Holiday Buying Guide 2005 Continued..

PSP

Sony's entry into the portable console market has taken some flak this year for quite simply failing to follow up on the launch with a solid library of games. It's definitely a valid criticism, but when it comes down to it, the system has a very different focus than for example the DS. It's a gaming platform, true, but it's best utilized by those who will appreciate it equally for its range of multimedia capabilities as for its gaming capabilities. After all, at least in North America, UMD movies for the system have been selling about as well as the games themselves. That said, in terms of gaming, the system seems to be best suited to literally being a portable console in that it frequently does quite well handling versions of games available on PS2, something a system like the DS is definitely not as suited for. If you don't have a PS2 or if you simply like being able to take that style of game on the run, there's plenty available for PSP.

Lumines
Developer: Q Entertainment
Publisher: Ubisoft
The most notable exception to the PSP's general tendency towards console ports is Q Entertainment's wonderful falling-blocks puzzle game Lumines, designed by studio head Tetsuya Mizuguchi of Rez and Space Channel 5 fame. It launched with the PSP and many still consider it the best reason to play games on the system. The gameplay is solid, but what really sells the game is its presentation. Several of Mizuguchi's prior games feature integration between music and gameplay, and Lumines does as well, as the music's intensity varies with your ability to get rid of blocks. If you're shopping for somebody who has a PSP but doesn't have this game, your work is cut out for you.

Wipeout Pure
Developer: SCE Studios Liverpool
Publisher: SCEA
Wipeout has traditionally been one of the more respected names in the futuristic racing genre, a genre that seems to have been in the decline over the last few years, and Wipeout Pure is a solid addition to the series. Another launch title that's managed to hang on for a while, Pure has a good presentation both in terms of visuals and audio and if you're into the sort of "soft" handling that one expects from a futuristic racer, you should have a great time. As far as I know, it's also the only PSP title to make use of downloadable content, which is a nice touch.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories
Developer: Rockstar Leeds
Publisher: Rockstar Games
By this point, you either know Grand Theft Auto or you don't. You either like it or you don't. The series has seen three bestselling main entries this generation all structured around the pioneering GTA3 formula, and Liberty City Stories is a faithful adaptation of that formula to a portable system--which by anyone's standards is no small feat! This entry doesn't really add much new to the single player experience, but if you've gotta have more Grand Theft Auto, this is what you need. The game does add local multiplayer for up to six people, which is a new feature for the series. It's not really a make or break feature, but if you have some buddies around, hey, why not?

Burnout Legends
Developer: Criterion
Publisher: EA Games
Ok, remember when I was talking about Burnout Revenge back in the Xbox section? The same basic points apply here. Ludicrous sensation of speed + lots of destruction = fun. Seems like a pretty airtight formula to me, and there's local wi-fi multiplayer for up to six people. Legends is more of a compilation of the best stuff of the first three games in the series (hence the name), not an actual portable version of Burnout Revenge, but that's basically a technicality. The stuff that makes Burnout fun is here, and that's what you need to know. Oh, and this game also exists on DS, but that version wasn't even made by Criterion and, honestly, let's just forget it ever happened.

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee
Developer: Clap Hanz
Publisher: SCEA
Okay, so it may not be the highest-profile title around, but many PSP owners cite Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee among their favorite games for the system. It's presented in a lighthearted visual style, but the golf gameplay is fun and deep, offering both accessibility (like pretty much every other golf game out there, you've got the three-click powerup swing control scheme) as well as plenty of challenge for serious players. The game also has local multiplayer for up to eight players in a variety of modes, including tournaments, matches, or putting challenges.

SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo
Developer: Zipper Interactive
Publisher: SCEA
SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fire Team Bravo is the latest entry in Zipper's Sony-exclusive third person tactical shooting series. In this one, rather than commanding a squad, you'll command a partner as you duck and shoot your way through a variety of locales. Part of what makes it a notable PSP release is that it takes advantage of the system's online capability, which has been something of a rarity among PSP games so far. In fact, with an optional headset accessory, you can make use of live voice chat over the internet. If you've been impatiently waiting for a good shooter to surface on the system, here you go.

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