First released in late 2004, the Playstation Portable has accumulated a library of underrated games over its decade-long lifespan. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker are just a few titles that come to mind when thinking about what great gems there are on the handheld console.

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However, there are some fantastic PSP games that many have overlooked, or even forgotten altogether. These ten games may be well-known to many, but the masses mostly missed out on them, and they deserve some time in the spotlight.

Half-Minute Hero

Cover for the video game Half-Minute Hero

Half-Minute Hero looks like a typical top-down RPG with 8-bit graphics, but there's a twist. As implied by the title, Half-Minute Hero is also a real-time strategy game, with the player having thirty seconds to save the day.

Due to this thirty-second timeframe, the missions are predictably short, yet they are jam-packed with fast-paced action. The missions range from real-time events to shoot-em-ups and are pretty addictive, for the most part. If that isn't enough, the game also pokes fun at many RPG tropes, giving it a rather whimsical charm.

Mega Man Powered Up

Mega Man fighting against a flying machine in Mega Man Powered Up

Mega Man Powered Up is more or less a remake of the original Mega Man, albeit with 3D polygonal models and playable characters aside from Mega Man. The cutscenes and voice acting give this remake a fresh feel, and the action is ramped up compared to the original. Players can play either play in the "Old Style" or make use of the PSP's wider screen in "New Style."

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Two separate game modes are included in Mega Man Powered Up. Challenge Mode boasts 100 challenges: ten for each of the nine playable characters, and ten iconic Mega Man boss rushes. The other mode is a level editor.

Loco Roco 2

A banner for the video game Loco Roco 2

LocoRoco 2 has the same exact gameplay as its predecessor. The player must tilt the environment around, maneuvering the LocoRoco until it reaches the end of the level. However, this sequel comes with some new quirks not found in the first game; the LocoRoco can swim underwater and squeeze through tight spaces, among other abilities.

One thing that LocoRoco 2 is known for, much like the original, is its soundtrack. The quirky characters that the player will encounter along the way are pretty notable themselves, as well. All in all, LocoRoco 2 is a fun little romp that is bound to put a smile on anyone's face.

Hammerin' Hero

A young boy holding a giant hammer and attacking a red monster

Hammerin' Hero is the eighth entry in the Hammerin' Harry series, and, obviously, there's a lot of hammering involved. The player controls Harry throughout twelve 2-D stages as they bash through everything in sight. The game also comes with multiplayer, as two players can work together to achieve the highest score.

For a fun little romp of an action platformer, Hammerin' Hero packs in a lot of charm. Players can unlock jobs such as baseball player or DJ, and each one comes with its separate costume and ability. Then there are the bosses; the player has to fight against an inflatable dinosaur and a battleship in space, among many others. Hammerin' Hero is as zany as any obscure Japanese video game is expected to be.

Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?

Banner for the video game Prinny Can I Really Be the Hero featuring a penguin holding a sword

Prinny, a comic relief character from the Disgaea series, has his own adventure on the PSP. In Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?, the titular penguin goes on a quest to find the necessary ingredients for the Ultra Dessert. It's a hard quest on its own, and, due to the game's difficulty, the player gets a whopping 1000 lives.

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While Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? is a side-scrolling platformer, it also functions as a hack-and-slash game with a few RPG elements included. The unique art style also helps this game have the same kind of feel that the Disgaea series is known for.

Tekken: Dark Ressurection

A fight between two characters in Tekken Dark Ressurection

Gamers searching for a portable fighting game on the go may find precisely what they're looking for in Tekken: Dark Ressurection on the PSP. A port of an arcade game released in late 2005, Dark Ressurection introduces three new characters to the Tekken fray, with Emile de Rochefort being the headliner.

Dark Ressurection comes with some customization options, allowing the player to tailor their favorite fighter as they see fit. There is also a Tekken Dojo mode for fighting off the ghosts of other players, and a Gold Rush mode for earning in-game cash.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Snake fights another character in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops

Taking place six years after Snake Eater, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops sees Naked Snake trying to fend off FOX while captured in Colombia. This game takes a lot of inspiration from Snake Eater, having the same camera system and gameplay as the 2004 classic.

Unlike the solo missions that other Metal Gear Solid games have, Portable Ops instead has a Comrade System. With it, one can recruit allies to a four-man squad and send them into the battlefield. For those who wish to play Portable Ops but with new content and an Infinity Mission mode, Portable Ops Plus is also available.

Patapon 3

Characters from the game Patapon 3 attacking a tree

While the first two games in the Patapon series get some recognition, Patapon 3 doesn't get nearly as much love. Unlike the past two entries, Patapon 3 has more detailed backgrounds and more expansive multiplayer gameplay. The game also has a competitive mode which allows for four-way battles to occur.

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Patapon 3 was released very late in the PSP's lifespan, so, understandably, it tends to be overlooked by many. However, the rhythm-action and catchy music that the series is known for will surely make this game a must-have.

Ys Seven

Main characters from the Ys Seven PSP game

Notably, this is the first game in the Ys series to be featured in 3D. Ys Seven follows Adol and Dogi as they work together to stop an evil force from taking over the kingdom of Altago. Some traditional RPG features are present, although Ys Seven has its own set of perks.

For instance, the game's combat system is predicated on what attack the player chooses. Whether it's striking with a weapon or using magic, the weapon used must fit with a character's damage type. Other than the gameplay, the simplistic story and music make Ys Seven a pretty enjoyable RPG on the PSP.

Jeanne d'Arc

Jeanne d'Arc fighting a mondter in the PSP game Jeanne d'Arc

Jeanne d'Arc offers its own spin on the Joan of Arc story, as the player leads the main character, Jeanne, through France during the Hundred Years War. Historical aggrandizements abound such as the ruler of England, King Edward VI, being possessed by demons. That aside, the game's story is still quite enjoyable.

Being a tactical RPG, Jeanne D'Arc involves a lot of strategy in its gameplay. There is also an RTS element in this game, revolving around three phases: Sol, Luna, and Stella. Characters and enemies alike have one of these three phases, and it's a matter of figuring which phase is strong against which attackers. All in all, the gameplay, along with the story, graphics, and animated cutscenes makes Jeanne D'Arc one of the best fantasy RPGs that the PSP has to offer.

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