The PlayStation 3 was a slow-burner console, selling over 87.4 million units worldwide as of March 31st, 2017. Nevertheless, it had a vast library packed with some incredible PS3 games by the end of its lifespan in 2017. As of March 31, 2012, there were approximately 595 million games sold for PlayStation 3.
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To the surprise of nobody, Grand Theft Auto V, Gran Turismo 5, The Last of Us, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves were the best-selling PS3 games. But hidden among these gems are a few forgotten games – for good or bad reasons.
10 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand
A third-person shooter sequel to the underwhelming PlayStation 2 and Xbox release 50 Cent: Bulletproof, Blood on the Sand was an interesting game. The story revolved around a fictional 50 Cent and G-Unit's concert in the unspecified ‘Middle East’.
After the pair threaten a promoter for the promised $10 million in cash payment for putting on the show, they settle for a diamond-and-pearl skull as collateral. This is, of course, stolen by a paramilitary group and the pop duo must track it down. Of course. Perhaps it won’t be a surprise to hear that the commercial failure of this game led to the closure of Swordfish Studios in 2010 and would ultimately be lost to the ’sands’ of time.
9 Disney Infinity
Activision's enormously successful Skylanders series inspired Disney’s "most ambitious gaming initiative ever". Combining the physical toy aspect of Skylanders, with the sandbox creation gamers had come to love like Minecraft, developers Avalanche Software certainly aimed high.
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Disney Infinity has been called “a giant customizable universe of imagination” with story-driven gameplay. It launched with The Incredibles, Monsters University, and Pirates of the Caribbean figures. Unfortunately, Avalanche Software shut down on May 11th, 2016 and Disney quickly retired the franchise soon after. The only remnants of Disney Infinity today are the fond memories.
8 LocoRoco Cocoreccho!
Described as an "interactive screensaver", rather than a full game, LocoRoco Cocoreccho! Is a 2007 PS3 game that is full of charm. It does not require input from the player, as the world and characters play autonomously.
The main premise of it is sheep-herding creatures called LocoRoco through a level fraught with danger and mini-games. The player’s goal is to collect all 200 LocoRocos and guide them into a large goal at the end of the level. It is a sweet game that won over gamers with its pretty graphics and simple gameplay.
7 Castle Crashers
Castle Crashers is a cult classic, award-winning hack-and-slash that has sadly fallen out of the cultural consciousness in recent years. It was originally released in 2008 for the Xbox 360 and, perhaps lesser-known, released for the PlayStation 3 in 2010.
This game was full of dark magical wizards, medieval princess-stealing, and mythical enemies; like cyclops, ninja pirates, demons, and alien invaders. It has a deceivingly bright and charming art style and a wonderful twist at the end that makes it well worth playing to this day.
6 Beyond Good and Evil
Considered one of the greatest games of all time, Beyond Good & Evil broke through any expectations of traditional action-adventure gameplay when it was released in 2003.
Featuring boss fights, puzzles steeped in mystery, and stealth-based gameplay, Beyond Good and Evil was nominated for a "Game of the Year" award in 2004 at the Game Developers Choice Awards. A prequel, Beyond Good and Evil 2, was announced at E3 2017. Despite all the acclaim the first title received, there has been no word on the franchise and the hype has died down significantly in the four years since the sequel was announced.
5 Toki Tori
This adorable yellow chicken first flew onto the scene in 2001 for the Game Boy Color. This challenging, yet addictive gameplay has been a staple of the series. The PS3 remake of the game did not disappoint.
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The narrative is simple but charming. The player controls the young chick Toki Tori, who is on a quest to save his younger siblings, still in their eggs. Each level has an egg to rescue that requires a variety of unlockable tools and creative thinking.
4 LOST PLANET 3
The Lost Planet series is steeped in lore. The first two games feature an Earth that has become too hostile for human life. Lost Planet 3 starts with the promising premise of exploring the foreboding planet and the colonial history of E.D.N. III.
However, it received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike. Most criticized its repetitive gameplay and its lack of depth with regards to its mechanics and story, while some defend the varied combat and emotional narrative. Ultimately, the game sold below expectations and faded into obscurity as quickly as it arrived.
3 Alice: Madness Returns
Alice: Madness Returns is a psychological hack and slash action-adventure game. Its nuanced and twisted look into mental health and trauma earned it a place in the hearts of cult horror fans. The talented American McGee, a designer who is best known for working on the DOOM franchise, did an excellent job putting a dark spin on the classic Lewis Carroll fairy tale.
Alice and its sequel, Alice: Madness Returns were massively popular with their releases in 2000 and 2011 retrospectively. However, some critics were not sold on the repetitive gameplay and simple level design. Both games in this franchise are still well worth picking up.
2 Asuras Wrath
A cinematic hidden gem, Asuras Wrath released worldwide in February 2012. Its unique blend of Hindu and Buddhist mythologies and sci-fi plot points makes this a game that is worth picking up.
The audience plays as the demigod Asura, a man who is seeking revenge on the demigods who betrayed him. Parallels have been drawn between Asuras Wrath and an "interactive anime". This is due to the eclectic combination of third-person combat and interactive cinematics with quick-time event button prompts. The Japanese release met to a very positive reception, but the Western market was not as impressed. It received "average" reviews on both Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.
1 Tokyo Jungle
Described by Eurogamer as "basically Grand Theft Auto with lions", Tokyo Jungle was a PlayStation 3 exclusive with an online leaderboard and a story mode. Fans loved the addicting survival gameplay but criticized the hands-off combat and awkward controls.
When asked about the game’s reception outside of Japan, director Yohei Kataoka said: "Europe loved it, and we got a lot of great feedback from that audience, but America… that simply wasn't the case. We received a lot of negative feedback for the game”. The online leaderboard lies dormant, just waiting for someone to remember this forgotten PS3 gem.
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