Recently picked up a used Playstation 3. What games should I get?
June 11, 2013 6:14 PM Subscribe
I recently picked up a cheap used Playstation 3. I'm entirely new to console gaming but have played PC games for many years. What older, must-not-miss games are there for the system? I've heard about Uncharted 3 and Red Dead Redemption. Others?
Na na, na na na na na na na, Katamari Damacy...
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:24 PM on June 11, 2013 [7 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:24 PM on June 11, 2013 [7 favorites]
Demon's Souls and Dark Souls.
Haven't tried it yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about Journey.
posted by prize bull octorok at 6:24 PM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Haven't tried it yet, but I've heard a lot of good things about Journey.
posted by prize bull octorok at 6:24 PM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd recommend picking up the Journey Collector's edition. Journey and Flower are both classics and PS3 exclusives... both short but memorable, and you also get Flow which isn't bad.
I really like both Infamous games and they are PS3 exclusives. Open world games with great, effortless controls and excellent action.
Rayman: Origins is a wonderful platformer with some of the best art ever. There's a PC version but it's a console kind of game.
In terms of PSN games, I really enjoyed Closure (freaky black and white puzzle game), Dyad (trippy PS3 exclusive llamatron-a-like), and Sound Shapes (unique PS3 exclusive platformer with a musical bent).
posted by selfnoise at 6:27 PM on June 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
I really like both Infamous games and they are PS3 exclusives. Open world games with great, effortless controls and excellent action.
Rayman: Origins is a wonderful platformer with some of the best art ever. There's a PC version but it's a console kind of game.
In terms of PSN games, I really enjoyed Closure (freaky black and white puzzle game), Dyad (trippy PS3 exclusive llamatron-a-like), and Sound Shapes (unique PS3 exclusive platformer with a musical bent).
posted by selfnoise at 6:27 PM on June 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
L.A. Noire.
posted by fox problems at 6:31 PM on June 11, 2013
posted by fox problems at 6:31 PM on June 11, 2013
Mr. MeatheadBrokeMyChair is an expert on cheap used games, so I'm speaking through him:
Metal Gear Solid
Infamous
Ratchet and Clank
posted by MeatheadBrokeMyChair at 6:32 PM on June 11, 2013
Metal Gear Solid
Infamous
Ratchet and Clank
posted by MeatheadBrokeMyChair at 6:32 PM on June 11, 2013
Similar to the ico/shadow of the colossus collection, the ratchet and clank collection.
My friend wont shut up about nino no kuni. If you haven't played the metal gear games, that collection and those. Since you mention red dead redemption which isn't an exlusive, Similarly check out the dead space and mass effect games.
The bioshock series, start from the beginning. Infinite comes with the first one included if you have a ps3 though, and i've heard repeatedly the second one(which i haven't played) is kinda crap anyways.
The batman arkham * series. Any littlebigplanet game(weird and awesome in the same way as katamari), The orange box if you haven't played those games on a PC, Elder scrolls:skyrim if you want to waste all of your free time ever. Fallout: anything is in the same category as skyrim, but in the scifi/post apocalyptic future instead of the medieval/fantasy past.
Gran turismo if you like racing games. It's pretty much the racing game. Although it's almost too long and complex. Dirt 3 is also quite fun.
I'll Nth dark souls as well, that was basically all me and my roommates played a couple winters ago.
Just cause is silly as a warner bros cartoon(ALL the cars explode when you jump out, etc) but ridiculous fun. Go ahead and get the second one, it's better and the story doesn't matter much.
Metro 2033 is amazing, similarly deus ex human revolution.
Blazblue if you like fighting games, but that's a bit of a black hole to get sucked into.
The borderlands series is amazing.
I could go on almost forever. There's a lot of good stuff me and everyone else in here has still missed(MIRRORS EDGE! for example) but that should keep you occupied until your eyeballs melt. These are all basically 9/10 or 10/10 games that will keep you chairlocked the whole time in their own ways.
posted by emptythought at 6:37 PM on June 11, 2013
My friend wont shut up about nino no kuni. If you haven't played the metal gear games, that collection and those. Since you mention red dead redemption which isn't an exlusive, Similarly check out the dead space and mass effect games.
The bioshock series, start from the beginning. Infinite comes with the first one included if you have a ps3 though, and i've heard repeatedly the second one(which i haven't played) is kinda crap anyways.
The batman arkham * series. Any littlebigplanet game(weird and awesome in the same way as katamari), The orange box if you haven't played those games on a PC, Elder scrolls:skyrim if you want to waste all of your free time ever. Fallout: anything is in the same category as skyrim, but in the scifi/post apocalyptic future instead of the medieval/fantasy past.
Gran turismo if you like racing games. It's pretty much the racing game. Although it's almost too long and complex. Dirt 3 is also quite fun.
I'll Nth dark souls as well, that was basically all me and my roommates played a couple winters ago.
Just cause is silly as a warner bros cartoon(ALL the cars explode when you jump out, etc) but ridiculous fun. Go ahead and get the second one, it's better and the story doesn't matter much.
Metro 2033 is amazing, similarly deus ex human revolution.
Blazblue if you like fighting games, but that's a bit of a black hole to get sucked into.
The borderlands series is amazing.
I could go on almost forever. There's a lot of good stuff me and everyone else in here has still missed(MIRRORS EDGE! for example) but that should keep you occupied until your eyeballs melt. These are all basically 9/10 or 10/10 games that will keep you chairlocked the whole time in their own ways.
posted by emptythought at 6:37 PM on June 11, 2013
yes to Journey and Flower - they are amazing. and do I even have to say Portal? if you haven't played portal, drop everything and go do so.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:42 PM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 6:42 PM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Oh, two PSN games I forgot earlier:
Chime Super Deluxe is another cool mix of music and puzzle, and there's a PS3 HD version of Okami, which is a great game if you never played it on PS2 and the art is fantastic. It is way too long, though, so just stop playing when you feel like it. (or that's what I do, anyway)
All the games I listed earlier are exclusives so you wouldn't have encountered them on the PC.
posted by selfnoise at 6:50 PM on June 11, 2013
Chime Super Deluxe is another cool mix of music and puzzle, and there's a PS3 HD version of Okami, which is a great game if you never played it on PS2 and the art is fantastic. It is way too long, though, so just stop playing when you feel like it. (or that's what I do, anyway)
All the games I listed earlier are exclusives so you wouldn't have encountered them on the PC.
posted by selfnoise at 6:50 PM on June 11, 2013
If you are at all interested in RPGs, or variations thereof, I would recommend Ni no Kuni and/or Valkyria Chronicles.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 6:57 PM on June 11, 2013
posted by C'est la D.C. at 6:57 PM on June 11, 2013
Mass Effect 2 is as close to perfect as a video game can be.
posted by MegoSteve at 7:14 PM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by MegoSteve at 7:14 PM on June 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
The HD remake of Shadow of the Collossus is beautiful but the updated graphics make the game exceptionally frustrating to play.
I highly recommend Nier if you like RPGS even if the graphics are archaic for a PS3 title. The story, characters, and music are brilliant. It is really a hidden gem but you have to play through the game multiple times to reveal the full story...might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Tokyo Jungle is also worth a play through, even if only in survival mode.
Arkham City is a safe bet overall.
posted by Young Kullervo at 7:26 PM on June 11, 2013
I highly recommend Nier if you like RPGS even if the graphics are archaic for a PS3 title. The story, characters, and music are brilliant. It is really a hidden gem but you have to play through the game multiple times to reveal the full story...might not be everyone's cup of tea.
Tokyo Jungle is also worth a play through, even if only in survival mode.
Arkham City is a safe bet overall.
posted by Young Kullervo at 7:26 PM on June 11, 2013
The HD remake of Shadow of the Collossus is beautiful but the updated graphics make the game exceptionally frustrating to play.
can you explain more about this? I had read so many good reviews of this game, so I bought it, and had a really hard time with it.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:58 PM on June 11, 2013
can you explain more about this? I had read so many good reviews of this game, so I bought it, and had a really hard time with it.
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 7:58 PM on June 11, 2013
Not sure what genres you like, but I happened to love Heavy Rain. Very story-driven (like a point and click/visual novel) mixed with some action.
posted by Sakura3210 at 9:24 PM on June 11, 2013
posted by Sakura3210 at 9:24 PM on June 11, 2013
Dark Souls and probably Demon's Souls are fantastic, but really hard.
I love Bayonetta, but apparently it runs really badly on the PS3 (and objectifies women). Still one of the best action games ever, though. by the same dev, Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising: Revengence
Fallout: New Vegas. get the add-ons, too. better writing than Fallout 3 and just a great world
you should really get Red Dead Redemption first
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 10:01 PM on June 11, 2013
I love Bayonetta, but apparently it runs really badly on the PS3 (and objectifies women). Still one of the best action games ever, though. by the same dev, Vanquish and Metal Gear Rising: Revengence
Fallout: New Vegas. get the add-ons, too. better writing than Fallout 3 and just a great world
you should really get Red Dead Redemption first
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 10:01 PM on June 11, 2013
Not sure what genres you like, but I happened to love Heavy Rain. Very story-driven (like a point and click/visual novel) mixed with some action.
apparently Deadly Premonition is its kitschy twin
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 10:02 PM on June 11, 2013
Saints Row 3 is insane, in the best way
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 10:22 PM on June 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 10:22 PM on June 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City!
posted by AppleTurnover at 1:46 AM on June 12, 2013
posted by AppleTurnover at 1:46 AM on June 12, 2013
ditto journey, flower, portal 2. also, IMO aside from a more annoying ending, the second uncharted is better than the 3rd (though both are better than the first).
posted by juv3nal at 2:02 AM on June 12, 2013
posted by juv3nal at 2:02 AM on June 12, 2013
Metacritic is good for this sort of thing.
Cross-reference the ones that take your interest to Amazon and I'm sure you could find quite a few highly rated games at low prices.
Personally I'd check out GTA IV, Uncharted 2, Batman: Arkham City, LittleBigPlanet, Red Dead Redemption and Portal 2. All of which are at least 2 years old so shouldn't be too expensive.
posted by mr_silver at 3:44 AM on June 12, 2013
Cross-reference the ones that take your interest to Amazon and I'm sure you could find quite a few highly rated games at low prices.
Personally I'd check out GTA IV, Uncharted 2, Batman: Arkham City, LittleBigPlanet, Red Dead Redemption and Portal 2. All of which are at least 2 years old so shouldn't be too expensive.
posted by mr_silver at 3:44 AM on June 12, 2013
Fallout 3 and F:NV are great games but the PS3 ports have serious problems. There's lots of stuttering and after a while, the game will just sort of pause for ~30 seconds every 10-20 minutes.
I would try the PC versions first.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:21 AM on June 12, 2013
I would try the PC versions first.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:21 AM on June 12, 2013
Nthing Shadow of the Colossus (I just finished the PS3 version after having failed to complete the PS2 version years ago).
Mirrors Edge
Portal 2
My fave PS3 racing games are Split Second and Midnight Club: LA, but I'm a bit weird, I suppose.
As much as I love Katamari Damacy, the PS3 version hasn't really held me, but may be worth taking a peek at.
posted by hanov3r at 5:43 AM on June 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Mirrors Edge
Portal 2
My fave PS3 racing games are Split Second and Midnight Club: LA, but I'm a bit weird, I suppose.
As much as I love Katamari Damacy, the PS3 version hasn't really held me, but may be worth taking a peek at.
posted by hanov3r at 5:43 AM on June 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Uncharted 3 is fine, but Uncharted 2 is one of the best games I've ever played.
posted by mean cheez at 5:52 AM on June 12, 2013
posted by mean cheez at 5:52 AM on June 12, 2013
A Playstation Plus membership is the best $8/month you can spend. They routinely release slightly-older games, including some that were $60 just a year or so ago, for free to members. Right now Deus Ex and Sleeping Dogs are free to members.
posted by jbickers at 6:37 AM on June 12, 2013
posted by jbickers at 6:37 AM on June 12, 2013
I second Borderlands, but it really is a Must Have Two Players (split screen) game. Solo gaming isn't great.
I know they are old, but I still can't get enough of Star Wars: Battlefront, both 1 & 2.
They are great solo games, or great split screen games. They should totally work on PS3.
I've also really enjoyed the Tomb-Raider games.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 8:57 AM on June 12, 2013
I know they are old, but I still can't get enough of Star Wars: Battlefront, both 1 & 2.
They are great solo games, or great split screen games. They should totally work on PS3.
I've also really enjoyed the Tomb-Raider games.
posted by QueerAngel28 at 8:57 AM on June 12, 2013
QueerAngel28: I know they are old, but I still can't get enough of Star Wars: Battlefront, both 1 & 2.
They are great solo games, or great split screen games. They should totally work on PS3.
Actually, they probably won't. Neither was released natively for the PS3, and most PS3s are not backwards-compatible with PS2 games. On the off chance that this cheap PS3 was an old 20GB or 60GB model (serial number starts CHECHA or CHECHB, 4 USB ports on the front) which had hardware compatibility, or an 80GB (serial number starts CHECHE, 4 USB ports on the front) with software compatibility, you can play many PS2 games (including SWBF and SWBF2); otherwise, you're kinda SOL on PS2 games.
posted by hanov3r at 11:15 AM on June 12, 2013
They are great solo games, or great split screen games. They should totally work on PS3.
Actually, they probably won't. Neither was released natively for the PS3, and most PS3s are not backwards-compatible with PS2 games. On the off chance that this cheap PS3 was an old 20GB or 60GB model (serial number starts CHECHA or CHECHB, 4 USB ports on the front) which had hardware compatibility, or an 80GB (serial number starts CHECHE, 4 USB ports on the front) with software compatibility, you can play many PS2 games (including SWBF and SWBF2); otherwise, you're kinda SOL on PS2 games.
posted by hanov3r at 11:15 AM on June 12, 2013
This is kind of a tough question to answer, because I don't know what kinds of PC games you've enjoyed. I'm a really big fan of RPGs (especially turn-based battle systems) personally, so almost all my recommendations will be in that vein.
FFX and X-2 have just been remastered and released for the PS3. I didn't get through x-2 on the PS2 (too many distractions), but I loved X, and I'm a big fan of Final Fantasy games in general. These are great games.
Eternal Sonata is an older PS3 game that I really enjoyed. It's got some neat things in it, plus you get to play Mighty Chopin who talks smack in battle. I find this highly amusing.
Dragon's Dogma is a little more of an action-y type game, but still has your basic adventure hero questing in a fantasy land thing, and it's super pretty.
Disgaea 3 and 4 are both fantastic strategy games, with a lot of silliness thrown in.
If you like light and fluffy games, the Atelier series can be fun. I have a weakness for this kind of game, personally, just because I like the format - go battle monsters in relatively simple turn-based combat, gather components, then make lots of items to fulfill quests within a time limit. You could probably pick up Atelier Rorona fairly cheap.
I think Persona 4 has been released on the PlayStation store for ps3 now - the Persona games are a weird mix of fight-monsters-by-night and go-to-school-and-manage-relationships (which will give you different fabulous powers) by day. Again, I have a weakness for these, but I can strongly recommend them.
And, if you've ever wanted to play Magic the Gathering but didn't want to, you know, go play MtG with other people - the Magic games that you can download from the store are awesome. I love them. It's nice because all of the counters and effects of the cards are tracked by the computer, and the in-game help and documentation is really good. I'd never played before I downloaded the game on my PS3, and I now understand the appeal. Magic 2013 is the one you'll probably want to get, if you're interested.
A nice old school game you can also get from the store is Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls. It... does what it says on the tin, basically. It's a Wizardry game, and it's hard to go wrong with that. Do not expect deep or excellent writing, but do expect a lot of dungeon crawling, and you'll probably like it.
Ni No Kuni is not an older game, but it is really neat and actually manages to capture that Studio Ghibli charm. I'll add to the chorus of voices recommending it.
Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes is worth picking up if you haven't played it on another platform. It's a strategy game with a plot, and it's pretty fun.
If you like tower defense games, pick up Dungeon Defenders. Also, Plants vs. Zombies is available on the PS3 (it's sort of available everywhere, isn't it?) and is a lot of fun on a big tv. Braaaaains.
If you're into arcade games at all, I can highly recommend Zen Pinball. There are a ton of boards to get, and it's just really fun. You can also do multiplayer, if you're into that.
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is a pretty fun little game, and very familiar.
My roommate really likes Portal 2, Katamari Forever, and Lego Harry Potter.
There are a LOT of great titles in the playstation store to download - Tales of Monkey Island, lots of old PS1 and PS2 games rereleased (like, uh, all the Final Fantasy games, just about), crystal defenders... it goes on and on.
posted by lriG rorriM at 11:20 AM on June 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
FFX and X-2 have just been remastered and released for the PS3. I didn't get through x-2 on the PS2 (too many distractions), but I loved X, and I'm a big fan of Final Fantasy games in general. These are great games.
Eternal Sonata is an older PS3 game that I really enjoyed. It's got some neat things in it, plus you get to play Mighty Chopin who talks smack in battle. I find this highly amusing.
Dragon's Dogma is a little more of an action-y type game, but still has your basic adventure hero questing in a fantasy land thing, and it's super pretty.
Disgaea 3 and 4 are both fantastic strategy games, with a lot of silliness thrown in.
If you like light and fluffy games, the Atelier series can be fun. I have a weakness for this kind of game, personally, just because I like the format - go battle monsters in relatively simple turn-based combat, gather components, then make lots of items to fulfill quests within a time limit. You could probably pick up Atelier Rorona fairly cheap.
I think Persona 4 has been released on the PlayStation store for ps3 now - the Persona games are a weird mix of fight-monsters-by-night and go-to-school-and-manage-relationships (which will give you different fabulous powers) by day. Again, I have a weakness for these, but I can strongly recommend them.
And, if you've ever wanted to play Magic the Gathering but didn't want to, you know, go play MtG with other people - the Magic games that you can download from the store are awesome. I love them. It's nice because all of the counters and effects of the cards are tracked by the computer, and the in-game help and documentation is really good. I'd never played before I downloaded the game on my PS3, and I now understand the appeal. Magic 2013 is the one you'll probably want to get, if you're interested.
A nice old school game you can also get from the store is Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls. It... does what it says on the tin, basically. It's a Wizardry game, and it's hard to go wrong with that. Do not expect deep or excellent writing, but do expect a lot of dungeon crawling, and you'll probably like it.
Ni No Kuni is not an older game, but it is really neat and actually manages to capture that Studio Ghibli charm. I'll add to the chorus of voices recommending it.
Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes is worth picking up if you haven't played it on another platform. It's a strategy game with a plot, and it's pretty fun.
If you like tower defense games, pick up Dungeon Defenders. Also, Plants vs. Zombies is available on the PS3 (it's sort of available everywhere, isn't it?) and is a lot of fun on a big tv. Braaaaains.
If you're into arcade games at all, I can highly recommend Zen Pinball. There are a ton of boards to get, and it's just really fun. You can also do multiplayer, if you're into that.
Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution is a pretty fun little game, and very familiar.
My roommate really likes Portal 2, Katamari Forever, and Lego Harry Potter.
There are a LOT of great titles in the playstation store to download - Tales of Monkey Island, lots of old PS1 and PS2 games rereleased (like, uh, all the Final Fantasy games, just about), crystal defenders... it goes on and on.
posted by lriG rorriM at 11:20 AM on June 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
My favorite PS3 games, and the ones I keep going back to...
Red Dead Redemption (You mentioned that)
Uncharted 2 (best one of the series)
Burnout Paradise (best arcade racing game IMHO. The "Big Surf Island" add-on is the best DLC of any game...lots of fun!)
Little Big Planet 2 (very cool)
Infamous (lots of fun)
Tony Hawk's Project 8 (not THPS4, but it is the best one for the PS3)
Killzone 3
Honorable Mention to: LA Noire, Little Big Planet 1, Uncharted 3, Flower, Journey
Guilty pleasure: Reliving memories playing old PS1 games
posted by Leenie at 11:58 AM on June 12, 2013
Red Dead Redemption (You mentioned that)
Uncharted 2 (best one of the series)
Burnout Paradise (best arcade racing game IMHO. The "Big Surf Island" add-on is the best DLC of any game...lots of fun!)
Little Big Planet 2 (very cool)
Infamous (lots of fun)
Tony Hawk's Project 8 (not THPS4, but it is the best one for the PS3)
Killzone 3
Honorable Mention to: LA Noire, Little Big Planet 1, Uncharted 3, Flower, Journey
Guilty pleasure: Reliving memories playing old PS1 games
posted by Leenie at 11:58 AM on June 12, 2013
Arkham Asylum/City, Dragon Age (series), Assassin's Creed (series), and Mass Effect (series).
posted by Silvertree at 12:40 PM on June 12, 2013
posted by Silvertree at 12:40 PM on June 12, 2013
Pay $50 to join PS+ and get free games every month. Right now (today!) you can get Uncharted 3, Little Big Planet Karting, and Deus Ex for free. And another one I can't remember....
posted by tacodave at 3:44 PM on June 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by tacodave at 3:44 PM on June 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Dragon's Dogma isn't the world's best action RPG, but it has combat by the Devil May Cry team and some great character customization. And its cheap. Make sure you buy the Dark Arisen version.
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:55 PM on June 13, 2013
posted by Charlemagne In Sweatpants at 4:55 PM on June 13, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by elizardbits at 6:15 PM on June 11, 2013