Brawlers used to be more prevalent back in the arcade days of the 80s and 90s. They still exist today in small batches, but the genre also evolved into something flashier with the hack and slash genre. There are many examples on the PS3 from God of War 3 to DmC: Devil May Cry.
Even a game like Diablo 3 is a hack and slash game but with more of an emphasis on co-op. All three of these games are different in their design philosophies. Some have puzzles to break up the action and some are all about loot. What about these hidden gems that PS3 fans may or may not remember?
8 Dragon’s Crown
Dragon’s Crown is one of the best modern brawlers/hack and slash games in the past decade. It had its followers when it was released on PS3 and PS Vita. It was like an old-school Dungeons and Dragons arcade game where players could choose a class and go on missions alone or with friends via local or online co-op.
Dragon’s Crown got another chance on the PS4 with a remaster, and was reviewed well, but it still wasn’t a breakout hit for everyone. Through the power of the PS5’s emulation, it lives on but is in the shadows, still waiting for its day in the sun.
7 Dungeon Siege 3
Dungeon Siege 3 was the first and only game in this series that was made after Square Enix bought the rights. It’s a top-down action RPG, resembling Diablo in many ways. The co-op gameplay was the best feature in the game which was advertised in a rather memorable ad campaign. It was rough around the edges graphically and the story wasn’t that memorable. However, it was a fun game to play with friends. Sometimes bonding with friends over a game makes that game better overall and Dungeon Siege 3 is a perfect example.
6 Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 is like most in this series from Koei Tecmo. They aren’t deep action RPGs with robust combat systems. They can be repetitive on many levels from slaying thousands of enemies dozens of times over to hearing the same line of dialogue every time an enemy is defeated.
It’s another game with a lot of issues, technically, but it is a very good Gundam game. It features mechs across many timelines in this giant anime series. Hack and slash fans will enjoy it, especially with a friend in co-op, but Gundam fans will eat it up.
5 Heavenly Sword
Heavenly Sword was seemingly Sony trying to make another God of War series but with a female warrior instead. The action was similar as players could control two giant blades on chains. It was mostly a hack and slash game but there were other moments where stealth and range came into play with another character.
It was an early hit on the console that most don’t remember now. There was never a sequel, or an attempt to remaster it, but there was an animated spinoff film.
4 Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was the first in what EA had hoped would be a giant franchise. After this, there were plans to make an MMO but unfortunately, sales did not meet expectations and those plans were canceled. That was one reason anyway but the history is a bit more complex.
The game got a second chance with a remaster in 2020, so, there is hope for a sequel of some kind yet. It may not have gained more in its cult following, but even one new fan would be a plus. This is a severely underrated action RPG with a big world to explore and deep combat mechanics.
3 Lollipop Chainsaw
Lollipop Chainsaw was a Suda51 action game that was helped along by James Gunn with its English translation. It was an unprecedented mix between Hollywood and the Japanese gaming world. The result may not have lived up to either’s reputation but it was weird that much is true.
Players took on the role of a cheerleader who wielded a chainsaw to fight waves of zombies. She also had the head of her boyfriend attached to her belt for moral support.
2 The Lord Of The Rings: War In The North
The Lord of the Rings: War in the North might be the best game based on this beloved series. It was an action RPG that took place parallel to the events of the main trilogy. Players could become one of three characters including a human, dwarf, and elf who had their own classes.
A player could solo the adventure with AI companions or co-op with two others following. It was a hard game on any difficulty and was certainly rough around the edges, but it was still great.
1 X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine is, without a doubt, better than the movie on which it is based. For one, it was a bloodier experience than the film. It didn’t reach the gore levels of Mortal Kombat but Wolverine was able to let loose. The easiest game to compare it to would be God of War as Wolverine could hack and slash enemies apart with ease.
He also had some anger issues to deal with in the story like Kratos. It’s too bad licensed-based games like this are trickier to remaster because this one deserves a second chance.