The Best of This Generation: PlayStation 3 Exclusives

I’ve decided that with the next generation of Sony and Microsoft consoles coming out, it might be time to look at some of the best games for both systems, taking a look at both the exclusives for each system as well as the multiplatform games. What better time than during this pleasant November where we will all be fretting about if buying a launch console is the right more or not, or if waiting is prudent.

First up is Sony. This decision is mostly because, well, the PlayStation 4 comes out on Friday, which is a mere three days away. Yikes. So here is what I conceive to be the highlights of Sony’s run with the PlayStation 3.

Quantic Dream’s Heavy Rain and Beyond: Two Souls

For me this is a no-brainer, but it will be divisive for some fans who see Quantic Dream games and immediately start groaning. David Cage and Co.’s vision of what gaming should be is truly inspired, which is enough for me to look the other way when it comes to dubious gameplay decisions. Heavy Rain was the first game that I picked up for the PS3 and was my first real amazing experience on the console, with the irony being that Beyond: Two Souls was most likely my last really amazing experience on the same console. Quantic Dream gives me hope that someone can pick up where Yu Suzuki left off in creating great games with engrossing stories. They just aren’t there yet.

Naughty Dog’s Uncharted and The Last of Us

Yes, I’m grouping these together by developer because it just makes more sense that way. Especially in the case of Naughty Dog, as their games over this generation were all very similar when it comes to gameplay and concepts. Naughty Dog first won over gamers’ hearts and minds with their Indiana Jones-inspired Uncharted series, which were a nice, fun trilogy of action games that boasted stories that weren’t awful. The same could be said for their foray into survival horror with The Last of Us, which used similar gameplay mechanics and storytelling, just looking into a different genre of story. Many view these as the crown jewels of Sony’s PlayStation 3 line-up.

thatgamecompany’s fl0w, Flower and Journey

God, here is a company that is willing to take risks and push forth some amazing experiences that allow for you, the gamer, to come to conclusions on them. These games are about communicating without words and telling stories through beautiful set pieces and memorable adventures. It’s games like this that set Sony apart from Microsoft, as the Xbox was more focused on shooters, while Sony was taking the risks.

Media Molecule’s Little Big Planet 1, 2 and Karting

Just when I thought I was kind of over platformers and that they were getting to be a bit stale, Little Big Planet showed that there are still innovations to be had within the genre and that allowing players to have a certain degree of creativity can go a long way for prolonging a game’s lifespan. I’m not sure if anyone will go out of their way to say that LBP is Sony’s new Mario or anything, but I look forward to more games in the series.

Guerrilla Games’ Killzone 2 and 3

Sony has made numerous attempts to create series to rival Halo and Gears of War, but for some reason nothing has seemed to stick. They at least seem dedicated to Killzone, as the new Killzone will be a launch title on PlayStation 4, but something about these games just feels a bit off. I think if I were to point to anything it would be that they don’t seem to fit with most of Sony’s other offerings and come across as hollow attempts to win over the opposition’s fans. Work in the fact that Sony’s online community and offerings just don’t rival Microsoft’s. All of this being said, these are well-made, fun games.

Sucker Punch Productions’ InFamous 1 and 2

If people tend to be into something these days, superheroes would definitely be it. Sony’s idea to push forward with an exclusive superhero series wasn’t a bad idea. I was debating including these on this list as they were fun but kind of lacking and repetitive, but then again, I feel that they were important PlayStation 3 exclusives that helped to define this generation.

So there you have it. I wouldn’t consider this a definitive list by any stretch of the imagination, but instead some of the real standouts in Sony’s offerings for PlayStation 3 which helped to make the console stand out from the competition. Hopefully they are able to bring such a diverse line-up to the table with the PlayStation 4 and continue to deliver the goods.

What do you think? Do you agree, disagree or see a favorite game left off of this list?

Published on November 13, 2013 at 9:18 pm

Stay up-to-date with the latest MMA news, rumors, and updates by following the RED Monster on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. Also, don't forget to add MiddleEasy to your Google News feed for even more coverage.