petting farm. That sounds messy, but even that doesn’t really begin to cover this slapstick affair in which you play a goat with a thirst for mayhem. Hurling yourself at whatever or whoever may be unlucky enough to be nearby, you can ragdoll your way to high scores and at least one very silly story to tell whenever the game comes up in conversation. Judging by the game’s current trajectory, maybe twice a decade is looking a little hopeful.

It’s not exactly as no-brainer a pairing as cheese and wine (and definitely nowhere near as fancy) but last month’s lineup definitely had broad appeal. We don’t doubt the year ahead will have plenty more blasts from the past, oddly appealing critters, and definitely way more than one unexpected combo.