Top 7 PSP Launch Games That Revolutionized Gaming

Summary

PSP launched in Japan in Dec 2004, and in North America in March 2005, making a mark with good launch games.
Launch games like Ape Escape and Wipeout Pure showcased the potential of the PSP’s capabilities.
Unique games like Metal Gear Acid and Lumines: Puzzle Fusion offered diverse experiences on the portable console.

Back in the day, as a hardcore gamer, I eagerly anticipated the moment when I could finally get my grubby little hands on Sony’s first portable gaming machine – the PSP. It made its grand debut in Japan in December of 2004, and come March 24, 2005, North American gamers like myself were able to join the party. However, unlike the original PlayStation 1 that swept the globe, the PSP didn’t quite achieve the same level of global stardom.

Near the DS, the numbers seem insignificant, yet it managed a successful run due to its popularity in Japan. Beyond Japan, there were quality titles as well, with the initial releases being among them. However, do these launch games still stand up for the PSP? Let’s explore and evaluate them based on their past and current worth.

7. Untold Legends: Brotherhood Of The Blade

A Decent Hack-And-Slash Dungeon Crawler

The game Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade marked the commencement of the Untold Legends series, spawning a single sequel on PSP and an adaptation for PS3. This action-RPG bore resemblance to Diablo, offering multiplayer functionality as well.

Although the class and treasure systems weren’t as captivating as the current Diablo spin-offs, Untold Legends was a satisfactory hack-and-slash game that offered enjoyable adventures without being bogged down by a complex narrative. Remastered versions of these games were never released, but a compilation might rekindle interest among fans today.

6. Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower

Universal’s Monsters Are Here To Fight

Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower can be seen as a reimagined version rather than a compilation of all the games within the series. It’s essentially a remastered version, originating from a Japan-exclusive Dreamcast game that served as a tribute to dedicated fans. Capcom leveraged their street fight success and introduced a battle arena where movie monsters like vampires, mummies, and numerous other night creatures engage in fights within the Darkstalkers universe.

The franchise known as Darkstalkers didn’t produce a lot of sequels, but the games that were created made a deep impact on fans. Today, the main games have been updated and re-released in several Capcom collections, making it less necessary to revisit Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower. However, during the PSP era, it was an enjoyable experience.

5. Dynasty Warriors

Every Launch Needs A Musou

Developer: Omega Force
Publisher: Koei
Released: March 17, 2005 (NA)
Platform: PSP

Since the release of Dynasty Warriors 2 on the PS2, the series has launched on almost every console on its debut day. Similar to Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower, this game can be seen as a reinterpretation of previous installments in the franchise. Unlike the console versions, the missions were smaller but there was still a wide variety of characters to choose from.

Even though the gameplay of Dynasty Warriors could lean towards the repetitive at times, it was nothing short of awe-inspiring to immerse myself in such an experience on the PSP. As a die-hard fan, I found that Dynasty Warriors didn’t bring anything new to the table compared to its series counterparts, but it delivered exactly what fans of the Musou genre were craving for and even exceeded expectations.

4. Ape Escape: On The Loose

A Remake That’s Bananas

Ape Escape: On the Loose is a revamped version of the original PlayStation 1 game, featuring numerous improvements to enhance playability. The core storyline revolved around a young boy assisting a professor in capturing mischievous monkeys using an assortment of devices. Despite the PSP lacking a joystick, the overall camera control in this title was significantly improved.

Experimenting with different weapons while chasing monkeys offered an enjoyable experience, and there was also a visual upgrade that showcased its beauty on Sony’s handheld device. Both editions have unique appeals, but it’s worth exploring the enhanced version of Ape Escape: On the Loose if you can. Notably, this version runs smoothly on the PS5.

3. Wipeout Pure

Futuristic Racing At Its Purest

In every successful system debut, there are several racing games, and among the best was Wipeout Pure. This futuristic racer stood out more as a rival to Nintendo’s F-Zero series rather than arcade racers like Ridge Racer or Need for Speed. With numerous tracks and vehicles to conquer, Wipeout Pure offered players exhilarating rides on intricately designed routes.

On even the smallest screens, it was captivating to take a seat in the cockpit of a daring pilot cruising through a futuristic race track. Although multiple games from this series have been upgraded and some tracks from Wipeout Pure have made appearances in follow-up games, this specific game has not yet received a complete remastering on its own.

2. Lumines: Puzzle Fusion

Move To The Tetris Grove

In the initial advertisements of the PSP, particularly in Japan, Sony aimed to make their portable gaming device a versatile hub, catering to all forms of media such as games, movies, or music. The game Lumines: Puzzle Fusion effectively merged the gaming and audio mediums, providing users with an incentive to buy earphones for the system.

In essence, Lumines: Puzzle Fusion was a Tetris-style block puzzle game, but what truly set it apart was its exceptional soundtrack. This musical aspect is often recalled more than the gameplay, which was solid for a puzzle game. The captivating soundtrack sparked follow-up games and remasters, ensuring that Lumines has maintained a significant presence in the realm of puzzle video games.

1. Metal Gear Acid

Tactical Card Game Action

In a slightly different world from the usual Metal Gear series, “Metal Gear Acid” stands out as an unusual title. Although Solid Snake has supposedly retired, he is reluctantly drawn back into service for what appears to be another action-packed “One Last Job,” this time to rescue The President.

Rather than secretly navigating a base with direct controls, players manage Snake’s movements and battles using a deck of cards. This fusion of stealth gameplay and tactical RPG mechanics created an engrossing system that was hard to step away from. The sequel enhanced this experience, but the original game didn’t progress beyond its launch phase, and neither spinoff has been remastered in subsequent years.

2025-02-12 08:35