The PlayStation Vita launched yesterday (pre-release bundles notwithstanding) to rather glowing reviews. Sony's new handheld is an impressive accomplishment, with a sleek design and some serious technology under the hood.
Of course, good looks and strong hardware won't amount to anything without a strong suite of games to back them up. Fortunately, there's no shortage of options, as the Vita launched with more than two dozen titles across a wide selection of genres.
Launch games are always a bit of a gamble, though. Developers are still getting a feel for the hardware, and there are always a few games that feel like they've been rushed out the door just to make the cutoff.
To help fix that, we've boiled that crowded lineup down to the five best games we could find. You'll find a mix of innovative titles built just for the Vita, new entries in popular franchises, and spectacularly polished console ports. But they've all got one thing in common — they're absolute must-haves if you're looking to give your Vita library an early boost.
Sony may have gone to great lengths to ensure that the Vita improved upon the PSP in nearly every respect, but there's one thing that's remained exactly the same: Lumines is still one of the system's best launch games.
Sure, not much has changed, save for the addition of special blocks, a new leveling system, and some odd touchscreen controls. The thing is, Lumines is easily the most addictive puzzle game since Tetris, and this is one of those rare instances where the safe bet pays off big.
Unlike many of the Vita's standout launch titles, Lumines: Electronic Symphony isn't a technological marvel by any stretch of the imaginiation. It is, however, an game that's easy to pick up and play no matter where you are, and that's something that's absolutely crucial for a new handheld.
The idea of playing a fighting game on a handheld might seem a little crazy to diehard fans of the genre, but the Vita port of Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 works amazingly well.
In fact, every last bit of UMvC3 has made the leap to Sony's new handheld intact, right down to the 60 FPS graphics and global online multiplayer. The Vita's tight controls are more than up to the task, and newcomers will also be able to take advantage of optional touchscreen controls designed to make executing combos a bit easier.
New additions like a downloadable replays, hitbox display, and some neat cross-platform compatibility features with the PS3 help make UMvC3 a suprisingly worthy experience.
The console version of Rayman Origins is one of the greatest platformers ever made, with a perfect blend of jaw-dropping visuals, quirky humor, and fun, responsive gameplay.
Thankfully, almost nothing has been lost in translation. The only glaring omission is the console version's local co-op, but that mode did relatively little to change the experience, and it won't be missed by many.
Of course, the downside to a port this faithful is that anyone who's already played through the game on consoles won't have any good reason to nab it a second time around. Still, if you've managed to miss out the first time around, Origins is a perfect fit for the Vita.
You probably haven't heard of Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack. I can't say I blame you. The Vita's launch line-up is jam packed with big name sequels and console ports, but DrinkBox's portable platformer is just as worthy of your attention as all those high profile titles, if not more so.
With a charming visual style and stellar platforming gameplay that's equal parts Gish and Katamari Damacy, Mutant Blobs Attack manages to showcase each and every one of the Vita's abilities without ever reducing them to cheap gimmicks.
Oh, and did we mention that it only costs $8? Because it totally does.
Other games may do a better job of showcasing the Vita's new control mechanics but the Vita's real potential doesn't lie in waggle or touchscreens, it's in the ability to deliver console-caliber experiences on the go. Golden Abyss does that in a big way.
If you look past the forced gimmicks and shy away from the annoyingly oversimplified touchscreen climbing mechanics, you'll find a brand new experience that's just as good as the rest of the Uncharted canon. The only thing that's really lacking is multiplayer, but I suppose that's something for the inevitable sequel to tackle.
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