When the PlayStation Portable (PSP) was released in 2004, it was the most powerful handheld console and in some ways, it even rivaled the PS2. But competition with one of the best-selling systems of all time, the Nintendo DS, and the lack of exclusive titles has led to the PSP being largely neglected by video game fans.
Despite this setback, the PSP did have some games that are still worth playing. While some of these titles have had greater success on other consoles, other games have remained more obscure but are still great experiences.
Exit
Developed by Taito and released in 2005, Exit is an action-puzzle game where the player must guide the main character, Mr. ESC, to the exit within a short time limit. While navigating through obstacles and various buildings, the player must also help "Companions," which are different types of people that must be found and rescued as well.
With a unique comic book art style and addicting puzzles, this simple game can keep players entertained for hours. While it has remained more obscure than other PSP games, Exit garnered enough fans to warrant a Nintendo DS port and a sequel, Exit 2.
Echoshift
Another addicting puzzle game on the PSP is Echoshift, which is a spinoff of the PlayStation 3 Echochrome series. While the series focuses on space and solving problems by changing the camera's perspective, this 2009 game focuses on time and solving puzzles by using time loops. The player controls a lay figure as they try to reach the exit within a short time limit, but each level is impossible to beat without using "Time Bounces." Each time the time loop restarts, the player is able to move further through the level by using the actions of ghosts from previous loops.
Unlike the Echochrome series, the player has full control of their character, which makes the puzzles more interactive and less frustrating. Along with the PSP version, this game was also released on the PlayStation Vita.
Black Rock Shooter: The Game
Black Rock Shooter: The Game is a 2011 action RPG based on the Black Rock Shooter franchise. After illustrator Ryohei Fuke created the titular character and the character was used in a song by Hatsune Miku, Black Rock Shooter has become a multi-media series with several animes and other adaptations. In this game, Black Rock Shooter awakens in a future where Earth has been attacked by aliens, and she must join the fight against the aliens while also trying to regain her lost memories.
Despite the gameplay being a little repetitive, Black Rock Shooter: The Game is still worth playing for its unique take on the character and for being the only Black Rock Shooter game. With her iconic rock cannon, fans will enjoy defeating waves of enemies.
Crimson Gem Saga
Developed by South Korean studio IRONNOS in 2008, Crimson Gem Saga is an RPG and sequel to Astonishia Story. But players don't need to have played the first entry to enjoy and understand this one. The story follows Killian von Rohcoff, who has recently graduated and feels like fate always puts him as second best. He quickly gets caught up in a search for an artifact known as the Crimson Gem, which leads to him gaining some companions along the way.
While the game follows many typical RPG tropes and has a regular turn-based battle system, it is not really a bad thing since the game understands what it is going for and has polished these aspects. The gameplay is solid, the art style is cute, and the story doesn't take itself too seriously. Overall, this game is a huge upgrade from the first entry and is a good RPG game for beginners looking to experience the genre for the first time.
Ys: SEVEN
Originally a PSP exclusive, Ys: SEVEN is a 2009 action RPG and a major turning point in the larger Ys franchise. The game follows the reoccurring protagonist Adol and his traveling companion Dogi as they arrive in the port city of Altago and get caught up in a world-saving adventure filled with ancient dragons and multiple party members.
As a series that started in 1987 on the NEC PC-8801, Ys: SEVEN brought the series into the modern era with fully 3D graphics and a party-based battle system. Many of the new game mechanics in this title have remained in the later games. With its fantastic use of strange creatures and magical attacks, Ys: SEVEN is a worthy candidate as one of the best fantasy RPGs of all time.
Persona 3 Portable
Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 on the PS2 is not a forgotten game at all. With the various adaptations, cameos in future Persona games, and the fact that Persona 3 started the franchise's rise into mainstream, it is obvious that the game has a strong presence in video game history. But, there was also a PSP game, Persona 3 Portable, that many people do forget even though it is, in some ways, its own game.
While it is easy to say that this game is a port of the original without playing it, the actual game itself is different from its predecessor. The general plot is the same, but the game has a better battle system, new music tracks, new plot elements, and the ability to play as a female protagonist, a first for the Persona franchise. Besides Persona 2: Innocent Sin, this is the only Persona game with LGBTQ+ romance routes.
God of War: Chains of Olympus
As one of the best-selling games on the PSP that is part of a popular video game series with universal acclaim, it may seem strange to say that it has been forgotten. But while this 2008 action-adventure game from the God of War series received high praise and high sales for a PSP title, it has been overshadowed by its more well-known prequels and sequels.
While the gameplay is similar to previous titles, the developer, Ready at Dawn, had to reconfigure the controls so that it would work on the PSP, which they did amazingly. The game itself is fun and challenging, tasking players to solve puzzles and defeat some of the hardest bosses in the God of War franchise. Even though this game has been remastered, the original PSP has a unique feel that cannot be replicated in any other port.
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology
Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology is a 2006 action RPG that is part of the Tales of the World subseries, which is part of the larger Tales franchise. This spin-off series is focused on bringing characters from past Tales games together, and this game has characters from seven prior mainline entries. Players control a customizable avatar as they attempt to save the world of Terresia from a devourer who wants to consume all life from it.
Interestingly, the game plays like an MMO with a character creator, customizable weapons, and many different quests, which is different from other Tales games. While the Tales of the World series has had tons of titles in Japan, this is the only one localized.
Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman
With a name like Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman, players already know that they are in for a wild ride. This 2010 tactical RPG was developed by Nippon Ichi Software, which is a company most known for the Disgaea series and is meant to be a parody of RPG storylines. The player controls a silent protagonist who must train to become the next Unlosing Ranger and defeat the Darkdeath Evilman after the original Unlosing Ranger is accidentally hit by a car after having overslept before the final battle.
This game's wacky plot, humorous references, and in-depth gameplay make this game a true hidden PSP gem. As the player traverses through the randomly generated dungeons, they will encounter all sorts of enemies, plot twists, and interesting gameplay mechanics that will make this a fun time from beginning to end.