You may have snuggled up to the PlayStation 3’s younger more powerful counterpart over Christmas, but that doesn’t mean that there’s not still life coursing through Sony’s former flagship format’s mechanical parts. With its successor readily available on store shelves, the all-seeing eye of the media spotlight has been silently whipped away from Ken Kutaragi’s overengineered box of black magic – but that doesn’t mean that there’s not a lot to look forward to. In fact, with third-party blockbusters such as Destiny and Watch Dogs also due out on the machine, you may yet argue that the PS3 has the best software lineup of any of its platform peers. Just take a look at these upcoming escapades to see what we mean.
Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
It’s not the Symphony of the Night remake that your pointed teeth may be yearning for, but MercurySteam’s take on Konami’s classic macabre-‘em-up has very much taken on a role of its own. Partially inspired by Kratos’ underworld adventures, anti-hero Gabriel Belmont is back with a pastier face and a lust for blood. After the previous instalment’s gob-stopping conclusion, we’ve been itching to further our battle against Beelzebub – and this looks like it’s going to fulfil all of our Satan slaying needs. Recent reports have suggested that the release’s semi-sandbox setting will augment the campaign with a Legend of Zelda-esque structure. We’re licking our crimson lips in anticipation.
Dark Souls II
In an age of linear level design and reduced difficulty tiers, it’s impressive that From Software’s outrageously successful Dark Souls series exists at all. Building upon the success of Sony’s own Demon’s Souls – which required the resources of an external entity to even hit Western shores at all – the previous iteration in this hard-as-nails franchise went on to become one of the surprise success stories of 2011. Despite being helmed by a new director, this sequel promises more of the same tense dungeon crawling action as its predecessor, albeit in a slightly larger and prettier world. There’s some speculation that creator Hidetaka Miyazaki may secretly be working with Sony on a new title for the PlayStation 4, but until that’s revealed this should prove a worthy snack for your masochistic side to chew on.
Earth Defense Force 2025
Ants are a pain at the best of time, but they’re even more of a nuisance when they’re the size of skyscrapers and equipped with acidic spit. The sequel to Sandlot’s long-running third-person shooter, this camp co-operative excursion will find you picking off creepy crawlies like there’s no tomorrow. A handful of selectable character classes, a bunch of new bugs, and a wildly inconsistent frame-rate aim to make this the best worst game that you’ll play in 2014. It may not have the looks of The Last of Us or the responsiveness of Vanquish, but no one ever said that saving the world from insect invaders would be pretty.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
It’s taken an entire generation, but Square Enix has finally figured out how to make high-definition towns. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII scraps the linear structure of its predecessors, and opts for something a little more freeform. Alright, you may have to stomach the incessant whining of franchise ‘favourites’ Snow, Hope, and Vanille, but outside of the bad voice acting and even worse script there appears to be an entertaining romp here, and it’s all anchored by a Majora’s Mask-esque mechanic that finds our pink-haired protagonist forced to save the world in just 13 days. We hope that we can leave some of the characters to rot.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
A game that’s been in development for so long that we’re still not expecting it to hit its early March release date, South Park: The Stick of Truth is the first video game in the classic Comedy Central series to have close input from creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone. An old-school role-playing adventure tailor made by Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment, the title promises to take you on an epic quest from South Park Elementary to South Park Saviour. Rendered in the cartoon’s customary cut-out style, this is likely to prove a tantalising treat for fans of the snowy show. That’s if it ever comes out, of course.
Have you unplugged your PS3 to make room for your brand new PS4, or kept it hooked up while you wait for all of the abovementioned upcoming games? Have you decided to stay away from the next-gen device while you clear out your backlog, or are you juggling multiple machines like some form of console clown? Never stop playing in the comments section below.
Which PS3 game are you most looking forward to in 2014? (65 votes)
- Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2
- Dark Souls II
- Earth Defence Force 2025
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
- South Park: The Stick of Truth
- Other
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Comments 35
My PS3 is staying plugged-in for Dark Souls II! I just can't wait to die over and over again.
I've got too many digital games on PS3 that I'll never get rid of it. The fact PS Now is still very much a question mark is also reason enough alone not to get rid of the machine. Let alone the fact that some great games are still on the way.
Kingdom Hearts II.5 HD ReMix, duh! Kind of annoyed I had to go into "Other" just to say that.
Earth defense force!
FFXIII gets my vote. The ps3 still has so much life left in it. Its looking to be a very successful transition for sony. Both ps3 and ps4 are most likely going to sell well in 2014. Thats a heck of a lot more than what Nintendo has achieved with their transition. I will probably be changing countries again next year and with so much value currently (and coming!) I think I might pick up a cheap ps3 and then flik it off before Christmas.
I'm still playing through The Last of Us, Ascension, Ni no Kuni, Puppeteer, GTA V, Tomb Raider and the Ratchet and Clank collection, so Raven (Yes, I named her) isn't going anywhere anytime soon - not to mention I'm still waiting for Lightning to return.
Even if I weren't still busy with those games, I would still keep her to use as a Blu-ray player and because all my pictures and music are there.
I voted Lords of Shadow 2 but I would also like to say Lightning Returns, South Park, DBZ Battle of Z, Naruto Storm Revolution, and MGS V
Uhm...no not a chance. I haven't disconnected my NES.
@Stuffgamer1 Whoops!
Tales of Xillia 2 obviously. I'm hopelessly, utterly addicted to the first game. (And I'll keep going on about it until I've finished.)
@ShogunRok When's that out, or is it not dated yet?
@get2sammyb You guys made my day putting Earth Defense Force 2025 in that list Still plenty of stuff for most platforms to look forward to this year so Im kinda glad I dont have a Ps4 yet to be thinking of
I'm looking forward to all of those games, but none more so than South Park, but that could be because i don't believe it's coming in March, and I'm waiting for another delay/ it to be cancelled
@get2sammyb I think they only announced Xillia 2 to the west, pretty sure it doesn't have a release date yet.
I will never get rid of my PS3..I still have my PS1 I gave my PS2 to a kid in my apartment complex because he didn't have a console other wise I'd still have that. Earth Defense Force is the upcoming game I'm most excited for.
@LDXD @hydeks Thanks!
@MadchesterManc I'm excited for it. I'm a convert to the EDF series. I do think it's a bit rubbish to be honest, but there's a charm to its overarching shoddiness!
Where's FFX/X-2 Remaster?! D:
Anyone that has PS+ and get's rid of their PS3 is just throwing away free games.
Tales of Grace f, Xillia 1/2, persona 5, Ni No Kuni, Last of Us dlc, Puppeteer, 2 Souls, Lords of Shadows 2....my ps3 still has some steam left.
I just want to keep up with everything I've missed this year and all the free PS+ games
I'm not sure I will get any of these, though Dark Souls II is tempting. I haven't picked up GT6 yet and may not.
Honestly, my PS3 is just sitting there minding its own business, collecting free PS+ games, oh and playing the odd old Dr Who episode. PS4 and VIta are getting the most use.
What's funny is that I sold off most of my PS3 collection to buy the PS4 and feel like I will get many of them back for free over time on PS+. Already have about 10 of them in my digital library.
Only 3 PS3 games & one DLC to come, to play on my PS3 for me but i always keep my gaming consoles because they are a part of me
(3 games are - R&C:N, GT6, Batman:AO + TLoU:Story DLC i have to play to)
Wow i guess 2013 was the last great year for the ps3. They will not realease another uncharted, god of war, last of us, puppeteer, bioshock etc on the ps3 ever again.
Jrpg spree is coming
February ff13-3, tales of symphonia
March ffx/2hd
April tales of xilia 2
@goonow No, I don't think you're getting any big first-party releases any more.
you know a console is dead when the jrpg's start flooding the charts lol
Walking dead season 2, TLoU DLC and it's my Blu-ray player! And maybe I'll buy Batman Origins if WB puts out a GOTY edition.
Persona 5, although I think it will come to the west only on 2015. Other than that, The Wolf Among Us, The Walking Dead Season 2, Lords of Shadow 2 and Lightining Returns.
However, my PS3 will be on for a while as I still have a lot of games on my backlog, such as The Last of Us (just passed winter and now I'm really enjoying the game), Vanquish, Valkyria Chronicles, Mirror's Edge and the first Bioshock (Infinite made me curious about it, but I didn't enjoy it as much)
Can't say any of those really do it for me, but I'm sure there'll be something coming along. I still need to finish Beyond. I haven't got very far Killzone Shadow Fall on PS4 yet; I haven't even started BF4 because of all the bugs.
I might pick up GT6 when the price drops, but that depends on when it happens and how good Drive Club is.
Either way, I don't plan on getting rid of my PS3 any time soon, as I still re-play all of the Uncharted games from time to time, and The Last Of Us.
This is the longest I've kept a 'previous gen' system after a new one has released, and easily the most that the previous gen has been used. That's not to say that the PS4 isn't a great system, because it is... it's just that the PS3 remains very strong in comparison.
Dark Souls II cannot wait for it & than Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, I'm looking forwards to them both but Dark Souls II more. And there Second Son around the sometime on the PS4.
@LDXD should wait and play Tales of Symphonia when it comes out in a bit then, it's probably my favourite and a great introduction to the Tales of series Or if you still have a PS2, you should try Tales of the Abyss, which was re-released on the 3DS, or Tales of Legendia. Whatever one you end up playing, doesn't matter, I think there all great lol
Second Post: I would never get rid of my PS3 anyway, in fact I have never got rid of any console I have owned all the way from the NES
there mine, my own.........MY PRECIOUS! (in golums voice)
I just got my PS3 in June last year, so I have a massive backlog. I haven't bought a game for it in months, just happily playing the PS+ titles (same thing with my Vita). That's good as it leaves me with the funds for my Wii U and 3DS. That said, I'm getting Dark Souls II and Persona 5 (thank you region free!) at release. The PS4 will wait until mid/late 2015.
Shin Gundam Musou!!! Gundam Extreme VS Full Boost! !!
I've been playing my PS3 a lot more than my PS4 lately. Until Sony releases some major, badly needed firmware updates for the PS4, and it sees a few more big game releases, it won't become my main PlayStation system.
No one has mentioned Drakengard 3 -.- lol so many games still coming for my PS3. Maybe there is some hope we will get J Stars vs here in the US as well. Anyways, I never get rid of systems. I'm still playing my PS2 pretty often, even though I have a PS3 and a PS4.
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