After seven years on the market, Sony’s PlayStation 3 is entering twilight stages of its life, making way for the soon-to-be-released PlayStation 4. It hasn’t been an easy ride for Sony’s current-generation machine, and the disparities between the fortunes of PS2 and PS3 are striking; the former enjoyed more sales than any home machine to date, while the latter had a shaky start and didn’t really come into its own until the past coupe of years. Nonetheless, one thing cannot be disputed: PS3 produced some fantastic software.
As we gear up for the launch of PS4 in the U.S. this week, PSU.com decided to cast a reflective glance back at the generation’s software output, and attempt to pick 10 standout releases that defined a console generation. Our results come from an extensive vote by staff covering PS3, PSP and PS Vita games.
With that said, and after a lengthy voting process, we present to you the Top 10 games of the PS3 generation.
– – – – – – – –
10 – PERSONA 4: GOLDEN
JRPGs don’t come much more epic than Persona 4: Golden, an updated version of the PlayStation 2 original for the PlayStation Vita. Masterminded by acclaimed developer Atlus, Persona 4: Golden weaves an engaging story complemented by some brilliant-realized characters, all wrapped up in vibrant world populated by hundreds of hours worth of RPG gameplay. Don’t let this pocket-sized iteration fool you; Golden is every bit the console-quality experience on Sony’s handheld, and you’d be crazy not to be swept up by its undeniable charm.
@page
9 – MASS EFFECT 2
BioWare’s sci-fi RPG series made its way to PS3 with the launch of the second game, which sees Commander Shepard taking on a diverse crew of alien and human allies to embark on a suicide mission to stop a race known as The Collectors. Like the original, Mass Effect 2 weaves an intricate storyline packed with heart-tugging decisions that seeks to send your moral compass into overdrive. Featuring a sprawling galaxy ripe with side quests, memorable characters and blood-pumping combat, ME2 eschews much of the heavy RPG trappings of its predecessor in favour of a more contemporary, sleek cover-based shooter. The result is a stunning blend of action, exploration and stellar storytelling that manages to not only capture the atmosphere of the original, but expand upon it tenfold. The conclusion remains one of the most gripping scenes of any game this generation.
@page
8 – BIOSHOCK: INFINITE
Irrational Games’ Ken Levine rewrote the rule book for first-person shooters with the original BioShock, and it didn’t disappoint with his latest outing, BioShock: Infinite. Taking place in the sky-bound city of Columbia in the early 20th century, Infinite is every bit the cerebral-based shooter as its predecessor, packing an intricate, thought-provoking storyline that will leave you emotionally exhausted upon its dazzling conclusion. Fortunately, the bread-and-butter gameplay is as compelling as you’d expect from a Levine production, fusing silky-smooth gunplay with badass Vigor powers, letting you lay waste to enemies in stylish fashion. Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth remain one of gaming’s most memorable partnerships, and Columbia is a beautiful, vibrant location that is the very antithesis of the previous games’ Rapture.
@page
7 – BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY
Developer Rocksteady Studios laid the template for the superhero genre when it released Batman: Arkham Asylum in 2009, defying all expectations and proving that the Caped Crusader can make a successful transition to the medium after years of lacklustre efforts. Arkham City is a perpetuation of that strong foundation and expertly-crafted gameplay mechanics, this time giving Bats a massive, open-world to explore while putting his acute detective skills to use. Not only that, but the gameplay remains fresh and dynamic thanks to the application of The Dark Knight’s many gadgets and weapons, allowing players to mix things up in combat in between the already-stellar brawling/combo system introduced in the first game. The addition of Catwoman also spices things up, and there’s ample fan service to be had too, with appearances from many of Batman’s iconic villains.
@page
6 – UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE’S DECEPTION
With Nathank Drake’s third treasure-hunting adventure, the House of Crash Bandicoot pushed Sony’s aging home console to its near-limit, squeezing every bit of graphical pushing power possible to create one of the most aesthetically-pleasing games you’ll play this generation — let alone on PS3. The gameplay has been refined, the action more intense, and the set-pieces – though inconceivable as it may seem – are even more jaw-dropping than before. The multiplayer meanwhile proves that Uncharted’s meat-and-potatoes gunplay isn’t just limited to the main campaign, with heaps of frantic gun battles ripe for the picking over PSN as you rise up the ranks and leap across a series of diverse battlegrounds to get the jump on your opponent. The introduction of a great co-op adventure – pitting you against some of Drake’s most memorable adversaries – is a particular highlight. Round that off with a fantastic story with more twists and turns than a Grand Prix circuit, and you have the definitive Uncharted adventure.
@page
5 – GRAND THEFT AUTO 5
Rockstar’s crime opus returned just a few months back with the open-world GTA V, a sprawling sequel that pushes the boundaries of sandbox video game experiences. Not content with telling the story of rags to riches for one lucky blighter, GTA V packs three protagonists under the hood – Franklin, Michael and Trevor – each of whom possesses their own unique set of missions, personalities and activities. The real highlight of the action are the Heist missions, where players must tactically switch between each character to help the other one out, making for some tense, dynamic gameplay segments that are miles ahead of anything we’ve seen in the franchise before. All the staples of the series are here, as well as the comprehensive GTA Online, which grants access to user-created content in a crime-ridden open-world as you attempt to prove your worth as a money-grabbing top dog against the world’s best. Beware: this game will own your life.
@page
4 – KILLZONE 2
Sony’s flagship shooter arrived in early 2009 to great fan-fare, delivering one of the best-looking PS3 games to date. Killzone 2 quickly established itself as one of the most popular online games for Sony’s current-generation console, offering intense gun battles across a diverse range of maps, each one sprinkled with their own layer of strategy and exploits for players to embrace. The main campaign is no slouch either though, as you blast your way through some gorgeous locations packed full of trigger-happy Helghast out for your blood. The pacing is perfect, the set-pieces stunning and the character animation fluid. Killzone has always done exactly what it says on the tin: it’s big, loud and pretty to look at, and downright gripping to play. Sure, some shooters have tried different things, but they’re not always successful. Killzone 2 nails the action-packed FPS template, delivering PS3’s standout shooter.
@page
3 – UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES
Developer Naughty Dog’s follow-up to the original Uncharted saw what is widely regarded as a technical marvel and the quintessential example of ‘the big PS3 exclusive.’ Even though the sequel managed to push the visual barrier that little bit further, Nathan Drake’s second outing is easily the most memorable, combining Hollywood-esque set-pieces, top-notch storytelling and adrenaline-pumping gunplay to create what is unequivocally one of the most impressive action-adventure games of the generation. Uncharted 2’s pacing is spot on, making it the video game equivalent of an Indiana Jones movie, with Drake sneaking through museums, scaling precarious cliff faces, gunning down legions of mercenaries and riding atop a runaway train. In short, Uncharted 2 raised the proverbial bar for not only graphics, but the whole action-adventure genre — some would say it has yet to be topped.
@page
2 – THE LAST OF US
The second Naughty Dog title in our list, The Last of Us marks an emphatic departure from Uncharted, with the Sony-owned studio dabbling in post-apocalyptic survival. Here, we find grizzly smuggler Joel and his precocious 14-year-old sidekick Ellie as they fight to stay alive in the aftermath of a fungal viral outbreak in the U.S. The Last of Us places greater emphasis on stealth and survival techniques than Uncharted, and weaves a gritty tale punctuated by death, despair, and a sprinkle of hope for good measure. Aesthetically, some would argue the game is Naughty Dog’s finest achievement to date, with incredibly realistic character models coupled with some truly breath-taking environments, making for a rich, atmospheric (and suitably gory) adventure.
@page
1 – METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS
Solid Snake’s emotional swansong was one of the early PS3 hits, and the reason many of us probably picked up PS3 for the first time back in June 2008. Even today, five years on, the game still stands out as one of the most stunning-looking games to grace Sony’s black box, featuring meticulously-crafted environments and nuanced character animation, bringing to life Hideo Kojima’s eclectic cast of heroes and villains. One of the most gripping stories on PS3, Metal Gear Solid 4 marries stealth and action elements, creating a tense and thrilling journey as you creep across war-torn battlefields, battle hulking mechs and trek across the globe in your effort to stop Liquid Ocelot.
Honorable Mentions:
-Assassin’s Creed II
-Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
-Street Fighter IV
-The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
-Red Dead Redemption
What are you top 10 games of the PS3 generation? Post away in the comments section below.