Top Ten Must Have PSP Games

Join James as he list’s and discusses ten must have games for the Sony Playstation portable, largely known as the PSP.

Kirby Triple Deluxe

Ok this has to be one of the best platformers I have played in a while… I am a huge fan of the Kirby character and its great to see him spring to life in the glorious 3D effect present within the game. Released in 2014 Kirby Triple Deluxe is a return to the classic gameplay in which the player controls Kirby and the objective is to get to the end of a stage by using a ton of different abilities, such as the series staple inhale and star spit. The star of the show has to be the new hyper nova ability which sees Kirby inhaling literally everything in his path including trees and otherwise unmovable objects in order to advance. As with most Kirby games there are bonus levels at the end of each stage that can reward you with stars and recovery items, as well as keychains that serve as the in game collectables… And there are a ton to collect! The usual core mechanics of the series shine with a new 3D twist, which sees enemies emanating from the background and foreground… The only downside to this entry in the series has to be the lack of difficulty in the game… but... ill put that down to the fact, that I’m probably a lot better at Kirby games than your average casual player. All in all this is a great release and would be a great addition to your collection.

Pokemon Sun/Moon

Pokemon Sun and moon are the latest Pokemon games to be released and allow you to embark on a new adventure as a Pokemon trainer. Set in the tropical Alola region, the game feels fresh and has to be one of the most impressive upgrades to the series in quite some time! Featuring a multitude of new features, one of note being the new Z-move mechanic which sees the player having the ability to call upon there Pokemon through the use of a z crystal which results in some final fantasy style epicness as your Pokemon fills the screen with a devastating attack. As expected when there is a new Pokemon game you can always count on a ton of new monsters to occupy the world as well as few of the greats thrown in, but what makes sun and moon different is the inclusion of region specific Pokemon… This sees fan favourites appearing but with different attributes, for example rattata in this version forgot to fucking shave and Grimer is a completely different colour. These little adjustments add a bit charm to the game and as a long time fan of the series it was a nice addition to see some of my favourites with a new look. But what truly makes Pokemon sun and moon different is the exclusion of gyms, instead being replaced by trials that must be completed in order to advance in the game. This truly mixes up the established formula and was a great way to help the game feel fresh along with its new look. Heres hoping that rumoured switch version comes to fruition!

Tomodachi Life

Tomodachi Life is a great game. It may not appeal to every kind of gamer but if it clicks with you, it will be a fun experience. The game takes place on an island occupied by various Miis, each possessing there own voice as well as a personality that can be tweaked to your liking. The game revolves around the relationships between the miss that occupy your island and can result in some the most hilarious moments I’ve had in gaming such as making a song about worshipping satan and watching your miss perform it on a stage… Fucking comedy gold and that really sums up this game, a light hearted foray in to strange and wonderful world of Nintendo. The game was received well upon its release and thanks to its quirky nature Nintendo quickly had another hit on there hands! My son loves this game so much and often tells me how it reminds him of the sims… and its quite easy to see where he is coming from, a lot of similarities between the two series are present but Tomodachi life does not posses the amount of customisation that the sims is well known for. But that is not a bad thing at all  as Tomodachi Life is filled with pure, unbridled joy. It puts a stupid grin on my face and keeps it there through its duration.  It does require the player to put in some love, flair, and wit, but what comes out is pure magic.

Super Mario Land 3D

Let's face it, at launch, there weren't a lot of great titles for the 3DS console. But the release of games such as Super Mario 3D Land changed everything! It's similar yet different enough to classic 2D Mario type games, so there's something for both old and new fans alike. As expected you take control of Mario and are tasked with saving princess peach from bowser… She really needs to stop getting kidnapped but the story is never the focal point of a Mario game, its gameplay is front and centre and with this aspect, the game delivers on all fronts.  After completing the initial 8 worlds, a further 8 are opened up bringing the total amount of levels up to 96, which is sure to keep you busy for quite a while. As with all Mario games there are some truly hilarious power ups, that will aid you as you jump and stomp all over the mushroom kingdom. The inclusion of 3D adds an extra dimension to the gameplay and really showcases what the system is capable of and what it can be like when the effect is executed effectively. Having the option to choose between the intensity of the 3D effect is always good and allows the player to enjoy the game on there terms, may that be with the effect turned off or on. The level designs are inventive and fun, with enough challenge offered to more serious gamers.  Overall, this is a game with lots of replay value, and definitely one of the must-have titles for the 3DS.

Ocarina of Time 3D

Ocarina of time holds a special place in my heart and having the ability to replay that entire adventure with updated visuals and on a handheld was a proposition I could not pass up! As you would expect Ocarina 3D includes everything the N64 title offered as well as a few extras aimed at helping the player should they get stuck in the form Sheikah stones that litter the environments… A cool addition if you are playing the adventure for the first time and haven’t got a clue where to go. The controls are tight and translate well to the 3DS hardware, with actions feeling natural as well as the Ocarina being a joy to play using the shoulder and face buttons… Seriously theres nothing better than just chilling out in Hyrule and coming up with your own Ocarina melodies. It managed to remind me of the countless hours I spent doing this on the N64 and was a real trip down memory lane. You take control of link as you are tasked with saving the world of Hyrule from the evil menace Ganandorf… Im not going to sit here and explain Ocarina to you as mostly everyone has had the opportunity to play this masterpiece, but if you are one of the people that have not got around to playing it I would recommend the 3DS release as its a lot cheaper to pick up and of course with all of the updates it makes it the definitive edition. I’ll also mention Majoras mask as that has also been remade for the 3DS and if you preferred that adventure to Ocarina on the 64 that option is there for you as well.

Mario Kart 7

This has to be the most fun I have had with the 3DS, When ever I think of Mario Kart I’m instantly reminded of introducing the game to my son who has now become an avid Nintendo fan. We would spend hours facing off against each other in the amazing multiplayer mode and all with one game cartridge which is a very good feature for those wanting to play the game with others who may not own it. Released in 2011 the game lets you take control of up to 16 characters as you tack it to the track and battle it out to emerge victorious. The staple mechanics of the series are all here including a multitude of power ups that all serve there own purpose and a sure to piss a few people off whilst racing. Bringing a load of new features to the series that had previously not been seen such as customisable vehicles that all factor in to your performance on the track. This offered up a lot of experimentation as you played with the different setups to find the one that suits you best and with 32 different tracks to race on, your sure to be kept busy as you fight to become the best.  To top everything off Mario Kart 7 also comes packed with an online mode which lets you take on up to seven players from around the world, a feature that will undoubtedly see you coming back time and time again.

Animal Crossing New Leaf

Animal Crossing new leaf was the first game I picked up for the 3DS as I have always been a huge fan of the series and wasted countless hours with the gamecube and DS versions of the game. In Animal crossing your tasked with cultivating a small village and building a thriving community. You take the role of a mayor and are tasked with completing various activities brought forward by the villages occupants. These activities are known as public work projects or ordinances, the former supplying the player with funds from the towns occupants that allows you to construct new objects such as bridges, fountains and facilities like police stations and cafes. The latter provides the player with a way to customise the way in which there town operates by passing laws, such as encouraging the citizens to plant more flowers and making shops open either earlier or later. By completing these you receive bells which can be used to purchase items such as clothes and furniture, or paying towards loans that can be used to renovate your house. Many changes were made to formula that up to this point had made the series so popular, The inclusion of even deeper customisation for your character as well as your surroundings was a welcome change, as well as new items such as benches and lamp posts being added. With its extremely addictive nature Animal crossing is a game that needs a place in your library.

Yoshis New Island

Developed by Arzest and released on the 3DS in 2014, Yoshi new island sees everyones favourite green dragon saving the day again. The gameplay is similar to the previous entries in this series for the SNES and DS, involving Yoshi having to reach the end of each level all the while taking care of a baby Mario on his back. To fend of enemies you can throw eggs and even transform in one of several vehicles that are included as a new feature in the game. There are six in total, a hot air ballon, helicopter, jackhammer, mine cart, bobsled and a submarine…. They all possess there own unique attributes and can help you get out of some sticky situations. With up to 54 levels to take on, the adventure by no means is a short one and will keep you busy for quite a while… As with Kirby triple deluxe the difficulty is questionable in this game for veteran platformer enthusiasts but thats not to say you will not have fun… Its just a shame Nintendo keep on downplaying the difficulty with releases but hell that might just be me spending way to much playing games. Either way new Yoshis island is a solid title and deserves a play through!

Bravely Default

A throwback to golden days of the JRPG, bravely default is a game that any RPG fan would be proud to own. Developed by Silicon studio and released in 2012, the game is set in the world of Leuxendarc, which is kept in balance by four elemental crystals protected by a religious group that influence events across the world. The game plot centres around these crystals becoming consumed by darkness and your journey as Agnes set on restoring there balance. As with most RPG’s the battle system tends to make or break the experience and bravely default delivers on all fronts when considering its return to turn based combat, the use of weapons magic and items are all present. But what really mixes things up is the amounts of different jobs available in the game, 24 in total can be found ranging from the agile valkyrie to white and black mages that respectively specialise in healing and fighting magic. As expected each job has its own strengths and weaknesses and can effect the outcome of battles. This really adds a huge amount of experimentation to the game as half the battle is finding a job that suits your play style just right. As mention if your a fan of the genre this ones a no brainer and completely deserves a place in your collection.

Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

If you are going into MH4U expecting huge new innovations from previous games in the series, your not going to find it here, but that is far from a bad thing though. It is clear that the formula has been perfected in this latest instalment. Monster Hunter is essentially an action role playing game that sees you take on the role of a new hunter. Its your job to hunt a wide variety of dangerous creatures that inhabit the land! Hunting, gathering, and crafting has never been more fun. With an incredibly supportive online community you’ll be up and running in no time and thanks to the changes made to the tutorials, new comers will find it easier to get to grips with the game. You can easily play for a hundred hours before you have done everything. The amount of content in the game is incredible value for the price. Whether you're a long time fan or someone looking to get into the series, MH4U is the pinnacle of the series.