Written by Vivek Philendra

@vivekphilwrites_

Thumbnail Photo by Chris Lim

It is with deep sorrow that fans have come to terms with Sony’s decision to continue the online store shutdown of the beloved PlayStation Portable (PSP) as they had announced earlier this year. But let’s not fret because the journey is over, let’s celebrate our memories instead. Hence, this month we would like to take a look at the best games out of the fantastic PSP library that spanned twelve memorable years.

10 Spider-Man 2 (2005)

While Spider-Man 2 is still renowned for being one of the best superhero games of all time, the PSP version was a shorter-lived experience that brought exhilarating action to our fingertips. It actually featured the voices of Hollywood actors Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, and Alfred Molina, who starred in the 2004 Spider-Man movie, and had tons of mission variety that kept gameplay varied to ensure that the game never overstayed its welcome. Even after the sequel was released, I always found myself coming back to this game years later because I could never get enough.

9 FIFA Street 2 (2006)

FIFA Street took the world by storm in 2005, providing players with an experience unlike anything they had ever seen before (think NBA Jam, but miles better)! Up until Fifa Street was released, sports games were more or less what people expected; if a new installment was without any major graphical improvements, fans were unenthusiastic. FIFA Street brought us the uncut version of an everyday street football experience that players could relate to on a personal level.

The second version of the game perfected its formula and became a must-play game for football fans all over the world. It was easy enough for casual players to pick-and-play, but complex enough for veteran gamers to compete over. Chasing a new high score while attempting out-of-this-world combo moves with your favourite football player is surely a thrill like no other, especially without the fear of red cards.

8 Patapon (2007)

There’s a good reason why people say, “Good luck getting 'Patapon' out of your head”. While it looks like a simple enough game on the surface, Patapon is in fact one of the most addictive and satisfyingly challenging games on the system. It’s a rhythm game that had you controlling the action by matching your button presses to the beat of the music. The game’s story followed a dominant tribe’s journey to seeking eternal happiness. It takes a surprising amount of skill and patience to prevail in this game, and it’s truly impressive how the developers even managed to incorporate boss fights into this game. It was truly a joy to play back then and still remains a joy today.

7 Daxter (2006)

From the developers of the renowned Uncharted and The Last of Us series, Jack & Daxter came to be one of the best action-platformer franchises of the early 2000s. The console versions of the game had set expectations really high, but I think it’s safe to say that the developers more than delivered on the handheld front. These kinds of games transitioned really well to handhelds, and Daxter was a witty adventure that was chaotic fun for old and new fans alike. Alas, it’s a shame that the series has been abandoned for generations, but at least we have old gems like Daxter to take a trip down memory lane.

6 Burnout: Legends (2005)

For a generation of kids who grew up watching The Fast & the Furious movies, no racing game even came close to our expectations until Burnout. It had everything: over-the-top crashes, competitive racing modes, breathtaking flips, unrealistically fast-paced cars, and trying to do all this while trying not to crash into oncoming traffic. Need I say more?

5 Tekken 6 (2007)

Despite being one of the best-looking games on the PSP, Tekken 6 played almost identically on the console and the handheld, proving to us what the PSP was truly capable of. This celebrated fighting game introduced new characters alongside beloved franchise favourites for an epic showdown that always kept you playing just “one more game”. Being huge fans back in the day, my sister and I constantly fought over our PSP to beat each other’s ranks, and just thinking about it brings a smile to my face. This is a game that you won’t regret getting!

4 Persona 3 Portable (2006)

Although the PSP was no stranger to quality J-RPGs, Persona 3 Portable takes the absolute cake! While developers Atlus could’ve simply ported the console version as-is, they went the extra mile to deliver an optimized experience on the PSP for fans that better fit the handheld experience. If you’re into fantasy role-playing games and high-school drama, this is a title that is highly worth your time!

3 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories (2006)

Open-world games were never expected to be released on the PSP due to its limited hardware and controls. However, Rockstar Games proved doubters wrong by successfully executing what others had tried and failed to do in the past. Vice City Stories brought us the same GTA chaos that we had grown to love and expect from the series, albeit in a smaller package. The freedom offered by the open-world was liberating and the controls worked flawlessly - accommodating well for the lack of a second analog stick. In my opinion, this game is the best out of all three GTA games released on the device.

2 Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)

Not only is Peace Walker one of the best games on the PSP, but it is also one of the best games in the entire Metal Gear Solid franchise. This game proved that a deeply engaging narrative can indeed be told on a handheld, breaking barriers in video game storytelling forever! It is still worth getting a PSP just to play this game even after all these years.

Before announcing our choice for the best PSP game of all time, let’s show some appreciation for these honourable mentions that didn’t make our final list:

· Final Fantasy: Crisis Core (2007)

· Gran Turismo (2009)

· LocoRoco (2006)

· Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (2007)

· Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror (2006)

· Tomb Raider: Anniversary (2007)

· Wipeout Pulse (2007)

1 God of War: Ghost of Sparta (2010)

The best PSP game of all time is none other than Ghost of Sparta (seriously, were you expecting anything else?). One of the most popular PlayStation franchises ever, fans could not believe it when a God of War game was announced for the PSP, and the hype caught on pretty quick. The final release of the game was nothing short of a miracle, considering the scale of the whole thing. Ten years later, I still don’t know how they managed to pull off the final product on hardware that was half a decade old and provide us with a seamless experience that never stuttered. Thinking of the boss battles and the amazing journey in the game still gives me goosebumps today! Even with the radical shift in the new games, you can’t deny how well the old games were made. Ghost of Sparta is still a solid game today and deserves to be experienced by each and every one of us!

That was our list, and we hope it brought back some of your favourite memories with the PSP. Although the store may have been shut down, these experiences will remain close to our hearts, and we shall cherish these games for ages to come! (I am not crying, you are). Here’s to hoping that the PlayStation handhelds make a comeback soon and provide amazing experiences to another generation of players!

For more on PlayStation, click here to read how fans marked history by revoking a major decision by Sony earlier this year.

Top 10 PSP Games of All Time