Just in time for next week's infamous Black Thursday, IGN has released its 2006 Holiday Buyer's Guide and has also added their 10 choices for PSP games that should fill your stockings this Christmas. That's if you've been a good boy or girl, because if you've been bad, you get Family Guy.
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception
Daxter
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
Killzone: Liberation
LocoRoco
Medal of Honor Heroes
Mercury Meltdown
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
Tekken: Dark Resurrection
What, no Sega Genesis Collection or EA Replay? And while Daxter is a very good game, I don't think too many kids will go Nintendo 64 Kid crazy over getting a game released in March. Still, this is a pretty decent list, and I can't argue with it too much. If you're PSP shopping for someone, you might want to refer to this list.
The early reviews for Namco's PSP-exclusive flight game are in, and they're good! The critics have unanimously applauded the game's graphics, sound, music, depth and controls. With such care placed into games like Tekken: Dark Resurrection and the original Ridge Racer, it appears that Namco is quickly becoming the PSP's leading publisher. Let's see what the critics had to say:
Gamespot (82/100) - "Ace Combat X plays surprisingly well on the PSP. Although its visuals aren't quite as slick as in the PS2 installments, it's a remarkably intense action game that you can take with you on the go."
GameBrink (89/100) - "I didn't think I'd see another quality air combat game like it until Namco's eventual PS3 outing but Ace Combat X has arrived to prove me wrong. From the visuals to the audio and the controls, the developers custom tailored the PS2 Ace Combat engine to fit in the PSP's profile. And they didn't just port it; they actually improved on it as if Ace Combat X was the next title in the series and not a portable spin-off."
IGN (87/100) - "Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception makes a spectacular landing on the PSP. It has everything longtime fans of the series could possibly want, along with a few extras they're probably not expecting. Deception also looks great and runs well, offering a near identical experience as what's on the PS2."
I didn't plan on picking up Ace Combat X, but after all the great reviews, I think I may reconsider. The game is now available in stores.
IGN has a new promo write-up about some of the new locations to be found in the upcoming PSP-exclusive Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception. But, thankfully, for those of us that can't read, they've included some new screenshots and the game's intro as well. The game's looking real pretty, but that seems to be a requirement for all PSP games these days. The game comes out on October 23rd, so expect more coverage soon.
Ace Combat fans will be excited by the new (highly promotional) preview of the upcoming PSP-exclusive Ace Combat X on IGN. They reveal some of the features, such as the Medal System, Color Variation and Free Mission. The mini games listed include Touch and Go, Mid-Air Refueling Practice and Carrier Touch & Go. While it doesn't sound too exciting to me, I'm sure those of you that were fascinated by planes will be absolutely enthralled.
If you don't really feel like reading about these features, IGN has also posted two new trailers of the game in motion. Graphically, it looks impressive, but it seems like that's a given for most PSP games these days. The game comes out in October.
There are way too many PSP games at this year's Tokyo Game Show. Because not all of us have time to read all the impressions and previews of all the games coming out, PSP Fanboy has created this nifty guide for all the games that were previewed. You'll get a thumbs up or a thumbs down from the major video game news sites. If a game looks like it might be a real winner, we'll award it "The Official PSP Fanboy Entranced Korean Award." These are the games that'll end up in Korea on giant PSPs, luring people to their eventual doom. And, that's pretty cool. Read on to see all the previews!
The good folks at IGN have compiled a fantastic list of games that support ad-hoc (local) wireless and infrastructure wireless. It's been slow to start, but more and more games have been adding support for internet play and downloadable levels, and they should be commended. The games that use Infrastructure mode include:
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology (online leaderboard & downloadable levels only)
Mahjong Fight Club
P-Kara
While this isn't a huge list of games, it's a huge improvement over the early years of the system's life. I'm happy with the support we get from heavy-hitters like Ratchet & Clank and Metal Gear Solid.
[Update 1: This list is only of games present at TGS. There are tons of other games that feature wireless support that aren't on display.]
With E3 seemingly now a shadow of its former self, the gaming industry's focus may shift to the Tokyo Game Show, which just so happens to be only a mere seven days away. TGS 2006 goes from Sept. 22 through 24 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. And to whet your appetite, Sony has released a preliminary list of the PSP lineup that should be in playable form at the event.
Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception (Namco Bandai Games)
Bounty Hounds (Namco Bandai Games)
Boxers Road 2: The Real (Ertain)
Gundam Battle Royale (Namco Bandai Games)
Homestar Portable* (Sega)
Jan-Sangokumusou (Koei)
Jeanne D'Arc (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel (Konami)
Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops* (Konami)
Minna no Golf-jou* (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom)
Navigation Software* (working title) (Edia)
Ratchet and Clank Portable (working title) (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Tales of the World Radiant Mythology (Namco Bandai Games)
Tenchi no Mon 2: Busouden (Sony Computer Entertainment)
(* – supports GPS)
In addition the already mentioned games, Sony will show new video of 35 more titles. I believe the big story here is how effectively the GPS games use the add-on. If Sony can get software that show the peripheral is more than a gimmick, the PSP may be able to gain some ground on the DS.
Famitsu has beautiful new screens of Ace Combat X, an all-new continuation of the Ace Combat series. Famitsu also grabbed a trailer, which is voiced in English so you can fully appreciate the cheese. The graphics are sharp, and features some potentially awesome multiplayer. Makes me want to watch Top Gun again. Wait... I never want to watch that movie ever again. The game comes out September 17th.
The Games Convention is Germany has just begun, but that doesn't mean we can't look towards the next big gaming event: Tokyo Game Show. Sony will have a huge presence there, ready to show off the bleeding edge PlayStation 3 and maturing PlayStation Portable lineup of games. Here's what PSP fans can expect from the show:
PSP
Boxer's Road 2: The Real Monster Hunter Portable 2 Jan Sangoku Musou Metal Gear Solid: Bande Dessinee (Graphic Novel) Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Jeanne D'Arc Sarugetchu Piposaru Racer Tenchi No Mon 2 (Kingdom of Paradise 2) Ratchet and Clank Portable Ace Combat X: Skies of Deception Gundam Battle Royale Tales of World: Radiant Mythology
PSP GPS Software
Navigation Software (temporary title) Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Homestar Portable Minna no Golf (temporary title)
I can't wait to see Metal Gear Solid and its newly announced GPS support in action. Jeanne D'Arc, Monster Hunter, Ratchet and Clank, and Tales are all pretty high-profile, and as you should know, Gundam will eat Japan. Go to Siliconera to see PS3's lineup.
The early reviews for Namco's PSP-exclusive flight game are in, and they're good! The critics have unanimously applauded the game's graphics, sound, music, depth and controls. With such care placed into games like Tekken: Dark Resurrection and the original Ridge Racer, it appears that Namco is quickly becoming the PSP's leading publisher. Let's see what the critics had to say:
