Playstation Portable Games - ranked by preference

Release Date: November 1, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

If Persona 3 Portable would have simply been a port of the fantastic Playstation 2 game, I would have gladly purchased it. But Atlus instead changed the gameplay up a tad, added all of the content of FES, included even more new demons to aquire, AND introduced an optional, female lead character, which essentially gives you a second game to play as going through the game as a female introduces a few different situations to the story. There is enough different and new here to easily justify a purchase if you want more Persona 3, or if you just want to visit the Dark Hour on the go.

Release Date: June 23, 2006 (EU)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Platformer

After not playing LocoRoco for 7 or so years, I couldn't remember much about it other than that it was weird, had a unique control scheme, and was good. After playing it again to refresh my memory for this list, I forgot how good it was. Most games when I go back and play to refresh my memory, I only play for ten to fifteen minutes so the memories come back to me. LocoRoco had me hooked for hours all over again. If you get a PSP, this should be one of your first purchases. I would love to see a new game in this franchise come to the Vita...and hopefully in the near future.

Release Date: October 24, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Leeds
Genre: Action

I love Grand Theft Auto III. By the time that Liberty City Stories came out, I knew the streets of Liberty City by heart, so I didn't think this game could do much to surprise me. I was wrong. Combining some of the best aspects of other games in the series, like tweaked gameplay from GTA III, the ability to enter your safehouse and change clothes, the inclusion of motorcycles, and various other goodies, Liberty City Stories almost felt too big for a handheld game. It legitimately felt like a port of a console title rather than a handheld game that later got ported to consoles. The end result is a must-play title for the PSP, and a great choice if you're looking for some Grand Theft Auto on the go.

Release Date: December 5, 2006 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Kojima Productions
Genre: Action

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops was the PSP game that Metal Gear fans were waiting for. Metal Gear Acid wasn't a bad title, but it wasn't what most fan of the series wanted. Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops brings the stealth-based action gameplay to the PSP in fantastic fashion. While the fancy cut-scenes were replaced by comic book-like scenes, it didn't take away from the story of enjoyment of gameplay one bit. Also toss in a unique element of capturing enemy soldiers in order to recruit them to your side, with the option to control them rather than Snake later on. With each ally having their own special abilities and the player having the option to switch between characters on the fly, it allows for you to use the strengths of each soldier in the best situations. It's a game that made owning a PSP very worthwhile for fans of the Metal Gear series.

Release Date: February 23, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Compilation

I patiently waited for years for Konami to bring this fantastic collection to North America...And they never did. In the end, I had to import it to play it (it's not import friendly, by the way), but luckily I played both Suikoden and Suikoden II so many times that despite the language barrier, I knew what I was doing. That said, if you're okay with a ton of Japanese text, this is a must-buy compilation for the PSP if you're an RPG fan. Having two opportunities to find the 108 Stars of Destiny (that's like 216 Stars of Destiny, people) on the go, is a dream come true for Suikoden fans, like myself.

Release Date: March 2, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Platformer

I like the first Mega Man, but compared to the two games that followed it in the series, it kind of fell short. In Mega Man Powered Up, the original Mega Man gets a face-lift with enough fancy features to make any fan of the blue robot feel like they're in heaven. Ever want to play through the game as Cut Man or Guts Man? Now you can. Ever wish the original had 8 bosses instead of 6? With the inclusion of Time Man and Oil Man, you've got your wish. Want to just play the original with enhanced graphics, but no other bells and whistles attached? Capcom has you covered there as well. It's easily one of my favorite games in the franchise...I just wish that Mega Man II had gotten a similar treatment.

Release Date: December 20, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Music - Strategy

Patapon is a unique music/rhythm game that has the basic gameplay elements of a music game, but additional elements of an action-based strategy game, resulting in a very unique, very fun game unlike anything that had come before it. The game has the player memorize various drum beats, with each one controlling the Patapons in a different way. One drum beat instructs them to advance forward, another instructs them to attack...Essentially, you need to look at your surroundings and try to give the correct instructions at the right time or you may lose your opportunity to do what you wanted. It's unique, it's unusual, and it's a fantastic hybrid of genres that any PSP owner should give a try.

Release Date: December 12, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Racing

Though the recent Wii U launch lacked a Ridge Racer title, for quite a while, if a new system was being launched, a Ridge Racer game was expected to be part of the launch titles...And for the most part, they usually provided a solid title in the launch line-up that may not have necessarily been the best game of the bunch, but a very good one. In the case of Ridge Racer, it very well may have been the best title at launch and was the best game in the series since Ridge Racer 4, mixing up elements, tracks, and soundtracks from all of the previous Ridge Racer titles to create one of the best PSP games, that wasn't just one of the best at launch, it stayed near the top for the remainder of the handheld's life cycle.

Release Date: December 22, 2010 (JP)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: HexaDrive
Genre: Action

The 3rd Birthday may be the most graphically-impressive PSP game ever made. It's just gorgeous. But a game isn't good just 'cause it's pretty, and 3rd Birthday delivers in the gameplay department, too. Continuing in the trend set by earlier games in the Parasite Eve franchise, with Parasite Eve being an RPG, and Parasite Eve 2 being an adventure game, the 3rd Birthday tackles a new genre - the action genre. However, this isn't your typical action game, as Aya Brea, the series' heroine, can transport herself into the bodies of her allies, meaning that if you run out of ammo or low on health and one of your allies is still alive, you can transport to them and reap the benefits of better health and more ammo...or even a deadlier weapon. It's quite fun to play and a very solid entry into the Parasite Eve franchise...And in case I didn't mention it, it's absolutely beautiful.

Release Date: December 12, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle

Lumines is a different kind of block-falling puzzle game. Instead of simply matching up block to destroy them, in Lumines, you must match them up and then wait for a line on the screen to move past them before they disappear. Lumines also tosses in the neat little aspect of creating music as you play...Move the blocks, destroy blocks...They all add to the music of each level. This also isn't a fast puzzle game by any means; you can probably look forward to a 20-30 minute game the first few times you play and longer than that the better you get. It doesn't normally feel frantic like games like Tetris provide...It's a relaxing experience that's well worth experiencing. It may have been the last, great, block-drop puzzle game made.

Release Date: May 28, 2009 (JP)
Publisher: Xseed Games
Developer: Opus
Genre: RPG

Half-Minute Hero is a unique RPG that requires to you level-up, buy equipment, fight random battles, and battle the area boss....All within thirty seconds. It works incredibly well. The thirty-second format makes this a great game in short bursts, but it's also fun enough to keep you playing for hours with that "just one more quest" feeling when you know you should stop playing, but you can't bring yourself to end the fun. The game is also extremely charming and full of comedy. If you haven't experienced it yet, Half-Minute Hero is a fun, unique game that definitely deserves any attention that you give it.

Release Date: February 9, 2007 (EU)
Publisher: SNK Playmore
Developer: Terminal Reality
Genre: Compilation

Metal Slug Anthology is a compilation of one of my favorite game series - Metal Slug. As a result, it's also one of my favorite compilations of all-time. Containing Metal Slug 1-6 and Metal Slug X, each and every game in the compilation plays similarly....Simple, but fun. If you're unfamiliar with Metal Slug, think Contra with some comedy tossed in...Though, honestly, I prefer Metal Slug to Contra in just about every way. The PSP version is tremendous due to the fact that it contains all of the great, Metal Slug goodness, but in portable form...So I can blow stuff up while on the toilet if I so desire.

Release Date: July 6, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Genre: Fighting

Tekken: Dark Resurrection was a fantastic addition to the PSP library, and even today could be in a debate about what the best fighter on the system is. Dark Resurrection has all of the 3D fighting goodness that one would expect from the Tekken franchise, plus the highly addicting ranking system lifted from the Virtua Fighter series, which can keep fighting game fans hooked long after completing arcade mode with the large cast of playable characters.

Release Date: December 22, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Namco
Genre: Action

Me & My Katamari marked the first handheld release for the Katamari franchise. It can take a little getting used to as the game uses the D-Pad and △, □, O, and X buttons to move around rather than two analog sticks. However, once you've grown accustomed to the new controls, you'll quickly be addicted to rolling stuff up like you were in the previous entries. An added bonus is the tremendous 8-bit, side scrolling level you unlock at the end of the game, which shows that Katamari Damacy can be fun in both 2D and 3D.

Release Date: October 23, 2007 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Konami
Genre: Action

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is a re-made version of the TurboGrafx-CD game Akumajou Dracula X: Chi no Rondo, which had never made it to North America before this point. It's a pre-Symphony of the Night game, and as such, plays like it. It's a very solid title, and holds its own among the other, great, non-SotN-style Castlevanias...And if you'd rather play Symphony of the Night? No worries. Beating the Dracula X Chronicles unlocks that timeless classic for you to play on the go whenever you feel like it.

Release Date: March 24, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Incognito
Genre: Action - Car Combat

Twisted Metal: Head-On isn't quite the Twisted Metal Black sequel that many fans wanted, but it's still a solid entry into the series that feels a little more like a return to the less-dark, more-comical roots that the franchise was known for. The gameplay isn't quite as tight as Twisted Metal Black's was, but it's still pretty good, making this a nice debut for the series on a handheld, allowing players to enjoy quality car combat on the go.

Release Date: November 9, 2007 (EU)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 on the consoles was one of the better entries in the history of the franchise in my opinion. The 24/7 mode was enjoyable with some fun little stuff tossed in like a Power 25 ranking system that you're able to go back and watch your progress in the rankings each week and an earnings system to motivate you to earn money to unlock legends and the like. This PSP version has all of the stuff that made the console versions so fun. The only thing holding it back is the load times...A slight improvement over previous PSP releases of the series, the load times are still fairly constant and fairly long. But, when you're enjoying the new-to-the-series ECW Extreme Rules matches, and putting people through tables set on fire, you'll be having enough to fun to forgive the wait time.

Release Date: March 4, 2008 (NA)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: SCEA San Diego Studios
Genre: Sports - Baseball

MLB 08: The Show is a solid baseball experience for on the go. When compared to Major League Baseball 2K8, The Show is easily the better overall game. From controls, to game options...Even the load times...The Show was easily the best baseball game available on the PSP in 2008. The game also improves upon the fantastic Road to the Show mode introduced in MLB 07, making this a quality baseball game more than worthy of any praise it receives.

Release Date: December 12, 2004 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

Darkstalkers Chronicle is a quality fighting game for the PSP, and it merges the three previous games in the series together in this title to create the best game in the franchise to date. Also new to the series is Chaos Tower mode, where you select three fighters and battle round-after-round of goal-based combat. One fight you may not be allowed to punch. The next, no throws...If you fail, you lose one of your fighters. Lose all three and it's game over. It's an enjoyable mode that forces players to use strategy to survive, and in turn, it really makes your skill in the game grow. If you're into fighters, Darkstalkers Chronicle is a good choice to make, and it was a great way to satisfy the hunger of fighting fans at the handheld's launch.

Release Date: December 13, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Yuke's
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

The PSP version of WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2006 was unique as it included three bonus mini-games to play. Two out of the three aren't very fun - the trivia game, which is ridiculously easy, and the balance game for Eugene, which is just lame...And I like Eugene. The third mini game came at the peak of the poker craze here in the United States, so, of course, it's Texas Hold'em poker, which is a pretty addicting little game and a nice way to gain funds towards unlocking in-game legends like the Junk Yard Dog and the PSP-exclusive Jake Roberts. That said, the in-game action is good for its time, but the load times are ridiculous. Unless you're really pumped to play Texas Hold'em poker with WWE stars, later releases in the series provide a smoother, more enjoyable in-ring experience.

Release Date: September 13, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Genre: RPG - Action

I'm still kind of scratching my head at Square Enix's attempt to cash in on the popularity of Final Fantasy VII. People love the fairly-traditional playing RPG, so to suck them in, they decided to make a bunch of games that play absolutely nothing like it? That said, Crisis Core isn't a horrible game, but it does suffer a bit from the repetition bug during battles. Nine times out of ten, you won't need to do anything except use the attack command and maybe dodge an attack here and there. That can lead to some boring battles. But, the story will likely push most fans of FF7 forward regardless. Seeing the sword get passed down and reliving some of the flashback scenes from Final Fantasy VII make this a worthwhile game to play for folks who enjoyed the story of FF7, but want a little more background on the history of Final Fantasy VII from before Cloud flipped off the train and bludgeoned some soldiers to death.

Release Date: February 23, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Bandai
Developer: Aki
Genre: Fighting - Wrestling

If you've played Ultimate Muscle on the Gamecube or Glactic Wrestling on the Playstation 2, then you'll know what to expect here. This Japan-exclusive entry in the Kinnikuman/Ultimate Muscle franchise is more over-the-top fighting game goodness based around professional wrestling moves. In Kinnikuman, all fights take place in a ring, but there are no pinfalls - the only way to win is by knock out. And with the super moves taking away dramatic damage, even if you've been dominated the majority of the fight, you'd got an opportunity for a comeback if you can hit the move, which can lead to both satisfying wins when you use it and disappointing loses when used against you. Whether you're a fighting fan or a wrestling fan, I think this enjoyable portable game is something you can enjoy.

Release Date: April 6, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Ignition Entertainment
Developer: Awesome Studios
Genre: Puzzle

Imagine games like Marble Madness or Super Monkey Ball, but with a puddle of liquid, and you've got Mercury. In Mercury, you've not only got to try to not fall off the edge of a level, but you've got to use edges to split your blob into two, change the color of the blob to enter doors, combine two colored blobs to make a new color, and make sure that enough of your blob is left by the time you make it to the goal. It makes for a very entertaining and fun action-puzzle experience that every PSP owner should try.

Release Date: March 17, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Sony CEA
Genre: Platformer

Ape Escape: On the Loose is basically the same, wonderful Ape Escape game that graced Sony's first Playstation, but without the unique dual shock, twin stick gameplay that made the game a little more charming. The game is still fun, and since it's portable, it's still worth playing if you want to catch some apes on the go, but it does lose a little something in translation due to the PSP's button limitations. Not enough to prevent you from having fun while playing it, though.

Release Date: December 9, 2009 (AS)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: SNK Playmore
Genre: Shooter - 3rd Person

While I enjoyed my time playing Metal Slug XX, this may be the weakest game in the Metal Slug series. I'd have to play through the rest of the games in the franchise again to make sure, but it just didn't seem to quite have the charm of the other games...even when riding an ostrich with big guns attached to it. With unlimited continues, it also loses some of the reason to keep playing...you can beat it in less than an hour. But, as I said, I still enjoyed my time playing this, and it's well worth the purchase for fans of the series.

Release Date: September 1, 2005 (EU)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sumo Digital
Genre: Sports - Tennis

The original Virtua Tennis on Dreamcast was the most addictive tennis game released since Pong. World Tour continues on in that trend, but doesn't really add too much to the already fun formula. There's nothing technically wrong with this game, but without a whole lot of worthwhile new content, Virtua Tennis fans who had their fill of the first game, and of Tennis 2K2, won't find anything here to bring them back to the courts. But for people who still can't get enough, and want it in portable form, World Tour is a good purchase for the PSP.

Release Date: December 18, 2008 (JP)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Genre: Fighting

Dissidia is a game that I really want to like...And in some aspects, I do...But for the most part, I was disappointed with this game. It's a case of liking the concept, but not being a huge fan of the execution. That's not to say that Dissidia isn't a good game, it's decent...It's just not great. The fighting contains special moves that fans of the franchise will likely remember and each character plays differently from the next, which is a major plus for those planning on playing through the game with every character. It's also neat how characters level up and can equip items to boost their stats. Some of the level designs make for fun environments to fight in, too...But the fighting itself can feel clunky at times, and since much of the game revolves around the combat, it kind of bogs the game down as a whole. Final Fantasy fans will still enjoy seeing main characters and villains from the first ten games and watching them interact with each other, though, which may make playing this game worthwhile for them.

Release Date: April 19, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: TOSE
Genre: RPG

Final Fantasy Anniversary Edition marks yet another remake of the original Final Fantasy...And I really enjoy the first game in the franchise...But I played it on the NES, then I got the Origins collection on the original Playstation packaged with Final Fantasy II, then I got I and II together again on the Game Boy Advance...And now it's flying solo on the PSP with much prettier graphics, and the extra content added in the GBA edition...But aside from the graphics, there's no real reason to play this if you've played it before unless you just want to play it with a new coat of paint.

Release Date: October 27, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Aksys Games
Developer: ApolloSoft
Genre: Strategy - Turn-Based

Ragnarok Tactics isn't as deep or engaging as popular strategy games like Final Fantasy Tactics or Tactics Ogre, but that doesn't mean that it's a bad game. On the contrary, it's a good, enjoyable experience if you're a fan of the genre. That said, I'm sure there will be folks disappointed that this isn't at the level of those previously mentioned Tactics games, but there's nothing broken here. It's a turn-based strategy game that does what it needs to do to be good, but not a whole lot more, preventing it from being great, but not preventing it from being enjoyable. As long as you don't walk into this game expecting to be blown away, I think you'll enjoy your time here.

Release Date: December 1, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Adventure

Hunting and gathering...If that sounds like the concept of a solid game to you, it is. Monster Hunter Freedom revolves around quests requiring you to gather items, hunt creatures, and sometimes capture creatures...And it's absolutely addicting once you really get going. An aspect I like the most is how you can gather materials from monsters that you kill, like their bones, to create stronger equipment to help you survive as you encounter bigger and badder monsters, helping you stay as a predator rather than becoming the prey. This series is ultra-popular in Japan, and after spending some quality time with this title, it's not hard for me to see why.

Release Date: January 25, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: M2
Genre: Compilation

TwinBee Portable is a compilation of the TwinBee games in one, convenient, portable package. For those unfamiliar with TwinBee, it's a scrolling shooter that's probably most known for the bell power-ups found in the game, which you can shoot to prevent them from exiting the screen, and in the process, you can volley it until it's the color for the specific power-up that you want. It transforms the game from being a simple shooter to a game where you're trying to juggle your attention between the power-ups and the enemies on screen, and this is a pack of the TwinBee series. If you're a fan of scrolling shooters, this is a worthwhile addition to your PSP library.

Release Date: August 24, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Majesco
Developer: Arc System Works
Genre: Action - Brawler

Guilty Gear Judgment is a side-scrolling brawler with several playable characters from the Guilty Gear fighting games....And while the mechanics and controls of the brawling are fun...The level layouts and repetition of opponents really hinders it to the point where you're likely to get bored very quickly. However, this game has a saving grace in the form of the full version of Guilty Gear X2 #Reload, a very good fighting game, packed in the disk. You're probably much more likely to spend plenty of time with that fantastic fighter than you are the sub-par brawler that is the focus of this game. That said, if you're a fan of brawlers, this is still worth a shot...Especially since you've got a quality fighter to make up for any disappointments you may have.

Release Date: December 13, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Midway
Developer: Digital Eclipse
Genre: Compilation

Midway Arcade Treasures is a compilation of various Midway arcade hits from early games like Joust to more modern ones like Mortal Kombat III. It's a nice range of various titles from various times and various genres, meaning there's likely at least a few titles here for everyone. That's not to say that every game in this compilation is an absolute winner, but there's more good than bad here, making it a decent game for folks who'd like a little nostalgia on the go.

Release Date: June 7, 2007 (JP)
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: TOSE
Genre: RPG

Final Fantasy II had previously only been released in North America packaged with the original Final Fantasy...And while I enjoy the second entry in the Final Fantasy franchise, it's not good enough, in my opinion, to justify a new game price tag as a stand-alone title. That said, it's still a passable title, and worth playing if you want to experience every title in the Final Fantasy lineage, but unless you're a Final Fantasy or RPG fanatic, you're probably not going to be too impressed here.

Release Date: March 19, 2009 (JP)
Publisher: GungHo
Developer: extreme Co.,Ltd.
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

I love the bizarre nature of the Cho Aniki series...But let's face it - they aren't exactly award-winning games in terms of gameplay. The PSP addition to the series is no exception to this rule, with some bizarre scenery and just barely passable gameplay. Unless you're obsessed with side-scrolling shooters, or just like bizarre games, you're probably better off passing on this one. If you do want to play it and want a physical copy, you'll have to import it from Japan. Otherwise, Aksys ported the title over to North America in 2010, in digital form, on the Playstation Network.

Release Date: March 31, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: D3 Publisher
Developer: Tamsoft
Genre: Action - Brawler

Here in North America, we got two of the Onechanbara games - Bikini Zombie Slayers and Bikini Samurai Squad. Both were games that definitely had flaws, but had enough B movie charm within them that they won me over and became guilty pleasures to pop in every now and then for some mindless zombie hack-n-slash action. Onechanbara Special is much of the same in that regard. You'll definitely find plenty of flaws when you play, but if you're a fan of cheesy, B-movie goodness that you'd see from studios like Troma, the cheesiness and weirdness of it all could potentially win you over. The gameplay itself is okay and passable, but it does get repetitive very quickly. In that regard, it's perfect for a handheld as you can play a little bit every now and then instead of playing in one, giant block. But anyway, if you've played and enjoyed any of the previous games, you'll love having this on the go. If you weren't impressed with the previous games, there's nothing here that will make you change your mind.

Release Date: August 16, 2005 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Backbone Entertainment
Genre: Platformer

I always wanted to like Death Jr. I wanted to tell everyone that this was the best platformer in years and that it made the PSP a must-buy handheld....But I couldn't. The characters in Death Jr. are all well-written and likable...but unfortunately, the gameplay itself is barely passable. I'm not the only one that had high hopes for this game - supposedly, Konami was already trying to market a cartoon out of the game and had a few sequels already in the plans. Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to like this game, I found myself putting it down out of boredom and never returning to it...And that seemed to be the case for many people, as it didn't take very long for the Death Jr. franchise to fade away.

Release Date: February 10, 2005 (JP)
Publisher: Agetec
Developer: G-Artists
Genre: RPG

I'd consider PoPoLoCrois a casual RPG. By default, the battles fight themselves without you having to do anything but watch on until the battle is over, pretty much just leaving you to talk to people and explore towns and dungeons, with the occasional break where a random battle plays its course. Unfortunately, the story isn't really anything that will drive most folks to see the end of the game...But, if you're looking into getting into RPGs, this is a fantastic game for beginners of the genre, or maybe even a decent RPG for your little ones to play.

Release Date: March 3, 2008 (NA)
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Kush Games
Genre: Sports - Baseball

Major League Baseball 2K8 isn't a horrible baseball game, but it's just barely passable. The game has all the features that you'd want in a baseball game, and some of the ideas found here are pretty good...But the gameplay itself just feels poor, especially when compared to other baseball games on the PSP of that year, like MLB 08: The Show. Nothing feels smooth about the gameplay. It works good enough to be passable...But not good enough to make it worthwhile to play when there are better options available.

Release Date: March 30, 2010 (NA)
Publisher: Tecmo
Developer: Team Ninja
Genre: Action

Dead or Alive Xtreme Beach Volleyball was fun back when it released on the original Xbox. The sequels, however, have dropped in quality. Dead or Alive Paradise is the newest addition to that franchise and geez louise, it makes you feel like a perverted creep for playing it. First off, boob physics - Team Ninja does not understand that the mounds of flesh on the chest of women do not flap around in the wind like a flag. Nor do they constantly have muscle spasms under them to make them jiggle all over the place at all times. The gameplay involves volleyball, running across a pool on blocks, participating in photoshoots, giving gifts, and exploring the island...And much of it makes you feel like you're quite the creepster for participating. There IS some good to be found here - the volleyball is still fun, for example...but there's not enough good to outweigh the bad. Unless you want to play a game where women's breasts seemingly have a mind of their own, there's not much reason to play this.

Release Date: November 17, 2006 (NA)
Publisher: MumboJumbo
Developer: Squashy Software
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

I really wanted Platypus to be good...And it almost is...And it would be, if it wasn't so dang boring. A lack of interesting enemy types and a large lack of challenge, for that matter, make this a game that feels like it just keeps going and going and going...Platypus is like the Energizer Bunny...Except it's not cool enough to wear sunglasses. The graphics are also like the gameplay...The clay look had a ton of potential, but the end result is a game that looks as bland as it plays. It's not the worst scrolling shooter that I've ever played by a long shot, but that still doesn't make this any good.

Release Date: Augut 31, 2006 (JP)
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Opus
Genre: Action

What a mess. I love Bubble Bobble...I do not care for this game in any way. Yes, bubbles are being blown, enemies are trapped in bubbles, and you pop the bubbles. The well-designed levels of the original Bubble Bobble are replaced with boring layouts...and the art design is equally boring. A few new ideas are tried here, but none of them do anything to make this game worthwhile. Even if you love Bubble Bobble, this is not worth a minute of your time.