The Drop 7/12/16 — Song of the Deep, Kerbal Space Program on PS4, and Ghostbusters

Song of the Deep — PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC

I’ll be the first to admit that when I got wind of GameStop’s new venture “GameTrust” earlier this year, I was skeptical. Believe it or not, there are many gamers out there in the world that base their purchases off of what GameStop is promoting on the front page of their website. Normally this features your Far Cry, Call of Duty, Battlefield, Madden, or other “safe bet”, however over the course of the past few weeks Song of the Deep has been displayed somewhere on their home page like it is one of the big AAA titles to be released in 2016. My first instinct is to criticize this sales tactic, because on the surface it seems that GameStop is trying to develop somewhat of a small monopoly in the gaming industry, controlling certain games and making them seem more significant and impressive than they are.

However, those that got their hands on Song of the Deep have been unable to stop singing its praises! Developed by Insomniac Games (Ratchet and Clank, Resistance, Spyro The Dragon), Song of the Deep follows the story of Merryn, a young girl whose father has gone missing while on a fishing voyage. Creating a submarine out of whatever she can find, Merryn sets out to find her father while confronting monsters, discovering lost worlds, and building friendships along the way. As far as gameplay goes, Song of the Deep is a metroidvania-esque experience which I personally feel lends itself to the kind of light storytelling that Insomniac is using here. Overall, I believe that Song of the Deep is going to be a great “relaxation” experience for those that are wanting to get their game on after a long day at school or work. Just come home, grab a drink, and explore the beautiful subaquatic adventure that Insomniac has created.

Kerbal Space Program — PlayStation 4

After four years as a PC exclusive, Kerbal Space Program is finally touching down on the PlayStation 4 this week, with an Xbox One release expected by the end of the month. Over the years, KSP has gone from an indie success to an iconic PC gaming experience because of its unique combination of realistic physics and fun, quirky characters known as “Kerbals” who are determined to get to Mun.

With it’s console debut, the devs have gone back to the drawing board and completely reworked the control scheme so that the experience on PS4 and Xbox One is just as natural and fluid as PC. At launch there will be three modes including Sandbox, Science Mode, and Career Mode. The first allows you to create anything and everything that you can think of and see if it would, in fact, make it to Mun. The second, Science Mode, let’s you run through scientific experiments that help the Kerbals learn and in turn allow you to upgrade their technology. Think of this one as the “trials” or “challenges” mode. Finally, there is the Career Mode that basically puts you in control over every aspect of the Kerbal Space Program. From managing the crew, to planning the launch, to earning reputation, and upgrading technology, you are in control over everything. As you level through the career you can earn funds that can be used to upgrade and repair your base. For those that want the most in depth experience, this is definitely the mode to try out.

I have no doubt that the team over at Squad has spent countless hours perfecting the console experience and ensuring that the quality of the game wouldn’t be endangered with the port to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For those that have always wondered if they have the skills to work at NASA, KSP is hitting PlayStation 4 this week and Xbox One very soon. But please… go easy on the Kerbals.

Ghostbusters — PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

“Have you and your friends been experiencing paranormal activity? Grab your Proton Pack and join the…” PHONY “…Ghostbusters as you explore Manhattan, blasting ghosts, and trapping those runaway ghouls.”

I’d rather gargle Pine-Sol.