Recommend me a new video game for PS3
October 22, 2014 7:19 PM Subscribe
I'm not at all a gamer, and have only really played a small number of video games in the past. But I'm craving something new to try, and am looking for recommendations.
In the past 5 years, about the only games I have played have been racing games (like Gran Turismo) and Tiger Woods PGA Tour, and with those I'll play maybe two or three weekends in a row every few months. Video games are something I dabble in on occasion, but don't devote much time to. When I was a kid I was into Super Mario Brothers, Zelda, and Metroid, and when I was a bit older I liked the newer Mario games and Banjo Kazooie on the N64 (that was maybe my favorite game of all time). But I really never got into any of the super popular games like World of Warcraft, Halo, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, etc. (or Doom or Quake back in the day). In the very brief interactions I've had with those games, it seems like they're very hard for someone who is a non-gamer to learn and understand (but maybe I'm just dense). OR they really reward you for playing several hours a day, which I don't usually have time for.
I say all of that to give you background, but I am VERY open to trying completely new types of games. In fact, that's really what I'm looking for. I want something different. I just also need it to be something that I can get into without banging my head against the wall too much, and that I can play for relatively short stints intermittently. Those are my only requirements (well, and that it be available for PS3, because I'm not buying a new console any time soon).
So, please tell me what you recommend and why you like it (or why you think I will like it)!
In the past 5 years, about the only games I have played have been racing games (like Gran Turismo) and Tiger Woods PGA Tour, and with those I'll play maybe two or three weekends in a row every few months. Video games are something I dabble in on occasion, but don't devote much time to. When I was a kid I was into Super Mario Brothers, Zelda, and Metroid, and when I was a bit older I liked the newer Mario games and Banjo Kazooie on the N64 (that was maybe my favorite game of all time). But I really never got into any of the super popular games like World of Warcraft, Halo, Call of Duty, Grand Theft Auto, etc. (or Doom or Quake back in the day). In the very brief interactions I've had with those games, it seems like they're very hard for someone who is a non-gamer to learn and understand (but maybe I'm just dense). OR they really reward you for playing several hours a day, which I don't usually have time for.
I say all of that to give you background, but I am VERY open to trying completely new types of games. In fact, that's really what I'm looking for. I want something different. I just also need it to be something that I can get into without banging my head against the wall too much, and that I can play for relatively short stints intermittently. Those are my only requirements (well, and that it be available for PS3, because I'm not buying a new console any time soon).
So, please tell me what you recommend and why you like it (or why you think I will like it)!
The Ico/Shadow of the Colossus Collection.
The best pair of video games I've ever played. Short, not too challenging, emotionally and morally intense.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:33 PM on October 22, 2014
The best pair of video games I've ever played. Short, not too challenging, emotionally and morally intense.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:33 PM on October 22, 2014
Uncharted 2 is my favorite game of the last 8 years. Also try Portal 2.
posted by Pacrand at 7:33 PM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Pacrand at 7:33 PM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Also, there will never be a more fun game than the Katamari series.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:34 PM on October 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by Rock Steady at 7:34 PM on October 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
I've only gotten into gaming in the last few years, and am fairly fumble-fingered with the controls, so I have a hard time with games that require a lot of really precise button mashing. I absolutely loved Portal 2, and and portal as well. (yea, I played them in the wrong order, which worked well, because portal 2 is a lot better designed, and so was easier to learn as a non-gamer)
I'd also recommend Journey and flower, for a really different sort of gameplay - very beautiful and ethereal
Little big planet is tons of fun as well
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:39 PM on October 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'd also recommend Journey and flower, for a really different sort of gameplay - very beautiful and ethereal
Little big planet is tons of fun as well
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:39 PM on October 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
Oh boy, you get to discover Little Big Planet and Katamari Damacy for the first time. Lucky You.
posted by bensherman at 7:40 PM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by bensherman at 7:40 PM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
oh also, if you like South Park, The Stick of Truth is pretty hilarious.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:40 PM on October 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:40 PM on October 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
My daughter introduced me to Beyond: Two Souls recently, and as a completely inept non-console gamer I've really enjoyed it so far. It's long on narrative and short on gameplay, but since I suck at gameplay, that works out for me.
posted by drlith at 7:41 PM on October 22, 2014
posted by drlith at 7:41 PM on October 22, 2014
Spelunky is amazing.
The Last of Us is violent but superb.
Ni No Kuni is a pretty but incredibly traditional JRPG with Studio Ghibli graphics
Child of Light is much the same.
posted by Sebmojo at 7:42 PM on October 22, 2014
The Last of Us is violent but superb.
Ni No Kuni is a pretty but incredibly traditional JRPG with Studio Ghibli graphics
Child of Light is much the same.
posted by Sebmojo at 7:42 PM on October 22, 2014
A lot of the most unique games these days are downloable titles, so you should consider Playstation Store (PSN) downloadable titles as well. The best of these is undoubtedly a game called Journey. It's not very long - you can finish it in a single sitting, probably, that's what I did - but it's one of the most moving and thoughtful experiences of this generation. It's something that will potentially stay with you.
I would also recommend Ni No Kuni. It's a game filled with Studio Ghibli artwork and design, and is just a delight to play. Admittedly it can be challenging at times, even for RPG veterans like me, but it's very friendly at the same time. A JRPG with old-fashioned sensibilities, but with modern touches everywhere - I think it can stand right alongside the great SNES/PS1 classics of this genre.
posted by naju at 7:44 PM on October 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
I would also recommend Ni No Kuni. It's a game filled with Studio Ghibli artwork and design, and is just a delight to play. Admittedly it can be challenging at times, even for RPG veterans like me, but it's very friendly at the same time. A JRPG with old-fashioned sensibilities, but with modern touches everywhere - I think it can stand right alongside the great SNES/PS1 classics of this genre.
posted by naju at 7:44 PM on October 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
Seconding Journey and Flower - those are two really unique and amazing games and are easy to learn, and they don't require lots of button smashing. Have fun!
posted by FireFountain at 8:02 PM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by FireFountain at 8:02 PM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
To go for very, very different: Hakuoki: Stories of the Shinsengumi is a visual novel (basically a choose-your-own-adventure story with graphics and music) set in 1860s Japan. If you enjoy immersing yourself in a somewhat ridiculous story (girl has to live with the Shinsengumi for Reasons) and wallowing in sentimentality, it's awesome. The PS3 release has a bit more content than the PSP and 3DS ones, and a sort of compelling-but-disturbing animation effect for the sprite images that you can turn off. (If you don't look closely, it's like they're breathing. Avoid looking closely.) Anyway, there's nothing in the game that requires skill or long time commitments (you can pause at any point and even set it to auto-play until you come to a decision-making point!) and if you think you might be into this sort of thing, it's worth a go.
And yes, definitely play the Uncharted games, in order.
Another suggestion: the PlayStation Plus subscription's a pretty decent deal, especially if you pick it up at a discount (not hard to do around Black Friday next month). At least one new game every month, some of which might be pretty fun. Or not, but no extra investment to find out. Downside is you only have the games as long as you maintain the subscription.
posted by asperity at 8:14 PM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
And yes, definitely play the Uncharted games, in order.
Another suggestion: the PlayStation Plus subscription's a pretty decent deal, especially if you pick it up at a discount (not hard to do around Black Friday next month). At least one new game every month, some of which might be pretty fun. Or not, but no extra investment to find out. Downside is you only have the games as long as you maintain the subscription.
posted by asperity at 8:14 PM on October 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
I agree completely about ICO / Shadow of the Colossus being fantastic beautiful unique games
I also recommend Okami, which is kind of like Zelda / Metroidvania type games, except it's set in Japan and you are a shinto sun-god and also you are a dog. It's really pretty, both visually, and in terms of the actual game mechanics. The spells you learn do stuff like make flowers bloom, make the wind blow, and make the sun rise. But you still fight bad guys and do quests for people and so on. It draws heavily from Japanese folklore, and if you look up the names of the NPCs you meet, you'll often find they're the subject of one Japanese fairy tale or another - sort of like how Kings Quest was with European folklore.
posted by aubilenon at 8:22 PM on October 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
I also recommend Okami, which is kind of like Zelda / Metroidvania type games, except it's set in Japan and you are a shinto sun-god and also you are a dog. It's really pretty, both visually, and in terms of the actual game mechanics. The spells you learn do stuff like make flowers bloom, make the wind blow, and make the sun rise. But you still fight bad guys and do quests for people and so on. It draws heavily from Japanese folklore, and if you look up the names of the NPCs you meet, you'll often find they're the subject of one Japanese fairy tale or another - sort of like how Kings Quest was with European folklore.
posted by aubilenon at 8:22 PM on October 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
Nthing Naughty Dog: Uncharted series and The Last of Us.
posted by dondiego87 at 8:34 PM on October 22, 2014
posted by dondiego87 at 8:34 PM on October 22, 2014
You would be well-advised to skip Uncharted 1. They fixed a lot of issues in Uncharted 2. If you've missed a lot of games, it's not worth the frustration.
posted by Pacrand at 9:06 PM on October 22, 2014
posted by Pacrand at 9:06 PM on October 22, 2014
I have to recommend Hohokum; it's a beautiful, short sort of game with an amazing soundtrack and simple puzzle mechanics.
In it, you fly around as a kite/snake thing and interact with stuff. And the soundtrack, it's amazing.
posted by aurynn at 9:56 PM on October 22, 2014
In it, you fly around as a kite/snake thing and interact with stuff. And the soundtrack, it's amazing.
posted by aurynn at 9:56 PM on October 22, 2014
Seconding Flower, Katamari and Little Big Planet - fun, non-violent and different from the norm.
posted by northtwilight at 1:07 AM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by northtwilight at 1:07 AM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
Ditto Flower and Journey and adding Hohokum to that.
posted by juv3nal at 2:07 AM on October 23, 2014
posted by juv3nal at 2:07 AM on October 23, 2014
+1 for Journey and Flower. Also, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is fantastic. Very low on frustration and high on charm and storytelling.
posted by jbickers at 5:01 AM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by jbickers at 5:01 AM on October 23, 2014 [1 favorite]
I am a gamer of approximately the same type as you, and I cannot get enough of the Ratchet & Clank series. I've loved every one of them that I've played (A Crack in Time, Size Matters, Tools of Destruction, Full Frontal Assault), with the exception of All 4 One, which I really disliked.
I also got a kick out of Brutal Legend, but it's worth noting that gameplay is harder than it might seem.
posted by Dr. Wu at 6:08 AM on October 23, 2014
I also got a kick out of Brutal Legend, but it's worth noting that gameplay is harder than it might seem.
posted by Dr. Wu at 6:08 AM on October 23, 2014
You have a PS3 and you haven't played Skyrim?!?! The only game for PS3 worth playing in my opinion. You're welcome.
posted by lunastellasol at 7:57 AM on October 23, 2014
posted by lunastellasol at 7:57 AM on October 23, 2014
This is part of the reason why I like Skyrim so much, but mostly because you can choose to play according to your play style and gameplay is very open-ended. There is a main quest, but you can prolong it. I have over 100 hours of gameplay and I have yet to complete the main quest, my ex defeated the main boss in about 35-40 hours of gameplay. You can get into the game as much as you want, or play for as little as you want. The ability to customize weapons and armor and to learn spells and shouts, and to basically do whatever you want in the game makes it that much more epic. There are tons of gameplay videos if you're so inclined to watch them, but this game is the only reason I use the PS3.
posted by lunastellasol at 8:06 AM on October 23, 2014
posted by lunastellasol at 8:06 AM on October 23, 2014
Heavy Rain, in my opinion, was an amazing game. It's a noir mystery where you control four characters trying to track down a killer. It's going to be something you're going to have to put some time into, so it doesn't necessarily meet that criteria, but the control system and the way the game plays out are really unlike anything I've played before or since. A lot of games have Quick Time Events that immediately kill you if you miss them, but here it's more natural where you'll take a punch in a fight if you don't hit the button, but you won't die unless you fail a certain amount of them.
These types of events can control the outcome of the game, as you have four characters you switch between. One or more of them can die and the game will just continue with the others and the ending will be different.
One thing I should warn though is that the game is rated M for "Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs", and there are several scenes which are really intense (possibly even triggering), so be cautioned if that sort of thing will bother you.
posted by cali59 at 3:23 PM on October 23, 2014
These types of events can control the outcome of the game, as you have four characters you switch between. One or more of them can die and the game will just continue with the others and the ending will be different.
One thing I should warn though is that the game is rated M for "Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs", and there are several scenes which are really intense (possibly even triggering), so be cautioned if that sort of thing will bother you.
posted by cali59 at 3:23 PM on October 23, 2014
Another game I just thought of, again, just going for things that are "different", is Bayonetta. It's a completely insane fighting game. This video review by the late, great Ryan Davis sums it up better than the trailer. When the game came out, it had performance problems on the PS3 that are mentioned in the video, but they seem to have been patched and the game works fine now.
posted by cali59 at 7:17 PM on October 23, 2014
posted by cali59 at 7:17 PM on October 23, 2014
I was going to suggest Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, but jbickers beat me to it. Absolutely masterful storytelling.
And yeah, as others have said, if you're gonna plonk $50 on a big-title game, a 12-month membership to Playstation Plus is pretty fantastic. It's like an all-you-can-eat buffet of delicious games to download.
posted by xedrik at 9:49 PM on October 23, 2014
And yeah, as others have said, if you're gonna plonk $50 on a big-title game, a 12-month membership to Playstation Plus is pretty fantastic. It's like an all-you-can-eat buffet of delicious games to download.
posted by xedrik at 9:49 PM on October 23, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by supercres at 7:30 PM on October 22, 2014 [3 favorites]