10 UNDERRATED PlayStation Characters

Fetch
“Infamous: First Light” (2014)

When “Infamous: First Light” dropped, Sony and Sucker Punch reached a crossroad that could have changed the IP’s future a bit. After spending a couple of games with Cole MacGrath and one with the lackluster protagonist of “Second Son”, Delsin Rowe, fans were wanting Sucker Punch to continue the franchise with Fetch. Her story of struggling with addiction and her undying bond with her brother made “Infamous” much more grounded than any other game in the series. People loved “First Light” despite it being significantly shorter than the main games. Unfortunately, Sony and Sucker Punch opted to move on to other endeavors. Sure, it was great to have gotten a game like “Ghost of Tsushima”. Still, couldn’t we have gotten one more game for Fetch? At least we got to see her represented in “Astro Bot”.

Selene
“Returnal” (2021)

A common complaint we’ve been seeing in the PlayStation community is how the PS5 has no games to play. Sounds like not enough people have given “Returnal” a fair shot. Admittedly, we’ve criticized the game a couple of times in the past due to how awful the launch was in 2021. So many consoles suffered enigmatic issues because of this game, but those have long been remedied now. Today, you absolutely owe it to yourself to play “Returnal”. Not only does it have some of the most exceptional combat ever made for a bullet hell shooter, Selene’s story is among the best that the PlayStation Studios family has ever told with its heavy subject matter. From the mysterious planets crawling with vicious aliens to the disturbing presence of “The Astronaut”, Selene’s journey has cemented herself as one of the most memorable heroines of the PlayStation family, and it’s a shame few seem to be talking about it.

Jimmy
“Ape Escape 2” (2002)

When talking about the “Ape Escape” franchise, almost everyone gravitates towards Spike. Yes, Spike is the face of the franchise, but why do we always leave cousin Jimmy out of the conversation? Even though he shares a lot of the same gadgets as Spike, Jimmy gets to utilize three new gadgets with distinct features. Okay, the Water Cannon isn’t all that impressive in all honesty, and the Electro Magnet is…neat at best. But the Bananarang? That gadget alone made capturing monkeys so much easier! That alone should count for something, right? Alas, not in the eyes of this fanbase.

Dollface
“Twisted Metal” series (1995-2012)

While Sweet Tooth is always front and center for the franchise, we often forget that “Twisted Metal” has another compelling character with a fascinating story. Unfortunately, Dollface’s potential has been largely ignored by Sony. What we have here is someone just as psychotic as Sweet Tooth, though her ambitions are different. Regardless if you prefer the “Black” or 2012 version of the character, both of Dollface’s stories involve issues with self-image in unique ways. One ties into the self-inflicted harm stemming from constant doubt and blame while the other goes in a drastically different direction with the disastrous drive for perfection and ultimate beauty. Given how most PlayStation first-party games strive to tell real stories, you would think Sony would go to their mystical well of old IPs for Dollface’s story alone, which we all know Sony doesn’t like to do unless it’s “God of War” or “Ratchet & Clank”.

Erica Mason
“Erica” (2019)

Shockingly, “Erica” is one of the few games that Sony themselves gave almost no attention to. Developed by Flavourworks alongside London Studio, “Erica” was an FMV game about a young woman who uncovers the dark truths about her family. What follows are a series of unfortunate events involving lies, deceit, and disturbing occult rituals. Both the game and character Erica are shrouded in mystery at every turn until the very end, and her story is told in such a captivating way that you’ll want to go for a second or even a third playthrough. Sadly, Sony gave it almost no marketing even though one of their own studios co-developed the game, which is a shame given how it fills the horror void left behind by “Until Dawn” and “Siren”.

Biff & Gary
“ModNation Racers” (2010)

On a more lighthearted note, two PlayStation characters that are frequently forgotten about are legendary motorsports commentators Biff Tradwell and Gary Reasons. These two were the bread and butter of “ModNation Racers’s” story, and they were freakin’ hilarious! Throughout the entire campaign, Biff relentlessly mocks and ridicules Gary on live TV in the most childish ways, and it gets funnier every single race. Admittedly, we feel bad for Gary because the poor guy just wants to enjoy the action and entertainment of kart racing, but he does get Biff in the end in the most humiliating way possible. Ah, if only modern PlayStation embraced a more comedic, lighthearted side.

Emmet Graves
“Starhawk” (2012)

Now, we’re not about to sit here and tell you how deep and meaningful Emmet’s story is in
“Starhawk”. Yes, “Starhawk” does have a thrilling campaign and everything. However, that’s not the reason why we like Emmet. We actually adore him for the same reason as we like Jimmy from “Ape Escape 2”. It isn’t just because he’s a badass character – it’s because he’s a badass character doing badass things like dropping buildings from the flippin’ sky!! Look, we can be fanboys about dudes swinging chained blades around or using weapons that harness the power of belching frogs. That’s all fine and dandy, but when you see someone like Emmet dropping factories, science labs, and houses on dudes… We want to see more, dammit!! Give us “Starhawk 2”!

Jaster Rogue
“Rogue Galaxy” (2007)

Getting back into characters with more weight on narrative, Jaster Rogue another PlayStation character that has spent way too much time proverbially collecting dust on Sony’s shelf. At the time of launch, critics were pretty quick to throw Jaster and his story under the bus. Sure, “Rogue Galaxy” is nowhere near as magnificent as some of the “Dragon Quest” or “Final Fantasy” games, but the simplicity of Jaster adventure is why “Rogue Galaxy” resonates with the few who have played it. There is something special about experiencing the humble beginnings of a character and their lead up to becoming the hero of their world. And if that really isn’t good enough, then maybe it wouldn’t hurt for Sony to give Level 5 another shot and greenlight a “Rogue Galaxy 2” to show another side of Jaster…and also give him a proper ending.

Kat
“Gravity Rush” series (2012-17)

A common narrative theme across PlayStation first-party games is the concept of being outcasted, the outlier going against the grain or being largely forgotten for obtuse reasons. From Kratos to Sly to just about every other PlayStation IP to have had time in the spotlight, Kat was widely forgotten about by almost everyone. In addition to the similar narrative as other PlayStation characters, “Gravity Rush” gave Kat gravity-defying powers that opened the door for Japan Studio to create incredible levels. Sadly, her story went unnoticed by “hardcore” PlayStation fans. The first game only sold a couple hundred thousand copies while the sequel barely met half of that amount. Here’s hoping that the rumored animated movie revives Kat in some way.

Sir Daniel Fortesque
“MediEvil” series (1998-2019)

Poor Sir Daniel Fortesque has never been given a fair shot by Sony. Ever. Anytime “MediEvil” manages to get a new game, it’s always been a remake of the 1998 original. Not that the original game is awful. If anything, it boasts the better story between the original two games. This is a game about a knight who was revered for a war where he was the first to die in battle. It’s hilarious, and you can pull all kinds of different narrative threads from that concept alone. And the story still doesn’t have to be dead serious! Few PlayStation characters boast that level of malleability in their story, but for some reason, Sony just doesn’t see that and keeps giving the series minimal funding and marketing. Just look at the 2019 remake.

Which PlayStation character do you feel is underrated? Did they make our list? Let us know down in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe to MojoPlays for more great videos everyday!