Summary
Sony’s first foray into the exclusive and illustriousrealm of handheldsin early 2005 was not without its hiccups. The system’s lack of a right analog stick is chief among them. With fewer options for controls on a far less powerful unit, developers had to become creative when bringing a console experience down to size.
While some games were able to make the jump with very little changes to the core game as possible, most ports had to lose more than a few core features, modes, or even their entire story. Yet, it was done. And on a fair number of occasions, it was done with flying colors.
1Def Jam Fight For NY: The Takeover
Metascore: 79
To sayDef Jam Fight For NY: The Takeoveris a stripped-back version of the game’s console edition would be an understatement. Among other things, 4v4 brawls are no more, with fights being limited to 1v1s. The story is also given to players via text messages instead of cutscenes.
However, fans of theDef Jamseries need not fret, as it still features the same brutalstreet-fighting beatdownswith the same roster of rappers as playable characters. There have also been some combat changes, with fighters able to rough up a downed opponent.
The PSP saw some seriously excellent hack-and-slash games gracing its screen. The port ofDante’s Inferno, for example, made a pretty impressive appearance on the handheld, managing to boil down the PS3 version with minimal losses.
Those losses are barely noticeable anyway, as players get everything else the console version did. From a serviceable story that follows Dante’s journey through thenine circles of Hellto save his beau Beatrice’s soul, to the game’s great, gory combat.
Star Wars Battlefront 2allows players to be transported into the various battles featured in theStar Warsfranchise as soldiers varying in rank and class. Gameplay includes ground combat, dog fights, and the opportunity to take control of the various named heroes andvillains from the series.
Battlefront 2was given the PSP treatment, nixing the campaign in favor of some challenge modes. This version also leaves behind some maps, which is definitely a tough sacrifice for some superfans. Regardless, it’s a great option for taking these grand-scale battles on the go.
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remixcame out about six months after its console counterpart, with that time allowing for the port to develop a bit of its own identity. However, the premise of aworldwide skating tournamentbetween two teams still stuck around.
What helpsTHUG 2stick the landing on PSP are its four exclusive levels: Santa Cruz, Atlanta, Kyoto, and Las Vegas, all accompanied by some new cutscenes. Skating onto the scene as well are some exclusive playable characters, including aPower Rangersstand-in, Voltraman.
The Warriorsmovie was released back in 1979, so it was already a welcome surprise when the game was originally released on the PS2 a quarter of a century later. It was even more surprising, then, that the game’s solid, beat-em-up action was ported to the PSP two years later.
The story goes that after a park-bound meeting ends in murder, The Warriors find themselves fighting their way through the NYC boroughs on their way back to their hideout. By the romp’s end, players will be wishing that the gang wouldcome out to playagain.
InMarvel’s Ultimate Alliance, players choose groups of four heroes to take on various missions, getting different bonuses by putting together comic-accurate teams. The PSP port of the game includes the original roster of heroes, along with some exclusive ones.
The series has always been a celebration of Marvel’s storied history, and in the PSP’s case, puts the power of dozens of different heroes in the palm of fans' hands. As the first game in the series though,Marvel’s Ultimate Alliancewrote the script, and it sure is a fun one.
Tekkenhas gone down in history as one of the most recognizable fighting games there is, and for good reason. This 3D juggernaut of a series nearly perfected the formula for the subgenre, confirming its dominance in the space with theTekken 6’s port on the PSP.
Unfortunately, the game’s campaign, which sees Lars Alexandersson on a quest to defeat Jin Kazama, is absent in this version. Otherwise, the port’s great graphical fidelity, as well as the sizeof its roster, makes it a must-play forTekkenand fighting game fans alike.
8Midnight Club: L.A. Remix
A lot was changed to allow the PSP to handleMidnight Club: L.A. Remix. The LA map is downsized, and the car roster is split between its two settings, Los Angeles and Tokyo. The PSP version of the game also couldn’t provide the same robust vehicle customization and detailed environments that a console could.
Luckily, much of the heart-pounding gameplay aspects that made this new era ofMidnight Clubgreat are present here. From the open world to police chases,Midnight Club: L.A. Remixis still the edgy street-racing simulator that the series had established up until this point.
9The Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Skytells an engaging story of a pair of siblings getting caught up in some political intrigueand governmental destabilization. Plot twists abound and the trademark mature themes of this game were carried through to the other critically applauded entries of the series.
TheTrailsgames are known by enthusiasts as one of the most underrated modern RPG series there is. AndTheLegend of Heroes: Trails in the Skyis where it all began. The game was ported from PC to the PSP in Japan in 2006 before making its debut in North America nearly five years later.
InStar Wars: The Force Unleashed, players take a ride on the dark side by taking control of, arguably, the most powerful and brutal ofStar Warscharacters, Starkiller. Darth Vader’s apprentice is on a mission in this game to eradicate the remaining Jedi during the Galactic Empire’s reign.
The PSP port was derived from the PS2 and Wii versions of the game, with their differing missions, general story structure, and multiplayer. Something exclusive to the handheld version, though, is the cool “Historic Missions” allowing players to relive iconic battles from the movies.
