Your Guide To Being A Sony Fanboy
May 30, 2008 ... Written By Chad
New to current-gen Sony platforms?
If you happen to just be getting into the game so to speak with a Sony PSP or a PS3, there are a few games that are worth your attention, and your hard-earned money. Not only that, there are also some applications that you should be aware of on each system. Being a long-time owner of both platforms, I’ve found more than a few reasons to invest in each respective system. Keep in mind however, that these are strictly my opinions, and I’m purposely leaving out games that aren’t exclusive to one of the Sony platforms. The following are exclusive to their console, or vastly better on the Sony console than they are on competing platforms.
PS3
Games to rent
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction – Completely beatable in a rental or two, this is the best-looking platformer I’ve ever seen. Nothing even comes close to how good this game looks. It doesn’t control bad either. In fact, you can even turn off the Six-Axis functions for nearly everything, so that’s just icing on the cake. It seems to have taken a long time for Insomniac to get this series perfected, but this is as close as it’s going to come. If you can find the game cheap enough, it has a good amount of replayablilty through a hard mode that unlocks after you clear the game the first time.
Heavenly Sword – Heavenly Sword is beatable in one sitting if you’re man enough to go through with it. It has incredible production values and a really great art style. The Six-Axis controls and quick-time events can be troublesome at times, but as a whole this is a great game to play though in a weekend. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with the acting and visuals.
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune – I have to admit that I’m basing this only off of the demo, but the game has a feel to it that’s like Tomb Raider, except fun. I don’t think it’s something I’d ever want to buy though.
Games to buy
Ninja Gaiden Sigma – This is the reason I bought a PS3 to begin with. Sure “other” games were going to come out sooner or later, but Ninja Gaiden in HD with a PS3 controller just sealed the deal for me. New weapons, the inclusion of Rachel as a playable character, and the prettiest version of Ninja Gaiden yet, means that if you’re a fan of getting your ass kicked and liking it, this belongs in your collection.
Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection – The PS3 doesn’t really much for fighters. This is an HD port of the PSP game, but it also has online play and a few goodies that the PSP version lacks. The only problem with this game really is that it’s Tekken. If you’ve played a single Tekken, you’ve pretty much played them all. Tekken is your best choice so far for a fighter unless you absolutely love Virtua Fighter. It’s downloadable from the Playstation Store, and is relatively cheap.
Everyday Shooter – Jonathan Mak should get a medal for making this game. Everything about it is pure gold. It’s challenging, fun, stylish, and only $10! You’ll probably replay the game for months as well.
Super Stardust HD – If you had to pick one downloadable game for the PS3, this would be it. I never played the original game, but this one is so good that you don’t have to. I remember one month in particular when this was pretty much the only game I played. Definitely a great game, and well worth your $10. In the land of dual-stick shooters, this game has no equal.
Metal Gear Solid 4: Sons of the Patriots – Although this game isn’t out yet, who isn’t going to buy it? I’m sure I’ll end up with it, as it is supposed to completely reinvent the Metal Gear control scheme. And you can only play it with a PS3.
Hardware features to be aware of
The PS3 is a heck of a media machine. Not only does it play Blu-ray, but with recent firmware updates, you’re now able to upscale older Playstation games and DVDs. You can even watch burned DivX videos on your PS3 without any hassle whatsoever. The online store has also been reworked as of late, so shopping for new games online isn’t nearly as frustrating as it used to be.
PSP
Games that you should rent
Patapon – This game is hit or miss with people. I personally don’t care for it, but others love it to death. It’s very repetitive, but it may strike a key with you. Rent it and find out.
God of War: Chains of Olympus – This is another game that I just couldn’t get into the first time I tried it. However, it’s so short, that you can definitely beat it in a rental. And as is the norm with God of War games, there’s no real reason to replay the game after running through it once. On the new PSP slim, I hear that this game runs noticeably smoother than on the PSP shat counterpart thanks to the doubled RAM in the slim.
Ultimate Ghosts and Goblins – This game offers a challenge that’s so unbelievable, I’m amazed I haven’t hurled my PSP at the wall by now. I spent a good two weeks on this game, and it was a lot of fun, but you have to welcome a challenge to even consider playing this gem. Just remember though, it’s the software’s fault, not the hardware’s.
Loco Roco – Loco Roco may not be the longest game in the world, but it’s extremely enjoyable. In fact, it’s one of those games that you could get non-gamers into. My sister played this thing all the way through in one sitting (she’s a gamer though). I personally took my time with this one, but it was one of the funnest games for the system.
Games that you should buy
Lumines – Notice that this doesn’t say Lumines 2. That’s because Lumines 2 is a joke compared to the original. The music is the main reason you should get this over Lumines 2. The sequel ditched the underground beats for chart toppers that you’ll tire of VERY quickly. Lumines was the only real game (excluding emulators) that I played on my PSP for the first year I had it. In fact, I can still sit down and play it for a good hour or so before the game bests me.
Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X – This may actually be the best version of Mega Man X out there. The remixed music, updated visuals, anime cutscenes widescreen support… all make for a fantastic experience that anyone who has played it would agree with. There is even a full anime episode that explains some of the Mega Man X story and how some of the robots went Maverick. Even though you can beat it in a rental, this one is definitely a purchase.
Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles – At first glance this may seem like an updated version of Castlevania: Dracula X. Although that’s not entirely false, there are two unlockable games in this. And one of them is the best action RPG of all time, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. The other this the original Dracula X, which is also no slouch. You get three great games for one price. If you own a PSP and have any interest in the Castlevania series whatsoever, go to the store now and get this one. The only drawback about this game is that the other games are unlockable. I think they should be unlocked to start with, but Konami apparently feels differently.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – This is the very reason most of the consumers out there bought a PSP to begin with. Just uttering the words “Final Fantasy VII” brings back incredible memories of one of the best games in RPG history. This is the prequel, and dare I say… it actually matches up to the game it’s based on. The main character Zack Fair is much more charismatic than Cloud could ever think about being. Couple that with Sephiroth and another chance to hang out with Aeris, and you’ve got one of my favorite games for the PSP..
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions – Although I played this one in Japanese the second time around (first time though was on the original PSX), the English release is even more cleaned up than the Japanese one was. The cutscenes even have voice acting that was absent from the Japanese version. Everything in the original is included, save for the grammatical errors and terrible FMV cutscenes. This one blows away the original, which is quite a feat. And if the name Orlandu means anything to you, you have no excuse not to own this masterpiece.
Tekken: Dark Resurrection – If you ever want a fighting game fix on the PSP, this is your best choice by far. Any Streetfighter game would have been a better choice in my opinion, but the way the D-pad on the PSP phat is lowered into the system, pulling off many special moves is nearly impossible. On the PSP slim or a hardware-modded PSP phat however, Streetfighter Alpha 3 MAX is also a very good choice.
Silent Hill Origins – This is a game that I haven’t played myself, but I’ve heard so many things about it that it’s hard to ignore. If you’re into the series, this is for you. It has also been made available for the PS2 recently in case you want to play it on a home console.
Echochrome – The PSP is full of a lot of cool puzzle games. This is one that’s more unique than any other that I’ve seen…ever. M.C. Escher would be proud. The game is available on the Playstation Store for $10, which is a steal considering you get over 50 stages, and they really test your mind.
What I can’t recommend for the PSP
Daxter – I just couldn’t get used to the analog nub on the PSP for this game. It’s got carpel tunnel written all over it. That along with the relative darkness of the game made it a strain on my eyes as well as my hands.
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories – The only reason I’m not recommending this game is because GTAIV is much better. Trust me, play that instead. Once you’ve played that, it’s hard to go back to the other versions.
Metal Gear Solid: Portable OPS – This is another game in which the analog nub on the PSP made it nigh-impossible to play the game for me. This is a game that’s highly praised though, so you may want to give it a rent before actually throwing down full-price for the thing.
PSP must-have accessories
Grips for the system itself that allow you to hold it like a PS2 controller. This is a PSP ESSENTIAL! The system is hardly ergonomic, and most of these even have an extra battery pack built-in so you can play on long trips. I always take mine with me when going from America to Japan, or vice-versa.
Logitec carrying case - This’ll keep your PSP nice and safe so you can just throw it in a bag if you’re on the go. It also leaves all of the ports on the PSP open so you can charge it, plus in headphones, and even use the L and R buttons to change tracks if you’re listening to MP3s on it.
Custom Firmware – (WARNING! What you do with this is your responsibility!) A nice man out there by the name of Dark_Alex has made it so that the PSP can emulate other systems, playback videos not supported by official Sony firmware, and dump UMD ISOs onto your memory stick. If you have a PSP phat, there is no reason not to customize your firmware. If you have a PSP slim however, it’s a complicated process that may result in bricking your PSP. Therefore, you may want to leave it to a pro.
Screen Protectors – If you just bought a new PSP, these things will save your gorgeous screen from being carved to death by god-knows-what. I was without one for the first two or so years I had my PSP phat, and I beat it up pretty badly. Now that I own a PSP slim, it was a first-day purchase.
That about wraps it up for those of you who are new to the Sony current-gen hardware world. Hopefully this has helped you make some good purchases, and avoid some bad ones.