Summer has always been a mediocre season for games. Usually fall and winter see all the hot new releases, but not in 2008. This has been a record summer for gamers with a surprisingly good batch of games for the PlayStation 3.
All the games on the 2K8 top ten PS3 games of summer list have or will come out in either June, July, or August. In the case of yet to be released games, their place on the list is based on previews and general excitement for the game.
So, if you needed another excuse to stay indoors this summer, this list should be it.
© KonamiMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots alone is enough to declare this a superb summer for the PS3. To be frank, it is my favorite game thus far on the system, and one of the best I've played in years. The MGS games have always pushed the envelope, but MGS4 is sheer excellence. Every aspect of this game, from the graphics and character design to the innovative interactive cutscene cameras is so highly polished that most every other game out there looks "rushed" in comparison. Lovingly crafted, Guns of the Patriots is a must own game.
Rated: Mature
© Namco BandaiDarth Vader, 'nuff said. The PS3 version of Soulcalibur IV features Darth Vader as a playable character while the Xbox 360 gets Yoda. Now I know, we all respect the little green guy, but really, who would you rather be?
Soulcalibur IV is one of the hottest games of the summer and it brings its insanely well designed and balanced fighting system to next gen systems and all their HD glory. This is one good looking and great playing game. Grab a buddy, Soulcalibur IV is a social experience. Rated: Teen
© EA GamesTake a much loved PC franchise, bring it over to the next gen consoles with added humor, excellent voice acting, and a superb single player campaign to go along with solid multiplayer and you are guaranteed a hit. Battlefield: Bad Company was a fun shooter that took all of the standard elements of the genre and threw it on top of extremely well designed sandbox levels, excellent voice acting, and lots of explosions with great success. Bad company is just like a Hollywood summer blockbuster, it may not be deep, but it sure is fun.
Rated: Teen Some knocked it for being more of the same Lego gameplay we came to love with Star Wars Lego, but really how different could you expect it to be? It's funny, cute, and fun to play. I don't expect innovation from this series of games, I simply expect a humorous videogame mash-up of my favorite pop culture media and Legos. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures nails the formula and provides players with a very clever way to live out one of their favorite movies.
Rated E10+The racing game market is a crowded one, but GRID stands out at a fun arcade racer with surprising depth. While the lack of split-screen multiplayer is nearly unforgivable, the varied race modes and locations combined with one of the best career modes in the genre and satisfyingly sharp graphics help GRID maintain traction and stay on the list. GRID is a great single player or online racer, and summer is all about driving and game driving costs a whole lot less than gas.
Rated: EveryoneI have lost more quarters playing skins on Tiger Woods golf than I have in poker. Always a strong game, the addition of a coach and the ability to tune your clubs not only bring added depth to this annual golf classic. The online modes have been integrated into regular play so you not only get the challenges that came on the disk, but ones fellow virtual golf hacks have pulled off. Always a crowd pleaser, this year's Tiger Woods PGA Tour nails it off the tee.
Rated: EveryoneBefore you say anything, Top Spin 3 is a great game. I know tennis games have never been big hits, but they have a cult following and are surprisingly good games. I know the last time most of you played virtual tennis it had Mario, or perhaps Sonic, in it, but you'd be impressed with how much fun Top Spin 3 really is. Oddly enough, I always get new ideas for my real world game when I play Top Spin or Virtua Tennis.
Rated: EveryoneIt's always been rough making real-time strategy games and god games feel compelling on a console. All the troop and resource management seems much better suited to good old mouse and keyboard setup. Leave it to Sid Meier to come up with a version of the world's greatest god game, Civilization, and redesign it ground up for console play. Not only are the controls and gameplay streamlined, but the graphics are more "console-esque" focusing on communication of ideas through hyperbole (translated: it's a cute version of Civ) rather than token realism. Some Civ-ies may be disappointed that the game isn't as complex, but really it is a Civ of a different color, and it is a bright one.
Rated: Everyone 10+It wouldn't be summer without at least one cartoon videogame, and DBZ: Burst Limit is the best of the bunch. The cel-shaded animation really does look like you are controlling a 3D version of the anime. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit's story is impressive, not only in scale but it's ability to tell three DBZ sagas as one complete narrative. Dragon Ball Z is adored for it's long, confusing story, and the massive fights, Burst Limit captures both elements. It's not as well balanced as Soul Calibur, and there are some "cheap" moves, but they are forgivable in this otherwise enjoyable brawler.
Rated: TeenThink Grand Theft Auto freedom combined with a military shooter, add bad hair and you start to see what Mercenaries 2: World in Flames. Oh, and you can call in nuclear strikes, along with over a dozen more air strikes. Guns, chaos, sand, sun... Mercenaries 2 is a violent vacation just waiting to happen.
Rated: Teen
