PSP
Playstation Portable
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OutRun 2006: Coast 2 Coast
For the most part, I don’t consider myself a racing game fan. There are many exceptions to this rule – kart racing games, Ridge Racer, arcade racers, and of course, the OutRun series. So, when I hear that SEGA’s classic has been released on the PSP, I know that I have to pick it up. And while it isn’t the full arcade experience (and who’d honestly expect it to be?), it is still a great addition to any racing aficionado’s PSP collection and a very good entry to the series itself.
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Killzone Liberation
When I first heard that Killzone was being brought to the PSP, I immediately thought, “Oh great – another FPS that shouldn’t be on a handheld!” As time went on, screenshots trickled in, proving that this would not be the case. Rather than the now traditional first-person view, Killzone would take a more old-school approach to the shooter genre through an overhead, top-down view. It’s refreshing to see a new take on an old style, but it also showcases some of the reasons why games have moved into a 3D perspective.
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Disgaea: Afternoon Of Darkness
Okay! So I’m a little bit late jumping on this bandwagon, but damn it all, this series rocks! I also realize that N1 is bringing it to the market at an awful time considering that Final Fantasy Tactics has just been released for the same platform. Now, I’m all for some FFT, but where that game made this genre of strategic role-playing games popular, Disgaea makes it seem like a fine craft.
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Tekken Dark Resurrection
The Playstation Portable is truly an amazing machine. When it launched, fighting fans were treated to the excellent Darkstalkers Chronicle. Less than a year later, Capcom again blessed us with what may be the best version of Street Fighter Alpha 3 yet. However, there haven’t been any successful 3D fighters for the system here in the States. Namco looks to remedy that by presenting us with what could be the first real system-selling game since Grand Theft Auto. After playing the PSP version of Tekken Dark Resurrection, you’ll immediately begin making comparisons to Playstation 2’s own Tekken 5. Those who have played it will likely compare this to the arcade…
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Gradius Collection
Vic Viper sets out on yet another journey to save the galaxy. For better or for worse, this time the journey is more of a repeat performance. In this PSP compilation, you can take on any of the legendary ship’s first 5 games: Gradius, Gradius II, Gradius III, Gradius IV, and Gradius Gaiden.
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Gitaroo Man Lives!
A few years ago, a friend of mine was telling me about a sleeper hit for PS2, Gitaroo Man that he spent all night playing with a friend of his. Being a huge fan of Parappa the Rapper, I was extremely interested in playing it. However, due to limited quantities from Koei, and my lack of a PS2, I never actually got the chance. Now that Koei’s ported their game to the PSP, I’ve finally gotten a chance to see what the buzz was about.
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Bust-A-Move Deluxe
If there’s one stereotype that the PSP consistently fails to break free of, it would have to be the one about how its library consists of little more than ports, sequels, remakes and compilation games. What? Were you expecting me to say this game breaks that stereotype? It obviously doesn’t – I mean, this is another sequel in the well-known Bust-A-Move series, which has crept its way onto several systems in the past. I guess what I’m trying to say is that, well, that isn’t really always a bad thing. Sure, Bust-A-Move Deluxe falls short in some areas, but it still delivers a nice take on the BAM series, as…
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Jeanne D’Arc
It seems that all I’ve been playing are SRPGs as of late. Jeanne D’Arc is the most recent that I’ve tackled. Like Final Fantasy Tactics before it, Jeanne benefits from a strong story that drives the gameplay ever upward and onward. It’s a good thing, too, because unlike Disgaea, there isn’t much post-game fun to mention. The first thing you’ll notice about this game is that it is absolutely gorgeous! In a genre practically defined by blocky terrain and low-resolution 2D sprites, Jeanne D’Arc is championing a fresh new look with fully rendered stages and a rather enticing 3D cel-shaded character approach.
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Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max
The Street Fighter series is as big a part of our gaming history as the Mario, Sonic, and Pac-Man franchises are. Without Street Fighter, we probably wouldn’t have Mortal Kombat, King of Fighters, or even Soul Calibur, Tekken, or Virtua Fighter. Capcom brought on a change in the genre that was as significant as what Nintendo did with Super Mario Bros. and the NES. Prior to Capcom’s involvement, the best gamers had to play was Yie Ar Kung Fu and Karate Champ.
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Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Perhaps the hardest decision a developer has to make has to do with niche sequels. On one hand, you have the enthusiastic word-of-mouthers telling their friends about their favorite game, hoping to get them involved in it. On the other hand, you also want to appeal to a wider audience, making it more profitable and better worth your effort. Do you make the game more accessible for newcomers or do you appease the already established fan base? A lot of companies have struggled with this dilemma, but none seem to balance the two as well as Capcom.