7 Forgotten Sony Game Franchises That Were Great

Sony made their first move into the gaming industry just over three decades ago when they released the original PlayStation in 1994. Of course, we all know the rest of the story from there. Since then, they have risen to be one of the biggest names in the industry, not just with their lineup of consoles, but also with their various games.

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With names like Uncharted, God of War and The Last of Us being just a few of their biggest works that come to mind in terms of their more recent releases. But Sony’s list of games and game franchises is much longer than just that. And excluding some of their eventual remakes, remasters or re-releases, many of their most interesting and unique franchises have seemingly been forgotten with time.

7

Killzone

Sony’s “Halo Killer” was Left in 2013

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The Killzone series got its start back in 2004 with its first entry on the PlayStation 2 simply titled Killzone, slated to be the new “Halo killer” FPS title from Sony and Guerrilla Games at the time. Initial reception was mixed, but the series started to get its footing with its next two releases on the PS3 a few years in the future.

Taking place in the middle of an all-out galactic war between the ISA and the Helghan Empire in the 24th century, Killzone had a defining desolate atmosphere that gave off a dark apocalypse theme. Featuring some considerably brutal violence as well, with the gameplay feeling visceral and even quite gruesome at times. Killzone 2 and 3 were seen as the peak of the franchise, with both titles being especially praised for their unique design, fantastic graphics, and fun multiplayer modes.

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But the release of Killzone Shadow Fall in 2013 on the PS4 didn’t see the same outcome, doing away with the bleak theme and instead opting for a much brighter style. While it was praised for being visually stunning, opinions on its story and gameplay were mostly mixed. Since then, with Guerrilla Games being moved over to the Horizon series, Killzone has been radio-silent. Not even so much as a rumor regarding its continuation. While it didn’t reach the popularity of other competing FPS titles, it was nonetheless an unfortunate outcome for what was once a unique series.

6

MediEvil

The Classic Halloween-Themed Hack & Slash Went Silent After a Duology and a Remake

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MediEvil is a perfect example of what would happen if the aesthetics of Tim Burton were envisioned for a Halloween-themed game for the PlayStation, and it’s fantastic. Developed by Sony and released back in 1998 for the original PlayStation, the first entry, simply titled MediEvil, is perhaps one of the most thematically unique titles on the console. Taking place in the fictional Kingdom of Gallowmere, players take control of the undead knight, Sir Daniel Fortesque, after he is resurrected by the evil sorcerer Zarok.

The first game sees Fortesque working through the Kingdom’s various spooky levels in an effort to defeat Zarok and redeem himself as a knight. It would later see a sequel in 2000, also on the PlayStation, that continued the story, taking place some 500 years after the first game. The series was regarded most of all for its style. The spooky, almost cartoonish Halloween theme may sound a bit cliché, but it gave the game a unique charm that is still remembered by fans to this day. Although its most recent remake for the PS4 in 2020 was a welcome addition, there sadly doesn’t seem to be any plans for Fortesque’s quest continuing anytime soon.

5

LittleBigPlanet

Putting Player Creativity Above All is Locked Behind Solo Play in 2013

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The LittleBigPlanet name made its first debut on the PlayStation 3 back in 2008, and the new game from Sony and Media Molecule was quickly gaining lots of attention in the industry for its unique ideas. The gameplay was simple; players controlled their own custom “Sack Person” character as they worked their way through various levels, each with their own distinctive and at times peculiar theme and design.

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Most importantly, LittleBigPlanet games didn’t so much follow a plot, instead focusing on one core concept above all: creativity. The series tagline of Play. Create. Share was incredibly simple, but it described its concepts perfectly. The idea behind the design of LBP games was to provide the community with the basics to play and the tools to create and share. This concept is exactly what made the games so unique: players could simply start up their own empty world, build up their own entire levels with puzzles, secrets, and the like, and share them with the rest of the community. The tools provided were straightforward, its gameplay was fun, and the possibilities were endless, giving the series its one-of-a-kind status.

But aside from a handful of spin-off titles with mixed reception, it’s been over a decade since the franchise’s last mainline release with LittleBigPlanet 3. And with Sony delisting the game and its DLC, their beloved ex-mascot doesn’t seem like they’ll be making a return anytime soon.

4

Infamous

Choosing The Hero Or The Villain Has Been Abandoned for Tales of Samurai

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Infamous is yet another from the sixth generation of consoles. Developed by Sucker Punch, the same studio behind the Sly games and Ghost of Tsushima, the games tie in a superhero aspect with action-adventure gameplay, along with its own distinctive twist.

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The original plot surrounds Cole MacGrath, a bike courier who is caught in the middle of a large explosion in the fictional Empire City, leaving him with electrical superpowers. Where the series becomes unique is in the choices players are given throughout, being able to use their powers for good to help the city, or use them to wreak havoc upon its inhabitants. These decisions were made even more difficult by the game’s karma system, with each choice having its own pros and cons. For example, good karma brings more general support from the people, but with less effective powers, whereas bad karma grants stronger powers, but virtually no support from the city’s population. It was a distinctive feature of the series that would lead to it becoming well-known and would also continue in its later releases.

The first two entries in the series were well-received, gathering positive reviews from the player base. But with its last installment, Infamous First Light on the PS4, generating some mixed reception in 2014, the series has seemed to have unfortunately gone silent ever since.

3

Jak and Daxter

Naughty Dog’s Cult-Classic PS2 Platformer Doesn’t Fit Their Modern and Gritty Realism

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Jak and Daxter are some of the most recognizable characters from the PlayStation 2 era ever since their debut with Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy in 2001. The action-adventure series from Naughty Dog is set on a fictional planet and puts the player in control of the two titular characters as they work to uncover the many mysteries of an ancient race known as the Precursors.

The franchise’s games are held in high regard as some of the best action-adventure platformers of their time, being widely loved for their charm, humor, and, of course, fun and fluid gameplay. The series would see three mainline installments, all for the PS2, all featuring platforming and action-adventure gameplay from a third-person perspective. Also, seeing two spin-off titles with Jak X: Combat Racing on the PS2 and Daxter on the PSP.

The series’ most recent original installment of Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier was met with mixed reception, oddly enough, being released for the PlayStation 2 a few years into the next generation. Although its later HD re-releases for both the PS3 and PS4 are a welcome addition, there hasn’t been a new release in the series for almost 15 years now, and fans are certainly missing Naughty Dog’s light-hearted series.

2

Motorstorm

Insanely High-Stakes Off-Road Racing Have Since Been Retired

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The Motorstorm series from Sony and Evolution Studios made its first appearance in 2006, at the time bringing in the new age of off-road racing to the new PlayStation 3. Most all-terrain racing games of the time, like MX vs. ATV, mostly focused on smaller vehicles such as dirt bikes and the like. Motorstorm went a different route by adding even more vehicle classes, with each having its own strengths and weaknesses to mix the gameplay up.

The games featured action-packed off-road-style racing from a third-person view. In Motorstorm, players will climb the ranks at the titular racing Festival located in Monument Valley, racing with their choice of vehicle, from dirt bikes and ATVs to stock cars and massive off-road trucks, but the wide selection of different vehicle classes wasn’t the only thing that made the games stand out. The key feature of having a boost meter for each vehicle was that it gave racers a massive increase in speed when activated. The catch is that if the boost was activated for too long, it would cause their vehicle to overheat and burst into a massive explosion, an incredibly simple, yet addictive feature that made the games that much more action-packed.

Motorstorm would see a total of five game releases, mostly on the PS3, with its final entry being Motorstorm: RC in 2012 for the PlayStation Vita. Evolution Studios would unfortunately, close in 2016, ultimately leaving Sony the rights to the series, who, sadly, haven’t continued the high-octane, off-road racer since.

1

Sly Cooper

The Iconic Raccoon Character & Master Thief Hangs Up His Blue Cap

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The Sly Cooper series had originally flown under the radar a bit, as its initial PS2 entry, Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus in 2002, didn’t generate too much attention upon its release. However, much like the aforementioned Jak and Daxter, the eponymous raccoon character soon became one of the most unique and widely recognized characters on Sony’s sixth-generation console.

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In the series of action-adventure titles, players don the iconic blue outfit of the title anthropomorphic raccoon and master thief himself, as well as his two sidekicks, Bentley and Murray. Throughout the games, the trio known as the “Cooper Gang” takes part in various clever heists located around the world, all the while taking down various other crime syndicates along the way. The classic string of PS2 titles all had a unique focus on stealth gameplay, encouraging a more methodical approach to situations, but also keeping a good pace with quick movement. That’s just on top of the distinctive art style for its universe and characters, which were downright charming and humorous to say the least.

While Sly Cooper set itself apart with its stealth-focused mechanics, it hasn’t seen a new title in over ten years now, since Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time was released back in 2013. Oddly enough, the series was slated to have an animated series as well as a movie adaptation, both of which were teased years ago by Sony. While another entry for the series would be fantastic to see, alas, fans haven’t heard so much as a peep from the trio of thieves since their last mainline appearance on the PS3 and PS Vita.

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