E3 2008 was a proving ground for Sony. Many gamers looked to it as a sink or swim for Sony. Sony continues to focus on their primary audience, the hi-def gamer, while branching out into newer fields with more GPS capabilities for the PSP as well as stronger focus on PSN.
As with Microsoft and Nintendo, multiplayer focused software was a huge showing for Sony. A strong mix of guns, odd creations, and rhythm titles all exclusive to the PS3 and PSP should bring new players in while proving to existing players that their purchase of such a fantastically expensive machine has been well worth it.
PS3
Resistance 2
The follow-up to the PS3’s best selling launch title has much to prove. Resistance 2 came out in full force with a bevy of multiplayer modes. Pushing past its own legacy, Resistance 2 will offer split screen offline co-op, 60 player online competitive, and an impressive 8 player online co-op. The 8 player co-op looks to be getting the most attention as co-oping through the original is still one of the fondest memories of most PS3 owners.
In addition to the improved multiplayer capabilities, Resistance 2 is offering the standard upgrades in weapons, enemies, and its trademark massive bosses. The highlight of Resistance 2 was the Leviathan. This boss, stretching out to over 300 feet tall, should prove beyond a doubt the graphical prowess of the PS3.
MAG
Exclusive titles are doled out sometimes based on economic reasons (which console will garner the most sales) and sometimes based on technical reasons (it would be hard to reproduce Wii Sports on a PS3). MAG could very well fall into the second category as it seems the PS3 may be the only console of servicing its high demands.
Known also as Massive Action Game, little is known about the game play other than it being a squad based shooter. Not even whether it is a first person or third person shooter is known. What is known is that the title gives you an exact impression of the multiplayer. MAG is positioning itself to be the biggest multiplayer shooter bar none.
Utilizing the PS3 to its limits, MAG will play host to 256 player duels. Yes, that is 256. The game will skirt MMO territory offering long lasting campaigns where players can join with a group of up to 8 to form a squad and battle against dozens of other squads. If this mishmash of squad tactics and Call of Duty 4 mentality (the game seems to feature advancement in the same vein) can meld with huge numbers of players the PS3 will control the most robust shooter on any console.
PSN
Fat Princess
Sony’s black monolith of a console is not only playing host to the norm of bullet laden shooters but also to some quite bizarre PSN games. Fat Princess has leapt to the forefront in this group since its E3 2008 performance. Promising a fresh take on the tired “Save the Princess” adventure, Fat Princess will allow up to 32 players to compete in a chubby tug of war. Each side starts off with the other side’s princess already captured. The teams’ goal is to make the stolen princess so fat and pudgy that the opposing team will have to utilize more and more players to simply carry her fat ass across the board to be rescued.
The graphics are looking sharp for a downloadable title and the premise is unique, to say the least. Already suffering from criticism from heavy woman, Fat Princess should cause quite a splash when it is released later this year.
PSP
Patapon 2
Patapon debuted on the PSP to high praise. With rhythm games becoming a norm on both handhelds, Patapon delivered a vibrant look all of its own. It features side scrolling action controlled by maintaining various beats triggered by the PSP’s face buttons.
Additions to the newborn franchise will be multiple characters, a new egg item which will facilitate item drops upon beating them enough, and most importantly a four player co-op mode. The original begged for multiplayer and it is good to see that Sony is delivering the goods. Those looking for a different flavor than the run and gun found in such PSP titles as Resistance: Retribution or Killzone: Liberation should find Patapon 2 as a clever diversion.
Resistance: Retribution
Sony has been hitting a nice stride with filling in side stories of their main IPs with capable PSP titles. God of War received the excellent God of War: Chains of Olympus and Killzone received Killzone: Liberation. Sony is continuing the theme of colon laden titles with Resistance: Retribution. Retribution will place itself between the first and upcoming second title in the series.
Outside of the impressive 8 player multiplayer, with a wealth of modes (death match, capture the flag), Retribution is finding acclaim with its responsive aiming and cover systems. The cover system is similar to Kane and Lynch; when you are close enough to a cover spot your character will automatically lock to it. The key difference between these two titles is the cover system actually WORKS in Retribution. E3 goers have mentioned the cover system is perfect, giving that extra edge that a portable title needs in the first person genre.
In a nutshell, Sony is emerging from the bumpy road of the early PS3/PSP years and finally forging a path that gamers are happy to follow. Expanding on the technical prowess of the PS3 and PSP, the next year of multiplayer games on Sony’s two darlings will challenge gamers. Visually, both consoles are hitting their stride and developers are truly moving into new realms with titles such as MAG and Fat Princess.
