Well if you are had the pleasure of owning a PS3 on release and are a regular purchaser from the PSN then you will already have most of the game titles from PixelJunk. Seen as the developer Q-Games have been producing games for the PSN since the PS3′s launch in 2007.

I was drawn to these games by their puzzle elements, unique art styles and addictive gameplay, not to mention the combination of music. These games are not for the faint hearted though. Most of the games from the PixelJunk series are a real challenge. I would spend hours on PixelJunk Eden only to run out of time and have to start the level over.

If you managed to oversee these fab games and are also a PS Plus holder then you are in luck. As the games have been released from 79p. Otherwise it’s still a bargain price of from £1.99.

PixelJunk Racers (2007) and PixelJunk Racers 2nd Lap

A puzzle, racing game which resembles a bird’s eye view of cars lapping a race track. The objective is to simply lap the track and take over cars by avoiding them. To do this you change lanes, control the throttle and honk the horn. Varying speeds alter the difficulty but you, yourself need luck or quick reactions to find this anything but aggravating due to constant failure and starting over.

2nd Lap is an enhanced version available as an upgrade for people who already owned PixelJunk Racers. Trophies, new game types and “ghost attack” mode were introduced.

PixelJunk Monsters (2008) and PixelJunk Monsters Encore, PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe (PSP)

Ah huh, this is where things get awesome. Monsters is a tower defense puzzle game. The objective is to build towers to keep enemies away from your “base” or hut where your villagers reside. Varying monsters will attack from varying directions. Therefore placing the towers and the correct type, combined with how many is the key to winning the stage. For instance, a flying enemy will need a different tower from a land enemy and this achieved by unlocking certain towers by collecting coins dropped by the enemies you kill.

PixelJunk Eden (2008) and PixelJunk Eden Encore

So by now I had fallen in love with PixelJunk due to Monsters so I snapped this up in an instance. Eden as it would suggest is about growing plants in each level which resembles an abstract garden. You control a teeny tiny character called a Grimp. The Grimps’s are simply to “grip” and “jump” by swinging from a silk-like rope that you acrobatically rotate to burst pollen from nearby floating seeds that will allow new plants to grow. The objective is to collect the Spectra by pollinating the plants around you which will grow to allow you to reach other parts of the level. It’s incredibly addictive but you have a time limit. Collect the Spectra to stop the time running out.

PixelJunk Shooter (2009)

In PixelJunk Shooter you control a subterranean space ship to rescue trapped scientists. You need to break rock, release water and shoot enemies in order to get to your scientists. However, Lava and magnetic fluid will be there to harper your attempts. Therefore, release the water to solidify the lava and turn it to rock. Then break through the rock to get to the enemies. It’s about manipulating the environment to allow you to get to your scientists and the exit.

PixelJunk Shooter 2 (Sequel, 2011)

Shooter 2 follow the same gameplay as Shooter but introduces new hazards. Including elements of dark and light where you manipulate your surroundings to also keep the environment illuminated and the enemies away. Also introduced was the online versus mode. Where you compete in an arena style environment to hunt the other player to advance in rank.

PixelJunk SideScroller (2011)

As suggested this is a sidescrolling shoot ‘em up. It is an arcade style shooter with 2D neon visuals resembling blast from the past games such as R-type. You control your ship through the levels using gun, laser and bomb weaponry to take out emerging enemies / artillery. Normal and Hard modes offer varying difficulties. Did I mention that not only does it hard a retro feel it emulates it very well by making the screen look like an old CRT monitor.

PixelJunk 4am (2012)

Due for release May 15th 2012. 4am is a music game and music visualiser which makes use of the Playstation Move controller to visualise included music and users’ own music. You can currently use the viewer to see users creations as it is on PS Plus. Tune in to watch other players and offer Kudos on their performance via the PSN or simply listen to your own music files and let the 4am visuals entice you. It’s a tad hard to explain. Check out the video below:

PixelJunk Series Hits PSN From 79p, 10.0 out of 10 based on 3 ratings