Games Locked to PS3 That Really Shouldn't Be
Hello to you and how you be… Dan Ryan here… you there. Thank you so much for checking out this post and if you like what you see please share. With the release of the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.2, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is finally available to own on a system other than the PS3. (yes there was a PS store version for a minute and a PS Now version but that’s not really owning anything now is it?...) For all intents and purposes if you did not have a PS3 and a copy of MGS4, you were simply out of luck. I am beyond thrilled that this game has made its way out of the “locked to console” status it has endured since its release in June of 2008. It truly is a remarkable game with a, unfortunately still, timely message about the world. That’s a blog post for another blog post however though it did get me thinking. Surely there must be other games locked to the PS3 that really should not be. The PS3 was a massive success, eventually, and had a deep library of killer titles. Could there be 5 games still locked on Sony’s PS3 that deserve a shot again? (spoilers…) Some of these can be played through higher tiered PS Plus subscriptions but again, that isn’t what we’re really talking about here. Presented for your approval these are the 5 games locked on PS3 that really shouldn’t be.
*Quick aside, the PS3 is a great system to collect for if you’re looking at physical games…*
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Puppeteer: Released September 10th, 2013 Price Charting Loose - $150 CIB $190
One of the more unique games released for the PS3, Puppeteer saw players assume the role of Kutaro, a boy changed into a puppet. Which sure, not what you want, but the real downside was that immediately after his transformation Kutaro found himself in the unfortunate situation of being sans head. Thankfully Kutaro was able to get new heads to replace the one he’d lost with each head giving him access to different abilities. Kutaro also used a big pair of scissors to interact with the environment, presented as a puppet show naturally, and eventually gained the abilities of the Four Champions of the Moon. The game also featured multiplayer with the second player taking control of either Yin-Yang or Pikarina. (solo players controlled these characters with the right analog stick) It’s a wonderful little game that does not look or play like anything else. The animations and graphics are gorgeous and the music is quite good. It’s about as niche a title as could be however and as such has been locked to the PS3 since its release.
Heavenly Sword: Released September 12th, 2007 Price Charting Loose - $13 CIB - $50
Developed by the newly independent, again, Ninja Theory, and one of the best values on this list, Heavenly Sword was a 3rd person action adventure/hack n’ slash with a focus on exciting melee combat and quick time events presented in a cinematic way. So, very PS3. And it did quite well, selling over a million copies and showcasing the PS3 as the powerhouse system it eventually came to be known as. Ninja Theory however did not break even on the game which led to them going multiplatform, Xbox exclusive, and now independent once again over the course of their subsequent releases. They were, and are, a talented developer and Heavenly Sword is an absolute blast to play. The combat holds up and is super fun, the graphics are top notch, and the little touches, aiming projectiles with the motion controls after they had been fired, all made for a very fun experience.
Resistance Trilogy
Fall of Man: Released November 17th, 2006 Price Charting Loose - $9 CIB $10
Resistance 2: Released November 27th, 2008 Price Charting Loose - $6 CIB $9
Resistance 3: Released September 6th, 2011 Price Charting Loose - $13 CIB $20
What a weird journey Insomniac has had. A team synonymous with PlayStation, they created Spyro and Ratchet and Clank to much acclaim, the release of the PS3 saw them want to grow and mature. Enter Resistance: Fall of Man, a gritty FPS set in an alternate timeline 1950’s where the Chimera invaded earth and took over. Two sequels later the company went multiplatform, mobile, Xbox, then eventually wholly owned by Sony after the release of Spider-Man. The Resistance trilogy however was a massive feather in the cap of the PS3, never quite hitting the highs of Microsoft’s Halo but never really being the same thing either. The single player campaign is fantastic and stretches across the 3 entries. At the time the multiplayer was a fantastic addition and kept players busy for months after completing the main game. How these titles have remained locked down is beyond me. They seem primed for an upscale at some point. If you want to own them now though, the PS3 is the only place to buy them.
Tokyo Jungle: Released September 25th, 2012 Price Charting Loose - $20 (JP) CIB - $27 (JP)
One of the wildest games released for the PS3, Tokyo Jungle saw players take on the roles of various animals in a future set, deserted Tokyo overrun by wildlife. The story mode eventually details the reasons behind humanity’s collapse while the survival mode was a solo or multiplayer affair that saw players trying to keep their selected animals alive as long as possible. It was a simple game, controls/graphics/music, that never really caught on in the US. But, it was a game unlike any other at the time or since, and is more than worth a playthrough. And while there is a Vita version, it is somehow less involved than its PS3 counterpart making it the far inferior version. (PS3 discs are region free so importing is not a problem)
God of War: Ascension Released March 12th, 2013 Price Charting Loose - $19 CIB $26
While putting together this list, this was the game that surprised me the most. God of War is probably THE Sony franchise at this point and while there was certainly some fatigue at this point, hence the switch to Norse mythology and shifting gameplay, this is still a proper God of War title, the 2nd canonically and 7th released. Gameplay was what players had come to expect from the series at this point which was over the top, violent, and a hell of a lot of fun. The writing and acting were as good as ever and the story itself, dealing with the furies, was very cool. It’s not the only God of War game locked to an older system but with the trilogy remake in the works, I have to imagine this and the PSP games will be more difficult to acquire in the future.
And that’s my list. To hear what Kris has to say make sure to check out the pod through whatever catcher you use or on our very own Youtube channel. But I want to know what you think. Join the Stone Age Gamer discord, or you can find me on Bluesky to let me know your thoughts. In the immortal words of Billy Joel, “Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes; I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again.” See you soon.
