PSP: Ten Years Too Late?

I now know why it’s called the PlayStation Portable; It’s just that, a portable… PlayStation. While it may have been designed to offer exciting, new, and original games the handheld is quickly getting bogged down with compilations, ports, and remakes from the last generation of PlayStation (and older). And once the PSP and PS3 are connected Sony will begin offering downloads of even more crusty PSone titles.

♫ Copy! Paste! It’s all in the Mind! ♫

With the announcement of PaRappa the Rapper I did a quick search to see just how many of these cheap and unscrupulous games are out there or soon to be released. While some offer new graphics and a smattering of new stuff, most of these are obvious cash-in, pad-the-launch-list fluff.

Capcom Classics Collection Remixed
Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded
Powerstone Collection
Capcom Puzzle World

PaRappa the Rapper
Lemmings
Activision Hits Remixed
Metal Slug Anthology
EA Replay
Sega Genesis Collection
Bomberman
Bubble Bobble Evolution
Gradius Collection

Midway Arcade Treasures
Namco Museum Battle Collection
Ultimate Ghosts and Goblins
Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX

Slightly less bothersome are the ‘too late tie-in’ games. Some of these are years behind their console counterparts, and no more innovative for it. And what kind of impression does it make on consumers to see that 2004’s Def Jam: Fight for NY is just now making its way to the PSP?

Gun Showdown

Mortal Kombat Deception: Unchained
007: From Russia With Love
50 Cent: Bulletproof G-Unit Edition
The Godfather: Mob Wars
Tomb Raider: Legend
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix
Def Jam: Fight for NY: The Takeover
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition

Yes, the PSP has some really great titles that work wonderfully on the portable format but those games are becoming one-in-a-million next to the Attack of the Clones.