Summary
- Some PS3 RPGs, like Alpha Protocol, had rough starts but improved with time and patches.
- Demon's Souls changed RPGs forever with its challenging gameplay and rewarding experience.
- White Knight Chronicles offers giant mech-like knights in MMO-style combat with slow story progression.
The PS3 as a whole was kind of a console that got better over time. Its launch was rough in 2006, as it was more expensive than the Wii, which launched alongside it, and the Xbox 360, which preceded it in 2005. The games simply weren’t there for years until the magical year of 2008, when things started to turn for the console with the release of Grand Theft Auto 4 and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. It took longer to get some good RPGs on Sony's seventh-gen hardware, though.
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While the PS3’s RPG library is not as mighty as the PS1’s or PS2’s, there are plenty of good games that are still worth checking out, especially RPGs. Like the PS3, these RPGs didn't start strong, and here are some key examples from across a wide range of RPG genres, from action to turn-based.
Alpha Protocol
A Forgotten Spy RPG
Alpha Protocol
- Released
- June 1, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Obsidian Entertainment’s big breakout hit that fans still love from the PS3 era is Fallout: New Vegas, despite all the bugs that plagued it at launch. Alpha Protocol is the forgotten one-off that has been delisted from many storefronts, which is a shame. It too had a rough launch, which improved with patches.
The game itself did, admittedly, have a slow start. It’s a spy RPG where the gameplay doesn’t flow well until a few missions in. It feels like it wants to be a Deus Ex game badly, and it eventually gets there, but Alpha Protocol can test players' patience in the early goings.
Demon’s Souls
Prepare To Die
Demon's Souls
- Released
- October 6, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike, Action RPG
Demon’s Souls changed RPGs forever as FromSoftware's first Souls game, one that the company probably thought would be a one-off. Thanks to players sticking with it, they helped uncover a deep action RPG that was beyond anything that came before it.
That said, it is understandable why so many people quit Demon's Souls after a few hours. It can feel like a waste of time when EXP is lost time and time again. There’s a learning curve, without a doubt, but those up for the challenge will be rewarded.
Dragon’s Dogma
Medieval Monster Hunter
Dragon's Dogma
- Released
- May 22, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Dragon’s Dogma was sort of like Capcom’s attempt at a Soulslike game, combined with their Monster Hunter franchise. Players could create their character and subordinate, a Pawn, and then go on an epic quest while fighting against gigantic monsters like cyclops or Medusa-like creatures.
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Feeling any sort of achievement is hard thanks to the complicated controls and gameplay features, but over time, they become second nature. Dragon's Dogma can honestly make Demon’s Souls’ mechanics seem easy to pick up and play, but like that game, Dragon’s Dogma found its fans who stuck with it.
Final Fantasy 13
It Gets Good Forty Hours In
Final Fantasy 13
- Released
- March 9, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Final Fantasy 13 was a major departure for the franchise, as it featured a very linear experience. Also, players could not choose their party members. Instead, they came and went with the story, which was fragmented.
It takes about forty hours, but an open-world-like segment does unlock towards the last third of the game. For some, it was kind of too little, too late, but a lot of Final Fantasy fans did indeed start to enjoy themselves more after this point. For what it is, Final Fantasy 13 is good even during the linear parts, but it does take some time to get used to.
NieR
A Long Road To Fun
Nier
- Released
- April 27, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
NieR opens with a feeling of forlornness, like players are jumping into an RPG character’s life at the end of their epic quest. The nameless protagonist doesn’t say much, and there’s a lot of running around without action. Even when there is action, it doesn’t feel great for an RPG.
Eventually, players will get a book named Grimoire, who unlocks magic and adds some flavor to the story and gameplay. Two other characters join the adventure, and once the party is fully assembled, NieR feels like the start of something epic.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch
Stop Crying And Catch Pokemon
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
- Released
- January 22, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol and Tobacco Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is one of the PS3’s best RPGs and a genuine competitor for one of the best monster-catching games next to the Pokemon series. That said, Oliver’s journey couldn’t be more frustrating, as he lacks any self-confidence and is understandably sad about his mom.
Even after Oliver travels to another world and the battles start, players won’t have much to add to combat. It takes at least twenty hours to get all three party members, and then the combat will start to click more.
Resonance Of Fate
A Steep Learning Curve
Resonance Of Fate
- Released
- January 28, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Fantasy, Narrative
Resonance of Fate will not waste time getting the player's party together, as all three characters will be unlocked from the start. That’s a good thing, but the combat is the problem, because it is far more complex than it needs to be.
Players have to be aware of their line of sight in battle, along with their movement, which gives it more of a tactical feel. When players learn to pull off moves like they are directing an action anime, that’s when Resonance of Fate gets extremely fun, but it won’t hold their hand at all.
White Knight Chronicles
Get To The Mecha Knight Already
White Knight Chronicles
- Released
- December 25, 2008
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Mild Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
White Knight Chronicles is a bit generic around the edges, featuring a silent player character and a story taken straight from the RPG handbook. It also starts slowly before the world opens up to get to some combat and free-flowing quests.
The gameplay is what players should come to White Knight Chronicles for, as it is similar to MMOs. The big hook is the giant mech-like knight that players can summon in combat to fight some of the bigger monsters. Once that element shows up, the whole game becomes a lot more fun.
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