So I know everyone hates these threads and posts lists of the thousands of old threads on the same subject... well, strangely, I couldn't find any current ones when I searched, most were pretty old. So I decided to make this one.
Anyway, I'm thinking of buying a PSP Go before the EU "10 free games" offer expires on Jan 31. The problem is, I don't know much about current and upcoming games. I've owned a PSP twice before, but sold them due to most games at the time being water-down console experiences. So I'm asking you GAF, which are the best released and upcoming games for the PSP? All genres are fair game, except sports games. UMD games are fine as well since the Go now has homebrew capabilities.
edit: For upcoming games, see Nirolak's awesome thread.
Please post at least one screenshot and a short descriptive text of why the game is good. Use this format:
GAME TITLE
SCREENSHOT
DESCRIPTIVE TEXT
If you do, I'll put your recommendation in the OP. Thanks
Anyway, I'm thinking of buying a PSP Go before the EU "10 free games" offer expires on Jan 31. The problem is, I don't know much about current and upcoming games. I've owned a PSP twice before, but sold them due to most games at the time being water-down console experiences. So I'm asking you GAF, which are the best released
edit: For upcoming games, see Nirolak's awesome thread.
Please post at least one screenshot and a short descriptive text of why the game is good. Use this format:
GAME TITLE
SCREENSHOT
DESCRIPTIVE TEXT
If you do, I'll put your recommendation in the OP. Thanks
Minsc said:Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together
Looking to be the best SRPG ever made. TO beautifully remade with (almost) all the innovations that have been brought to the series/genre since it's original release (where they were lacking). Combat gets a complete makeover, and there's content galore, including achievements!
Youtube video showing all sorts of status/configuration/battle screen. Pre-order thread & classes/narrative thread (with my pic showing how crazy the branching story is and the large number of missions).
BiggNife said:Half-Minute Hero
As for why the game is good. It has:
-A Great sense of humor
-A really neat-looking 8-bit art style
-Extremely clever gameplay mechanics (every level must be completed in 30 seconds, hence the title)
-Lots of variety (One mode plays like an RPG, another is a basic RTS, and another is a fast paced shooter)
Seriously, check it out.
ULTROS! said:Ys: The Oath in Felghana
One of my favorite games in the PSP. The game can last about 7-9 hours but it has incredible replay value. The battle system is simple and easy to understand yet it's fun and fast paced.
-Pyromaniac- said:Jeanne D'arc
is a great level-5 SRPG based on real history! Errr sort of.
Ys Seven
is a very fun action RPG with a decent story, but like I said most importantly is it's really fun. Undeniably so!
BiggNife said:God of War: Chains of Olympus
If you liked GoW on the PS2/PS3, you really need to pick this one up. It's my second favorite in the series next to GoW2, and probably the best 3D action game I've played on a portable system. If you haven't played a GoW before, you'll probably enjoy this if you're a fan of fast-paced action. It helps that it also has fantastic graphics. I haven't played Ghost of Sparta yet (I assume it's equal in terms of quality), but you can get CoO for $20 or less now so I highly recommend it.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
To preface this choice: I'm actually not a big fan of Final Fantasy VII. However, I tried Crisis Core on a whim, and I ended up really enjoying it. It's a solid action RPG with a weird but entertaining combat system, and a story that ends up being much more focused than FFVII's (it's basically a character study of Zack). Don't let the fact that it's an FFVII game scare you; if you like action RPGs, chances are you'll like this game.
Mega Man: Powered Up and Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X
Both games are excellent remakes of classic 2D platformers (Mega Man 1 and Mega Man X1). Powered Up has more content due to being able to play the game with any robot master as well as a level creator, but I'm a big fan of MHX mainly because MMX is one of my favorite games ever. You can find both for extremely cheap (probably ten bucks), so definitely take a look.
Massa said:Hot Shots Tennis
Incredibly addictive gameplay with charming presentation.
Killzone: Liberation
By far the best shooter on the system.
Gran Turismo
Even after GT5 I still load this baby up on my PSP to finish off S-ranking the tracks or getting Gold on the license tests. Amazing game.
Jigsaw said:Ys 7
it's zelda,on crack...good story with charming characters,big overworld,towns,dungeons,tools to solve puzzles,screen filling bosses,plenty of sidequests,7 different playable characters (tank,mage,archer etc) and the fastest battle system i've ever seen in any rpg
ys 3 oath and ys 6 ark are good games too but very different gameplay-wise (no party,very linear dungeoncrawlers with almost no overworld or sidequests)
i liked ys 7 the most,if you are only remotely interested in zelda-like games you will love it
djtiesto said:EVERY EXTEND EXTRA
This is probably my favorite game on the PSP, it's got a unique gameplay mechanic where you're blowing your ship up to create chains in order to collect a high-enough score to get an "extend", i.e. another chance at blowing your ship up. It's much better than the XBLA game btw.
It features:
-Game by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, of Rez, Lumines, and Space Channel 5 fame
-Psychedelic graphics and beautiful backgrounds
-A hard, loopy techno soundtrack
-An innovative concept, perfect for pick-up-and-play fun
-Plus you can buy it for under $10
Corto said:PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe
The ultimate version of the game. The Deluxe is there in the title for a reason...
Motorstorm Arctic Edge
A great arcade racer with great sense of speed, and not so punishing as the console big brother, at least until 6th level. A little repetitive track wise, but great fun and very much suitable to short gameplay sessions with one race lasting 3-5 minutes max.
Super Stardust Portable
Great Shooter as the PS3 version. Gorgeous graphics and the controls are very well implemented in the PSP, even if it lacks the second analogue. The difficulty is better balanced in the portable version so you can get to the end of the game a little easier but still with some challenge.
Dissidia Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy Fighter with eye candy graphics and a great number of the well known characters from the series. An RPG/Fighter hybrid that will give you dozens of hours of content.
Cladun: This is an RPG
A retro style dungeon crawler with beautiful sprites that even gives the choice to listen to a 8 bit soundtrack on top of the old school graphics. It has an original mechanic where other party members form a Magic Circle where their abbillities/stats buff your own character stats in order to give you an edge when fighting your enemies. Great dialogue also...
Patapon 2
Pata Pata Pata Pon Pata Pata Pata Pon Pon Pon Pata Pon FEEEEVER
R Type Delta
A classic of the PSOne. The best testimony I can give to this game is that the next two weeks following my buy I couldn't play another game. Soooooo good! They don't make shooters like this any more.
Ratrat said:Legend of Heroes FC&SC
Theres an incredibly intrusive anime story with unending dialogue scenes but the gameplay is strategic fun. Also the environments are very well crafted, music is pretty good.
rainking187 said:Popolocrois
It's a pretty adorable light hearted RPG, with great characters, and an interesting story.
RelentlessRolento said:No Heroes Allowed
The first two games were flawed heavily by unbalanced ecosystems but this third one perfects everything. Very much a game where you feel smarter over time.
-Emphasis on ecosystem and smart thinking
-Very skill based (first 30 min won't feel like it though)
-puzzle mode built in with daily puzzles
-can save game at any time for breaks
It's a very tough game but entirely worth it. Like monster hunter it's one of the few games I feel like "the shit" when I beat a level
Plus it's 9.99 and the sound and design kick ass
Eye of Judgment
Great game where the AI is always a bit smarter than you.
- Long game with actually strong universal wiki and back story; great art/comic style cutscenes
-lots to unlock
-great multiple deck customization
-online and local multiplayer
It's price is high now on PSN but I got it for sale at $14.99. You can get a euro umd copy for cheap though. Play the demo first though since it unlocks cards you can't unlock in the full game.
I still play it alot.
Patchwork Heroes
Fun story and nothing else on the market like it. Great style and super tense once you get into the game.
-Nothing like it
-cute story
-alot of challenge in a tight package
Kenak said:All of these listed are available on PSN:
GTA: Liberty City Stories
I (accidentally) bought Liberty City Stories instead of Vice City Ctories, and I've heard VCS is better. But anyhow, LCS is a slimmed down variant of the PS2 title, but still very enjoyable. It has a good short mission structure that fits the handheld nature of the game quite nicely.
Persona 3 Portable
Turn based RPG where you use monsters that you find and fuse together in battle called personas. You spend the day time at school doing whatever, and night time dungeon crawling. Monsters roam the halls in the dungeon, and you run around the randomly generated levels that all look the same for the most part. Has the bonus of a female story over the PS2 versions.
Wipeout Pulse
Great racer. A little difficult, but pretty satisfying once you get the hang of it.
Valkyria Chronicles II
SRPG where you take turn commanding units, moving them through the battle field and attacking enemies. Has voice overs for main cut scenes and a very nice visual style.
Allan Holdsworth said:Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles
Remake of CV Rondo of Blood. I wouldn't say it's better than the original, but it does have some differences if you're tired of playing RoB.
Minsc said:Don't forget to mention it has the original game of RoB included as well, and most importantly a new version of SotN (with a playable Maria, new script, and redone VA, some better and worse)!
There's a good review of it here.
Goku Makaimura Kai
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Japanese-only update to Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins. Much less focus on exploration. Limited continues, but you can get more by collecting three rings and they respawn when you die so it's not an issue. Also includes the original version if you want to torture yourself.
Thexder Neo
Mix between shmup and run n gun. Somewhat similiar to Bangaio. Difficult game at first, easy mode is there for a reason. Once you get the hang on it, it's not much trouble to beat the game on Normal. Not the longest game, but it's also $10. I have never played the original, so I don't know how it compares.
Crakatak187 said:Disgaea Afternoon of Darkness.
A SRPG that has a lot of lighthearted humor. There is a lot of things to do in this game if you are a fan of stats grinding. Prepare to sink a lot of time into the item world.
Hamblasto said:Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA
If you happen to be a fan of Vocaloids, the Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA games are definitely worth importing (even at steep import prices).
Project DIVA and Project DIVA 2nd are both rhythm games and they are essentially a "greatest hits" collection of songs from various Vocaloid composers.
Gameplay-wise, the closest thing I can compare it to are the Ouendan games... except with far less crazy situations, but an equally awesome soundtrack (well, again, if you're into Vocaloids). Notes appear on screen and require pressing buttons in-time with the music.
If you have to pick up one, the sequel, PJD 2nd, refines the game's mechanics and fixes most of the problems from the first one. However, the first game may be worth picking up if you can find it cheap, since there are songs there that don't appear in PJD 2nd.
Kuran said:Wild Arms XF
Amazing turn based strategy with beautiful graphics, and a lot of challenge. A must-have if you have ever enjoyed games like Final Fantasy Tactics.
Tribute video I created with gameplay: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QpQqQ2oou8
R-Type Command
Fantastic turn-based strategy game for fans of Nectaris/Military Madness. Hidden gem!
Great soundtrack, too.
Monster Hunter Series
I suggest waiting for the western release for 3rd, but you have to know that this is for millions of people the sole excuse for owning a PSP, and for a reason. It's legendary.
Check out this promotional footage from the first Monster Hunter, I think it perfectly embodies the spirit of the series, and its seeing this footage way back that got me hooked on this franchise.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q7Jha71SMc
Jay Sosa said:GTA: Chinatown Wars
The driving takes some getting used to but besides that it's everything people that like the PS2 GTAs are looking for. There are rampages, sidemissions, awesome characters, superb and humourous dialogues, races and whats most important a big variety when it comes to the main storyline missions. But what really needs to be implemented in the next home console GTA is the highly addictive drug trafficking. I haven't played a mission in a few hours, only sold some acid, weed and coke (no heroin, don't sell that shit
GTA: Vice City Stories
To keep things short: It's my second favorite GTA (right after SA with GTA 4 being last)
It's surprisingly long for a PSP game, graphics are good, there are some slowdowns (like in almost every PS2/PSP GTA, OST is excellent, the MC maybe the second best in any game of the series and it adds some nice elements like taking over businesses to get some extra money. However I only played this on the PS2. I'm pretty sure they didn't change anything, but keep that in mind.
Popolocroisis looks and sound awesome think that's gonna be my next RPG.
StuBurns said:Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
A prequel to the Action-RPG series. It features three lengthy and intermingled campaigns, following the three lead characters, each being a host to slightly different tasks, and featuring different combat styles. Not as fine tuned in terms of difficulty as the original, but not as easy as number two. For me it has the most refined gameplay in the series, and is the best action game on PSP. The story is entirely nonsensical and completely forgettable as is the series tradition since the second game.
God of War: Ghost of Sparta
Easily the best looking game on PSP currently. Short but sweet, the game gives you a very entertaining slice of action you've come to expect from the series. What little story that is present is quite enjoyable, it dives deeper into the source of Kratos' dysfunction and provides a hint at God life, something GoW2 cheaply denied us. It also at last brought the series to Atlantis, something they had intended since the first game.
Jinko said:Hexyz Force
Cliche turn based JRPG goodness.
Jazzem said:Prinny: Can I really be the Hero?
An excellent old school platformer with a hilarious sense of humour, tight controls/level design and a surprisingly strong soundtrack. Some folks aren't fond of the way you can't control your jumps after you leave the ground, but honestly it doesn't take long to get used to and the game is designed to accommodate it anyway. Plus it's super cheap on the UK PSN at least (can't be too much on the US one), if you enjoy this sort of game it's a must.
Lime said:Valkyrie Profile
One of the best RPGs you're going to play, *if* you use a non-spoiler FAQ for obtaining the good ending. The combat system is excellent, there's platforming, the story is good, the Japanese take on Norse mythology is interesting, and each little story for a party character is well executed. And the Yoshinari brothers' character art displayed in cutscenes/conversations is some of the best the genre has seen. E.g. (Dresden, feel free to cut it away in your OP):
