Monday, January 9, 2012

Top Five Most Wanted PlayStation Vita Games

Sony's sequel to their PlayStation Portable, the PS Vita, is set to release in North America on February 15th. In Japan, it released mid last month, but its sales have died down considerably, and that isn't good when the weeks it was available in were generally when gaming platforms perform well. Add to this that last week no PSV titles appeared in the Media Create top twenty, and Sony's newest hand-held isn't starting off incredibly. Nonetheless, we can only hope that the launch sales go better in the West than Japan.

Much like I did with the Nintendo 3DS, I have decided to make a top five list stating which PlayStation Vita titles I am most looking forward to. These are the most interesting of the interesting, the best of the best, the grandest of the grand, etc. Perhaps you will find a new title to look forward to from my list!

5) WipEout 2048


Little has been divulged about the latest in this futuristic racing franchise, but from videos and trailers the game looks much faster than the PSP entries. You can be for certain that the weapon-based action, quick thrills, harrowing hairpin turns, and races through futuristic forests, metropolises, and factories will all be on display on the gorgeous PlayStation Vita screen. Despite not knowing much about the game, we won't have to wait long to get it in our mitts as WipEout 2048 veers onto the PSV on launch day.

4) ModNation Racers: Road Trip


Another racer as well as another launch title for the Vita, ModNation Racers: Road Trip. Not only will this SCEA-developed game have all-new tracks, customization options, and a story mode, but the ability to create tracks of your own will not be streamlined even further thanks to the touch controls. Just draw the basic track design with the tip of your finger, and then plop in objects, obstacles, and scenery to craft a masterpiece of a track. Then challenge your friends to try it out. [UPDATE: It seems Road Trip will NOT have online play after all.] ModNation Racers: Road Trip appears to continue the tradition of speedy karts and great customization.

3) LittleBigPlanet (tentative title)


I seem to have a bit of a habit picking games for my most wanted list that the gaming public (including yours truly) knows next to nothing about. This continues with LittleBigPlanet (tentative title). What we can expect according to the box art of the game are touch controls making for easier creation of custom levels, objects, and characters as well as a new story campaign full of creative levels. Detractors of the series won't find anything to fall in love with this game, but fans of the franchise will have plenty of activities to do and levels to make.

2) Uncharted: Golden Abyss


Nathan Drake returns, but this time he arrives on a portable thanks to the efforts of Sony Bend. This hand-held entry has Drake teaming up with an old friend as well as the granddaughter of an archeologist gone missing in their search of the Golden Abyss in Central America. Use the touch screen for a multitude of actions, climb cliffs and ledges, and participate in intense gunfights in this bite-sized treasure hunting adventure. Sony Bend has done their best to recreate Naughty Dog's IP for the small screen, and I cannot help but anticipate this title. It comes out on launch day, too.

1) Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational



It is no secret that Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds for the PlayStation 3 disappointed me with its lack of modes and options when compared to its PS2 predecessors. However, the PSP installments of Open Tee 1 and 2 were quite good and offered a myriad of modes, courses, and characters to unlock for me to continue playing into the hundreds of hours. Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational introduces optional touch controls to make chipping, putting, and driving even easier than before. Clap Hanz brings a golf bag full of crazy characters, picturesque courses, and online play for owners of the game to challenge friends and rivals over the net. For these reasons I list World Invitational as my most wanted Vita game.

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Sure, I'm probably going to wait for the PS Vita to drop in price (at this rate it is a given it will), and even then I won't be able to afford one, but the quality of quantity of titles is very much apparent. This is one of the best launch lineups of any platform in recent memory.

But what about you? What PlayStation Vita games excite you the most? Pick my brain (not literally) and list your most wanted PSV games in the comments section.

2 comments:

Matt Sainsbury said...

For me, it's all about Dynasty Warriors Next and Army Corps of Hell. Those two are day ones for me.

Unknown said...

Oh, you didn't even have to put Dynasty Warriors Next; I would have guessed that.