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PSP and DS games
DoleyBob
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Hola guys, I've decided that it's time to pick up a handheld since my gaming time isn't quite what it used to be. Since there is no longer the one handheld giant, gameboy, I'd like to see what kind of gaming benefits I'd get for picking up a PSP. Hopefully you guys could help me out and recommend me some great games for both systems. I'm not picky when it comes to genres either so go all out, just no Madden please.
DoleyBob on
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The World Ends With You
Tetris
Pokemon
Phoenix Wright 1, 2 and 3
Apollo Justice
Elite Beat Agents
Hotel Dusk
Mario 64 DS
New Super Mario Bros
Mario Kart
LoZ: Phantom Hourglass
Final Fantasy 4
PSP:
Final Fantasy Crisis Core
Ratchet and Clank
Daxter
LocoRoco
Patapon
Silent Hill Origins
Monster Hunter Freedom 2
Wipeout
We need your awesome .txt powers now more than ever!
While we wait you should run out and grab a copy of The World Ends With You!
Few other PSP gems now that I think about it;
Echochrome
CRUSH
Metal Gear Solid : Portable Ops
Burnout Legends
*begins chanting ritual to summon /.*
________________
It took me a second to realize that the slash means that you're "lighting the Slash signal". We might as well have his lists stickied.
Let me tell you about Demon's Souls....
For rhythm games, the DS has Ouendan/EBA/Ontamarama(?), the PSP has DJ MAX Portable(best portable music game in existence).
The DS probably wins for adventure games, since it has Phoenix Wright and the likes of Touch Detective.
For RPGs, both are pretty much awesome. The DS has Etrian Odyssey, uncounted GBA RPGs(Riviera, FFIV-VI Advance, Super Robot Taisen, CIMA, Sigma Star Saga), Hoshigami, Rondo of Swords, etc.
The PSP gets FFT, Crisis Core, Wild Arms Crossfire(I haven't tried it, but it looks fun), Joanne de Arc, etc.
Overall, the DS probably has more to offer, but the PSP has no small amount of one-of-a-kind experiences going for it.
Space Invaders Extreme
Advance Wars: Dual Strike and Days of Ruin
Metroid Prime Hunters
Etrian Odyssey II
the upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics A2
Please God don't let this thread become a DS vs PSP threads. Both systems are very different and targetted to different appeals.
For us, the newcomers, who the heck is /?
To put this into a nice little analogy: Space Invaders Extreme is to Space Invaders as Pac Man Championship Edition is to Pac Man.
I'm Jacob Wilson. | facebook | thegreat2nd | [url="aim:goim?screenname=TheGreatSecond&message=Hello+from+the+Penny+Arcade+Forums!"]aim[/url]
The World Ends with You
Elite Beat Agents
WarioWare Touched
New Mario Bros
Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword
Legend of Zelda - The Phantom Hourglass
Sonic Rush Adventure
Metroid Prime Hunters
PSP
God of War Chains of Olympus
The Warriors
GTA Liberty City/Vice City Stories
Metal Gear Solid Potable Ops (And Portable Ops plus if you love online Metal Gear)
Final Fantasy Crisis Core
Monster Hunter Freedom 2
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Indeed. It's for both the DS & PSP and although I've heard the DS version is a little better, that shouldn't stop you from picking up the PSP version if you don't have a DS. Best game I've played in a long time.
Personally, I would be leaning more in favor of the PSP thanks to the better visuals & host of cheap quality collections (Sega Genesis Collection being at the top) except for the fact that Civilization Revolution will be coming to the DS and that alone is worth owning a console for in my book.
Steam ID : rwb36, Twitter : Werezompire,
Field Commander is an Advance Wars type game ... great MP options including online, ad hoc, or just simply passing the PSP back and forth between opponent.
Wipeout Pulse is like Stun Runner on crack.
With that said I have both but if I had to pick one I'd say the DS. Larger library of AAA games plus battery life.
If you do go with the PSP first though your still in for some treats such as Metal Gear Portable Ops, Daxter, 2 Ratchet games, Portable Grand Theft Auto, Lumines, God of War, Ace Combat X, and Portable Sid Meier's Pirates!
But seriously slash, heed our call.
I don't know why I said that. I need a girlfriend.
Anyways the psp is great for strategy games.
Bugs aside, puzzle quest was so much better for me on PSP than DS. A lot of games suffer from awful loading times though.
It plays videos and music. I probably used it more for these things than for gaming. Once I got my ipod nano, I pretty much stopped using my psp other than the odd game of puzzle quest.
The internet browser is slow almost to the point of being useless. But you can check your email in a pinch.
You didnt mention the DS as being an option, so I wont mention how amazingly awesome it is, or how everyone should own one.
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Well, The World Ends With You is also really good.
Platinum FC: 2880 3245 5111
[image blahblahblah hosting whatever, wasn't that great anyway!]
The best I could find, it made me giggle, a mini-slash.
Hey guys! I came as soon as I could :P
So, for those who'd like to know, I sort of track recommendations from threads like these and keep a running list; for each console.
That said, I will now post my NDS and PSP recommendations. Prepare for V-scroll:
Nintendo DS Recommendations:
New Super Mario Bros -- One of the best Mario games since the NES days, it's a game that stays true to classic 2D marios but incorporates a lot of modern platforming gameplay elements.
Mario Kart DS -- Fantastic kart racing/combat game. Several new circuits and also has a lot of "classic tracks" to race on; which are tracks from the previous SNES, GBA, and N64 games. Great multiplayer, lots of fun, and you can play it against people on the internet as well. Very accessible and addicting racing game.
Ninja Gaiden: Dragon Sword - this is Team Ninja's first game for the Nintendo DS. This is a brilliant and beautiful action game on the system that takes wonderful advantage of every aspect of the system. The game is held sideways like a book, which is very comfortable. The gameplay is action-oriented like the console Ninja Gaidens, and as Ryu Hayabusa, you perform all sorts of sword-based ninja attacks and combos, combined with stylistic special moves, acrobatic jumping maneuvers, and throwing shiruken. On top of that, you can progressively unlock new maneuvers to add to the combat, as well as a whole lot of varied and fun Ninja Magic spells, most of which you control the effects and direction of with the stylus. The controls are fantastic and work extremely well with the stylus. The graphics and music are beautiful and run smoothly. This is one of the best pure-action games on the Nintendo DS.
The World Ends With You - This is one of the best and most unique RPGs that Square-Enix has released in recent years. This is an RPG with a unique, modern setting and storyline with deep and interesting characters. The game has incredible style, and a very deep combat mechanic that puts the dual-nature and touchscreen functions of the DS to full and fun use. The World Ends With You is a compelling and immaculately presented RPG from start to finish, and is a great way for Square Enix to kick off a new franchise.
Contra 4 - a true testament to classic 16-bit Contra gameplay, this game takes inspiration from every excellent 2D Contra game preceding it, and combines it all into one single awesome action game. It's tough as nails but extremely fair. Plus it includes tons of challenges that unlocks tons of bonus content - it also allows you to unlock the original Contra for the NES, and the sequel Super Contra for the NES, too. So it's 3 good games in one, with tons of content and excellent action shooter gameplay.
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - a new game in the Windwaker series of Zelda games, this is the best action-adventure/RPG game on the Nintendo DS. Not only does it have incredible graphics, but it fully utilizes the touch and dual screen abiliities of the DS for movement and special items and steering the ship and other various maneuvers. It's a great and expansive game, get it if you like Zelda-style gameplay.
Planet Puzzle League - this is considered one of the better puzzle games on the Nintendo DS. It's based on an addicting system of blocks rising from the bottom of the screen, and by using the stylus, you maneuver different blocks to match, which subsequently disappear causing the blocks above to fall down onto them. The gameplay revovles around setting up the stack of blocks so that when you match a pair, it causes a chain reaction of falling blocks onto similar-colored blocks. The game has several good modes and difficulties and can also be played online or against friends from a single cart.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village - Professor Layton is an old-fashioned point-and-click adventure which requires your use of skills such as reasoning, knowledge and creativity to solve various puzzles. Except it's not a stupid or cheap game like the old DOS point and click adventures. It has very fun and rewarding puzzles to complete, that a smart person can achieve through critical thinking.
Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow -- Awesome Castlevania game in the vein of Symphony of the Night. You explore an enormous castle, destroying enemies as you level up and become more powerful. You search for and gain new abilities to access new parts of the castle to explore. You ultimately are trying to power up enough to find and defeat Dracula. Has like 3 or 4 endings depending on what you do.
Castlevania Portrait of Ruin -- Similar to Dawn of Sorrow, except with a heavier emphasis on action/combat. This time you have 2 characters, one to specialize in Magic and one in Melee type of attacks, and you have combo-team attacks, so lots of depth there. Otherwise, similar and awesome gameplay. There's multiplayer boss rush mode and can also be played online.
Trauma Center: Under the Knife -- this is a game in which you play as a rookie doctor who ultimately becomes amazing at surgery and must help cure a new virus created by a bioterrorist group. You use the stylus as a scalpel and other such medical tools. The game starts out easy, but gets tough quick. Each surgery requires figuring out a cool little trick of sorts in order to perfform well. Listening to your Nurse helps a lot. It's a fun game, but the difficulty can turn some people off.
Geometry Wars Galaxies - THE best space-shoot'em-up on the DS, this game takes the already extremely good and popular gameplay of Geometry Wars Retro Evolved and expands it exponentially by providing 60 unique levels, new enemies, and a system of 'Droids' that help you out that you can level up and teach new helper behaviours. This game also includes a 2 player cooperative or versus mode, and it also allows for online leaderboards. To top off this incredible package, you can also unlock the original GeoMetry Wars Retro Evolved in its entirety.
Kirby Canvas Curse -- Awesome Nintendo platformer in which you guide Kirby with the stylus by drawing pathways on which he travels. Extremely innovative and very addicting, great use of the touchscreen feature.
Advance Wars Dual Strike -- This is an awesome strategy game in which you command a fleet of different fighters in your army against your opponents. There's a lot of depth and strategy involved, but it's not a typical RTS. It's a good long game, with lots of depth and replay value, and it uses the touch screen well. It can also be played in long or short sittings. Great game if you can find it and want a long game with depth to sink your teeth into.
Advance Wars Days of Ruin -- This is a sequel to the excellent turn based strategy game, Dual Strike. Get this game if you want but cannot find Dual Strike - it has just as great and addicting strategy gameplay but a unique story and some online multiplayer options.
Meteos -- This is a really, really cool puzzle game, and arguably the best puzzle game ever. You use the stylus to line up certain blocks and send them shooting up the screen to destroy falling objects/enemies. The game has absolutely stellar presentation in its graphics and audio, and the game can get pretty deep in gameplay and very exciting and extremely addicting. Lots of replay value. Don't get the Disney Version, get the original "Meteos."
Tetris DS -- this is another really good puzzle game for the DS. It takes Tetris and creates 6 different games based on the Tetris Theme, and gives the overall game a classic NES theme to its graphics and audio, which is awesome. You have Classic Tetris, which you can play for limited or unlimited play time to max your score, or you can play against the CPU or another player (up to 10 from a single cart!) in multiplayer. You can even do a 'Battle Mode" in multiplayer which allows you to use crazy items like banana peels or turtle shells which have different effects on your opponents. There's also a cool mode called Push, in which you and an opponent each play Tetris, but you use the same playfield on opposing sides. Each person tries to push the lump of blocks against the opponent's bottom line by lining up and clearing lines. There's other cool puzzle modes that use the stylus well. This awesome game can also be played on the internet.
Elite Beat Agents -- this is a kickass music/rhythm game.. It has a lot of different crazy songs of all types, and the gameplay is based on tapping appearing/vanishing circles on the screen to the beat of the music. All the while you have hilarious comic-book-like animated panels telling the stories of the various characters in the game, and the Elite Beat Agents jamming out to the song - it's zany but very endearing. The gameplay can get really intense, fun, and addicting like most excellent music/rhythm games. It can also get pretty hard for casual music game fans, so hopefullyl you have some rhythm.
Phoenix Wright Series, also the Apollo Justice Games - These are excellent adventure games in the style of traditional 'point and click' adventure games. These games focus on the adventures of Phoenix Wright or Apollo Justice, attorneys at law, as they uncover the mysteries of their client's cases. Action centers around deducing mysteries from talking to characters and snooping around and finding evidence, and the action takes place in-court where you examine/cross examine witnesses and prove your case by proving or disproving witnesses and using evidence. Great style, great writing, great humor.
Clubhouse Games -- 42 games in one cart! This has TONS of classic card games and board games to play that everyone can enjoy. Can be played online. Great multiplayer that anyone can enjoy, and plenty of good pick up and play games. Lets you have multiplayer on multiple DSs from a single cart.
Bleach DS: Blade of Fate - this is a 2D fighting game that is designed in the style of Guilty Gear, except that it supports between 2 and 4 players against each other. The game is very combo-centric yet uses a very unique control scheme; to top it off, the touchscreen allows for easy special move execution. The game has arcade and story modes as well as challenge modes, so there's tons to do. Lots of characters with plenty of variety of styles. Can also be played online.
Picross DS - this is a classic puzzle game for the DS, except it is unique in that it's not like traditional puzzlers like Tetris. You're given a slate of tiles onto which you are to chisel out an image, but you're only given clues as to what tiles to chisel out. It combines a sort of reasoning and an ability to figure out what blocks to chisel based on clues and other blocks; kind of like the sort of logic that Sudoku requires. This game is cheap, shouldn't be more than $15 either. Lots of cool Nintendo references in it too.
Call of Duty 4 - this is the 2nd best First Person Shooter on the DS. It takes the excellent controls of Metroid Prime Hunters, but provides a very unique and fun single player campaign to complete. It emphasizes accurate shots and staying behind cover to take out enemies, and you have various weapons and grenades at your disposal. There are also cool levels that take place from a bombing aircraft, from the back of a truck, and from behind the machine gun of a helicopter. Great single player FPS if you enjoy those on the Nintendo DS. Also has an up to 4 player multiplayer mode.
Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time -- a very well polished action-ish RPG game. Similar in spirit to Super Mario RPG. It's a cool, lighthearted story but it packs a lot of good and unique gameplay and interesting battle mechanics that use both screens and you have a 4-way partner system which opens the way for cool battle tactics and puzzles. Great game and interesting take on the RPG formula.
Space Invaders Extreme: A vast overhaul to the classic game, Space Invaders Extreme can almost be described as a combination of Lumines and Space Invaders gameplay. Invaders Extreme takes it all to the next level by injecting a certain energy to it all: a steady rhythm pulses a background beat while trippy motion backgrounds set a dynamic stage. The revamped gameplay adds new layers of depth, including multi-enemy combo hits and chains, and weapons with different effects, and others. Multiplayer modes as well.
Metroid Prime Hunters -- This is a love/hate game. Imagine Quake III with a Metroid theme. It uses the stylus like a mouse, so you have precise shots and such, but it's really best when played multiplayer, which can be done online. Probably try this before buying it.
Brain Age -- Great little game that gives you lots of little 'minigames' that exercise your mind and tracks your progress. Cool and fun and good for short spurts of gameplay. Comes with an EXCELLENT version of Sudoku to play. Tracks progress of multiple players and compares them. Plus it's super cheap.
Sonic Rush -- this is a an excellent evolution of classic 2D Sonic the Hedgehog gameplay. If you ever enjoyed, or even think you'll enjoy, the original Sonic games, you'll probably love this one too. it adds some depth to the speedy platforming with a trick system and a Rush system in which you can blaze through enemies at the speed of light.
Sonic Rush Adventure - The sequel to Sonic Rush, this game retains most of the good 2D Sonic Rush gameplay but also includes a touch-screen style ship-steering 3D gameplay periodically between levels, unlocking new areas of the game, so it keeps things fresh and interesting.
Megaman ZX -- One of the best recent 2D Megaman games. Pretty darn tough game, but very fair in its difficulty. Like Metroid or Castlevania, you travel an open world exploring for bosses. Once defeating a boss, you gain their abilities. This game lets you level up your abilities for more options and attack power. Also lets you choose between 2 available playable characters. Highly recommended if you like tough action games.
Megaman ZX Advent - sequel to the first ZX game, this continues the tradition of tough but exciting 2D action/platforming of the Megaman ZX series. This game gives you the ability to not only absorb new attack powers, but also the ability to transform into boss characters to unleash new attacks and abilities. Also utilizes the touch screen for a map and some special features related to certain enemy abilities.
Final Fantasy III -- remake of the very good Square RPG Final Fantasy III, this is the only original Final Fantasy that was never localized in the USA until now. Most famous for introducing the Job System of the series. This game got a major 3D graphical and audio overhaul, and it looks and plays gorgeously on the DS. Get if you want a very traditional RPG to play.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings: Revenant Wings offers some fresh gameplay for the mammoth RPG series and its dominant RTS element has been simplified to offer a good 20 entertaining hours or so. Witty story, great characters and a bite-size battle system that's ideal for DS. Fantastic rpg with impressive production value.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates - A great Diablo-esque dungeon crawler action-RPG; it's balanced and has just the right loot curve, which offer not too many loot drops but good enough stuff to keep the difficulty proper. Game balance is great, the game looks beautiful, and there's even some really fun writing hidden beneath the youth/casual storyline. This is hack-n-slash done right on the DS. Even better in multiplayer if you can find someone else with the game.
Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords -- this is a combination of an RPG and a puzzle game. It plays like Bejeweled, except there's a story and you have RPG levels and items, so there's a lot of depth and strategy involved. Great game if you can find it.
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime -- very goofy and lighthearted but addicting RPG, whose gameplay is similar to Zelda. Good fun and a good action-rpg if you're in the market for one.
Yoshi's Island DS -- this may at first seem like a kids' game, but it's quite a good platformer and thoroughly enjoyable if you liked New Super Mario Bros. It's a good and long game with lots of levels. Interesting platforming mechanics and bosses. (disclaimer: this is a good game and platformer, but don't expect it to be nearly as good as the original Yoshi's Island, which is arguably the best 2D platformer ever; the two games are not much alike. You'll be disappointed expecting a game similar to the SNES original).
Metroid Prime Pinball -- If you like Pinball videogames, this is the one to get. Kickass Metroid theme in graphics, music, style, and objectives. Real inexpensive too.
Resident Evil: Deadly Silence -- a port of the PS1 classic Resident Evil in all of its original glory -- plus it has some additional touchscreen elements and extra mode to play. Get it if survival horror sounds good to you, or if you enjoyed the original Resident Evil.
Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits - this is a game that includes arcade perfect ports of tons of classic Konami games. These arcade games are all very well done and have tons of options, and they're all very well geared towards handheld pick-up-and-play gameplay. The game has 15 games, but the best of them are Contra, Gradius, Rush'n'Attack, Time Pilot, Twinbee, Track & Field, and Yie Ar Kung Fu. Tons of options to tweak each game's appearance and controls.
Worms Open Warfare 2 - arguably the best iteration of "Worms" warfare, action-strategy gameplay. It's straightforward "retro" 2D artillery-heavy action and it can be extremely hard to put down once you get started. Open Warfare 2 doesn't break new ground for the series, but builds upon and refines the series' trademark gameplay and adds another layer of weapons, modes, and some customization. The game also supports online multiplayer over the Nintendo Wifi. This is a great pick up and play game and is pretty ideal for a portable game.
Lunar Knights -- an action RPG designed by the guy behind Metal Gear Solid (Hideo Kojima). It blends action, stealth, and action-rpg elements nicely and has a cool 2-screen gameplay mechanic involving the day/night to power your attacks. Cool action-rpg game.
Pokemon Diamond/Pearl - The newest edition in the Pokemon gameplay, this game expands and refines the series' gameplay elements while staying true to the series formula. Between exploring the massive towns, wandering through the multi-tiered wastelands, and challenging legions of trainers, you'll enjoy a lengthy adventure that most other DS game cannot deliver. The game features more creatures, moves, depth of strategy, and personalization than the series has traditionally offered, lending to a complete and rewarding experience. Great wifi online options, too.
Bomberman DS -- classic Bomberman gameplay in single player and multiplayer. Best recommended if you love multiplayer bomberman, as you can play yourself against the CPU or against up to 7 other people from a single-cart multiboot. 8 player across 2 screens is awesome.
Etrian Odyssey - one of the best dungeon-crawling style RPGs on the Nintendo Ds, this is one tough but unique RPG. It's gameplay is difficult but rewarding, and it offers a sense of accomplishment. Instead of a world that conforms to your level and rewards you with HP every time you level up, you have to strategize about which characters will enter the Labyrinth, how best to allot skill points among your characters, who charges the front line and who stays in back, and how much money you have to spend on reviving dead characters. Very difficult learning curve though.
Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard: Sequel to the excellent but tough and rewarding DS dungeon crawling RPG, Etrian Odyssey 2. Experience an all-new story, more classes, improved mapping capabilities, new Force Skills, and over 100 side-quests. Chart your progress through the dungeons with the mapmaking tool with improved features. This sequel contains everything you'd love about the original, and improves and refines it.
Hotel Dusk - If you're a sucker for a great story and don't mind a slow paced, puzzle filled adventure, Hotel Dusk fits the bill perfectly. The art style is flat-out amazing. The sepia tones and hand-drawn characters perfectly complement the game's mood and 1970's setting. The film noir themes that occur throughout the game are perfect, never over-the-top or cheesy. It's a classic PC-styled adventure with an emphasis on story and realized in a great way on DS hardware.
Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer - In this rogue-like RPG, you'll move in a turn-based manner through randomly generated dungeons that provide a great challenge and lasting replay value. It's more demanding than its fellow DS-based roguelikes, but it's remarkably well crafted, with streamlined gameplay that belies its impressive substance. Combining planning and persistence with the goal of surmounting the tons of randomly generated dungeons amounts to an impressively addicting experience. Just be aware that this game is in the "roguelike" genre; it can be demanding, difficult, and punishing, but also extremely rewarding and addicting if you have the right mindset.
Diddy Kong Racing -- fairly good Kart racer in the vein of Mario Kart (arcadey/powerups/weapons, whacky levels/characters) but with karts as well as planes and hovercrafts. Good if you want another kart racer, but make sure to get Mario Kart DS first. Single player mode is built upon a hub-world structure. Fun in multiplayer; multicart or single cart multiboot with up to 8 players. Supports online multi. Create your own track feature.
Nintendogs -- This is a 'sandbox game' which means that you play it how you want it. Some people enjoy sandbox games, some don't, but Nintendogs is very popular. Imagine it as a virtual pet dog that you can train or play with and do all kinds of things. Uses the microphone, for example, to tell dogs to "Sit" or "roll over" and such, or use the touchscreen to throw balls/frisbees.
PSP Recommendations:
* God of War: Chains of Olympus - a virtually PS2-quality iteration of God of War; best third person action game on the PSP
* Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops - this is a stealth action game in the Metal Gear Solid franchise, and it contains all the same great gameplay from the series you'd hope for. Story is a sequel to MGS3.
* Lumines - very addicting puzzle game that combines music and psychadelic graphics with puzzle gameplay
* Wipeout: Pulse - futuristic, high speed, arcade-style racing game
* Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions - it's a fantastic port of the first FFT with nice, stylistic newly created cutscenes
* Final Fantasy VII : Crisis Core - sort of a side-story type game in the Final Fantasy 7 universe, it's considered one of the best RPGs on the PSP
* Patapon - it's a hybrid of a music/rhythm game and an action/strategy game
* Killzone: Liberation - a great, action-packed, top-down third person shooter that requires both shooting as well as strategic and command (over team) skills
* Daxter - a side story of the PS2 Jak & Daxter games, this is a really good platforming/adventure game with the same quality of gameplay and humor and style of the PS2 jak games
* Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters - a side story of the PS2 Ratchet & Clank games, this is a really good action-shooting/platformer game with the same gun-toting/upgrading gameplay and humor and style of the PS2 ratchet games
* LocoRoco - LocoRoco is an innovative 2D platform/action game, this is a unique adventure game that involves tilting the levels to guide the characters through varying crazy worlds
* Mega Man Powered Up - excellent, expanded remake of MegaMan1 with a bunch of cool extra stuff
* Mega Man Maverick Hunter X - extremely good remake of MegaMan X1 with some extra stuff
* Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles - excellent remake of one of the best 16-bit Castlevanias, Rondo of Blood, but also includes Symphony of the Night as an unlockable
* Guilty Gear Judgment - basically Guilty Gear X2 #R, but portable. 'Nuff said.
* Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - The original storyline and all new missions take place in Liberty City, featuring the interactive, open environment
* Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories -Vice City, 1984. Topping "Liberty City Stories" with a GTA sporting as many thrills, action and now-famous witty dialogue as the series has ever seen.
* Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness - It is everything a SRPG should be, filled to the brim with a staggering amount of gameplay, a great story with absolutely insane characters, killer gameplay that all SRPGs would do well to copy, and with the PSP version, runs, looks and plays better than the original version.
* Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror - One of the best third person shooters on the PSP, it not only looks great and control extremely well, it also has unique and exciting third person shooter gameplay. Everything a player could want in a game: the story mode is of the perfect length and difficulty, the game is extremely replayable, and the multiplayer offering is both fun and robust. And, arguably most importantly, there are negligible loading times.
* Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow: Sequel to the fantastic Dark Mirror, it's more of the same but with a lot of refinements. Both are great games.
* Exit - Exit's gameplay - you're a slick wannabe superhero rescuing innocents from dangerous situations - is deceptively simple in that it has a relatively low learning curve, but once you get further into it, it proves to be far from simple. A perfect fit for the PSP -- creative, stylish, and easily broken into the bite-sized chunks that work so well when gaming on the go.
* Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max - An excellent port of the arcade Street Fighter Alpha 3. Classic 2D fighter.
* Metal Gear Ac!d 2 - Whereas Metal Gear Acid faltered slightly in its attempt to branch the MGS franchise out into a bold new direction, Acid 2 absolutely nails the concept with engaging turn-based strategy card gameplay, a refined interface, quicker pacing, stylized graphics and an abundance of replay value, among other noteworthy attributes.
* Echochrome - Creative puzzle game with gameplay based on optical illusions, players must utilize five simple laws of perspective to join walkways, hide dangers, and create new paths to reach the "echos," or shadow guides. Create & share your own levels, too.
* Jeanne d'Arc - Jeanne d'Arc is one of the best tactical RPG on the PSP. The amount of skill customization and various character types with their own weapon types and skills is amazing as is the sheer level of detail in ever facet of the presentation. Great blend and refinement of tactical RPG gameplay, and unique story based on a fictionalization of the 100 Years' War.
* Space Invaders Extreme: A vast overhaul to the classic game, Space Invaders Extreme can almost be described as a combination of Lumines and Space Invaders gameplay. The revamped gameplay adds new layers of depth, including multi-enemy combo hits and chains, and weapons with different effects, and others. Multiplayer modes as well. (only $20)
* Hot Shots Open Tee Golf 2: Classic Hot Shots gameplay, this game is the perfect portable iteration of the series best known for its combination of accessible golf gameplay and controls, stylistic graphics, and excellent golf physics.
* DJ Portable Max (series) - the game most resembles Konami’s Beatmania; you pick a (licensed) song, and press/hold corresponding buttons in time with the music. Traditional, fun, rewarding, escalating-difficulty rhythm-music game.
* Monster Hunter Freedom 2 - a game much akin to Phantasy Star Online, but with only local multiplayer (and single player). A solid action-RPG on the system with a large world and plenty of hours of gameplay and depth, but is best played with at least one other person (local multi).
* Ace Combat X - if you like the PS2 AC games, you'll like this arcadey flight combat game, featuring licensed fighter aircraft for a story-driven, solid single player mode over the course of several missions; or the local multiplayer dogfighting with a fair number of options
* SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 2 - a decent tactical shooter for the PSP. The game has an okay single player campaign, but a fun and addicting multiplayer mode, locally or online. Good third person shooter, but get the Syphon Filter and Killzone games first.
* Sid Meier's Pirates! - great port of the original PC strategy game, where the player, a pirate in the 17th century Caribbean, explores the open, high seas and duels in land and sea battles to become a notorious pirate. Ad-hoc 4-p multiplayer.
Good compilation games:
* Sega Genesis Collection (also on PS2) - ton of classic Sega Genesis games, portable, easily mid-game saving
* Metal Slug Anthology (also on PS2 and Wii) - compilation of 7 metal slug games; classic arcade action
* Gradius Collection - collection of some older yet still classic Gradius shoot-em-ups (shmups)
* Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded (also on PS2) - collection of a bunch of truly classic and addicting Capcom arcade games
That about does it. I suggest glancing over these recommendations, seeing what sounds interesting, and looking into the games to see if they're the kinds of things that might best suit your gaming tastes.
Both platforms have a pretty good variety of good games and they're both good portable entertainment.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
Tekken: Dark resurection
Outrun 2006 coast2coast
"Enough expository banter. It's time we fight like men. And ladies. And ladies who dress like men. For Gilgamesh...IT'S MORPHING TIME!"
—Gilgamesh, Final Fantasy V
Also, the beauty of the DS is that you have a massive GBA library you can play also, and there are a ton of great games for that system as well.
If money is a factor the DS has the cheaper start up cost. The system costs less, and you don't need a memory stick like you do on the PSP. I also wouldn't recommend going without a case for the PSP. I bought a cheap case and my screen got cracked, which cost me another $70 to replace. The other option is to keep the PSP at home, but it's a portable system so it's meant to be on the go.
What little I know about Brave Story is that it is a very straightforward RPG that doesn't really stray from the standard formula; but while sticking to the standard formula, it performs that function well. I think it's the sort of thing you might consider after playing through the brilliant Crisis Core, FF Tactics game, Jeanne D'Arc, and Disgaea games if you're still looking for a good RPG. Although I believe the latter three I just mentioned are all SRPGs rather than standard RPGs.
Steam ID: slashx000______Twitter: @bill_at_zeboyd______ Facebook: Zeboyd Games
Brave Story was the most boring, straightforward RPG I've played in years. It was like Wild Arms all over again.
(It's worth it just for the intro.)
Though yeah, beyond that, it hasn't aged too well.