Playstation Store Sale Weekly Deals Top Picks April 12

It’s Wednesday, and that can only mean another episode of our PSN Store Weekly Deals Top Picks.

This time around, Sony is hosting a Grand Theft Auto franchise sale, and we’ve selected two of the highlights. Bundling together Rockstar’s PS2 classics, the Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy ($20.99) is up for grabs, while we also spotlight PSP gem, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars ($11.99).

For a title-by-title breakdown, you can head on over to PlayStation Store. Keep in mind, though, all of these promotions will be valid up until Monday, April 26 at approximately 10am PT/1pm ET.

If you have any questions or queries about our sale highlight, or indeed if you have any suggestions for the show, drop us a line: [email protected].

PlayStation LifeStyle’s YouTube channel is your hub for all things PlayStation, featuring the latest game trailers and more original content than you can shake a DualShock 4 at. We’ll be back same time next week for another Sale Highlight!

Essential Reading:

Insomniac Games Gameography

Insomniac Games Gameography
Disruptor (1996)

While it may surprise some, Insomniac's first game was a first-person shooter. Called Disruptor, the Doom-inspired shooter, let the player experiment with Psychokinetic powers. It was a solid first impression for the studio, as the game was received well from both fans and critics.
Spyro the Dragon (1998)

The studio's next game might be the one they are most beloved for. Spyro the Dragon, an innovative 3D platformer, was a milestone achievement for Insomniac Games. It immediately caught on with PlayStation owners, and the titular dragon became one of the signature icons for the system.
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! (1999)

Despite coming just a year later, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! was a sequel done right. It built upon the excellent foundation of the original while also adding new variety to the mix. Spyro 2 also showed that Insomniac has a knack for putting out high quality sequels on a short turnaround, something that continues to this day.
Spyro: Year of the Dragon (2000)

Insomniac's Spyro years would come to an end in 2000 with Spyro: Year of the Dragon. Thankfully, fans were treated with the best game in the series, which is still a true statement to this day. Year of the Dragon had the best gameplay of the trilogy, and also managed to show off more charm than past entries. I mean, how more charming can you get than a dragon on a skateboard?
Ratchet & Clank (2002)

Insomniac's first PlayStation 2 game would blend the studio's love of shooters and platformers. Ratchet & Clank proved to be not only Insomniac's most ambitious title to date, but also their best. The game took full advantage of the PS2's enhanced power, and had a great mix of shooting action with solid puzzle solving.
Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando (2003)

It wouldn't take long for Insomniac to follow-up on their latest hit, as just a year later Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando was released. The sequel was largely more of the same, but managed to build upon what was already there. More humor, more action, and just a stronger game overall.
Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal (2004)

Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal doesn't just have a funny name, it's also arguably the best Ratchet & Clank game. Third time managed to be the charm once again for Insomniac, as they once again hit gold. This entry had some of the wackiest weapons yet, and is memorable to everyone who played it.
Ratchet: Deadlocked (2005)

Ratchet: Deadlocked would prove to be a departure for the studio. Insomniac tried to shake up the series' formula by focusing more on the arena combat that was shown off in previous releases. This Clank-less sequel would end up being the least beloved PS2 game from the studio.
Resistance: Fall of Man (2006)

Thankfully, Insomniac welcomed the PlayStation 3 into existence with a bang. The developer went back to its first-person shooter roots with Resistance: Fall of Man. The M-rated title ended up being a much more serious affair for the studio that was now known for colorful mascots. The shift in tone worked, though, and Resistance became another successful series for Insomniac.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (2007)

Despite the success of Resistance, it wasn't time to say goodbye to our favorite robot and Lombax. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction marked the series' debut on a high-definition console, and it was impressive straight from the start. The graphical showcase also managed to impress from a gameplay perspective, as it went back to the Ratchet & Clank formula that made the series a hit in the first place.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty (2008)

In 2008 the studio would release two games. The first was Ratchet & Clank Future: Quest for Booty, a bite-sized R&C entry that served as a several hour long tease more than anything.
Resistance 2 (2008)

Their other release in 2008, Resistance 2, was anything but a tease. Resistance 2 was a fully fledged follow-up, and proved to be one of Insomniac's best games. Amazing bosses, strong art design, and intense gunplay made this one stick out.
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time (2009)

In 2009, Insomniac would finally deliver on the promise of Quest for Booty. The direct sequel, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, ended up impressing with some of the best puzzle design in the series' history, and gameplay that felt familiar but was enhanced by the new time mechanics.
Resistance 3 (2011)

Finally breaking their streak of yearly releases, Resistance 3 would finish the Resistance trilogy in 2011. The series went out with a bang, though, as this managed to be the darkest and most serious entry yet. With a both a solid single-player campaign and multiplayer, Insomniac managed to appeal to a wide array of FPS fans.
Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One (2011)

Insomniac's other 2011 release, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, didn't fare as well. While it wasn't a bad game, All 4 One ended up being the weakest entry in the series to this point. The new focus on cooperative play didn't provide the fresh shift that was intended, and it felt clunky with 4 players.
Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault (2012)

Insomniac's experimental streak continued with 2012's Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault. This entry blended the series' signature platforming with the tower defense genre. While a unique idea at the time, it wasn't the return to form that many fans wanted to see from the series.
Outernauts (2012)

Outernauts has the distinction of being the first Insomniac Games developed title to not appear on a PlayStation console. Instead, the Electronic Arts published role-playing game was released on Facebook. It would later be ported to iOS in 2014.
Fuse (2013)

The studios' second game with EA ended up being the third-person shooter Fuse. It was a rare misstep for Insomniac, as the cooperative shooter felt uninspired compared to previous outings.
Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus (2013)

Thankfully, the funk wouldn't last as Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus was a true return to form for Insomniac. The final game in the Ratchet & Clank Future series, went back to the series' roots while also offering up plenty of new twists to feel fresh. It was the best of both worlds and a proper send-off for the series on PS3.
Sunset Overdrive (2014)

Insomniac would then surprisingly team up with Microsoft for 2014's Sunset Overdrive. The excellent action platformer ended up being Insomniac's best game in recent memory, as it managed to make something as simple as traversal into an interesting and genuinely terrific mechanic. It proved that the studio still had the ability to put out fantastic AAA offerings.
Slow Down, Bull (2015)

In early 2015, Slow Down, Bull marked the first PC release for Insomniac. The gorgeous action game didn't make a huge splash on the market, but it was well received by those that did play it.
iOS Games (2015)

The studio also continued to experiment with iOS development in 2015. Insomniac released three different mobile titles: Fruit Fusion, Digit & Dash, and Bad Dinos.
Ratchet & Clank (2016)

Insomniac Games' next release is a reboot of their most long-lasting series. Ratchet & Clank is a new start for the series on PS4, and it has looked absolutely gorgeous pre-release.
Song of the Deep (2016)

The studio plans on having a busy 2016 as they'll also release Song of the Deep. This underwater Metroidvania looks very promising, and it will be interesting to see how it turns out.
Edge of Nowhere (2016)

Finally, Insomniac is entering the virtual reality gaming sphere with Edge of Nowhere. The third-person action game is currently only slated for Oculus Rift, but maybe we'll see a PlayStation VR release considering how close the developer is with Sony.