The PS Vita launches in the UK tomorrow, February 22nd. It’s Sony’s rebranded, rethought-out attempt at a portable Playstation, and its best defence against the iPhone gaming onslaught. Are the launch games appealing enough? Which ones are worth a look in? We’ve picked out five must-haves for any new PS Vita owner.
1. WipEout 2048
Sony’s harking back to the original Playstation launch, here. WipEout 2048 is a visceral racing experience that needs a powerful gaming machine to handle its blistering pace. Luckily, the PS Vita is well up to the challenge. After a deal? You can get it for free if you opt for the 3G-enabled PS Vita through Vodafone.
2. Uncharted: Golden Abyss
You won’t find production values like this on any iPhone games. Naughty Dog’s taken the Nathan Drake franchise to the Vita in fine style, replete with all the voice acting, gunfights, exploring and intrigue you’d expect from a full home console outing. The level of depth is immense, but the controls work a dream.
3. FIFA Football
The bad news: this version of the king of the football sim is based on FIFA 11, rather than FIFA 12. That means you don’t get the impact engine or the clever tactical defending. The good news: it’s still a console-quality FIFA outing in the palm of your hands. The best bit is the way you guide your shots into the net with the rear touchpad. It’s genius.
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4. Rayman Origins
Our unlikely shout for the ‘game of 2011’ crown, ‘Origins’ removes the ‘rabbids’ (whatever the hell they are) and takes Rayman back to his sideways-scrolling, 2D platforming roots. The result is a joyous marriage of old-school gaming mechanics and stunning, hand-drawn imagery. Having the whole game at your disposal on the tube? That’s magic.
5. F1 2011
WipEout 2048 should take care of your need for a casual, no-holds-barred racing experience, but if you long for a lengthier, more in-depth racer look no further than this official F1 tie-in from Codemasters. The game lets you pace your way through the entire 2011 season and beyond, with graphics and control finesse to match what’s found on the PS3.
Interest piqued?
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