The Top 10 Sony Franchises

Though it sometimes seems like the console wars will never end, in reality, all three companies have found a hefty segment in today’s industry. There’s no doubt that the PS3 struggled upon its release, and the PSP seems to have been lagging behind the DS for years, but that doesn’t mean Sony hasn’t built up an impressive collection of exclusive games between the two consoles. From the award-winning to the slightly overrated, here’s the top 10 Sony franchises of the current generation:

10. Ratchet & Clank (Insomniac Games)

There’s just something about this series that appeals to everyone from sugar-crazed kiddies to jaded industry veterans. Each title in the series (with the possible exception of the PSP’s Secret Agent Clank) is endowed with a charming cast of characters, a healthy dose of humor and a high level of polish that remains consistent throughout. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction was a bastion of quality during the PS3’s troubled early days, a lush branch to which embattled PlayStation loyalists clung for dear life. And with the PS3’s recent success, the series is still going strong; we have the Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One to look forward to later this year.

9. Little Big Planet (Media Molecule)

While Xbox players are busy shooting one another’s faces off, and Nintendo continues to rehash its stable of first-party franchises over and over, Sony continues to prove that they’re the ones willing to take risks on innovative, new ideas. Granted, the concept of players creating their own levels isn’t really new, but Little Big Planet provides by far the most inviting environment and the most accessible tools for every player to leave their mark on the game world. Little Big Planet 2 is upping the ante considerably. Plus, Sackboy is the best new mascot of the decade.

8. Gran Turismo (Polyphony Digital)

The racing sim to end all racing sims. The original Gran Turismo proved that go-karts and banana peels wasn’t the only way to do a racing game; hyper-realism and insane attention to detail now reign. Gran Turismo is the next best thing for would-be drivers who don’t happen to have enough disposal cash to buy a real-life Countach. Despite the rise of competitors like Forza, Sony still holds all the keys, as the success of the recent Gran Turismo 5 proved. Realistic racing lives on the PS3.

7. God of War (Sony Computer Entertainment Santa Monica)

Few franchises embody the PlayStation brand more than God of War. Kratos’s brain aneurysm-inducing rage made him the king of the PS2 generation, and the Ghost of Sparta has remained nothing if not consistent. God of War 3 delivered heaps more of what we loved about the first two games, and the PSP spin-offs had more substance than many proper console games. If poking gods’ eyes out with your thumbs isn’t your cup of tea, well, you should probably check your pulse to make sure you’re still breathing.

6. Patapon (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)

This PSP-only franchise hasn’t received nearly as much praise as it deserves. Its unique mix of rhythm and surprisingly deep strategy is somehow perfectly suited to the PSP. A meandering storyline doesn’t detract from the games’ genuine humor, and you’ll never tire of playing the part of the percussion-inclined deity of the little black and white eyeball creatures. The upcoming third entry is fleshing out the multiplayer modes and hopefully bringing a few more innovations as well; maybe we’ll even see an entry on the PS3 one day.

5. The Last Guardian (Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.)

It’s no coincidence that the game series most often and rightfully hailed as proof of “games-as-art” is exclusive to the PlayStation brand. Who knows whether these games would have been as successful on a different console? With the Xbox floundering in Japan and the Gamecube (arguably) lacking the power to fully realize these breathtaking game worlds, games might not be where they are today if not for Team ICO and Sony. ICO and Shadow of the Colossus threw conventions out the window in favor of stripped down and gorgeous testimonies, and we have every hope that The Last Guardian will do the same.

4. Killzone (Guerilla)

It may not have been a Halo-killer, but these days a first person shooter doesn’t have to be in order to be successful. Killzone’s gritty, surprisingly realistic sci-fi setting has attracted plenty of FPS purists, and the franchise’s backing, quality and popularity have been snowballing since its shaky beginnings on the PS2. Killzone 3 has a better chance than any other game of bringing 3D gaming to the masses, not to mention the possibility of making the Move motion controller attractive to hardcore gamers for once. We’ve no doubt it will bring the series to new heights.

3. Demon’s Souls (From Software)

Although Project Dark, the in-development game that will almost certainly prove to actually be Demon’s Souls 2, will be hitting the Xbox 360 as well, the first game’s importance to the PlayStation brand can’t be overstated. It was a sleeper hit in every sense of the word – its popularity has grown steadily over the last year and a half, and repeated scares that its online servers would be switched off have been deterred by its continually growing fan base. It helps that the PS3 has a surprising lack of solid RPGs, but Demon’s Souls also happens to be one of the best in the genre released in the last decade, if not ever. Its breathtaking world is augmented by unique storytelling and a rewarding challenge. We can’t wait for Project Dark, even if it is going multiplatform.

2. Heavy Rain (Quantic Dream)

No, it wasn’t perfect, but it was a step in – if not necessarily the “right” direction, at least a new one. This may sound noncommittal considering Heavy Rain is taking the number 2 spot, but the importance of exploring new directions in game design shouldn’t be underestimated. There are two ways of looking at Heavy Rain: as a cringeworthy lolfest comprised of little more than a long series of quick time events, or as an innovative experience that pushed the envelope for mature and interactive narratives in video games. For every thing it did wrong, it got one right, too. Though there probably won’t be a sequel, we’re looking forward to the next entry in this emerging genre.

1. Uncharted (Naughty Dog)

Uncharted is undoubtedly the current king of the PlayStation realm, not to mention one of the hottest franchises around. The amount of polish that goes into each game is absurd, and the platforming and combat mechanics reflect that. Uncharted 2 was like five action movies condensed into one thrill-a-minute game; Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception will probably be like ten movies. Uncharted has set the bar this decade for graphics, storytelling and characters in video games, interactive movies like Heavy Rain notwithstanding. Drake’s Deception will no doubt clean up this year and bring even more fans on board the PlayStation train. Speaking of trains, remember that part in Uncharted 2? Yeah. It was awesome.