PlayStation's masterpiece series that no other game will ever achieve

While PlayStation Currently home to many critically acclaimed and beloved game series, viz god of war, The last of usand horizonSony has been criticized by its fans for forgetting some of the most beloved IPs of the past two generations, even those that shaped the PlayStation brand in its early years.

The PS1, PS2, and PS3 had exclusives of such high quality that they were instantly considered masterpieces, not to mention that they helped PlayStation become one of the “Big 3” of the home console market. Except for the occasional cameo in the games, unfortunately Astro BotThe brand has mostly forgotten about these great IPs, and it's highly unlikely they'll ever come back. The following eight 10/10 series are the most notorious examples of this unfortunate phenomenon.

delete

Quintessential Futuristic Racing Game (and F-Zero's Biggest Competitor)

There was a time when delete was one of PlayStation's biggest and most iconic franchises. Born very early in the PS1's lifetime, these futuristic antigravity racing games gave players thousands of hours of fun with their exciting, fast-paced gameplay and their stylized graphics and music. It really felt like Sony's answer to Nintendo F-Zero suffrage

delete It saw most of its success during the PS1 generation, but new releases eventually slowed down in the PS2 and PS3 eras. Unfortunately, the franchise has been dormant since 2012, and since its original developer, Psygnosis, shut down that same year, it likely won't get another entry. however, of wipeout The spirit still lives on in indie spiritual successors, viz Antigravitor and Ballistic ng.

Parappa the Rapper

One of the most important rhythm game series ever made

Although this may seem silly at first, it is worth mentioning Parappa the Rapper It was quite groundbreaking for its time. The concept of a rhythm game with gameplay that relied on well-timed player inputs was quite a hit in the mid-90s, not to mention that its unique art style, wacky characters and lighthearted tone helped the series stand out even more.

PaRappa became one of PlayStation's most beloved unofficial mascots during that period, but after two mainline entries and a spin-off, he was slowly forgotten by Sony and his own fans. While these types of simple but attractive projects are not as popular as they used to be, similar IPs are rhythm heaven and Taiko no Tatsujin There are huge fan bases today, so it would be technically possible Parappa the rapper To make a comeback if Sony decides to give it another chance.

MediEvil

This gothic action-adventure franchise made a brief comeback a few years ago

MediEvil Undoubtedly one of the PS1's best and most underrated franchises. Not only were these two action-adventure games incredibly fun, but they also had a unique “Tim Burton-esque” aesthetic and impeccable sense of humor that made them extremely memorable. Surprisingly, first MediEvil The title was remade twice: the first time in 2005 for the PSP, and the second time in 2019 for the PS4.

In fact, the recent PS4 remake was a big (but fun) surprise for seasoned PlayStation fans, and many of them were sure that it would lead to a much-needed revival of the franchise. Unfortunately, nothing came of it, seemingly mixed reception and disappointing sales MediEvil (2019) Discouraged Sony from greenlighting that a MediEvil 2 remake and/or a MediEvil 3.

App Escape

The once-innovative franchise has been relegated to random cameos

It is important to note how important this is App Escape The IP was responsible for the development of the PlayStation brand in its first years in the gaming landscape. As the Nintendo 64 seemed to gain the upper hand for its innovative controller with an analog stick, Sony responded by releasing the PS1's dual analog controller, specifically designed to take full advantage of its features.

Needless to say, the combination of groundbreaking 3D platforming gameplay and a bunch of colorful and likable characters allowed. App Escape who became a huge success, and like PaRappa, Pipo Monkeys eventually became one of the PlayStation's most iconic characters. While the IP still saw a moderate level of success during the PS2/PSP era, the very last one App Escape The title was released exclusively for the PlayStation Move in 2010, and the franchise has since pretty much died down (probably due to the influx of hyperrealistic AAA games during the 2010s). Surprisingly, despite not having a new game in over fifteen years, the Pipo monkeys themselves have made cameos in a huge number of modern titles. Astro Bot and Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.

The Legend of Dragons

The greatest turn-based RPG on the PS1 (that didn't have the words “Final Fantasy” in the title)

Sometimes it's easy to forget how popular turn-based JRPGs were in the 90s, especially on the original PlayStation. Indeed, Square's huge critical and financial success Final Fantasy 7 prompting Sony to create its own first-party game in the genre, which Dragon's Tale.

JRPG fans immediately fell in love with this title, praising its dynamic combat system with quick-time events (which are very similar to modern masterpieces. Campaign 33), its stunning presentation, and its deep and compelling story. unfortunately, The legend of the dragon Basically a one-and-done series, as Sony couldn't bring it back in any shape or form (not counting the digital PS4/PS5 port). Its protagonist, Dart, was going to be a DLC fighter PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, however He was eventually dismissed (he appeared fortunately Astro Bot along with many other forgotten PlayStation icons).

Resistance

A gritty first-person shooter from another time

As mentioned above, the gaming industry was full of dark, scary and hyper-realistic shooters in the late 2000s and early 2010s, even from Insomniac Games – the developer behind the colorful and whimsical franchises. Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet and clank – Created the original series of FPS games during that time period, just the title Resistance.

Fortunately, with Insomniac being such a talented studio, these games ended up being masterpieces of the era and are now considered some of the best exclusives in the PS3's catalog. As expected from the creators Ratchet and clankThe Resistance The trilogy boasted satisfying shooting mechanics, a variety of inventive weapons, and a series of fearsome enemies known as chimeras. As entertaining as these first-person shooters were, they're also remnants of a different time within the industry, and Insomniac is now preoccupied with titles that appeal more to modern audiences, such as Marvel's Spider-Man and Marvel's Wolverine.

infamous

The PlayStation used to have its own (non-Marvel) superheroes

In a similar vein, the makers of Sucker Punch Productions ( Sly Cooper franchise) also went on to make a more mature and dark series in the PS3 era, but instead of making an FPS like everyone else, they opted for an open world game with playable superheroes. The results came infamousIt went on to become one of PlayStation's most popular exclusive IPs in the late 2000s and early 2010s.

Not only do these games allow players to explore vast open-world environments in which they can use an assortment of superpowers to their heart's content, but they also have a mind-blowing morality system that alters the plot based on the decisions they make. The franchise was successful to the point that Cole McGrath became one of the most iconic superheroes not to originate from a comic book, not to mention. The infamous second son The PS4 was one of the first true exclusives that encouraged people to buy that console in 2014. Still, Sucker Punch is busy right now. the ghost series, and Sony has exclusive video game rights to Marvel superheroes like Spider-Man, so it's unlikely we'll see one. infamous Again anytime soon.

the puppet

The PS3's greatest hidden gem

While the PS3's catalog was just as full of mature and violent exclusives The last of us or God of War 3Sony's seventh-generation home consoles also had a solid variety of colorful, more experimental platformers, of which only LittleBigPlanet It seems to be successful to some extent. Among these forgotten hidden gems, the puppet By far the most notable, and it's a real shame that more people haven't heard of it.

Developed by Sony's Japan studio, the puppet Unique Puppet Theater is an endlessly engaging 2.5D platformer with an aesthetic and vibrant art style that made it stand out during a generation in which not many people paid attention to the genre. Despite receiving glowing reviews from critics, the game failed to make an impact and did not receive any sequels or ports. It's not all bad news, though, as the Japan studio eventually merged with Team Asobi and some of the people who worked. the puppet Started to work Astro Bot (Which, of course, features a cameo from this game's protagonist, Kutaro).