Saints Row 2 and WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2009 Becoming Playstation 3 Greatest Hits

Two more games are about to be added to the Greatest Hits library for the Playstation 3. Saints Row 2 and WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 are the latest titles to join the exclusive list. The Greatest Hits line (known in Japan as "Playstation the Best" and "Platinum Range" in Europe) has been with Sony since their first system: the original Playstation. Since then, the Playstation 2, PSP and recently the Playstation 3 have gotten the same feature.

In order for a game to be eligible, it must have sold quite well and be on the market for a certain period of time. Sony and the publisher will then decide whether or not if the game will become a Greatest Hits title.

Greatest Hits games are repackaged with a label and sold at a budgeted price. For the Playstation 3, these games come with a red stripe containing the phrase "Greatest Hits" and are sold for $29.99. The Playstation 3 Greatest Hits costs $10 more due to the high licensing fees imposed by Sony for the system whereas the titles in the line are usually priced at $19.99 on the Playstation, Playstation 2 and PSP.

The first set of Greatest Hits games on the Playstation 3 launched on July 28, 2008. The second batch arrived nearly a year later on June 16, 2009. Fortunately, it looks like it won't take another year for new Greatest Hits games to arrive on the Playstation 3. THQ is now bringing two of their most popular games to the line.

Although the first game was canceled on the Playstation 3, THQ still brought Saints Row 2 to the same system on October 14, 2008. The sequel is an open-world crime game that unapologetically takes many cues from the Grand Theft Auto series. Saints Row 2 received great review scores, which then translated into the game being a swift seller. As a result, it became a Greatest Hits title on the Playstation 3.

The Smackdown games are no stranger to the Greatest Hits line. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 is the latest title in the series to join the list. You should know what to expect from this wrestling video game: a big roster, abundance of options and intense grappling ring action. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 sold well enough to become the second greatest hits game for THQ on the Playstation 3.

No release date has been announced yet for the two latest additions. You can expect the Greatest Hits version of Saints Row 2 and WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 to be released before the end of the year, however.