Playstation Vita Games - ranked by preference

Release Date: June 14, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Atlus
Developer: Atlus
Genre: RPG

Amazing. That's really the only way to describe Persona 4 Golden. Persona 4 on the Playstation 2 was one of the best RPGs ever made already. Golden makes that RPG portable and adds in a ton of new content - content that you'll keep seeing from the beginning of the game until the credits roll. If you haven't played this game yet, play it. It does everything extremely well - the story, the gameplay, graphics, managing your time between work, school, friends, and dungeon crawling...It's all fantastic. I highly recommend this game to anyone who even just slightly likes RPGs or even to people who like good stories in their games. It's like I said at the beginning: amazing.

Release Date: June 12, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Armature Studio
Genre: Compilation

While the Playstation Vita version of this compilation lacks Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Which is kind of weird. I'd imagine the handheld game would've made the compilation on the handheld system.) it still has two of my favorite games of all-time on it...And they're in high definition, with trophies, and I can play them whenever I want, wherever I want since they're in portable form. I really can't ask for more than that. That said, the games are just as fun as they were back when they came out. If you're a Metal Gear Solid fan and you've got a Vita, you need this compilation. Likewise, if you're new to the series, this is a great place to start.

Release Date: August 20, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games
Genre: Adventure

The Walking Dead is a pretty nifty game that has a great story that pushes you along mixed in with a point-and-click adventure game with some action elements and quick-time events to give the game enough action to go along with the puzzles and difficult decisions along the way. I didn't quite buy all of the hype of this being 2012's Game of the Year by so many publications and websites, but after playing it, I understand why it got the hype it did. It's entertaining, it's fun, and with so many branching points in the story, it's a game that you can play over and over again and get different scenarios and conversations. It's fantastic. The Vita version comes with an option for some touch-screen controls, the 400 Days episode (which was DLC on other versions) and it's got the convenience of being portable, so you can experience this fantastic game on the go, whenever you want to.

Release Date: December 17, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Bend Studio
Genre: Adventure

I didn't think I'd be crazy about this game, but it surprised me. To me, this is the ultimate game to show off what the Vita is capable off as far as launch titles are concerned. Uncharted manages to work in ways to introduce players to how the Vita can be used, with the front and rear touch screens, the light sensitivity of the rear touch screen, the motion sensors...It shows off what the Vita can do, but without it hindering the experience. On top of that, I could easily see this being released on a console...But instead, this is in portable form to play wherever and whenever. That said, it's not perfect, with deaths often feeling cheap rather than your own fault...but Golden Abyss is a very solid title well worth the shelf space for any Vita owner.

Release Date: May 1, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: NeatherRealm Studios
Genre: Fighting

I was a huge fan of the console version of Mortal Kombat last year, so naturally I was interested in a portable version of the game. The story mode was just as entertaining as it was when I played through it on the consoles, and plowing through the arcade mode with every character was equally fun. This version of the game also includes new, bonus challenge tower missions to enjoy as well as all four DLC characters available right out of the box, alongside Kratos from God of War. This isn't just the best fighting game I've played so far on the Vita, it's one of the best games I've played on the Vita, period.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Q Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle

Electronic Symphony is the first new installment in the Lumines series in about half a decade...That being said, the Lumines that folks fell in love with on the PSP is back in fine form on the Vita. In addition to the addicting puzzle gameplay, the Vita also supplies you with some really stunning visuals, making this a game that's almost as fun to watch as it is to play. I haven't played all launch titles yet, but Lumines: Electronic Symphony has a good chance of being for the Vita what the first Lumines was for the PSP; the best launch title available for the system.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: UBlart Montpellier
Genre: Platformer - 2D

This 2D platformer is absolutely beautiful to look at. But, like in life, beauty means nothing; it's what's inside that counts. Thankfully, Rayman Origins delivers in the gameplay department as well, offering Playstation Vita owners a very solid 2D platformer to enjoy at launch. As I type this, it's actually ranked the number one Playstation Vita game over at gamerankings.com. I still prefer Lumines: Electronic Symphony as far as launch titles go, but Rayman Origins is a very close second.

Release Date: June 25, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Dennation
Genre: Action

I liked Hotline Miami a lot on PC, and the Playstation Network version is just as good. I seemed to get stuck on a level less often and die a lot less in the Playstation Network version of the game, but at the same time, I seem to not get as good of grades in the levels, either. So, take that for what it's worth, I suppose. But anyway, if you haven't had a chance to play the PC version and have a PS3 or a Vita (or both - if you buy this game for one, you get the version for the other for free) then give it a try. You'll probably be glad that you did.

Release Date: November 12, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive
Developer: Armature Studio
Genre: Fighting

Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition delivers all the fighting goodness seen on its console big brothers, except it's in portable form. The only downside to the Vita version of Injustice that I saw was that while the cutscenes still looked gorgeous, the models during the fighting are noticeably less detailed. Not enough to take away from the gameplay by any means, but if you're a graphics snob, it may matter to you. But anyway, that minor difference aside, if you loved the console version of the game and want to play this game on the go, this is a fantastic purchase to make. It's one of the best fighting games on the Vita.

Release Date: December 5, 2012 (EU)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sumo Digital
Genre: Racing - Kart

I liked the first Sonic & Sega All Stars Racing on consoles. I adore this sequel even more. The first game delivered on a lot of nostalgia, allowing players to race on tracks based on various Sega franchises. This sequel adds more tracks, more drivers, more modes, more of just about everything. With Transformed, Sega and Sumo Digital may have finally done what nobody has really been able to do - created a kart racing franchise that can compete with the Mario Kart games. The fact that this Vita version is portable is just icing on the cake.

Release Date: June 12, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Double Eleven
Genre: Platformer

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita is fun...But to me it felt like more of the same. Yeah, there's plenty of new stuff to do and the game takes advantage of the Vita's touch screen and the like to offer some variety in the gameplay...But I just was never really "wowed" like I was by the very first game in the series. That said, this is still a very good, solid platformer and well worth playing, especially for the often-entertaining user-created levels, but aside from this being in portable form, I really fail to see any reason to get this game if you've already got any of the previous games in the franchise - unless you're a LittleBigPlanet nut, in which case you'll likely be in heaven here.

Release Date: March 19, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Tecmo Koei
Developer: Team Ninja
Genre: Fighting

Dead or Alive 5 Plus is a solid fighting game with a decent story mode attached to it. Personally, I prefer the story mode found in Dead or Alive Dimensions on the 3DS but the one found here isn't terrible. The fighting is the same as it always was, but now with a few Virtua Fighter cast members added in for good measure. If you're a fan of previous entries in the franchise, then you'll definitely enjoy this game as well.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: XDEV
Genre: Shooter

This Playstation Network download is a fantastic purchase for new owners of the Playstation Vita, especially for those looking for a cheap, new game to play with their expensive, new handheld. Fans of Super Stardust on the Playstation 3 will be glad to see that Delta is just as fun as the original, plus with some new features tossed in for good measure. It's not quite as good as Geometry Wars, in my opinion, but it's definitely a great alternative for Playstation Vita owners.

Release Date: December 17, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Developer: Namco Bandai Games
Genre: Action

This is a shining example of the list being ranked by preference. I LOVE the Katamari series, and while I had an awkward moment when the store clerk asked me if I needed anything and I responded with "Touch My Katamari," once I turned on the game, the joy I felt rolling a katamari with the Prince made any awkward moment from me purchasing the game well worth it. It's the same Katamari game we all know and love, but with the addition of some touch controls, which help you morph the katamari to allow you to pick up more items or squeeze through tight spaces. It's a very minor gameplay addition that seems worthless, but sometimes using it can be the difference between getting a high or low score in a level. But then again, even if it was the exact same game as one of the previous entries in the franchise, I'd probably still absolutely love it.

Release Date: November 12, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Sony CEA
Developer: Bluepoint Games
Genre: Action

Flower is a very relaxing, very soothing game to play. It doesn't require a lot of skill or know-how to play, which makes it fun for people who have never touched a video game before, and yet it's still just as entertaining to play if you've played hundreds or thousands of games....It's so artistic and beautiful as well. If you haven't played Flower yet, do yourself a favor and play it. It's unique and absolutely fantastic.

Release Date: December 17, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Clap Hanz
Genre: Sports - Golf

Golf on the original Game Boy proved that golf was a great sport for portable systems...Mario Golf on Game Boy Color drove that point home even further. Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational isn't quite as good as the GBC Mario Golf was, but it's an extremely well-done golf game that anyone can enjoy, sports fan or not. If you want a really well done game that even casual gamers can enjoy, you can't really go wrong with Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational.

Release Date: October 29, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Curve Studios
Developer: Ed Key and David Kanaga
Genre: Adventure

Proteus is an odd game to comment on. There are no enemies, there's no way to die, there's no goals or objectives....in Proteus all you do is wander around and take in the scenery and audio. It's definitely not for everyone, but since I'm someone who enjoys just aimlessly wandering around, enjoying the scenery in the Elder Scrolls games, I find this to be a very relaxing way to spend 10-20 minutes. The Playstation Network version has an added feature of creating "post cards" as you play, which basically allow you to warp to the location that you made a post card at whenever you want to return to that specific island that you had visted. Proteus is another argument that video games are, indeed, art.

Release Date: February 22, 2012 (EU)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Honeyslug Ltd
Genre: Action

Frobisher Says! is a Wario Ware-like free game on the Playstation Network. In my opinion, adding a bunch of new mini games to this release and tossing it onto a game card, this would have been a MUCH better game to show off all of the Vita's fancy features than Little Deviants was. That said, for a free game, you're still likely to get plenty of enjoyment of this title...Especially if you're a fan of the odd.

Release Date: November 20, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega
Genre: Action

If you told me back when the Dreamcast was released that I'd be able to play Jet Set Radio/Jet Grind Radio on a handheld system while I sat on the toilet, I'd call you a liar, liar pants on fire. Yet sure enough, here we are and Jet Grind Radio has found itself on the Vita system. It's still a great game and still fun to play, but it has lost a little bit in the fact that it's not new, fresh, and different anymore. But, if you're a fan of the original, it'll be nice to have it available on your Vita so you can play it whenever and wherever you want.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Racing - Kart-Style

I loved the PS3 ModNation Racers, and I'm hooked on this one, too....But it's not without a few flaws. First, the load times are horrible...Sometimes being forced to wait around 60 seconds before the race starts. Secondly, playing against others is dumbed down to the point where you can't have a head-to-head race online...The best you can do is race against the ghost data that others upload to the internet. Honestly, that doesn't really bother me, as I'm not much of an online fellow, but I can see (and have seen) plenty of people throw a fit due to the way they handled that online stuff. But anyway, this isn't as good as the PS3 version of ModNation Racers, but it's still pretty fun and a nice addition to the Vita library for anyone who loves kart-style racers.

Release Date: December 17, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Aksys Games
Developer: Arc System Works
Genre: Fighting

Since the BlazBlue franchise was born, it has delivered solid, good (but not great) fighting action with plenty of extra modes and the like to keep you playing for a long, long time. This game is no exception. In my opinion, the fighting isn't quite as smooth as Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, but the extra game modes add so much more replayability that I feel the need to bump it past Capcom's first Vita fighter.

Release Date: February 21, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: DrinkBox Studios
Developer: DrinkBox Studios
Genre: Platformer

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack is a unique platformer with various aspects of gameplay to it - the main one being platforming action mixed with Katamari Damacy-like absorbing of objects around you. If the whole game was this Katamari-meets-platformer gameplay, I may have scored it higher...But unfortunately, some lame, motion-controlled levels are mixed in that aren't fun and are just a pain to go through. That said, the ratio of fun platforming to lame motion-controlled levels seem to be about 3 to 1, so there's more good here than bad. If you want a mostly enjoyable, unique platformer, then this is a pretty good choice to pick up.

Release Date: February 21, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: PopCap
Developer: PopCap
Genre: Strategy

Plants vs. Zombies is really the only exception that I've experienced, so far, to the tower defense genre that I actually really enjoy. The game spews out personality and it's always a treat when a new plant or zombie makes an appearance just so you can see what they do. I prefer the Vita version of the game to the PS3 version due to the luxury of the touch-screen controls (I don't say that often) but both versions are rather nice and worth playing if you get the chance.

Release Date: November 20, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Digital Reality
Developer: Grasshopper Manufacture
Genre: Shooter - Third-Person

Sine Mora is not what I had expected. I had the game on my Vita for a while and I just knew it as the game with the icon with a rose on it. I dunno what I expected, really, but it wasn't a game that's kind of like a side-scrolling Star Fox. That's what Sine Mora is, too...a side-scrolling, third-person shooter with animals piloting ships. Okay, so the only real similarity is animals piloting ships, but Sine Mora is still a solid game in its own right. If you're into scrolling shooters from the days of old, you should definitely check Sine Mora out.

Release Date: March 5, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Creat Studios
Developer: Creat Studios
Genre: Puzzle

Are you one of those people that love the Bust-A-Move (aka Puzzle Bobble) games, but have been waiting for them to really change up the formula a bit? Well, then give Germinator a try. The gameplay is similar to Bust-A-Move with you firing germs instead of bubbles in an attempt to match stuff up, but Germinator is more than just a Bust-A-Move clone. By shooting the same colored germ at a germ on the screen, the germs combine as one and grow. If other same-colored germs on the screen happen to touch the germ as it grows, they'll be absorbed into it as well, causing the germ to get bigger and bigger...Potentially, you could will the entire screen with a single germ if the situation allows it. It's not perfect, but it's still a solid puzzle game that Bust-A-Move fans longing for something new will likely appreciate.

Release Date: October 9, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Vblank Entertainment Inc.
Developer: Vblank Entertainment Inc.
Genre: Action

Retro City Rampage is kind of a tough game to rate for me. It's a playable title, but some of the gameplay, like shooting with a gun, isn't exactly polished. That said, all of the nostalgia and references to stuff from the 80's, will likely be enough of a reason for a lot of "80's kids" to keep playing in order to see what pops up next. It's also mildly fun, like the first two Grand Theft Auto titles, to just wander around in a vehicle with no rel objective in mind. Adding it all together, I think it's a worthwhile game to play, even with it's just-passable game design, but if you don't have a nostalgia for the 80's, you may not enjoy the game quite as much as I do.

Release Date: April 10, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Alawar Entertainment, Inc.
Developer: Alawar Entertainment, Inc.
Genre: Puzzle

Treasures of Montezuma Blitz is a free-to-play puzzle game, kind of like Bejeweled in style, but on a strict time limit. Each time you play consumes a life, and when you're all out of lives you can either purchase more lives via the Playstation Network (if you're impatient) or you can simply wait a few minutes and your lives will slowly re-stock themselves. This form of gameplay can be kind of annoying, but since you never have to spend a single penny to get enjoyment out of this game, it's an annoyance that's not too terrible. If you're a fan of match-3 puzzle games, this free game is well worth downloading.

Release Date: March 6, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: San Diego Studios
Genre: Sports - Baseball

MLB 12: The Show on the Vita is fun, but not quite as enjoyable as its console big brother. But, considering the console version is in a console and this version is packed into a tiny cartridge that you can take on the go, many of its shortcomings can be forgiven and are, to a point, to be expected. The game is also rather buggy, with inaccurate stats showing up on screen at times (though the announcers usually get the info right) and training occasionally caused the game to crash...But for the most part, MLB 12: The Show is an awesome addition to the library of any sports-fan Vita owner.

Release Date: October 23, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting

Street Fighter X Tekken is a solid fighting game that lacks anything to truly make it great. The game plays great, the meshing of Street Fighter and Tekken is a neat concept, and the levels are neat to look at to see all the cameos that pop up...But the game just has the standard fare of arcade mode, versus mode, and some challenges. They're all fun, mind you, but with great alternate modes popping up in fighting games these days, simply having challenges to complete is a little bit of a letdown. It's still a solid fighter, though. So if the idea of Zangief vs. Kuma intrigues you, then this is worth picking up.

Release Date: February 22, 2012 (EU)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Evolution Studios
Genre: Racing

MotorStorm RC was a game that I had expected to not be all that great, or very long. Sony was giving it away for free, after all. But, once you start playing MotorStorm RC, you find out that it's actually a very fun, top-down, RC car racer that everyone should get...Especially when the price tag says free. The game's races and challenges all go quickly enough for you to get a race or two in while waiting at a bus stop or something, but there's also enough content here to keep you occupied for a while.

Release Date: November 29, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Tecmo Koei
Developer: Gust
Genre: RPG

I'm glad we were able to get this game in North America, even if it is just a digital download instead of a physical copy option. It's a gorgeous game to look at, graphically, but it's got some decent content tossed in as well. It has a solid mix of time management, alchemy creations, and RPG battles to not just keep you busy, but make you strategize how you'll spend your time in order to ensure that you're getting the most out of every day. It's not for everyone, and it may seem a bit girly to some, but it's still a solid RPG and worth picking up if you're a fan of the genre.

Release Date: October 16, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Konami
Developer: WayForward
Genre: Action - Brawler

Silent Hill: Book of Memories made a lot of Silent Hill fans pout and trash the game even though most of them had never played it, simply because it took the series to a new genre...Ah, the internet. Anyway, Book of Memories is a hack-n-slash dungeon crawler with Silent Hill characters showing up like Pyramid Head and the Mailman. It's actually pretty well done. As you kill enemies, there are two different colored types of blood they leave behind. Each color represents "blood" and "light" in relation to your "karma" or alignment. If you collect enough of one color to fill your karma meter to one side or the other, enemies of the same alignment will actually attack other enemies in the room instead of you. It's a neat little concept to incorporate into all the hacking and slashing. But anyway, I recommend giving this game a chance. It doesn't poo-poo on the Silent Hill franchise like a lot of folks think - it's a one-off game to the side that isn't part of the lore of the series. There's nothing wrong with that.

Release Date: March 28, 2013 (JP)
Publisher: Aksys Games
Developer: Zerodiv
Genre: RPG

Socery Saga is a rogue-like dungeon crawler where your main objective is to obtain ingredients for a curry dish to help a small business curry restaurant fight off the conglomerate curry restaurant that has recently entered town. Sound goofy? Well this game is. The dungeon crawling is all turn-based in that nothing moves until you move...It can be helpful when you stumble into a "monster house" and need a few seconds to figure out the best exit strategy, since they won't start chasing you until you've moved. Overall, it's a pretty fun game...And honestly, any game that has a special edition that supplies you with a plate, fork, and bib is an alright game in my book.

Release Date: December 18, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Ripstone
Developer: nifflas
Genre: Platformer

The previous Knytt games are apparently popular, but I haven't played them. As a result, I can't really compare this to the previous games. But, I can say that I did enjoy the time I spent with this game. It fells a bit like a Metroid game, but with more emphasis on platforming and exploring than action. It's not perfect - the controls are iffy, and while I enjoy the lack of action for the most part, it can lead to some boring moments at times. But, overall, I enjoyed my time here. If you're into platformers and/or games with exploration, you'll likely enjoy your time here, too.

Release Date: December 17, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Capcom
Developer: Capcom
Genre: Fighting - 2D

From what I can tell, Capcom managed to pack everything the console version of UMvC3 has into the tiny little Vita game cartridge...Which is pretty impressive. Unfortunately, it leads to the problem that Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 was released a few months ago, so unless you're a Marvel vs. Capcom fanatic that absolutely must play it at all hours of the day, regardless of where you are, you might have already played your fill of the game. If you don't own it on any of the consoles, then the Vita version is a great version to get, since it's basically the exact same game (with all the features and playable characters of its console big brothers), but portable, so you can throw fireballs while on the can. But, if you already own the PS3 or 360 version of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 there's nothing new here (aside from lame touch screen options) to warrant another purchase...Unless the throwing fireballs while on the can stuff I mentioned above sounds great to you.

Release Date: December 17, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Namco
Developer: Cellius
Genre: Racing

I'm gonna argue with most critics and say that this isn't a bad title at all. In fact, it's pretty solid as far as gameplay goes, and the racing is good fun. The downside to this game, and the aspect that many critics have blasted this game for, is the content. Ridge Racer doesn't offer a whole lot for the single player fan. It has some single player options, but the meat and potatoes of the game involves racing online against others, and building up your level. The game also only includes 3 tracks out of the box (toss in another 3 free track downloads if you bought the game new) and a handful of cars (toss in 5 more if you bought it new), but quite frankly, this game came out at the low-end of the Vita game prices...And for its price, I think it's a good, quality racer if you're into online gaming. If you're more of a single player guy or gal, then you'll likely be disappointed here.

Release Date: February 9, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Xseed Games
Developer: Acquire
Genre: Action

Sumioni: Demon Arts is a decent action game with a neat art design. The player must use the touch screen to create platforms to jump onto and the like to create a decent experience. Everything could be a little smoother in my opinion, and some of the levels aren't the most exciting to play through, but when the game does something good, it's usually really well done. It's not a must-buy title by any means, but it's a decent choice if you're looking for a quality game to download to your Vita.

Release Date: December 17, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Codemasters
Developer: Codemasters
Genre: Racing

F1 2011 is a solid racing title from Codemasters that has the distinction of being one of very few racing games that I enjoy that requires me to hit the breaks. I'd much rather plow into cars to slow myself down or drift around corners, but for reasons I'm not sure if I can explain, I just got hooked by F1 2011 and found myself enjoying my time as I raced through the season. I'd still rather play Ridge Racer of ModNation Racers: Road Trip over this game, but when I'm in the mood for realism, F1 2011 can easily hold me over until the (I assume) inevitable release of a Vita Gran Turismo comes about.

Release Date: February 21, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Tecmo Koei
Developer: Team Ninja
Genre: Action

I loved Ninja Gaiden on the original Xbox...But how many times can you remake it without fixing aspects that aren't aging well? Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is still fun, still difficult, and still has issues stemming back from the release of the original that was released about eight years prior. Sure the graphics has been smoothed over and look fantastic...But how about smoothing over those annoying camera issues? Anyway, this is still a fun game if you've never played it before, or even if you'd just like a portable version of it, just don't expect any issues from previous iterations of the game to be resolved.

Release Date: April 10, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Farsight Studios
Developer: Farsight Studios
Genre: Pinball

The Pinball Arcade is different fron Zen Pinball 2 in that rather than having players play on original-for-the-game tables, the Pinball Arcade actually simulates real pinball tables that you may have played at your local pizza parlor, gas station, arcade, etc. This brings some nostalgia to it for pinball enthusiasts. Like, I got to play the Ripley's Believe it or Not pinball machine that I enjoyed at the local bowling alley a few years back. The downside is that while it may be a pretty accurate simulation, it's still nowhere near as fun as playing the real tables. That said, this is a good choice for a traditional pinball experience.

Release Date: January 19, 2012 (JP)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Studio Liverpool
Genre: Racing

Wipeout 2048 is a very solid racing game...But I, personally, found it a little dull. The visuals are neat and all, but I was left wanting a little more in the gameplay area....I got bored pretty quickly. I'll be playing more to verify that the game stays this way, and if it doesn't, I'll move it up the list...But for now, I see Wipeout 2048 as a solid racing game that fans of the genre will probably enjoy, but not one that I'm too fond of, myself.

Release Date: September 4, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Zen Studios
Developer: Zen Studios
Genre: Pinball

Zen Pinball 2 is an interesting approach to pinball. It plays just like your average pinball game, but in Zen Pinball 2, it's like the tables are alive. Say you're on one of the Marvel tables, you'll see Thanos threatening you and Silver Surfer and Adam Warlock helping you out on either side of the table by pushing the ball back at certain times. Aside from the animated aspects, the pinball tables aren't particularly interesting...But the pinball physics are done well enough and the animated aspects of the game provide enough of an original experience that pinball fans will likely enjoy their time here.

Release Date: December 17, 2011 (JP)
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft
Genre: Racing

Asphalt: Injection isn't the greatest racing game I've ever played...In fact, the game feels kind of bland at times...But it's also got enough redeeming qualities to make it more good than bad. I'm a huge fan of shortcuts to discover in racing games, and I like that shortcuts are here...But from what I've seen, they're not really hard to discover. The game also includes an "auto screenshot" feature that snaps a screenshot during important parts of a race, which includes the camera snapping your reaction to the part. I had fun purposely making dumb faces while I raced just so I could enjoy my lame mug on a screenshot. Anyway, this is your average racing game...Nothing makes it bad, but nothing makes it stand out as being really good, either. If you like racers, it might be worth a purchase, otherwise you might wanna get the demo or a friend's copy to give it a try first.

Release Date: April 30, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Frima Studio
Developer: Frima Studio
Genre: Strategy - Real-Time

I've never really been a fan of real-time strategy games, so fans of the genre may enjoy this game more than I did. But, I still felt like this was a passable game. I liked the personality shown in the game by all of the characters, from the fleeing humans to the zombies themselves. The gameplay itself is pretty straightforward and easy to understand...But kind of bland. If the RTS genre is your thing, you might like this one a bit more than I did. If you're not much of an RTS fan, then there's nothing here that'll convert you into one.

Release Date: June 4, 2013 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Other

The first Paint Park was neat, but ultimately lacking in features. Paint Park Plus is basically the first Paint Park, with with new features like water color, stickers, and various new hues to choose from. The downside? The colors, and several other features need to be purchased before they're used. But still, the new features and such bump the game up to being passable, and allow the user to create better-looking art with the tools at hand. If you liked the original Paint Plus, but was looking for more features, this is for you...Just don't expect to be blown away by it.

Release Date: September 12, 2012 (EU/AU)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: SCEE
Genre: Simulation - Virtual Life

Ecolibrium is a strategic simulation game where you are trying to create a thriving ecosystem by placing assorted plants and animals in a given area. You need to make sure that the right plants are planted to make sure that the plants themselves thrive, but also provide for the animals roaming around as well. On the animal side, you need to make sure that you put the right amount of herbivores in versus carnivorous predators so that there isn't an unbalance. It's all pretty precise, and complicated. If you've got the patience to spend time with it in order to understand it all, it's an okay game...But it might be far too many tutorials for many to be willing to sit through. But, it's passable for what it is. If it sounds neat to you, give it a try...Just be prepared to dedicate a bit of time to it if you do.

Release Date: April 18, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment
Genre: Other

Paint Park is the Vita's answer to the PC game Kid Pix or the SNES Mario Paint...Except with a very minimal amount of options that you have to create stuff with. The lack of tools and such is replaced with the ability to share pictures with friends, have contests where people vote on your creations, etc. With the lack of tools and options for your creations, the fun probably won't last too awful long...But if you like to doodle when you're bored, this can still be an amusing little game to play every now and then when you're looking for something to pass the time.

Release Date: February 15, 2012 (US)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: BigBig Studios
Genre: Action

One of the levels in Little Deviants feels kind of like the iPod Super Monkey Ball with touch controls rather than tilt controls...Which sounds neat when you take into consideration that the touch controls used are that of the touch screen on the back of the handheld, so when you touch the back of the Vita, the ground in that location raises up, causing the Little Deviant to move in the direction you desire. That's supposed to be the case, anyway...But it's loaded with problems that turn a game that should be a fun, innovative way to show off features of the handheld into a frustrating experience. Unfortunately, that's how the majority of this game (which is actually more of an interactive demo of stuff you can do with the system than a game) feels. It does have some entertaining moments, but to get there, be ready to not have much fun along the way. Unless you got the First Edition Vita bundle, which came packaged with the game, I recommend that you stay away from this one.

Release Date: January 9, 2013 (EU)
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Developer: Catalyst
Genre: Music

Bleh. Imaginstruments is a music creation game. It's not a very good one, either. It looks deep enough, and maybe if you spend hours upon hours with it you'll find some good that I couldn't find, but from what I've seen, this is a music creation game with some neat options to toy with, but ultimately, one that fails to deliver as a quality, portable music creator.

Release Date: July 24, 2012 (NA)
Publisher: Grip Games
Developer: Grip Games
Genre: Sports - Foosball

I think the idea of a video game version of foosball is pretty neat. Unfortunately, even with some decent ideas like special shots, this feels like it's less of a game of skill and more of a game of flicking the right analog stick repeatedly to just shoot the ball whenever you get an opportunity to do so. Sure, you can kind of go slower and plan a little...but you'll likely get the same result as frantically firing. I like the concept of Foosball 2012, unfortunately the execution of that concept falls a bit flat.