Summary
The PlayStation brand is home to some of the most notable gaming IPs of all time. Fans love the first-party games released on their major consoles and how much fun they are to play, constantly pushing the boundaries of the gaming industry with their amazing graphics and stories.
Sometimes, even fans with high expectations will be absolutely flabbergasted by the quality of some of the games released on the PlayStation. These titles are in a class of their own and prove time and time again that Sony’s first-party offerings seldom disappoint.
TheGod of Warrebootmade a strong first impression with its previews, but fans still wondered if Kratos' character would be relevant in the modern gaming landscape. All of these complaints were shattered when the game came out to rave reviews.
Cory Balrog himself couldn’t stop his tears from flowing as the reviews dropped forGod of War. Humanizing Kratos' character was a risky move, and people were glad to see that this game’s mature storytelling elevated its quality to new heights.
The Last of Usis one of the greatest video games ever made, elevating Naughty Dog to new heights. When this game came out, fans couldn’t believe just how much of an improvement the game’s emotional narrative was compared to theUnchartedgames.
The end result is an unforgettable adventure where Joel and Ellie bond in a world full of enemies trying to take them down. The stealth combat was crunchy and satisfying, and fans were glad to see Naughty Dog hit it out of the park somehow after mainly focusing on full-on action for theUnchartedseries.
When the news of a newRatchet & Clankcame out, fans had tempered expectations. Interest in the series had waned over time, and fans didn’t know what to expect from this title.
Thankfully, the PS5’s tech managed to elevate the quality of this title to new heights, with Insomniac Studios showing how they were adjusting to the new SSD in no time. Fans loved the frenetic action and impressive load times of this title, allowing fans to experience some memorable set pieces where the environments could change in a flash.
TheSpider-ManIP had been woefully mishandled for the longest. Sure, fans felt that Sony would finally give it the fair treatment it deserved, but some players still felt that the game wouldn’t break new ground as a superhero title.
All of these worries faded into obscurity whenMarvel’s Spider-Manlaunched. From the very momentits cinematic intro dropped players into the action, it was clear that Peter Parker’s adventures would be in a class of their own compared to the games that preceded Insomniac Games' foray into the franchise.
Astro Botfelt like a glorified ad campaign that was meant to bring more eyes to the PlayStation 5’s mascot, and nothing else. What fans didn’t expect was a genuinely charming 3D platformer with a bunch of imaginative gameplay loops to keep fans engaged.
Fans of PlayStation’s history will love the many stellar references in this game as they overcomeAstro Bot’s many challenges. It’s a genuinely excellent title that deserved its Game of the Year award, hammering in just how surprising the game’s quality was.
Rhythm games are fun in their own right, but it took something special forPaRappa the Rapperto become a legendary title in this genre. As difficult as the game was, the charming presentation and catchy tunes did a lot to help this game stand out.
While titles with an action-focused gameplay loop are great,PaRappa the Rapper’s simple rhythm gameplay was overflowing with charm and turned it into one of the most notable games on the original PlayStation. It’s a shame that later games in the series failed to capture the magic of this title.
It takes something special for a video game spinoff to establish itself as one of the best titles in the franchise, especially in the case ofFinal Fantasy. The seventh and ninth mainline entries are hailed by many as some of the best games in the series, so it says something that fans still rateFinal Fantasy Tacticsabove both titles in terms of both gameplay and story.
The world of Ivalice was rich and bursting with incredible lore, while the gameplay made for a tough and rewarding tactical experience courtesy of the director’s expertise, who worked on games likeTactics Ogrebefore this title. It makes for a riveting package thatany fan of tactical RPGsshould try out.
The fact thatDemon’s Soulsset the foundation forDark Soulsto becomeone of the greatest action RPGs ever madeis a testament to the game’s surprising quality. In fact, one can argue that the only reason whyDemon’s Soulsdidn’t become just as viral was because of its console exclusivity.
Sure, it lacked the groundbreaking interconnected world ofDark Souls, butDemon’s Soulsboasted a combat system that was way more intense and rewarding than players expected. People who resonated with the magic of this title loved whatDemon’s Soulsbrought to the table, with these fans finding it easy to jump intoDark Soulsand marvel at the improvements this game brought to the table.
