Subscription services have gradually become one of the most popular forms of media delivery around. In the early-late 2000s, streaming services were the shiny new thing, with companies like Netflix being the first to really popularize the model. Now, subscription services dominate the entertainment industry, with just about every big movie company having their own dedicated platform. The gaming scene also has its own fair share of subscription services, withXbox Game Passwidely considered to be the best value. But thePlayStation Plus Premiumdoes give the Microsoft service a run for its money.
Rolled out just a month ago, PlayStation Plus' brand-new tiers are being received fairly well by the general community. While the Essential tier offers the same benefits PS Plus has always had,the new Extra and Premium tiersoffer a fairly impressive catalog of titles. Though both tiers offer the same collection of PS4 and PS5 games, the key difference between the Extra tier and the more expensive Premium tier is that PS Plus Premium also offers a solid range of classic PS3, PS2, PSP, and PS1 games. Although the current selection is pretty good, it could be better, and there are a handful of games that would be great to see on the PS Plus Premium service.
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Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
Right now, the PSP is criminally underrepresented on PlayStation Plus Premium. The PSP was a pretty groundbreaking piece of tech for the handheld console market back in the day, but aside from nostalgia, it isn’t often remembered by the gaming public of today. But that’s not to say the PSP didn’t have a great library of games, andMetal Gear Solid: Peace Walkermay just be one of the console’s best offerings.
ThoughMetal Gear Solidhad a few entries on the PSP,Peace Walkeris generally considered to be the best, with pretty stunning visuals and gameplay that manages to capture the series' console counterparts surprisingly well.Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walkersees players take on the role of Snake once more, this time in Costa Rica in 1974. Gameplay is split into two distinct sections, the first of which sees players manage an army, while the other follows the standardMetal Gear Solidstealth-infiltration approach. Unfortunately, Konami seems to be doing something strange with theMetal Gearlicense at the minute, removing theMGSgames from PS Now just before it closed down and still not adding them back with the new PS Plus service.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
One of the most iconic PlayStation 1 games of all time,Castlevania: Symphony of the Nightis an absolute must-have for PlayStation Plus Premium. While fans of the series can pick upSymphony of the Nightin theCastlevania RequiemorAnniversarycollections, having the classic title on PS Plus Premium would help to bring in newcomers to the series, as the new PS Plus tiers are specifically designed to bring new experiences to all types of players.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, for those that don’t know, sees players traverse a castle in the hunt for Dracula. Exploring the castle will give the player more gear and upgrades, which in turn open up more rooms in the castle, agameplay loop now described as Metroidvania. It’s challenging, spooky, and nostalgic, and it’s also one of the most iconic games of all time.
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Tomb Raider
Another PlayStation 1 classic, the 1996Tomb Raiderdefinitely deserves a spot onPS Plus Premium’s library. Revisiting it today,Tomb Raideris a little difficult to play, with some very clunky controls and some finicky platforming making the experience a little frustrating. But when all is said and done, the originalTomb Raideris a huge piece of gaming history, and it belongs on PS Plus Premium. Though the current PS1 library on PS Plus Premium is slim, it could eventually become a haven for classic titles, and the perfect example of game preservation in action.
Silent Hill 2
The PlayStation 2 offerings onPS Plus Premiumare a bit more expansive than the PS1 and PSP libraries, but there’s always room for more, andSilent Hill 2would be the perfect addition. Again, much like the rest of this list,Silent Hill 2is intrinsically tied to the PlayStation 2. Whenever gamers mention the PS2 in conversation, a handful of games are guaranteed to be brought up, andSilent Hill 2is almost always one of them.
Released in 2001,Silent Hill 2was a groundbreaking psychological horror game, pushing the technical limits of the console to its max in only its second year. The story of James Sunderland and his terrifying trip to Silent Hill is an infamous one in the gaming world, with a twist that’s just as iconic as the game’s Pyramid Head antagonist. Despite its somewhat dated visuals,Silent Hill 2is still one of the scariest horror games in existence.
Spider-Man 2
A 2004 game that’s still somehow included in “best licensed games ever” discussions,Spider-Man 2remains a beloved PlayStation 2 game. With a groundbreaking web-swinging physics system, a huge open-world, a plethora of upgrades, and some truly fun Spidey-supervillain interactions,Spider-Man 2is far more than just a nostalgic video game. It may be a nightmare to try and secure the license from Marvel/Sony nowadays, but if it’s at all possible, it would be truly spectacular to seeSpider-Man 2head toPlayStation Plus Premium.
