Best PS3 Games of 2012

Can you believe that 2012 is almost over? It seems like just yesterday I was getting hyped for the release of Twisted Metal and Starhawk. As most fans would agree, those are only a taste of the impressive, highly anticipated exclusives that PlayStation 3 saw this year. When it was all said and done, 2012 wasn't about the release of AAA blockbuster games on PS3; rather, it was the smaller titles that shined, showing us that games can still be innovative, emotional, and impactful.

That's right, I'm talking about Journey. Hands down, this is one of the best games on PS3 in 2012 and possibly all-time. Journey revolutionized the way we experience games thanks to TGC's unique vision of an online adventure experience.

Some would argue that Journey shouldn't even be considered a "game." With very little direction when the game first starts, Journey isn't about reaching some end goal. Instead, it's about the experience you have while getting there. You are awoken in an unknown world and from there it's up to you. You can walk, glide, and fly through the awe-inspiring landscape. Along the way you discover the history of an ancient, mysterious civilization.

What makes Journey unique though, is its innovative approach towards online play. It encourages players toe explore this lush environment with strangers who they might randomly encounter along the way. The catch is that players can only communicate through a series of symbols and sounds. Despite what some may say is a "handicap", Journey still manages to create authentic, memorable moments for its players. See our full review here.

Journey wasn't the only inspiring game on the PlayStation 3. Let's not forget The Unfinished Swan, another PSN game that's deeply engaging, moving, and beautiful. Despite its whimsical nature, The Unfinished Swan is rife with undertones — all of which can be interpreted differently.

The Unfinished Swan revolves around a boy who lost his mother at an early age and only has one, single painting left to remind him of her. One evening he awakens to find the painting missing and a magical door in its place. It is through this door that you'll discover a Kingdom filled with beauty and mystery. You can find our full review of The Unfinished Swan here.

Owning a PS3 this year had other perks as well. For instance, it had the best baseball video game on the market, MLB 12: The Show. Though this year's installment didn't make huge jumps in gameplay, it's still leaps and bounds better than anything else available. While Xbox 360 owners are stuck with 2K Sports MLB 2K series (which they won't even get this year), PS3 owners have been lucky enough to have the best baseball simulator at their fingertips.

Although we're gearing up for the next Major League Baseball season, MLB 12: The Show still remains a top exclusive title for the PS3, if only because there's no competition that even comes close.

And now we get into our AAA titles and one of my most-anticipated titles, Twisted Metal. As a big fan of the original series, I was thrilled that Sony, David Jaffe, and Eat Sleep Play were bringing it back. The launch wasn't as smooth as I would've liked, but in the end Twisted Metal was a pretty fun romp.

Despite Jaffe's outspokenness about the game and it's "lackluster" story (which I actually found quite entertaining), Twisted Metal is one of my favorite PS3 exclusives of the year. This is because the gameplay is so damn fun. The handling of the cars is excellent, the combat is fast-paced, yet fluid, and the levels are entertaining. Overall, it was just a fun game. Sometimes you just need a simple, mindless driving shooter and that's what Twisted Metal delivered.

If you're looking for something a little more serious, then look no further than Starhawk. This third-person action shooter is set in the lawless space frontier. In the game you play as hired gunslinger, Emmett Graves, to eliminate the threat of the Outcast, a ruthless species of mutated humans. Combat is where this game excels. Aside from badass weapons and vehicles, you can call down offensive and defensive structures to assist you. Starhawk is another strong multiplayer game with a robust online featuring multiple game modes. Check out the review here.

The last title, though there were plenty more available for the PS3, is PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. When it was first announced, Sony faced tons of scrutiny for its apparent copy off of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. While the two are very similar, you can't deny that PlayStation All-Stars is a great game. If not innovative, it certainly is fun. More importantly, it's something Sony fans have long been awaiting.

With the rich history and robust cast of Sony characters, I'm honestly surprised PS3 fans didn't get this sooner. Still, it's better late than never. In this game, players can battle it out against one another as their favorite PlayStation characters. The lineup includes 20 of Sony's iconic characters (with more coming as DLC). With that, let 2012 be known as the year PS3 fans could finally settle who the best Sony character is. Hint: it's NOT Sackboy.

2012 definitely wasn't easy on the wallet. And with how 2013 is shaping up, next year won't be either. When it comes to exclusive titles, Sony is definitely king. They weren't all AAA blockbuster titles, but if this year taught us anything, it's that innovation and captivating gameplay rule all. And these exclusive titles on PlayStation 3, lack none of that.