PlayStation 3 10th Anniversary | Cubed3's Top 20 Games

20. Heavy Rain

Video games and film are compared almost as often as lungs and oxygen. Video games tend to, when cinematic, be easily compared to your standard summer action movie. Shoot, explode, kill, jump, cool barrel roll, repeat. David Cage decided to aim for a slightly different feel, instead creating the video game equivalent of a pulse pound thriller in Heavy Rain.

More Michael Haneke than Michael Bay, Heavy Rain guided players through an emotional roller coaster. If any player believes games can't sucker punch them in the feelings, play the first hour of this interactive drama and try to keep your jaw shut. By expertly combining QTEs and point-and-click adventures with realistic set pieces and gorgeous facial details, Heavy Rain asks the player to see how far they would go. How deep would they dig, how much pain can they take, how far behind them can they leave their lives to save someone they love? It sounds like some simple questions, but no one will ever accuse Heavy Rain of giving simple answers.
- Thom

19. Demon's Souls

In 2009, from somewhere inside the devilish mind of FromSoftware, came the daddy of what is now considered the standard template of the action RPG. The days of the regular enemy NPC being mere cannon fodder were well and truly over. It is hard to believe looking back, but basic concepts like movement and timing had been lost in this genre. It had all become a bit too easy. That changed.

"You will die" would have fitted quite nicely as an apt tagline for a hard-as-nails adventure in a landscape rife with dim lit corridors and the howls of the undead. That is not even mentioning the boss battles of Demon's Souls, which could have filled a successful game on their own. An enigmatic lore has simply enhanced the cult following this title has even long after the concept has been visually and mechanically enhanced in its successors.
- Chris L

18. South Park: The Stick of Truth

South Park's history with video games is littered with downs and more downs to say the least. Whether it be the subpar but ridiculous South Park N64 title, Chef's trivia bonanza on the PS1, or the Scott Tennerman focused title on the Xbox 360, it's clearly not too easy to translate the show to an interactive medium. Except if you hire one of the best RPG studios in the world and let the show's original creators assist in the development.

What that leaves behind is South Park: The Episode: The Game. Feeling like you're really exploring the titular town is exciting. Seeing the breadth of references and jokes that don't feel like fanfare almost makes it seem like you're in the show itself. One thing the PS3/Xbox 360/Wii generation will be remembered for is how many licenses, previously believed to be untranslatable to games, were successfully translated. South Park: The Stick of Truth could be one of the best RPGs of that generation, and is obviously one of the best licensed games of all time.
- Thom

South Park: The Stick of Truth is a joy to play through, with the typical humour - and obscenities - expected from the TV show and the amazing movie. Parker and Stone's script is expertly crafted, with even the tiniest of details not being overlooked, and then Obsidian has taken that and overlaid it upon a solid-if-not-spectacular RPG engine that has a few glitches that will make people want to turn off immediately and never come back. However, then another genius moment or shockingly hilarious comment will rear its head and the bugs or mundane battle system will once more become secondary to what is a superb experience overall.
- Adam

17. Beyond: Two Souls

Despite some moments where it feels like the 'game' element of Beyond: Two Souls is ultimately missing, the overall experience of this interactive movie-like product is so gripping that it manages to survive any bumps en route to the final credits.

Whilst not quite at the dizzy heights of Fahrenheit, Quantic Dream still created a worthy hit with this psychological thriller. Graphically stunning, Beyond: Two Souls is the cinematic experience on PlayStation 3.
- Adam

16. Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption was the epitome of all that could be delivered in the PS3/X360 generation. It was the perfect embodiment of role-playing while treading a fine line of storytelling. This was a fantastic open-world setting that contained all the tropes heavily featured in a story of the Wild West.

John Marston was a fearsome character to play as who had an imposing presence on screen. In order to receive a pardon for all of his past crimes, Marston must track down and bring his old band of outlaws to justice. From gun duels in deserted towns, to playing poker in pubs, to claiming bounties on those wanted dead or alive, to racing your horse through vast canyons and wild fields, Red Dead Redemption is the perfect showcase of all things Wild West in video games. On top of that, it still stands as one of the greatest video games of all time.
- Josh

15. Batman: Arkham Asylum

Often used as movie tie-ins and cash grabs, it was rare that a comic book superhero franchise would get a game worthy of the quality of its namesake. Rocksteady, an unknown developer at the time, completely blindsided the entire gaming industry by pulling it off for one of the superhero greats: Batman. Taking place in the titular nuthouse, Arkham Asylum pits the Dark Knight against many of his escaped rogues' gallery, including Bane, Scarecrow, The Penguin, and the infamous Clown Prince of Crime himself. Making use of a third-person perspective, quick-fire gadget selection and an intuitive fighting combo system, there had never been a game before that so perfectly captured the feeling of being in the Batman's boots.
- Shane

Batman is arguably the most iconic DC superhero, due in part to the tragic figure he represents, as he walks that fine line between doing what is good, while bringing the criminals of Gotham to justice. Arkham Asylum was a third-person over-the-shoulder game that centred around the Dark Knight getting locked in Arkham Asylum by the Clown Prince himself, the Joker. By combining Batman's gadgets, stealth and fighting ability, and combining them with his detective skills, Batman must find a way to bring down the released prisoners, featuring Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, the Scarecrow, Bane, Victor Zsasz and Killer Croc, while trying to solve the various puzzles and riddles that have been left by The Riddler. Still regarded by some as the best comic book video game ever.
- Josh

14. Bayonetta

Bayonetta is definitely unique. Some may compare her to Dante (and she's almost certainly been called a knock-off plenty of times), but the truth is really simple when it comes to her debut title.

There is no experience quite like playing a game in which the opening sequence has you fighting off angels on a falling clock tower with guns not only in your hands, but on your feet, as well. Full of tense evasion-based combat, memorable soundtracks, and general over-the-topness, Bayonetta is jaw dropping. While the sequel may be exclusive to Wii U, there is no denying that her appearance on PS3 is awesome.
- Ian

13. Dishonored

When reading that Dishonored has nine stages to work through, it may sound ridiculously short, but there is so much depth to each area and there are so many side-missions, alternative routes, and general extras to uncover that it lasts far longer than expected.

It also proves to be a refreshing break from the standard FPS fare, almost like Metroid Prime in its adventure elements, fleshing the story out with hidden notes and extra characters that add more to the experience. With Dishonored, Bethesda and Arkane definitely delivered one of the most engaging games on PS3.
- Adam

12. Yakuza 3

Yakuza 3 was the first mainline instalment in the series on the PS3 and would create a strong foundation for it to build on. Yakuza benefited immensely from the shift from PS2 to PS3. The tedious load times before fights became a thing of the past, and the extra power of the PS3 meant that the battle environments were more interactive and the cut-scenes more cinematic. While previous games have focused on the gritty cityscape of Tokyo and Osaka, Yakuza 3 also brings the wide-open space and seaside of Okinawa. This is where Kiryu runs the Sunshine Orphanage, completing his image as the ultimate badass with a heart of gold.

Looking back at Yakuza 3, one thing that sticks out is the release date. This game came out on 12th March, 2010 in Europe, only a single year after the Japanese release. By comparison, the localisation of Yakuza 5 took three years. Speedy localisation, however, is not without some disadvantages. Due to time constraints, the localisation team were forced to cut content. When fans expressed concern over the missing content, SEGA assured them that it was only Japanese cultural stuff like hostess bars and Japanese history quizzes, and it wouldn't affect the main story. This resulted in backlash from Western fans who expressed how they wanted the game exactly as it was intended for Japanese audiences. In response, SEGA angered fans further by saying that many people demand the extra content, but don't end up buying the game when it is released. This was the start of a slippery slope for the series with regards to localisation.
- Chris G

11. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

The world has moved on. An aging, grey-haired, yet strong, Snake lies on a dusty, Middle-Eastern road. After a few seconds, his bodysuit changes colour to match the brown he is lying on. He begins to move, slowly crawling through a war between rebel militia and hired, genetically altered mercenaries. Explosions are heard far off on his left, while the sound of bullets from an AK-47 ricochet off a wall to his right. Does he stop to help the rebels or focus on the mission at hand? That is for the player to decide.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots was one of the PS3's killer apps. Meticulously designed stages really make the player feel the tension of trying to go unnoticed while a war goes on around them. It is this level of engrossment that allowed Kojima the freedom to keep his long and often wacky cut-scenes. The player naturally becomes a part of the world during the gameplay segments, which leads to them automatically becoming engrossed in the story, too.

There are many moments in MGS4 that are left etched in the memories of gamers all around the world, such as an emotional encounter with Big Boss, a fight with Liquid Snake on top of a Metal Gear, and Johnny defecating in a barrel, but one of the most important moments was Raiden's transformation. Raiden, who was not originally well received in the West, was turned into a lethal cyborg-ninja akin to Gray Fox. This eventually lead to him starring in his own game, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance by Platinum Games.

With the most recent entry in the Metal Gear series taking a more realistic and open-world approach, and series director Hideo Kojima parting ways with Konami, it is no doubt that Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots will be fondly remembered as the last great entry in the series.
- Chris G

10. Guacamelee

Metroidvanias are really a dime a dozen these days, so when Drinkbox Studios gave the chance to explore rural Mexico and its mythology through this oft used vessel, it could have been just another run of the mill experience. Fortunately, the developer nailed presentation, story, and combat to the point where Guacamelee feels like it defies genre expectations.

By mixing in dungeons more akin to a Zelda game, combat that is both simple and intricate, and some of the cleverest fights in modern gaming, gamers are left with a sucker punch of a journey. There's a surprising wealth of things to do even beyond the beaten path, and the variety of challenges presented is vast. There's little repetition, except for the things the player needs to learn to advance, and traditional fetch quests are almost completely absent. Needless to say, Guacamelee is a juggernaut that feels like a grand adventure, and never feels too stagnant to keep even the most fleeting of attentions.
- Thom

9. Yakuza 4

"A lot of peoples' hopes and dreams rest on our shoulders." The city lights of Tokyo glisten as Kiryu stands tall on top of Millennium Tower in his trademark grey suit and burgundy shirt. The top two buttons are undone, of course. This time around, the player can clear the streets of Kamurocho with not one, but four playable characters in Yakuza 4. There's Shun Akiyama, a homeless man turned charitable money lender; Masayoshi Tanimura, a Robin Hood-esque police officer who uses money won gambling to help orphaned immigrant kids; and Taiga Saejima, a friend of Majima who was imprisoned after a framed murder. Each character has their own unique fighting styles and personalities that shake up not only how the game plays, but also how it feels. In typical Yakuza fashion, all of the stories tie up into one climatic and satisfying end battle.

Yakuza 4's impact on the series is profound. The four-playable character system was used in the 2012 sequel, with Akiyama and Saejima seeing a return. Unfortunately, fan-favourite Tanimura didn't make a comeback, but this is probably to do with the fact he was portrayed by Hiroki Nariyama, a popular, and presumably expensive, actor in Japan. SEGA also seemed to have learned from the localisation debacle of Yakuza 3 and cut very little content from the Western release. However, a quick glance at the trailer for the game's re-release on PSN in December 2015 reveals that SEGA is trying to promote the Yakuza series as your typical gangster game, assuming this will go over better in the West. One playthrough of Yakuza 4 shows that it has much more depth than that. Characters are full of personality, bursting out of the screen, and each of their stories will stay with you long after the credits stop rolling.
- Chris G

8. Batman: Arkham City

Batman: Arkham City contained all the improvements from the first game. The scope got bigger, with Batman having a larger area to play in, with more criminals causing chaos and anarchy. With an improvement over the combat system, Batman can seamlessly fight his way through enemies, while the Riddler has upped the number of riddles littered throughout the city, represented by 440 trophies. Catwoman makes her debut as a playable character, and she controls the exact same way that is expected, with her whip allowing her to propel from rooftops, while she also has the catlike abilities to walk on the roof upside down.

Hugo Strange, Mr. Freeze, Ra's al Ghul, Two-Face and Penguin join an ensemble villain cast with some of the lesser known villains, like Mad Hatter, Azrael, Deadshot and Calendar Man. This entire game is a ball of fun, and is one of the better games to have been released on the PS3. With lots to do, and many areas of the city to explore, Arkham City is full of classic Batman moments, delivering an even better story than the original title, and to this day, it still stands as one of the better sequels ever developed.
- Josh

7. Mass Effect 2

The Majora's Mask to Mass Effect's Ocarina of Time, Mass Effect 2 departed from its prior title in a major way, and yet still came out wonderful. While no longer as focused on exploration, the game makes up for it with more action and being more compact.

It continues on the story and feels like an actual sequel that was both meant to happen, yet wasn't a cash-in. From the far tenser and better laid out missions, to the simpler moments of finding out that your doctor is a fan of opera, the last good game BioWare made is simply a peace. While it can be easily debated which is the better game, *cough Mass Effect 1 cough* there is no doubt that both are enjoyable.
- Ian

6. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

It's a Miyazaki film turned into a video game. The reason why this is cool is self-explanatory. On a more detailed note, the things that make Ni no Kuni work are just the general sense of wonder. It would be far too easy to say it's just Dragon Quest mixed with Pokémon, but that's roughly akin to saying Pokémon is just bug collecting. It doesn't capture the scope by any means.

For a prime example, right at the beginning, the main character's mother passes away—and he blames himself. He blames himself so much that, when one of his dolls comes to life and reveals that there may be another version of his mom in another world, he sets out on a quest—and it's wonderful. Is Ni no Kuni a story about a child going into another world to seek his mother out of a sense of guilt, or a story about a child wracked with guilt to the point of inventing his own fantasy world to try and escape from it? Full of beauty and wonder, though hampered by stupid and frustrating battle systems, this is a gem no matter what.
- Ian

Perhaps Ni no Kuni's biggest draw is its graphics - a visual treat that was developed in tandem between developers Level-5 and Studio Ghibli - the renowned Japanese cartoonists famous for such classics as My Neighbour Totoro and Howl's Moving Castle. The audio also experiences the Ghibli touch, with long-term Miyazaki-san composer Joe Hisaishi creating the beautiful music that accompanies the stunning game world.

The game follows Oliver on a journey to save his mother. At the start of Ni no Kuni, Oliver almost drowns, but is saved by his mother who immediately dies following heart complications. As he grieves, Oliver's tears fall onto his doll - a gift from his mother - which magically comes to life, revealing its name as a fairy named Drippy. Drippy informs Oliver that someone who looks exactly like his mother exists in his realm, but is under great peril from the Dark Djinn Shadar. Oliver travels between realms and encounters many people with broken hearts - due to Shadar - and uses newfound magical abilities to heal them.

Ni no Kuni is one of those games that doesn't look like it will ever age badly. The vivid and varied locations in the Other World, the soaring orchestral score, and perfect cast all combine to make this not just one of the best PS3 games, but also one of the best RPGs out there. While Ni no Kuni offers nothing especially new to the genre, everything is considered and executed almost flawlessly, providing a great overall experience.
- Jamie

5. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Some may complain that Skyrim isn't as good as Morrowind or Oblivion, whine about bugs, mock certain moments, complain about how things like the civil war feel forced, and probably harp on every little aspect of the game in some way—yet they still bought it. And played it. And will likely keep playing it.

Why? Because for all the whining, there is just nothing that's quite the same as being put in a world that's so explorable, detailed, and fun as Skyrim! Most people can still uncover little titbits that they missed to this day, or opt to just go in and have some fun clearing out a cave, and that's not to even consider mentioning the huge and well-supported modding scene.
- Ian

4. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Released in 2007, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune promised to fill the void left by Tomb Raider during a difficult period for Ms. Croft. Naughty Dog must have known it was on to a winner, as they put a lot of time and effort into this game and, more importantly, a lot of love. The Crash Bandicoot developers used their expertise in platforming and combined it with some of the most fully realised characters—truly characters, not just models—in the history of gaming. Protagonist Nathan Drake has a macho façade, yet also a curious insecurity, which would be explored later in a series that has crossed four titles over two consoles.

Loosely based on historical legend, Drake's Fortune sees Nate and long-time partner-in-crime Victor 'Sully' Sullivan follow a series of clues leading them to the true events of Sir Francis Drake's demise and to the location of El Dorado, an ancient city fabled to be made entirely of gold. What makes this game stand out against the rest is the incredible voice acting; Nolan North stars in an almost career-defining performance, which is very reminiscent of Nathan Fillion's Captain Malcolm Reynolds from Firefly. The patter between the characters drives forward the 100 mile-a-minute story, and the exploration, character animation, and locations all perfectly combine to make Uncharted: Drake's Fortune a very memorable experience.
- Jamie

3. Mass Effect

Mass Effect has such a simple allure. You're the BioWare version of James T. Kirk, heading out into a vast frontier full of strange things and unexplored spaces, fighting bad guys, romancing both aliens and crewmembers, and dealing with the quandary of playing by the book or going for more direct, but messy, results.

It's something that worked so well that the famous theme song from the original series can practically be heard. Sure, it had some flaws, like the Mako handling worse than a drunk on a merry-go-round being flung down a hill, planets that were basically empty and samey most of the time, and a few dumb plot choices, but it's BioWare at its best. Which is to say, unaddled by DLC, full of wonder, fresh new takes, and interesting sights everywhere, invoking both the classical feel of a good space opera and the 'contemporary' JRPG at the same time.
- Ian

2. Valkyria Chronicles

On its surface, Valkyria Chronicles sounded like such a bizarre notion. It's not that alternate history WWII stuff hasn't been done, it's not that it hasn't been done in a turn-based format either, but rather that it hasn't been done in such a unique way. With a focus on small squad-based combat and the real possibility of unit death, it came across as a mix of Fire Emblem and WWII shooters that worked on so many levels. It's a unique breed of game at worst, and a wonderful experience otherwise to see what is basically fantasy WWII without stupid "Hitler summoned demons" type stuff.
- Ian

I've never traditionally been a fan of tactical role-playing games, but the combination of RPG elements and third-person action really appealed to me, so I gave Valkyria Chronicles a go two or three years after it was released on PS3. The game takes place in a parallel universe to our own, largely based on the actions of World War II (the conflict is referred to as the Second Europan War), in a continent called Europa, which bears a striking resemblance to Europe. Because of its bountiful supply of rare Ragnite ore, the Atlantic Federation is hellbent on invading the neutral nation of Gallia. Players take control of a small unit of rebels led by Gallian native Welkin, town watch captain Alicia, and Welkin's adopted sister Isara. Players grow with Welkin from inexperienced local to commanding the respect of an entire army.

The gameplay is very unique; from a top-down map view, players select the hero they would like to take an action and then control them in third-person around the 3D map - a set amount of actions determining how far you can move and how often you can attack. The majority of the maps have a satisfying amount of verticality to them, too, meaning placing the right characters in the right areas is vital, as running into well-camped out areas invites attacks of opportunity. Certain maps task players with just wiping the map of enemies, while others have additional missions and stipulations, such as capturing enemy bases. When successful, money and experience is rewarded, allowing upgrades to vehicles and characters.

With different characters fulfilling one of six roles (scout, tank commander, shocktrooper, lancer, sniper, and engineer), getting the right mix in your unit is paramount, and utilising each individual's potentials - special abilities - in a complimentary fashion is key to victory. With so much depth, so many different options, a genuinely interesting story, and beautiful graphics, Valkyria Chronicles is definitely worth checking out, especially as a gateway to the tactical RPG genre.
- Jamie

1. The Last of Us

When a developer releases games like Crash Bandicoot, Jak & Daxter, and Uncharted, it's hard to know what to expect from a new IP, other than top quality. Naughty Dog's The Last of Us was wildly anticipated from the gate, and the final result delivered on pretty much all accounts, quickly becoming one of the most critically-acclaimed games of all time, as well as a top selling point for Sony's PS3 console.

With solid (even if somewhat repetitive) gameplay, visuals that push the PS3 to its limit, and an unforgettable story fans and critics will no doubt be talking about for years to come, The Last of Us heartily earned a place at the top of the PlayStation 3's roster—as well as gaming history. Joel and Ellie's journey is as much the player's as it is theirs, and the underlying story speaks out on a deeply personal, human level that most games can't hope to touch on.
- David

The Last of Us is, without a doubt, a near masterstroke in interactive storytelling. Countless gamers will point to this when arguing for the potential of video games to be art, and that speaks to the immense level of craft that Naughty Dog has put into its development. One of the most impressive features is the strikingly organic way that the story unfolds on the gameplay's terms. Little narrative insights trickle out whilst the environment is traversed, like, for example, when Ellie's attention is drawn to something and she asks a question, which might lead to a revealing conversation or to someone recalling a story. Though the game isn't bereft of cut-scenes, uniquely, the weight and power of the story comes just as much, if not more, through these fleeting moments of characterisation and insight. As such, like a classic novel, the world we don't see, the universe of The Last of Us, is just as expertly implied as what we do see.

It's hard to find a department the game doesn't excel in, really. Even with the gloomy end-of-world aesthetic, the beauty of The Last of Us regularly stops you in your tracks to marvel. Gustavo Santaolalla's soundtrack is perhaps one of the best for a video game ever, always lingering as you explore, and carefully reaffirming the situation at hand with some truly brilliant audio work throughout. The sense of fear and tension as you work your way through a room full of Infected, particularly on the higher levels of difficulty, is intense to say the least. The Last of Us is simply one of the best video games ever made, and very deserving of the highest honour.
- Tom B