PSP Game Help

[Decker]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a good PSP game, I prefer RPG's and strategy games but I'll take a look at any suggestions. The only one I currently own is the Silent Hill Origins game. So far I have my eyes on Jeanne d'Arc and Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions. If anyone has any other suggestions I'd appreciate them

[Fragony]

Valkyre is really good, I also recommend the Metal Gear Acid games, Metal Gear card battle wth? But funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[Kekvit Irae]

Metal Gear Acid 2 and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops are good choices.

Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles is also a great buy. It's the remake of Bloodlines, and has both the original Bloodlines and Symphony of the Night as unlockables. Yes, that's right. Symphony of the Night. The full game.

LittleBigPlanet just came out last month, but I haven't seen how it fairs with the PS3 version.

If you're more of an RPG fan, Persona 3 is now on the PSP as well.

[Decker]

Well I'll check out the Metal Gear Solid games since both of you mention them.

@Kekvit Irae - Never played Castlevania. What makes it a good game?
I'll check out Persona 3.

Oh and I've been seeing a lot of people mention the Monster Hunter series. Does anyone have an opinion on this series?

[Whacker]

FF Tactics is a well made "port" of the original, plus some new classes and goodies. Totally recommend it if you like tactics-type RPGs.

Jeanne d'Arc is good for one play-through, that's honestly it IMO. They could have done much more with the game, but they sadly didn't. Still, it's good for one shot though.

[Xiahou]

I'll check out Persona 3.

I'm pretty sure that's a remake of the first Persona on the PSP, not Persona 3. But if you have a PS2, do check out Persona3- it's a very good game....

Oh and I've been seeing a lot of people mention the Monster Hunter series. Does anyone have an opinion on this series?

I played Monster Hunter Freedom Unite for a little bit on the PSP. I thought the game itself looks like it had some good potential, but I just couldn't seem to get into it... It just felt like it didnt fit the PSP for some reason. Maybe when Monster Hunter 3 comes out on the Wii I'll take another look.

[Kekvit Irae]

@Kekvit Irae - Never played Castlevania. What makes it a good game?

It's pretty much old school NES/SNES/Genesis platforming at its best.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night breaks the tradition and turns it from a linear path into a dungeon/castle crawl, using the old Metroid scheme of controls instead of the hard-as-hell controls of old Castlevania games.
Both games within will entertain you for several hours at the very least. SotN clocks in at almost 12 hours average for me.

[Decker]

It's pretty much old school NES/SNES/Genesis platforming at its best.
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night breaks the tradition and turns it from a linear path into a dungeon/castle crawl, using the old Metroid scheme of controls instead of the hard-as-hell controls of old Castlevania games.
Both games within will entertain you for several hours at the very least. SotN clocks in at almost 12 hours average for me.

Yeah I hear a lot about that game (the first ones anyways). Also, on another forum where I'm asking the same question. A member there is pestering me with what kind of PSP do I have. Which leads me to ask what versions are there and are they really that important?

[frogbeastegg]

A member there is pestering me with what kind of PSP do I have. Which leads me to ask what versions are there and are they really that important?

There are a lot of things you can do if you hack your PSP, most of them technically or definitely illegal. Newer models are harder to hack.

Or he could be a status fiend, and want to tell you doom and gloom about how bad the screen on the 2000 is, or how chunky the 1000 is, or how flimsy the 3000 is, or how lame the Go is, or ...

[Decker]

There are a lot of things you can do if you hack your PSP, most of them technically or definitely illegal. Newer models are harder to hack.

Lol well I don't plan on doing any of those.... mainly because I don't have anything considered technical know how

Or he could be a status fiend, and want to tell you doom and gloom about how bad the screen on the 2000 is, or how chunky the 1000 is, or how flimsy the 3000 is, or how lame the Go is, or ...

Lol whatever. I could care less. You have any suggestions for a game(s)?

[frogbeastegg]

You have any suggestions for a game(s)?

Plenty.

Of those already mentioned:

Jeanne d'Arc is a very good game if you can live with the game taking away your characters and forcing others into your party on some missions. Other than that, it's all good. The game has a real "Oh my gosh!" twist in the middle too.

Monster Hunter is a massive game that requires dedication. You need to be prepared to lose many times before you triumph, to work hard, to acquire skill and understanding, to utilise your many options, and to give it tens upon tens of hours. The controls are awkward, the difficulty is unforgiving at best, the wide array of options is confusing ... and if you make it past the steep learning curve you'll be playing for hundreds of hours. It's a very good game provided you have the time and don't mind the beatings. I'd love to see it on a the PS3 or 360.

Persona 1 remake is a good one if you like quite challenging JRPGs; it's got an unusual theme and setting too. It's quite a different game to Persona 3/4 so be warned not to expect something identical. Persona 3's port is not out in the west yet.

Final Fantasy Tactics doesn't need much more said about it. It's a classy port of a classic game, one of the best of the Japanese style strategy RPG sub-genre. Shows its age in a few small places though.

Valkyrie Profile is the game Fragony mentions. It's rather an unusual JRPG, and it's quite the depressing game. I mean that in a good way; you spend your time locating heroes, watching them die, and then recruiting them for the great battle that is to take place in Asgard.

Other titles:
Disgaea 1/2. Turn based squad action strategy with insanity and humour. You can play the campaign straight through in 30 hours, or get into the levelling metagame and play for several hundred while you pump your characters to godhood. Perfect fit for the platform IMO, spot on perfect.

If you like old school - really old school, aka Wizardry style old school - RPGs then Crimson Gem Saga is worth a look, as is Class of Heroes.

General JRPG types worth playing include Star Ocean: The First Departure, Star Ocean: Second Evolution, and Brave Story. Should be easy to find information about any of them so I won't detail unless you ask.

If you like Final Fantasy VII then Crisis Core is pretty much a must, and still worth picking up if you have any interest in a mission style RPG. There's also Final Fantasy: Dissidia, a fighting game based on the series with tonnes of character customisation.

There aren't many RPGs which are not JRPGs, and those that are available have all been mediocre or worse.

Do try to play one of the Locoroco games. They defy description and they're gorgeous, and if you don't find yourself singing the song then you have a heart of stone.

Patapon is another oddball one to look at. Think of using drum beats to command a small squad of scurrying eyeballs on legs armed to the teeth with weapons and you've got the outline.

God of War is a good action game if you are fortunate enough to be able to use the analogue nub, shoulder buttons and face buttons all at the same time without breaking your hands. I can't. Hence I had to quit halfway through; my fingers were trying to dislocate each time I needed to roll away from an incoming attack.

[Fragony]

I can think of a whole lot more awesome titles, psp isnt really that bad, also check out syphon filter and killzone.

[Kekvit Irae]

I wish a Valkyria Chronicles game was going to be released on the PSP.

Oh wait...

[Decker]

wow! Thanks for all the suggestions Frogbeastegg!! Almost pretty much sold me on all of them

Plenty.

Of those already mentioned:

Jeanne d'Arc is a very good game if you can live with the game taking away your characters and forcing others into your party on some missions. Other than that, it's all good. The game has a real "Oh my gosh!" twist in the middle too.

Heh, twists are always nice. Are there any reasons for certain characters disappearing for missions?

Monster Hunter is a massive game that requires dedication. You need to be prepared to lose many times before you triumph, to work hard, to acquire skill and understanding, to utilise your many options, and to give it tens upon tens of hours. The controls are awkward, the difficulty is unforgiving at best, the wide array of options is confusing ... and if you make it past the steep learning curve you'll be playing for hundreds of hours. It's a very good game provided you have the time and don't mind the beatings. I'd love to see it on a the PS3 or 360.

I've heard quite a bit about this game. So it's open ended or is there a set storyline?

Persona 1 remake is a good one if you like quite challenging JRPGs; it's got an unusual theme and setting too. It's quite a different game to Persona 3/4 so be warned not to expect something identical. Persona 3's port is not out in the west yet.

Thanks for the heads up :)

Final Fantasy Tactics doesn't need much more said about it. It's a classy port of a classic game, one of the best of the Japanese style strategy RPG sub-genre. Shows its age in a few small places though.

I hear a lot about this game as well.

Valkyrie Profile is the game Fragony mentions. It's rather an unusual JRPG, and it's quite the depressing game. I mean that in a good way; you spend your time locating heroes, watching them die, and then recruiting them for the great battle that is to take place in Asgard.

Interesting indeed.

Other titles:
Disgaea 1/2. Turn based squad action strategy with insanity and humour. You can play the campaign straight through in 30 hours, or get into the levelling metagame and play for several hundred while you pump your characters to godhood. Perfect fit for the platform IMO, spot on perfect.

Haven't heard anything about it. Will check this out as well.

If you like old school - really old school, aka Wizardry style old school - RPGs then Crimson Gem Saga is worth a look, as is Class of Heroes.

Will give these a look.

General JRPG types worth playing include Star Ocean: The First Departure, Star Ocean: Second Evolution, and Brave Story. Should be easy to find information about any of them so I won't detail unless you ask.

Is there any order that you need to play these games? I've come across them often in stores and was wondering if there was any need to play them in order?

If you like Final Fantasy VII then Crisis Core is pretty much a must, and still worth picking up if you have any interest in a mission style RPG. There's also Final Fantasy: Dissidia, a fighting game based on the series with tonnes of character customisation.

Never really played any of the Final Fantasy games tbh. Not much into fighting games but what does Crisis Core bring to the tables?

There aren't many RPGs which are not JRPGs, and those that are available have all been mediocre or worse.

Eh, not entirely surprising tbh.

Do try to play one of the Locoroco games. They defy description and they're gorgeous, and if you don't find yourself singing the song then you have a heart of stone.

Patapon is another oddball one to look at. Think of using drum beats to command a small squad of scurrying eyeballs on legs armed to the teeth with weapons and you've got the outline.

Never heard of the Locoroco series but have definitely heard of Patapon. Always looked weird imo.

God of War is a good action game if you are fortunate enough to be able to use the analogue nub, shoulder buttons and face buttons all at the same time without breaking your hands. I can't. Hence I had to quit halfway through; my fingers were trying to dislocate each time I needed to roll away from an incoming attack.

I'm not great at that kind of stuff myself

But again, thanks for the suggestions. Will definitely be taking a look at them all!!

I can think of a whole lot more awesome titles, psp isnt really that bad, also check out syphon filter and killzone.

Heh, seems like everyone can around here ;)

[frogbeastegg]

PSP is a good platform hampered by an uncomfortable design and the UMD drive, and by some developers who fail to understand that it is not a mini PS2.

Heh, twists are always nice. Are there any reasons for certain characters disappearing for missions?

Mainly plot related.

I've heard quite a bit about this game. So it's open ended or is there a set storyline?

Plot doesn't play any part at all. You select from a pool of missions, some easier and some harder, and head out into a slowly widening world to hunt, mine, forage or whatever. Some missions are optional, others are required.

Is there any order that you need to play these games? I've come across them often in stores and was wondering if there was any need to play them in order?

Second Evolution is a sequel to First Departure so if you intend to play both then it's best to do it in order. You can play the second without completing the first if you like, you'll just miss out on a bunch of references and collect a few spoilers for the first's plot.

Brave Story is a standalone based on a very popular Japanese novel. It's best described as nice, relaxing, and pretty.

Never really played any of the Final Fantasy games tbh. Not much into fighting games but what does Crisis Core bring to the tables?

Crisis Core is basically an action RPG with a mission based structure. Each mission is very short which suits the platform's portable nature, and can get a bit addictive. Some missions are required, many are side quests. The story is a prequel to FFVII. In terms of visuals and production values it's at the high end of what the PSP offers.

Dissidia is essentially JRPG's character development and equipment system paired with a fighting game. It has character levels, upgradable equipment, and loads to unlock.

[Decker]

So... I ended up getting Final Fantasy Tactics (which is a lot of fun so far), Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (haven't gotten far yet but looks promising), and Disgaea 2 (just purchased this game which I couldn't resist looking at on the shelf, so I bought it so it'd stop annoying me).