Playstation 3D

Now that 2011 is drawing to a close, I thought I’d do a retrospective of 3D games released in 2011.

2011 saw an influx of “native 3D” games versus games which were developed solely in 2D and converted after-the-fact. This meant that instead of 3D being a gimmick as in the case of many games from 2010 and earlier, in 2011 game publishers finally started to use it as a necessary part of the games.

I’ve posted the complete list of 3D games released for the PS3 in 2011, followed by their publisher, age rating, and release date. I’ve also indicated whether the game includes Move support (which in many cases provides an even more immersive experience) as well as whether it’s a PSN exclusive or not.

I’ve also posted in ratings from four sources. From my experience, I’ve found that each of these four sources can be very flawed at times, but when taking all four together, it provides a pretty good indication of how good a game is.

• Amazon reviews are based on user ratings from Amazon.com as of 12/31/2011. I’ve found Amazon ratings to be mostly accurate, but they tend to be on the generous side because users who purchased the game will tend to vote up games to justify the expense they paid, and game publishers’ PR departments routinely use fake reviewers to pump up rankings.
• This is why I turn to GameFly as a second opinion. GameFly generally has more votes and because users don’t pay a lot for the games they’re more likely to be objective. On the flip side, because reviewers may rent a title “for a lark” and may otherwise not be very invested in the game, this may cause ratings to be a little lower than they should be.
•  I look to Gamespot and Metacritic as the “third opinion”. These game reviewers are generally on target, but now and again they’ll let their bias against certain companies or technologies show.

1. Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception
2. Batman: Arkham City
3. MLB 11 The Show
4. Mortal Kombat 9
5. God of War: Origins Collection

After playing a number of games for the Playstation, there are a few that jumped out at me as simply stunning in 3D. Best thing about it, a lot of these games you may already have on the shelf, but with your Playstation 3D display you’ll give it new life.

1) Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception – The original Uncharted set new standards in video gaming for a story line worthy of Hollywood screenwriters, an amazing soundtrack, and incredibly detailed graphics and virtual worlds. Uncharted 3 adds to the list absolutely fantastic 3D. The rooftop views of London by night are so extraordinarily beautiful that I had to pause to just admire it. The 3D effect is amazing, and absolutely enhances the game play (this was the first game where I really felt like objects “floated” in front of me). This is a game that is close to perfection and is definitely a “must have” in your collection if you want to own the best of the best in 3D games for the PS3.

2) Motorstorm Apocalypse – This is the game that’s bundled with Playstation 3D Displays. I’ll admit, there’s a little too much complexity in the controls and the storyline for my tastes, as I like my racing games to be just racing games. But again, the 3D graphics are extremely well done and great for showcasing the talents of the Playstation with 3D.

3) The Fight: Lights Out – This was a game I’d purchased at full retail when it first came out to use with the Playstation Move. One of my biggest complaints was that there was simply no depth perception–I’d flail away at the opponent’s face wildly hoping to make contact. This is a case where 3D is not just aesthetically pleasing, it’s essential to enjoying the game to its fullest. I can actually reach out and lay a left hook squarely in the opponent’s face, rather than just waving my hands wondering if I’m making contact.

4) Tumble HD (PSN) – This was a downloadable game on PSN that was ho-hum when I first tried the demo. It was an interesting demo for the Move, but otherwise nothing very special. But putting on the 3D glasses changes the game completely. You can move blocks in three dimensions, making the experience amazingly real. The blocks themselves with their various textures also feel more real than ever. I played the demo again and went ahead and purchased the full version immediately as soon as I experienced it in 3D.

5) Virtua Tennis 4 – This was a game which didn’t receive very good reviews, mainly because the tennis simulation itself paled in comparison to Top Spin 4. However, I have to say at least from an aesthetic perspective (if not a realism perspective), using the Move controller as a racquet and standing on the court in 3D is by far the most realistic virtual reality experience I’ve had to date. Sadly, the Move controller is only used for a small portion of the game, but I was impressed enough to have

6) MLB 11 The Show - This was another game which I thought I’d played out, but adding the 3D was like getting a whole new game. It’s exhilarating to be able to watch pitches come right at you, as well as to watch fly balls actually travel through the air. Again, I wish the Move capabilities were expanded a bit (it’s only good for the home run derby), but again it’s one of the more realistic examples of virtual reality on the PS3 so far.

7) Gran Turismo 5 – This was a game which I’d really not played in a while. I won’t say the 3D effects are as stunning as, say, Motorstorm Apocalypse or Uncharted 3, but they’re not bad especially when you use the “in car” view and experience the full depth of the steering wheel, the rearview mirror, and the view outside.

So, that’s my take on games I had, many of which were sitting on the shelf collecting dust, that received new life with 3D. If you have experience playing other 3D games that blew your mind, share them here!