Summary
Sony made their first move into the gaming industry just over three decades ago when they released the original PlayStation in 1994. Of course, we all know the rest of the story from there. Since then, they have risen to be one of the biggest names in the industry, not just with their lineup of consoles, but also with their various games.
With names likeUncharted,God of WarandThe Last of Usbeing just a few of their biggest works that come to mind in terms of their more recent releases. But Sony’slist of games and game franchisesis much longer than just that. And excluding some of their eventual remakes, remasters or re-releases, many of their most interesting and unique franchises have seemingly been forgotten with time.
Spin-offs, remakes or remasters will not be counted, only mainline titles.
2004
2009
2011
2013
PS4
TheKillzoneseries got its start back in 2004 with its first entry on the PlayStation 2 simply titledKillzone, slated to be the new “Halo killer” FPS title from Sony and Guerrilla Games at the time. Initial reception was mixed, but the series started to get its footing with its next two releases on the PS3 a few years in the future.
Taking place in the middle of an all-out galactic war between the ISA and the Helghan Empire in the 24th century,Killzonehad a defining desolate atmosphere that gave off a dark apocalypse theme. Featuring some considerably brutal violence as well, with the gameplay feeling visceral and even quite gruesome at times.Killzone 2and3were seen as the peak of the franchise, with both titles being especially praised for their unique design, fantastic graphics, and fun multiplayer modes.
But the release ofKillzone Shadow Fallin 2013 on the PS4 didn’t see the same outcome, doing away with the bleak theme and instead opting for a much brighter style. While it was praised for being visually stunning, opinions on its story and gameplay were mostly mixed. Since then, with Guerrilla Games being moved over to theHorizonseries,Killzonehas been radio-silent. Not even so much as a rumor regarding its continuation. While it didn’t reach the popularity of other competing FPS titles, it was nonetheless an unfortunate outcome for what was once a unique series.
1998
MediEvil 2
2000
PlayStation
MediEvilis a perfect example of what would happen if the aesthetics of Tim Burton were envisioned for a Halloween-themed game for the PlayStation, and it’s fantastic. Developed by Sony and released back in 1998 for the original PlayStation, the first entry, simply titledMediEvil,is perhaps one of the most thematically unique titles on the console. Taking place in the fictional Kingdom of Gallowmere, players take control of the undead knight, Sir Daniel Fortesque, after he is resurrected by the evil sorcerer Zarok.
The first game sees Fortesque working through the Kingdom’s various spooky levels in an effort to defeat Zarok and redeem himself as a knight. It would later see a sequel in 2000, also on the PlayStation, that continued the story, taking place some 500 years after the first game. The series was regarded most of all for its style. The spooky, almost cartoonish Halloween theme may sound a bit cliché, but it gave the game a unique charm that is still remembered by fans to this day. Although itsmost recent remakefor the PS4 in 2020 was a welcome addition, there sadly doesn’t seem to be any plans for Fortesque’s quest continuing anytime soon.
2008
LittleBigPlanet 2
LittleBigPlanet 3
2014
PS3 / PS4
TheLittleBigPlanetname made its first debut on the PlayStation 3 back in 2008, and the new game from Sony and Media Molecule was quickly gaining lots of attention in the industry for its unique ideas. The gameplay was simple; players controlled their own custom “Sack Person” character as they worked their way through various levels, each with their own distinctive and at times peculiar theme and design.
Most importantly,LittleBigPlanetgames didn’t so much follow a plot, instead focusing on one core concept above all: creativity. The series tagline ofPlay. Create. Sharewas incredibly simple, but it described its concepts perfectly. The idea behind the design ofLBPgames was to provide the community with the basics to play and the tools to create and share. This concept is exactly what made the games so unique: players could simply start up their own empty world, build up their own entire levels with puzzles, secrets, and the like, and share them with the rest of the community. The tools provided were straightforward, its gameplay was fun, and the possibilities were endless, giving the series its one-of-a-kind status.
But aside from a handful of spin-off titles with mixed reception, it’s been over a decade since the franchise’s last mainline release withLittleBigPlanet 3. And with Sonydelisting the game and its DLC, their beloved ex-mascot doesn’t seem like they’ll be making a return anytime soon.
Infamousis yet another from the sixth generation of consoles. Developed by Sucker Punch, the same studio behind theSlygames andGhost of Tsushima, the games tie in a superhero aspect with action-adventure gameplay, along with its own distinctive twist.
The original plot surrounds Cole MacGrath, a bike courier who is caught in the middle of a large explosion in the fictional Empire City, leaving him with electrical superpowers.Where the series becomes uniqueis in the choices players are given throughout, being able to use their powers for good to help the city, or use them to wreak havoc upon its inhabitants. These decisions were made even more difficult by the game’s karma system, with each choice having its own pros and cons. For example, good karma brings more general support from the people, but with less effective powers, whereas bad karma grants stronger powers, but virtually no support from the city’s population. It was a distinctive feature of the series that would lead to it becoming well-known and would also continue in its later releases.
The first two entries in the series were well-received, gathering positive reviews from the player base. But with its last installment,Infamous First Lighton the PS4, generating some mixed reception in 2014, the series has seemed to have unfortunately gone silent ever since.
Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy
2001
2003
PS2
Jak and Daxterare some of the most recognizable characters from the PlayStation 2 era ever since their debut withJak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacyin 2001. The action-adventure series from Naughty Dog is set on a fictional planet and puts the player in control of the two titular characters as they work to uncover the many mysteries of an ancient race known as the Precursors.
The franchise’s games are held in high regard as some of the best action-adventure platformers of their time, being widely loved for their charm, humor, and, of course, fun and fluid gameplay. The series would see three mainline installments, all for the PS2, all featuring platforming and action-adventure gameplay from a third-person perspective. Also, seeing two spin-off titles withJak X: Combat Racingon the PS2 andDaxteron the PSP.
The series' most recent original installment ofJak and Daxter: The Lost Frontierwas met with mixed reception, oddly enough, being released for the PlayStation 2 a few years into the next generation. Although its later HD re-releases for both the PS3 and PS4 are a welcome addition, there hasn’t been a new release in the series for almost 15 years now, and fans are certainlymissing Naughty Dog’s light-hearted series.
2006
2012
PS Vita
TheMotorstormseries from Sony and Evolution Studios made its first appearance in 2006, at the time bringing in the new age ofoff-road racingto the new PlayStation 3. Most all-terrain racing games of the time, likeMX vs. ATV,mostly focused on smaller vehicles such as dirt bikes and the like.Motorstormwent a different route by adding even more vehicle classes, with each having its own strengths and weaknesses to mix the gameplay up.
The games featured action-packed off-road-style racing from a third-person view. InMotorstorm, players will climb the ranks at the titular racing Festival located in Monument Valley, racing with their choice of vehicle, from dirt bikes and ATVs to stock cars and massive off-road trucks, but the wide selection of different vehicle classes wasn’t the only thing that made the games stand out. The key feature of having a boost meter for each vehicle was that it gave racers a massive increase in speed when activated. The catch is that if the boost was activated for too long, it would cause their vehicle to overheat and burst into a massive explosion, an incredibly simple, yet addictive feature that made the games that much more action-packed.
Motorstormwould see a total of five game releases, mostly on the PS3, with its final entry beingMotorstorm: RCin 2012 for the PlayStation Vita. Evolution Studios would unfortunately, close in 2016, ultimately leaving Sony the rights to the series, who, sadly, haven’t continued the high-octane, off-road racer since.
Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus
2002
2005
PS3, PS Vita
TheSly Cooperseries had originally flown under the radar a bit, as its initial PS2 entry,Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonusin 2002, didn’t generate too much attention upon its release. However, much like the aforementionedJak and Daxter, the eponymous raccoon character soon became one of the most unique and widely recognized characters on Sony’s sixth-generation console.
In the series of action-adventure titles, players don the iconic blue outfit of the title anthropomorphic raccoon and master thief himself, as well as his two sidekicks, Bentley and Murray. Throughout the games, the trio known as the “Cooper Gang” takes part in various clever heists located around the world, all the while taking down various other crime syndicates along the way. The classic string of PS2 titles all had a unique focus on stealth gameplay, encouraging a more methodical approach to situations, but also keeping a good pace with quick movement. That’s just on top of the distinctive art style for its universe and characters, which were downright charming and humorous to say the least.
WhileSly Cooperset itself apart with its stealth-focused mechanics, it hasn’t seen a new title in over ten years now, sinceSly Cooper: Thieves in Timewas released back in 2013. Oddly enough, the series was slated to have an animated series as well as a movie adaptation, both of which were teased years ago by Sony. Whileanother entry for the serieswould be fantastic to see, alas, fans haven’t heard so much as a peep from the trio of thieves since their last mainline appearance on the PS3 and PS Vita.
