Summary
After the staggering success andpopularity of the PlayStation 2, it didn’t take long for Sony to realize that exclusive games play a massive part in encouraging consumers to buy a particular system. Therefore, they decided to carry this momentum onto their next console, thePlayStation 3, which amassed its own collection of fantastic exclusives over the years, some of which have gone on to become synonymous with the PlayStation brand because of how big of an impact they made upon release.
While a few of these titles were continuations of well-established series, other PS3 exclusives felt a lot more creative and unique in how they played which helped them, and the system they were based on, stand out from the competition. With that being said, this list is going to uncover what many critics and fans deem to be the very best exclusives released during the PlayStation 3’s lifespan, and why exactly they are so beloved, even to this day.
It should be noted that this list will only cover games that never left the PlayStation 3, so titles withfuture remasters and remakessuch asThe Last of UsandUnchartedwill not be counted.
Often being touted as the game that popularized the play, create, and share genre, there hadn’t really been anything even remotely similar toLittleBigPlanetwhen it was first released back in 2008, especially in regard to how much freedom it offered the player. Although there is a story mode with a very vague narrative running through it, the most popular part of the game is the level editor, where players can use the plethora of tools that the game gives them to craft their own unique stage for other online players to enjoy.
Although these sorts of modes tend to be pretty complex and confusing in most games,the minimalistic style ofLittleBigPlanetmakes it easy to create all kinds of levels without things needing to get too complicated. Although a few of the game’s faults would be ironed out through its sequel a few years later,LittleBigPlanetstill deserves a lot of credit for how influential it ended up being through its utterly unique gameplay style.
After being caught up in a giant explosion that almost takes his own life,Cole MacGrathcomes to acquire powerful electricity-based powers which he is able to either use for the sake of good, or for his own evil purposes throughout the story ofInfamous. As players make their way through the game, they’ll be presented with a few different choices that will affect Cole’s karma level, and depending on their decisions, they will be granted access to different powers and skills for Cole to utilize during the game’s staggering 39 main missions.
While exploring the wide and wonderful city of Empire City, players will also be able to participate in a number of side activities which will all earn EXP and affect Cole’s karma level, meaning that nothing ever feels like a waste of time. While Cole isn’t able to use vehicles, he is still able to traverse through the map extremely easily thanks to his powers, and since the game doesn’t feature any fall damage, it means players are able to freely explore the map without any restrictions holding them back.
The thirteenth entry in the wildly popularTalesseries of games,Tales of Xilliaretains a lot of the core RPG elements that made previous entries so enjoyable, and pairs this with an incredibly memorable story and a lovable cast of characters. The setting of the game, a planet called Rieze Maxia, feels like a perfect mix between fantasy and modernism, with the story placinga big emphasis on the danger posed by weapons of mass destruction, and the disastrous effects they can have on the world if they end up in the wrong hands.
In terms of the gameplay, when players aren’t exploring the incredibly vibrant and colorful world to seek out items, they will be participating in thrilling battles which can actually be pretty challenging, especially if players don’t make use of the numerous mechanics built into the game. The Linked Artes Gauge is especially important to use since it can prevent a character from getting staggered while also allowing them to use multiple Linked Artes in quick succession, adding a whole new level of strategy to the familiarTalescombat formula.
AlthoughTools Of Destructiondoesn’t alter or modify theclassicRatchet & Clankaction-adventureformula too much, what makes it such an amazing entry in the series is how it builds upon everything that made those previous games so great in the first place. For example, while the game still contains a massive arsenal of extremely fun weapons to use, these can now receive extra upgrades outside of the regular ones by acquiring Raritanium Crystals, and it’s fair to say, that some of these enhancements can be absolutely game-changing thanks to how immensely powerful they can be.
The addition of Devices, which essentially act as personal buffs for Ratchet, also help to freshen up the gameplay, and Clank’s segments have similarly been improved with the introduction of new mechanics like being able to slow down time for a few seconds. Overall,Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destructions’thrilling gameplay and stunning visuals reminded players why this is one of PlayStation’s most valued franchises at a time when it seemed as though the series may have finally been running out of steam.
As an overall package,Infamous 2isn’t actually all that different from the first game, carrying over Cole as the protagonist along with the karma system which is baked into the gameplay, but it also runs much better, looks far more appealing, and the overall tone was made to be a little more upbeat. This perfectly suited the over-the-top action that the series had eventually become known for, and it also allowed a lot of the characters to be a little more carefree and fun in how they act.
Although players will slowly earn new powers as they progress through the game’s story, if they take the time to complete side objectives, they can also earn new skills, of which there have been many new ones added since the first game which are all a blast to play around with. Thenew setting of New Maraisis also based on two islands, which prevents the environments from ever becoming too stale or predictable during a playthrough.
Sony took quite a risk when marketingLittleBigPlanet 2as rather than advertising it as a continuation of the arts and craft-inspired gameplay of the previous title, this game was instead labeled as a “Platformer”, a genre that had already been firmly established for decades by that point. Thankfully though, this didn’t end up changing too much, since the game not only featuredthe level editorthat had been so admired in the previous game, but it also granted players far more options when it came to creating their own stages, especially with the introduction of the Controlinator.
This neat little mechanic allowed players to integrate certain actions to progress through a level, such as needing to press a button or using motion controls for example, which not only made the editor a lot more fun to use but also resulted in some extremely unique levels being made as a result. The addition of Sackbots, which act as player-made AI enemies, also added an extra layer of depth to the editor and considering over 10 million levels have been made since the game’s release, there’s certainly no shortage of content to get stuck into.
AfterMetal Gear Solidbecame a household name with the release of the first three games, fans of this beloved stealth-espionage series were eagerly awaiting the release ofMetal Gear Solid 4which Hideo Kojima claimed to be the end of Solid Snake’s story. Although the game was hyped up beyond belief leading up to its release, it managed to blow away everyone’s expectations, providing astonishingly realistic graphics, a truly compelling story, and stealth gameplay that granted the player plenty of freedom thanks to the sandbox-style areas that Snake finds himself in.
While the core gameplay is rock-solid,especially its gunplaywhich had always been pretty poor in the games that came before it.Metal Gear Solid 4also takes players through a plethora of different environments, ranging from lush South American rain forests to traditional European villages, which really makes the whole game feel like one giant globe-trotting adventure. Pair this with one of the most memorable and emotional endings in video game history, and there’s no wonder whyMetal Gear Solid 4is considered one of the greatest system sellers in video game history.
