PlayStation Vita Games to Look Forward to

The Playstation Vita is a very impressive piece of hardware, but a game console is nothing without a great line-up of games, and Sony knows this well. Here are eight of the most interesting PS Vita games, which should be available around launch.

LittleBigPlanet

Sackboy in the house

The Vita is tailor-made for Sony’s Play.Create.Share brand of games that encourage user-generated content. LittleBigPlanet will make use of the Vita’s touch screen, trackpad and cameras for both gameplay and level creation. The Vita version will also feature a completely new single-player adventure, plus a pass’n’play multiplayer mode. Once you’re done with that, there are millions of user-created levels from the PS3 and PSP versions available online for you to try out for free.

Little Deviants

WTF is going on here?

Little Deviants is a collection of mini games, where each makes use of one of the Vita’s unique features, from an augmented reality shooter that turns what your camera sees into the game world, to using the rear track pad to alter ground elevation and move a ball around the level. Little Deviants is a pick-up-and-play game that can be played solo or with eight players in ‘pass around’ multiplayer.

More from News & Analysis

What is the US HIRE Bill and why is India’s $250-billion IT sector worried? Is the internet dead? What's this theory that OpenAI's Sam Altman says might be true?

Modnation Racers

Racing on the go

Another Play.Create.Share success story, Modnation Racers is a great fit for the Vita. The cutesy kart racer has already had successful outings on the PS3 and PSP, and it comes to the PS Vita with an all new career mode, featuring 10 new tracks and cooler weapons, plus the ability to download and play the half a million community tracks that have already been created by PS3 and PSP players.

Ruin

Like Diablo in the palm of your hand

At E3, Sony used Ruin to show how easy PS3-Vita cross compatibility is. This isometric action RPG will be available on PS3 and Vita, with the ability to transfer your saved game from one console to another. So if you’ve played it on the PS3, transfer your saved file to the Vita, and continue where you left off when you’re on-the-go. Ruin boasts of deep social features, allowing you to broadcast your accomplishments and challenge friends online.

Sound Shapes

That’s one jealous game

Sound Shapes won the Game Critics Awards for best handheld game and best social/casual game at E3 2011, so this is one game you don’t want to ignore. The art style may be minimalist, but it’s the unique gameplay that will draw you into this musical side-scrolling platformer. Simply arrange musical notes to create levels or jump across platforms in existing levels to make music.

Street Fighter X Tekken

Cole McGrath makes an appearance

Two of the greatest fighting game franchises coming together is fantastic news, irrespective of platform, but at E3, Capcom showcased the Vita version of their upcoming brawler to rapturous applause. Capcom claims that the Vita version will look almost identical to the PS3 version, which is quite a feat. We don’t know yet if the game will include any Vita-specific features or controls, but it has been revealed that Cole McGrath from Infamous would be a playable character in the PS3 and Vita versions.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss

Nathan Drake doing his thing

Over the last couple of years Uncharted has grown to become one of the most popular first-part franchises, so there just had to be one for the Vita. Golden Abyss follows Nathan Drake through Central America in his quest for a 400-year old Spanish treasure. Boasting stunning, cinematic visuals, touch-based gameplay elements, and making the most of the dual analog sticks, this could very well be the must-buy PS Vita game at launch.

Wipeout 2048

This game does not come with barf bags

WipEout is the longest-running Playstation franchise, so it’s only right that there be a new one for the newest member of the Playstation console family. To make the best use of the Vita, the latest in the futuristic combat racing series will include touch inputs, tilt action controls and voice commands. In addition, Wipeout 2048 will support eight-player cross-platform multiplayer with PS3 players.