10 best PlayStation 3 games of 2009

With a slew of excellent exclusive games, the PS3 is finally hitting its stride

Sony’s PlayStation 3 hasn’t had it easy ever since it debuted in 2006, with its competition (Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360) outselling the machine sometimes by leaps and bounds. But things are really starting to look up for this powerful and feature-rich game console.
This year has seen the release of some excellent PS3-exclusive games, as well as a hefty price cut for the console and the introduction of the new PS3 Slim machine. And there are so many great PS3 games to choose from this holiday that it wasn’t easy to narrow the list down to a mere 10. But we did it.

'DJ Hero'

Rating: Teen
Price: $119.99
Like the many “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” games crowding the market today, “DJ Hero” is a rhythm game – but this one boldly struts down its own unique road.
The game comes with a specially created turntable controller, a compact and well-constructed device that won’t take up too much room in closets already overstuffed with fake plastic guitars and drum peripherals. Using the controller, players simulate the music mixing and mashing of turntable-ism. Tap colored face buttons, swish the turntable back and forth and manipulate a crossfader as you meld two songs together like the best of the beat masters.
Meanwhile, the track list is simply fantastic. “DJ Hero” is chock full of great music from the likes of David Bowie, 50 Cent, Daft Punk and Queen. This game will rock you.

 'Street Fighter IV'

Rating: Teen
Price: $29.99
Fighting-game fans had a very good reason to rejoice this year, as the long-running “Street Fighter” franchise got one seriously awesome makeover and update. “Street Fighter IV” brings back the tried-and-true brawling action that gamers have grown to love, but it adds a whole lot of excellent upgrades and new flourishes.
Players can take many of the classic characters they love into the fight (Chun-Li and Ryu among them), but the game adds some butt-kicking new characters to play as well (Crimson Viper and El Fuerte, for example). Meanwhile, the visuals have been given a gorgeous, beefed-up overhaul and the combat system now includes Focus Attack, Super Combo and Ultra Combo systems.
Ultimately, what makes this game great is that it’s approachable enough for brawling newbies and yet so packed full of depth and detail that seasoned “Street Fighter” fans will enjoy duking it out for eons.

'Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time'

Rating: E10+
Price: $59.99
Ratchet and Clank – that adventure-seeking lombax and his trusty robot friend – are two of the most beloved Sony game characters. And with “Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time,” the dynamic duo returns in excellent form.
“A Crack in Time” is the sequel to two of the most recent R&C games (“Tools of Destruction” and “Quest for Booty”) and finds Ratchet setting out on a quest to save his robo-buddy Clank from the clutches of Dr. Nefarious. The game is chock-full of puzzles to solve, shooting and lots of runnin’ and jumpin’, and it tosses in some great space-flight missions to boot. Meanwhile, not only does this newest adventure look fantastic, but as the title implies, it includes some excellent time-manipulation segments to tweak your brain.
With their zany sense of humor and deep, polished gameplay, “Ratchet & Clank” games tend to be tons of good fun ... and this latest adventure is exactly that.

'Flower'

Rating: E
Price: $9.99 (download from PlayStation Network)
One of the year’s most original games can be found only for the PlayStation3. It’s called “Flower,” and as its name implies, it’s a game about ... flowers. Seriously. And yes, it’s amazing.
“Flower” begins with a single petal riding on a breeze. You send it sailing across grassy meadows, collecting petals from other flowers until you’ve become a swirling trail of petals with the power to affect the environment around you. Sometimes you bring light to the landscape, sometimes you bring color. But no matter what you’re doing, you soar through the air with an unparalleled feeling of grace.
Developed by indie favorites ThatGameCompany, “Flower” features dazzling graphics and simple controls. Tilt the PS3’s motion-sensitive controller to steer your petals where you want them to go, and push any button you like to propel them forward on the breeze. Despite its seeming simplicity, “Flower” is deeply absorbing and a testament to just how creative and inspiring video games can be.

'inFAMOUS'

Rating: Teen
Price: $39.99
Will you be a good guy or a bad guy? That’s the question this excellent, action-packed PS3 exclusive asks players.
In this game, gamers take on the role of Cole, a bike messenger given electrical superpowers during a mysterious blast that devastated the city around him. Cole is beset with tough choices from the get-go as he tries to figure out what’s happened to him and his city. That is, “inFAMOUS” gives players a choice: Be a good guy who sacrifices himself in order to do right by the troubled world around him, or be a bad guy who uses his newly found powers for his own gain. The game uses a karma system, an omnipotent score keeper that tallies your good actions and your bad ones. Cole and the environment around him change depending on the choices you make.
But no matter how you play this game, you’ll have a blast. Whether you’re exploring the open world, scaling massive buildings with ease or wielding some pretty fantastic super powers, “inFAMOUS” is a thrill to play.

'Assassin's Creed II'

Rating: M
Price: $59.99
This gorgeous and epic action-adventure game is not just beautiful to look at, but it’s a thing of beauty to play as well. An open-world game, “Assassin’s Creed II” delivers many welcome improvements over its predecessor, as well as many hours of superb gameplay and a stellar time-spanning story of assassination and intrigue.
This game’s tale moves between past and future as you play Desmond Miles, a man training to become an assassin by slipping into a device that allows him to live the life of his ancestor, a young Italian man from the 15th century who is learning to become an assassin himself. The presentation is amazing. With jaw agape, you will marvel at the stunning Renaissance-era vistas laid out before you. Meanwhile, running, leaping and scaling your way around this world is exhilarating. You’ll execute stunning acrobatics and jump into beautifully animated fights and assassinations. And it’s a real blast to use gadgets created by the young Leonardo da Vinci.

'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2'

Rating: M Price: $59.99 War ain’t pretty and “Modern Warfare 2” makes sure players know it. Of course, when it comes to video game wars, war can be a lot of fun too, and this first-person shooter makes sure players know that as well. The game – a sequel to the hit “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare” – takes players from the slums of Rio to the caverns of Afghanistan as it weaves a tale of a world falling into conflict. This action-filled yarn has you trying to stop a bloodthirsty terrorist, defending American soil and, ultimately, stopping the entire globe from tearing itself apart. As in previous “Call of Duty” games, the single-player campaign lets players live out this adventure from the perspective of several characters, each involved in a different aspect of the conflict. The game includes an especially controversial and bloody scene in an airport and sometimes fails as it tries to piece together a smooth-flowing story. But “Modern Warfare 2” is engaging as all get out with some amazing battles set on American soil and some truly heart-pounding segments set in Rio. War-game and first-person shooter fans will be thrilled to jump into this battle.

'Killzone 2'

Rating: M
Price: $59.99
This action-packed first-person shooter puts players into the thick of an epic, otherworldly war. Playing as Sev, a battle-hardened warrior, players are tasked with joining a team of soldiers on a mission to capture the fascist enemy leader and put a stop to his devastating advances.
The game’s graphics are nothing short of stunning, and the many weapons at your disposal are a blast to put into action. Meanwhile, the game’s pacing is chaotic and intense (and we mean that in a good way), and the massive battles are impressive to behold. Beyond that, “Killzone 2's” multiplayer is absolutely top-notch.

'Batman: Arkham Asylum'

Rating: Teen
Price: $59.99
“Batman: Arkham Asylum” is a masterpiece, plain and simple. This action-adventure game of stealth finds our hero trapped in the prison known as Arkham Asylum, along with a host of crazed killers and the Joker, who is up to some serious no good. To set things right, you’ll find yourself swooping among the gargoyles in the rafters, taking on rooms full of thugs, putting Batman’s super-cool gadgets to work and much more.
The graphics are eye-popping, the stealth action is thrilling and the fighting is so gorgeously choreographed and beautifully implemented you’ll never want to stop taking down Arkham’s many bad guys. Meanwhile the story is gripping and the voice acting is superb. There so much that’s great about this title that we could go on and on. But suffice it to say that “Batman: Arkham Asylum” is among the very best games out there.

'Uncharted 2: Among Thieves'

Rating: Teen
Price: $59.99
Pardon us for a moment as we lavish praise upon this action-adventure game. Thrilling. Gorgeous. Fun. Phenomenal. In short, “Uncharted 2” is � WOW!
From the cliff-hanger of an opening scene on through to the end, you won’t know whether you’re in the midst of a blockbuster movie or a blockbuster game. That is to say, as players take Nathan Drake on a world-hopping adventure to find a lost city and a powerful stone, the game comes together with the best kind of cinematic life complete with a superbly crafted story, excellent voice acting and refined music to boot. Whether you’re shooting, solving puzzles or climbing about the varied and often dynamic environments before you, there’s no better way to show off the power of the PS3 than to toss in this game, which is simply stunning to look at on every level. Meanwhile “Uncharted 2” brings both co-op and competitive online play to the series for the first time.
Xbox and Wii owners, eat your heart out. You won’t be able to play “Uncharted 2” on anything but a PS3.