3 games that can save PS Vita in 2013
- Posted November 26th, 2012 at 06:40 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 21 Comments
PlayStation Vita is nearly a year old in Japan, and has been on sale in western territories since February 2012. Still, for all its technical prowess, intuitive control input, and array of snazzy features, Sony’s high-powered pocket brick just isn’t getting the attention it deserves – at least not at retail. To put it bluntly, PS Vita is performing well below expectations, and in its native Japan is frequently outsold by its predecessor on an almost weekly basis. In fact, it took PS Vita 42 weeks to reach one million sales there, compared to PSP’s effort of 14 weeks. Things in the U.S. and Europe aren’t much better either with sales trailing 3DS.
Chalk it up to the cost of the device, the increasing competition from SmartPhones and Tablets, 3DS or simply because people aren’t away of what PS Vita can do, but Sony’s handheld isn’t in the best position. The question is, what happens now? Ultimately, it all comes down to the games; PS Vita is a games device first and foremost, and software is going to make or break it. 2013 is going to be a crucial year for the handheld, and as such, PSU.com has detailed three titles we think that have the clout to catapult it to success.
Check them out below.
MONSTER HUNTER
Well, duh, what did you expect? Monster Hunter is a phenomenon in Japan, and is pretty much the reason why the PlayStation Portable continues to run rings around its successor to this day. While not quite the mammoth success in the west as it is in its home territory, the franchise still packs a punch, and the very least would surely send Vita sales skyrocketing in The Land of the Rising Sun. And let’s face it; a twin-stick Monster Hunter sequel is just what fans have been waiting for, and it’s only a matter of time before it arrives. With the right marketing and features – including a fully-stocked online multiplayer component – this could be the definitive Monster Hunter experience and a massive system seller. More crucially however, the game’s success in Japan means PS Vita will receive a massive boost, which in turn will surely mean more top developers will be willing to invest in the system -- and that can only be a good thing.
GRAN TURISMO
Gran Turismo has appeared on every Sony platform to date, so a PS Vita release is inevitable. The PSP version of the Polyphony racer actually sold pretty well, and in terms of Sony-exclusive brands GT is definitely up there with the best of the lot. Given the Vita’s technical capabilities, a new GT game is sure to dazzle in the visual department. However, it’s the core features that will sell the game, and this is an area where the PSP game disappointed – there just wasn’t enough content under the hood. GT on Vita is the chance to deliver that quintessential console-quality racer the handheld has been hurting for since launch. We’re talking tons of cars, customization options, full online multiplayer and plenty of game modes to tuck into (an authentic career, driving licence, quick race, challenges, the works). Just don’t take until 2020 to deliver the goods, eh Polyphony? Vita needs this puppy now.
GRAND THEFT AUTO
Next to Call of Duty, nothing says brand clout like Grand Theft Auto. The series is a commercial juggernaut, with its appeal stretching to hardcore gamers across the board to the more casual-oriented punter. And, unlike some major console titles that have received handheld companions, the portable GTA games are actually bloody good – which bodes well for a PS Vita iteration. Imagine a fully-fledged GTA, complete with online multiplayer, sprawling campaign and cross-platform connectivity with GTA V on PS3. The possibilities are endless here, and we’re sure that Rockstar Games could come up with some fascinating concepts for how gamers can interact with both the console and handheld releases. Hell, given how much power PS Vita is packing under the hood, we reckon it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to get our own, albeit slightly condensed, version of GTA V for Vita. As mentioned, the franchise has broad market appeal; this thing will sell like hotcakes on both sides of the Atlantic, and given the past success of GTA IV in Japan, will surely turn heads in the East to boot.
What games do you think can save the PS Vita? Let us know in the comments section below.
Email
Related Content
Comments
-
Dustin Barton
- 8:06am EST - November 26th, 2012
- 1
This should really be a list of "5 games that can save PS Vita 2013"
#4 would be Final Fantasy
#5 would be God of War
I know FFX HD is in the works, but I doubt we'll see it this year. God of War is also rumored to be in the works, so we'll see. I still think Sony should pay Square for a Final Fantasy 7 HD remake on both PS3 (or PS4) and PS Vita. Cloud saves/cross-play, and they'll move units. -
TheTenth666
- 9:04am EST - November 26th, 2012
- 2
what can we say? now casuals - people that have no technical knowledge of consoles and video games, and will let the console gather dust for weeks (better buy a nice boardgame) - rule the video game world, and so developers will care less and less for quality games as casuals are satisfied with 3 pixels and a repetitive gameplay
-
Bill Watter
- 11:42am EST - November 26th, 2012
- 3
And CFW Will save and lure people like me to buy and customize PS Vita :) Just like the PSP
-
mangoman3000
- 2:01pm EST - November 26th, 2012
- 4
well for me i think all those developers are cowards.we need games like GOD OF WAR,SYPHON FILTER,INFAMOUS and NBA2K13. Here are some games i think should be ported over to the vita, MAX PAYNE,BATTLEFEILD 3,NHL13,PGA TOUR (TIGER WOODS 13),HITMAN,UFC UNDISPUTE and FIGHT NIGHT.The ps vita can handle ALL these game and i dont understand why those developers are looking to the other side.Get these games on the vita and you will see a different sort of thinking towards the vita
-
Bill Camara
- 4:15pm EST - November 26th, 2012
- 5
Along with those mentioned above, DEFINITELY God Of War, Last Guardian, The Last Of Us, Dead Island (or Dead Island Riptide) [need a real zombie game], Crysis 3, Far Cry 3, Aliens Colonial Marines, Splinter Cell Blacklist, Tomb Raider, and Dead Space 3. Perhaps even port in DOOM 3 (or at least DOOM 2).
-
headstrong24
- 6:26pm EST - November 26th, 2012
- 6
@mangoman3000, you claim that the Vita can handle all of these games, but I don't think that they can. If developers start creating all of your favorite titles for the Vita, I think that the overall quality of the games will go down by quite a bit. My reasoning is that the Vita is already quite a bit less powerful than the PS3 and 360 (correct me if I am wrong), and those two consoles are much less powerful than a PC. You can see that the quality of games on the PC are not realized to their full potential because the consoles are holding it back, and obviously developers aren't going to build the same game from the ground up multiple times because they would never reach their deadlines and it would be a "waste" of resources. If all of the games start coming to the Vita, then you can expect the quality to diminish even further.
Oh, and PSU! When are you ever going to make it so that I can reply to comments so that they actually see what I said?!
-
Rafael Munhoz
- 6:44am EST - November 29th, 2012
- 7
Definitely missing a version of pPATAPON for the vita! so much potencial with touch and axis.
-
David Graham
- 7:35pm EST - November 29th, 2012
- 8
psp vita needs real games atm there is cod what is not so good 4 it why not make black ops 2 4 it and a few over games and the vita can handle games like the ps3 it is kinda powerfull been shown that fifa 13 is better on the vita then the xbox360. ps i wont buy games that i can get on my phone i just sell the the thing
gta nty gta yes play GRAN TURISMO nty can get it all rdy GRAN TURISMO 5 i wold buy all the psp games can be played on vita so whats the point relaseing games thats all rdy out wast off time
-
Jesse Rosenbaum
- 5:31pm EST - November 30th, 2012
- 9
I think FInal Fantasy could help the PS Vita. Final Fantasy 7 remake on PS Vita as an exclusive. They should also start making PS2 digital downloads for the Vita. The Vita is a great system with lots of potential. I wish them well.
-
Edwin Mejia |
LFFSkater- 9:06pm EST - December 1st, 2012
- 10
Dead or Alive 5 Plus has now been announced for early next year!
-
Robert Woods
- 12:11am EST - December 5th, 2012
- 11
Screw all that Sony needs ta make ALL SONY GAMES past and present PLAYABLE on vita A.S.A.P. nuff said.
-
-
Albert Ford
- 9:04pm EST - December 15th, 2012
- 13
vita need crash bandicoot and spyro and tomb raider and twisted metal and cool boarders but new versions with online multiplayer
-
Nina Lamberth
- 6:45pm EST - December 23rd, 2012
- 14
My son suggested grand theft auto would be a great game that would help save the vita...
-
Muhammad Nasuri
- 1:33pm EST - December 24th, 2012
- 15
ps1,2 and psp can be play for ps vita...plus add some of top ps 3 version and convert them into vita..throw less of video but just concentrate on gameplay and graphic and try to combine all store so it will be great for EVERYONE.. sure enough that will raise ps vita value and fun for everyone
-
Patrick Torres
- 11:31pm EST - December 29th, 2012
- 16
In my opinion:
1. Phantasy Star Online 2
2. Monster Hunter
3. Final Fantasy
-
Den Bals
- 4:06am EST - January 1st, 2013
- 17
Listen to me im the god of games. Practically honestly sincerely opinion is here. The 1 and only thing that can nitro booster the ps vita to the market is that it will be able to text and call like any other mobile phones rivalry in the market. The gaming thing comes nextIn the market world people are into the samsung and iphone mobile phones or tablet. Imagine a ps vita can call and text, clearly and surely they will kill iphone and samsung ^_^.
-
Tecno Movil
- 12:32am EST - January 7th, 2013
- 18
u know what title could save the vita? (NEW SUPER MARIO BROS VITA)
-
Jim Niner
- 1:23pm EST - January 7th, 2013
- 19
Recognition of the PS3 game catalog would do it. Standing in Target the other day (window shopping the PS section) I couldn't help but remark to myself all the PS3 titles I wish were available on the Vita. I don't own a PS3, but I do have a PSP. I'd love to buy the Vita, but not just to keep playing my PSP and PS One Classics titles.
-
This will permanently ban this user and delete all associated comments. This action is irreversible, are you SURE you want to do this?!
