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[Jubenhimer]

There's been a lot of talk about PlayStation's exclusives in recent years, and how Sony's biggest releases are all starting to blend together. "Third person, cinematic, over the shoulder movie-like sad dad games" is the phrase thrown around. I won't deny that PlayStation Studios games in recent years, have started to feel pretty homogenized, and that the "PlayStation formula" as it exists now really is starting to get old.

Yet, if you actually play older PlayStation games, basically PS1-3, the handhelds, and even the PS4 early on, you notice that "cinematic gaming" or "immersive gaming" has always been PlayStation's core identity from the very beginning.

Seriously, look at the most well known games on the og PlayStation.

• Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy VII - lengthy story heavy adventures with tons of cutscenes and dialogue, and epic set pieces.
• Crash and Spyro - Expressive mascot characters with cutscenes and voice acting that are basically interactive cartoons.
• Parappa the Rapper - Basically shot, choreographed, and presented as a series of interactive music videos.
• Gran Turismo - They didn't call it "The Real Driving Simulator" for nothing.

And on PlayStation 2

• ICO and SotC - minimalistic art games with cinematic combat that tell story through gameplay.
• Jak, Ratchet and Sly - Evolutions of the PS1 style mascot platformer genre with more elaborate stories and characters animations
• God of War - Epic boss fights and set peices with a fixed camera.

So this wasn't something that started with Uncharted or The Last of Us. PlayStation has always been about cinematic gaming, It's actually a huge part of the brand's charm IMO. I think the difference is that these days, with a couple of exceptions, the PlayStation style has indeed become more homogenous, and formulaic with most games cut from the same third person, over the shoulder mold of The Last of Us, the game which many agree was the birth of the "modern" PlayStation formula.

Whereas before, the vibe was more similar to a music label. The cinematic "PlayStation style" used to come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

 

[LakeOf9]

I think so. Often they may have come from third parties like MGS or FF, but the biggest games associated with PlayStation were always story focused and cinematic.

 

[nial]

I don't think I will ever get why being 'interactive HBO' is bad, but being 'interactive Cartoon Network' is good.

 

[nial]

Anyway, it's not even true nowadays that all their stuff is cinematic-driven. It's just been easy trolling material for the last 15 years or so.

 

[Jubenhimer]

I think so. Often they may have come from third parties like MGS or FF, but the biggest games associated with PlayStation were always story focused and cinematic.

Even most of the first party stuff were very narrative-focused and cinematic. Obviously it was a lot less homogenized back then than it is now, but "cinematic" presentation had always been the PS DNA.

I don't think I will ever get why being 'interactive HBO' is bad, but being 'interactive Cartoon Network' is good.

Exactly. Why is Last of Us "Cinematic" but Ratchet & Clank isn't?

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

Nice cherry picked list, now show the rest of the Sony published exclusives that have been made that don't fit into your narrative you are trying to spin.

 

[LakeOf9]

Even most of the first party stuff were very narrative-focused and cinematic. Obviously it was a lot less homogenized back then than it is now, but "cinematic" presentation had always been the PS DNA.

I agree yeah. And to be honest I'm fine with PlayStation's output being a little homogenized because it's not like most other publishers bother with giving us those style games. If anything I'd argue PlayStation hasn't put out enough of those games this gen.

 

[Syphon Filter]

first of all mgs and FF arent sony's games. also you are reaching with some of those games like spyro,etc. None of those are like the movie slop that sony puts out these days. The games sony puts out now are 90% cinematic and barely any gameplay and the little gameplay is watered down/automated.

 

[Topher]

Oh wow......been a while since we've had one these.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

I fucked up the formatting, but here's PS1s Sony Published games. Care to take a look and count how many are "cinematic" vs not? You're pushing a false narrative.

• 2XTreme
• 3Xtreme
• 3D Lemmings (also on Saturn, DOS)
• Adidas Power Soccer
• Alundra
• Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins (Japan only)
• Aquanaut's Holiday
• Ape Escape
  • Arc the Lad (Japan only)
• Arc the Lad II (Japan only)
• Arc the Lad III (Japan only)
• Barbie: Race & Ride
• Beyond the Beyond
• Blasto
• Bushido Blade (co-published with Squaresoft)
  • Bust a Groove (co-published with Enix)
• Chase the Express
• Colony Wars
• Colony Wars: Vengeance
  • Colony Wars III: Red Sun
• Cool Boarders
• Cool Boarders 2
• Cool Boarders 3
• Cool Boarders 4
• Crash Bandicoot
  • Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
  • Crash Bandicoot Warped
  • Crash Team Racing
• Destrega
• Destruction Derby (also on MS-DOS, Saturn, N64)
• Destruction Derby 2
• Discworld (also on Saturn, DOS, Mac)
• Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? (also on DOS, Saturn)
• Disney's Magical Tetris (Co-published with Disney Interactive in PAL only)
• Disney's Tarzan (Co-published with Disney Interactive in PAL only)
• Einhänder (co-published with Squaresoft)
• Everybody's Golf
  • ESPN Extreme Games
• Final Fantasy 7 (published by Sony worldwide, in Japan by Squaresoft)
  • Final Fantasy VIII (Co-published with Squaresoft in PAL, China, Hong Kong and Singapore only)
  • Final Fantasy Tactics (co-published with Squaresoft)
  • Formula 1
• Formula 1 97
• Formula 1 98
• Formula One 99 (Published by Psygnosis in North America and Japan, and by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL)
• G-Police
• G-Police: Weapons of Justice (Published by Psygnosis in North America and by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL only)
• Global Domination (Published by Psygnosis)
• Grandia (North America only)
• Gran Turismo
  • Gran Turismo 2
  • Grind Session
• I.Q.: Intelligent Qube
  • Jet Moto
  • Jet Moto 2
  • Jet Moto 3 (Published by 989 Sports in North America only)
  • Jumping Flash!
  • Jumping Flash! 2
• Kingsley's Adventure (Published by Psygnosis in North America and PAL only)
• Legend of Legaia
• MediEvil
  • MediEvil 2
• MLB '98
• MLB '99
• MLB 2000
• MLB 2001
• MLB Pennant Race
• Motor Toon Grand Prix 2
• NBA ShootOut
• NBA ShootOut 97
• NBA ShootOut 98
• NBA ShootOut 2000
• NCAA Final Four 99
• NCAA Final Four 2000
• NCAA GameBreaker
• NCAA GameBreaker 98
• NCAA GameBreaker 99
• NCAA Gamebreaker 2000
• NFL GameDay
• NFL GameDay 97
• NFL GameDay 98
• NFL GameDay 99
• NFL GameDay 2000
• NFL Xtreme
• NFL Xtreme 2
• NHL FaceOff
• NHL FaceOff 97
• NHL FaceOff 98
• NHL FaceOff 99
• NHL FaceOff 2000
• Novastorm (also on DOS, 3DO, Sega CD)
• Omega Boost
• Parappa the Rapper
  • Philisoma
• Point Blank 2 (Co-published with Namco in PAL only)
• PoPoLoCrois Monogatari II (Japan only)
• Porsche Challenge
• Pro 18: World Tour Golf (Published by Psygnosis)
• Psybadek
• Porsche Challenge
• R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (Co-published with Namco in PAL only)
• Rally Cross
• Rally Cross 2
• Retro Force (Published by Psygnosis in PAL only)
• Rollcage
• R-Type Delta (Co-published with Irem in PAL only)
• Running Wild
• SaGa Frontier (co-published with Squaresoft)
• Spawn: The Eternal
• Speed Freaks (North America and PAL only)
• Spice World
• Spyro the Dragon
  • Star Ocean: The Second Story (co-published with Enix)
• Supercross Circuit (Published by 989 Sports in North America only)
• Syphon Filter
  • Syphon Filter 2
  • Terracon
• The Granstream Saga (Published by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan and co-published with ARC Entertainment in PAL only)
• The X-Files Game (Co-published with Fox Interactive in PAL only)
• This is Football
• Tiny Tank: Up Your Arsenal (North America and PAL only)
• Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster and the beanstalk (PAL only)
• 
  
• Tomba!
  Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return (North America and PAL only)
• Tomoyasu Hotei: Stolen Song (Japan only)
• Twisted Metal
  • Twisted Metal 2
  • Twisted Metal III
  • Twisted Metal 4 (Published by 989 Studios in North America only)
• UmJammer Lammy
• Vib-Ribbon (Japan and PAL only)
• Warhawk
• Wild Arms
  • Wipeout
  • Wipeout XL
  • Wipeout 3 (Published by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL and Japan, and by Psygnosis in North America)

 

[ReBurn]

When will the persecution stop?

 

[bitbydeath]

first of all mgs and FF arent sony's games. also you are reaching with some of those games like spyro,etc. None of those are like the movie slop that sony puts out these days. The games sony puts out now are 90% cinematic and barely any gameplay and the little gameplay is watered down/automated.

Nah, Spyro fits.
Along with many others.
Silent Hill, GTA, Sly Cooper, Daxter and Jax etc

 

[nial]

I fucked up the formatting, but here's PS1s Sony Published games. Care to take a look and count how many are "cinematic" vs not? You're pushing a false narrative.

• 2XTreme
• 3Xtreme
• 3D Lemmings (also on Saturn, DOS)
• Adidas Power Soccer
• Alundra
• Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins (Japan only)
• Aquanaut's Holiday
• Ape Escape
  • Arc the Lad (Japan only)
• Arc the Lad II (Japan only)
• Arc the Lad III (Japan only)
• Barbie: Race & Ride
• Beyond the Beyond
• Blasto
• Bushido Blade (co-published with Squaresoft)
  • Bust a Groove (co-published with Enix)
• Chase the Express
• Colony Wars
• Colony Wars: Vengeance
  • Colony Wars III: Red Sun
• Cool Boarders
• Cool Boarders 2
• Cool Boarders 3
• Cool Boarders 4
• Crash Bandicoot
  • Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
  • Crash Bandicoot Warped
  • Crash Team Racing
• Destrega
• Destruction Derby (also on MS-DOS, Saturn, N64)
• Destruction Derby 2
• Discworld (also on Saturn, DOS, Mac)
• Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? (also on DOS, Saturn)
• Disney's Magical Tetris (Co-published with Disney Interactive in PAL only)
• Disney's Tarzan (Co-published with Disney Interactive in PAL only)
• Einhänder (co-published with Squaresoft)
• Everybody's Golf
  • ESPN Extreme Games
• Final Fantasy 7 (published by Sony worldwide, in Japan by Squaresoft)
  • Final Fantasy VIII (Co-published with Squaresoft in PAL, China, Hong Kong and Singapore only)
  • Final Fantasy Tactics (co-published with Squaresoft)
  • Formula 1
• Formula 1 97
• Formula 1 98
• Formula One 99 (Published by Psygnosis in North America and Japan, and by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL)
• G-Police
• G-Police: Weapons of Justice (Published by Psygnosis in North America and by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL only)
• Global Domination (Published by Psygnosis)
• Grandia (North America only)
• Gran Turismo
  • Gran Turismo 2
  • Grind Session
• I.Q.: Intelligent Qube
  • Jet Moto
  • Jet Moto 2
  • Jet Moto 3 (Published by 989 Sports in North America only)
  • Jumping Flash!
  • Jumping Flash! 2
• Kingsley's Adventure (Published by Psygnosis in North America and PAL only)
• Legend of Legaia
• MediEvil
  • MediEvil 2
• MLB '98
• MLB '99
• MLB 2000
• MLB 2001
• MLB Pennant Race
• Motor Toon Grand Prix 2
• NBA ShootOut
• NBA ShootOut 97
• NBA ShootOut 98
• NBA ShootOut 2000
• NCAA Final Four 99
• NCAA Final Four 2000
• NCAA GameBreaker
• NCAA GameBreaker 98
• NCAA GameBreaker 99
• NCAA Gamebreaker 2000
• NFL GameDay
• NFL GameDay 97
• NFL GameDay 98
• NFL GameDay 99
• NFL GameDay 2000
• NFL Xtreme
• NFL Xtreme 2
• NHL FaceOff
• NHL FaceOff 97
• NHL FaceOff 98
• NHL FaceOff 99
• NHL FaceOff 2000
• Novastorm (also on DOS, 3DO, Sega CD)
• Omega Boost
• Parappa the Rapper
  • Philisoma
• Point Blank 2 (Co-published with Namco in PAL only)
• PoPoLoCrois Monogatari II (Japan only)
• Porsche Challenge
• Pro 18: World Tour Golf (Published by Psygnosis)
• Psybadek
• Porsche Challenge
• R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (Co-published with Namco in PAL only)
• Rally Cross
• Rally Cross 2
• Retro Force (Published by Psygnosis in PAL only)
• Rollcage
• R-Type Delta (Co-published with Irem in PAL only)
• Running Wild
• SaGa Frontier (co-published with Squaresoft)
• Spawn: The Eternal
• Speed Freaks (North America and PAL only)
• Spice World
• Spyro the Dragon
  • Star Ocean: The Second Story (co-published with Enix)
• Supercross Circuit (Published by 989 Sports in North America only)
• Syphon Filter
  • Syphon Filter 2
  • Terracon
• The Granstream Saga (Published by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan and co-published with ARC Entertainment in PAL only)
• The X-Files Game (Co-published with Fox Interactive in PAL only)
• This is Football
• Tiny Tank: Up Your Arsenal (North America and PAL only)
• Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster and the beanstalk (PAL only)
• 
  
• Tomba!
  Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return (North America and PAL only)
• Tomoyasu Hotei: Stolen Song (Japan only)
• Twisted Metal
  • Twisted Metal 2
  • Twisted Metal III
  • Twisted Metal 4 (Published by 989 Studios in North America only)
• UmJammer Lammy
• Vib-Ribbon (Japan and PAL only)
• Warhawk
• Wild Arms
  • Wipeout
  • Wipeout XL
  • Wipeout 3 (Published by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL and Japan, and by Psygnosis in North America)

There are a lot of third-party published games on that list.

 

[Jubenhimer]

I fucked up the formatting, but here's PS1s Sony Published games. Care to take a look and count how many are "cinematic" vs not? You're pushing a false narrative.

• 2XTreme
• 3Xtreme
• 3D Lemmings (also on Saturn, DOS)
• Adidas Power Soccer
• Alundra
• Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins (Japan only)
• Aquanaut's Holiday
• Ape Escape
  • Arc the Lad (Japan only)
• Arc the Lad II (Japan only)
• Arc the Lad III (Japan only)
• Barbie: Race & Ride
• Beyond the Beyond
• Blasto
• Bushido Blade (co-published with Squaresoft)
  • Bust a Groove (co-published with Enix)
• Chase the Express
• Colony Wars
• Colony Wars: Vengeance
  • Colony Wars III: Red Sun
• Cool Boarders
• Cool Boarders 2
• Cool Boarders 3
• Cool Boarders 4
• Crash Bandicoot
  • Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
  • Crash Bandicoot Warped
  • Crash Team Racing
• Destrega
• Destruction Derby (also on MS-DOS, Saturn, N64)
• Destruction Derby 2
• Discworld (also on Saturn, DOS, Mac)
• Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? (also on DOS, Saturn)
• Disney's Magical Tetris (Co-published with Disney Interactive in PAL only)
• Disney's Tarzan (Co-published with Disney Interactive in PAL only)
• Einhänder (co-published with Squaresoft)
• Everybody's Golf
  • ESPN Extreme Games
• Final Fantasy 7 (published by Sony worldwide, in Japan by Squaresoft)
  • Final Fantasy VIII (Co-published with Squaresoft in PAL, China, Hong Kong and Singapore only)
  • Final Fantasy Tactics (co-published with Squaresoft)
  • Formula 1
• Formula 1 97
• Formula 1 98
• Formula One 99 (Published by Psygnosis in North America and Japan, and by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL)
• G-Police
• G-Police: Weapons of Justice (Published by Psygnosis in North America and by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL only)
• Global Domination (Published by Psygnosis)
• Grandia (North America only)
• Gran Turismo
  • Gran Turismo 2
  • Grind Session
• I.Q.: Intelligent Qube
  • Jet Moto
  • Jet Moto 2
  • Jet Moto 3 (Published by 989 Sports in North America only)
  • Jumping Flash!
  • Jumping Flash! 2
• Kingsley's Adventure (Published by Psygnosis in North America and PAL only)
• Legend of Legaia
• MediEvil
  • MediEvil 2
• MLB '98
• MLB '99
• MLB 2000
• MLB 2001
• MLB Pennant Race
• Motor Toon Grand Prix 2
• NBA ShootOut
• NBA ShootOut 97
• NBA ShootOut 98
• NBA ShootOut 2000
• NCAA Final Four 99
• NCAA Final Four 2000
• NCAA GameBreaker
• NCAA GameBreaker 98
• NCAA GameBreaker 99
• NCAA Gamebreaker 2000
• NFL GameDay
• NFL GameDay 97
• NFL GameDay 98
• NFL GameDay 99
• NFL GameDay 2000
• NFL Xtreme
• NFL Xtreme 2
• NHL FaceOff
• NHL FaceOff 97
• NHL FaceOff 98
• NHL FaceOff 99
• NHL FaceOff 2000
• Novastorm (also on DOS, 3DO, Sega CD)
• Omega Boost
• Parappa the Rapper
  • Philisoma
• Point Blank 2 (Co-published with Namco in PAL only)
• PoPoLoCrois Monogatari II (Japan only)
• Porsche Challenge
• Pro 18: World Tour Golf (Published by Psygnosis)
• Psybadek
• Porsche Challenge
• R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (Co-published with Namco in PAL only)
• Rally Cross
• Rally Cross 2
• Retro Force (Published by Psygnosis in PAL only)
• Rollcage
• R-Type Delta (Co-published with Irem in PAL only)
• Running Wild
• SaGa Frontier (co-published with Squaresoft)
• Spawn: The Eternal
• Speed Freaks (North America and PAL only)
• Spice World
• Spyro the Dragon
  • Star Ocean: The Second Story (co-published with Enix)
• Supercross Circuit (Published by 989 Sports in North America only)
• Syphon Filter
  • Syphon Filter 2
  • Terracon
• The Granstream Saga (Published by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan and co-published with ARC Entertainment in PAL only)
• The X-Files Game (Co-published with Fox Interactive in PAL only)
• This is Football
• Tiny Tank: Up Your Arsenal (North America and PAL only)
• Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster and the beanstalk (PAL only)
• 
  
• Tomba!
  Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return (North America and PAL only)
• Tomoyasu Hotei: Stolen Song (Japan only)
• Twisted Metal
  • Twisted Metal 2
  • Twisted Metal III
  • Twisted Metal 4 (Published by 989 Studios in North America only)
• UmJammer Lammy
• Vib-Ribbon (Japan and PAL only)
• Warhawk
• Wild Arms
  • Wipeout
  • Wipeout XL
  • Wipeout 3 (Published by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL and Japan, and by Psygnosis in North America)

Yeah, Sony's output was a lot bigger and more varied than today, I think everyone agrees with that on some level. However, as far as the most well known games on PlayStation system before. Most of the biggest names were cinematic in some form.

 

[Topher]

When will the persecution stop?

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

There are a lot of third-party published games on that list.

Whats a lot, which ones? Full transparency I didnt make the list as I couldn't be bothered to. As far as I can see thats a solid list of Sony PUBLISHED titles.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

The games sony puts out now are 90% cinematic and barely any gameplay and the little gameplay is watered down/automated.

Returnal, Stellar Blade, Astrobot, Helldivers, Ratchet... they all have TOP tier gameplay and plenty of variety. They have also funded Phantom Blade Zero, which is likely to become the best action game this gen. You can't get better gameplay than that.

As for Sony's classics like TLOU, Uncharted, or GOW you can't say with a straight face that they don't have good gameplay, no matter how little you like the cinematic aspects in them.

 

[bender]

 

[Sakura]

First party developed games specifically, then maybe, yeah.
However, PS1 and PS2 (PS3 to a lesser extent) had a shit ton of exclusives from all sorts of genres and devs. Nobody was buying a PS1 for Sony's first party output. Personally I've always found Sony's first party stuff pretty boring, outside a few titles.
Nowadays the only real exclusives, the titles you have to buy a PS5 for, are mostly just the games that Sony is putting out, so there is a lot less variety and I can see it feeling same-y or formulaic. If you like the formula though then you are probably pretty happy.

 

[Kacho]

I fucked up the formatting, but here's PS1s Sony Published games. Care to take a look and count how many are "cinematic" vs not? You're pushing a false narrative.

• 2XTreme
• 3Xtreme
• 3D Lemmings (also on Saturn, DOS)
• Adidas Power Soccer
• Alundra
• Alundra 2: A New Legend Begins (Japan only)
• Aquanaut's Holiday
• Ape Escape
  • Arc the Lad (Japan only)
• Arc the Lad II (Japan only)
• Arc the Lad III (Japan only)
• Barbie: Race & Ride
• Beyond the Beyond
• Blasto
• Bushido Blade (co-published with Squaresoft)
  • Bust a Groove (co-published with Enix)
• Chase the Express
• Colony Wars
• Colony Wars: Vengeance
  • Colony Wars III: Red Sun
• Cool Boarders
• Cool Boarders 2
• Cool Boarders 3
• Cool Boarders 4
• Crash Bandicoot
  • Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
  • Crash Bandicoot Warped
  • Crash Team Racing
• Destrega
• Destruction Derby (also on MS-DOS, Saturn, N64)
• Destruction Derby 2
• Discworld (also on Saturn, DOS, Mac)
• Discworld II: Missing Presumed...!? (also on DOS, Saturn)
• Disney's Magical Tetris (Co-published with Disney Interactive in PAL only)
• Disney's Tarzan (Co-published with Disney Interactive in PAL only)
• Einhänder (co-published with Squaresoft)
• Everybody's Golf
  • ESPN Extreme Games
• Final Fantasy 7 (published by Sony worldwide, in Japan by Squaresoft)
  • Final Fantasy VIII (Co-published with Squaresoft in PAL, China, Hong Kong and Singapore only)
  • Final Fantasy Tactics (co-published with Squaresoft)
  • Formula 1
• Formula 1 97
• Formula 1 98
• Formula One 99 (Published by Psygnosis in North America and Japan, and by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL)
• G-Police
• G-Police: Weapons of Justice (Published by Psygnosis in North America and by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL only)
• Global Domination (Published by Psygnosis)
• Grandia (North America only)
• Gran Turismo
  • Gran Turismo 2
  • Grind Session
• I.Q.: Intelligent Qube
  • Jet Moto
  • Jet Moto 2
  • Jet Moto 3 (Published by 989 Sports in North America only)
  • Jumping Flash!
  • Jumping Flash! 2
• Kingsley's Adventure (Published by Psygnosis in North America and PAL only)
• Legend of Legaia
• MediEvil
  • MediEvil 2
• MLB '98
• MLB '99
• MLB 2000
• MLB 2001
• MLB Pennant Race
• Motor Toon Grand Prix 2
• NBA ShootOut
• NBA ShootOut 97
• NBA ShootOut 98
• NBA ShootOut 2000
• NCAA Final Four 99
• NCAA Final Four 2000
• NCAA GameBreaker
• NCAA GameBreaker 98
• NCAA GameBreaker 99
• NCAA Gamebreaker 2000
• NFL GameDay
• NFL GameDay 97
• NFL GameDay 98
• NFL GameDay 99
• NFL GameDay 2000
• NFL Xtreme
• NFL Xtreme 2
• NHL FaceOff
• NHL FaceOff 97
• NHL FaceOff 98
• NHL FaceOff 99
• NHL FaceOff 2000
• Novastorm (also on DOS, 3DO, Sega CD)
• Omega Boost
• Parappa the Rapper
  • Philisoma
• Point Blank 2 (Co-published with Namco in PAL only)
• PoPoLoCrois Monogatari II (Japan only)
• Porsche Challenge
• Pro 18: World Tour Golf (Published by Psygnosis)
• Psybadek
• Porsche Challenge
• R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 (Co-published with Namco in PAL only)
• Rally Cross
• Rally Cross 2
• Retro Force (Published by Psygnosis in PAL only)
• Rollcage
• R-Type Delta (Co-published with Irem in PAL only)
• Running Wild
• SaGa Frontier (co-published with Squaresoft)
• Spawn: The Eternal
• Speed Freaks (North America and PAL only)
• Spice World
• Spyro the Dragon
  • Star Ocean: The Second Story (co-published with Enix)
• Supercross Circuit (Published by 989 Sports in North America only)
• Syphon Filter
  • Syphon Filter 2
  • Terracon
• The Granstream Saga (Published by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan and co-published with ARC Entertainment in PAL only)
• The X-Files Game (Co-published with Fox Interactive in PAL only)
• This is Football
• Tiny Tank: Up Your Arsenal (North America and PAL only)
• Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster and the beanstalk (PAL only)
• 
  
• Tomba!
  Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return (North America and PAL only)
• Tomoyasu Hotei: Stolen Song (Japan only)
• Twisted Metal
  • Twisted Metal 2
  • Twisted Metal III
  • Twisted Metal 4 (Published by 989 Studios in North America only)
• UmJammer Lammy
• Vib-Ribbon (Japan and PAL only)
• Warhawk
• Wild Arms
  • Wipeout
  • Wipeout XL
  • Wipeout 3 (Published by Sony Computer Entertainment in PAL and Japan, and by Psygnosis in North America)

Destruction Derby 2 was the shit!!!

 

[Jubenhimer]

First party developed games specifically, then maybe, yeah.
However, PS1 and PS2 (PS3 to a lesser extent) had a shit ton of exclusives from all sorts of genres and devs. Nobody was buying a PS1 for Sony's first party output.

PlayStation's brand has always been shaped by a mixture of third AND first party franchises. They've never been as reliant of first party the same way Nintendo has always been, but it was always a key factor to their success.

 

[nial]

Whats a lot, which ones? Full transparency I didnt make the list as I couldn't be bothered to.

Aquanaut's Holiday, Bushido Blade, Cool Boarders, Cool Boarders 2, Einhănder, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy Tactics, Grandia, R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, R-Type Delta, SaGa Frontier, Star Ocean: The Second Story, The X-Files Game, Tomba!, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return, and maybe some more I'm missing.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

Aquanaut's Holiday, Bushido Blade, Cool Boarders, Cool Boarders 2, Einhănder, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy Tactics, Grandia, R4: Ridge Racer Type 4, R-Type Delta, SaGa Frontier, Star Ocean: The Second Story, The X-Files Game, Tomba!, Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return, and maybe some more I'm missing.

Those were published by Sony...

 

[Sakura]

PlayStation's brand has always been shaped by a mixture of third AND first party franchises. They've never been as reliant of first party the same way Nintendo has always been, but it was always important to their success.

Eh I disagree. It's true that they aren't as reliant on first party as Nintendo is, but I also believe they are more reliant on first party today than they were with the PS1 and PS2.

 

[nial]

Those were published by Sony...

No, they were not.

 

[Jubenhimer]

but I also believe they are more reliant on first party today than they were with the PS1 and PS2.

PS1 was a bit more dependent on third party games. But by the time we got to the PS2, you could ignore every third party game for that system and still come out with a solid library with just Sony's games alone.

Like I said they weren't as dependent on first party as Nintendo, but it's always been important to the brand's longevity IMO.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

No, they were not.

Which ones do you think were not? Final Fantasy Tactics I could see as Sony took over as the distributor according to Wiki.

 

[Sakura]

Which ones do you think were not? Final Fantasy Tactics I could see as Sony took over as the distributor according to Wiki.

FFVII was published by Sony (though only in the west), but I don't think VIII was. Not sure on the other games.

 

[nial]

Which ones do you think were not? Final Fantasy Tactics I could see as Sony took over as the distributor according to Wiki.

All the ones that I mentioned? They were just localizing them in some regions (generally outside of Japan). Literally no different from Sony publishing Final Fantasy XVI in some regions in Asia.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

FFVII was published by Sony (though only in the west), but I don't think VIII was. Not sure on the other games.

Yeah, I see that. Like I said, not my list. But of that huge list thats like 2 games. Basically everything else he listed had Sonys help publishing.

 

[Durin]

Yet, if you actually play older PlayStation games, basically PS1-3, the handhelds, and even the PS4 early on, you notice that "cinematic gaming" or "immersive gaming" has always been PlayStation's core identity from the very beginning.

Eh, don't agree at all. Many of the games they published were significantly lighter on both cutscenes and story than many of their games now. You'd have longer stretches of gameplay, and less cutscene interrupting flow. More of the tone of their games were also whimsical or edgy, both traits that are less common in their current games that go for serious drama. Combo that with their games just taking longer to make, so you get less continuations of IP.

You had tons of arcade-like games nearly devoid of story and racing games that weren't sims. Now you got only Housemarque that still does arcade-inspired games, and they only do racing sims. Wipeout they haven't done anything with beyond a remastered collection last gen, and the last Little Big Planet was 5 years unless we cound that low-effort mobile runner game.

Also, the Team ICO games were interesting because of how much they didn't tell story like movies. Little to no dialog, cutscenes were barely there, and instead of other cinematic games making mechanics automated with flashy animation...mechanics would even be clunky or push back on you like controlling your horse in SotC or Trico misbehaving to simulate an animal.

Sony does more than third-person over the should sad dad games, but the variety on the PS1-2 was night and day different.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

All the ones that I mentioned? They were just localizing them in some regions (generally outside of Japan). Literally no different from Sony publishing Final Fantasy XVI in some regions in Asia.

Ok, so Sony did publish them. Thanks for your time. LOL. Anything else on this I'd be happy to take to direct messaging instead of stinking up the thread any more.

 

[Gaiff]

Nah, Spyro fits.
Along with many others.
Silent Hill, GTA, Sly Cooper, Daxter and Jax etc

Imagine being retarded enough to put Spyro in the same category as Uncharted.

Returnal, Stellar Blade, Astrobot, Helldivers, Ratchet... they all have TOP tier gameplay and plenty of variety. They have also funded Phantom Blade Zero, which is likely to become the best action game this gen. You can't get better gameplay than that.

As for Sony's classics like TLOU, Uncharted, or GOW you can't say with a straight face that they don't have good gameplay, no matter how little you like the cinematic aspects in them.

Stellar Blade's gameplay is mediocre. Without the hot chick, no one cares about it.

 

[nial]

Ok, so Sony did publish them. Thanks for your time. LOL

Okay, I guess I will add Final Fantasy XVI on the list of Sony published games on PS5!

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

Okay, I guess I will add Final Fantasy XVI on the list of Sony published games on PS5!

You can do whatever you want. Any of those other games when searched show Sony as publisher, Final Fantasy 16 does not.

Are we sure you know the difference between a developer and a publisher?

 

[Kacho]

Does Twisted Metal count as cinematic? You'd play through each character to see that sweet ending with Calypso.

 

[Robb]

GoW is a perfect example as there is a 'cinematic' version with the recent entries and then the original arcade hack-n-slash version. To me it's not simply about adding cinematics or CGI to a game, it's the character(s) constantly blabbering to themselves like a schizophrenic, forced walking segments etc. etc. etc.

Not sure how you can think modern GoW and classic GoW are the same.

 

[Pimpbaa]

Mostly open world cinematic games last gen and this. I'm more annoyed about their games (their sequels at least) still looking cross gen.

 

[Jubenhimer]

Eh, don't agree at all. Many of the games they published were significantly lighter on both cutscenes and story than many of their games now. You'd have longer stretches of gameplay, and less cutscene interrupting flow. More of the tone of their games were also whimsical or edgy, both traits that are less common in their current games that go for serious drama. Combo that with their games just taking longer to make, so you get less continuations of IP.

It's true that they weren't as flashy as modern PS games can be, but they were still cinematic for their time, particularly in comparison to most of the games Nintendo and Sega made.

Also, the Team ICO games were interesting because of how much they didn't tell story like movies. Little to no dialog, cutscenes were barely there, and instead of other cinematic games making mechanics automated with flashy animation...mechanics would even be clunky or push back on you like controlling your horse in SotC or Trico misbehaving to simulate an animal.

The Team ICO franchise is actually the perfect example of what I'm getting at. When I say cinematic, I don't just mean the game has tons of dialogue and cutscenes. It's more in reference to how the gameplay and game action are framed and presented to the player.

ICO for instance, has a fixed camera with almost no HUD elements that constantly frames every action in dynamic ways, making each moment in the game feel like a shot in a film. It's not "Last of Us" or modern GoW levels, but it's still very "PlayStation" at it's core.

Crash Bandicoot is another perfect example. The fixed camera, dynamic camera angles, and emphasis on minimal HUD and character expression makes it feel like an interactive cartoon.

 

[Dr Bass]

Yeah cinematic games have been a thing for decades. It's not a "PS" thing at all, but PS1 certainly had its share of them with MGS1 being a standout in that sense. I think the issue when this gets mentioned in relation to PlayStation is how the formula seems to have kind of calcified largely around the 3rd person adventure/skill tree setup with some cutscenes that tell the story.

There was simply a lot more variety before. But making games was cheaper and less risky then, so you could try different things without the huge investment you seem to need now. I think everyone here knows this.

 

[kevboard]

cinematic gameplay doesn't mean cutscenes or story focus.

and "cinematic" gameplay is the issue.
forced slow walking, arbitrary limitations to your inputs at random points, insane amounts of context sensitive interactions in favor of systemic mechanics, hyper-linear level design that is dumbed down to the point where it almost plays itself.

THAT is the issue. and that is the cinematic bullshit games should simply never do, and MGS never did.

 

[nial]

You can do whatever you want. Any of those other games when searched show Sony as publisher, Final Fantasy 16 does not.

It does not change the fact that they still published it in some regions.

Are we sure you know the difference between a developer and a publisher?

Do you? I know that if I fund, produce, and publish my game in Japan and not USA, and you come here later and have a talk with me to pick up my title to release in USA, you are still not the main publisher. You just localized my title for release in another region, but you were not involved in anything regarding the funding and production of the project. It is my game, not yours.

 

[Hollowpoint5557]

It does not change the fact that they still published it in some regions.

Do you? I know that if I fund, produce, and publish my game in Japan and not USA, and you come here later and have a talk with me to pick up my title to release in USA, you are still not the main publisher. You just localized my title for release in another region, but you were not involved in anything regarding the funding and production of the project. It is my game, not yours.

I know that if I localize and publish a game for you in another region I become a co-publisher. You might not like it, but thats a list of Sony published games. I have nothing else to say to you on this.

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Yes, in-engine cinematic and CG FMV were PS games go-to for cinematic style storytelling. Now, in-engine is so good, it's getting harder to tell the difference.

 

[nial]

I know that if I localize and publish a game for you in another region I become a co-publisher. You might not like it, but thats a list of Sony published games. I have nothing else to say to you on this.

"Co-publisher' would imply that two companies are publishing it (or half-funding publishing operations). Generally, these localization pick-up publishing deals only result on one single external company doing all the work for that one specific region, so using 'co-publisher' makes little sense. But the actual egregious part is crediting a company that had NOTHING to do on the funding, production and management (which are, inherently, publisher roles) of those games.
Final Fantasy VII was published by Square. End of story.

 

[Jubenhimer]

GoW is a perfect example as there is a 'cinematic' version with the recent entries and then the original arcade hack-n-slash version. To me it's not simply about adding cinematics or CGI to a game, it's the character(s) constantly blabbering to themselves like a schizophrenic, forced walking segments etc. etc. etc.

Not sure how you can think modern GoW and classic GoW are the same.

They're both cinematic. Just in different ways. The original games had a heavy emphasis on story and cutscenes, and were filled with QTEs and dynamic camera angles. Classic GoW was more like a summer blockbuster, while nu-GoW is more like an HBO drama with its slower pace and more somber tone.

I never said they were the same. I'm just challenging the notion that PlayStation games were never cinematic.

 

[bitbydeath]

Imagine being retarded enough to put Spyro in the same category as Uncharted.

Are you trying to say that Spyro doesn't have any cutscenes?

 

[Ozzie666]

I'll throw this in from the cheap seats. The cinematic label and walking simulator seems to be a PS3 thing really, with uncharted and last of us really escalating it. i never considered PS1 games to be cinematic. I'd rarely considered a mascot game cinematic, or a driving game or a survival horror, or a jrpg to be one. Metal Gear Solid in 1998, maybe.

I mean prior to that cinematic was kind of kareteka, prince of persia, another world, flash back and maybe black thorne type stuff pre PS1. Abe games and Heart of Darkness on PS1.

Special shout outs to Cinemaware ..

 

[Robb]

I never said they were the same. I'm just challenging the notion that PlayStation games were never cinematic.

But is that a notion?
When people talk about cinematic games/"movie games" today my impression is that they mean the modern GoW (and countless other) example(s) with forced walking, constant chatter etc.

None of that was a thing in, say, Spyro. So Sony game have not always been cinematic in that same sense.

 

[Jubenhimer]

When people talk about cinematic games/"movie games" today my impression is that they mean the modern GoW (and countless other) example(s) with forced walking, constant chatter etc.

Yeah, I think people are referring to "Cinematic" in the modern "Last of Us" style context (Over the shoulder, third person, "walking" segments, etc.). But what about things like all those FMV cutscenes, or those cinematic platformers like Oddworld in the PS1 days? What about the DreamWorks-esque character animation, and stories of games like Ratchet & Clank or Jak & Daxter on the PS2? Or even something like Puppeteer on the PS3 with its puppet theater shtick. The Parrappa games were essentially music videos in game form, does that not count? What about a game like Mark of Kri, which had a very cinematic combat system and presentation. How are these not "cinematic" yet something like nu-GoW is?

What I'm arguing is that PlayStation games have always been cinematic, just in a different way from modern PlayStation games.