The Most Perfect PlayStation Games
It was a miracle that the PlayStation was ever made, but it did, and now the rest is history. From the PS1 to the PS5, Sony has been internally developing some of the best games of all time, along with publishing some stellar titles for their systems. What would the world be like if it were still Nintendo and Sega dominating the console market?
A Journey Through Gaming History With The 10 Oldest Official PlayStation Games
Sony has published a lot of games over the decades, but these are the very first games they ever developed internally.
Hard to say, but what is certain is that PlayStation, as a brand, has helped shape the gaming community. Let’s go through some of their best titles that were near perfect upon release and remain incredible today with little caveats. If they were published or developed by Sony studios, they’re fair game.
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Crystal Grabbing Bandicoots
The first Crash Bandicoot game had humble beginnings, but it was Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back that got things on track. There was more of a story that was comically delivered, the level variety was better, the music got a bump in quality, and it just played better, too.
While the fancy remastered version part of the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy collection does look better, there’s something about the quality of the low-polygonal characters that just rules harder. It’s the one game that is worth keeping an old-school PS1 around.
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec
The First Of Many
Racing games are always getting better visually, like the current Gran Turismo game. That said, Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec nailed every aspect of its package when it launched on the PS2, making it a must-own game to show off the harder, even for non-racing fans.
The visuals are dated comparatively, but for a PS2 game, it is still stunning to look at, and it controls like a dream. The locations are top-notch and varied, the cars are pristine, and the sound design is immersive, putting forward the very best of what the PS2 was capable of early on.
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal
Finishing A Trilogy
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal was the end of the first trilogy, giving players more action than ever before. Like the previous title, this entry gave players RPG elements to increase Ratchet’s health and level up weapons. Through repeated use, a normal pistol-like gun could become as deadly as a rocket launcher, and each new tier was a surprise.
One of the fun, inventive guns, the Qwack-O-Ray, could change enemies into ducks. The planet variety was spot on as usual, as was the comedy. It’s a great PS2 platformer, which is unfortunately not easy to play nowadays, despite Insomniac being part of Sony.
Journey
Beyond Words
Journey is a game that needs to be played to understand it, and with just a two-hour runtime, there’s no excuse not to play it. Plus, while it was a PS3 exclusive in 2012, it’s not anymore.
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The greatest console of all time naturally has some all-time classics.
The basic premise follows a red-garbed stranger through the desert, and players have a chance of meeting another player on their journey from the desert to the snowy mountain top. Players cannot communicate with each other, but that’s the beauty of this game. Just two strangers who meet like passing ships in the night, helping each other along.
The Last Of Us
Uncharted Territory
The Last of Us is horror done right, telling a gripping narrative that pushes the medium forward. The opening act alone is a 10/10 experience from the slow roll to the outbreak to the last incident regarding Joel and his daughter.
It’s a gut punch, and the game will be sure to remind players that this post-apocalyptic zombie-like world is not a good one to live in, but it sure does look good, thanks to Mother Earth reclaiming buildings. The great writing, impeccable mood setting, solid stealth and shooting mechanics, and a dedication to always surprise make this one an easy Hail Mary for the PS3 and beyond.
Bloodborne
Castlevania Reborn
Bloodborne stands out among all of the Soulslike games that FromSoftware developed in several ways. The gothic fantasy reminded a lot of players of Castlevania, except darker and more brutal in the combat department.
The interconnected zones and the sheer dread of every encounter added to the horror elements. The best part was the weapons that transformed like the Kirk Hammer, which turned a basic sword into a killer hammer. It’s just a shame this PS4 game hasn’t been ported elsewhere yet.
God Of War (2018)
Lone Wolf And Cub
Every God of War game is a masterpiece in epic set pieces and storytelling from the PS2 and beyond, but the 2018 God of War semi-reboot is when the series became more prestigious. Kratos, at long last, stopped his endless yelling and wanted to be better for his son, Atreus, but like all good stories of redemption, the past would not let him go, even in a new realm of gods.
The combat was just as visceral as past games, except heavier, as Kratos was beefier than ever before. The Norse lands players traversed were imaginative, the characters gripping, and the boomerang-like quality of the Leviathan Axe was fun to chop enemies up with or toss around.
Shadow Of The Colossus (2018)
There Might Be Giants
Shadow of the Colossus began life on the PS2 before getting remastered on the PS3, and then, in 2018, this remake was made practically in a 1:1 manner. Ambitiousness aside, the update is good enough to make this the recommended version on PS4, thanks to the graphical overhaul and the improved controls.
10 PlayStation 4 Games That Were Held Back By The Hardware
From performance issues to annoying FPS caps, these games on the PlayStation 4 have endured their fair share of limitations.
The core game is timeless, featuring a young warrior, Wander, traveling through an empty open-world looking for towering bosses called Colossi. Each encounter was different, as players had to approach these Colossi with caution before climbing them, stabbing their weak points, and then absorbing their powers. While there are other boss-focused games, Shadow of the Colossus is the OG example.
Astro Bot
Platforming Heaven
Astro Bot is a 3D platformer to end all 3D platformers, serving as a collection of PlayStation nostalgia while also being creative in its own right. As the titular bot, players will go to imaginative worlds filled with platforming puzzles, all hiding bots to rescue from normal ones to ones themed on video games from Castlevania to Resident Evil.
One of the big highlights lets players take control of legacy characters, but as bots, in fully themed levels that play differently, like the action-heavy God of War level or the monkey-capturing antics of Ape Escape. With a surprise around every corner, Astro Bot is nostalgia done right on the PS5.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach
Kojima And Beyond
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a big improvement over the original and a must-play for any PS5 owners out there. Graphics are out of this world, the story is weird but more cohesive, and it’s simply easier to get around more on deliveries.
The open-world settings of Mexico and Australia are not as densely populated with places or objectives as most games, but the discovery of hidden locations makes the journey more rewarding. The asynchronous multiplayer is still intact, too, giving players a common goal to make their worlds better. Stumbling upon a rebuilt road or shelter at just the right moment can be clutch. Thanks to Hideo Kojima’s help, this game is peak PlayStation right now.
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