I'm on the cusp of picking up a PS3 Slim from eBay as there are a couple of games I'd like to play. I've already picked up Tales of Xillia and will probably get the others PS3 Tales games and Drakengard 3. I'll probably also get Chrono Cross from the store if that's possible in the UK (not sure whether it came out here or not). Besides that, I have a PS5 and Series X so I can play quite a lot of games from the PS3 era, such as FF13.
Do people have any more JRPG recommendations that are PS3 only? Anything obvious I'm overlooking?
More generally, any tips for what to watch out for when picking up a PS3 Slim? I've decided against a model with PS2 backwards compatibility as, whilst I'd like to have that, apparently those machines are quite tricky to keep running.
@mcdreamer It’s a good question and as I think about it, there are very few big games, JRPG or not, which have not been ported or remastered for the PS4. Ni No Kuni was one of the final ones trapped over in PS3, but it got the PS4 remaster a few months ago.
The Final Fantasy 13 trilogy is a good shout though. All three of those are trapped on that generation, and I wouldn’t mind going back if I had the chance and complete 13-2 (I never finished it) and play 13-3 (never started it). But I guess they are on Xbox for you.
A few other games, including Western RPGs and blockbuster games are only on PS3, like some of the Ratchet & Clank games, Infamous 1&2, Spec Ops: The Line, Red Dead Redemption, The Saboteur, the Dead Space games, the Resistance games, etc. but I can’t think of other JRPGs. Some of those are likely on Xbox though.
I’m not familiar with the Tales series, so not sure which of those are only there and which are multiplatform on Xbox, but Tales of Graces might be worth a look for you, as it is a PS3 favorite.
A couple of FromSoft’s Armored Core games, as well as Metal Gear Solid 4 are only on PS3. They are obviously not JRPGs in the purest sense but are from Japanese developers.
As for your second question, having owned both the “fat” PS3 and then later the slim, I can confirm that the fat older model died on me. The backwards compatibility to PS2 was nice, but the slim seems more reliable as a console.
“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”
Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Symphonia 2 got decent ps3 ports. Eternal Sonata is a good shout if you haven't played the Xbox ver, I hear it has more content than that ver.
Drakengard 3 is an amazing pick, also go for the original Nier gestalt if you can (just called NIER in the west.)
I'd also look into Idea Factory and their subsidiary Compile Heart. I got into their games during PS4 era, however I suspect they have PS3 games
In regards to model: my Ps3 slim (not the ultra slim) still works after 10 years
@Th3solution This is what I found what I started doing a bit of research. It does seem like a huge number of games are playable on PS4, which is great of course - especially if they're remastered. It looks like the PS3 has the better line of well loved Tales games, though opinions do seem to vary quite lot over the fan base. I'm starting to sense that this might be mostly a Tales machine if I do pick one up though Armored Core might be a good shout too - I've not tried any of those.
FF13 is one I really hope to get to eventually. I hope Sony will offer a bit more of a backwards compatibility story in the future. The way it's handled on the Xbox is really great.
@AndyKazama I hadn't considered picking up Nier Gestalt as I beat Replicant when it came out last year. Is it worth going back to play Gestalt too (I know there's a different version of the protagonist)? Will check out the studios you mentioned.
@PSVR_lover Thanks for the link. I came across that one last night and it was good to look down. I wasn't too surprised to see Tales games at the top of the list!
Good to hear that the slim model is the right one to be going for. I reckon if I find myself wanting to play any PS2 games I'll just pick up a PS2. It seems they're pretty easy to get hold of (as are PS3s).
@AndyKazama Yeah, definitely interesting to know the differences. The bits where you could go off and do battle runs with the Gestalt character were quite fun in the new version of Replicant. Love ending E as well! A new copy of Drakengard 3 was going cheap on Amazon when I looked earlier today so I picked that up. A PS3 purchase is inevitable now! Do you know whether the first two games available on the PS3s without backwards compatibility or do you need PS2 support?
@AndyKazama Yeah, definitely interesting to know the differences. The bits where you could go off and do battle runs with the Gestalt character were quite fun in the new version of Replicant. Love ending E as well! A new copy of Drakengard 3 was going cheap on Amazon when I looked earlier today so I picked that up. A PS3 purchase is inevitable now! Do you know whether the first two games available on the PS3s without backwards compatibility or do you need PS2 support?
You're going to need a PS2 for drakengard 1+2 if you don't have an older ps3. I got mine cheap enough, however this was before Nier Automata had sold millions of copies.
@Bentleyma Looks interesting! Not one I've come across before.
@AndyKazama Coo. I might look at getting a PS2 at some point then if I enjoy Drakengard 3. Sure there must be some other PS2 games I'd love to play too - the console has quite a reputation for JRPGs from what I understand. I bet the first Drakengard games are pretty pricey now! I kind of regret being out of gaming from 2000 to 2015 now!
Oooh, another decent JRPG came to mind! Time and Eternity. It’s not amazing, but I really liked the look of the game. It uses 2D characters on 3D backgrounds.
Enchanted Arms is one that gets overlooked very easily (Tactical RPG and From Software if im not mistaken) and its kinda weird as well. (It did get a Xbox 360 release but i never saw a Copy in person)
The Guided Fate Paradox / The Awakened Fate Ultimatum are Rogue-likes that never got released anywhere else.
The Agarest Games also come to mind, even if they do have ports to other systems (namely Xbox and PC allthou the last one "Agarest War 2" was PS3 and PC only) and id recommend them only if you can bare Fanservicey games.
To Save the best for Last, Ar Tonelico Qoga Knell of Ar Ciel and Ar Nosurge Ode to an Unborn Star are good gems to lookout for.
Ar Nosurge DID get a Vita Release (if you have one lying around its the better way to play it) because i think the DLC for Nosurge was removed at some point? (At least i can't find it...) and Japan did get PS4 re releases but we won't see them at all I'm afraid (Cries in Corner)
Oh gosh i forgot Cross Edge, that's apparently a good one too, just sometimes people want something like 50ish for it for some reason? (PAL Version should be cheap thou)
@Bentleyma Thanks for another interesting looking recommendation!
@Lightgazer Enchanted Arms looks really interesting! I'm a big Fire Emblem fan, though I've just finished all the FE games I have available to me. Looks like this might scratch a similar itch! Cross Edge also looks quite promising. Will check out some of those others from your list as well
Well, a PS3 Slim is indeed on the way. Hopefully I'll have it by the weekend and be able to check out some Xillia and Drakengard at the very least!
@amenohi Always good to have another tactics game on the list!
The Slim has finally arrived (a few days late). Spent an hour or so setting things up last night. It's a bit OT, but here are some thoughts / questions:
The controller is completely shot. It doesn't really respond to inputs, but equally seems to spam out a load of random button presses every 30 seconds or so. I can't tell if it's spontaneously issuing those inputs or they're the buttons I pressed 30 seconds before. It's quite annoying, but also not quite enough for me to send the unit back (as I guess they'd want the whole thing). I have a Mayflash Magic S which allows me to use a PS4 controller - including the home button! - so I think I'm just going to stick with that.
Installing Xillia took around 10 minutes (2GB), Drakengard 3 took just over half an hour (5.5GB). Is that normal? The Xillia install didn't really surprise me but the Drakengard one seemed quite long. The drive is quite noisy. Enough to given pause for thought but I don't think it's broken. Installation progress was steady, if not particularly fast. I suspect I'm just too used to the speed of modern systems.
Additionally, I realised I can pick up Persona 3 FES from the store and finally play The Answer!
PS3 Controllers die quite fast with a lot of use (i killed 3 or so) and they can be quite expensive unfortunately... (the OG ones i mean)
If you have a PS4 you can just use the PS4 cable, put it in the PS3 and use your OG PS4 Controller to play PS3 games (way better feeling than a counterfeit or 3rd Party) but beware that quite a few games won't work with a PS4 Controller. (It stops working if you unplug it thou but you can make it work wirelessly i think.)
Namely ones that need Sixaxis, or the Metal Gear Solid Legacy Collection doesn't work at all with the PS4 Controller for some reason, oh and Ratchet & Clank Tools of Destruction.
Installing games on the PS3 always took long, its normal.
Drakengard 3 is a late release i think, maybe that's why? (Also is it weird the Case of Drakengard 3 is Blue like the PS4 ones? I mixed my Copy into my PS4 games and forgot about it for a long time until i was looking for it... hahaha...)
It could be that the System was never cleaned, my sisters PS3 (80GB model) sounds like a Vacuum Cleaner if you turn it on, maybe it just needs a good clean?
There is a lot of good Classics to Download on the PS3, if you care to make an American Account you can check out Parasite Eve 1 which EU never got, i remember it being dirt cheap on there...
Someday, somewhere in the Sky...
may we meet again.
@Lightgazer Yeah, I was wondering whether that might be the case. I did have a quick look to see if there are any new or nearly new listings for controllers about and as you say, they're really expensive.
I had a go with my DS4 both cabled and wirelessly. It worked well in the menus but wasn't too good in the games I tried. And of course the home button doesn't work, which seems a bit odd given it works to some degree. Looking up online I found what you said - that some games work but not everything.
Fortunately I also found some posts signing the praises of the Mayflash Magic S. I happen to have one for using my arcade stick with my PS5. That works really well in the PS3 mode using a DS4. The home button works and games started to respond more sensibly. I bet there are still going to be some things which won't work, like the games you listed, but hopefully I'll have pretty good success with it.
Glad to hear that long installation times are normal. I'll make sure to start that off when I'm going to go and do something else!
I was wondering about the Drakengard 3 case being blue - it is a bit weird! I quite like the look of it. Must be because it's a late release.
The system itself is relatively quiet so I think it's probably quite clean inside. I'll have to open it up and some point and take a look.
I tried to create an American account in the past so I could get access to Xenogears on the PS Vita. I got the account up and running but then couldn't quite figure out where best to buy gift cards to use on it. Either that or I found somewhere that looked dodgy and decided against it It was a while back now.
My other big surprise is that there's no menu music. Having only used a PS4, 5 and Vita I'd kind of assumed they'd all have it!
People swear on Play Asia for Different Currencies? (is that a word?) i never tried it but i will be 4 Sure once they announce the shutdown of the PS3 Store.
The Mayflash Magic S is a godsent then! I should pick one up by chance to make sure i still have controllers in the Future (or ways to play)
I Only got 4 Regular Sixaxis PS3 Controllers without Dualshock 3 (remember those? oh my...) so im set for awhile, but i don't own THAT many PS3 games so theres that!
Someday, somewhere in the Sky...
may we meet again.
@mcdreamer - 3D Dot Game Heroes is a brilliant J-ARPG, it's pretty much a voxel based Zelda game for the PS3. The only problem is it's ridiculously expensive nowadays, usually in the £150 upwards range though Japanese import versions can be found quite a lot cheaper. Definitely worth playing if you can find a copy.
@Lightgazer I'd definitely recommend the Magic S. I've also got the Magic NS for using controllers with the Switch. Both have worked really well for me @Shigurui 3D Dot Game Heroes looks pretty interesting! If I come across a copy for a sane price I may check it out.
I've been diving in to Tales of Xillia over the last few days and definitely enjoying it so far. It's funny how long it's taken me to come around to the Tales series, but at this point it just feels so comfortable to play. I'm going to enjoy working through all the PS3 entries.
Talking of the PS2, I got my hands on my brother's old one last weekend. Xenosaga 2 just arrived in the post. Such a shame we only got the second game over here. I hear it's the least favoured by far but I'm still happy I'll be able to get a taste of some of that series (as a huge Xenoblade fan).
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Topic: JPRGs only available on PS3
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