While the PlayStation Portable (PSP) may have been discontinued, its legacy in the handheld gaming market is undeniable. Released in 2004, the PSP was Sony’s first foray into portable gaming, and it quickly became a fan favorite due to its impressive hardware and diverse library of games. It was a console that brought high-quality gaming experiences into the palm of your hand, offering a wide range of titles that spanned multiple genres. Some of the best PSP games continue to be cherished by fans today, and the device left a lasting impact on the evolution of portable gaming.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories is one of the standout titles that defined the PSP’s success. Released in 2005, the game brought the chaotic, slot open-world gameplay of the Grand Theft Auto series to a handheld platform. Players took control of Toni Cipriani as he navigated the criminal underworld of Liberty City, completing various missions and interacting with the game’s dynamic world. What made this game so impressive was the fact that it retained the essence of the full-fledged Grand Theft Auto experience while adapting it for a portable system. The game featured the same expansive world, memorable characters, and thrilling missions that made the GTA series so beloved.
Another unforgettable PSP title was God of War: Chains of Olympus. This action-packed adventure, released in 2008, took Kratos’s journey to the handheld console, offering the brutal combat and cinematic storytelling the God of War series is known for. Chains of Olympus delivered an experience that felt just as epic as its console counterparts, offering stunning visuals, challenging gameplay, and a gripping story. The fact that the developers managed to squeeze such an expansive and high-quality experience onto a handheld system is a testament to the PSP’s potential as a gaming device. It remains one of the best examples of what was possible on the platform.
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core is another essential title in the PSP library. Released in 2007, Crisis Core is a prequel to the beloved Final Fantasy VII, shedding light on the story of Zack Fair, a character crucial to the game’s lore. The game features real-time combat, cinematic cutscenes, and a deeply emotional story that further enriched the Final Fantasy universe. Crisis Core’s ability to bring the immersive world of Final Fantasy to a portable device was groundbreaking, and it remains one of the best RPGs on the PSP.
The PSP remains a beloved handheld console, and its library of games is a testament to the device’s ability to deliver console-quality gaming on the go. Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, God of War: Chains of Olympus, and Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core are just a few examples of the amazing titles that made the PSP one of the best handheld consoles ever. Although the PSP is no longer in production, its influence on portable gaming lives on, and the games that defined the system are still cherished by gamers everywhere.