Reviews by gamers of the top 40 Playstation 3 video games with release dates and price updated monthly.

JANUARY 2008

Playstation 3 - Reviews of the Top 40 Sony Play Station Three (PS3) Video Games and Console System with Release Dates and Prices

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Sonic the Hedgehog Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Sonic has had no shortage of company on his past adventures, often bringing along enough anthropomorphic pals to have a pickup game of basketball. He's brought along just one new buddy, and a new one at that--Silver the Hedgehog.

The Sonic level, as you might imagine, is all about speed, and though the look of the Sonic level is much more realistic and detailed than you might expect from a Sonic game, the feel is still unmistakably Sonic, with lots of lush greenery, crumbling, ancient ruins, and waterfalls. There are still plenty of familiar Sonic accoutrements as well, including the ubiquitous collectible rings, grindable rails, pinball-inspired bumpers for Sonic to bounce off of, checkpoint gates, and those helpful red-topped power-up pods.

The level is also filled with menacing robots, most of which Sonic can make pretty short work of with his homing attack, which is executed by simply jumping in the air, aiming in the general direction of your enemy, and hitting the jump button again. As fans of the recent 3D Sonic games will know, you can quickly chain these homing attacks together to give whole groups of robots the business, though we noticed that Sonic was now sporting a pretty sweet little mid-combo spinning flip animation that, while not making the homing attack any mechanically different, definitely made the combat more visceral. Sonic the Hedgehog is included in the top 40 Sony play station 3 (ps3) video games.

At several different points, there were glowing green orbs attached to pillars that could knock with a homing attack, which would reveal a wind path that Sonic could hop on and ride, similar to how the grind rails work. While we rode the wind, we noticed a few rainbow-colored looks nearby that, with a properly timed jump, would work as a shortcut. Sonic also proved his worth as an acrobat by hopping on lengths of rope that were suspended horizontally at different points, and then launching off of them to get to a higher point in the level.

There were some speedy moments to the first half of the Sonic level, though once we hitched a ride with a giant bald eagle (!!!) that flew us out of the valley, the pace definitely picked up. The second half of the level started suddenly with Sonic rocketing down a basically straight path that featured incredible walls of water along each side. 

We guided Sonic between pillars and over gaps in the path while also avoiding marauding robots that tried, mostly in vain, to keep up. Eventually we found ourselves actually running sideways along the walls of water that flanked the path before quickly springing off a series stone and water surfaces. The sensation of speed was good, though we found ourselves falling to our deaths pretty often due to some touchy controls.

Then you are put in control of Silver the Hedgehog, whose go-to power is telekinesis, and his level was much more slow-paced, with a greater emphasis on platforming and puzzle-solving. Apparently Silver was in the middle of The Rapture, as he stood on the meager remains of a city that had been all but reduced to gigantic pits of lava and a huge, swirling column of flames. 

His telekinesis allowed him to hover in the air for extended periods of time, making otherwise hard-to-reach platforms readily accessible. It was much more impressive, though, when he used his telekinesis in combat to grab gigantic nearby items like wrecked cars and gigantic crates and then launch them at enemies, all with his mind. This ability was also useful for stopping bullets launched at Silver by his enemies, Matrix-style.

The telekinesis came in handy in providing new paths as we made our way through the level. Early on we walked out onto the end of a steel beam where there was a glowing green mark on the surface. Activating Silver's telekinetic power caused the beam to bend down, and then launch Silver across the level. Later on, we were able to use the telekinesis to lift a huge slab of concrete into the air, giving us access to another, otherwise unreachable platform. The telekinesis took some getting used to, but we had some cool moments in the Silver half, and could see it making for some rather inventive platforming action.

If nothing else, it was easily the best looking Sonic the Hedgehog game we've ever seen. The PlayStation 3 version has a more stable frame rate. All in all, Sonic appears to be making his way to the next set of platforms in style. 

Call of Duty 3 Playstation 3 Video Game $60

The follow-up to the #1 next-generation game, Call of Duty 3 delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the Normandy Breakout, the historic campaign that made the liberation of Paris possible and brought the Allies a step closer to Berlin. 

Through a seamless narrative that delivers the rush of unrelenting battle and breathtaking action, players assume the roles of four ordinary Allied soldiers—American, British, Canadian and Polish—and are thrust onto an authentic, living battlefield for an unprecedented variety of combat, with advanced high-definition graphics, detailed character animations and explosive on-screen action, delivering the most immersive and cinematically intense war experience ever. Call of Duty 3 is included in the top 40 Sony play station 3 (ps3) video games.

Resistance: Fall of Man Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Resistance - Fall of Man is a first person shooter that combines World War II era environments with Doom-like horrific enemies to fight. It also offers great online multiplayer gameplay.

The plot is that, around the time of World War II, enemies attacked the world, starting with Russia and moving westward through Europe and England. In the 50s, the US launched a counter-attack, landing in England. You're fighting, at least to start with, with WWII era weapons and outfits through the streets of England.

Let's start with the graphics. The game goes for a very Call of Duty style of look - not quite realistic, more "cartoony" or stylized. Textures are smoothed out, some objects are simplified. That's not to say this is a Disney kiddy look. The monsters are grimy and nasty looking, the war-torn streets are very gritty. If anything, because this is set in a WWII type atmosphere, much of the game is brown, grimy and shell-shocked.

The HUD is reasonably well done and not intrusive. A small series of bars on the left indicates your health. An equally small but useful display on the right tracks your ammo, magazines and grenades.

The sound leans towards epic thundering scores, a la Gladiator or Conan. Players who love heavy rock music might not enjoy this, but I actually love this kind of music. I own both of the soundtracks I mentioned :). So to me, this really draws you into the atmosphere. 

The yells, gun noises and so on seem relatively realistic to help you feel you're really in the middle of a fight. I also like that, during gameplay, it's usually done without music. If I'm trying to sneak somewhere and listen for enemy movement, I don't want that objective made difficult by a soundtrack.

Gameplay itself is typical FPS fare. You can crouch, jump over things, zoom in on your enemy, throw grenades, strafe, and so on. Your friends and enemies are rather good about taking cover and not just rushing an enemy head-on. There are a few situations which seem quite scripted - if your pals are meant to die, you could play perfectly and take out every enemy quickly and your friends will still be killed by mysterious off-screen snipers. Still, the game needs to keep you on course for the plot so this is to be expected.

Checkpointing is reasonably good, although sometimes it sends you further back then you might like to start again. Healing is done via canisters you find, but depending on your skill you might wish there were more canisters scattered around :). That's why they have 3 levels of difficulty here.

The interactivity with your environment is pretty impressive. Say your enemy is hiding behind a car. You can shoot out the car's windows and then shoot the enemy through the open space. Or you can shoot the car to damage it, and have it explode a la the infamous 'red exploding barrels' found in most shooting games. If you shoot at a window a few times, it will first crack, then pieces will fall out.

Not only is the game great in single player mode, but you can play co-op with a friend at your home, or online in larger groups with friends or strangers from around the world. This helps turn the game from a play-for-a-few-months-at-home style game to a play-eternally-with-friends-online game.

Well recommended!

Full Auto 2: Battlelines Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Full Auto 2: Battlelines revs up its engines as the next generation of high speed combat racing. The game is the sequel to the award-winning Full Auto, and this new standard of vehicular mayhem is exclusively available for the PlayStation 3.

The once-pleasant districts of Staunton City are turning into battle zones, rife with automotive destruction. Use explosive weapons, high-speed vehicles and skillful technologically-groundbreaking demolition of the environment to defeat your opponents and claim the city as your own.

F.E.A.R. Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Already a critical and commercial smash on the PC, F.E.A.R. brings a new level of FPS game play to PlayStation 3 with exclusive single player content designed to immerse the player deeper in the world of the F.E.A.R. team, as well as the visceral action of F.EA.R. multi-player.

F.E.A.R is a paranormal action thriller presented entirely in first person. F.E.A.R. is included in the top 40 Sony Play station 3 (ps3) video games.

An unprecedented adrenaline rush of close quarters combat seamlessly melded with the spine-tingling, shocking intensity of the paranormal unknown.

Need for Speed Carbon Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Form a street racing crew and take over turf in Need for Speed Carbon, the first NFS game for the PlayStation 3. 

The latest entry in the long-running series plays around with the Need for Speed formula. This year's game is an ambitious expansion of the key features that have made the series popular, and it includes new elements that have come out of the team's research into the racing scene.

The big hooks in Need for Speed Carbon are canyon racing, racing crews, and car-class affiliation. The heart of the game's career mode is a battle for control of a city. The setting is a massive free-roaming metropolis that's bigger than the one seen in last year's Need for Speed Most Wanted. 

In addition, you'll find massive canyons that will serve as the stage for the unique boss battles. Your goal is to build up a crew of racers to help you take over the city neighborhood by neighborhood and to master the three car classes--tuner, muscle, and exotic. Need for Speed Carbon is included in the top 40 Sony play station 3 (ps3) video games.

In terms of content, the game is comparable to the Xbox 360 version but does offer unique functionality courtesy of the PS3's six axis controller, which is used to supplement your steering in the game. You'll basically get an assist if you tilt the controller while steering into a turn, which comes in handy on the game's twisty roads. 

The mechanic is a low-key enhancement to steering that gives a subtle twist to racing. The support varies in effectiveness based on a number of factors, namely your car, your speed, and how tight a turn you're trying to pull. The controller support adds an interesting dimension to control.

The other, more-subtle aspect of the game on the PlayStation 3 is its graphical performance, which is on par with its Xbox 360 cousin, albeit with a few flourishes that add some polish to the action. The game features a smooth frame rate and a high level of detail. 

The visuals are impressive and feature a glossy style that's complemented by the PlayStation 3's graphical muscle. 

NBA 2K7 Playstation 3 Video Game $60

NBA 2K7 gives you the chance to be a legend on the court! Get the serious roundball action you crave and achieve NBA superstar status. 

With the industry leading online experience and unrivaled franchise control, NBA 2K7 is for any real fan. Voted best current and next-generation NBA hoops franchise by both press and gamers, NBA 2K7 will continue its legacy of dominance this year on the hard court. 

With incredible graphics, tight control and a revolutionary shooting game, NBA 2K7 is poised for another run as #1 rated NBA simulation. Seamless online play and the most comprehensive online features anywhere including complete online stat tracking, buddy lists management, and online leagues 

My NBA - Plays more like the real NBA than ever before with new player and team tendencies, updated camera perspectives and new animations. 

Real NBA Coaching - Take control of the floor with improved coach settings, new team playbooks and on-the-fly substitutions. 

The network experience is emphasized throughout the game. For instance, even when playing in single-player mode, ranking stats and news are automatically downloaded and displayed in the menu screen. The game also ranks players in a number of ways. The Ridge Racer Ranking provides players with an overall rank based on their performance in the game. 

A "reputation score" is also used to rank players based on performance in the Ridge State Grand Prix and online matches. The OBP--Online Battle Point--ranking is based on points that are earned only during online battles. Finally, players are also ranked based on how much cash they've accrued throughout the game.

Genji: Days of The Blade Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Genji Days of the Blade is probably most notorious for its silly E3 demonstration. The speaker talked about how it portrayed authentic feudal Japanese battles - involving Giant Enemy Crabs :) He also talked about novel concepts such as "attacking its weak point for maximum damage" and how you could do (gasp) REAL TIME weapons change in the game. This last item actually looks very silly - you could be swinging one sword, hit a button and MID SWING the sword changes into a new weapon.

In general, this is a fighting game set in PRE feudal Japan, i.e. 1187. I ran a Feudal Japan newsletter for many years, and feudal Japan was the 1500s, the days of Oda Nobunaga and the wars then. Back in 1187, there was a quite different government setup. If you're curious about this time period, read The Tale of Genji sometime by Lady Murasaki - this is acclaimed by many as the first novel ever written. It was written back in the 11th century! It's a great read even today, which is quite an achievement.

So back to the gameplay. You play a young two-sword warrior and have as your pals an older warrior, a female warrior and a war-god turned spellcasting warrior :) You fight through various Japanese landscapes and settings, taking on the Bad Guys. You have your combat techniques and magical powers to help you triumph.

The graphics are very impressive. In the cut scenes, you can see the fabric weaves on the layers of kimono, the metallic sparkle in the lacquer ware, the rippling heat waves by the fire. During gameplay the character movements are fluid and natural. Fabric pieces would sway and tiny, glistening sparks would float on the air. Some scenes were really quite lovely in a painting sort of way.

Gameplay itself involves slicing with swords, chaining up attacks and blocking. There are, a la the Giant Enemy Crab, situations where you have to Attack the Weak Point for Maximum Damage. I didn't like the HUD of the map in the top left - it took up too much space and looked "silly" in almost a Pac Man kind of way. The top left HUD of characters and health was much better done, less intrusive.

For sound, I love Japanese culture and really enjoyed the traditional music that played in the background in many scenes. For me it really helped immerse the game in an authentic setting. Many of the characters speaking are obviously Japanese and hearing that accent and proper pronunciation of historic names was great. Some have British accents ... odd.

There were a lot of little details that I really enjoyed. Obviously these guys had done their research. The little click as a sword was reset into its scabbard, the traditional sword holders on the ground, the way the swordsmen would set up a stance and move, it was all really enjoyable to watch. In many ways it was like being in a well done movie. 

That all being said, they took a few liberties about what the buildings looked like, and the characters dressed like, back in 1187. It was more like a time traveler from the feudal Japan period (i.e. the 1500s) went back to 1187 in some cases :) But that's sort of like the movie Excalibur, where King Arthur and his knights were wearing armor from the 1600s England. Historic King Arthur certainly wasn't alive in the 1600s :) But we accept that anachronism as part of the myth. It's not like the Japanese soldiers in 1187 had magic powers, either.

In general I really love this game. If I'm going to pick out a particular flaw, it's the camera. You can't control the camera at all, and there are situations where it becomes incredibly annoying. Still, that's something you can just resign yourself to while you enjoy the game!

Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire Playstation 3 Video Game $60

I like battling giant robots, and in this respect the game is pretty good, but the graphics are really a huge letdown. 

Textures are murky, robot models are angular and low on detail... As one of the console's launch titles, it must be kept far far away from any demonstration booths...

DON'T CLICK THE PIC ABOVE AND BUY THIS GAME !! 

It looks like it came off the PS1. The controls are not good and the camera is awful.

Blazing Angels Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII lets you experience WWII's most epic and action-packed air battles. 

Reengineered from the ground up for Sony and Microsoft's next-generation consoles, Tony Hawk's Project 8 immerses players in the definitive skateboarding experience using ultra-realistic graphics, enhanced physics and extremely responsive controls that simulate the feeling of skating with every trick and bail. 

The game challenges players to experience the intensity and pressure of skating against some of the world's top pros in true to life competitions as they aim to become the #1 skater and establish their town as a skateboard destination. Delivering continuous skating action in a free-roaming living environment, Tony Hawk's Project 8 incorporates the series' most popular features, all of which have been enhanced with next-generation technology.

Madden NFL 07 Playstation 3 Video Game $60

I have been playing Madden since the genesis days and this is by far the worst disappointment i have ever felt with a football game period. I think that the game should have remained the same from the PS2 version just adding the motion sensitivity and better graphics.

Just to be fair lets start with the good:

1) Great graphics-
2) Smooth control

And now the bad-

1) NO MADDEN!!!!!!!!!
2) The play calling feature sucks and hard to see
3) can't make defensive formation changes
4) the commentary sucks
5) button configurations are horrible and when you try to change them it never comes out right.
6) no huddles have a video attached to them that kinda defeats the purpose of HURRY UP offense.

I think that i am so dissatisfied because i was so excited about the PS3 and the Madden, but EA put absolutely no thought into making this game. I think EA should stick to the formula of maddens of 'ol and if they don't at least put JOHN MADDEN commentary on it.

NBA '07 Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Developed by Sony Computer Entertainment America's San Diego Studio, NBA '07 hits the hardwood exclusively for the PLAYSTATION 3 system showcasing detailed and lifelike graphics supported in true High Definition at 1080p. 

Taking advantage of the PS3 system's advanced processing power, NBA '07 delivers a true next-generation experience with advanced artificial intelligence (AI), realistic character movements, online functionality, and interaction with the new motion sensor controller. 

With its array of stunning visuals and new gameplay features, NBA '07 delivers the most realistic and engaging NBA experience available.

Fans of the series will remember when Sony first announced the PS3, and EA's then-untitled boxing game was used as a standard-bearer of what the PS3 would be capable of. And while the Xbox 360 version of the game is certainly a visual spectacle in its own right, the PS3 version looks even better. 

Granted the differences between the two games aren't night and day, but little touches, such as cleaner muscle definition in the boxers and improved lighting and sweat effects make for a slick and subtle upgrade to one of the best-looking games of 2006. Heck, even the card girls have improved in two key areas, and we'll leave it to your imagination to figure out just what we're talking about. Fight Night Round 3 is included in the top 40 Sony play station 3 (ps3) video games.

But there's more to Fight Night Round 3 for the PS3 than simply incremental graphics updates. The game also holds the distinction as one of the few launch-window EA Sports games to include a brand-new game mode. Dubbed "get in the ring," this is a split-screen boxing mode, where both fighters are boxing it out from the first-person point of view. Anyone who has played the Xbox 360 version of the game will be familiar with the perspective, which you would often switch to when you landed a particularly brutal shot to your opponent. In get in the ring mode, however, the whole fight is carried out from this perspective, and it's a surprisingly fun way to play the game.

Beyond the novelty of it, the new viewpoint has some interesting wrinkles that add to the experience. Most importantly, punches have a more immediate effect on gameplay. Not only do you get a firsthand view of the punishment you inflict on your opponent, but also any blows that land on you are immediately followed by a hazy discoloring effect on the screen--a visual representation of what it's like to be clocked by a haymaker (or hook, or jab, or uppercut, for that matter). The harder the punch, the more dramatic the discoloration effect on the screen. Knockout punches and haymakers that connect at full force might blur your vision completely, as the screen fills up first with the white light of impact, followed by the purple-black fog of confusion and pain.

To make matters worse, should one eye swell up under a constant barrage, your field of vision on that side of the screen will cloud up or, worse yet, turn completely black. Late in the fight, with the damage piling up, it's often tough to tell exactly where the punches are coming from--something any punch-drunk slugger can probably relate to. Just prior to knocking someone down, on the other hand, you can peek over to your opponent's screen and watch the other boxer's vision cloud up in a haze of white, black, and red; at that moment, you can practically smell the blood in the ring.

The controls in the PS3 version of Round 3 will feel familiar to anyone who has played the game on the PlayStation 2, as they are mapped very similarly. Punches are still thrown by moving the right analog stick in a variety of semicircular movements, while blocking, dodging, and parrying maneuvers are all the same as they were before. The analog L2 and R2 buttons feel different than the digital buttons of the PS2 but won't pose much of a problem, especially if you've played the Xbox 360 version of the game (which uses the left and right triggers extensively).

One PS3 control that's new is the ability to throw "dirty" shots such as head butts, elbows, groin shots, or knees by flicking the Sixaxis controller forward. While fun and easy to pull off, using these cheap tactics in the game didn't warrant any kind of response from the ref. Another interesting difference between the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game, knockouts seemed to happen much quicker in the PS3 game. We KO'd opponents (or were KO'd, as the case happened to be) after just two knockdowns; in the 360 version, four- and five-knockdown fights seemed far more commonplace.

While the aforementioned new features surely adds some life to the game, there's not much else that's new about the PS3 version of Round 3. The game has the same boxer lineup and the same venues to fight in (which probably means the Burger King mascot is still in the game...ugh). On the bright side, the game also includes the same online modes found in the 360 game and the ubiquitous ESPN integration that is standard issue on practically all EA Sports titles these days.

Though many of EA Sports' PS3 launch games aren't that different from their Xbox 360 counterparts, Fight Night Round 3 has taken advantage of its longer development cycle and is raising the bar a bit with a new game mode that turns out to be a lot of fun to play. What it gets right--namely the brutal visuals of giving (and receiving) a good, old-fashioned Everlasting beatdown--certainly make it one of the more interesting sports games. 

Marvel Ultimate Alliance Playstation 3 Video Game $60

Marvel Ultimate Alliance lets you play with a team of your favorite superheroes. Choose from Wolverine, Spider-Man, Thing, Storm, and many others!

You can sort of consider this a Diablo style game with a much more upbeat style. You are one of four characters on the screen at any time, and can quickly flip through them. You go through the rooms hacking, slashing, slashing, and then hacking some more. Along the way you grab colored orbs and glowing coins to help you level up your own character and unlock goodies.

It's disappointing that at the beginning your four starting characters are Spider-Man, Thor, Wolverine, and Captain America. As much as I like those guys, couldn't ONE of them have been female? Still, it's only maybe 10 minutes later that you get to the "team switching" spot and can begin to design your own team. They're not stingy with the characters. 

Right from this point you can immediately begin to use spider-woman, deadpool, iceman, colossus, elektra, human torch, iron man, thing, luke cage, invisible woman, storm, mr. fantastic, ms marvel, and moon knight. There's also other unlockable characters that you can get as you go.

Each character can be leveled up to gain new abilities and outfits. You can choose characters that "traditionally" (in comic book stories) work together, and they will actually know to do combos in gameplay.

The characters' personalities really shine through in the cut scenes. Wolverine is stand-offish and a bit arrogant. Spiderman cracks jokes the entire time. Captain America feels he's in charge. I realize that it would be IMPOSSIBLE for them to have redone the cut scenes for every single combination of characters that you could have done! So again, I wish they had a woman in the set :) Maybe kick out Spidey and his incessant comments ...

The graphics are rather good, from the flickering flame to the shadows and reflections. This isn't a game of subtleties, though. No textured fabrics or flower petals here. Everything is shiny and plastic.

On the sound side, it's a comic book adventure. You have incredibly clichéd dialogue given by over-the-top voices, and lots of booming going on. It's to be expected.

The storyline is also a traditional comic book story but heck, we all grew up with them! You're saving the world. Depending on how well you play, you achieve that mission to different degrees. They did a great job getting you to replay it over and over again in order to unlock the best ending you can.

I really give the game great kudos for their multiplayer and online options. If you're playing at home, you can easily co-op in four people, one for each character, and go to town. There aren't many games where four people can easily have great fun playing together. For online, the same is true - you can really have a lot of fun conquering levels as a wide range of characters, interacting with players all over the world.

This isn't a heavy thinking game, and it doesn't involve complex concepts. Instead, it's a game that adults can easily play with kids, and that can give you a few hours of fun relief from the real world. Well recommended!

Untold Legends Dark Kingdom $60

well after playing resistance and call of duty 3 i just felt like it was the same old games i have been playing for years just a different storyline but untold legends to me made purchasing the ps3 on its launch day worth it. 

the game plays alot like a more advanced version of the Baldur's gate and champions of norrath series from the ps2. the grafix initially were a let down to me but further gameplay made me realize that it is superior to ps2 games, 

the camera modes seem to drastically alter the game by zooming it out. you're able to play the game like champions and baldur's gate but zoomed in the combos look great but the movement of your character becomes more of an annoyance as angles constantly change and the direction of your character changes kind of like the old resident evil games. 

the online play is also an excellent feature as you can battle coop for free. basically this game is champions of norrath with god of war combos and to me this is exactly the type of game i can get hooked on. so basically if u liked baldur's gate, dark alliance, champions of norrath and god of war then this won't disappoint you.