PlayStation Vita Buyer’s Guide
Sony’s next generation handheld, the PlayStation Vita, begins today with the official arrival of the First Edition Bundle. The remaining future Vita owners join them next week on Wednesday, February 22nd. But if you’re one of the people lucky enough to be picking up a Vita, you need to know what to buy. What games should you get? What accessories do you need? Don’t worry: PSLS has you covered with our PlayStation Vita buyer’s guide, your one-stop resource for all of the things you need to consider to begin your next-gen portable gaming experience.
Games We Recommend
1. Uncharted: Golden Abyss ($49.99)
Sony Bend offers a handheld take on Naughty Dog’s best-selling PS3 franchise that makes the transition with a surprising amount of the quality graphics and gameplay experience intact. Drake, Dante, and Marisa Chase uncover the dark secret behind a 400-year-old massacre of a Spanish expedition as they race into Central America in search of a lost city. The game is a showcase for Vita, as it offers stunning near-HD visuals that shine on Vita’s OLED screen, utilizes the touch screen for puzzle solving, and uses the motion sensor for aiming assistance. Also, voice actors Nolan North (Drake) and Richard McGonagle (Sully) return to voice their characters for true Uncharted authenticity. Uncharted: Golden Abyss is the standout title of the PlayStation Vita launch that everyone should consider picking up. Read full review >>
2. Lumines: Electronic Symphony ($39.99)
The Q? Entertainment puzzle series that made quite the impact on the PSP launch returns on PlayStation Vita with a brand-new installment that boasts better graphics, 34 licensed songs from electronic music artists that comprise the game’s tracklist, a new experience system that helps gamers unlock new skins, multiplayer, and avatars that give the player an ability in single player and multiplayer modes. Lumines: ES has traditional d-pad and analog stick control support, in addition to front touch screen controls to help newcomers play as well. Anyone who’s played a Lumines game can tell you that the gameplay formula is simple, fun, and addictive — Lumines: Electronic Symphony will undoubtedly be the same. Read full review >>
3. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 ($39.99)
Capcom’s handheld installment of their best-selling fighting game might be the most value-packed of any game in the PlayStation Vita launch lineup, as it offers just about every single feature from its home console counterpart. 50 playable characters, traditional controls in addition to touch screen control support, everything from UMVC3 (including Heroes & Heralds mode, which was added to UMVC3 after release), Wi-Fi online multiplayer, Spectator Mode, Vita-exclusive replay save and playback, content trade via NEAR functionality, the ability to share DLC content from the PS3 version with the Vita version, and the ability to use Vita as a controller for the PS3 version of the game (with touch screen control support!) are all features included in the game. With all of those features — not to mention the addictive UMVC3 fighting formula — UMVC3 Vita is a content-packed must-have for Vita owners. Read the full review >>
4. WipEout 2048 ($39.99)
Sony’s futuristic anti-gravity racing series WipEout returns to PlayStation platforms once more with WipEout 2048. Cross-platform play with PS3 owners via WipEout HD, an online multiplayer mode with a campaign style (either mode supports up to eight players), co-op missions, and touch, tilt, and voice command support round out the game’s impressive feature set. WipEout 2048, like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, is another game with visuals that will shine brightly on the system’s OLED screen. Gamers looking for a fast-paced racing fix should consider picking SCEE Studio Liverpool’s Vita installment of the long-running series. Read full review >>
5. Rayman Origins ($39.99)
Michel Ancel’s limbless wonder returns for action in this port of the critically acclaimed 2D platformer released last year for home consoles. Although missing the multiplayer from the console version, Ubisoft has strived to include all of the gameplay from the home console version of the game. They’ve also included a zoom feature (so that gamers can find the game’s many collectibles) and a Ghost mode (where players can challenge each other’s ghosts at speed runs). Gamers who missed out on the game’s first release and/or are looking for a quality platformer to enjoy with their new handheld should consider picking up the Vita version. Read full review >>
Other Vita Launch Titles:
- Escape Plan (PSN Only)**
- Hustle Kings (PSN Only)
- Plants vs. Zombies (PSN Only)**
- Super Stardust Delta (PSN Only)**
- Tales of Space: Mutant Blobs (PSN Only)
- Army Corps of Hell
- Asphalt Injection
- BEN10 GALACTIC RACING
- Blazblue: Continuum Shift EXTEND
- Dungeon Hunter Alliance
- Dynasty Warriors Next
- EA Sports FIFA Soccer
- F1 2011
- Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational**
- Little Deviants
- Michael Jackson The Experience
- ModNation Racers: Road Trip
- Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus
- Reality Fighters
- Ridge Racer
- Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen
- Touch My Katamari
- Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition
**Highly recommended
Vita Launch Window Titles:
- Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention
- Gravity Rush**
- LEGO Harry Potter Years 5-7
- MLB 12: The Show**
- Silent Hill: Book of Memories
- Sumioni: Demon Arts**
- Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted
- Unit 13
**Highly recommended
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14 Responses to “PlayStation Vita Buyer’s Guide”
Man the vita hands on experience is off the charts
Is better than I expected. Is fast, it’s looks insane and the built quality is tight
Loving it
I couldn’t agree more. I”ve been saying it since June when I first set my hands on one. It’s way better than anyone is thinking. Sony has a real hit on their hands here. I’m calling it now: The Vita is going to be PS2 big.
I’m in love with my Vita.
Still waiting on Amazon to drop off my First Edition Bundle today. Harsh.
l’ll probably buy Plants vs. Zombies
Got mine 2 hours ago an i’ve been playing UMvC3, can someone please explain to me how I obtain the Twitter,Facebook,Flickr, and foursquare apps? I searched the PS store under apps an all that’s there is protection plans wtf?
They’re not officially out until 2/22, unfortunately. And it may only be LiveTweet at first. I know that was the case with Japan.
Thanks guys, it keeps slipping my mind I got this thing early. lol
The official launch is next week when most of the official stuff is out
Cool, I think this guide is all I needed in finding what game I want to get besides Uncharted. Lumines has always been a favorite of mine
I pre-ordered a Vita today. Unfortunately I won’t be able to get any games for it for a few weeks after it comes out.
I don’t usually buy new systems on launch, but the Vita just looks too good to pass up.
I won’t get one till the 22nd but I already have Blazblue: Continuum Shift EXTEND and Uncharted: Golden Abyss. I’ll be picking up Dynasty Warriors Next when I get my system.
I pre-ordered mine from Amazon Canada and it is still showing up as not shipped… I’m rather annoyed that I paid for priority shipping and they haven’t even bothered to get it to the courier yet. Grrr.
Definitely buying a Vita. Hopefully soon
I’ve had mine on pre-order, on and off actually, for quite some time. I pre-ordered it originally in the summer time and then cancelled it in lieu of Skyrim…on the PS3, of course, and then re pre-ordered it about a month ago when I tried the demo at GameStop.
I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve already picked up “Uncharted: Golden Abyss”, “Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational”, and a 16GB memory card (although the WiFi + 3G version I pre-ordered comes with an 8GB memory card). I need to pick up my reserved copy of “Rayman Origins” when I get my Vita. I already have plans on downloading “Escape Plan” after I get it home next week.
I really want this coming week to go rather quickly because this anticipation of not having the Vita on the initial “Day 1″ is killing me a little.