PlayStation’s 30th Anniversary: The Best PlayStation Vita Games

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As someone who grew up with gaming consoles ranging from the humble Game Boy Advance to the mighty PlayStation 4, I must admit that the PlayStation Vita holds a special place in my heart. It was during those formative years, when I was just discovering the world of gaming beyond the confines of my childhood home, that the Vita arrived with its promise of portable entertainment.

Moving on to the less fortunate member of the PlayStation clan, we find ourselves discussing the PlayStation Vita. This portable gaming device showed great promise, even hinting at matching the triumphs of its predecessor, the PlayStation Portable. However, Sony made a significant error by heavily betting on one outcome. They aimed to replicate the PSP’s success, but unfortunately, it came at a time when major competitors, like the Nintendo 3DS, were already firmly established in the market.

Too bad that the Vita came with some groundbreaking and distinctive characteristics. Its touch controls were exceptionally user-friendly considering the era, while the swirling app orbs on its home screen gave it a delightfully quirky appeal.

Although it didn’t reach the same level of success as the PSP, the Vita nonetheless offered unique games that made a significant impact.

Here are my picks for the best PlayStation Vita games of all time:

Tearaway

Initially showcasing the potential of the PlayStation Vita was a charming puzzle-platformer, crafted by Media Molecule – known for popular games like LittleBigPlanet and the innovative Dreams, which allow for user-created content.

Moving on from our history, Tearaway brilliantly utilized the unique capabilities of the PlayStation Vita. It took immersion and interactivity to unprecedented heights. Beyond its user-friendly touch controls, I was amazed to find that it allowed me to use the PS Vita’s camera for snapping photos and gathering items.

Without a doubt, the title was delightfully unique, carrying the distinctive style of Media Molecule. Just like the LittleBigPlanet series, it was a game crafted with both children and the youthful in spirit in mind, making it an entertaining choice for all ages.

I’m thrilled that even though the PS Vita store has shut down, Media Molecule still managed to release an updated version of Tearaway for contemporary gaming platforms. It’s a testament to their dedication and commitment to bringing great games to fans like me!

Gravity Rush

Among the underestimated treasures of PlayStation, Gravity Rush stood out as exceptional, being unique in its category. Its innovative gameplay relied on the gyroscopic controls of the PlayStation Vita, enabling players to adjust the camera angle for manipulating gravity and guiding Kat’s movements.

Yet, this invention presented both advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, it was revolutionary for its period; on the other, its implementation sometimes felt awkward. At times, Kat’s actions didn’t align with expectations, leading to unpredictable movements. Consequently, I found myself resorting to using the joysticks more frequently.

Despite its early 2010s quirks, the camera control issues didn’t stop Gravity Rush from becoming a sleeper hit. I loved it, other players loved it, and critics appreciated the game’s atmospheric charm. This success led Japan Studio to remaster the original game for modern consoles, followed by a fantastic sequel.

Here’s hoping for a third installment in the future.

Persona 4: Golden

For eight long years, Persona 4: Golden was exclusively available on the PS Vita, a console that later faded into obscurity. It’s hard to believe such a renowned JRPG as Persona 4: Golden was once restricted to this seemingly forgotten platform by Sony.

In my case, Persona 4: Golden served as my introduction to ATLUS’s expansive storytelling. During my PlayStation 2 era, FES didn’t catch my attention, but with Golden, I was excited to delve into the additional content and encounter fresh fictional characters—my favorite aspect of any Persona game.

On my second trip back to quaint Inaba, it felt like seeing an old friend from a new angle (thanks to the HD enhancement). The expanded narrative of Marie and additional enhancements to daily life gave me over 30 additional hours of enjoyment. With no cause for complaint, I was more than pleased to catch up with my fictitious companions and dive into televisions in search of a serial killer once more.

Dragon’s Crown

Playing Dragon’s Crown revived the excitement surrounding arcade brawler games. If you’ve appreciated the Streets of Rage series or other timeless brawlers, Dragon’s Crown brings something new to the table – its four-player cooperative mode, which makes playing with friends an unforgettable experience.

Back in the day, Vanillaware’s character designs were nothing short of captivating, to say the least. It’s mind-blowing how these characters manage to pull off such fluid, daring moves while sporting those eye-catching outfits!

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but tip my hat to Vanillaware for being the undisputed masters of experimental Role-Playing Games (RPGs). They don’t seem to be bound by the shackles of one genre, which is why their games have consistently impressed me. There’s never been a moment where I doubted their genius. Among all their exceptional titles, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim stands out as my absolute favorite.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Upon the release of the PlayStation Vita, it was only fitting that Sony added a game featuring a well-known franchise character. Regrettably, Kratos from God of War wasn’t among them, but Nathan Drake from Uncharted was – continuing his usual trend of dispatching enemies without any consequences.

The game “Golden Abyss” offered a compact version of the Uncharted series. Although it didn’t achieve the graphical excellence of “Uncharted 2” or “3”, it maintained the distinctive action-adventure feel of the franchise. I was impressed by how it leveraged the PS Vita’s unique hardware capabilities, including gyro and touch controls.

Watching a game similar to Uncharted transformed for such a compact screen was genuinely remarkable. The PS Vita, despite its constraints, managed to preserve that signature cinematic Uncharted atmosphere. Although the writing didn’t quite live up to the quality of the primary series games, the technical feat of developing a portable Uncharted game made it a deserving addition to the collection.

Among all these games, only Golden Abyss has yet to receive an update or re-release. A tiny part of me still dreams that one day we might witness its return on a large screen.

Although the impact of the PS Vita was not particularly strong, it played a significant role in introducing newcomers to popular game franchises that continue to be enjoyed today.

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2024-12-12 01:12