Digital-Only PSP Games to Play Before the PlayStation Store Shuts Down
Reports are circulating that Sony plans to close the legacy PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable. Although PSP owners haven't been able to make purchases directly from the built-in PSP store for a few years now, they still have the ability to access the PlayStation store from the PS3, Vita or PC. However, with news that the digital storefronts are closing, PSP users will need to make sure they have any digital-only games they need secured in their libraries.
The PSP was quite successful in its 10-year lifespan, as it was a solid competitor to the Nintendo DS and offered a great library of titles. Unfortunately due to poor marketing and the fact that it was Sony's first generation handheld, many PSP games flew under the radar for most of its lifespan. As a result, there are many games that fans may have missed, that they will want to pick up now that the legacy PlayStation store is closing.
Falcom's Trails series has gained recognition over the years in the JRPG community for its detailed worldbuilding and interconnected plot spanning multiple games over 15 years. The Trails in the Sky arc is where the story initially begins, and JRPG fans will find plenty to love with its dynamic character writing, unique turn-based combat, and rich narrative.
While the first chapter of the game, Trails in the Sky FC is readily available in physical and digital editions for the PSP, the sequel Trails in the Sky SC is digital-only. As XSEED (the North American localizer for the series) didn't have the budget, the physical edition of Trails in the Sky SC was never released outside of Japan. Although players will need to play the first chapter before starting the second, it's a good idea to snag a copy if they're interested in the series.
The Corpse Party series has become renowned in the horror genre for its suspenseful atmosphere, plot twists, and multiple endings. Players are tasked with escaping a haunted school while vengeful spirits threaten their lives and sanity. Although the original Corpse Party game was released on the NEC PC-9801 back in 1996, it was followed by remakes for the PC and PSP under the Corpse Party: Blood Covered title.
Featuring updated art and professional voice acting, Corpse Party Blood Covered is the definitive way to experience the game as it also includes expands the plot and setting from the original. Its sequel, Corpse Party: Book of Shadows features several nonlinear chapters that add detail to character backgrounds and story twists from Corpse Party Blood Covered. Horror fans should not miss these games when the legacy PlayStation store closes.
The PSP had a number of surprisingly good exclusives and the LocoRoco series was one of them. Using the bumper buttons on the PSP, players would tilt the game's environments to maneuver jelly-like blobs called LocoRoco. As they navigate the levels, players are able to let the LocoRoco to eat berries to grow in size or split into smaller beings to progress through narrow spaces. Charming and unique with its brightly colored environments, LocoRoco saw success in North America and Europe which led to the development of sequels.
LocoRoco Midnight Carnival is a Halloween themed spin-off that continues the story of LocoRoco 2, and was released as a PlayStation Network exclusive in 2009. Featuring a new mechanic called "boing," players could use it to make the LocoRoco bounce higher with a counter of up to 100. Together with brand new stages and minigames, LocoRoco Midnight Carnival is perfect for fans of puzzle platformers.
Ape Quest is an RPG spin-off from the Ape Escape series released as a digital exclusive for North America and Europe. Though the RPG elements can be shallow at times with its limited combat and repetitiveness, it does a great job of retaining the charm of the Ape Escape series by mixing in minigames. As players navigate through various areas, they may randomly encounter battles or minigames such as deflecting arrows or playing badminton. Eventually, they will also fight bosses in minigame form and visit dungeons as well. Combined with an interesting collection and crafting system for equipment, Ape Quest offers light-hearted fun for fans of the series.
Aside from the weirdly translated title, What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? is a hidden gem in the RTS genre, and garnered a cult following despite its limited success outside Japan. Released exclusively as a digital game on the PlayStation store in 2009, the game puts a unique spin on the genre by giving players the ability to dig a dungeon underground. As the villains of the game, they must populate the dungeon with monsters and defend the demon lord Badman from heroes looking to capture him.
Over time, players can upgrade their monsters, hide Badman by changing locations, and create mazes within their dungeons to make the search more difficult. Monsters are created based on the number of nutrients or mana available in the blocks of the dungeon, and players can use the environments to their advantage. Together with a witty localization full of humor and references, What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord? should not be missed by any fans of the strategy genre.
Much like other hidden gems on the PSP, while Patchwork Heroes saw moderate success in Japan, it had no marketing in North America and flew under the radar for most of the PSP's lifespan. In Patchwork Heroes, players control a sky captain and must defend their hometown from giant warships. The goal of the game is to land on these giant ships and cut them into harmless patches before they reach the towns.
With 30 levels of different warships, mechanics, and obstacles to overcome, players will need to think on their feet as they navigate through the different puzzles. The game's distinctive style and originality make it a must-play for any PSP players looking for something fresh.
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