Feature: PlayStation 3 Retrospective - Part One

2009: Coming of Age

Every platform has a defining year, and for PlayStation 3, that came in 2009. While 2008 implemented a platform for change, it wasn’t until 2009 that those modifications came to the fore. A hearty rebranding effort saw the PlayStation 3 slimmed down into a new form factor and graced with a new logo. Sleeker, modernised, and, most importantly, now significantly cheaper, the PS3 finally seemed like an attractive proposition.

And it enjoyed its strongest period yet, thanks in part to the return of one Nathan Drake. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – Sony’s biggest release of the year – scooped up copious game of the year awards and finally convinced gamers that PS3 was a force to be reckoned with.

Naughty Dog’s anticipated sequel not only set a new precedent for visual fidelity, but it also proved what was possible from a story-telling perspective. The ambitious love-triangle centring on protagonists Drake, Elena and Chloe proved that the medium was capable of engaging storytelling and believable characterisation in a way that few games had previously succeeded. The game went on to become one of the most discussed releases of 2009 – and its multiplayer was fairly well received too, despite the initial scepticism from fans and the media.

But while Uncharted 2 dominated conversation, it was Call of Duty that took the market by storm. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare had already been a surprise success on PS3 back in 2007, but after the disappointing World at War, all eyes were on Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare 2. The sequel delivered, averaging a Metacritic of 94. While time has not been kind to MW2 – the plot seems incomprehensible upon reflection – Infinity Ward’s sequel cemented Call of Duty as the biggest brand in the world. The Activision shooter sold 4.7 million copies across multiple platforms in its first 24 hours on sale in the US and UK alone – a number which was only to be bettered by future Call of Duty releases.

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the marketability scale, 2009 saw the arrival of a little known title called Demon’s Souls. Partially funded by Sony Computer Entertainment in Japan, and developed by FROM Software, the notoriously difficult fantasy action title was brought to North American shores by Atlus. The game quickly developed a cult following in the West, championed by gamers who felt that modern gaming was becoming too easy. The game went on to sell over half a million copies – forcing Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida to later lament the company not bringing the title to Western shores itself.

On the whole, 2009 was a strong year for software on PS3. The gorgeous Killzone 2 launched early in the year and was joined by Resident Evil 5 and, later, inFamous – a rare new intellectual property which quickly developed a supercharged following. The PSN also started to stretch its legs, with the arrival of titles such as flower from thatgamecompany.

Meanwhile Sony found an unexpected new revenue stream via the PlayStation 3’s public removal of backwards compatibility. The God of War Collection – which was originally pitched as a Collector’s Edition bonus – launched in North America at the tail end of the year and went on to prompt a whole new series of compilations for Sony. The Sly Cooper Collection, ICO & Shadow of the Colossus Collection and Jak & Daxter Collection all followed, with many third-party studios getting in on re-release action too.

The PlayStation 3 was in its strongest position yet, and E3 reflected that. While the keynote hinged on the PSP go, the PS3 announcements came thick and fast. MAG promised the world’s first console 128-player multiplayer shooter – and delivered on that promise early in 2010. Other exclusives included ModNation Racers, Gran Turismo 5, The Last Guardian and God of War III.

And there was even time to reveal a new peripheral. In direct response to the announcement of Microsoft’s Project Natal, Sony wheeled out a hastily constructed tech demonstration dubbed the PlayStation Motion Controller. The nervous demonstration – anchored by Eye Toy creator Dr. Richard Marks – showed off the various capabilities of the device, many of which would form the basis for the peripheral’s launch software.

The battle between Microsoft’s Project Natal and Sony’s PlayStation Motion Controller went on to become a huge theme throughout the latter stages of 2009 and early 2010, with some arguing in favour of the practicality of Sony’s device, while others lamented its lack of creativity.

The rediscovered enthusiasm in the PlayStation platform as a whole set the tone for 2009, and Sony capitalised on the positive mind-share by releasing new ad campaigns across Europe and North America. The latter campaign would go on to become a phenomenon, with Kevin Butler playing the role of an arrogant PlayStation executive. The series of commercials – which saw Butler assume a different executive role for each new ad – were extremely clever, poking fun at the arrogant corporate image Sony had attained throughout the heady days of the PlayStation 2, and they brought a light-hearted tone to the platform for the first time since its release. Most importantly, both SCEA and SCEE’s new commercial campaigns focused on the PlayStation 3’s strengths, which were becoming increasingly important against the improving Xbox 360 and the runaway success of the Nintendo Wii.

Check back in the coming days to find out how the PlayStation 3 fared in 2010 and 2011. Meanwhile, let us know a little more about your history with the platform in the comments. Did you purchase a PS3 on launch day, or did you wait until the reboot in 2009? What titles did you purchase the system for, and were you satisfied with them?