Friday, March 01, 2013

Five games I'd probably pick up if I owned a PlayStation Vita

Although I'm hardly what you'd call a "Vita hater," I'm also not exactly the biggest fan of Sony's latest handheld.

Still, a handful of its games have captivated me enough that I don't think it's completely out of the question that I'll own a Vita someday (especially considering I'm far more interested in portable, rather than console, gaming these days).

Should that "someday" ever arrive, here are five Vita games I'd seriously consider picking up alongside the bulky, OLED-screened system:


1. @field--What do you get when you combine Hot Shots Golf and pinball? Apparently you get this Sega-made game. Don't worry, I don't quite understand how a golf-pinball mash-up is supposed to play either. Something like mini-golf, perhaps? Regardless, I'm intrigued.


2. Dokuro--I've written about my interest in this puzzler-platformer before, so there isn't much more to say about it here. What I will say: if possible, I'd prefer to pay a premium and pick up the Japanese retail version of this game--just so I can sit and stare at its beautiful box art.


3. Gravity Rush--So many people trumpeted this title's merits around the time of its release that I actually stopped paying attention to it. (What can I say? I'm sometimes contrary like that.) Anyway, now that I've had a chance to reflect a bit, I think I can see why gamers went gaga over it and I'm curious to give it a spin myself.


4. Persona 4 Golden--Full disclosure: I've never before played the original version of Persona 4. In fact, I don't even own a copy of the game--although it's been on my "to buy" list since it was released. Everyone says this is the best version of it, so maybe I'll just skip the PS2 release and buy this one instead (should I ever purchase a Vita, of course).


5. Sei Madou Monogatari--The two main reasons I'm interested in this sure-to-be-Japan-only Vita title: 1) I've long been a fan of the Madou Monogatari series of dungeon-crawlers and 2) I like that this one looks more than a bit like Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon.

Other possibilities: The Legend of Heroes: Sen no Kiseki, Orgarhythm, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, Tearaway and Touch My Katamari.

51 comments:

Simon Lethbridge said...

I want the first one more than I want to live (>.<)

Lizzi said...

I preordered Persona 4 Golden but cancelled my order. But I already own the PS2 Version of the game so I can wait a little bit more. I think I will buy it sometime soon.

retr0gamer said...

I bought Persona 4 the Golden from playasia 3 weeks ago. Unfortunately I ordered Fire Emblem with it as well which I didn't realise is out of stock so have to wait until they get stock in before they ship it. Grrr... I'm on the look out for a decent priced Disgaea 3 as well, I think those games work better on a handheld.

miruki said...

It's so much better than the PS2 version... *___*

thegaygamer.com said...

Really, Simon? Is that simply because it's a Sega game, or do you want it because of the golf/pinball elements?


BTW, I have a feeling you and I are two of the only non-Japanese folks on the planet who are interested in this game.

thegaygamer.com said...

Why did you do that, Lizzi? Tired of waiting for it, or did you just decide to move onto something else? Or maybe some other reason entirely?

thegaygamer.com said...

I've heard that! The PS2 version's still worth playing, though, isn't it?

thegaygamer.com said...

Yeah, it's certainly nice to be able to play such games whenever/wherever, isn't it, retr0gamer? Sorry you have to wait for both Fire Emblem and Person 4 Golden, by the way. Hopefully they get to you soon!

Chalgyr said...

I hadn't heard of Sei Madou Monogatari yet but it looks and sounds like a title I'd have enjoyed. Gravity Rush and Persona 4 Golden are both excellent so far, and Disgaea 3 has also been quite enjoyable.

thegaygamer.com said...

Sei Madou Monogatari isn't out yet, Chalgyr. I think it'll be out soon, though? So, you can still pick it up :)


As for Gravity Rush and Persona 4 Golden: it's amazing how well-loved both of those games are. Disgaea 3, too, to a point, but I think GR and P4G are the Vita's crowning jewels at the moment.


I wonder, BTW, if Gravity Rush will ever get a sequel. Or has Sony moved on?

Simon Windmill said...

No, add me too. It looks like a Japanese version of the lovely and bizarre Golf? (search for golf question mark if you want more info)

thegaygamer.com said...

TWO SImons are interested in this game? That kind of blows my mind. Also, I'm now going to go look up 'Golf?'...

Simon Lethbridge said...

I can find nothing on 'Golf?' but it's not the easiest thing to search for :| And no, Bryan, I don't just want the game because it's by Sega - I love Japanese golf games generally (well, the arcadey anime-style ones at least!)

thegaygamer.com said...

I can't find anything on 'Golf?' either, Simon :(


As for this game: you and I are interested in it for the same reasons then! I also just like the bright look of it :)

Matt said...

I /know/ Virtua Tennis 4 isn't missing.

miruki said...

Ngh... yes, the PS2 version is still great but I couldn't really bring myself to play that again... Golden basically fixed everything that ever bothered me and added more content... and boy, those sharp visuals on the Vita's screen (tho I do find that the scenery looks even more bland now ^^;) ... it's just the better version.. if you consider ever buying a Vita, I'd just wait and not play the PS2 version first as the game is it's most fun on the first playthrough when you still don't know what's going on and the new scenes and social links add so much to it. :) And you should also try to stay away from story spoilers, I found it to be rather neat how the game makes you figure certain things out by yourself. :)

thegaygamer.com said...

Ha ha! Hey there, lunch/matt :) I know it's weird to hear me say this, but I haven't been all that interested in the Virtua Tennis series for a while (since the second one, I think?), although I couldn't tell you why that is.


What is it about this one that you like so much, by the way?

thegaygamer.com said...

Thanks for sharing more of your thoughts, miruki :) Well, I'll certainly try to wait for the Vita version--assuming I ever get a Vita. I don't yet own the PS2 version, so at least there's that. Oh, and I definitely won't spoil the game for myself before I ever get a chance to play it. No worries there!

Matt said...

It might be worth nothing that Virtua Tennis 4 is the first Virtua Tennis game I've played, but I really loved the board game inspired career mode and the random elements, choices, and item upgrades that made the game feel a bit like a roguelike. The Vita version is also a really incredible port, and while it's not as impressive in screenshots as Uncharted or Gravity Rush, it's incredibly graphically faithful to its console counterparts. It also helps that Sega used Yakuza characters to show off the Vita's photo-based create a character mode, and anything Yakuza related grabs my attention.


Also, it's tennis and tennis is totally rad.

Zaphod65 said...

I still need to dive into Gravity Rush. I really enjoyed the bit I played when they gave it away to PlayStation Plus members, but I've been pulled by other games -- Sly Cooper, Persona 4 Golden, Pokemon, etc. It's on the memory card for when I'm ready.

The only thing I didn't like about Gravity Rush at first was the gyro controls for aiming. Pointing the Vita all over the place when I'm on the bus and surrounded by strangers is more conspicuous than I like to be. Thankfully, there's a menu option to switch to joystick control. lol

thegaygamer.com said...

Hmmm, I like the sounds of the career mode, Matt. That's always one of my favorite elements of a tennis game. So, maybe I'll give it a look after all--assuming I ever buy a Vita.


I'm a huge tennis buff, by the way--both in real life and when it comes to games. Is the same true for you?

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh! I was just going to ask you if you could turn of gyro controls. That's good! Every game that features such controls should offer a more traditional alternative, IMO. Really wish Rhythm Thief for 3DS had offered such an option, for instance. Anyway, I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed what you've played of GR so far :)

Lizzi said...

To save some money. New games are soooooo expensive! But I will buy the game as soon as possible. :)

Lizzi said...

Awww du macht dass ich es jetzt spielen will :(
Ich finde den Einstieg ins Spiel (bei der PS2 Version) so ermüdent dass ich es nie richtig gespielt habe.
Haben sie das ein wenig aufgelockert? :D

thegaygamer.com said...

Ah! You're speaking in code!! (Just kidding...)

thegaygamer.com said...

I hear ya, Lizzi. Portable games costing $40 (here in the US) is a terrible thing, if you ask me. My wallet cries!

Matt said...

If I'm remembering correctly, we had a talk about Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip, which is the first tennis game I've ever played (and absolutely loved); Virtua Tennis 4 being the second. The only time I've ever played tennis was during a couple of months in summer school, and while I enjoyed it, it was never something I pursued. It'd be fun to get into it on a casual level.

Simply_Awful said...

I know nothing about Vita, it seems like no one talks about it much (outside of vita news sites). This was pretty illuminating though, I really want to try @field! It has a great look, kind of reminds me of Space Channel 5. As of now the only games out that I really wanna play would be Uncharted (no idea if it turned out good or not) and Gravity Rush. Maybe I'll look into getting one if it really picks up by this fall.

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, yes, I remember that conversation now. Sorry about that. So, which tennis game do you prefer between SHT: Get a Grip and VT4?

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, yes, SA, I also really like how @field looks like Space Channel 5. Honestly, it'd probably be my first Vita game--along w/ maybe Dokuro--if ever I were to get the system. It's going to take a price cut or two and some more games for me to do that, though.

Lizzi said...

Most of them cost 49,99€ in Europe which is 65 ins USD. I have to admit that I only pay so much money for games I reaaaaally want and can't wait for any longer (just as Animal Crossing NL).

Lizzi said...

I asked her if the beginning of the game is different in the Vita version because in the PS2 version it was kinda boring (I really hope so). Because that was what held me back from playing it all the time.

thegaygamer.com said...

Thanks, Lizzi :) Actually, I kind of knew what you said because I fed it into Google Translate :) Sorry to be so nosy!

thegaygamer.com said...

Yikes! Well, then, it seems you guys have it even worse than we do. Sorry about that!

Matt said...

No problem; I didn't mean it as a guilt trip.

I don't have a clear preference. I love HST's stage variety and completely cartoonish absurdity, and while the story is so completely banal (and that's on top of the fact that I choose to take it as a parody), I do like that the game has a story mode. On the other hand, Virtua Tennis 4's mechanics just feel more responsive and reactive, and Hot Shots Tennis can feel more like a strategy game than a sports game. VT4 also doesn't have any crazy difficulty spikes, which is my biggest problem with HST. I didn't play HST for a couple of months because I couldn't get past a boss and I'm now at a similar spot in the game where I'm finding things more frustrating than fun. While they're both arcady, I do think VT4 and HST are games with different ideas of what a sports game should look like, and rather than enjoy one over the other, I like to think that they compliment one another.

thegaygamer.com said...

Interesting! I definitely agree that both games/series seem to be aiming for different things, so I can see where you'd think they complement each other. Anyway, it seems I'll have to give VT4 a try should I ever pick up a Vita.

Matt said...

Yeah, it's a sad day when the guy who'll buy games he's never heard of based off their cover alone won't buy a Vita. :( I'm making owning a Vita your 2013 resolution.

thegaygamer.com said...

But, Matt, I don't yet have a PS3! You'd actually suggest I get a Vita before a PS3? And then there's the Wii U to talk about...


I know this will disappoint you, but I can pretty much guarantee that I won't be buying a Vita this year. The 3DS is going to be my main focus this year, along w/ retro stuff. Near the end of the year I'll likely pick up a Wii U. So, 2014 will either be the year of the PS3 or the year of the Vita for me, I think.

Matt said...

Awww.


I know you briefly touched on the fact that you don't have a PS3 in the latest Nichiest Cast, but do you plan to pick up a PS3 regardless of how the PS4's backwards compatibility streaming solution turns out?


It's funny, I have a 3DS that I play slightly more than my Vita, but the less I use my 3DS, the more I just want to sell it, which isn't a thought I have with my Vita. I loved the DS, but I'm finding that I have little patience for the 3DS' shortcomings, and I think the Vita's spoiled me. I'm not entirely sure what's different about this generation's handhelds, but both are fairly unsatisfying, and as somebody who has always been primarily handheld focused, it's rather disappointing.


HarmoKnight and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D are the only 3DS games I'm interested in, and I've hit that ridiculous point where I'm starting to buy games just so I can have things to play.

thegaygamer.com said...

I'm not sure if I'll buy a PS3 in the end, Matt. Although I know there are a number of games I'd like to play on the system, there aren't so many of them that I feel I'd be greatly missing out if I passed on them and the system entirely.


As for the PS4: I'm not really that interested in the system at all at this point, regardless of the backwards compatibility issue. The system is sure to be about $500 at launch, and that's just an absurd price point for me.


I'd actually be a *bit* more interested in it if it were fully backwards compatible with the PS3--as in, you could stick PS3 discs into it and play them--but the idea of buying and streaming PS3 games has little/no appeal to me.


I'm kind of surprised to hear you say that, for you, the 3DS has a number of shortcomings. What exactly are these shortcomings, if you don't mind me asking?


For me, although I'd be hard-pressed to say I like the 3DS more than I liked the DS at this point, I like it a hell of a lot and I have a feeling that at the end of this 'era' I'll love the 3DS nearly as much as I loved the DS.


That's mainly due to the software library, admittedly, but I also really like the OS and Street/SpotPass and stuff like that. Are you upset that the 3DS doesn't have certain media capabilities or something?


I'm sure this is all a "to each his/her own" situation in the end--especially since, at the moment, I'm having to cancel plans to buy certain 3DS games because I have too many others to play at the moment (or will soon)--games like Fire Emblem: Awakening, Etrian Odyssey IV, Soul Hackers, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon and Animal Crossing: New Leaf. And that's not even taking into consideration some of the awesome eShop games like Crimson Shroud and Crashmo.


Are you not interested in ANY of these titles?

Matt said...

Yeah, I can understand that. I'm not in a position to buy a new console regardless of its price, so talk of the PS4 is a bit of a non-starter, but it's interesting that you're sort of deadlocked.

As you said, these are entirely subjective, but to go down the list:

Each time I pick up the device, I'm reminded by how cheap the 3DS feels. The original had all sorts of weird issues, especially with the hinge, that I never had with my Lite or DSi, and now, moving on to the XL, I can't help noticing how plastic the thing is. The d-pads on both the original system and the XL are also horrid, whereas the Vita's d-pad is possibly the best (in my limited console history) I've had the pleasure of using. This isn't a fair or even particularly interesting comparison, but it's a bit insane that my phone and my 3DS XL cost the same amount, since my Nexus 4 is so much nicer, and I really do think that having the device feel nice is crucial to using it. I pick up my phone all the time because I enjoy how shiny and glassy it feels (to be fair, I bought it a month ago), and I do the same with my Vita. For whatever reason, the 3DS feels more...conducive to play than my Vita when I turn it on, but I've hidden my XL out of sight so that anybody who walks into my dorm doesn't have to gaze upon it. The 3DS is also rather uncomfortable to use, and while the XL alleviated some of those issues, I still don't like holding it for extended periods of time. It's a problem I have to a lesser extent with the Vita, although I never had a problem the Lite, DSi, or PSP.

I don't mind the 3DS' media capabilities as I don't use things like Netflix and the like as I don't have accounts for those services, and while the Vita has a lot of phone-like applications that are nifty, the applications themselves are rather half-baked and a tad pointless, and they almost overcomplicate the device.

If it weren't for the fact that I haven't played a 3DS game in a while, I really wouldn't be interested in the titles you mentioned. Fire Emblem isn't my cup of tea, and it's still so scarce that my initial excitement has plateaued (which is strange, as I play all of my games late, so I'm not sure why this particular delay is affecting me), Etrian Odyssey IV is a bit too repetitive for my tastes, Soul Hackers looks a bit bland, and I haven't liked the SMT games I've played (Devil Survivor, Persona 1, 2, and 4), Luigi's Mansion doesn't look diverse enough to engage my interests, and I don't really enjoy Nintendo's games, so I'll admit that I haven't given it too much of a look, and Animal Crossing is just. I don't even know what Animal Crossing is. I played a game called Animal Crossing: Wild World, but I'm not entirely convinced it was the same Animal Crossing that everybody else played because I found Wild World to be the most convincing portrait of an ADHD ridden paranoid schizophrenic I've ever played. I've never played a game where doing so little is so exhausting. I didn't like Pushmo, so I've avoided Crashmo, and outside of the aforementioned HarmoKnight, nothing else coming out on the eShop catches my eye. Coaster Creator 3D looks decent and there are some VC titles (Kid Dracula!) I'd like to see.

I received a 3DS as a gift (the only reasons I had for wanting one were Ace Attorney, Dragon Quest, and the Rollercoaster Tycoon game that was reportedly absolutely abysmal, so I was choosing to wait before I purchased one myself) so it's not as if I didn't know what I was getting into, but that doesn't make the system any more exciting. At least I can continue plugging away at Hot Shots on my Vita while I wait for Ys and Tearaway to come out, whereas the 3DS' horrific blurring (or alternatively, giant letterboxing) of DS games makes me wish I never sold my DSi.

Haha, I don't know how your Vita post became my 3DS whining corner. I'll try not to drag down your comment box next time!

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, don't worry about it, Matt. I like having conversations like the one we're having right now, so please don't feel you're dragging things down, etc.


Anyway, one question I have for you concerning the 3DS: given how you feel/felt about the original 3DS system and your disinterest in Nintendo games in particular, why did you go and buy an XL? I'm honestly curious!


Also, I have to agree with you that both the original 3DS and XL systems leave a bit to be desired in the design department, the OG system especially (thanks to its sharp corners and loose hinge).


That's particularly annoying to me because Nintendo did such a great job with the GBA SP, GB Micro, DSlite and DSi. Not sure if some new designers came up with the designs for the 3DS systems or what, but I hope their next update/system is more like the sleek, not-cheap systems they used to create.


Going way back to our conversation about the PS4: I wouldn't say it's a sure thing that I'll never be interested in the PS4. At the moment, though, I'm not. At all. If after seeing what it's capable of, though, and after seeing the library it's able to build up over its first or second year of existence, though, I may change my tune--especially if the price comes down to reasonable levels.


Regardless, though, I'm finding myself less and less interested in consoles these days--to the point where I sometimes wonder why I'm even interested in the Wii U. Maybe I should spend my money instead on 3DS and Vita games as well as those for older systems like the DS, PSP, PSone, PC Engine and Famicom?

Matt said...

I had really bad hand cramps with the original 3DS and I was hoping that once the system stopped being physically uncomfortable to play, I would play it more. I was also hoping the larger screen would improve how DS games looked (as early reports indicated), and coming from the Vita, I found the original 3DS screen really small, so I thought that having a larger screen would also improve my experience. Rhythm Thief was also out, and I was really interested in the game, although I ended up not caring for it.

I completely forgot how great the Micro was. I owned one for a couple of months before selling it, and while I never really used the system (I bought it for Mother 3 and kept running into a save issue), it was such a lovely device.

I'm interested in the PS4 because I enjoy Naughty Dog's output, and the Yakuza series will undoubtedly be on the PS4 (although I'm skeptical that Sega will publish Yakuza 5 in America, let alone a PS4 Yakuza 6 or spinoff), and for reasons I can't sum up, I really like the PS4's UI. It looks really simple and streamlined, and while I don't have any sort of affinity to a particular company (despite everything I just said about the Vita versus the 3DS), I've always been enchanted by Sony's marketing around the idea of play. If you'll excuse my use of the word, it just seems magical. Unfortunately, the lack of backwards compatibility is going to make it a hard sell, as I don't really own a PS3 currently, and I'm not looking forward to buying the console just so I can access the seven or so games I own.

I'm kind of wondering why you're interested in the Wii U as well. I'm surprised you can go back to older systems--I bought a Dreamcast a while back and I never touch it. That might have a bit to do with the games themselves (Shenmue ended up being a huge letdown), but I find it difficult to go back to old consoles in general, and rather than buying a PS3, I might just sell the games I own as I know I won't go back to them anyway.

I'm starting to think I'm just losing my interest in games. If it weren't for the fact that I bought VT4 digitally, I'd have sold the game as I'm mostly done with it, and I wouldn't have a single game for my Vita, despite having purchased (and selling) Rayman Origins, LittleBigPlanet, Persona 4, and Gravity Rush. The only 3DS game I own is Ocarina of Time which isn't doing anything for me. There isn't anything coming out on the PS3 that I'm really excited for outside of Yakuza 5. The Last of Us looks great, I think Remember Me looks cool, but it's hard to get excited for any of them. Dragon Quest, Yakuza, and Ace Attorney are the three franchises that are really keeping me buying consoles, and the chances of the latest entries in each of those series coming out in America are dubious, and I didn't care for the previous two Ace Attorney games we got anyway, so my excitement for AA5 is pretty tapered.



What I'm trying to say is that I spent $500 altogether on a 3DS and Vita, and I've ended up enjoying a $2 pinball game on my phone more than anything I've played on either system. To be fair, the pinball game has cool robots.

thegaygamer.com said...

Well, then, your decision to pick up an XL at least makes sense now--especially since you received your OG 3DS as a gift (if I understood your last comment correctly).


Given your reasons, though, I can understand why you are/were disappointed by the XL, too. Although it doesn't cause hand-cramping like the OG, it's pretty darn top-heavy and that alone makes it kind of uncomfortable to hold/use, too, doesn't it? Also, I honestly can't imagine playing DS games on the XL. Of course, you're looking at someone who's seriously considering picking up a DSi XL because I hate the idea of playing games that are boxed/letterboxed, and on top of that I find my DSlite's screens to be a bit too small. Sigh.


Oh, and as for Rhythm Thief: my god, what a disappointing game that was for me :( Absolutely LOVED the demo, and I liked the premise of it before I played the full game, but the final product was far too boring for its own good, IMO.


Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Sony in general and the PS4 in particular. I always find it interesting to hear about why someone is interested in a particular company or system, as each of us tends to have vastly different reasons for our allegiances (for lack of a better word).


For me, I've really liked Sony's past systems--PS1, PS2 and PSP--but I have next to no affinity for or interest in them as a company. On the other hand, I've always been intrigued by Nintendo--although I think I went over this a few days ago, didn't I? Sorry about that, if so.


I'm interested in the Wii U, BTW, because I've always liked Nintendo's attempts at doing things a bit differently--as they did with the DS and Wii, especially. I like what I've seen of Miiverse, I really liked the Gamepad when I got a chance to use it, and I'm looking forward to some of the DS-like experiences they're able to create for the system.


That said, they haven't shown a lot of games yet that interest me. Assuming they're shown eventually, I'll no doubt pick up a Wii U late this year or early next. If they don't, though, that's OK--I certainly won't mind having a little extra money to spend on something else.


As for my interest in older games and systems: I'm sure of it is due to nostalgia, but not all of it. In general, I just prefer games that were made 10 and 20 years ago to those made today. I think developers were more creative, for starters. Also, I tend to prefer pixel-based games to those made using polygons, although that's definitely not always true.

Matt said...

I agree that the XL is top-heavy, and if I took anything away from Kid Icarus, it's that I really prefer putting the system on a stand than holding it. Not that I'm so lazy and weak that I can't manage to hold a handheld console; it's just uncomfortable to handle for extended periods.


I felt the same way about Rhythm Thief and I couldn't believe how few actual songs there were. It was all just really mindless, which is such a damn shame.


I can definitely understand being interested in Nintendo's recent consoles because of the novel approaches they're taking. The first console I ever really owned was a PS2, and the PS3 had already launched by that point, so none of Nintendo's home consoles have ever really been part of my gaming, and as a result, I don't have any fondness for their franchises. I don't mean to be cynical, but I think it's a lot easier to become enraptured by Mario or Zelda at an early age, and especially since both franchises seem to playing (Mario significantly more so) on their fanbase's nostalgia--a nostalgia I don't have--I've just concluded that neither franchise is for me. And because I don't have any connection to their franchises and have never owned any of Nintendo's home consoles, the Wii U just isn't on my map. If I want something for multiplatform titles, the Wii U wouldn't be my first choice, and the experiences Nintendo has to offer aren't for me.


I can certainly understand nostalgia being a factor, although you seem to go for a lot of obscure Japanese games (and consoles) that I'm assuming you didn't grow up with, and I just don't have that sort of patience myself. :( The process of buying old consoles and getting genuine carts and all of that jazz all looks so overwhelming.

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh, yes, I agree that the XL can be uncomfortable to hold for extended periods of time. That's why I tend to play games on it while laying on the floor.

RE: Rhythm Thief--yes, calling the game mindless is pretty spot-on, IMO. Waaaaaay too much text, if you ask me, and not enough music. Also, too many of the rhythm games were too short for my liking. If Sega could have cut the text by a ton and increased the amount of and length of the rhythm games (and gotten rid of the terrible gyro-controlled ones), it would have been a much more enjoyable experience.

I can see what you're saying RE: Mario and Zelda and it being easier to enjoy them if you grew up on them--esp. if you grew up playing their earliest releases. That said, I don't think nostalgia is the big attraction for me when it comes to these games. I haven't been interested in Zelda since OOT, for instance, and although I still like Mario quite a bit, it's more due to the gameplay than the protagonist, etc. Still, I acknowledge that nostalgia's likely a big factor for a lot of Mario and Zelda fans.

Finally, in regards to my interest in and love of retro gaming: it really is about 50 percent nostalgia for me and 50 percent an interest in the kinds of games that were made in the past. On the nostalgia side of the coin, a lot of it is due to acquiring games and systems that I wanted to own/play as a kid but never got the chance to own/play, and on the other side of the coin, it's often due to me discovering interesting/quirky/unique games that I've never heard of and wanting to experience them.



You don't have to feel bad about not understanding my passion for these games and systems, though, or finding the whole thing overwhelming, etc. It makes perfect sense to me. It's kind of like how I don't always understand why some gamers are obsessed with games that look better and better or more and more realistic.

Isidro said...

I play my vita a lot. Everyday, in fact. I'm currently obsessed with Playstation All Stars Battle Royale. But Persona 4, Jet Set Radio, Lumines, Gravity Rush, and a plethora of PS Classic games are on rotation.

I still have a PSP, which I love dearly. I would pay psp games more if only I could use my UMDs on the vita :/

Simon Windmill said...

Guuuuuuys, I told you explicitly what to search for! https://www.google.com/search?q=golf+question+mark

Here's an example of the insanity, from their FAQ:

Q. What is that on top of the golfers head?
A. If you pressed 4 in the driving range, then its a gun. If you pressed 5, it's a Utah teapot. And If you pressed 6 it's Blue Shirt from Ken's stage of Super Street Fighter 2X: Grand Master Challenge.

And here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_65__COR5uA

thegaygamer.com said...

OK, Simon, this game that you pointed out makes @field seem completely pedestrian! Anyway, thanks for the link and especially for the video :)

Simon Windmill said...

PS - I may or may not have a Vita now <_<

thegaygamer.com said...

Oh! Did you find a deal somewhere? Regardless, did you get any games along w/ the system?