The 10th Hour 9.03.10: Top 10 PS3 Games

Posted by Derek Robbins on 09.03.2010

From God of War 3 and Metal Gear Solid 4 to inFAMOUS and Little Big Planet, 411's Derek Robbins ranks his top 10 PlayStation 3 games of all-time! Check out the full article to see which games made the list and why!

Hello and welcome to the 10th hour! For the first time in a long time, this is your host Derek Robbins! Before we get started, let's hit some tangents.

-Seeing that I was responsible for roughly half of Valkyria Chronicles's sales (all two of them!), it's really not a huge surprise that I ran out and picked up the sequel right when it was released. Hey, somebody has to let Sega know when they have published something of merit. So far I think the game is pretty fun, but the story hasn't exactly wrapped me in like the original's was able to. As it stands, it is a very enjoyable game and one of the best on the PSP, but it does not quite measure up to the classic that was the original, what a shame.

-I graduated from Southern Illinois University early-on in August, majoring in Journalism. I had to step down as a writer for this site due to the combined stress of going to class and writing for a daily newspaper. Now a lot of that stress has left and I am free to write as I please! I doubt any of you care, but hey, that's what I have been up to.

-I plan on going to Night of Champions since it is going to be in Chicago. Is anybody else going? I kind of expect Miz to cash in that night. It will be like Edge's first cash-in, where he lost the intercontinental title but managed to cash in on Cena later that night. I suspect Jericho will win and get cashed on immediately. I'm still not sold on Jericho leaving and if they wanted to turn Jericho face, since he has been heel for a while, this would be a way to do it. We'll see though. On a side note, can anybody name me a worse US champion than Miz? Aren't champions supposed to defend their titles? Whatever.

Reader Comments

This would be where your comments would go. Seeing as this is my first week back on the job, I don't exactly have any comments to respond to. Oh well. If you wish for me to respond to something you say, feel free to comment or send me an e-mail at [e-mail] . Either one works. Also feel free to submit lists of your own. Nothing makes me more qualified to write a list on something than you, so go ahead and sound off.


For real, it's a temporary banner this time. I'll have something new and actually decent looking for next week.

Top-10 PS3 games

I have decided to start a three-week series of lists. It will cover the three current generation consoles. The PS3 is first up the bat (since I am former writer of B3yond the Report after all), second is the 360 and last is the Wii. I guess it's in reverse order of success here in the states, eh? There are roughly 20 million top-10 lists on this site in a given week, so I don't know the last time these were covered, but whatever. You get my opinion now, so that's something new right?

A couple of things before I start. First: This is a list based on my opinion of what the best PS3 games are. I am not saying these are absolutely the best PS3 games of all time, because I have no right to decree such a thing, but these are the ones I like the best. Second: For a game to be on this list, it has to be either exclusive or at least released first on the PS3. Cross-platform titles are not allowed, though I don't count portables into the equation (Or PS2, in the case of one game on this list). So if a title appeared both on PS3 and PSP, it's still good.

With that said, let's go.


Perhaps the finest picture ever taken.

10-) Uncharted: Drake's Fortune - I had a hell of a time deciding what to place at number 10. At the end it came down between Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction and Warhawk, but I ended up choosing the original Uncharted. Before the release of Uncharted 2, myself – and to a greater extent my brother Drew – felt that the original Uncharted was one of the least appreciated games on the market.

Uncharted came out about a year after the PS3 launched and at the time, the PS3 really did not have many quality exclusive titles, so we felt Uncharted's greatness was lost in a sea of people clamoring for some quality PS3 exclusives. Hey, with Heavenly Sword being released around the same time, I really can't blame them.
Uncharted was a jack-of-all trades, master of none game. It had mechanics that could be likened to the Prince of Persia, God of War and Gears of War, but none of this mix of mechanics really made the game stand out. What did make the title stand out was a combination of presentation and story. The escapades of the lovable thief Nathan Drake are both well written and entertaining. The character comes off as very fresh and is a nice break from the feminine genki hero archetype of RPGs or the bald marine we frequently see in shooters.

Presentation was mentioned as well, and for good reason – Uncharted's graphics are pretty amazing. The background and scenery really help tell the story. Really, it feels like a Hollywood movie, which is something the sequel would only improve on. The Hollywood vibe is aided by the superb voice work. If this game didn't have a sequel, the argument could be made that this is the best vocal work in video game history. Not that it's saying a lot, but still. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is an experience that is very difficult to forget.

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Play as Sackboy through over 600 mediocre user-created levels!

9-) Little Big Planet - Boy, there was a lot of hype surrounding this game huh? Hard to blame people, especially when the ad campaign behind the title was essentially driving home the idea that you could create your own worlds. Yes, the big thing about Little Big Planet was the ability to create levels for a 2D Platformer and share them with the world – or everybody in the world who had access to a Playstation 3 at least.

While the game did offer a single-player campaign of sorts, the main idea was to express yourself. While most of the content one could find online was mind-numbingly average, the ability to create your own little level fairly easily is hard to pass-up. I have heard to this game referred to as Garry's Mod light, which is true, but I couldn't see something like Garry's mod catching on with the general public like Little Big Planet was able to.

The only real problem with the game was its engine. The platforming isn't always solid feeling and while it is neat coming up with new ideas fitting the platforming mold, there was always a desire to do more. Luckily, Little Big Planet 2 should remedy this problem. Hopefully not all of the genres it offers feel as awkward as platforming did in the original. Regardless, Little Big Planet is one of the more enjoyable experiences on the Playstation 3 thanks to the ability to share.

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karma is a bitch

8-) inFAMOUS - I think everybody can enjoy a good superhero game. Hell, I played the second game based off the Spiderman movie franchise all the time simply because web-slinging around the city is fun as hell. Simply put, having other-worldly powers at your hand is pretty superb. inFAMOUS allows the player to take control of a superhero clad with electricity-based powers and work your way through a sandbox-style city. Given that I have already professed an undying love for a probably very mediocre game in Spiderman 2, I think you can tell that I think highly of superhero games in sandbox environments.

The main issue with other superhero games is that they are licensed. On top of usually being of questionable quality, the licensed heroes are stuck in their pre-set mindsets. Spiderman isn't going to be preying on the innocent; Captain America isn't going to turn communist. The advantage of inFAMOUS using the original character Cole McGrath is that Cole doesn't have a set characteristic. This allows for the ever-popular GOOD OR EVIL play style method.

While this play style method is pretty much the same as it has always been (What, you slaughtered hundreds of innocents? Well, I don't care, go get my laundry asshole), it does allow for a lot of fun in this particular environment. To be fair, the ending does change depending on your alignment, so there's that. It's the difference between a city in chaos and a rebuilding city, yay! Since GTA IV is not eligible for this list, this is pretty much the closest I get to being able to list a game where you can just dick around in a big city. inFAMOUS's story is adequate, but the best thing about it is the ability to play any sort of superhero you want in an open environment. And for that, I'll always enjoy the title.

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Pedro Martinez auditioning for Nexus in 2003. Sadly, no chairs to throw around randomly were in his path.

7-) MLB 10: The Show - Typically when a top-10 list for a specific console is created, sports games are not considered. This is because sports games typically feature very few changes from previous incarnations and typically aren't as gratifying experiences as the typical console game. The "MLB: The Show" franchise deserves recognition on this list. Not only is it simply the best sports franchise to be released this generation, but this iteration might just be the finest baseball game of all time.

I'm pretty much a baseball nerd. I feel like a hypocrite at times because I chastise people for buying Madden year-in and year-out, but when it comes to baseball games I tend to do the same. I loved EA's MVP franchise and still play MVP 2005 probably once a week. I think the worst thing that has ever happened to baseball videogames was when 2k sports won the rights to produce baseball games. The MLB 2K franchise is awful. It sucks every single year. Last year I was finally introduced to the PS3 version of the show and I have never looked back.

From statistical accuracy to the ability to record crowd chants and play your own rookie through the majors, "The Show" franchise pretty much has everything. MLB 10 adds a few different things that sets it apart as the best in the series though. First, I love that the game keeps track of every online match you participate in. You can look at the boxscores and everything. It may seem pretty basic, but that sort of thing is pretty much designed for me. Another thing I like is that if you play a catcher, it is now possible to call a game. I thought that was missing in the past and am happy to see it make an appearance. This is without a doubt the most fun baseball game ever.

…Except Mario Baseball.

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The File Photo of Kratos. Not pictured: sex minigame

6-) God of War 3 - The God of War franchise is probably one of the most respected franchises that found its start on the Playstation 2. While it has never had an exceptionally great plot, I don't imagine that is the point. The God of War franchise is sort of a testosterone fix. If you want something that will make you think something other than "HOLY SHIT, HOW AWESOME WAS THAT" this probably isn't the franchise for you, and that's okay. God of War 3 is the latest and supposedly final installment in the franchise and continues this in grand tradition.

Should God of War III be the final installment of the franchise, the franchise definitely got a nice sendoff. Visually speaking, this is a beautiful title. Sure, good graphics on this generation of hardware is a given, but God of War III is absolutely beautiful. Blood and gore has never looked so amazing. Complimenting the visuals are absolutely gorgeous level designs. In the past couple of installments, it felt like only the first couple of levels had a truly great design behind them, but I would venture to say the whole game is beautiful.

There is only one thing keeping this title from being higher on the list. While yes, it is a great game, it also is very similar to the past titles. If you have played God of War II, with a few exceptions, you will know what you are getting into here. Sure, the point of a sequel is to hearken back to the title that came before it, but unfortunately the air of familiarity is something of a weak spot for the game. Even with that in mind, God of War III is an excellent title worthy of your time and money.

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It's so blocky...

5-) 3D Dot Game Heroes - I am something of a nostalgia whore. It is a weakness of mine, it is something I need to get over, but if something reminds me of the 8-bit era I will be all over it. Hell, while I am writing this right now, I have Doug on. You know that episode where Doug breaks Mr. Dink's grill? Classic. So anytime a game comes out that is clearly an homage to the 8-bit era, I am going to be all over it. 3D Dot Game Heroes is such a game.

Essentially, 3D Dot Game Heroes is one big homage to classic Zelda. The general plot revolves around the grandson of a man who locked away the evil king Onyx (obviously trying to prevent him from becoming Evil King Steelix). Onyx stole six magic orbs, but the legendary hero used his legendary sword as well as the power of the orbs to seal away Onyx into a, well, orb. When a crew of badguys take the orb, chaos overtakes the land and the grandchild of this once brave hero, who we can assume was a water type Pokemon, feels obligated to save the land.

The story is obviously very retro in format, but so is the gameplay. There is a lot of dungeon exploring, puzzle solving and fun to be had. Really, if you have played the original NES Zelda, you might have a general idea of what you are getting into here. Some may question me placing this game ahead of God of War III, and that's fair enough, but the refreshing and retro nature of this game really enchanted me and I can't help but love this title. If you haven't heard of it and want to get a little nostalgia kick, this game is definitely for you.

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Introducing the 2008 version of the job squad

4-) Metal Gear Solid 4 - If this game had ended at the credits, it probably would have been my number two game. Metal Gear Solid 4 told an interesting story and adequately put the story of Solid Snake to bed. Otacon and Sunny's interaction at the very end of the game is one of the most touching moments in video game history. I literally got chills when Otacon started crying. It was touching and would have been perfect. Then they had to ruin it with the surprising twist credit ending. God dammit.

Bitching aside, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a pretty amazing game. From a pure gameplay standpoint, it can be argued that it is the best playing of the series. From a gunplay standpoint, none of the other Metal Gear Solids even come close. It honestly feels almost like a first-person-shooter at times, which surprisingly works. Yes, the stealth is made easier thanks to the stealth suit, but the stealth remains fun and the game is still difficult on the harder difficulties even with the advanced technology.

The story is also very entertaining. No, it's not going to win any awards for excellence in storytelling, but it definitely can keep one's attention throughout. Without a doubt, the best scene in the game is the one with Snake crawling through the heating duct in chapter 5. Yeah, it is a glorified cinema, but it makes everything that is going on seem that much more epic. Metal Gear Solid 4 is not as good as Metal Gear Solid 3, which might be one of the best PS2 games of all time, but on its own MGS 4 is definitely one of the best PS3 games ever.

Except for that fucking ending. God damn you Kojima.

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Somebody's protagonist is trying to show these demons he has soul (but he's not a soldier)

3-) Demon's Souls - I suppose it makes me kind of a weeaboo for having two games published by Atlus on my list. Oh well, I mean, I watched Toradora! like every other red blooded American so that has to mean something. Anyhow, Demon's Souls is a ridiculously difficult game. I'm not sure how it managed to get as well-liked as it did, but I am glad it was able to pick up some renown. Demon's Souls might be frustrating, but it is also flat-out amazing.

This is a third-person action game that encourages the player to learn through failure. If you get particularly frustrated when you die in a game, odds are this title will not be for you. You are going to die. A lot. As you slay demons in the game, they grant you their souls. These souls are a form of currency. You can use them to upgrade yourself, as well as buy weapons and whatnot. The reason I mention this now? When you die, you lose your souls that have not already been assigned. When you come back to life, if you manage to make it back to the blood stain that was your body without dying, you can get the souls back…but if not they are gone forever. It is incredibly frustrating at times.

But something about the challenge is really refreshing. Video games can be very easy today. Yes, some of Demon's Souls difficulty is false difficulty. The point is, you are learning through trial and error. It will take some time and dedication, but once you make it through a given area, you feel very proud of yourself. That feeling is why this game is on this list. Plus, if things get too hard for you, you can always go online and watch other people complete the same tasks, acting as something of a hint. Yeah, it's a merciless game, but a truly great one none the less. Anybody looking for a straight-up old-school challenge will be totally at home with Demon's Souls.

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This is from the anime.

2-) Valkyria Chronicles - Even my elongated absence could not stop me from pimping this title. Valkyria Chronicles is one of the least appreciated games on the market. In the fall of 2008, the year it came out, I believe it sold only 33,000 copies. That is pretty pitiful. The game deserved better and I am moderately surprised the sequel came out here at all. The game got no game-of-the-year buzz, which is a crime (even though I placed it as the 6th best game on my list, below MGS 4 which I would re-evaluate. Number 1 was Fallout 3 if you were curious.) and I rarely ran into anybody who had even heard of it before, but well…here we are.

So basically what you do in this game is take control of a military squad in a region very reminiscent to World War II era Europe. You take turns selecting your troops and moving them. Usually when you think of a strategy RPG from Japan, you think of moving your characters across isometric planes to get the job done. That's not the case here. You select each unit individually, move them yourself, and fire away via aiming. It creates more strategy because you have to take into account a number of new pieces of information: where you are in relation to the enemy, whether the enemy can see you, what enemies are around you, whether you can make it out of a situation alright, and how many moves it will take you to complete a task. The method for strategy in this game, simply, is much more fun and easily accessible than in your typical SRPG.

Adding onto this is the fact that each of your troops fights with their own personality. You see, you draft members into your army and you get to know each one as an individual. For example, let's take Vyse, of Skies of Arcadia fame. When he is in your party, he loves to be put in adverse situations. So if you're surrounded by enemies, Vyse will be much, much stronger than in normal situations. On the opposite end of the scale, you have model Edy who hates to be put in the line of fire. If you have her in a crowded situation, a lot of her stats are lowered. She can't aim for shit. Also added, some troops have fondness for each other and work better as a team. So you also need to take into account how one feels about another. You have to deal with multiple individuals in other tactics-based games, but never before have those people actually felt like individuals. In this game, truly, each individual troop feels like a different person. I absolutely love that.

One other thing this game does well is look absolutely beautiful. The graphics look like they were ripped right out of an anime and it looks fantastic in motion. They aren't as technically masterful as a game like God of War III's graphics, but in their own way, they are very beautiful. To compliment this is one of the best OSTs for a Sony exclusive title yet. The presentation in this game is absolutely great…I really can't compliment it enough.

I could talk about this game for hours. From the story to the characters, I am enamored with the game. If you own a PS3 and not this game…change that right away. Valkyria Chronicles is one of the best games on the PS3. It came out of nowhere and captured my heart. This is on-par with Dreamcast level Sega. Get this now.

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I always preferred the Japanese cover. It just looks so goofy.

1-) Uncharted 2 - The list begins with Uncharted and also ends with Uncharted, how fitting. Maybe I am remembering wrong, but I don't remember a lot of hype surrounding the original game. I remember the commercials and being impressed by the way they look (I didn't have a PS3 yet), but I don't remember a lot of hubbub about it. Uncharted 2 was a totally different beast. It was hyped as the next big thing for Sony and promoted as a legitimate killer app. It did not get the Halo 3 mega push of a campaign, but it got a pretty sizable one. You know what? It was worth the hype.

Uncharted 2 continues with the adventures of Nathan Drake. The writing is just as witty and entertaining as in the original, but what the game really excels in is the interactions when simply walking around. A lot of games don't make use of the time you spend walking around doing nothing. Typically, it is just the game's soundtrack playing as you walk from one location to another. In Uncharted 2, that is not the case. I feel like somewhere around half of the game's dialogue takes place while walking. It allows for further characterization and creates a more cinematic feel. The game was only around 8 hours long, but I felt I learned more about the cast of characters in this game than I would have in something like Final Fantasy in the same amount of time. It is just good and effective storytelling.

The bits about the original Uncharted being something like a summer blockbuster remain true here, except amped up. Due to this, Uncharted 2 holds one of my favorite scenes in video game history: the train chase. I was pretty much on the edge of my seat the entire time. It seems like every step that Drake makes on this journey, something happens that the player needs to react to. This often leads some to the chief complaint I hear some people make about this game – it can be too easy. It feels like the camera hints at where to go and often times big jumps feel like they can't be missed. Yes, this is true, but I don't view it as a problem. The camera work, to me at least, makes the game feel like a fusion of cinema and video game. Roger Ebert complains about video game storytelling, but if he played this game, I feel like he would see cinema and games aren't so far apart.

The gameplay still remains pretty much the same, with the big addition being in the fairly fun multiplayer mode. The mode is not really necessary, but it doesn't feel shoe-horned in either (like Metroid Prime 2's did…). You can tell a lot of work went into the mode and a lot of fun can be had with it well after Nathan Drake's adventure has been completed. Really, the mode just helps expand on one of the best single player experiences of all time, so it's hard to complain about it.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the best games of this generation and if for whatever reason you haven't tried it, you really need to. Yeah, it's a fairly predictable game to be placed at number 1, but sometimes things are predictable for a reason: Uncharted 2 is just awesome.

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Honorable Mentions: Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Warhawk, Resistance 2.

It should be noted, I simply do not enjoy Killzone 2. Sorry if you disagree, but that is why that particular title does not make an appearance on this list.

Well that is it for this week, feel free to leave me your feedback as well as leave your own lists as to what you think the best PS3 games are. I will be excited to see them. Well, thank you for reading and see you next week!

'til the crossroads

Screenshots
All 9 The 10th Hour Screenshots