The PlayStation 3 era of video games was one of the most inventive and exciting times to be a gamer, and, thankfully, Sony is reportedly looking into PS3 emulation for the PS5. That means that players will get to play their favorite older games from the generation. But that might still keep fan-favorite deep cuts from the era from being playable.
The further time goes on, the more forgotten they become, but Redditors are here to remind others of the most underrated, overlooked, and undeservedly forgotten games of that time. Reddit s have quickly come to the defense of some games that weren't all that well-received when they were released over ten years ago. And even the most disliked games of yesteryear have grown a cult following and have their apologists.
Just Cause 2 (2010)
The first Just Cause game had huge bragging rights for being the biggest open-world game on the PlayStation 2, and though Just Cause 2 can't claim such a thing, the gameplay is way more focused. The original game in the series might have been sprawling, but it was messy and all over the place.
As a result, the mission design in the second game is much better put together and more thrilling, and UncleBling thinks, "Seriously, worth every penny." But the game isn't as underrated as the Redditor thinks, as most critics thought it was a massive achievement over the first Just Cause, and it has the best reviews of all four games in the series.
The Bourne Conspiracy (2008)
The Bourne Conspiracy is one of the strangest tie-in video games ever. The film it's based on isn't exactly child friendly, and it's hardly a high-octane action series, but a slow-paced mystery thriller. The game was criticized for struggling to tell a story half as compelling as the movie, even if it is a competent shoot 'em up.
Adding to the issues is the playable character's design. The game is so jarring because of how the playable character looks so unlike Matt Damon, as the developer clearly wasn't allowed to use the actor's likeness. Nevertheless, CurbedEnthusiasm believes, "It was underrated and a ton of fun. Not perfect, but a solid effort."
Sleeping Dogs (2012)
A GTA IV and V tbh. The battle mechanics are fun and the Honk Kong locale just felt more fresh and vibrant." Though Sleeping Dogs doesn't have the greatest reviews of all time, the game is more slept on than underrated. Critics like it enough, and it has become something of a cult hit, as those who have played it love it to no end.
It allows for not just all the typical gameplay that comes with an open-world release, but it's so immersive, steeped in Chinese culture, and it flips the genre on its head. Instead of playing a criminal or anti-hero, gamers play as a police officer taking on a Triad crime syndicate.
Deadpool (2013)
While Deadpool game was a hell of a lot of fun." The Deadpool video game isn't actually a tie-in to the movie, and it even came well before the 2016 comedy superhero flick.
The release is a faithful adaptation of the comic books, as the anti-hero is full of vulgar jokes, the comedy action is on another level, and it features some of the best writing ever for a video game. The game was criticized for not having any consequences, but nobody expects Deadpool to have any stakes.
Mirror's Edge (2008)
Redditor Mirror's Edge is one of my top 3. It may have been critically acclaimed when it came out, but I never heard anyone talk about it." The game actually had inconsistent reviews, with some critics loving it and others hating it. And even though it arrived at a time when parkour and freerunning were at their peak in popularity in the late 2000s, the game still struggled to find a fanbase.
The game has a simplistic and minimal art style that not many gamers could get on board with, along with an underwhelming combat system and storyline. The series was rebooted eight years earlier with Mirror's Edge Catalyst, but it again had a mixed reception from critics. However, in the time since, both games have become cult hits and are beloved for their free-running gameplay.
Captain America: Super Soldier (2011)
Movie Captain America: The First Avenger.
Nevertheless, Arkham game. Very fun." The game plays through the events of Steve Rogers taking on Red Skull and HYDRA, and its combat system is good enough. But it was criticized for being too repetitive and having ugly visuals, with character models that look nothing like their on-screen counterparts.
Far Cry 2 (2008)
When it comes to the Far Cry series, the third game is easily the most beloved by both fans and critics, as it features iconic video game villain Vaas, and the exotic open world is so detailed. Every following game in the franchise followed Far Cry 3's formula, but the series didn't immediately find its footing.
Despite the open world still being totally immersive, Far Cry 2 is the most criticized game in the series, which is due to the bad writing and technical issues that plagued that game's release. But those problems don't matter too much to Ez86a11, who loves the game. The Redditor expresses, "I have replayed it three times now and each time it gets better!"
Max Payne 3 (2012)
It's wild to think that Max Payne series as a dark and supernatural noir-themed action, but the third entry in the series made some huge risks, and players weren't totally blown away.
Though the game got mostly great scores from critics, fans of the series didn't like the new sun-soaked setting or the departure from the slowly paced originals. But Serosis is one of the few who was impressed by the threequel, believing, "Max Payne 3 is the most underrated game I have played on the PS3."
Spider-Man: Web Of Shadows (2008)
Considering they're based on a superhero character, the Spider-Man video games have had a way better than average success rate. Even the Sam Raimi movies' tie-in games are some of the Marvel's Spider-Man saw the most immersive web-slinging game yet. However, the IP had a bit of a lull in the late 2000s with a string of unsuccessful games, and that included Web of Shadows.
Redditor EwokSlayer explains, "I usually only play games with trophy but I played through that whole game just for the best Spider-Manning since Spider-Man 2." The game was criticized for its messy storyline, repetition, and an annoying lock-on camera that doesn't actually lock, but it's hard to fault the as always exciting web-slinging.
Driver: San Francisco (2011)
Driver: San Francisco is an open-world driving game that was seemingly overshadowed by much more popular games of its kind at the time, such as the Burnout and Need For Speed games. Hovercraft_of_eels thinks the 2011 game has innovative controls and mechanics despite it not getting much attention.
The Redditor posits, "The car shifting mechanic was brilliant, and the story was actually fun. I had more fun with this car game than with any other since Burnout: Paradise." For a game that simply sees players driving from one destination to another, it's a supremely well-crafted game. And though there aren't any on-foot missions, the game features a surprisingly compelling storyline that's made up of cutscenes. It's one of the best driving sandbox games on the console and it doesn't get enough credit.
