The 31 Best PSP Games

17. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite


The best way we can describe Monster Hunter to the uninitiated is by thinking of it as a grittier, more Lord of the Rings-influenced take on the world of Pokemon. Oddly enough, the game's publisher Capcom proudly boasts that the Monster Hunter series is actually even more monstrously popular than Pokemon is in Japan. The latest installment in the beast busting series is a completely revamped version of Monster Hunter Freedom 2, loaded with new missions, monsters, weapons, and armor with some gameplay tweaks also sprinkled in there for good measure, which makes Freedom Unite the ultimate version of Monster Hunter.



16. Rock Band Unplugged


Similarly to how PSP ports of graphically advanced console video games like God of War and Resistance can leave one skeptical, we didn't know how the hell Rock Band would work on a handheld but for reasons other than graphics (let's face it: Rock Band/Guitar Hero games' visuals aren't all that awe-inspiring). How exactly do you play drums, guitar, not to mention sing on a PSP? Thankfully no miniaturized instruments accompanied the PSP-exclusive version of Rock Band, which took a more Amplitude and Frequency approach to creating music in the game where the player rocks out solo by taking up each instrument individually, cycling through them (with the exception of singing). Now, if only they'd bust out a DS version of Rock Band so we could have vocals in a handheld Rock Band game due to the platforms built-in microphone.



15. Star Ocean: Second Evolution


Released early this year, Star Ocean: Second Evolution is an enhanced remake of the PlayStation-era classic RPG Star Ocean: The Second Story. If you like console role-playing games and have never picked up any of the games in the Star Ocean series, you owe it to yourself to check it out and there's no better game to take for a test spin than Second Evolution, which is crammed with delicious new goodies like additional playable characters, scenarios, artwork, and best of all, new animated cutscenes. It may not be as well known as Final Fantasy or even Dragons Quest in the realm of RPGs, but Star Ocean isn't any less of a franchise.



14. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions


It always comes as somewhat of a surprise just how many gamers missed out on the original Final Fantasy Tactics on PlayStation. Oddly enough, Tactics shared little with the RPG behemoth aside from "Final Fantasy" being in its title. Some of the series' traditional spells and creatures like its mountable overgrown chickens are featured in Tactics, but other than those things it has a completely unique feel to it, from its epic score, to its rich water-color-like environments and art-style, to its heavy emphasis on strategy. The PSP-exclusive Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is a revamped version of the PS1 classic game and proof that the game hasn't aged much since its initial release.



13. Daxter


Taking place during the events of Naughty Dog's first sequel, Jak II on PlayStation 2, the PSP-exclusive Daxter allows you to play as Jak's small sidekick and weasel/otter mixbreed, Daxter. Aside from switching up the series' protagonist, the game also plays with some interesting ideas such as having you hired by an old man named Osmo as an exterminator and eventually having to figure out a way to save your humanoid friend and partnet Jak who's been imprisoned by Krimzon Guards. The bottom line is that, while the game does introduce some new forms of gameplay and a new main character, it's still Jak & Daxter at heart and shouldn't be missed by fans of the series.



12. Final Fantasy VII


While no frills or enhancements whatsoever were made to the PSP/PS3 version of Square's role-playing magnum opus, why fix what ain't broken? Last month, Final Fantasy VII was made available on the PlayStation Store for the affordable price of only $9.99! There's really no better excuse to replay what many consider to be not only the greatest Final Fantasy game, but one of the best RPGS ever created (many of the GamePro editors are also guilty of playing through FFVII several times). And if Square finally gave us that full-blown PS3 remake of Final Fantasy VII, all our nerd desires will be satisfied.



11. Metal Gear Solid


Finally, gamers have the ability to take one of the most riveting action titles of all time with them wherever they go. That's right, if you haven't heard, Metal Gear Solid is now available for the Sony PSP as a download, and like Final Fantasy VII, another game no PSP owner should go without, it can be purchased for the extremely reasonable price of $9.99. We hate to sound like an official Konami press release, but there's really no reason not to own the original, and arguably the best, Metal Gear Solid game for the PSP. It may lack MGS4: Guns of the Patriots' mind-blowing graphics, but its compelling story and unforgettable boss fights are just too good to pass up.... even if you've played the game before.



10. Resistance: Retribution


When Sony's sci-fi World War II shooter was first announced for the PSP it was hard to fathom much of the franchise's luster and substance being sustained since it was being brought to a handheld. Boy, were we wrong. Not only did Resistance's white hot intensity, combat, and inspired cast of gruesome extraterrestrials translate well to Sony's handheld, it actually took the franchise in a fresh new direction by a new implementing third-person perspective . We don't think we're the only ones who said to ourselves, "damn this looks great for a PSP game" the first time we fired Resistance: Retribution up. Sony even somehow managed to pull off decent multiplayer support (a key draw of Retribution's PS3 counterparts, Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2) with eight player matches that run as smooth as butter.

Comments [43]

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blackcinderella42

Good list now Sony Haters will see that the PSP is powerful,and have awesome games too.I'LL BUY MOST OF THIS GAMES TO ENCHANCED MY PSP LIBRARY,THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!!!

mdogcamel

I own every game on this list except Tokobot, Silphon Filter, and Castlevania. This is a very solid list, but I think that Star Wars Battle front Renegade belongs on the list with 16 player online that actually works. A side note to "franthewaffleman", if you have never played Loco Roco, you need to. It only got a 3.00 because its short and the graphics aren't exactly wonderful, but it is the most fun you can have on PSP in 5 minutes. Just pick it up, play a level and put it down, its like a giant mini game. Try it and you will understand. But I do agree with Chains of Olympus being on top, it seems like a PS2 game on PSP. However, I think that Crisis Core deserves a few slots higher as the game was simply amazing, and a HUGE rpg for PSP.

zeroyasha13

now that i think of it the psp 2000 (the newer slimmer one) is basiclly the PSP 2... i need one!

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