Image source: Anni Roenkae

Top 10 PS3 Games in my Backlog

Maybe it’s the fact that I’m currently playing Valkyria Chronicles, which was originally a PS3 game, or simply that I haven’t made one of these lists for the system yet, but I recently developed the urge to scrutinize and prioritize my PS3 backlog. The result is this list you see before you, the top 10 PS3 games in my backlog!

One thing I kept in mind when prioritizing these games is whether I already owned them or not. Low on the list you have titles I haven’t gotten a copy of yet, and higher you have all the games I do have, but haven’t finished. I am really excited about some of the games lower on the list, but I want to make an effort to play the games I already own first.

To be honest, I’m not sure how soon I’ll get to any of these, mainly because I don’t have a way to capture screenshots while playing them. Unlike the PS4, there’s no built-in screenshot feature on the PS3. To capture on real hardware, you need some sort of capture card. Emulating some of these might be possible, but PS3 emulation on PC still isn’t perfect, and I don’t think I have a powerful enough PC anyway.

All that aside though, I’m looking forward to playing these games eventually! On to the list!

10. The Sly Collection

• Developer: Sucker Punch Productions & Sanzaru Games
• Release: November 9, 2010

The Sly Collection contains HD remasters of the Sly Cooper trilogy. They’re described as stealth platformers, featuring the anthropomorphic raccoon, Sly Cooper.

Since I didn’t have a PS2 as a kid, the Sly Cooper games are one of many PlayStation franchises I missed out on.

9. Ratchet & Clank Collection

• Developer: Insomniac Games & Idol Minds
• Release: June 28, 2012

I remember playing the original Ratchet & Clank at a friend’s house a long time ago. It seemed like a really cool and funny game! But since I didn’t have a PS2, I only played it for that very short time. Eventually I forgot about it, but now years later I’m remembering that time, and I think it’s a series I’d like to play for myself!

8. Tales of Graces ƒ

• Developer: Namco Tales Studio
• Release: March 13, 2012

As a Tales Of fan, I have to fill the gap in my Tales knowledge by playing the definitive version of Graces someday. Originally a Japanese exclusive Wii game, the PS3 port bears the “f” suffix and features some additional content and HD graphics. Most importantly though, it released internationally!

I’m especially curious about this game because I’ve read several opinions online that the battle system in Graces is the best in the series. That’s a very strong recommendation!

7. The Guided Fate Paradox

• Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
• Release: November 5, 2013

The premise here is you play as a young man who stumbles into the role of God. He’s guided by an eccentric group of angels who help him to grant peoples’ wishes. You do this by navigating randomly generated floors of dungeons, fighting enemies within.

I actually started playing this one a while back. It’s a pretty fun little roguelike that’s very anime, and from what I played, a pretty light-hearted, humorous story. I just kind of stopped playing it though, I’ll have to pick it up again sometime!

6. The Disgaea Triple Play Collection

• Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
• Release: September 15, 2015

Disgaea is a series of strategy RPGs known for over the top humor, characters, and mechanics. These can be huge time sinks if you want to grind, and I think you probably have to grind to at least some extent. I mean, series is known for having a level cap of 9999. That’s outrageous, and kind of awesome! I played a little of the first 2 games, but didn’t finish either of them. Besides D2, which is a direct sequel to the first Disgaea, none of the games require you to have played other games in the series, so I should be able to jump into the Triple Play Collection pretty easily.

The Disgaea Triple Play Collection contains Disgaea 3, 4, and D2. These were all originally released on PS3 separately, but in the Triple Play Collection they’re all present on a single disc. Interestingly, this compilation only released in North America and Europe. It never released in Japan. The individual games in the collection did, of course, but this 3-in-1 disc did not.

5. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

• Developer: Square Enix & Virtuos
• Release: March 18, 2014

Shortly after I got a PS3, I picked up this Final Fantasy X collection, wanting to get more into Final Fantasy. I started it, didn’t get very far, and just got distracted by other games and stopped playing it. X seems to be slightly divisive among Final Fantasy fans, since it took more steps away from the classic Final Fantasy formula of the prior games, although I think it’s generally liked for its story and battles. Either way, I intend to form my own opinion on it!

4. God of War III

• Developer: SCE Santa Monica Studio
• Release: March 16, 2010

I want to get into the God of War series. They seem like fun, action-packed hack ‘n’ slash games. Hopefully the 3rd one is a good place to start! I may be a little lost jumping into the story at this point, but I can always read a synopsis of the story up until that point.

3. Star Ocean: The Last Hope

• Developer: tri-Ace
• Release: February 9, 2010

Here’s another game I picked up intending for it to be my entry point to the series. I played the tutorial and the battle system seemed really cool, reminiscent of Tales Of. This makes sense given the two series history, namely how Star Ocean was created by Tales of Phantasia developers who left to form tri-Ace and developed the first Star Ocean game. Embarassingly I couldn’t figure out what to do to get past the first area in the game…so I gave up. I’m not really sure why I was so stumped so early in the game, but hopefully now that I’m older and wiser I’ll have no trouble with it on my second attempt!

2. Infamous

• Developer: Sucker Punch Productions
• Release: May 26, 2009

Infamous puts you in the shoes of Cole MacGrath in the aftermath of an explosion in Empire City that leaves him with electricity-based super powers. It’s an open world action-adventure game that allows you to direct Cole to use his new powers for either good or evil, with two different endings depending on your choice.

As I mentioned in my least valuable games post, I picked up Infamous and its sequel for cheap. I haven’t touched them yet though! If I enjoy the first game enough, I might continue right on with Infamous 2 afterward.

1. Resonance of Fate

• Developer: tri-Ace
• Release: March 16, 2010

Resonance of Fate is a steampunk-inspired RPG centered around a trio of mercenaries earning their living around the mechanical tower, Basel. The battle system is very unique. It’s turn-based, but attacks are very unique. You order your characters to run, jump, and shoot enemies in mid-air. I actually started playing this a few years back, but I never really grasped the battle mechanics. I might need to watch or read a tutorial to get the gist of the mechanics, because clearly the in-game tutorial just wasn’t enough for me.

I’m really excited to play Resonance of Fate! The battle system intrigued me despite my struggles with it when I played some of it before, but the world and characters are especially interesting to me. One of the main characters is voiced by Scott Menville, who also voices Lloyd Irving in Tales of Symphonia, and that’s pretty cool!