Summary
After the success of the PS1, the PS2 was like a victory lap for Sony. It quickly became one of thebest-selling consoles of all timeand was only dethroned when the Switch was in its prime. As such, it’s easy to see why Sony got a big head when they released thePS3,but as everyone from that era remembers, that console had a rocky start.
Things improved eventually, but due to some publisher hesitancy, many games flew under the radar, especially when it came to the PS3’s main competition: the Xbox 360. So, let’s look back to see if theseforgotten PS3 gamesare worth remembering now.
Genre
Action-Adventure
Kingdom Heartswas a big deal that combineda bunch of Disney propertiesinto one big adventure.Disney Universewas a riff on that same idea, removing theFinal Fantasyand RPG concepts to instead focus on platforming.
It featured a handful of planets to visit, including worlds based onPirates of the CaribbeanandAladdin. There weren’t many planets, but there were more Disney movies featured through costumes, at least, as players could customize their characters for this co-op adventure.
MMO
Dragon’s Dogmawas released in 2012 and became a cult hit that fans had to wait over a decade for a sequel to in 2024. Western fans may not know that there was a sequel released in between,Dragon’s Dogma Online, which was released in 2015 for PS4 and PC alongside its PS3 version.
Dragon’s Dogma Onlinehad a good run, featuring the same action gameplay as the original despite being an MMO, until it was shut down in 2019. Another MMO spinoff worth noting isDynasty Warriors Online,and it is worth mentioning further that Japan has had manyMMOs based on recognizable propertiesthat Western players probably don’t know about.
Lost Planetwas released in 2007 in North America, a year after its launch in Japan, and was an early hit in the first HD generation that saw many sequels.E.X. Trooperswas a spinoff that was previewed in the West, but it never got a full release following its 2012 debut on PS3 and 3DS in Japan.
While the gameplay still revolved around killing bugs on a snowy planet, the action was a lot more stylized thanks to the cel-shaded visuals and the manga-like effects. It’sa game Capcom fansstill want to see localized to the Western market, and it’s never too late.
LucasArts was known for making adventure gameslikeThe Secret of Monkey Islandand variousStar Warstitles. They also occasionally made original action games, withFracturebeing one of their last projects before being restructured following the Disney buyout.
In this third-person shooter, players could manipulate the environment by raising or lowering the earth with specialized weapons like grenades. This aided in some puzzle-solving sequences, but mostly it was a cool idea that was used in combat. While the execution wasn’t 100%,Fractureshould be remembered for trying something new in a genre that was already oversaturated when it was released in 2008.
Gotham City Impostorswas a online-only game featuring two factions. Random Gotham citizens decided to start a war, dressing up as eitherBatman or Jokerimpostors for a team-based shooter akin toTeam Fortress 2,which was a sensation in this era.
The goofy nature of the gameplay, costumes, and gadgets all made this game memorable, but despite the good reviews, it never had a huge player count. The last bastion of the digital storefronts remained open for the Steam version until 2021, when it, too, was delisted.
PlayStation 3
Action, Musou
The West tried to makeKamen Rideras popular asPower Rangers,but it never stuck.Kamen Rideris equal toPower Rangers(orSuper Sentai) in Japan, though, with a bevy of games, including an interesting Musou concept calledKamen Rider: Battride War.
Players could choose from a variety of heroes from the series and fight in big battles akin toDynasty Warriors. While it didn’t have the stamp of approval or quality fromKoei Tecmo’s Musou games,Kamen Rider: Battride Warwas a good replica for fans of the series, and saw many sequels over the years.
PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4
Adventure, Open-World
Gal*Gunis a niche game, but some players may have heard of it as it was eventually ported to the West via a remaster on consoles beyond the PS3. It was an on-rails shooter where players would have to quell teenage girls from mauling them with their love.
Natsuiro High School: Seishun Hakushois an even wilder idea, as this 2015 game featured an open city to roam around in, giving players the freedom to take camera shots of underwear. It was likePokemon Snapwith more stealth and anime fan service, which was played for laughs and is not the strangest PS3 concept by far. Still, it’s not a game many players will want to get caught enjoying.
When it comes to PS1 tactical RPGs,Final Fantasy Tacticswill probably jump to the head of the line, but Konami fans rememberVandal Heartsfondly. There were two games from this series released on the PS1, and as far as fans were concerned, that was it.
However, there was a final game released over a decade later calledVandal Hearts: Flames of Judgement.It was a download-only game from 2010, featuring the same grid-based tactics as its predecessors. This won’t help PlayStation fans access it, but the game can still be enjoyed on consoles thanks to backwards compatibility on Xbox systems. While not as good as the PS1 titles, it will salve that tactical urge adequately.
