Home Page / psp / P / PlayStation Portable / Feature Listing / Features

Ever since the PSP (Playstation Portable) was announced, there’s been a ton of speculation going around about the complexity and cost of developing new games to take full advantage of the systems current generation console tech. Multiple developers (and gamers) have made comment of how much less expensive, and how much easier it would be to just port existing PS2 games over to the new powerful handheld, especially given how similar they are in architecture.

For some people, this could be a dream come true: The ability to take their favorite PS2 games on the go with no sacrifice insofar as quality goes. Others, it seems, aren’t very happy about it, boasting that they’d rather buy the PS2 version to play on their big television sets instead of the comparably tiny PSP screen. Both have a good argument going, but since we wouldn’t be able to write a very interesting article on disagreeing with the idea of porting PS2 games to PSP, we’re going to pretend for a moment that the idea is cool (because it is). The following is a list of our top 10 picks for games (or franchises) that we think should make a PSP appearance, along with why we think so, and the likeliness of such a title hitting Sony’s powerhouse handheld. Let’s get port-able!

10: Tekken 4

To say that the Tekken series is one of the hottest properties on PS2 would be an obvious thing to say, so we won’t bother getting into it. Aside from being a top PS2 seller, the Tekken series has brought impressive fighting mechanics and new gameplay to the board with every new coming. Tekken 4, the series’ latest offering had everything a fighter needs. A bevy of gameplay modes, about 20 fighters, and a ton of ways to kick some serious ass all make the Tekken series the ideal choice for a PSP fighting game. The already huge fanbase of the series, coupled with the fact that Tekken 4 still holds it’s own to any competition thrown it’s way (Tekken 5 where are you?) would make this one a welcome addition to the PSP library.

Verdict: Decent

9: Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racconus

While it may not have shard the same franchise success that the likes of Jak & Daxter and Ratchet & Clank have, Sly Cooper was one cool cat…err, Raccoon… As Sly Cooper, it’s your job to steal back pages from your family’s treasured book on thievery. They’ve been taken from you by the Fiendish Five: a group of master thieves looking to steal your family’s secrets. Along with your friends Bentley the turtle and Murray the hippo, Sly navigates through some nicely designed environments with some genuinely enjoyable gameplay. The characters are memorable, just as the overall experience, and the PSP is going to need a solid platformer to keep a well rounded library. Sure, Sly 2: Band of Thieves is due out on PS2 soon, but we figure it’s probably best to start at the beginning.

Verdict: Decent

8: Jak & Daxter

I don’t think Naughty Dog knew what they were getting into when they conceived Jak & Daxter. The title ended up being a huge success, and spawning 2 sequels (albeit much more mature in theme). It would only make sense for a franchise as big as that to make it’s way over to the PSP to help extent it’s fanbase a little. Given the fact that Naughty Dog has openly admitted to having ideas for Jak ‘side stories’, we wouldn’t be surprised to see one of these stories make it’s way to the PSP in some form. The Jak games all featured varied gameplay mechanics that kept the game fresh the whole way through, and some cool characters to keep you interested. If you don’t see Jak in ported form on PSP, you’ll likely see him in an original adventure exclusive to the handheld.

Verdict: Pretty good

7: Splinter Cell

Stealth action has never been done properly on a handheld, and with PSP’s awesome power, this could be the first portable system to actually have the potential to do it right. Most every gamer worth his salt has heard of Splinter Cell, it would be damn hard not to after spawning ports on every platform conceivable (including cell phones). It only makes sense that the overly popular stealth giant would see the light of day on PSP in some form. If we had to put our money on it, we would look for a port of the one that started it all: Splinter Cell. The only possible problem having such a complex stealth gaming experience on your handheld is that with Splinter Cell (and most other stealth games) you have to take your time in order to stay quite, remain unseen, etc. You need precision, cunning, and time; this doesn’t make for the best ‘on the go’ gaming. But hey, if Ubisoft throws Sam Fisher into the PSP fray, tell us you’re going to complain…

Verdict: Likely

6: Killzone

Even though it hasn’t even hit the PS2 yet, you can’t deny that Killzone is going to be one heck of a game. Likely not the ‘Halo killer’ Sony tried to hype it up to be (they’re totally different games), Killzone still has the potential to make or break the online scene for PS2 when it hits stores early 2005. This being said, a portable Killzone could make or break the Wi-fi capabilities of the PSP. Could you imagine taking your game on the go with other players, battling it out on the bus on the way to school/work/wherever? But, it seems too good to be true, since it would be impossible to accurately port Sony’s surefire blockbuster to portable form, since the PSP is lacking the ability to support the games inherit gameplay design. In English, the PS2 version of Killzone is utilizing 2 stick maneuverability, (L-stick to move forward, backward, look left and right, R-stick to look up, down, and strafe) this is something that the PSP is incapable of. So, if there even is a chance of us seeing Killzone on PSP, expect something of a very watered down experience.

Verdict: Wouldn’t count on it

5: Viewtiful Joe

Yes, Capcom has announced a Viewtiful Joe game for PSP already, but that doesn’t mean we still don’t think it deserves mention here. Viewtiful Joe was a surprise hit last year when it was released on Gamecube. So big a surprise, in fact, that the title is not only making it’s way to PS2 now, it’s also spawning a multi-console sequel. As far as the PSP title goes, we predict a port of the original Viewtiful Joe. The game is perfect for handhelds in every aspect. It’s the side scrolling platformer/actioner that we’re all accustomed to on handhelds, but it’s got a beautiful, unique 3d look and feel. The best of both world fused together on the most technically advance handheld to ever be released. So, we know we’re getting Viewtiful Joe, but umm, hey Capcom…do we still get Dante in our PSP version?

Verdict: Guaranteed

4: Onimusha

The Onimusha series is arguably one of the defining franchises on the PS2 right now. The series started with a steller half survival horror, half action offering in Onimusha, which came intact with some excellent gameplay, engaging storyline, and characters you came to enjoy/hate. Samanosukes fight to get to Nobunaga seemed doomed though, as Onimusha came to a close. Then, we were introduced to Jubei, a warrior with a taste for vengeance against Nobunaga (not a very popular guy, is he?). After Jubei’s journey, the 3rd, and final chapter in the Onimusha series was presented to us in the vein of Demon Seige, easily the best offering from the series yet. All 3 games offered stellar action gaming, and cool characters and weapons to hack hordes of demons to pieces, and have sold millions of copies to eager gamers since the systems launch (Onimusha was a launch game, for those unaware). These facts taken into account, along with the fact that there’s still plenty of demand for the samurai label means high hopes for a PSP version of at least the original Onimusha (maybe a portable Genma Onimusha?), if not an original story of some sort.

Verdict: Very good

3: Gran Turismo 4

Defined as ‘the’ racing game, the Gran Turismo has known nothing but success since its first installment way back on original Playstation. It’s latest offering, GT4 has hype written all over it, with numerous hundreds of thousands of gamers anxiously awaiting the games release, both on PS2 and PSP. Yes, this title has already been announced, and you can even see it in action by now, but the appeal of taking a direct port of GT4 with you anywhere you want is insanely undeniable. The quality of the Gran Turismo games is known far and wide, and GT4 looks to up the ante in every aspect. Expect GT4 to be one of the best sellers on PSP in it’s early days once it’s released. You know you want it.

Verdict: Guaranteed

2: Devil May Cry

The Devil May Cry series owns. It’s a blunt statement, but one you already knew anyway. The first game is still hailed as one of (if not the) best action games available on any system, let alone just PS2. The sequel, Devil May Cry 2 stuttered a bit, offering a game short of the high expectations brought about by its predecessor. Devil May Cry 3 looks to be the king of them all, but it’s a bit far off to expect a port of the series latest, when it’s no where close to hitting the PS2 yet. Capcom has announced a game from the Devil May Cry brand is coming to PSP, but they still haven’t announced if it will be a port, of which game, or if it will be a brand new romp for Dante on his new handheld home. We’re going to put our money on a port of the original Devil May Cry, the one that made Dante a household name. While the game may likely feature some bonus extras of some kind, we expect the core game to remain largely untouched, and we like it that way. If it ain’t broke, put down the hammer, we always say. Devil May Cry on PSP: bring it on.

Verdict: Guaranteed

And, our #1 choice for a game/franchise that we think NEEDS to make a PSP appearance goes to:

1: Grand Theft Auto

You knew it was coming, don’t act so surprised. The Grand Theft Auto series, while being one of the most controversial franchises in gaming history, it’s also the defining reason to own a PS2. It took Xbox owners just over 2 years to get GTA III, and a year to get Vice City (simultaneous launch of the Xbox ‘GTA Double Pack’), while PS2 gamers had been running over pedestrians and climbing the criminal ladder for what seemed like ages already. The success of the GTA series on PS2 almost guarantees us a PSP version of some kind, original or port. But, considering how hard at work Rockstar North is at pumping content into the upcoming San Andreas right now, we expect the title to be of one of the older 2 GTA games; Vice City, perhaps. Who knows though, Rockstar could knock our socks off with a surprise of portable San Andreas, as unlikely as it may seem, Rockstar is known for giving gamers what they want. Rockstar, are you listening?

Verdict: It’s just a matter of time

There you have it: our top 10 PSP port picks (say that 5 times fast!). If you ask me, you throw those games on the shelf at launch, and you’ve already got yourself one heck of a well rounded library! Stay tuned to Gamers Wanted in the coming weeks when we take a look at some good ideas for DS titles, and how we think they could use the systems unique features. Until then, good gaming all.