Atlus
The recap of Q4 2008 concludes with the last breath of the PlayStation 2 (close to flat line, but not quite) the PSP as well as two major titles for the PC. For new titles the next-gen and Big N systems get all the press, but there are quite a few gems for PS2 not to mention the huge back-library. The PSP is another story getting multi-system titles but few unique titles. PC, this series of articles is not about PC but a few titles bear mention, so here we go.
PlayStation 2 – P4, one of the best games of the year regardless of system. Chain of Memories, a dated port of a Game Boy title and the farewell of DBZ on PS2. The system is about to flat line, but this old girl has a few pulses left.
- Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 – Stylish and a must-have for RPG fans even against the PS3 RPG’s. Sad that most of the newer PS3 last their backwards compatibility.
- Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories – The memories the music and opening movie invoke is worth the purchase for series fans but hidden inside is a unique gaming experience that will fill in the gap from the first and second games. It may be a port but it is new for PS2.
- Dragon Ball Z: Infinite World – Like a grand tour, not as good as some of the previous entries but still a nice goodbye to the PS2 from Atari. All the players are here, a game for fans that is actually better than Burst Limit.
PSP – Such a great piece of multi-media hardware, crushed in gaming sales by DS and all other apps by better devices. Hard to believe the PSP was flying off shelves but now gamers can’t even get a decent port here and there. Here are two titles to pick up, but how much more will Sony pump into PSP?
- Midnight Club: LA Remix – Not original, but with all the new content this Remix is one hot game. It plays great, looks great and emphasizes the lack of good titles … any titles on the PSP; this system can do good gaming.
- Star Ocean: First Departure – Much like Chrono Trigger and the Dragon Quest titles, Star Ocean is giving PSP owners a taste of the past leading into new titles hitting in 2009. RPG fans, old-school gaming fans need to check out and know their roots (hmmmm, someone has read too many t-shirts).
PC – While there were other good PC titles released these two have to be mentioned with the console puppies. Anytime a new WoW hits, it’s new and LoTR is still a money franchise and getting batter.
Overall Grades – PS2 gets a B just for P4. This system is supposed to be dead but Atlus, Atari, Namco Bandai and NIS America to name just a few, keep hooking the system up and that’s not even mentioning Guitar Hero. These are new, good titles not just fluff. The PSP gets a D with only Star Ocean keeping it from an F. Original titles are few and far between but looking ahead to 2009 things are going to get better especially as Sony creates more interactivity between the two systems, PSP and PS3. PC, just had to mention these titles, they are big but for a console gamer not much else exciting about PC, after all there are more and more PC titles (C&C 3) showing up on Xbox 360. A great quarter for gaming setting the stage for a, hopefully, great 2009.
Get the full Q4 2008 recap by reading about Q4 for Xbox 360 and PS3 as well as Wii and DS.
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