Growing Up/Evolving from PS2 to PS3

I just downloaded Infamous through PSN's Welcome Back Program and while it was loading, I saw that it was made by Sucker Punch and it got me thinking about some of my favorite developers and how their games have matured from PS2 to PS3.  So I decided to do some reflection (similarities/differences) in some of my favorite Sony-exclusive developers (Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Insomniac) between this generation and the last.  This also lines up nicely with the new release Playstation Move Heroes, which features Rachet and Clank, Jak and Daxter, and Sly and Bentley as competing playable co-op teams. 


Sucker Punch

Sly Cooper  -->  Infamous

 


Sly Cooper was a great platformer/stealth game that was targeted towards a younger audience.  The character moved kind of slowly.  The gameplay was mainly about timing and the difficulty was not overwhelming.  It was a successful trilogy that started strong and tailed off at the end.  After moving to his current generation, Sucker Punch decided to start a new franchise with a whole new look.  Infamous is completely different.  There are many of the same platforming elements (jumping between pipes and having to rotate around to line up the jump), the platformer is much quicker and not so focused on deliberate timing.  Aside from that, the morality system, violence, and mature subject matter show a whole new side to Sucker Punch and are a great step forward. 


Insomniac

Rachet and Clank  -->  Resistance

  


Not as much to say about this evolution because I haven't played Resistance.  So here's what I can tell you:  Rachet and Clank had the least amount of emphasis on platformer as the other 2 franchises and the most emphasis on weapons.  It kind of follows that Insomniac would create a FPS as their new PS3 franchise.  Resistance is an apocalyptic shooter that is a far-cry from the innocence and humor of Rachet and Clank, but reflects the PS3's appeal to a more specific, hardcore gamer than PS2's more inclusive, we-have-everything mentality. 


Naughty Dog

Jak and Daxter  -->  Uncharted

 


Now we come to my favorite franchises from both generations (what can I say? Naughty Dog is the best).  Jak and Daxter evolved the most between iterations.  The 1st one had very limited combat, but the platforming was top-notch.  The 2nd one was an open-world game, tried to copy Grand Theft Auto, and added weapons.  It was a step in the right direction, but still didn't feel completely right.  The 3rd one hit all the right notes.  It emphasized missions, balanced the platforming and combat perfectly, and had a great story.  The franchise matured as it developed.  For the current generation, Naughty Dog created a new franchise that expanded upon Jak 3.  Uncharted does an even better job with the story and presentation.  The platforming is still there, but the combat has been greatly improved and the realism is great.  Just like the Jak franchise, Uncharted is evolving with each iteration.  The 2nd one added multiplayer (a first for Naughty Dog) and the 3rd one looks to greatly expand on the multiplayer (see blowout post below).  I feel like Drake is the human, grown-up version of Jak except much more humorous (Daxter was the humor in the Jak franchise). 


It's nice to see developers evolving and adapting to an older, more-mature, hardcore crowd on the PS3.  They're still producing amazing games and that's what matters. 


- Matt