It’s hard to believe that the PS3 is considered a retro console now. Now, 2012 was the last year that the PS3 gave it its all. This was a year before the PS4 pushed its way through the door. The PS3 certainly went out with a bang with some amazing exclusives and third-party hits in 2012.
Some of these can be found on the Xbox 360 too but most have remained trapped on the PS3. Some may not have even received sequels. It is a shame since now is as good a time as any to go back and replay these PS3 classics. Some of these may have been released first in Japan in 2011, but for Westerners, 2012 is the year of celebration that matters.
8 LittleBigPlanet Karting
- Release Date: November 6, 2012
LittleBigPlanet Karting was a unique spin-off for the series as it took away the platforming and exchanged it for a kart racer. The game still allowed players to customize their Sackboys to their hearts' content. Some of the DLC even transferred between LittleBigPlanet Karting and the main series.
There was also a track editor to emulate the main series' creative hook. It may not have blown any doors off its hinges but LittleBigPlanet Karting was still a decent kart racer at the time.
7 Lollipop Chainsaw
- Release Date: June 12, 2012
Lollipop Chainsaw is a b-movie in video game form. It is about a young cheerleader taking on a zombie horde to save her school and town. She is armed with a chainsaw, hence the name, and her beheaded boyfriend. That’s right. He is like a keychain on her belt loop who gives advice from time to time.
Lollipop Chainsaw was co-written by James Gunn. Those familiar with his work can see a lot of fun meta jokes that would go on to define his films such as Guardians of the Galaxy.
6 One Piece: Pirate Warriors
- Release Date: September 25, 2012
One Piece: Pirate Warriors was the first Dynasty Warriors spin-off of this popular anime. The game didn’t redefine this hack and slash RPG series as it was still about pummeling thousands of warriors in maps that were seemingly endless. However, One Piece: Pirate Warriors wasn’t completely devoid of new ideas.
Since this is an anime game, the developers could get crazier with the powers. There are also some platforming segments. Its sequel is a better realization of the concept but the first Pirate Warriors is a fun co-op brawler and started the franchise on a decent note.
5 PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
- Release Date: November 20, 2012
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale gets a lot of flack for being a copycat of Super Smash Bros. While the game certainly has its share of problems, the idea behind it was still a good one. The roster contained a lot of familiar franchises PlayStation fans adored like Ratchet and Clank, Twisted Metal, Uncharted, and so on.
There were even good third-party franchises represented like Metal Gear and Devil May Cry. However, what the game really lacked was support both from Sony and the community. It was seemingly dead on arrival, so now is a good time to give PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale its proper due.
4 Street Fighter X Tekken
- Release Date: March 6, 2012
Street Fighter X Tekken was a planned multi-game fighting franchise. This first title would be Street Fighter at its core with Tekken characters behaving like they were in that franchise. There were plans for the opposite to be true in Tekken X Street Fighter. However, that sequel never happened.
The closest thing fans got was Akuma in future Tekken titles, which proved that a Street Fighter character could work in the Tekken world. Maybe the crossover sequel can still happen one day. Until then, check out Street Fighter X Tekken.
3 Tokyo Jungle
- Release Date: September 25, 2012
Tokyo Jungle has a wild concept for a game. Humanity has been wiped out in Tokyo and only animals are left alive. From wild deer to house pets like Pomeranians, this is their world now. Players choose an animal and then try to get as far into their evolutionary chain as possible.
Tokyo Jungle is part-sim, part-action RPG. Through gameplay, players eventually unlock tougher creatures like elephants and chimpanzees. The game even released DLC for dinosaurs. Again, it was wild.
2 Twisted Metal
- Release Date: February 14, 2012
Twisted Metal was a reboot of the iconic franchise. It offered the same chaotic vehicle action fans had grown to know and love in the early days of PlayStation. The 2012 release incorporated one new element that split the fan base though: third-person shooting. Now, combatants could get out of their vehicles.
It was an odd thing to add to Twisted Metal especially since the game left out a lot of iconic elements like a campaign for each character.
1 Yakuza: Dead Souls
- Release Date: March 13, 2012 (NA)
Yakuza: Dead Souls was a spin-off of the franchise which turned it into a zombie shooter. Zombies could also be pummeled to death but the spin-off provides more guns than the main games. Like Sega's other releases in the series, everything in Dead Souls is over the top.
Dead Souls is also much more linear than the mainline games, lacking the wacky side quests and optional characters. This may be one reason why Dead Souls didn't get a lot of love upon release. As a zombie shooter, the mechanics are also just okay. All these points aside, the sheer novelty of Dead Souls makes it worth a playthrough.