By: J.D.
4 last gen games to get you through the summer gaming drought
It’s that time of the year, folks. The summer gaming drought is once again upon us. Game releases are few and far between, and most gamers resort to playing their massive backlogs (thanks, Steam sales) to get them through this dry season. While some of us have moved on to the next generation of gaming, most of the general population are still playing their “last gen” consoles. If you are one of those people that happens to have their PS3 or Xbox 360 laying around and are looking for some under-the-radar games to play, than look no further! Here are some of my favorite overlooked games from the last generation of consoles:
Deadly Premonition - Xbox 360, PS3- Rated M
Deadly Premonition is not a good game, at least not in the traditional sense. It has awful controls, graphics that belong in the dreamcast era, and enough glitches to make the game nearly unplayable. This is a game that will test the patience of nearly every gamer. But if you can look past these massive flaws, you’ll find a game that has something that most games nowadays sorely lack: charm. Every facet of Deadly Premonition oozes personality that games wish they could have. The characters are some of the most goofy, funny, and well written that I have encountered in a video game. Because of them, and the plot, Deadly Premonition demands every gamer’s attention. At the center of Deadly Premonition is a murder mystery story that cannot be missed. What starts off as a routine murder mystery scenario turns into a bizarre sci-fi mystery that captivates until the surprisingly emotional ending. While the third person gameplay isn’t up to par with today’s standards, the story and characters are more than enough to warrant this game a play through.
3D Dot Game Heroes - PS3 - Rated E10+
3D Dot Game Heroes is the closest thing people will ever get to a Legend of Zelda clone on the PS3. And while it doesn’t reach the heights that it takes inspirations from, it is a nice throwback to an era of gaming that not many people remember. You play as the titular “Hero”, on an epic quest to save the world from unspoken evil. While the plot is nothing to write home about, the gameplay and graphics are what really carry 3D Dot Game Heroes. Solving puzzles, collecting different items, and exploring dungeons has never been this fun. It even has some awesome 8-bit graphics that really pull at the nostalgia strings. Any fan of the original Legend of Zelda should definitely give this game a try.
Nier- PS3, Xbox 360 - Rated M
Many people dismissed Nier as an action RPG Final Fantasy clone. And to a small extent, it is. But what people don’t realize is that Nier has one of the most heartwarming and satisfying stories told in the last generation of gaming. Nier is a simple tale of a father trying to save his daughter from a plague called the Black Scrawl. It is about how far a father will go to save someone he loves. While the story takes a while to get going, once it does, it grabs hold and won’t let you go until the fantastic ending. The gameplay is also more than the standard fare of most action RPGs. You have a magical talking book named Grimoire Weiss, which can be used to cast multiple types of spells. This helps keep the game fresh, as certain enemies are weak against certain magical attacks. If you go into this game expecting a big budget story with extremely varied combat, then you will be disappointed. But if you want a story based on quiet character moments with some decent combat, then this is a game you’ll surely enjoy.
Metro: 2033 - Xbox 360, PC - Rated M
Metro: 2033 is extremely unsettling. It is a game that will get under your skin, make you jump, and creep you out more than you will be able to count. But it is also a game with an oppressive atmosphere and story than need to be experienced. Set in the subway tunnels of Moscow, you play as Artyom, a 20 year-old tasked with defending his subway station against a group of monsters known as The Dark Ones. While the setup of saving someone’s home from attacking monsters is very cliche, the rest of the story takes some paranormal turns and becomes increasingly hectic as the stakes are raised. There are also two different endings based on choices you made throughout the game, which gives the game some replayability. The gameplay is very much standard first person shooting, albeit a little bit clunky. One cool edition is that because of the awful air quality, Artyom needs to constantly find air filters for his gas mask. This adds a little bit of risk/reward tension to firefights and explorations. Controls never feel as responsive as they should be, but it doesn’t really hinder the enjoyment because of the amazing atmosphere and story.
While these are only some of the forgotten classics of “last gen” gaming, there are many more out there that I didn’t list. What are you guys’ recommendations for people to play during this summer gaming draught?
Editor's Note: This article was due up months ago, but due to issues with our site it got lost when it was posted. Here it is, summer may be over, but these games could also get you through those days waiting for the newest release...like 'Destiny!'