Micro Previews: Hands-On With 25 Of The Best PlayStation Vita Launch (And Launch Window) Titles

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Sony has been generous with providing hands-on time with their launch and launch window games, so much so that I've gotten my hands on 25 of them. The one overarching theme I noticed with this line up is its nearly balanced mix of new IPs, sequels and ports, more so than your average launch line up.

So here is my top 25 list in order of excitement level. We're also aware of the upcoming F1 2011, Final Fantasy X, and Ninja Gaiden Sigma+ though for now, we're only counting games we've actually played. As this is 25 item list, honorable mentions to Ruin (working title), Super Stardust Delta, and Hustle Kings.

Plants Vs. Zombies

Genre: Tower Defense

Developer: PopCap Games

Publisher: PopCap Games

PopCap isn’t exactly being adventurous with their first foray on the Vita in terms of fully utilizing the handheld’s features, but neither are some of the other ports/sequels in the line up. Not that’s a bad thing for their popular Plants Vs. Zombies series.

This is essentially the PSN version, but now thanks to the touch interface, we get the same kind of finger-based conveniences that folks have enjoyed on the iOS devices. As the Vita’s screen is larger than an iPhone’s, this handheld performs like a champ in helping you manage your dense grid of plants as they maintain their assault on the undead.

The only last minute change I’d like to suggest is the option to have both touch and manual controls active at the same time; currently you have to choose one or the other. Nevertheless, it’s an addictive and welcome addition to the Vita launch.

Reality Fighters

Genre: Fighting

Developer: Novarama

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Between Photo Dojo on the Nintendo DSi and Kung-Fu: High Impact on the Kinect, it seems user generated fighting games aren’t going anywhere. Reality Fighters takes it up a notch by taking advantage of the Vita's augmented reality to turn a video camera image into the actual arena.

What is equally notable is the character creation mode which does a decent job in capturing your facial likeness with the camera. Add to that the unsurprising suite of customization options such as the fighter’s build, outfit and fighting style. The move selection is slightly less than robust nor are the moves complex. Unlike Photo Dojo, it was gratifying that I couldn’t find any defensive or offensive move exploits during my brief hands-on time.

It seems like we’re still years (ok, decades) away from a user-generated content fighter that can seriously compete with Street Fighter and Tekken, but Reality Fighters feels like a positive step beyond the novelty appeal of past photo-based brawlers. 

Ridge Racer

Genre: Arcade Racing

Developer: Cellius

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

For 16 years, Namco has been compliant with the game industry law that every console or handheld launch must be accompanied by a Ridge Racer game. Even if it feels like the publisher cranks these games out in its sleep, they do come out with a noteworthy gem once in a while.

Their first Vita game, simply titled Ridge Racer, is promising in both its familiar controls and displaying some of the best lighting effects the Vita's launch line up has to offer. While I didn't delve too deeply into the car customization feature, their new "Machine Upgrade Map" can certainly make the real-time online play interesting, especially when you can also tune your style of drifting.

The fact that you can have as many as eight cars in a track for multiplayer gives it one of the higher player counts among the Vita’s launch games. If you and your friends can't get your schedules in sync, there's also the option of playing against your friends' ghost cars.

Dynasty Warriors Next

Genre: Hack and Slash

Developer: Omega Force

Publisher: Tecmo Koei

10 years on, who doesn't know what they're getting into when playing a Koei 'Warriors' game? It's of some mildly amusing comfort that this series has the hack and slash genre covered with every console and handheld launch.

Koei hasn't been slacking with this touch-capable Vita version though. Musou attacks are now activated with the touch screen and you even have to shake the Vita to increase the intensity of the special attack. Ambushes more involving than ever; these are slow motion sequences where you touch the screen to repel soldiers and move along with the gyroscope in order to avoid attacks.

It's still the same territorial tug of war in medieval China. You still control one of many selectable heroes through a campaign but now you can order troops to attack other bases ahead of you. It almost feels like an overdue feature, but better late than never.

ModNation Racers: Road Trip

Genre: Kart Racing

Developer: SCE Studios San Diego

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

ModNation Racers: Road Trip is arguably the most unsurprising offering out of Sony’s 1st party Vita games, not that I’m complaining. Although this is only the third title in the series, ModNation Racers has gained a respectably sized, loyal following of users with a penchant for generated content.

This Vita sequel continues this trend by featuring backwards compatibility that’ll let you bring over your favorite parts from the previous games. When you’re in this Vita-enhanced garage, a touch gesture is all it takes to expand your car into its separate parts.

How well does the Vita cater to the patented track design tools? Creating the road is just as easy as drawing it with your index finger. Even SixAxis functionality gets involved as objects can now be manipulated with tilt functionality.

With this solid focus on user generated content and making the most out of the Vita’s features, the career mode has been stripped down to a series of basic races, devoid of any kind of story like the one in the original ModNation Racers. It’s just as well; it’s not as if Mario Kart ever had a pervasive narrative.

FIFA Soccer

Genre: Soccer

Developer: EA Sports

Publisher: Electronic Arts

It's mildly disappointing that we won't have the classic launch triumverate since Madden isn't joining Ridge Racer and Dynasty Warriors this spring on the Vita. EA makes up for that lack of football with well, football.

FIFA Soccer ports over the latest PlayStation 3 version of FIFA and manages to preserve the majority of the console game’s features. The only notable omissions are the advanced online modes, but there’s still a wealth of multiplayer fun to be had with the basic online ranked matches, which will be globally accessible.

Where this Vita version stands out is in the touch functionality. Switching players on defense and offense is now touch-based; no more relying on A.I. to guess which player you want to control next. And you can literally “draw it like Beckham” during the free kicks as you’ll get to draw the path of the ball’s flight.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories

Genre: Action

Developer: WayForward Technologies

Publisher: Konami

Experiencing Silent Hill from the isometric perspective might not be what many would expect on the Vita, especially when you think about how well Silent Hill: Origins performed on the PSP while pretty much preserving the familiar third person view.

Book of Memories is a curious take on the series; one that is technically a new adventure, but somehow uses past Silent Hill games as the basis for the "memories." It is nonetheless a Silent Hill I'm hoping to get more hands-on time with. The last Silent Hill game I played was Shattered Memories back in 2009, so I was a bit rusty and forgot about the series' penchant for limited resources (ie. I died a lot). That could certainly change if I did have someone to watch my back.

Konami had only one Vita unit on hand so I couldn't try out the multiplayer co-op mode, a first-time feature for the series. That in itself makes Silent Hill: Book of Memories promising for someone who has bought his share of isometric co-op games in the last couple years.

Army Corps of Hell

Genre: Real-Time Strategy

Developer: Entersphere, Inc.

Publisher: Square Enix

The buzz around Square’s singular Vita launch entry is due to comparisons with a certain Gamecube RTS series. Think of Army Corps of Hell as a bloodier version of Pikmin, but equally light-hearted. You play the recently-dethroned king of hell as you try to gain back your empire with the help of an army of goblins.

Like Pikmin, this might not be as complex as your average PC RTS, but there is some depth in the three different classes of goblins you control: wizards for magic attacks, soldiers for close-quarters combat, and lancers for ranged spear attacks.

Along with the convenient camera rotation functionality with the right analog stick, you get to use different parts of the Vita as you progress through hell. This includes a back-touch health-replenishing minigame and a guitar playing sequence. So along with a heavy metal aesthetic to the art style, you can say that there’s also a bit of Brutal Legend to this.

Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen

Genre: Stealth Action

Developer: Acquire/Spike

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

For as long as Spike/Acquire have been developing ninja games--all the way back to 1998 with the first Tenchu--it's somewhat surprising that Shinobido 2 is one of the rougher Vita launch titles. Yet it ranks this well on this list due to my general fondness for ninjas and a shred of optimism that this might be tweaked before release.

Players will have access to the classic ninja utility belt loaded with shurikens, caltrops, and a grappling hook for starters. Then there’s the flying squirrel wings which implies there will be some opportunities for airborne kills.

I’m all the more motivated to play through this adventure as it promises to offer one of the few narratives among the launch titles this side of Uncharted: Golden Abyss. There’s something to the effect of avenging a father’s death and the disintegration of a childhood friendship; not exactly original stuff, but it’s often adequate material for this genre.

Motorstorm RC

Genre: Remote Control Racing

Developer: Evolution Studios

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

You can call Motorstorm RC a greatest hits of sorts. It’s a racer that features 16 tracks and 8 classes of vehicles from the 4 previous games, but now everything is miniaturized and presented in the remote control car format.

So don’t expect it to offer the same real-time environmental disasters from Motorstorm: Apocalypse but you can look forward to challenging course hazards nonetheless. The seemingly simplistic presentation might be deceiving but Motorstorm RC actually comes loaded with four racing modes: regular races, best lap time attacks against ghost cars, a pursuit mode where you have to get to the front of the line, and a challenging drift mode.

Along with asynchronous multiplayer, the game will also offer a synced connection with the PSN version, where both versions will maintain your one profile and game progress. Moreover, the PSN version will support four-player local multiplayer as well as two-player SimulView play.

Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational

Genre: Golf

Developer: Clap Hanz

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

The Hot Shots golf series has been one of the unheralded constants among Sony’s first party franchises, going as far back as 1997 on the original PlayStation. It was a refreshingly accessible change of pace over the more simulation-like offerings at the time. That’s not to say that Hot Shots is a wholly dumbed down arcade style golf franchise. What the series does best is hone in on the essential and fun parts of the sport suited for a videogame, especially the part where you don’t have to devote five hours to a single round of golf.

This Vita installment continues to fine tune the franchise, even beyond the expected Vita touch functionality. It seems overdue, but now you can adjust the player’s position in the tee box for the very first time.

It’s been the best selling Vita game in Japan, which is one of the reasons why Sony’s has some ambitious plans for online competition. We’re talking about weekly golf tournaments for actual prizes among other kinds of competition, which we assume will be globally accessible as Vitas are made available outside Japan.

Virtua Tennis 4 World Tour

Genre: Tennis

Developer: Sega AM-3

Publisher: Sega

Slightly edging out Rayman Origins and Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 for the best 1-to-1 conversion award, Virtua Tennis 4 World Tour boldly adds new content on top of all the features from the console version. This includes an expanded World Tour mode and SixAxis-driven minigames.

There's control versatility where you can switch between analog and touch on the fly, or you can have both settings active during a match. As impressive as professional tennis courts are, this game will also let you use the camera to create a tennis court out of say, your coffee table.

The camera will also allow you to take a picture of your face for the custom character creation, not to mention the player roster is impressively robust if you’d rather play as a pro. Easily the most remarkable feature is the option to play in the first person, where viewing is controlled with the SixAxis. You just might work up a sweat.

LittleBigPlanet

Genre: Puzzle Platformer

Developer: Double Eleven, Ltd., Tarsier Studios, Sony XDev Europe

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Sony’s DIY game construction set almost feels like it was made for the Vita. Like ModNation Racers, there’s a ton to take advantage of in object manipulation with the touch screen, both in actual gameplay and level creation.

It also gets my award for the best menus out of all the Vita titles. Not only is the user interface extremely smooth to navigate through, the familiar icons and buttons translate well to the small screen, making it easy for younger gamers and newcomers to figure out.

For veterans of the series, you’ll be pleased to know that all previously shared items from the past games can be carried over to this Vita version, so don’t worry about starting from scratch.

Even without the muscle of the PlayStation 3, this Vita edition feels like it’s building upon the improvements that came with LittleBigPlanet 2. This includes the tools needed to transcend the original game’s platforming format and venture out to other kinds of genres.

Unit 13

Genre: Tactical Shooter

Developer: Zipper Interactive

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

I wonder if Unit 13 is a sort of third-person shooter ‘dry-run’ for Sony so they can learn how to take full advantage of the Vita before making a proper SOCOM game. The tactical movements of the player in Unit 13 certainly feel like something out of the SOCOM universe.

Whatever the case, Unit 13 doesn’t screw around. Stealth assignments end if you’re spotted while some other missions turn off the ability to regenerate health over time. There’s less of an emphasis on story and more on actual missions, 36 to be exact. These can be played either solo or with a buddy. If you do have a partner, expect the game to grade you critically on how well you work together.

Depending on your play style, Unit 13 offers a selection of six types of operatives such as the infiltrator, commando and technician. All of them are upgradeable; the catch is that the game offers a lot of incentives to try out different characters. Many weapons can only be unlocked if you reach a specific level with a particular operative.

Little Deviants

Genre: Various

Developer: BigBig Studios

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

To borrow a term from Cliffy B, Little Deviants is sort of the “system justifier” of the Vita. It’s the game that every Best Buy games rep should have at the ready to convince parents what the Vita is capable of. It’s as if each level is meant to highlight various functions of the handheld.

Sony can get away with one launch title that gives off that tech-demo vibe. I didn’t play through all the minigames, but there’s arguably enough content to justify a full price purchase for some households.

One of the modes I played showed off the augmented reality via first person shooting. Enemies try to obscure your view by shooting slime on your screen; wiping it off involves rubbing the back touch panel.

Another game had me guide a spherical alien down a vertical level by tilting the Vita. And in a third mission, I was tasked in creating a vortex to help an alien escape. When performing this, I was thinking about Kirby’s Epic Yarn as I altered a cloth-like background by touching the back panel.

Rayman Origins

Genre: Platforming

Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier

Publisher: Ubisoft

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Rayman Origins were very well received, praised for relying on classic 2D platforming mechanics and delivering a rich artistic hand drawn look in the level designs.  Anyone who has played it might think that it would be hard to appreciate the fine visual details on the Vita's screen, but Ubisoft has added a solution by allowing for pinch zooming.

It is when you do zoom in that you really get to appreciate the near perfect 1-to-1 conversion quality from console to Vita. Up close, it’s difficult to spot any kind of graininess. Granted, you will have to zoom all the way out for many of the demanding platforming challenges, but the game is pretty enough for the occasional break to look closely and admire the visual handiwork.

The only blemish is that the local multiplayer has been taken out, but there is at least an asynchronous competitive multiplayer by way of ghost time trial stage races.

Resistance: Burning Skies

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Developer: Nihilistic Software

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Resistance: Burning Skies doesn’t maintain the same bold change in tone and look that Resistance 3 had; in fact, it’s a rewind to newly told events bridging Resistance 1 and 2. For the first time in the series, the playable character is non-military, a New York-based firefighter specifically.

Yes, he will get to wield an axe by way of the touch screen interface and that’s complemented by the classic Resistance weapon wheel. There will actually be a lot to touch from painting rocket targets to pointing where you want to throw grenades. The mysterious Gray Tech is featured more prominently this time around and is the key substance to upgrading weapons in Burning Skies.

Other highlights include a motion-based cover system, new Chimera types, and a story penned by Resistance novel author William Dietz. Even if it might not appear to be as fresh as Resistance 3, it is one of the must-buy Vita games on my list.

Touch My Katamari

Genre: Arcade

Developer: Namco Bandai Games

Publisher: Namco Bandai Games

It doesn’t seem like the Prince’s work will ever end. Once again The King of All Cosmos is in need of your ball-rolling skills to collect enough worldly items to create more stars in the sky. The King recently took a blow to the ego when being compared to a school principle, so something must be done to make the King cool once again.

Yes, you will certainly be able to use the touch screen to roll the Katamari, though if you’re more comfortable with the classic controls, the two analog sticks are at your disposal. One noteworthy addition is the ability to stretch and squeeze the Katamari by using the rear touch pad. It is less of a gimmick and more of an opportunity for Namco Bandai to introduce level designs that haven't appeared in past games. Get creative enough and you can pick up more items than you normally would with a regular shaped Katamari.

This was one of the games I played at a loud and crowded Vita media event in San Francisco, and it was only one of three titles where I insisted on hearing the audio through headphones. Having bought the soundtrack of the original game, it was pleasing to hear that Touch My Katamari’s soundtrack has the potential to be equally catchy (I only played for 10 minutes).

Wipeout 2048

Genre: Futuristic Racing

Developer: Studio Liverpool

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Much like Hot Shots Golf, Wipeout and I go way back. In fact, Wipeout XL was the very game that got me back into videogames after a two-year hiatus in college. 16 years on, the series has had ups and downs, tweaking each installment while trying to keep the series faithful happy.

The series’ introduction to the PlayStation 3 with Wipeout HD and its subsequent Fury add-on pack were certainly high points (the 3D functionality patch was a fine bonus). Developer Studio Liverpool looks like they want to keep that positive momentum but there are quite a few new features they want to try out. Would you believe there's now a battle mode where the hovercrafts are capable of near-instant 180-degree turns?

While not noticeable when zooming down straightaways at breakneck speed, there is a first-time change in regards to the track aesthetics. The courses are now made up of roads from the urban environment itself, much like a city-based grand prix. Developer SCE Studio Liverpool uses this design shift to position Wipeout 2048 as a prequel, before the sport gained enough popularity to have it’s own dedicated courses.

Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3

Genre: Fighting

Developer: Capcom, Eighting

Publisher: Capcom

Pardon the pun, but I marvel at the development team Capcom uses to optimize their handheld ports. Their work on the Nintendo 3DS version of Street Fighter IV and its online play was remarkable and I’m already optimistic they’ll do the same with their Vita port of Ultimate Marvel Vs. Capcom 3.

It’s always an honor to get 1-on-1 demos by Capcom’s Seth Killian as was the case with the two separate hands-on sessions I’ve had with this game. While there’s no substitute for experiencing a fighting game with arcade sticks, this Vita version does offer some inventive touch controls through taps and swipes. Not only did I get to see the silky 60 frames per second smoothness, I was also pleased to confirm that this will feature the complete Ultimate line up.

It would be of little surprise to many fans of the fighting genre that this will support local and global multiplayer. Seth was noticeably coy when I asked about about additional multiplayer features, so perhaps additional announcements are in store.

Lumines Electronic Symphony

Genre: Puzzle

Developer: Q? Entertainment

Publisher: Ubisoft

As the original Lumines was a launch title for the original PSP (and a personal system seller) it's very fitting that Lumines Electronic Symphony is gracing the Vita launch line-up. It's also feels like the freshest Lumines in many years, with completely new levels, music, and touch features that take advantage of the handheld.

The most notable change is with the level progression. In previous Lumines, score milestones had to be reached in order to experience new levels in the same playthrough. This time around you can unlock these later stages simply through repeated play. Each skin has three escalation points where the background animation changes whenever each point is reached. Moreover, art assets (including the puzzle blocks) are now animated 3D objects, not the 2D sprites of past games.

Thinking about the internal musical talents of Q? Entertainment with the Child of Eden soundtrack not to mention Tetsuya Mizuguchi's great taste in music, I'm especially stoked that L.E.S. will feature 10 original compositions and 33 licensed tracks.

Just as Lumines ushered in the PSP, the beat goes on in this invigorating Electronic Symphony for the Vita. And you don't stop. This is unquestionably one of the top 5 Vita games to get at launch.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Genre: Adventure

Developer: Bend Studio

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

If you’ve read this far, then you know that the Vita has more than just a couple system sellers. Uncharted: Golden Abyss is the most traditional day-one choice, with graphics that almost look comparable to Drake’s Fortune; it is in fact a prequel to the inaugural Uncharted. If you’ve seen some of the gameplay clips, you know that Drake can now traverse walls by the simple swipe of the screen.

Personally, I’d like to earn my platforming achievements, which is why I’m glad I’m not required to use that feature. As the first Uncharted not developed by Naughty Dog, Golden Abyss has been put in the hands of proven Sony subsidiary, Bend Studio. Along with the Syphon Filter series, they were also responsible for the well-received Resistance: Retribution on the PSP. I do appreciate how the studio didn't shoehorn a slew of new features for the sake of taking advantage of the Vita's hardware.

While I’m already eager for another Nathan Drake adventure based after the events of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, I’m optimistic that Golden Abyss will be a fine substitute for now.

Sound Shapes

Genre: Musical Platformer

Developer: Queasy Games

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

When an independently developed game cracks the top 3 (out of 25) in this type of list, it’s hard to argue that Sony’s on the right track in their commitment to a diverse software publishing portfolio. I’m not talking about simply mixing the casual games with core franchises, but more  about Sony’s partnerships with independent developers like Toronto-based Queasy Games and their Vita entry, Sound Shapes.

Exploring the world of Sound Shapes is done through controlling a cog that can stick to walls and ceilings as well as jump unto platforms. Steady progress through the levels have positive musical consequences, minimizing any potential stress that could be had from the most challenging platforming sections.

It’s pleasing how well represented the music gaming genre is with the Vita’s 2012 games. Sound Shapes respectably edges out Lumines Electronic Symphony for letting players create their own levels. As these are just as beat-driven as the pre-made levels, the user generated experience lends an endearing vibe like the gamer is interacting with a playable music sequencer.

Escape Plan

Genre: Platformer

Developer: Fun Bits Interactive

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Going black and white as an artistic statement can veer on gimmicky if there isn’t good gameplay to back it up. It was great fit for Limbo and P.B. Winterbottom, and it’s just as easy to feel optimistic about Escape Plan.

If Little Deviants is the system-justifier for non-gaming parents, Escape Plan is the system-justifier for young adult gamers who have been on the fence in purchasing a Vita. It certainly has one of the more involving touch interfaces, where obstacles are pushed from the background by way of the back touch panel, characters are moved by swipes, and switches are tapped by touching the screen.

Heavy use of the SixAxis functionality doesn’t really occur until about 10 minutes in, but it’s worth the wait. There’s quite a bit of trial and error as much as any platformer. Yet, dying in Escape Plan is hardly a disappointment as character deaths are artistically messy and the checkpoint system is very well designed.

Gravity Rush

Genre: Action/Adventure

Developer: SCE Japan Studio

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Gravity Rush comes with much creative direction from Keiichiro Toyama who directed the Siren series, not to mention the first Silent Hill.  It’s promising enough that Gravity Rush sees Toyama venturing out of the horror genre and into something as fantastical as this.

I haven’t had high expectations for gravity manipulation games (eg. Inversion), let alone games with floating characters (Psychic Force 2012, anyone?). Yet maybe Gravity Rush sets itself apart by giving the player a fair sense of control over gravity.

With a well-selected color palette, the game’s visuals pop a whole lot more than your average cel-shaded game. It’s further punctuated by a narrative told mostly through interactive 2.5-D manga panels that can be manipulated using the back touch panel.

Rounding out this complete package is the combat, which allows for basic attacks, combos, and gravity-based offensive moves. A meter prevents you from being overly reckless with your power but Gravity Rush at least offers a promising character upgrading system.

Congrats Sony; has there ever been a launch line up before where the top three games are original IPs?