Summary
- PS3 redeemed itself with exclusive titles and Blu-ray, standing out at the end of the console generation.
- Alpha Protocol’s great writing overshadowed bugs; Dark Souls 2’s combat shone despite Miyazaki’s absence.
- Dragon Age 2’s storytelling impressed despite being smaller; FF 13’s visuals and combat still offer value.
The PlayStation 3 took a while to get going, with its disappointing launch event letting Xbox 360 establish its dominance in the console wars for the longest time. However, a lineup of tantalizing exclusives, coupled with more reasonable prices and the eventual acceptance of Blu-ray technology, helped the PS3 stand tall at the end of its console generation.
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The games on this console looked and felt better than ever before, with some of the best role-playing games being a must-play on the PS3. Meanwhile, other RPGs split fan opinion down the middle but are still worth checking out for players who don’t mind working around their faults.
8
Alpha Protocol
Some Bugs And Poor Combat Took Away From An Otherwise Stellar Espionage RPG
The ugly UI and a myriad of bugs caused many fans to be disappointed by Alpha Protocol when it launched. The game needed more time in the oven, and it’s a shame that it was rushed out without proper QC.
After all, most people agree that Alpha Protocol‘s belnd of RPG elements with the spy-thriller genre was a winning combination when everything fell into place. The excellent writing helped Michael Thorton’s adventure come to life, as players uncovered a conspiracy and strove to save everyone they could in their mission to be a stellar agent.
7
Dark Souls 2
The Lack Of Miyazaki’s Presence Is Palpable, But The Combat Is Great Regardless
- Released
-
March 11, 2014
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
The news that Miyazaki wouldn’t spearhead the development of Dark Souls 2 didn’t worry too many fans at the time, but the game’s launch made it clear that this director’s input was more valuable than many people realized. The lack of a cohesive world and a game that misunderstood the appeal of Dark Souls‘ difficulty caused its sequel to become the black sheep of the trilogy.
However, some aspects of Dark Souls 2 deserve their praise, with players loving the new gameplay elements and the variety in the game’s visuals. As long as players figure out how to manage enemy groups and surprise ambushes, they’ll have a great time powering through Dark Souls 2 and its many challenging boss fights.
6
Dragon Age 2
Features Compelling Storytelling Despite Its Noticeably Smaller Scope
Dragon Age: Origins wowed many fans back when it came out, and many wondered how BioWare would top this experience. However, in contrast to the first game, Dragon Age 2‘s scope was noticeably reigned in—likely due to its stunted development time—which impacted the role-playing opportunities players could enjoy.
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The attempts to appeal to a broader demographic didn’t sit right with many, but fans have calmed since the game’s release. Despite its faults, Dragon Age 2 still boasts an excellent story that adds to the franchise’s allure, introducing iconic series characters and making it a must-play for fans who love the dark and brooding fantasy world of Dragon Age.
5
Final Fantasy 13
The Game Has Its Faults, But The Fast-Paced Combat And Beautiful Visuals Are Worth Checking Out
- Released
-
March 9, 2010
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Weak
Final Fantasy 13 is the arguably most polarizing game in the series, with the confusing script and poor level design alienating large groups of fans. Many felt that this game marked a noticeable downturn in the franchise, one that Final Fantasy has struggled to get out of for a while now.
However, the game’s combat system is fast-paced and opens up once players get past the ridiculous number of tutorials bogging down the early-game experience. By the time players reach Gran Pulse, they’ll be able to enjoy the strengths of Final Fantasy 13 and understand why many fans are so passionate about this title.
4
Game Of Thrones
The Plot Is Great, Even If Several Other Elements Aren’t Up To Snuff
Game of Thrones
Back when Game of Thrones was at the peak of its popularity, many people loved the idea of playing an RPG inspired by the franchise. However, the eponymous video game failed to win over fans courtesy of shoddy presentation and lackluster combat that cheapened the experience in the eyes of many.
It’s a shame, since many people agree that the story in Game of Thrones is compelling and does justice to the IP. As long as players are willing to accept the egregious reuse of models and some irritating battles, they’ll have a blast checking out this original GoT story.
3
Mass Effect 3
The Lackluster Ending Doesn’t Take Away From An Incredible Journey
To enjoy Mass Effect 3, players must realize that it’s about the journey rather than the destination. Up until the ending, Mass Effect 3 is every bit as compelling as its lauded predecessors, if not more so.
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However, the ending was laughably bad and turned many people off from the experience. Now, with the addition of DLCs and some tweaks to flesh out the conclusion, Mass Effect 3 stands out as an excellent tale that fans of Commander Shepard will love, despite its faults.
2
Resonance Of Fate
A Weird Little Gem That Deserves Way More Love Than It Gets
- Released
-
January 28, 2010
- Developer(s)
-
Tri-Ace
The PS3 wasn’t a great platform for JRPGs to thrive on, which is why many people didn’t give Resonance of Fate the time it deserved. Players who didn’t take the time to learn a ridiculously complex combat system never had a chance to appreciate this weird and compelling experience unlike any other JRPG out there.
The hex-based exploration grew on players after a point, and the combat looked incredible every single time. Sitting through hours of tutorials in the Coliseum didn’t sit right with many, but it was a small price to play to enjoy this quirky and memorable JRPG.
1
Drakengard 3
Yoko Taro’s Brilliant Creativity Can Be Seen In This Game Despite Its Flaws
Action RPG
Fighting
Adventure
- Released
-
December 19, 2013
- Developer(s)
-
Access Games
Before Yoko Taro became a household name courtesy of his work on NieR: Automata, this video game director’s genius was criminally underappreciated. The Drakengard trilogy was a blast to play through despite its faults, and Drakengard 3 was no exception here.
Technical issues ran rampant and the graphics are be hard to stomach even now, but the game made up for it with a story that showed Yoko Taro at his very best. Fans of the NieR series can’t wait for the Drakengard trilogy to be remade for new audiences, with the final game being hailed as the very best by many. Even the hint of a Drakengard secret hidden in NieR: Automata sparked an internet furor a couple of years back, although it turned out to just be an impressive mod.
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