Sony has announced that the digital storefronts for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita will close in one year, effectively ending new digital purchases on both platforms. This move will lock away some of the consoles' earliest digital-only releases, highlighting the ongoing precariousness of digital game ownership.
The PlayStation 3, a transitional console between experimental early generations and the more commercially focused era, hosted several idiosyncratic titles that may soon become inaccessible. While some games have been ported to newer systems, others, like Noby Noby Boy and Hard Peace, have already been delisted. Below is a selection of notable titles that are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere, representing unique offerings from an era on its way to extinction.
Drinkbox Studios, known for Guacamelee!, debuted with Tales from Space: About a Blob. This puzzle platformer features a growing, gelatinous protagonist with new powers to explore and interact with a dynamic environment. Its sequel, Mutant Blobs Attack, was later released on more platforms.
Thexder Neo, a remake of a cult PC-Engine game from the '80s, was handled by Square Enix in 2009. The space adventure game allows players to alternate between a space jet and a giant mech while navigating hostile stations and caves. The HD remastering retains much of the retro classic's appeal.
Siren: Blood Curse, a survival horror title from Keiichirō Toyama, Silent Hill's creator, offers a streamlined experience building on lessons learned from its predecessor. While a physical version was released, its rarity makes the PlayStation Network version a more accessible option for experiencing this unique entry in the survival horror genre.
A distinctively PlayStation experience, The Last Guy is an arcade-style game where players lead a conga line of survivors through post-apocalyptic cities to evacuation points, all while avoiding mutant creatures. The game notably utilized early Google Maps satellite imagery to create its urban playgrounds.
Puppeteer, a cult classic platformer, presents players as Kutaro, a puppet whose head has been removed. Set within a stage play, players use giant scissors to combat automatons, collect new heads to change abilities, and progress through the performance. Despite a physical release, copies are notoriously scarce.
Masaya Matsuura's Vib-Ribbon, a follow-up to PaRappa the Rapper, is a rhythm platformer that impressed with its charm and challenge. It uniquely allows players to use their own music CDs to generate game levels. Originally a PlayStation release in Japan, it was later made available worldwide on the PlayStation Network in 2014.
Tokyo Jungle, described as one of the most essential games to rescue from the PS3 library, is an inventive survival RPG set in a post-apocalyptic Japan where wild animals have overrun Tokyo. Players control various species, from Pomeranians to more formidable beasts, hunting, breeding, and surviving to pass on their lineage. The game offers a unique take on the survival genre, emphasizing the struggle for existence among diverse animal populations.