The PlayStation 3 had several big releases, as did the PS Vita. Here are our choices for the best of the best.
One of the best selling points of the PS3 has always been its library of exclusive titles. Some of the best franchise games available today are only to be found on the PS3, including Metal Gear Solid, God of War, Uncharted, and on and on. Sony continues to churn them out and next year’s slate of PS3 exclusives is looking as good as ever. A new God of War is coming, the highly anticipated Beyond: Two Souls is creating a lot of buzz, Naughty Dog’s next offering The Last of Us looks incredible, plus many more.
That’s next year though. For now we look back on 2012, an important year for Sony. The company released the Vita, a cornerstone of its gaming strategy. It also further developed its online presence, and continued to nurture its digitally downloaded library – and in that library came some true masterpieces.
We look back at the year, and offer our picks for the best Sony hits – both PS3 and Vita – of the year.
Journey
This year featured several incredible digitally downloadable titles that changed the nature of gaming and will have several long term affects that could have an even greater impact in the years to come. Among the cream of that crop is Journey, one of the best games of the year, regardless of what medium it was delivered on. Featuring stunning art, a carefully crafted campaign left to interpretation, and a new way to look at co-op gaming, Journey is more than just a game, it is art.
Check out our review.
Papo & Yo
Like Journey, Papo & Yo is more than just a game. It’s a personal narrative reinterpreted for a video game format. Papo & Yo re-imagines the childhood of its developer, Vander Caballero, who grew up with an alcoholic and abusive father. That experience is recreated in an abstract way, with both beautiful and tragic moments represented in the game. It is a deeply personal game, and one that defies the simple borders created by most genres.
Check out our review.
Starhawk
The Xbox Live online community is larger than than that on the PS3, but there are several very good multiplayer games that make up for it. One of those is Starhawk, a third-person shooter with a touch of real-time strategy mixed in for good measure. The solo campaign itself is entertaining, but the online side of things is what really makes this game stand out.
Check out our review.
The Unfinished Swan
Another digitally downloadable title, The Unfinished Swan isn’t quite like anything we’ve seen before. The game is a canvas that requires your interaction to reveal the beautiful painting underneath. It pushes the boundaries of what a game can do and be, and refreshes gamers with its originality.
Check out our review.
Twisted Metal
When it first came out, Twisted Metal had a few issues, primarily in the online side of things. Problems connecting scared off a lot of people (including us for a time), which was a shame since this game is made for online action. The campaign was fine on its own, but it felt flat compared to the thrill of playing against real people. It took a while, but the online issues were corrected, which meant that the game could reach its full potential. And it did.
Check out our review.
PS Vita
Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation
Although Assassin’s Creed isn’t the only major franchise to feature a Vita exclusive release, it is the biggest, and arguably the most important. Liberation shows that the Vita is a legitimate platform in its own right, capable of expanding an established universe rather than just offering a truncated look at that same setting that has been done better in other mediums. This is not just a mini-version of the Assassin’s Creed series, it is a completely original story and game, featuring a new world to explore. There were a few sacrifices in the downsizing to the handheld, but none that should prevent Assassin’s Creed fans from trying Liberation out.
Check out our review.
Super Stardust Delta
Sometimes the classics are the best. Although Super Stardust Delta is a new title, its core is based in very traditional gaming. You have a ship and plenty of things to blow up. And yet somehow developer Housemarque managed to create a game that honors the past and polishes the familiar gameplay in a way that makes it feel original. The low cost helps, and this game proves that digital downloads aren’t just for the PS3.
Check out our review.
Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack!
We conclude the list with another digital download, this one exclusive to the Vita. Mutant Blobs Attack! combines some of the best platforming elements seen in years, with a vibrant and lively look at the stylized world of 50s sci-fi. The levels are filled with creative designs, and the backgrounds are distractingly good. A handful of mini-games keeps things lively, and it all culminates in one of the greatest final levels a platformer has seen in a long, long time.
Check out our review.
Source : digitaltrends[dot]com
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