11. Hyperdimension Neptunia V – Blaze
Now loading … Another dimension?
As a huge fan of the Neptunia series, I knew I had to add one of my favourite titles to this list. Taking place a few years after MK2, where peace has returned, and the CPUs are all living happy lives, our favourite main character, Neptune, gets swept away to strange yet familiar Gamindustri. You’ll team up with the CPUs of the other dimension and some new ones, in your quest to save this world from the seven sages and return home!
As you battle your way through new locations in turn-based combat and level up, you can add more combos to your setup and add EX finishers to the end of your turn for more damage!
The new EXE drive allows you to pull off some ultra-powerful attacks, so rack up a combo to fill that gauge. Neptunia V introduces disk burning, a new way to gain buffs and effects depending on the ‘idea chips’ you use to make them. Be careful, though, use the wrong combo and you’ll be stuck with a “Sucky Games Disk” and no one wants that! Another new feature is the scout system that you can sent get items, credits and even alter dimensions.
Nep to Victory!
One of my favourite things about the Neptunia games is the cast of unique characters and building the best team with them. Some of the new Makers in this game are MarvelousAQL, MAGES and Broccoli, who are sure to be very helpful in battle (especially MAGES).
Playing Hyperdimension Neptunia and MK2 before Victory is recommended for some background and the introduction to characters, especially the Sisters. But, Victory is still a good entry point to get a feel for the games, and if you are interested in playing the Neptunia series, please check out Riley’s article on where to get started!
12. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons – Riley
“There is a destiny which makes us brothers; none goes his way alone”
From the minds that formed the now legendary studio, Hazelight, came Brothers, a unique indie darling with an astounding sense of scale. I won’t beat around the bush on this one. The main draw is the fact that you control both brothers with one controller, each side controlling each brother. This makes the puzzle solving, exploration and even basic traversal unique and more thoughtful than a standard game, as you need to consider both characters’ movements. This gimmick alone would be reason enough to check out this game, but the story and world design carry it into being a game of legendary proportions.
There’s no speaking in this game, not an understandable dialect anyway, so all storytelling is implied and told through character expression and world-building. There’s a ton of optional sections to complete that add more to the world and the character relationships that you’ll be seeking out every one you can find. Every new area you enter adds to this world. There are giants, whales, massive structures, cults and tragedies all around you as you explore this world
Spoilers ahead, read at your own peril. My favourite element is heavily spoiler-driven, so you’ve been warned. There’s a section late in the game where one of the brothers is not there, and for this section you need to control one brother, and damn do you feel it. Not only is the scene conveyed by the character’s emotion and music, but the fact that half of your controller is now useless is truly haunting. It’s only a few hours long, but I implore you to play this, might be one of the best games I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing on the PS3.
13. Motorstorm – James
Definitely not the weather forecast you want to hear on a Monday morning.
Released near the PS3 launch, Motorstorm is a beautiful racing game with intricate track design at its core. From an early PS3 perspective, visually, this game has it all. You’ve got mud, lovely skyboxes, mud, highly detailed vehicles, mud, and dirt. What really shines gameplay-wise is what you can do with each individual vehicle.
Motorstorm has seven vehicle types, ranging in size from motorbikes to large trucks. The tracks are designed in such a way that there are cubby holes and tight gaps where bikes and ATVs can squeeze through, jumps that agile mid-sized vehicles are best for, and other sections that the heaviest vehicles are best for. This leads to the tracks having a unique feeling when you’re trying it with a new vehicle. With all manner of sizes racing at once, therein lies the vehicular combat side of things.
The poor bike is easily side-swiped by anything larger and can be sent careening into the abyss. Large vehicles can be boxed out of a turn due to their poor handling, necessitating a reset. It’s worth noting that there’s a boost mechanic in this game. If you boost too much, then your car will explode with excitement. Motorstorm received a few more games on the PS3, and a PS2/PSP game also. It is sadly a franchise that is trapped in that era and hasn’t had a game since. Worth giving a go.
14. STAR WARS: The Force Unleashed – Sean
“Hunt Down the Jedi. Destroy the Rebellion. Redeem Your Soul.”
I still distinctly recall seeing the very first teaser trailer for The Force Unleashed. A lone figure clad in a robe using the Force to rip an Imperial Star Destroyer out of orbit was certainly a provocative sight, a feat never seen in any of the films (the EU was another story, though) and my interest was piqued. I can recall waiting for what seemed like an eternity at the time, foaming at the mouth at the prospect of finally being able to jam that disc into my Wii and swing that remote around like the graceful, well-trained sword master that I was obviously always meant to be.
Unleashing Chaos
Upon the game’s release, I was not gifted the much-anticipated Wii version that I had so vehemently desired, but instead found myself begrudgingly booting up the PS3 version. Despite my initial misgivings, The Force Unleashed is a great game. It’s a power fantasy, giving you a bunch of Force powers to spam to your heart’s content against the legions of hapless goons set after you. The physics engine was very impressive, allowing you to pick up both enemies and objects and fling them around. You could pick a guy up, zap him with lightning and then launch him at his teammates as an impromptu grenade, or you could simply drop people into bottomless pits.
There was a degree of unfettered chaos here that hasn’t really been topped in a Star Wars game since, even though the Cal Kestis games are arguably overall better experiences. The combat can be a bit clunky, certain enemies are downright infuriating to face, and the story isn’t terribly interesting, but just for the sheer childlike joy that comes from throwing a Stormtrooper into a hole and listening to them scream as they plummet, The Force Unleashed is worth a visit.
15. Mass Effect 2 – Sean
“Fight for the Lost“
Mass Effect 2 took the nerdy sci-fi adventure of Commander Shepard and pals and made it sexy. Gone was the janky planetary exploration in the Mako (which I personally enjoyed but seemed to be in a minority), gone was the daunting inventory system that had you mashing through different armour sets trying to figure out what you were supposed to do, only to realise with horror that your best armour was bright pink. (Not that there’s anything wrong with that.) Gone was the expansive Citadel that you could easily get lost in. (Which made me quit the game originally)
Mass Effect 2 took the core of what worked in the first game and streamlined it into a more compact, responsive experience that both looked and played a lot better. Commander Shepard’s main task this time around is to assemble the baddest space squad in the galaxy in order to kick alien arse, and it’s in these interactions between Commander Shepard and the other characters that Mass Effect 2 truly shines. Regardless of whether or not you choose to take Shepard down the path of Saint Cosmos, Jerk McAsshole or somewhere in between, the bonds you form with your ragtag group of aliens, humans and robots alike stick with you. For the record, Garrus is my dude.
16. Toy Story 3 – Melltith
PS+ Broke My Heart And Scattered The Pieces.
When I saw that this game was on PS+, I literally screamed. Screamed with joy and excitement, so I turned it on, and… it’s only the PSP version, and not the PS3 one. Absolutely. Gutted.
Luckily for me, I’ve got a bit of a brain, and I’ve “given” my child “their own” PS3, so it’s set up constantly… Totally not, so I can sneak into their room and play this game when I get the urge, which, I admit, has been a while, now.
Anyway, what makes this game so addictive to me? The sandbox mode. In this game, alongside the story, which is essentially just a platformer with puzzles integrated into it, you can build your own toy town, starting in the wild west, eventually leading to a fairytale land, a space world, and a haunted forest area. However, building your own toy town isn’t where this ends. In these areas, navigating the lands as Buzz, Woody, Jessie, and, in this version, Zurg, you take on many mini missions. This includes saving characters from dangerous situations, collecting cows, and photo missions.
There’s also a story mode in this sandbox game?
One thing I’d like to point out specifically is the bandits who run around the town. You pick these gangly guys up and throw them into prison; it’s really fun. You can also ride on Bullseye to make traversing the land much easier and quicker, but the star of this show is the sheer amount of collectables and customisability of your towns’ villagers.
I adore this game, and it’s purely for the side game, much in the vein of Sonic Adventure 2, if you’ve ever heard me harping on about the Chao Garden. This doesn’t mean the main game isn’t fun, though. This game, to me, is essentially Sonic Adventure 2: The Toy Story Edition. Anyway, PS+, please add this edition of the game to your roster, thank youuuu.~
17. LittleBigPlanet – Riley
“An abstract plane of beautiful wonderment, just waiting to be explored.”
LittleBigPlanet is a cult classic, and for good reason; its level creator engine is unparalleled. During its heyday, there were hundreds of high-quality user-generated levels being uploaded every day. Some were modest, and others were pure insanity. Unfortunately, the servers for all LittleBigPlanet games are long gone, and all of this content is lost. But, despite the main draw being gone, the single-player campaign is still a high-quality 2.5D platformer. The level themes are incredibly creative and boast a wide variety of indie music that fits the themes perfectly (and some can be real earworms).
What’s great about the single-player story is that it showcases the level of creativity you can have in the level editor; everything you see is possible. The only limit is your imagination, and this goes for the sequels, too. While you can’t upload them anymore, you could still create for the sake of creation, or for friends or family, as well as fully customise your little sackperson. Maybe one day Media Molecule will return to the LittleBigPlanet franchise; here’s hoping.
18. Drakengard 3 – Kane
Not for the emotionally unprepared!
The third entry in the Drakengard series came after the release of its interconnected spin-off, Nier, and saw the return of the series’s primary director, Yoko Taro. Built with the previous title’s criticisms in mind, production concentrated on creating engaging action combat while maintaining the dark and emotional story beats that the series had become known for.
The story takes place 100 years before the first game, following a character named Zero on her ongoing quest to put down her “sisters” and put an end to the unnatural powers that have taken over her existence. With a young dragon by her side (at this point a staple of the series), stages feature both ground combat and aerial fights as you fight your way through the powers that be. Between stages, you’ll be treated to character moments between the two, ranging from cute to gut-wrenching. This is definitely not one for the emotionally unprepared, but then, none of the series really is.
19. Life is Strange – Riley
“Butterflies will keep flapping their wings and causing hurricanes”
The original Life is Strange has such a great concept and mechanic that the rest of the series has been desperately trying to recreate the magic since. This game is so much more than a teen drama mystery, but it is very grounded in that reality. You explore a boarding school and a small, unassuming coastal town in Oregon, equipped with a camera and a supernatural ability to control time. Yep, this one is a time travel story, but very limited in scope.
Max can control the immediate time around her, so you can make a decision, see the reaction and then rewind to try something new. You can manipulate this to get photographs, make better or worse decisions, sneak around or even save a life if you’re able to. The central mystery is incredibly intriguing, and with the time travel powers at your disposal, it takes a Twin Peaks-style story and elevates it (editor’s note: Riley has not seen Twin Peaks smh kmt). Plus its accompanied by a sombre lo-fi indie soundtrack that fits this sleepy town perfectly.
20. Final Fantasy XIII – Blaze
Not just a corridor, there’s a field too!
Being one of the first Final Fantasy games I played, and what got me into the series, XIII has to have a place on this list. You play as Lightning, a former soldier on her mission to fight back against the government of Cocoon to save her sister Serah as she has been branded a l’Cie. The battling system is one of the big driving points of this game by far. You have a cast of six playable characters that can be put into a party of three to fight in a variant of the well-known ATB system.
This time, you’ll only control the lead character you pick in battle; the other two will execute commands based on their roles. And these roles come from utilising the ‘paradigm system’ in battle, similar to classes, each role will allow you to use a set of moves to fight. Each set of paradigms will be different, so you can switch on the fly, changing to a ravager to stagger, then a commando to do huge damage. Along with status-changing roles and healers, you will be combining a fast-paced feel to a near turn-based style game. As the story progresses, you will encounter Eidolons to battle and summon, depending on the controlled character.
Love this one? Well, there are two more!
Most of the game is very linear as you travel down corridors, but near the end of the game, you’ll reach the only open area. This is where you can get Chocobos to explore and find items. You can also complete side tasks for rewards and fight powerful monsters like the Adamantiose. It’s also a good area to grind. If you enjoy your time, XIII also has two sequels, XIII-2 (a direct sequel) and Lightning Returns (this concludes Lightning’s story). How far will you go to save your sister and rid the world of a god?
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