Last week, the official PlayStation UK Twitter account asked people what their favourite game was of each PlayStation generation. It clearly struck a chord with gamers – over five and a half thousand people commented their preference. And it got me thinking. If I had to name the best (or at least my favourite) game for each PlayStation console, what would I pick?
As a console gamer, I’ve only ever owned a PlayStation. When all my friends were switching to Xbox with the launch of the 360 back in 2005, I defiantly held out for the release of the PS3 in March 2007. It was a long wait and the console was anything but perfect at launch, but I never regretted that decision. That’s not to say Xbox’s are bad – it’s just that PlayStation gave me so many fantastic gaming memories that I wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.
With the PlayStation 5 just over one month away, let’s take a trip down memory lane and look at the best PlayStation games from each generation:
PlayStation – Metal Gear Solid (1998)
The third game in Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear franchise, but the first in 3D (hence “Solid”) and on the PlayStation, Metal Gear Solid has one of the most significant legacies in gaming history. Not only did it spawn numerous acclaimed sequels, it paved the way for cinematic video games and is regarded as the first to popularise and master the style.
You take control of Solid Snake, the legendary hero of Outer Heaven and Zanzibar Land (from Metal Gear 1 and 2), as he is brought out of retirement to infiltrate the nuclear weapons disposal facility on Shadow Moses Island, Alaska. The island has been taken over by terrorists claiming to be from Snake’s former unit, FOXHOUND, who demand the delivery of Big Boss’ remains (the antagonist from the previous games and Snake’s supposed father). If their demands are not met within 24 hours, they claim they will launch a nuke.
The story, while wacky and cheesy in typical Kojima fashion, is highly engaging throughout. Complete with twists and turns, double agents, tragic back-stories and love interests, MGS delivers a narrative that has stuck with me for years. Each character is fleshed out to a level rarely seen in video games even now. Be it Snake’s support team – lead by Colonel Roy Campbell – who he communicates with via codec across hours of excellently written conversations, or FOXHOUND’s elite soldiers who headline the game’s numerous unforgettable boss fights, all the characters are memorable in their own way.
The gameplay is innovative, too. The game’s original manual boasts about a groundbreakingly intelligent enemy AI that picks up on audio and visual clues to detect your presence and hunt you down – it really was impressive stuff for the time. Sure, it’s dated now. The once revolutionary Soliton Radar, for example, seems like a relic of the fixed third person camera days. But the lasting impact of MGS’s pioneering mechanics and ideas are still felt in games today… And let’s not forget its plethora of cool easter eggs.
For me, Metal Gear Solid is the prime example of quality that has come to be associated with PlayStation. If you haven’t played it, you’re really missing a piece of gaming history.
PlayStation 2 – Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater isn’t here because I’m simply a fan of the franchise. It is generally regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time – and for good reason.
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, the first MGS game on the PS2, was released in 2001. While it is a fantastic game, the controversial introduction of Raiden as the main playable character left some fans disappointed. What’s more, the complex political and societal messaging in its story (while incredibly prophetic when viewed from today’s perspective) is arguably too heavy handed. It’s typical Kojima, but to the extreme.
Snake Eater corrected all of that. Set in 1964 and focusing on Naked Snake (the future Big Boss), its story perfectly balances world geo-political history with a riveting spy adventure. It’s complex but not confusing. And the story of Snake and his mentor The Boss is heartbreakingly tragic. It’s the best stand-alone story in the franchise.
The game is set in the Russian jungle and is a notable departure from previous titles in the series. Because of the setting change, new survival-based gameplay mechanics were introduced to capture the essence of surviving in the wilderness. The gameplay was acclaimed by critics at the time and are, to my memory, the first of their kind. This break from the series formula (which had become somewhat repetitive by MGS2) cemented Metal Gear’s legacy as an enduring and ever-evolving franchise.
As a console, the PS2 had an extensive library of games, and the mechanical and graphical leap from its predecessor was astounding. Because of this, there are so many games to choose from when talking about ‘the best’. Ultimately, though, none stack up to MGS3. If you play only one game from this list, make it this one.
PlayStation 3 – The Last of Us (2013)
In 2013, the world was zombie mad. A resurgence in the genre lead to high demand for a game that coupled the wonder and terror of The Walking Dead’s first season with the high-quality gameplay made possible by seventh generation consoles. Enter, The Last of Us.
Whatever your opinion of The Last of Us Part II (we loved it), which launched earlier this year to huge controversy among fans, there’s no denying that Part I is anything less than a masterpiece. Taking cinematic video games to a whole new level, The Last of Us tells the incredible story of bereaved smuggler Joel as he escorts a young girl, Ellie, across the post-apocalyptic United States. Along the way, they must fight zombie-like mutated humans (such as ‘clickers’, among other variants) and hostile humans.
Developer Naughty Dog had already delivered the PS3’s best exclusive series in Uncharted, so fans had high expectations going in. And they weren’t disappointed. The Last of Us delivered an experience like no other – terrifying, exciting, happy, sad, heart-breaking – it had it all. The cast of characters are expertly crafted and instantly relatable. And that doesn’t just apply to Joel and Ellie – who can forget Tess, Henry, and Sam? The voice acting is suitably top notch and perfectly compliments the multifaceted characters.
Of course, good characters are nothing without an equally solid story. The Last of Us exceeds in that department and then some. Right from the off, the emotional weight is palpable. The ending is one of the most conflicting yet perfect conclusions I’ve seen in any medium – and it has huge repercussions in Part II. Thankfully, the strong story is tied together with equally robust gameplay. From a third-person perspective, players control Joel as he fights, sneaks and treks across meticulously designed levels that feel eerily close to the real-world. Weapon variety doesn’t match that of Call of Duty, and instead takes the old-school approach of one pistol, one revolver, one shotgun, one rifle etc., but each have their own specific use and ammo must be savoured. As a result, melee combat is your crutch – luckily, it’s impactful, intuitive, and satisfying.
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is a close second for me. But nothing on the PS3 equals the range of emotions and downright fun I had while playing through The Last of Us for the first time.
PlayStation 4 – Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)
With the PS4 and eighth console generation, the quality and cultural importance of video games shifted up a gear. As those millennials who grew up gaming moved into adulthood, so came the recognition of video games as a true art form. This made developers push themselves harder than ever before to make the absolute best games they could. As a result, picking the best game on PS4 should have been a tall task… Had it not been for Red Dead Redemption 2.
Coming eight years after the first Red Dead Redemption (itself a spiritual successor to 2004’s Red Dead Revolver), anticipation for RDR2 was through the roof. A prequel to the first game, it followed Arthur Morgan, a member of Dutch Van der Linde’s gang of outlaws in the American Wild West. Arthur is perhaps my favourite protagonist in all of gaming. As with The Last of Us, the voice acting is to a very high standard throughout – but Roger Clark’s portrayal of the veteran gunslinger is nothing short of iconic.
Graphically, the game is simply stunning. From one corner of the huge open-world map to the other, landscapes are gorgeous, and towns burst with life. Every NPC has their own little life and random encounters with them as you ride across the vast map punctuate a game that makes the most of its expansive setting. Some players complained at the lack of emphasis on fast-travel – I loved it. Riding from one town to another can take serious time, but the things you see along the way are always worth the journey.
Gameplay is much the same as in Red Dead Redemption, just refined. The controls can feel a little clunky at times, but overall, they don’t detract from an otherwise exhilarating experience. Guns pack a serious punch and the need to double tap R2 (once to pull back the hammer and once to shoot) gives each weapon an authentic and cinematic feel. There’s nothing quite like towering over a slowly dying KKK member, aiming at their head, pulling back the hammer, and exploding their cranium.
With its engaging story of hope and betrayal, spectacular graphics and authentic gameplay, Red Dead 2 is without a doubt the best experience a gamer can have on the PlayStation 4. If you haven’t played it, it is an absolute must before the PlayStation 5 arrives next month.
Let us know your favourite games of PlayStation’s past in the comment section below! And don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
–
Featured Image Credit: Naughty Dog
