Dozens of Japanese gamers can’t be wrong.
While it didn’t exactly ignite a firestorm of sales upon release in Japan last December, Sony’s “next generation portable” is finally available in the States this week in the form of a $350 First Edition Bundle. The PlayStation Vita promises a closer-to-console experience in a handheld device with the graphical acuity, social hooks and obscenely expensive accessories that modern gamers (hopefully, for Sony’s sake) crave.
The line-up of launch games is widely blamed for the Vita’s cool reception in Japan (i.e., “no Monster Hunter”) but the titles hitting store shelves this week certainly seem more in tune with the sensibilities of American gamers. As something of a Nathan Drake devotee, I’m curious to see how Uncharted: Golden Abyss survives the move to the Vita’s smaller screen — as well as the move to a new developer. The downloadable oddity Escape Plan has also piqued my interest with its exaggerated violence, monochrome visuals and controller-free play.
Can the PlayStation Vita peacefully co-exist with a world of smartphones and tablets? Only time will tell. Expect much sideline commentary from the gaming blogs over the next couple of weeks as the death of portable gaming is greatly exaggerated. Here at Video Game Hangover, we’re just happy to have new games to play.
The full list of PlayStation Vita games out this week:
Asphalt: Injection
Ben 10: Galactic Racing
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend
Dungeon Hunter: Alliance
Escape Plan
F1 2011
FIFA Soccer
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational
Hustle Kings
Little Deviants
Lumines: Electronic Symphony
Michael Jackson The Experience HD
ModNation Racers: Road Trip
Rayman Origins
Super Stardust Delta
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Uncharted: Golden Abyss
Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour
Wipeout 2048
Also available this week:
BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend (PS3, 360)
Dear Esther (PC)
The House of the Dead III (PSN)
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action (PC)
Rhythm Heaven Fever (Wii)
Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
Tekken 3D Prime Edition (3DS)
Twisted Metal (PS3)
Warp (XBLA)