Now that the PSP has been discontinued in Japan – its best market by far – it’s only a matter of time until the struggling handheld gets the boot in North America and the PAL regions.
That being said, the PSP was one of the most underrated portable consoles released to date. Let’s look back at a few of the excellent titles to be released exclusively for the PSP (in no particular order).
Valkyria Chronicles 2
It was a huge disappointment when Sega decided that the sequel to the PS3’s excellent tactical RPG Valkyria Chronicles would be developed for the PSP. Whether or not the PSP was the best platform for this game is irrelevant, however, as it turned out to still be one of the best games released for the PSP.
Featuring difficult and complex tactical combat blending turn-based strategy and real-time third-person action, Valkyria Chronicles also included another incredible soundtrack from Hitoshi Sakimoto and a great narrative. Keeping with the tradition of the previous title, Valkyria Chronicles 2’s cast of characters carried the game to excellence along with its deep RPG system and incredible gameplay that lasted for hours.
Along with a third title that hasn’t (yet) made it to English, Valkyria Chronicles 2 was a PSP exclusive that made getting the system worthwhile. With something for JRPG and strategy fans alike, this was a game not to miss. You can still download it from the PSN and play it on the Vita, and if you haven’t had a chance I highly recommend giving it a shot.
Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time
It might be a tad controversial to include this game in this list, but it must be remembered that the PSP was home to some of the best RPGs of its generation. The Growlanser series which started on the PS2 was almost entirely adapted to the PSP, but Wayfarer of Time made its translation into English at this time.
Growlanser has always departed from the traditional JRPG norms, most notably in its combat system. Featuring a unique tactical system, battles took place in real time with the player issuing orders to each party member and then letting the battle play out, giving new orders once actions had been completed. It was a fast-paced yet deeply strategic system, addicting and challenging.
The most recent title in the series to be localized in English, Wayfarer of Time was admittedly not as good as its predecessors from the PS2 (Generations of War and Trials of Darkness), but it was still a very good JRPG with hours of gameplay, tons of dynamic characters, and multiple endings worth playing for.
Final Fantasy Dissidia
Released during the time when Square Enix still had its head firmly planted up its own ass, this fighting game spinoff of the entire Final Fantasy universe was a perfect adaptation for the franchise into an action-fighting game. Instead of the PS3, it was developed for the new handheld.
Set in an alternate universe where Order and Chaos are continuously in opposition, the villains and heroes of every Final Fantasy game from I to XIII were drafted to the appropriate sides to bring an end to the conflict. With a fairly decent story for each character to boot, Dissidia’s hallmark was its superb combat system – and the ability to duke it out in grudge matches across games.
This game also might not belong on this list as its very likely it would have been even more successful had it been given a budget and a platform more appropriate to a game with the potential to take on Super Smash Bros in the arena fighting game market. Yet on the PSP it lived and died, and so Final Fantasy Dissidia will be remembered as the handheld’s little gem, an awesome fighting game and the only place where you could beat Tidus to a mushy pulp with almost every main character from every game.
Jeanne d’Arc
If you’re thinking there might be a pattern to this list, you’re probably right. The PSP was a great platform for strategy and regular RPGs, and developers delivered. Jeanne d’Arc stands out as one of the better examples of the genre.
Loosely based on the historical story of Joan of Arc, the player takes control of the legendary historical figure as she battles her way across France for the common man and woman against the vicious forces of King Francis as well as zombies. Read: “loosely” based.
It’s a good thing, then, that the game is so good. With traditional tactical RPG combat with the usual unique twists that set apart the greats, Jeanne d’Arc is challenging and fun with a lengthy campaign featuring Jeanne, her partner Gilles de Rais, and a solid character-driven narrative.
Persona 3 Portable
Despite being a port from the PS2, Persona 3 FES gets to call itself a PSP exclusive because of the vast amount of content it added to the original. Also because it’s one of the best examples of a JRPG this side of the Pacific.
With the gameplay completely reworked and the addition of the option to play as a female, the PSP edition of Persona 3 can fairly be called vastly superior to their original renditions.
The player takes control of the protagonist, a relatively “blank slate” character who finds himself (or herself) the recipient of a great power and the chance to affect the fate of an entire city and the world. With a stellar cast of characters, supremely well-written narrative, and fiercely addicting combat systems Persona was an easy choice for a PSP port.
Got any other examples of great PSP exclusives? Share ’em in the comments!
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