Christmas Buyers Guide - PSP

PSP Feature | Our picks for Sony's sleek handheld.

Launched only three months ago, the PlayStation Portable took Australia and the UK by storm... and then there was silence. While not all that much great software has been released for the PSP since launch (especially compared to the recent DS barrage), there's still a bunch of solid, high profile games out there to be enjoyed, as well as a variety of UMD movies for those who enjoy them.

Wipeout Pure

Release Date: Out Now
RRP:$79.95 | Also on: NR
D: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe | P: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
OFLC Rating: G
PALGN REVIEW: 8.5 | BUY NOW: PSP

After a successful trilogy on the PlayStation, Wipeout stumbled a little on its PlayStation 2 debut, and has remained dormant ever since. Fortunately, Sony has seen fit to give the series something of a rebirth for the PSP with Wipeout Pure. The game is exactly that – Wipeout in its purest form, but with better graphics and framerate than we’ve seen before. The game is a little anaemic out of the box, but Sony have released several expansion packs since the game was released, so there’s more tracks and cars than you can shake a stick at.

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Burnout Legends

Release Date: Out Now
RRP:$79.95 | Also on: NDS
D: Criterion | P: EA Games
OFLC Rating: M
PALGN REVIEW: 9.0 | BUY NOW: PSP

We’re pretty big fans of Burnout here at PALGN, so there was much anticipation surrounding the release of Burnout Legends for the PSP back in September. Combining the tracks of the first three games in the series with all of the violent, fender bending action of the third game, Burnout Legends really delivered. Load times can be a bit pesky, and the Crash mode isn’t entirely up to scratch, but Burnout Legends is a nice addition to the PSP’s robust racing library.

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Lumines

Release Date: Out Now
RRP:$79.95 | Also on: NR
D: Q Entertainment | P: Konami
OFLC Rating: G
PALGN REVIEW: 8.5 | BUY NOW: PSP

Tetsuya Mizuguchi is well known for being the driving force behind Sega’s rhythm shooter Rez, but the designer’s first foray outside of the banner of the blue hedgehog has been garnering a lot of praise, especially from early adopters of the PSP. Lumines is a puzzle game that involves connecting falling blocks together to prevent the screen from filling up. Whereas in Tetris you had to form lines of blocks, forming squares is the name of the game in Lumines. By joining up four blocks of the same colour, you can form a large four-squared block, whilst connecting six spawns a larger rectangular shape, and so on. But instead of simply disappearing instantly, the elimination of squares is decided by an ever-scrolling vertical line which passes horizontally across the screen.

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Ridge Racer

Release Date: Out Now
RRP:$79.95 | Also on: NR
D: Namco | P: Namco
OFLC Rating: G
PALGN REVIEW: 8.5 | BUY NOW: PSP

Namco’s Ridge Racer series has been on something of a hiatus after the despicable R: Racing Evolution, which tried to turn the arcade centric series into something of a sim racer, and failing miserably in the process. Ridge Racer for the PSP is a successful attempt to take the series back to its roots – pure arcade racing with plenty of drifting. Some may criticise the game for retaining the easier drifting style of Ridge Racer Type 4, but many will get over this and be able to enjoy one of the best racing games on the PSP.

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Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories

Release Date: December 2nd
RRP:$79.95 | Also on: NR
D: Rockstar Leeds/Rockstar North | P: Rockstar
OFLC Rating: MA15+
PALGN REVIEW: NR | BUY NOW: PSP

The biggest name on consoles comes to the PSP, and not a single thing has been scrapped in the process. Players take control of tough guy Toni Cipiriani, fresh out of jail and ready to kick some Sindacco butt. While something of a step back from San Andreas, Liberty City Stories takes GTA3 and gives it an enema, fixing the load times, improving the graphics, adding a new soundtrack, new vehicles and new areas, as well as offering a plethora of missions that are suited towards a handheld format. If that’s not enough for you, there’s a bunch of multiplayer modes for up to six people.

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Metal Gear Ac!d

Release Date: Out Now
RRP:$79.95 | Also on: NR
D: KCEJ | P: Konami
OFLC Rating: M
PALGN REVIEW: 8.0 | BUY NOW: PSP

Solid Snake is one of the most popular videogame characters around, so it was only a matter of time before he made an appearance on the PlayStation Portable. Mercenaries have overtaken a research facility on the African Lobito Islands, and it’s up to Snake to sort the situation out. Metal Gear Ac!d is not your average Metal Gear game, ditching the regular action game style for a stealthier, card based strategy game. The slower, more strategic nature of the game is not for everyone, but those who stick with it will be rewarded.

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Everybody’s Golf

Release Date: Out Now
RRP:$79.95 | Also on: NR
D: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. | P: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
OFLC Rating: G
PALGN REVIEW: 8.0 | BUY NOW: PSP

Everybody’s Golf for the PlayStation Portable continues the series’ tradition of delivering easily accessible, pick up and play golf games with just enough depth to offer some serious long term value. Challenge mode offers a variety of mini-games and tournaments that should get you through a couple of months worth of train trips, but the ad-hoc and wireless multiplayer should keep you interested just a little longer.