The 8 Best PS3 Games
#8: Resistance: Fall of Man
Why It's Great: Resistance stood out amongst an army of first person shooters by taking the tired World War II formula, and throwing an alien invasion into the mix. As U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. Nathan Hale, you were thrown into this inventive scenario with gun in hand, and a nation that needed saving. With an extensive single-player mode, split-screen co-op, and a fantastically customizable online gameplay, Resistance proved that it wasn't just another launch title, but a whole new form of shooter.
#7: MotorStorm
Why It's Great: OMG, those crashes. It's been over a year and a half since Motorstorm released, and the brutal slo-mo crashes are still the best-looking in all of gaming. It also doesn't hurt that the game has exceptional gameplay and a wide variety of courses and vehicles. About the only thing that's missing is split-screen multiplayer, which the sequel should be adding. But for a bargain-basement "Greatest Hits" price, you can't go wrong with Motorstorm.
#6: The Orange Box
Why It's Great: Talk about bang for the buck: The Orange Box included five hit games from the FPS gurus at Valve Software, making this a must-have for any shooter fan. Not only do you get the award-winning Half-Life 2 and the follow-ups Episode One and Two, you also get the butter-smooth online game Team Fortress 2. But the real jewel of this fantastic collection is Portal, a mind-bending puzzler that every gamer should experience at least once. Armed with one of the coolest weapons ever devised in the Portal Gun, you run through a series of deviously designed levels while the omni-present voice of GlaDOS gently coaxes you onward. Filled with delicious humor and addictive gameplay, Portal is worth the purchase price alone but lucky for you, you have four other amazing games to keep you occupied long after you've discovered the secret of the cake (hint: it's a lie).
#5: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Why It's Great: Call of Duty 4 wasn't just another cut-and-dry shooter. In the fourth installment in the popular FPS franchise, the player was sucked into a larger than life story, allowing them to play as both a U.S. Marine or a member of the British S.A.S. while a global conflict ignited. With an astonishingly deep single player mode and an insanely addicting multiplayer mode, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was a turning point in the first person shooter genre.
#4: Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction
Why It's Great: The animated Lombax and Robot team gets back to its series roots with Tools of Destruction, axing multiplayer entirely in favor of a robust and beautifully designed single-player campaign. Like playing along with a Pixar movie, developer Insomniac Games drops you into a witty story, arming you with enough clever weapons to take on anything that comes your way. It's fun, gorgeous and worthy of PS3's best.
#3: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
Why It's Great: Yes, Lara Croft did the treasure-hunting, action platforming thing first but have you played a Tomb Raider game lately? The creative minds of Naughty Dog must have and thought "We can do better than this." And they certainly did by crafting the slick and enjoyable Uncharted, a title that featured interesting level designs, lush jungle scenery and the kind of swashbuckling action that would make Indiana Jones crack a grizzled smile. It was also released early in the PS3's lifecycle, giving PS3 owners something to chew on as they waited for more high profile titles to be released. No matter how you cut it, Nathan Drake's adventure is one definitely worth undertaking.
#2: Grand Theft Auto 4
Why It's Great: Like Rock Band, GTA IV's a tossup. More opponents for online play is great, but we're big fans of better graphics, and the PS3 has an ever so slight edge in that department. Plus the install cuts down on loading screens, which gives us more time to ram firetrucks into dirtbikes.
#1: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Why It's Great: This is the one. If you're planning to buy a PlayStation 3, or you already have one, Metal Gear Solid 4 should be at the top of your list. It's an epic stealth-shooter with jaw-dropping graphics and a massively detailed storyline. Sure, the 20-minute cinema scenes can drag on a bit too long, but the game's quality shines through in every aspect of its production. Unlockable rewards, 70+ weapons, and a well-designed online mode will keep you playing months after you've completed the core single-player experience. If you've ever loved a shooter, a stealth game, or an action game, Metal Gear Solid 4 is a can't-miss game.
