I've Finally Got a Playstation...

Skyrim just isn't a must play to me, I think there's much more to be gotten from something like Dragon Age, which ticks many of the same boxes but has much more depth.

I didn't suggest Bioshock because I think it's a hard game for noobs to get into. I bounced off of it super hard because it has quite a few odd gameplay kinks. Definitely amazing, just one for a little down the line as far as I'm concerned.

Nier. is an interesting one, I'd recommend it, but I think it's had a bit of a price hike since the anouncemwnt of Automata. It's a pretty average action rpg that takes a bit of a twist of other games/genres gameplay. The story is pretty great too, though I can see Balla disagreeing with the required multiple endings (4 endings, but the latter 3 involve you playing through the second, shorter act of the game. My gf also bigs up the music in it.

Also from Mas list, Star Ocean is pretty solid, I enjoyed the first half but hit a wall with it. Characters can be kinda annoying though

Steins Gate is decent, but I couldn't imagine playing that on a home console.

I was looking over some of my ps3 games the other night & I realised how different my tastes in games are to Balla & the only one I think you may enjoy would be Batman Arkham asylum due to it's Metroid-like world/level design. Anyhow looks like you have plenty suggestions to pick through.

Balladeer wrote:

God damn it, I've got to get me some Bioshock action.  People talk about Uncharted 2 and TLoU and the like being some of gaming's greatest: from an outsider's point of view, Uncharted 2 seemed like Tomb Raider with a less likeable protagonist, while TLoU was a film crossed with a stealth game that got praise for its story and had shonky gameplay overlooked.

I'm with you on Uncharted. It's pretty and cinematic, but the gameplay is extremely rote.
TLoU, on the other hand, is genuinely really good. The gameplay isn't bad apart from an early bit where you have to sneak past some soldiers. After that it uses the gameplay to tell a story in a very good way, and it uses stealth and action well. It doesn't "force" stealth, that's one option for approaching enemies. I still probably wouldn't recommend it to yourself though.

Catchin' up time. I'm going to go with Xilia out of the Tales games to start off with, for the reasons Athrun gave, then have a look at Graces afterwards maybe. I'm sad to hear what y'all say about Bioshock, maybe that's one for later. I do want to give it a go though.

The Cappuccino Kid wrote:

Burnout Paradise would be my choice, Balladeer - there isn't an open-world racer that's as good as Paradise is, anywhere.

Drunkalilly wrote:

Blur - Of the racers Cappa suggested, this is the one that's basically just Mario Kart.

The Cappuccino Kid wrote:

I'll also echo andyman's suggestion for the first Jak & Daxter game. If it's available as a standalone download on PSN, get it, it's exactly your sort of game.

Last suggestion: NiGHTS into Dreams is truly special, and beloved by many of those who have played it. The reason I suggest it to you is that it's very unusual, whimiscal and fantastic in the same way that Super Mario Galaxy is.

PSN's really bloody good isn't it? What I should ask is, how much does it cost per month? It's really showing the eShop up from what I've read, but at least on the eShop you only pay for the games.

...oh wait, Mas says it's free. Top banana.

EofGizmo wrote:

If you are looking for a great zelda like hidden gem I can't recommend 3D dot heroes enough, beautifully simple art style and gameplay of top down zelda game - tons of fun!

I'm not quite as much of a top-down Zelda fan, and I've heard mixed things about this. I'll give it a peer, but consider me a tad sceptical.

EofGizmo wrote:

For a jrpg I don't think anyone has suggested try the disgea series. Plays kinda like fire emblem but more wacky Japanese story!

EofGizmo wrote:

Plays kinda like fire emblem but more wacky Japanese story!

EofGizmo wrote:

Plays kinda like fire emblem

Drunkalilly wrote:

Dragon Age: Origins -  Look, I know what you're gonna say. You don't like choice.

Despite this, and despite my scepticism concerning what you say afterwards, DAO was always on my radar. Giving it a chance and that.

Drunkalilly wrote:

Beyond Good and Evil HD - Don't know if you played this on Gamecube, but you've got a chance now!

Drunkalilly wrote:

Skyrim - I feel like you should give one of these big, mad open fantasies a go and I don't think you'd like the FPS angle or the post-apocalyptic angle of Fallout.

Jimbob wrote:

I'm suprised only Drunka's mentioned Skyrim so far. Although, it's a bit shonky on PS3, so give its daddy Oblivion a go! Otherwise... what everyone else said.

I have heard reports of said shonkyness. Definitely want to give one of these 'big mad open fantasies' a go, not sure which one though... Played Oblivion Drunka/anyone else? What about Morrowind?

Drunkalilly wrote:

Mass Effect - I know Dragon Age was a hard enough sale but you liked the Xenoblade games and they took a lot of inspiration from Mass Effect.

This is probably an 'if you like DAO' option for me. I know it's there, I know it's good, I know it's very choice focussed.

Drunkalilly wrote:

Batman: Arkham Asylum/ City - Not sure where you stand on Batman, but if you're into the character at all...

Think he's a bit dull to be honest outside The Lego Movie. MY PARENTS ARE DEEEEEEEEEEAD... However.

The_Jaster wrote:

I was looking over some of my ps3 games the other night & I realised how different my tastes in games are to Balla & the only one I think you may enjoy would be Batman Arkham asylum due to it's Metroid-like world/level design. Anyhow looks like you have plenty suggestions to pick through.

Hearing it's a Metroidvania, albeit a grim and gritty one, raises my interest levels substantially. So maybe.

Incidentally Jazzer, what sort of stuff's in your library beyond Batman and DS?

Jimbob wrote:

Don't get Little Big Planet. I know you like platformers - as do I - but, as a Nintendo fan, you'll appreciate being able to jump 100% of the time you press the jump button.

I'm no big fan of 2D platformers unless they do something really special (or, er, star a Nintendo character ). Don't worry, wasn't going anywhere near this.


And then Mas left me with a huge post, I shall edit in my reactions to games he's mentioned that nobody else has.

I really liked Oblivion but is now very old and Morrowind isn't on PS3

Yep PSN is free to play online and to buy games & use etc, but if you do pay to have plus you get two games a month on PS3, PS4 and VITA (On PS4 you need plus to play online as well).

PSN is good because you have all the PS1 (some PS2) Classic games, PSN titles like Journey and films to rent or buy, also PSNOW is a thing which isn't that great but you can rent games that it could be a cheap way to play stuff or even try before you buy as saves carry over or you can sub to it but is expensive but something like 200+ games

Then Sales like at the moment Beyond Good and Evil HD is £2.49, Bioshock £3.99, Batman Arkham Asylum for £3.99, Mass Effect Trilogy £10.99

Yeah long post from me but wanted to give a nice lot to look at.

I've just completely lost my Mas-Sive edit. So quickly, games out of that list I'd like to get people's more detailed opinions on:

Dragon's Crown
Eternal Sonata
Folklore
Odin Sphere
Resonance of Fate
Steins;Gate
The Legend of Heroes
Unfinished Swan
Enslaved (specifically, is it true that there are really annoying escort missions?)
and which Telltale games to get first.

And just to irritate people I'll say that I have no interest in the MGSes at all. Gritty stealth gameplay broken up by interminable pseudo-philosophical dialogue, from a man who is terrible at his female characters (citation: Drunkalilly, Gintendo, 2016)?  Nope ta.

No probs Balla, and yeah wasn't sure if MGS would be your thing or not as it does have stealth and gritty, some of the female characters are good just look at Boss and as you see the PS3 has a lot to play without MGS.

As you've narrowed down the list I can talk more about the game I know about

Eternal Sonata, This is a Balla game due the genre, the them being about Chopin and art style. I think if I can remember correctly the combat is Tales like

Folklore, This I brought up as forgotten gem on Pod of War as it was nearly launch and odd but do you like collecting monsters and poems / rhythms in a darkish RPG set in Ireland

Odin Sphere, I've played the demo on PS4 and was really nice and like I said we do have a review up

Steins;Gate, Like Andy says might be better on a handheld where I played it but I have played Hatoful Boyfriend a visual novel on PS4 and that was fine, I think Athrun has played

Unfinished Swan, Black and White game but you play as young boy with a paint brush and can paint like a FPS to paint your path, its so good but hard to talk about

Enslaved (specifically, is it true that there are really annoying escort missions?) I can't really remember but you do have the girl with you and it does have a simliar plot to TLoU but minus stealth and it has colour also the acting is top notch, this a true underrated game

Telltale games to get first, Depends what you as Tales from the Borderlands is more funny where Wolf Among Us is more about being the detective solving the case. There always on sale as well also it be your first platinum

But I want to add another game as I didn't think it was on PS3 but is and that's Life is Strange which is sort like a Telltale game but more of a game, me and Drunka along with a few others on here loved it.

Like I said it might be worth going back through on the forum or checkout reviews on Push Square (NLife sister site).

Dragon's Crown - From the Muramasa lads, similar style, it's alright, nothing to scream about.

Eternal Sonata - Interesting idea, game designed by Tri-Aces music team, doesn't play that well if you ask me.

Folklore - Not great, felt a bit dated when it came out & it was an early gen game.

Odin Sphere - Not tried this one but I think it's a little closer to Muramasa (also from same team)

Resonance of Fate - I've not heard a single good word about this. My gf loves JRPGs and even she binned it off.

Steins;Gate - Not really a game, the "Choices" are pretty naff and the true ending is impossible without a guide. Has a good text skip at least, but as I said, not sure PS3 is the right place for it.

The Legend of Heroes - I found the battle system to be poorly explained and hard to get into.

Unfinished Swan - There are much better artsy indie games, there are much worse. Wait for a sale, sure you can get it for about £3

Enslaved (specifically, is it true that there are really annoying escort missions?) - Hack and slash x Uncharted platforming. A perfectly average game, you're much better off jumping on the DmC reboot from the same folk.

and which Telltale games to get first. - Walking Dead is the obvious choice, Wolf Among Us is also pretty good, Borderlands is pretty awesome but it's not an easy sell.

Loving the mas-terful pun there (I'm sorry).

Legend of heroes is similar to persona but with more combat and less social building. Interesting story, characters and levelling system. Battle system is very turned based but with positioning and team up abilities somewhat similar to chrono series. Plus the sequel is coming at the end of year in us so it's a game that had promise of more if you get into the series.

Odins sphere and dragons crown are both really fun beat em ups. Dragons crown is more rpg and Odin sphere is more action. Both sidescrolling and both fairly sizeable and fun. I would recommend odins sphere slightly more due to story.

And enslaved is very escort mission based but I don't recall it being annoying or intrusive. Really enjoyable hidden gem for the console in my humble opinion!

Hope that helps! Like everyone is saying there is a metric ton of different games to try so I'm sure you gonna enjoy it!

Balladeer wrote:

I've just completely lost my Mas-Sive edit. So quickly, games out of that list I'd like to get people's more detailed opinions on:

Steins;Gate

Big BIG fan of steins;gate, loved the anime, love the visual novel, pumped for the prequel / sequel vn due next month.  I'd say it's worth a look if you like the story of Danganronpa, while it's strictly a visual novel (so you may want to opt in to the exceptional anime adaptation instead) it's got tons going for it.  Great cast of eccentric characters and great use of, well, I won't say what it uses so well since that might be considered a spoiler, but it's one of the better uses of that story element I've seen and explores a good chunk of the possibilities of such a element.  

Visual novel or anime, you can't go wrong with either and I consider it essential to experience at least one.  There's a bit of pandering at times, but it also has some great characters of both genders, namely protagonist Okabe Rintarou and leading lady Makise Kurisu.  

Quote :

The Legend of Heroes

I've only just started the first game of the Trails series, the only problem I could see with Trails of Cold Steel is that it's the sixth game in the series and they all have a overarcing storyline that started in Trails in the Sky along with the individual story of each set of games.  There've been three arcs in that overarcing story now, Cold Steel being the third.

From what I've heard Cold Steel was written as a jumping on point, and each arc has its own cast so there won't be any issues there, just bears mentioning.  I would however like to point out the first two games in the Trails series, Trails in the Sky and Trails in the Sky Second Chapter can run on a toaster and won't be an issue chasing up.

All those disclaimers said if Cold Steel is even half as enjoyable as the first hour of Trails in the Sky it's well worth a look.

Eternal Sonata - Interesting idea, game designed by Tri-Aces music team, doesn't play that well if you ask me. Plays a lot like Tales from what I remember and the classical music stuff Balla would like

Folklore - Not great, felt a bit dated when it came out & it was an early gen game. It was a sort of a felt like it could be a PS2 game but that's not a bad thing as we've said things like Jak which came out how long ago

Unfinished Swan - There are much better artsy indie games, there are much worse. Wait for a sale, sure you can get it for about £3. This is where me and Andy differ as I would say this is one of the best of that sort of genre and worth every penny of the asking price. But it's hard to judge if you like these sort of games as Nintendo haven't really had them, but take ABZU I've just finished I would recommend that to Muss or Drunka from what I've seen them play but I wouldn't Andy or Smurf as it's to much like Journey, so who's taste do you normally agree with is the question.  As we've seen from Jas reply he can't really recommend much as his taste is different to what he knows you like.

Enslaved (specifically, is it true that there are really annoying escort missions?) - Hack and slash x Uncharted platforming. A perfectly average game, you're much better off jumping on the DmC reboot from the same folk.  

I chuffing adored Muramasa!  Would play a sequel in a heartbeat.  Odin's Sphere goes straight to the top of my 'to play' list.  Dragon's Crown... less so because of the immensely childish art style.

Think I'll give Eternal Sonata a go and take a punt on Andy being wrong, like he so often is. Same with Swan and Enslaved.  Might trust his girlfriend on Resonance though.  Uncertain about Folklore.

Re. Athrun's two, sounds like TLoH is one to buy when/if I've got time to appreciate the rest of the series.  Eof sells it well though (although I don't have the same regard for Chrono Trigger as basically anyone else).  Steins;Gate is one to watch the anime of instead.  

And if I get around to Telltale, think I'll start with The Wolf Among Us.  I've always liked the idea of the setting.


Thanks again gents! Hopefully this is obvious, but it'll be a long long time, if ever, before I get around to even all the suggestions that I like the look of.  It'll be nice to have a broad library of games to go back to whenever I have downtime though.  

Odin and FFXHD are probably the next ones on my retail list, with Burnout Paradise alongside for something completely different. Oh, and BG&E HD, can't forget that. And JnD to download from PSN along with FFIX/NiGHTS. That's ten to be getting on with. Which is a lot!

I wouldn't say Eternal Sonata was Tales like, it has a turn based battle system, just a really stupid one (there was a cave which had unavoidabe bat fights and I triggered about 7 in a row and each did exactly the same stupid movements). It is one my gf enjoyed though, so maybe Balla will like it, I do think that Star Ocean is worth a go over it though.

Are you saying Enslaved is better than DmC mas? Enslaved is such a clunky game all round, it's fine, there's nothing wrong with it, but it's hardly a must play by any definition. It's a poor mans God of War mixed in with weaker platforming than Uncharted.

Bioshock and Bioshock 2 are bloody brilliant, ignore these chumps. If you struggle with the shoots, whack it on easy.

I'm not saying it isn't brilliant, just not an easy game to get into! Perhaps dropping the difficulty might help, but that game has a crazy tough start and I'm obviously too stubborn to drop to easy.

Glad we can help Balla and we must of given over 50 games without even looking at PSN or Classics. Like I said as games are cheap, just try something and maybe you'll find something you'll like and didn't think you would also you might go from DA:O to Mass Effect Trilogy to Vanquish and so on.

Also didn't you say your lady friend has a PlayStation, maybe she can also help you put.

I agree sort with Andy, on Bioshock like I said it's in my Top 10 of all time but wouldn't recommend to Balla like I wouldn't recommend Ni No Kuni to Jas.

Enslaved is much better then DmC from what I remember of the games but a few years in between them.

Just one more: Dragon's Dogma. An absolutely mad JRPG with real-time combat, a western fantasy inspired world, a story you do not want to spoil and a great big world to explore. Daft fun I didn't have the time for when I tried to play it but which I really want to give another go. Fingers crossed for Xbox BC.

Balla wrote:

Hearing it's a Metroidvania, albeit a grim and gritty one, raises my interest levels substantially. So maybe.

Incidentally Jazzer, what sort of stuff's in your library beyond Batman and DS?

A few shootybang games, some open world games like Red Dead Redemption & GTA, XCOM, a couple of sports games (PES & UFC) so basically the stuff that isn't your cup of tea.    I was super late to ps3 myself so I aimed to get games that were nothing like I could get on Nintendo, there's probably still a tonne I could get for ps3 tbh but I'm usually not bothered enough to boot mine up.

Drunkalilly wrote:

Just one more: Dragon's Dogma. An absolutely mad JRPG with real-time combat, a western fantasy inspired world, a story you do not want to spoil and a great big world to explore. Daft fun I didn't have the time for when I tried to play it but which I really want to give another go. Fingers crossed for Xbox BC.

Seconding that one, that game was a complete blast!  

Third from what I played from the expanded edition Dark Arisen via PSNOW.

I think DD is too shonky, I've tried about 5 or 6 times after promises of a sweet, sweet end, but it just isn't worth the journey.

Couple I've just thought of: Portal - Part of The Orange Box, but Portal is the only one still worth playing if you ask me. Great physics based puzzle game that I probably don't need to introduce you to.

Mirror's Edge - First Person Free Running, nice short title all about traversing a beautiful semi-futuristic city, free running is up there with Prince of Persia and it's a blast to play.

Portal is top notch, shame it isn't on its own on PSN. Not sure on ME, I thought it was utter pants.

Another thing I thought of, which isn't a game but having multiple accounts. Now when you get your PS3 and set it all up and Balladeer as your name & you put you're in England etc you'll have a UK Account and when you go on PSN Store everything will be in pound sterling.

Now on PS3 and same with PS4, you can make more then one account you can make that account for any region. So I've also got masofdasusa which you can guess is an American account which has been useful like I got Witcher 3 & Transformers on PS4 for something like $30 or $40 which at the time Witcher 3 was still like £40.

Only issue with this is you have to buy American PSN point cards of eBay etc as you don't have American bank account or whatnot but all this can lead to some great savings also some things are only on the USA store & vice-versa but take now for less then $20 you can get BG&EHD, Dragons Dogma, FFIX, Okami HD in the flash sale.

We do seem to have better sales in UK & Europe but its nice to have the option and there be people in September who suddenly make Japaneses accounts to download Persona 5 for instance.

I now have three Playstation games and no Playstation.

Incidentally that almost came out as 'Paystation', which brings me back to the days of NOM and the N64-PS1 console war.  Aaaaaaah, nostalgia...

What 3 did you pick up first?

Parents bought me Ico & SotC, I've bought Yakuza 3 and DS, and NNK should still be on its way. From the looks of it Yakuza 3 is very different to my usual stuff, so I'll probably start off with either Ico or NNK and see how I get along.