It’s hard to believe that thePS3is considered a retro console now. Now, 2012 was the last year that thePS3gave it its all. This was a year before thePS4pushed its way through the door. The PS3 certainly went out with a bang with some amazing exclusives and third-party hits in 2012.
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Some of these can be found on theXbox 360too but most have remained trapped on the PS3. Some may not have even received sequels. It is a shame since now is as good a time as any to go back andreplay these PS3 classics. Some of these may have been released first in Japan in 2011, but for Westerners, 2012 is the year of celebration that matters.
8LittleBigPlanet Karting
LittleBigPlanet Kartingwas a unique spin-off for the series as it took away the platforming and exchanged it for a kart racer. The game still allowed players to customize their Sackboys to their hearts' content. Some of the DLC even transferred betweenLittleBigPlanet Kartingand the main series.
There was also a track editor to emulatethe main series’creative hook. It may not have blown any doors off its hinges butLittleBigPlanet Kartingwas still a decent kart racer at the time.
7Lollipop Chainsaw
Lollipop Chainsawis a b-movie in video game form. It is about a young cheerleader taking on a zombie horde to save her school and town. She is armed with a chainsaw, hence the name, and her beheaded boyfriend. That’s right. He is like a keychain on her belt loop who gives advice from time to time.
Lollipop Chainsawwas co-written by James Gunn. Those familiar with his work can see a lot of fun meta jokes that would go on todefine his filmssuch asGuardians of the Galaxy.
6One Piece: Pirate Warriors
One Piece: Pirate Warriorswas the firstDynasty Warriorsspin-off ofthis popular anime. The game didn’t redefine this hack and slash RPG series as it was still about pummeling thousands of warriors in maps that were seemingly endless. However,One Piece: Pirate Warriorswasn’t completely devoid of new ideas.
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Since this is an anime game, the developers could get crazier with the powers. There are also some platforming segments. Its sequel is a better realization of the concept but the firstPirate Warriorsis a fun co-op brawler and started the franchise on a decent note.
5PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royalegets a lot of flack forbeing a copycatofSuper Smash Bros. While the game certainly has its share of problems, the idea behind it was still a good one. The roster contained a lot of familiar franchisesPlayStationfans adored likeRatchet and Clank,Twisted Metal,Uncharted, and so on.
There were even good third-party franchises represented likeMetal GearandDevil May Cry. However, what the game really lacked was support both from Sony and the community. It was seemingly dead on arrival, so now is a good time to givePlayStation All-Stars Battle Royaleits proper due.
4Street Fighter X Tekken
Street Fighter X Tekkenwas aplanned multi-game fighting franchise. This first title would beStreet Fighterat its core withTekkencharacters behaving like they were in that franchise. There were plans for the opposite to be true inTekken X Street Fighter. However, that sequel never happened.
The closest thing fans got was Akuma in futureTekkentitles, which proved that aStreet Fightercharacter could work in theTekkenworld. Maybe the crossover sequel can still happen one day. Until then, check outStreet Fighter X Tekken.
3Tokyo Jungle
Tokyo Junglehas awild concept for a game. Humanity has been wiped out in Tokyo and only animals are left alive. From wild deer to house pets like Pomeranians, this is their world now. Players choose an animal and then try to get as far into their evolutionary chain as possible.
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Tokyo Jungleis part-sim, part-action RPG. Through gameplay, players eventually unlock tougher creatures like elephants and chimpanzees. The game even released DLC for dinosaurs. Again, it was wild.
2Twisted Metal
Twisted Metalwas a reboot of the iconic franchise. It offered the same chaotic vehicle action fans had grown to know and love in the early days of PlayStation. The 2012 release incorporated one new element that split the fan base though: third-person shooting. Now, combatants could get out of their vehicles.
It was an odd thing to add toTwisted Metalespecially since the game left out a lot of iconic elements like a campaign for each character.
Yakuza: Dead Soulswas a spin-off of the franchise which turned it into a zombie shooter. Zombies could also be pummeled to death but the spin-off provides more guns thanthe main games. Like Sega’s other releases in the series, everything inDead Soulsis over the top.
Dead Soulsis also much more linear than the mainline games, lacking the wacky side quests and optional characters. This may be one reason whyDead Soulsdidn’t get a lot of love upon release. As a zombie shooter, the mechanics are also just okay. All these points aside, the sheer novelty ofDead Soulsmakes it worth a playthrough.
