While there are dozens of websites that have given out their “Best of” for the year, of which the PSP was surprisingly featured prominently, there isn’t many that tell us what we can expect from Sony’s handheld in 2007. So despite personally still having plenty of games in progress (and actually hopes that Killzone: Liberation’s patch will come later), I am already looking excitingly at 2007. Here’s a list of PSP games that will interest me and maybe some of you next year, including some pure speculation, just for the fun of it.

Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII (Square Enix, TBA 2007)

Part of Square Enix’s Compilation of Final Fantasy VII project and more than two years in development. Crisis Core, as its name suggests, is a prequel to Final Fantasy VII with Zack, who appeared in FFVII as Cloud’s friend in memories, being the main character.

Hyper: The game goes playable for the first time during the recent Jump Festa 2007 in Japan and it’s generating pleny of positive impressions, IGN even went as far as declaring that the graphics on show is the best on a PSP yet.

Devil May Cry: Dance of Sparda (Capcom, TBA 2007)

Announced at E3 2004 and briefly mentioned just before Tokyo Game Show 2006 back in September, there is very little details on the game so far, however, Capcom website still list the title as an upcoming release.

Hyper: Given the success of Monster Hunter Portable, there is no reason that Capcom won’t give the game its full support and this could only means good things for PSP owners. However, this could be pushed further back as the team is pulling all their resources to make Devil May Cry 4 on the PS3.

The Elder Scrolls Travels: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks, Spring 2007)

Named as one of the best RPG ever made when it was released for the XBOX360, The Elder Scrolls Travels: Oblivion will features a different story and levels for the PSP and is set to be released in the first half of 2007.

Hyper: Very few details of the game has been released so far, however, you can expect another deep gameplay and high production value game from Bethesda. IGN reports that the game will be more of a hack-n-slash dungeon crawler while keeping the Oblivion feel.

Final Fantasy Tactics: Shishi Sensou (Square Enix, TBA 2007)

Also known as Final Fantasy Tactics: The Lion Wars, this is a remake of the original PlayStation game with new job classes (the Onion Knight being one of them revealed), new animated cut scenes and the unconfirmed supports for PSP’s Ad Hoc mode.

Hyper: While FF fans maybe disappointed with the title being just a port, many others and newcomers to the series will jump for joy as one of the finest strategy role-playing games is coming to their handheld.

Jeanne d’Arc (SCE, TBA 2007)

A strategy RPG from Level-5, Jeanne d’Arc is based on the life of the French historical figure during the Hundred Years’ War with the English. However, there is enough twist from the actual facts such as monsters and magic that make this a fantasy game.

Hyper: Level 5 and a strategy role-playing game, what more can a PSP fan asked for? One of the most anticipated games for the PSP in Japan towards the end of 2006 and if not for the next-gen hypes, the title could have stayed longer in the top 30 best-selling games in Japan than the 3 weeks it actually achieved. No announcement has been made on a US release although both IGN and Eurogamer has “TBA” as the dates.

Loco Roco 2 (SCE, TBA)

During his recent interview with MTV, SCE Worldwide Studios head Phil Harrison confirmed that there are further plans for the quirky game that everyone love (but no one play?).

Hyper: Although there is no mentioning of platform, with PlayStation Store download another possibility, a PSP sequel shouldn’t be too far off given the exposure the game has gained this year and let’s be honest, it’s actually a very fun game.

Disgaea Portable (NIS America, TBA 2007)

A port of the first Disgaea game on the PS2, new additions to the portable version include new dungeons to explore, expanded story and more voice-overs. However, there are no announcements yet on its US release and you can make it happens here.

Hyper: The cute characters and their humorous antics, couple with an entertaining gameplay should make this a refreshing title on the PSP. Sales in Japan are again affected by the PS3 and Wii launches but as a port, I think it’s reasonable.

Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops 2 (Konami, TBA)

The game is selling like hot cakes all over the world and Konami’s did hints at the possibility of sequels, we can expect more from Snake’s portable ops.

Hyper: Yeah, we are still playing the first one and with the impending release of Metal Gear Solid 4 next year, it’s probably unlikely that a sequel to one of the best PSP games this year will make it into 2007.

Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (Capcom, Feb 2007, Japan)

The sequel to last year’s Monster Hunter Freedom takes the fights against monsters of various shapes and sizes to a snowy mountain with new weapons, items and more new monsters of various shapes and sizes.

Hyper: Monster what? You may ask, but make no mistakes, the first Monster Hunter game on the PSP is THE game of PSP so far for the Japanese market. And if further proof is needed, then the sequel’s ever present in the Top 30 Most Wanted Chart of Japanese Famitsu magazine and the long queue at Tokyo Game Show 2006 should explain why Capcom is getting this out as soon as possible.

Monster Kingdom: Jewel Summoner (Atlus, Feb 2007)

An original title by Kouji Okada (who created the Shin Megami Tensei series), Jewel Summoner features hours of voiceovers, more than 10 original musics, deep gameplay with more than 100 monsters to collect, minimal or non-existence loading and excellence graphics.

Hyper: Highly rated by Famitsu (who gave it a 8.75 score) plus hours and hours of gameplay. This look to lead the way for the first wave of quality RPGs on the PSP early next year.

Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters (SCEA, Mar 2007)

Ratchet and Clank first adventure on a handheld had them saving a little girl named Luna all over the galaxy again. Cool weaponry, entertaining gameplay and the exciting looking Multiplayer already made this a highly anticipated titles early next year.

Hyper: Impressions of the game so far are positive and we are looking good to have another quality title from Sony after Daxter.

Prince of Persia: Rival Swords (Ubisoft, Mar 2007)

Based on last year’s console game Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, which saw the Prince turned into the Dark Prince after being tainted by the Sand of Time, Rival Swords will have additional levels and new multiplayer modes.

Hyper: Ubisoft should be able to improve on last year’s rather average Revelations, and the game’s multiplayer chariot combat races look exciting.

Silent Hill Origins (Konami, TBA 2007)

As the name suggests, Origins is a prequel to the Silent Hill series. You will play as Travis O’Grady who ventures into the series’ infamous town. The game uses Resident Evil 4 style camera and will have a simpler control schemes compare to the console versions.

Hyper: With Resident Evil for the PSP looking more and more unlikely, Origins is a worthy alternative. The question will be, when? While the game went playable last August, it seemed to be in early stages of development.

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 (Ubisoft, Q2 2007)

GRAW2 takes future warfare to new grounds as players will not only fights terrorists on trash-strewn streets but also mountain terrains, barren deserts and El Paso, Texas.

Hyper: Despite a few AI problems, GRAW was one of the top games of the XBOX360, and it will be interesting to see how the game plays on the PSP.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas (Ubisoft, 2007)

While the next-gen versions of Vegas are getting most of the limelight. The PSP version is in fact getting its own dedicated development team and features a related but different game to its console cousins. Players can play as one of the two characters and chasing the terrorists through Vegas various locations.

Hyper: It’s pleasing to know that this is more than just a straight port and the multiplayer modes through both Ad Hoc and Infrastructure (6-player) should add great value to the game.

Valhalla Knights (Xseed Games, Q1 2007)

One of the game that has the deepest gameplay seen on a PSP game. Players create their own heroes through the game’s customization options, assign a job class and race to them, and control any one of the six available party members during battles plus the additional fun of multiplayers.

Hyper: If impressions from the Japanese version are any indication, where it sold quite well, then Valhalla Knights could be the first great role-playing game for the PSP next year.

Wild Arms XF (SCE, TBA 2007)

Enjoy the wild west on the move as a surprise announcement during the series 10th anniversary celebration make sure that PSP fans can get a taste of highly regarded RPG on the go.

Hyper: There are no details on the game so far apart from what seems to be an all new story the familiar Wild Arms land of Falgaia. Japanese fans who pre-ordered the series latest PS2 game will be able to watch a new movie of the title.

PSP 2 (Sony Corp, TBA)

Although the handheld has been around for only slightly more than a year, something surely need to be done to stop the critics and Nintendo DS from running too far away? Perhaps a DS Lite kind of update when they run out of cool colors or the handheld’s sales show signs of sliding down? I think we’ll most probably get an answer to this towards the end of next year as the Japanese are having the PSP for the 2nd year.

While I was preparing this article, the good guys at PSP Fanboy just came up with a list of their own, and only 7 out of 17 of their most anticipated games is repeated here, add those to a few surprises that surely Sony or others (Final Fantasy VII remake on the PSP?) will announced, who said the PSP is dying?

Posted in PSP on Wednesday, December 27th, 2006 at 6:14 pm |
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