gamrFeed Holiday Buying Guide: PlayStation 3
by Arthur Kabrick, posted on 15 October 2010 / 16,035 Views
The PlayStation 3 got off to a slow start when it first launched in November 2006, with low sales and few games worth mentioning. Things started to improve the following year, but it wasn't until 2008 and 2009 that the PS3 really began to hit its stride, with titles like Metal Gear Solid 4, LittleBigPlanet, inFAMOUS, and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. The PlayStation 3 Slim, released in September 2009, rescued the PS3 from several months of lackluster sales, and was accompanied by a brilliant holiday line-up. Fortunately, 2010 is no disappointment, even after two fantastic years of Sony High Definition goodness, and the holiday releases currently set, even with the unfortunate omission of LittleBigPlanet 2, are looking mighty fine.
Afraid your loved ones don't know what to buy you? Unsure of just what your PS3-loving friend/family member would really enjoy? Fear not - gamrFeed is here to save the day, with a summary of what is available now, and what will release as the year progresses.
Click the game titles for links to the gamrReview reviews, if released, or gamrReview database page, if not. All scores are out of 10, all release dates, pricings and region-specific information are for the United States of America, and the status of each game as released or otherwise is as of 1st October 2010. Please bear in mind that, as it is a shopping guide, this list only includes full retail games, and not those available solely via the PlayStation Store.
But, without further ado, the list.
Hardware
The Console
160GB - $299
Just want a simple PS3, ready to play all PS3 games and Blu-ray discs, and with 3D and PSN support out of the box? Pick up the standard 160GB model.
320GB PlayStation Move PS3 Bundle - $399
Want to pick up a PS3, but have an interest in the PlayStation Move motion controller? Have a look at the 320GB PS3 bundle, which includes the same PS3 as above, but with double the hard drive size, a PlayStation Eye camera and a PlayStation Move Controller, as well as a copy of Sports Champions with which to use your shiny new Move.
PlayStation Move
Move Starter Pack - $99
Own a PS3 but haven't made any foray into motion gaming? The PlayStation Move Starter Pack comes with the PlayStation Eye, one PlayStation Move controller, and a copy of Sports Champions.
Standalone Move Controller (right)- $49
Navigation Controller (left)- $29
Own a PlayStation Eye? Or do you simply want to improve the Move experience futher? Purchase an extra Move controller which can be used by a friend, or a Navigation Controller which is used to navigate in more mainstream Move games, such as Heavy Rain, SOCOM 4 and Killzone 3, when they release in the coming months.
Released Games
God of War III - 9.4
"An amazing experience: exhilarating gameplay is tied together with a fascinating story and mind-blowing graphics. I would say that it’s the best in the trilogy by quite a long way, and among the highest quality games on the PS3, and it brings said trilogy to a close with a bang. Nearly all of the loose strings in the series are tied up, but just enough are left dangling to warrant another entry in the series... this is a game which must be played."
BioShock 2 - 9.1
"The incredible sense of atmosphere, the most unique of art styles, the newly refined and addictive gameplay with its hint of flare and RPG-like upgrades – it’s all still here and improved upon, placed alongside a brand new multiplayer component which silenced many preconceived doubts. BioShock 2 is a great sequel to one of this generation’s most defining titles."
Heavy Rain - 9.1
"It has... successfully blurred the lines between games and movies a little by offering an extremely cinematic experience that doesn’t leave the player watching endless cutscenes. More importantly, Heavy Rain is fun to play. It gives the player a thrilling rush, and an intriguing and interesting story that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the end. This is the kind of game that you may sit down and play all at once, not because it’s incredibly short, but because it’s just too hard to put down."
Red Dead Redemption - 9.1
"Red Dead Redemption excels in one key respect: that of bringing the Wild West, which is such an iconic and instantly recognisable vestige of the film world, to life in an actual videogame. The art style is excellent, the storyline and characters often interesting and sometimes even endearing, and the atmosphere is pitch perfect."
Final Fantasy XIII - 9.0
"You won't find a wide open world like you would in Fallout 3 or a BioWare RPG, but you'll find a fantastic, timeless story with more intense combat than most RPGs can dream of... For JRPG fans: Final Fantasy XIII is epic in scale, filled with vibrant characters, and challenging from start to finish. A surefire game of the year contender."
Upcoming Games
October
Enslaved: Odyssey to the West - 5th
Play as escaped slave Monkey as the headband placed on him by his female companion Trip forces him into obedience, and scale enormous buildings in a post-post-apocalyptic landscape, covered in greenery and filled with killer robots and few human survivors. A welcome break from the dreary grey-brown of many recent games in the genre, and apparently quite similar to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, which is no bad thing.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - 5th
Destroy vampires and lycanthropes in Gabriel Belmont's quest to find the Guardian of the Lake and resurrect his lost love, with the help of several deadly weapons and a range of holy abilities which he gains over the course of his adventures. A more action-oriented, violent and brutal take on the classic Castlevania series, with a story designed by Hideo Kojima, highly acclaimed developer of the Metal Gear Solid franchise.
Wander through post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, one of the only large cities to survive the Great Nuclear War of 2077. Begin as a humble courier shot and left for dead, and where you end up can only be decided by the player. Enjoy many of the same gameplay features as in the highly acclaimed Fallout 3 - the VATS targeting system, Reputation, Skills and Attributes, Conversation and dozens more, plus some new additions - but in an entirely new setting.
Use the Augmented Reaction Suit to zip around battlefields and slow down time as you fight the Order of the Russian Star in a brutal Russo-American war, set during a period of extreme hardship for the human race. A fast-paced third person shooter which does not force you to hide behind cover and occasionally stick out your head, but rather encourages rapid movement around the battlefield, for a far more exhilarating and immersive experience.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II - 26th
Take the role of rogue Sith Apprentice Starkiller as he flees from Darth Vader and his hired bounty hunter, Boba Fett, and attempts to seek his lover, Juno Eclipse, and Jedi Master Yoda, utilising dual lightsabers and the awesome power of the Dark Side of the Force. Choke, Mind Trick and Sith Lightning your way to your objective, set in front of the backdrop of one of the most brilliant film franchises in history, and official canon to boot.
November
Gran Turismo 5 - TBA
The long-awaited fifth main entry in one of the most beloved PlayStation franchises of all time. Gran Turismo is a racing simulator like no other, with uncanny realism, beautiful graphics, and an enormous variety of vehicles and racetracks. A must-buy for any fan of the racing genre. Play with weather effects, 3D, realistic damage and much more, driving over 1000 cars on over 70 tracks for a racing experience like no other. Perhaps one of the most anticipated games of the generation, and after several delays, is TBA holiday 2010.
The latest entry in the Call of Duty series which has taken the First Person Shooter genre by storm. Leave the battlefields of World War II and Counter-Terrorist missions behind to fight as a soldier in the multiple battles of the Cold War, before delving into the multiplayer segment, which is as deep and addictive as ever.
Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood - 16th
Continue the adventures of Master Assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze as he journeys to Rome to wipe out the last vestiges of support for the corrupt Borgia family and take back the Apple of Eden, armed with his trusty hidden blade, machinery created by Da Vinci himself, and an army of assassin recruits. Then, play as a Templar in the first multiplayer segment in the series. Brotherhood is sure to contain the same awe-inspiring vistas, engaging story and characters, and varied gameplay which were to be found in last year's Assassin's Creed II. Any fan of the series should pick this up.
Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom - 30th
Play as a young man who partners with the giant ogre Majin to solve puzzles and cross enormous landscapes in an effort to rid their home land of the darkness which now engulfs it. An innovative game, filled with many diverse gameplay types, with a heavy focus on co-operation between man and beast. A potentially fantastic diversion for any gamer who is anticipating The Last Guardian, which is set to launch next year.
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And there you have it: the very best of PlayStation 3 in 2010. This is by no means an exhaustive list of every quality title which has released or will release in the near future, but you can't really go wrong with any of the fourteen games above. And if you're unsure about what your PlayStation-loving friend really likes, just ask. Or better yet, ask what kind of game they like, and use this list to help you decide.
We here at gamrFeed will be covering these games and many more in December for our annual Game of the Year awards, so until then, happy gaming, and enjoy Playing Beyond, whether this is your first year with PlayStation or your fifteenth.
Check out our other holiday buying guides!
Holiday Buying Guide: Xbox 360
