Since its release in 2006, the PlayStation 3 has been home to some truly great gaming experiences. Thanks to the Uncharted series, Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone 2 and 3, and Heavy Rain, PS3 fans have no shortage of great games to choose from. Due to the sheer amount of great PS3 exclusives and great third party games being released, it is inevitable that some games are overlooked. And it is a shame, for one reason or another, that these games were overlooked. Whether it was the lack of marketing, bad timing, or another reason, these games should be played.
Not every game on this list may interest you—which is fine—but if you have some spare change laying around, or are just looking for a unique game to try out, these are the ones that should not have been overlooked. Now, lets start this list.
#8. Twisted Metal
One franchise that was noticeably missing from the PS3 lineup was an entry from the Twisted Metal series. The PSP had two entries from the series, but it wasn’t until February 14, 2012 that Twisted Metal made its way to the PS3.
With large, open maps, housing bloody vehicle based combat and a fun—albeit slightly laggy—online mode, Twisted Metal was a whole lot of fun to play. The singleplayer is a short and twisted affair, with live action cut scenes telling the story. Twisted Metal really shines when you get some friends together to play some offline multiplayer.
Unfortunately, Twisted Metal only sold 510,000 copies—a disappointing number for a series that used to sell in the millions. With Twisted Metal creator, David Jaffe, leaving Eat Sleep Play, this may be the last entry in the long running series. You can find used copies for as low as $30.00, and new is still $60.
MotorStorm: Apocalypse introduced a narrative to go along with the series’ high octane races. You will see the story from three different perspectives, and each perspective ups the difficulty of the races. There are several new vehicles introduced into the series, including superbikes and muscle cars. Instead of racing through lush jungles, canyons, or mountains, MotorStorm: Apocalypse has you racing through urban environments.
Dynamic courses and explosive races make MotorStorm: Apocalypse an intense and explosive racing game. Sadly, it only sold 300,000 copies. If you are up for a fun racing game with an entertaining story, MotorStorm: Apocalypse can be bought for $16.00 – $39.00.
3D Dot Game Heroes is a shout-out to all the old-school gamers out there. The team at Silicon Studio were not afraid to hide the fact that they were influenced by the Legend of Zelda series. From the 8-bit style 3D graphics, 8-bit music, and even squeezing in a few references to the Zelda series, 3D Dot Game Heroes is a great game.
Much like most 8-bit games, 3D Dot is tough, but with a little effort you will overcome it. Also, the writing is humorous, and there are intentional mistranslations. One can’t help but feel that this is a parody of the old adventure-rpg genre, and 3D Dot benefits from this.
However, the game sold a modest 440,000 copies. If you are in the mood to kick it old-school, then I am happy to tell you that copies are floating around for between $12.00 – $18.00. This is worth picking up.
#5. No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise
No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise is a HD sproofing up of the original Wii version, along with some of the boss fights from No More Heroes 2 thrown in for good measure. This was released to the west exclusively for the PS3 in August 16, 2011.
No More Heroes is about the ultimate otaku, Travis Touchdown, and his quest towards becoming the number 1 ranked assassin. During his ascent, he will battle various other assassins, and they are quite the crazy bunch. Taking ques from American grindhouse flicks and plenty of anime, No More Heroes is a game with style.
It’s not for everyone, however. The gameplay is a little stilted, and the camera doesn’t like to cooperate, but these are minor complaints. Sadly, like most Suda 51 games, No More Heroes didn’t make a scratch on the charts, selling only 130,000 copies. The story is crazy funny, the characters are unique, and it’s a lot of fun to play. If you find yourself craving some over-the-top action and a lot of laughs, be prepared to spend between $20.00 – $30.00. You won’t regret picking this game up.
4. Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten
Of all the games on this list, Disgaea 4 is perhaps the nichiest (and that is now a word) of the bunch. Quirky Japanese humor? Check. Strategy gameplay? Check. So much math involved you should have a degree after you finish the game? Check. Disgaea 4 is not a game for the casuals.
There is a lot going on with the gameplay mechanics. You move on a grid, the grid has colored tiles that will either buff or debuff whoever is standing on it, there are blocks to add or remove the colored grids, and that is just the basics. There is a lot of game to this title, as well. Not only do you have the hilarious story to play through, but each item has an Item World to travel through which can boost the items stats. Don’t forget to try to reach the level cap of 9,999. Don’t be surprised if you clock in around the triple digits in this game.
Disgaea 4 sold around 390,000 copies, which isn’t bad for such a niche title. If you are in the mood for a laughing good time, Disgaea 4 will set you back between $25.00-$50.00.
#3. Folklore
Released on October 9, 2007 by the defunct Game Republic, Folklore is a unique action-jrpg. The game tells the story of a young woman named Ellen, and a paranormal journalist Keats. Folklore tells a fascinating mystery story, and plays as if Pokemon crossed with Monster Hunter. In a nutshell, Folklore tells a JRPG worthy story, but plays like an action game. The art direction for the game made the fairytale worlds stand out, and the game still looks great by today standards.
Since its release, Folklore has sold only a measly 240,000 copies. You can buy copies anywhere between $8.00 – $20.00. If you are looking for a JRPG that is very unique, you should definitely check it out.
#2. Yakuza 4
The whole Yakuza series really should be in every PlayStation fans library. The easiest way to describe this game is by saying it’s the Japanese Grand Theft Auto, but that would really be doing the series a disservice. It’s more like Shenmue, but seeing as how not too many people played it, that description won’t help much.
Yakuza 4 is an open-world, brawler, story-based game. It truly is like nothing out there, unless you played Shenmue. The story follows four men who are connected to each other by a woman. I really don’t want to get into the story beyond that, because it is that good. You will be on the edge of your seat with all the twists, turns, and crazy revelations. This is the perfect example of a mature story in a game, but there are plenty of laughs to be had.
The brawling gameplay is brutal and fun. Each of the four characters have their own unique fighting style. The game will last for a good while, pushing anywhere between 25-40 hours. And that is if you don’t get sidetracked.
Yakuza has always been a smash hit in Japan, but in the U.S. the sales are disappointing.Yakuza 4 only sold 110,000 copies in the U.S. You can buy copies for between $10.00 – $24.00, but that is if you can find one. If you are a gamer that loves a great, crime filled, mature story, then Yakuza 4 is a must buy.
#1. Valkyria Chronicles
Taking place in an alternate version of WWII, Valkyria Chronicles is a unique beast of a game. The gameplay is a blend of strategy and third-person shooting. The cell-shaded graphics look fantastic. In fact, Valkyria Chronicles is one of the best looking games to ever be released on any console. Finally, the story is great. At first glance, you may dismiss this for having a generic, anime inspired story, but you would be wrong. Yes, there are some anime tropes, but this a game that actually takes a mature route when telling a war story. Heck, when one of your soldiers dies on the battlefield, they will be buried in a cemetery reminding you of your mistakes. Themes of genocide, racism, and what war does to the young, Valkyria Chronicles‘ story has more than a few moving scenes.
Since its launch in 2008, Valkyria Chonicles went on to sell 1.06 million copies and spawn two PSP sequel. Even though it outsold every game on this list, Valkyria Chronicles should have sold more copies, it is that great of a game. Copies can be bought for $12.00 – $25.00, and trust me, this is a must have game.
So, there you have it, 8 overlooked games on the PS3. If there is a game you think should have been on the list that did not get a mention, feel free to shout it out in the comments section. Tune in next week for 8 overlooked Xbox 360 games.
Did we forget to include a game on this list? What was your favorite PS3 game? Tell us what you think in the comment section below.
Check out a few more games that maybe got ignored on our Overlooked Games Series!
