As we reach the end of 2013, we enter not only a new year,
but a new generation of gaming, with the XBOX One and the PS4 marching onto the
field. In light of these new arrivals, we here at Vuepoint have created a list
of our favourite games to grace the PS3 console.
10. Batman: Arkham
Asylum
Back in 2009, Rocksteady Studios changed the way we see
action-brawlers by introducing the free-flow combat system in Batman: Arkham
Asylum. The freedom of movement and dynamic flow of the combat made Arkham
Asylum stand out among the crowd, spawning two sequels to date. The
revolutionary gameplay went hand in hand with a great plot, gorgeous visuals
and a host of collectibles, challenges and unlockables to make this game one of
the best Batman experiences around. Even to this day, I stand by my decision
that Asylum is far superior to City, and probably Origins too, and for that
reason, rests comfortably in its well earned spot in our top ten.
9. Tomb Raider
After a long period of silence following the climax to the
Tomb Raider trilogy that started on the PS2 with Anniversary and Legend, Lara
Croft returned to our screens in Square Enix’s reimagining of the iconic
heroine. Tomb Raider boasted an entirely new origin story that was both
gripping and brutal. Being the first Tomb Raider game aimed squarely at adults,
we knew that there would have to be something different this time around, but
we had no idea how big the changes to the much loved franchise would be. This
was a risky move, but the new and improved gunplay felt smoother and more
comfortable, and Lara herself was a far more human character. Her movements and
voice conveyed much more fear, showing her more as a survivor than an
accomplished explorer. All of these changes could have gone horribly wrong, but
personally, we loved it, and are looking forward to whatever else is in store.
8. Kingdoms of
Amalur: Reckoning
In at number 8 is a game that balances two aspects of a game
perfectly. Choosing between the story, customization and intensity of an RPG,
or the responsive and satisfying gameplay of an action game is no longer a
problem, as Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning blends the two with mind bending
results. This is a game that combines the levelling and looting of a great RPG,
with the gameplay of an action game, all whilst telling a story that leads you
through a colourful and vibrant world that’s completely alive with an
assortment of interesting and entertaining characters. The only thing more I’d
ask for in a game like this is a multiplayer mode, so we’re looking to a sequel
to fill that hole!
7. Uncharted 3:
Drake’s Deception
When the third title in Naughty Dog’s hugely successful
franchise was announced, I went bezerk. Pre-order, bought on the day of
release, no questions asked. Playing through an engrossing story and welcoming
back everything I loved about the franchise, and when you’ve finished? Onto the
multiplayer! Great gameplay, loveable characters, and of course, the huge production
values worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster allow for some truly mesmerising set
pieces. Naughty Dog strike gold again with this glorious instalment of one of
their best franchises.
6. Bioshock Infinite
As a massive fan of the first two games, I was a little
disappointed when I found out that we’d be leaving the underwater city of
Rapture for the third instalment. A risky move by developers Irrational Games,
but one that paid off beautifully. Whilst I do miss the eerie atmosphere of
Rapture, Columbia is equally as enjoyable to explore. A giant flying city that
sometimes manages to match the chills of its predecessors, whilst also being
bright and colourful is truly something to behold. Infinite also has the best
story so far in the franchise, with several mysteries to ponder as you play
through the game, all being wrapped up in the climax, with a number of twists
that will undoubtedly leave your jaw on the floor. Unfortunately, amongst these
changes, some level of variation among the enemies has also been lost. Whilst
they couldn’t quite be considered as “cookie-cutter” enemies, they don’t have
the sense of individuality that the splicers did, and it is for this reason
that Infinite just misses out on the Top 5.
5. Dark Souls
The follow-up to the frustratingly difficult, unforgiving
RPG Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls is much of the same, but better. Very much a
love-it-or-hate-it deal, Dark Souls offers a unique blend of RPG elements such
as character building, and a trial-and-error gameplay style. Incorporate the
brutal part where you lose everything when you die, and you get an experience
that is incredibly tense at every turn, forcing you to think ahead. Can you
tackle this area? Are you willing to risk what souls you have to try? The
multiplayer also adds to the tension, as players can invade your world at any
time to kill you and steal your souls. However they can be a help as well as a
hindrance, for you can summon other players if they leave “Summon Signs”, a
glowing white sign on the ground that you can touch to call another player to
your world. I can’t tell you how happy it made me to see one of these signs on
the ground, especially when you’re in one of the many dark and eerie dungeons.
Filled with imaginative and often terrifying monsters that have been
beautifully crafted and set in a gorgeous open world environment with some of the
most diverse landscapes I’ve seen, Dark Souls kicks off the top five in style.
4. Mass Effect 2
As a PS3 owner I didn’t get to experience the first Mass
Effect game, and so I went into its sequel blind. Confused, overwhelmed and
with generally no idea what was going on, I wasn’t overstruck on this title to
begin with. However as its place in my top five should tell you, before too
long this all began to change. From the word go, even though I wasn’t taken in
by the story which, I assume, picks up where the first one left off, the
shooter gameplay is certainly fun and satisfying. The visuals were also pretty
great. Mass Effect 2 really reached its full potential when the emotionally
charged story really hit home. Sure I wasn’t sure what went on in the first
game, but I didn’t have to in order to understand the general idea of this one.
Moreover, the three dimensional characters really helped to draw me into the
experience, as I have never felt so strongly for my in-game companions as I did
here. Towards the end if you make, or have made some bad decisions over the
course of the game, several of your friends could suffer the consequences, and
for the first time in a game, I felt genuinely emotional about the fate of my
team. All of these reasons make Mass Effect 2 my favourite of the series, and
plants it safely in the top five.
3. Borderlands 2
Gearbox Software’s Borderlands was a dream come true for me.
Responsive, shooter gameplay, RPG style character building, and more loot than
you can shake a skag at. After a while though, the bland quest and lack of a
real story got a little repetitive, and what was once fun became tedious. Enter
Borderlands 2. New weapons, enemies, levels and loot, and this time we have an
actual, and genuinely interesting story! Gearbox’s sequel topped its
predecessor in pretty much every way imaginable, retaining everything that we
know and love about it, whilst ironing out several of the issues that plagued
the first. After finishing the story in the first game, I stopped playing because
I honestly couldn’t be bothered carrying on to finish all the side quests. In
Borderlands 2 I find myself searching every nook and cranny, actively seeking
them out. Not only that, but I then went on to buy DLCs, increasing the level
cap, unlocking new areas, missions and loot, and even two new playable classes!
With seamless cooperative multiplayer that still incorporates competitive
elements in the form of “duels”, and the great looking cell-shaded graphic
style that has become the franchise’s trademark, Borderlands 2 is a great
improvement over what was already a fun game, and one that I highly recommend
to any shooter, or RPG fan.
2. Uncharted 2: Among
Thieves
As much as I loved the first and third Uncharted - for me –
none of them can stand next to the second. As both an incredible instalment to
the series, and a brilliant stand alone action adventure, Uncharted 2 gave us
one of the best improvements between two games I’ve ever seen. Graphically the
jump is unbelievable, but even this is dwarfed by the increase in scale and
size. Rather than being restricted to one island as you are in the first, you
embark on a globe-trotting adventure, featuring characters we know – Nate,
Sully and Elena – and characters that have since earned the top spot in my “favourite
companions” list, namely Chloe Sullivan, expertly voiced by Claudia Black. The
huge set pieces, gorgeous environments, intense story and addictive gameplay,
which mixes platforming, shooting and puzzle-solving, Uncharted 2: Among
Thieves has the whole package. But why is it my favourite? Simply because it
has the best of both worlds. The first game has unlockable skins, cheats and
other little goodies to reward you for completing challenges, but has no
multiplayer. Uncharted 3 has great multiplayer, but none of the little
unlockables. Uncharted 2 sports both great multiplayer and great things to
unlock, increasing the replay value. Unfortunately, there is one other game
that stood in the way of number one. And that game is...
1. The Last of Us
How could it be anything else? Considered by many as the
Citizen Kane of gaming, The Last of Us smashed the boundaries of interactive
story-telling, and pushed the PS3 to its absolute limits. On the surface this
could be seen as just another survival horror game. However playing this for
five minutes will show you how wrong that assumption is. When you’re feeling
emotional about the death of a character in the prologue, you know you’re onto
something special. This title features gameplay that mixes survival, shooting
and horror, and visuals that could hold up against the might of the next gen
consoles. Furthermore, the unique multiplayer throws out the standard
deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture the flag etc etc, and replaces it with
modes based around the survival aspect of the game, where teams fight for
supplies rather than kills. You can then use these supplies to build your
character and team. This unique multiplayer goes hand in hand with the
compelling storyline and brutal gameplay to make an experience like no other.
If you don’t have it yet, I recommend that you get it. Soon. The Last of Us is
not only one of the best games of the year, but our favourite game to hit the
PS3, and has claimed it’s well deserved place at the top.
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