Uncharted: Golden Abyss (Vita) Review

They say that "all that glitters is not gold." True, but does "all that is Uncharted that is not made by Naughty Dog bad?" While you ponder that question and while we wonder a smoother way to word that, check out SuperPhillip Central's review of Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a launch title for the PlayStation Vita.

The Uncharted series goes into uncharted territory-- on the go.

The PlayStation Vita showed immense promise when it launched. It not only had powerful hardware with a plethora of features already from the get-go, but it also had the games to back up that the system was ready and raring to go. It's my belief that the Vita's launch lineup was one of the industry's best. What amazed me with the Vita was how full console experiences from the PlayStation 3 could be brought over to the Vita with minimal compromise needed. One such excellent example is Uncharted: Golden Abyss. While the series's creator Naughty Dog may not have had a direct hand in developing the game, the always capable Sony Bend once again shows that they're more than a match for any property that is thrown their way.

Beginning in the middle of things, Uncharted: Golden Abyss tells a tale of treasure hunting, betrayal, and the bonds between protagonist Nathan Drake and the many characters he comes across. Taking place before Drake's Fortune, the first in the Uncharted series, Golden Abyss follows Drake as he is hot on the trail of a rival hunter Jason Dante. What occurs next is a rewind of sorts where the game delves into the events leading up to this moment and how the former allies in Drake and Dante had their friendship turn very sour. While narrative in video games is hardly a strong suit for the medium, the Uncharted series usually does a serviceable job on this end. In that regard, Golden Abyss shines, but nowhere near as brightly as its console brethren.

"Excuse me, pretty boy, but we've
got some work to do!"

For those wanting an action-packed Hollywood blockbuster thrill ride on a portable, Uncharted: Golden Abyss is this. All in all it's a successful attempt at bringing Uncharted to a handheld with a big budget presentation like its console brothers. The gameplay is relatively the same too, with little touches added to work with the Vita's various tech and some scaled down aspects to better fit a handheld.

When you're not hunting for treasure,
it's always nice to find time to enjoy the view.

Like its big brothers on the PS3, you're constantly moving from set piece to set piece, albeit these don't have anywhere near the gravitas of said console versions. As Nathan Drake, you're engaged in shootouts with a myriad of enemy grunts firing right back at you while you hide behind cover, occasionally coming out for the opportunity to potshot someone. This is all the while being aware of your surroundings, escaping cover when a foe launches a grenade near you to flush you out, and participating in the rare "cover your AI pal or he or she will die" engagement.

Aiming does take some practice,
and even then, it doesn't  feel 100% right.

The Vita's built-in gyroscope can be used exclusively or in tandem with the right analog stick to aim down the sights of Drake's numerous repertoire of weapons (Drake can only hold two at a time, one handgun and one heavier weapon like an AK47 or RPG, for instance.) Overall, I found using both to be an adequate combination, as the analog stick by itself can feel a little clunky, while the gyroscope can be used to fine-tune and adjust your aim ever so slightly.

One shot left. Better make it count.

Platforming, climbing, and light exploration have always been a part of Uncharted, and Golden Abyss doesn't stray too far from the formula here either, for better or worse. Platforming still feels as rigid as ever, not allowing a feeling of tightness. Instead, this is rather a feeling of leaping in the general direction of what you're supposed to grab, such as a ledge or rope, and being attracted to the object as if it and Drake were magnets. Precision-based jumping is not fully there, sometimes offering more moments of aggravation than satisfaction.

Climbing cliff faces and other walls is made easier due to touch screen controls. These are totally optional, but tapping on the front screen where you want Drake to head towards mid-climb allows a greater sense of accuracy. When I found myself not knowing where to climb or drop to next, I could simply touch different sectors of the screen until I discovered a path for Drake to shimmy up like a monkey on a coconut tree.

Don't mind me. Go ahead and admire the sunset.
I'm just hanging around.

Touch controls are used for other means as well, and it comes across that for every action that touch controls use that works well, there's one that doesn't-- dare I say, one that even hurts the overall experience. Engaging with enemies is enjoyable, as when you're ready to brawl with them with Drake's bare fists, you touch the enemy when you're near them and start a quick mini-game of sorts. If the foe blocks your attack, they'll counter with a punch of their own.

It's these moments as well as many other quick-time event-esque occasions, where you'll need to swipe your finger across the screen in the direction of the arrow. Doing this correctly results in success, such as knocking out the enemy with a bare-knuckle sandwich. Failing it can result in taking damage, or in the case of missing a finger swipe while climbing, can result in death. The timing is open enough so you usually have plenty of time to react. However, on harder difficulties (I'm looking at you, Crushing), the timing is very strict and quite frankly, very frustrating.

There's no gentlemen's agreement
when it comes to treasure.

Many times in Uncharted: Golden Abyss you'll come across an ancient marketing that needs to have a charcoal rubbing done. All this does is force you to mindlessly rub the screen until the rubbing has been completed. This happens so much that it just detracted from the experience. Once was cool. Ten times? Not so much. Then there's puzzles that involve engaging the touch screen, turning dials, moving statue pieces onto what is essentially a grid, and arranging torn-up pieces of a document into a completed jigsaw puzzle of sorts. Again, some of this is fun, while others either overstay their welcome or actually make you loathe Sony Bend's attempts at control and gameplay innovation.

The campaign of Uncharted: Golden Abyss will take players an initial 8-10 hours to complete. There's multiple difficulties, an abundance of hidden treasures strewn about the 34 chapters of the game, points where you can take photos of specific in-game areas to satisfy optional conditions, and even bounties on enemies that can be offed, the latter gameplay element uses the Vita's Near functionality. It's important to note that Golden Abyss is much like Drake's Fortune as there is no multiplayer component to speak of, which will definitely bring down the longevity of Golden Abyss regardless of its admirable campaign content.

The interactions between characters is
top-tier stuff as always.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss is a remarkably stunning game. It amazes a guy like me who grew up on black and white handhelds that I'm able to play a full home console-like experience on the go and in the palm of my hands. Golden Abyss manages to pull off looking just like it was a game for the PlayStation 3, and it does so while running at a buttery smooth frame-rate. This is Uncharted on a handheld, and it is glorious.

I'm here to shoot thugs and style my hair.
...And I'm all out of styling gel.

For some, Uncharted: Golden Abyss could just be denounced as a tech demo for the PlayStation Vita hardware. While it does serve that purpose, it's also just a well done game in general. It won't thrill fans as much as the console entries, due to the scarcity of large scale set pieces, possessing a somewhat subdued story in comparison to what the series has delivered in the past, and having a small amount of locales represented; but Uncharted: Golden Abyss is one treasure that Vita owners should not go without hunting for. It might not be a priceless treasure like what can be found in the fabled "Golden Abyss", but Uncharted's debut on a handheld is a mighty fine one.

[SPC Says: 8.25/10]

Freedom Wars (Vita) Announcement Trailer

Freedom Wars is coming over to the West sometime this year! The game's premise has you as a convicted criminal, charged with living, and your sentence is one million years in a desolate city. Bad for your character, great for you gameplay-wise! Check out this the announcement trailer for this super-stylized game.

Rayman Legends (Multi) PlayStation Vita Trailer

Basically a game that is now coming out to every major current platform on the market, Rayman Legends is leaping onto the PS Vita with the same touch control gameplay of the Wii U version. Rayman Legends is without a doubt one of my most anticipated games of the year. I'm happy Vita owners get to now enjoy it too.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time (PS3, PSV) Review

We might be closing out the work week with a new review, but that doesn't mean we're closing out the regular old week in general. No, tomorrow SuperPhillip Central will also have a new review to share with you. For now, take this glimpse at our thoughts of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time for the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita.

Thieves in Time Save Nine... 

and the Cooper Legacy!

The PlayStation 2 was an embarrassment of riches for 3D platforming fans. Sony debuted and published not one, not two, but three unique platforming franchises on the system. The first was Naughty Dog's Jak & Daxter, then there was Insomniac Games' Ratchet & Clank, and the final in this all-star trio was Sucker Punch's Sly Cooper. Each series possessed its own strengths and charms, and while Ratchet has appeared in multiple games on the PlayStation 3, Sly Cooper has been waiting in the wings for his own brand-new title. That day has finally come, but this time around, Sanzaru Games (the folks who developed The Sly Collection) are the folks behind Sly's latest caper, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, available on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. Does Sanzaru Games do Sucker Punch's series justice, or does the latest Sly Cooper need a time out?

The Thievius Raccoonus is a book containing all of the family secrets of the Cooper clan. One day, however, while perusing the book, Bentley the Turtle notices that right before his eyes the words on the pages seem to be vanishing. It turns out someone is trying to erase the Cooper legacy by going back in time, causing trouble, and doing his or her best to stamp out the Sly Cooper and his ancestors for good. Packed with a new time machine, the Cooper gang and their van hightail it into the past to attempt to right the wrongs of this vicious villain. Thieves in Time tells its tale through a number of means: traditional in-game cutscenes as well as marvelously done hand-drawn cartoon animations. Perhaps the only quip one could make about the story is that most scenes can be skipped through the pause menu, but it isn't consistent. Not every scene can be skipped, meaning that replaying jobs can be quite annoying when you have to sit through a 45 second scene.

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time consists of five episodes taking place from Feudal Japan to the sunset-soaked Arabia, sandwiched between a prologue and an epilogue. Like past games in the Sly Cooper series, each episode is a fairly contained but fully explore-able area where Sly and one of many other playable characters can venture around, smashing 30 clue bottles strewn across each episode, collecting treasure, and just having the pure, unadulterated freedom to explore.

The hub worlds offer a grand 

opportunity for exploration.

Jobs are the missions that move the story of Thieves in Time forward. Each one begins by selecting the appropriate character sitting in the Cooper hideout. There is generally 5-7 jobs per episode, and each must be played in order. The first is usually a reconnaissance mission, requiring Sly to take photos of the new area for Bentley to devise a plan of attack, and the last is where everything comes together to take down the villain leading the crime spree of that place and time period.

So this is what thieves do on their downtime...

The platforming in Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is remarkably pleasant. You seldom, if ever, feel like you're not in control of whichever character you're using. Sly Cooper has the most moves and mobility to work with, allowing him to climb on pipes and trees, tiptoe along high wires, and sidestep across narrow ledges. When you see a blue sparkle above an object, that is your indication that it is something that Sly Cooper can cling to. This is performed by tapping the Circle button near such an object. Thieves in Time will certainly put your platforming prowess into action with ingenious obstacle course-like design. Even if you fail in a job, there are plenty of continue points so you are never having to redo large portions of a level.

If platforming is your passion, Thieves

in Time definitely has you covered.

Variety is the spice of life, and in the job market that is exactly what you get with Thieves in Time. The developers have gone a long way in ensuring that players don't get bored doing the same tasks over and over again. While there are job archetypes that do repeat themselves (if I don't have to stealthily follow someone again, it will be too soon), most jobs differ from one another.

Outside of the traditional platforming that makes a platformer a platformer, there are parts of jobs where you participate in mini-games. One you'll be serving sarsaparilla to some very thirsty saloon patrons, another you'll be shaking Carmelita's booty, timing your button presses in beat with the music to distract the guards. There's multiple hacking mini-games like Alter Ego, a side-scrolling 2D shooter; a tank game using both sticks, one to move and one to aim; and Spark Runner, where you tilt the Sixaxis controller to move a spark through a maze. The latter type of hacking mini-game can be frustrating, as the tilt controls are not the best.

During Sly Cooper and the gang's trip through the past, they will comes across Sly's ancestors, of which there is one in each episode to rescue and have join your merry crew of thieving animals. Each ancestor has abilities that make them indisposable, as they can reach areas that other characters simply cannot. For one, Tennessee Kid Cooper can fire his guns at both faraway foes and faraway targets to activate nearby contraptions. Meanwhile, the oldest Cooper ancestor, known lovingly as Bob, has the ability to scale icy walls to reach higher areas.

Riochi can use his Focus Jump to cross 

over larger-than-normal distances.

In addition to the ancestors and their powers, there are costumes that Sly Cooper collects throughout his adventure that grants him new abilities, exclusive to each costume. For instance, the Jailbird costume comes with a huge ball and chain, great for smashing breakable walls and to walk on to cross over hazardous and deadly floors. Meanwhile, the Archer costume grants the ability to fire arrows at targets. These arrows have ropes attached to them so when they hit their target, Sly can walk on them like a tightrope. The costumes are a welcome feature that only adds to the variety filled package that Thieves in Time is.

Ready... aim... fire!

There is a LOT to do in Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, so even after you complete the 10-15 hour campaign, there's plenty still to do. Collecting all of the clue bottles in a given episode's hub world will open a safe, giving Sly and the gang a useful treasure to work with. Such a treasure includes one that makes falling into the water something that no longer causes damage while another increases the chance of pick-pocketing loot from an unaware enemy. Then there are 60 masks that are hidden through the hub worlds and jobs of the game. Collecting them gives you options in the extras menu, including replacing Sly Cooper's cane with a certain other PlayStation platforming all-star's wrench.

"The Murray" can handle any physical job.

Thieves in Time is not without its issues, however. We already went over Spark Runner being a bit unwieldy, but the in-game camera can also be a bit unwieldy as well. It can occasionally get caught on walls, make it so its impossible to turn, and other annoyances that can frustrate. These aren't common, though.

While I was playing the game, I had a coworker ask me which game of the PlayStation 2 trilogy I was playing. He honestly couldn't tell that I was playing a PlayStation 3 game. That said, Thieves in Time is a gorgeous game, using a timeless art style with its cel-shaded. It gives its areas more pizzazz, and it makes the characters come to life wonderfully. The voice acting is also well done with clever dialogue thrown in to keep even the oldest of players entertained. Lastly, the music is a dynamic mix of styles that accentuate the platforming action well.

Forsooth, my fine ring-tailed friend!

Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time is one of the better platformers to have come out this generation. While it stays true to the formula to a degree that some might consider too "safe", it certainly relieved my itch for a new 3D platformer beautifully. It is a humorous and entertaining game, through and through, contains plenty of content outside of the main campaign, and the platforming itself is nothing short of pure fun. The addition of buying the PlayStation 3 version and getting a digital version of the Vita game only increases the value of Thieves in Time. If you're a PlayStation 3 owner who is looking for a platformer with a lot of heart and clever design, take up a job with Sly Cooper and the gang.

[SPC Says: 9.0/10]

Tearaway (PSV) New Screens

Tearaway is Media Molecule's upcoming PlayStation Vita release that sports a vivid art style and quirky gameplay. I must say that if there were more exclusives as creative as Tearaway, the system would be more appealing to more people.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (PS3, PSV) Kat and Emmett Graves Trailers

Two new combatants will be headed to the PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale: Kat from Gravity Rush and Emmett Graves from Starhawk. They will available February 12, and for two weeks they will be free to download. Downloadable characters will have their own set of icons, backgrounds, taunts, intros/outros, and victory themes, just like their on-disc counterparts. While you wait for next month, why not check out the two introduction trailers?

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale (PS3, PSV) Review

The second in our series of reviews for this week is PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. Now, you can sit around arguing that this game is a ripoff of Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. series till the cows come home (I don't know who even uses that saying anymore), but while you do that, I'm sure millions like myself will be enjoying the game.

This isn't mentioned in the review body, but if you buy the PlayStation 3 version of Battle Royale, you get a code for the Vita version. While we're on the subject of versions, this review is based off the PlayStation 3 copy of the game.

Live in Your World, Battle in Theirs

Read anything on SuperBot Entertainment's PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and you are certain to see the words "Super Smash Bros." pop up somewhere within the sea of words. For a brand that has lasted almost two decades now, it is about time that PlayStation got its own all-stars game. While the similarities to Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. are indeed prevalent, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale certainly does enough to distinguish itself from the series whose shadow it has stood in since its announcement.

The roster of PlayStation all-stars isn't as star-studded as Nintendo's lineup, obviously, but given what they had to work with, SuperBot delivered a competent catalog of characters nonetheless. Sure, having third-party characters like BioShock's Big Daddy don't make much sense (BioShock started on the Xbox 360, after all), and the addition of an evil version of Cole MacGrath is a waste of a character slot, but most of the choices are smart. You have your old-school PlayStation characters such as Spike of Ape Escape fame, Sir Daniel Fortesque from MediEvil, Twisted Metal's Sweet Tooth, and PaRappa the Rapper, as well as PlayStation 2 era mascots like Kratos, Ratchet & Clank, Jak & Daxter, and Sly Cooper. Finally, the current PlayStation era gets much representation with Nathan Drake (Uncharted), Nariko (Heavenly Sword), Radec (Killzone), Cole MacGrath (Infamous), and Sackboy (LittleBigPlanet).

PaRappa brings in his boombox 

to drop some helpful beats.

As stated with BioShock's Big Daddy, in addition to the first-party lineup of famous video game characters, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale contains several third-party selections. You have your pick of Dante (Devil May Cry), Raiden (Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance), and Heihachi (Tekken). The promise of downloadable characters, the first batch of which comes out early this year, means the lineup is only going to get bigger and better.

Mr. Bubbles would like to play.

To go along with the characters, there are all of the stages for these all-star brawls to manifest themselves in. Instead of just going with one franchise per arena, SuperBot has made it so as many series as possible can be represented across the 14 stages. These "mash-ups" take the unlikeliest of franchises and mushes them together to sometimes hilarious results. Having a fight in the pleasant and colorful world of LocoRoco when all of a sudden the background shatters to reveal a Metal Gear and dilapidated city landscape makes for some interesting eye candy. Couple that with environmental hazards like in the Sandover Village stage where characters from Hot Shots Golf tee off from the background and pelt the battlefield with golf balls, and you have some splendid wackiness. If it's too wacky for you, you can turn off all hazards for strictly fighting-based battles.

Metropolis is a mash-up of the Ratchet & Clank

series and the God of War series.

Battle Royale plays like a more advanced Super Smash Bros. in the control department. Instead of only having one button and a stick direction for a given attack, Battle Royale has three buttons, and depending on which way you're holding the stick (up, down, left or right), a different attack with be delivered. Square is used for weak attacks, Circle for medium, and Triangle for the heavy variety. Each character in the game has a wide array of ways to bring the pain onto his or her opponent(s), taking many pages out of the exact moves they have in the games they are from.

Ratchet has his barrel loaded and ready to fire.

As you beat down your opponents, you fill up your AP gauge.When it is full, your character can unleash a Super Attack. Each character has three different Supers that they can use: a Level One, a Level Two, or a Level Three. A Level Three means they need to fill up the AP gauge three times without doing a Super. Unlike Level One Supers, Level Threes are essentially guarantees that you will at least get one kill. They last longer, and they are much harder to avoid than Level One Supers, which don't have much in the way of reach, and Level Two Supers, which while a step up from a Level One, still don't guarantee kills.

Unlike other party fighters, Supers are the only way to get kills in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale. That means strategically using a Super through using it at the right time is crucial for victory. You can try to build up a Level Three, but you risk taking too much time doing so. Perhaps you go for a quick Level One Super kill, but that can be dodged rather easily in most cases. This area of strategy is one that I am particularly fond of. While it isn't as fun as Smash Bros. (sorry for bring that series up again), Battle Royale's setup is still a blast.

BioShock Infinite's Columbia is one of my

favorite stages in Battle Royale.

There are several modes for solo players without an Internet connection, but obviously the real joy is in hopping online and participating in all-star bouts against the world. More on that later. Arcade Mode is the primary source of entertainment for solo players. You take one of the 20 characters through a series of matches. It starts off slow with a one-on-one timed contest, then you are thrust into combat with two other fighters, then three, and then you face your character's rival before taking on the final boss. While it is true that Arcade Mode is a bit bare-bones, I did find myself enjoying going through it with each character, watching the multiple image intros and outros that bookend the playing, and obtain valuable experience in the process. Along with Arcade Mode, there are various character-specific trials and tutorials to try out to gain experience that way as well.

Unload cargo or your aggression in

this Uncharted-themed stage.

Speaking of which, gaining experience is something that keeps me hooked to Battle Royale long after I acquired all of the trophies (it is relatively easy to do so, all trophy hunters). Each match completed, whether win or lose, awards whatever character you currently are with experience. As you gain levels you earn new content specific to your character, such as icons, backgrounds, taunts, victory themes, and even an alternate costume at Level 10. With the ability to level up in the hundreds, you'll be playing as your mains for a grand time.

But no doubt the main reason that many would be interested in PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale are the online and local multiplayer bouts that keep everyone up till the break of dawn. Battle Royale delivers in this regard splendidly with mostly lag-free matches online, either ranked, public, or private; free-for-all or team-based; hazards and/or items off or on. My only main gripe with the online experience is that I did encounter some freezing in between matches that forced me to have to hard reset my PS3 system. Nothing too major or damaging, but annoying nonetheless.

Sony's party fighter is certainly fast and fluid. There is seldom any signs of intentional slowdown, even with all of the things happening on the screen. However, by that same token, it can be troublesome to see where your character is on the screen, especially with the occasional camera problem of it not showing the entire battlefield. On the sound side, SuperBot Entertainment and its cohorts have done a fantastic job of remixing music, including original music and voice actors, and creating some nice sound effects in the process. Perhaps it's not the smoothest sailing ship in the fleet, but Battle Royale does not tread a lot of water in the presentation department.

Sometimes the camera is just too far 

away to see the action.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale does not quite outshine its main competitor in the market, the Super Smash Bros. series, but at the same time it does not have the qualities of a ripoff either. The game does more than enough to separate itself from Smash and make for a tremendous party fighter. PlayStation fans now have a game to rally around and call their own, and one they can be proud to play and enjoy. The way Supers work might detach some players from the Battle Royale experience, but I found it to be a welcomed change to the standard formula-- again, setting it apart from other games of the party fighter genre. Gather your friends, whether online or off, and get ready for a Sony-style brawl to end them all.

[SuperPhillip Says: 9.0/10]

My Five Most Wanted PlayStation Vita Games of 2013

It's not really fair to call the PlayStation Vita's 2013 lineup weak as we don't know the whole story for the rest of the year. For the titles currently known, an argument could easily be made. Despite this, I have found five games that I am looking forward to seeing this coming year.

Soul Sacrifice

If you're into Monster Hunter-like games, then this first game on my list of most wanted Vita titles is something you should look into. It is Soul Sacrifice, an idea crafted by Keiji Inafune, the creator of Mega Man and developed by Marvelous AQL. The "sacrifice" part of the title alludes to giving up parts of a player character's body to unleash bolder attacks on the various bosses of the game. Soul Sacrifice promises up to four players able to work together to take down foes. Here's hoping there's no "sacrifices" to be made to make that happen.

Dead or Alive 5 Plus

This Vita-exclusive version of last year's Dead or Alive 5 might be late to the party, but it comes packed with new features. I am referring to a first-person fighting mode, touch-based moves, and some new controls when it concerns training mode. Dead or Alive 5 delighted home console players when it released this past fall, so if you enjoyed it or never got the chance to play it and you own a Vita, perhaps Dead or Alive 5 Plus is a worthy purchase.

MLB 13: The Show

Also available for the PlayStation 3, MLB 13: The Show has all-new beginner modes and a revamped postseason playoff mode. In addition to those features, currently fans are casting in their votes to decide who will be the cover athlete. Maybe they can vote for the same baseball players that got into Cooperstown this year. Oh, wait. That was nobody. Well, how about Mr. Met? Everyone loves Mr. Met. Or maybe even the Philly Fanatic. I kind of like that one. I have no idea why...

Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault

I like seeing aging series try new things, even when they don't always work out. Ratchet & Clank is recently doing such a thing. Two years ago we saw All 4 One, and now we see Full Frontal Assault, a tower defense action game. If you already own the PlayStation 3 version of the game that released this past November, then you already have a code to get the Vita version, do out at the end of the month. You can thank Sony's wonderful (and I don't mean that in my usual condescending way) Cross Buy promotion for that!

Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable

A cult favorite with fans, the Earth Defense Force franchise returns in Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable. While it was also a retail release in Japan, the latest EDF is digital download only in North America. That's alright, pending you have a good-sized amount of memory. EDF 2017 Portable features a plethora of new content such as missions (which can be played with up to four people), enemies, and other fun items of interest. Unlike the rest of the games on this list, you get Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable now, so what are you doing-- stop reading this article and start downloading now!

===

Tomorrow is our final day at looking at my most wanted games of 2013 announced with a semblance of release dates. For the last day we will be looking at what this very site called the System of the Year 2012, the Nintendo 3DS! What games will I be yearning for most for the 3DS? Find out tomorrow!

Exactly How Does the PlayStation Vita Have "No Games?"

A common statement among some gamers is that Sony's struggling handheld, the PlayStation Vita, lacks software, even going as far as saying it has zero in the way of competent games. Of course, a lot of these people are simply trolling (These people could stand to read this article.), but the idea that the Vita is starving for content is simply a falsehood. I would like to back the falsehood statement with some games that prove that the Vita does, in fact, carry a rather robust library of software.

Persona 4 Golden

The highest-rated Vita game on game review aggregate sites, Persona 4 Gold is a port of the PlayStation 2 classic. Players mix, match, and use the titular persona characters (of which there are 150 varieties) in battle as they traverse dungeons and towns and progress through an engaging story. The addition of two new characters, hundreds of lines of fresh dialogue, and high-definition visuals make for a port that is definitely worthy of adding to one's Vita collection.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Nathan Drake returns in this prequel to the PlayStation 3 Uncharted trilogy. While the lack of any form of multiplayer hurts the title some, the single player of Golden Abyss has been expanded with new locales, set pieces, and characters to get to know and like. The use of Vita system features like the touch screen controls make for a novel approach to gameplay. Sony Bend has done a splendid job bringing yet another one of Sony's prized first-party properties onto the small screen with Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational 

The goal of the Hot Shots Golf series has always been to provide an accessible golfing experience to players while still keeping the depth of the sport. Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational is no different in this department. The sixth mainline game in the franchise, World Invitational offers tons of replay value with its single player, challenges that unlock new balls, clubs, and costumes, and online multiplayer tournaments that help you test your golfing prowess against the world. An incredibly capable addition to the Hot Shots Golf series, World Invitational's new MSRP makes it quite a steal.

WipEout 2048

Another game meant to serve as a prequel, WipEout 2048 (2048 being the year the game takes place in) brings the fast-paced and intense racing game to the PlayStation Vita, and uses many of its features such as tilt, touch, and voice controls. WipEout 2048's multiplayer allows eight players to jet through the gorgeous futuristic tracks online, and in some cases, play with PlayStation 3 players via Wipeout HD. In addition to that, there is also cooperative play for missions. There's a ton of challenge and speed with WipEout 2048, and for the racing fan, it is at the top of the mountain on Vita.

Assassin's Creed III: Liberation 

Taking the Assassin's Creed III name and creating a side story for PlayStation Vita owners, Assassin's Creed III: Liberation stars, for the first time in franchise history, a female protagonist. If you have been worrying about the Assassin's Creed experience not being transported well to a portable, rest easy-- you'll be doing all the same running on rooftops, stealthily stabbing enemies, and earning chain kills, just like Liberation's bigger, more popular brother. What Vita owners get is yet another title to add to the list of worthy games to the Vita library.

Gravity Rush

Formerly a PS3 project before its development was shifted over to the Vita, Gravity Rush is quite unlike any other game out there, much less for the Vita. One of the obvious primary mechanics of the game is the ability to control gravity-- walk on walls, send the heroine Kat careening into enemies, and other fascinating feats. The RPG elements add another dimension to the game, with such concepts as leveling up and optional bosses. Gravity Rush isn't a perfect game, but its positives far outweigh any faults it possesses.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

Speaking of Kat, how about we go to a game that will feature character in DLC form? PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is one of the first of many "YOPO" games. This acronym stands for "You Only Pay Once." However, it only works if you buy the PlayStation 3 version. (Thanks to Ken S. for that clarification!) Both versions have cross-play, so PS3 owners can duke it out with Vita owners, and vice versa. No matter which popular PlayStation character you choose-- whether it be Kratos, Sackboy, Nathan Drake, Ratchet, or whoever else-- you're bound to have one heck of a party.

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita

My favorite new IP of the past generation hits the Vita, containing all new story levels and content. With the front and rear touch screens on the PlayStation Vita, level creation, a profusely popular feature of the franchise, has become less troublesome and much more streamlined. While you can't import levels from the console versions of LittleBigPlanet to the Vita version, already there is an immense catalog of impressive levels by some creative level creators. If you need a game that will boost your own level of creativity, look no further than LittleBigPlanet PS Vita.

New Little King's Story

While this game is only available via download in North America, New Little King's Story is still a great game. It is essentially a remake of the Wii cult classic, Little King's Story, only given enhanced features. One such feature are the improved visuals, showcasing a less childlike look. As your little king, you try to conquer neighboring kingdoms, gathering resources, hiring citizens to battle alongside you as you vanquish bosses and baddies, and expand your own kingdom. If you can stand the quirky gameplay, New Little King's Story brings enough that is new to the table that makes it a worthwhile Vita title.

Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz

It seemed perplexing how Sega could continue to mess up a winning formula with several poor Super Monkey Ball games, such as Banana Blitz (not to be confused with the game I'll be talking about, Banana Splitz), Step & Roll, and Super Monkey Ball 3D. Well, now it seems like Sega and the Super Monkey Ball series has got its groove back with Banana Splitz, a Vita exclusive. The traditional rolling Aiai and friends through progressively more difficult and twisted courses, trying not to fall off as you go for the goal, is present and accounted for. It's a welcomed return to form, for sure!

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While the PlayStation Vita is not overflowing with quality games, it does have several serviceable and outstanding games in its library. These are just ten of such titles, and there are many more I neglected to mention. Hopefully this list will make some of you out there who are eager to claim a specific system lacks quality games quiet down. Oh, heck. Who am I kidding? Gamers will be gamers...