PlayStation Vita Buyer's Guide

Sony’s next generation handheld, the PlayStation Vita, begins today with the official arrival of the First Edition Bundle. The remaining future Vita owners join them next week on Wednesday, February 22nd. But if you’re one of the people lucky enough to be picking up a Vita, you need to know what to buy. What games should you get? What accessories do you need? Don’t worry: PSLS has you covered with our PlayStation Vita buyer’s guide, your one-stop resource for all of the things you need to consider to begin your next-gen portable gaming experience.

Games We Recommend

1. Uncharted: Golden Abyss ($49.99)

Sony Bend offers a handheld take on Naughty Dog’s best-selling PS3 franchise that makes the transition with a surprising amount of the quality graphics and gameplay experience intact. Drake, Dante, and Marisa Chase uncover the dark secret behind a 400-year-old massacre of a Spanish expedition as they race into Central America in search of a lost city. The game is a showcase for Vita, as it offers stunning near-HD visuals that shine on Vita’s OLED screen, utilizes the touch screen for puzzle solving, and uses the motion sensor for aiming assistance. Also, voice actors Nolan North (Drake) and Richard McGonagle (Sully) return to voice their characters for true Uncharted authenticity. Uncharted: Golden Abyss is the standout title of the PlayStation Vita launch that everyone should consider picking up. Read full review >>

2. Lumines: Electronic Symphony ($39.99)

The Q? Entertainment puzzle series that made quite the impact on the PSP launch returns on PlayStation Vita with a brand-new installment that boasts better graphics, 34 licensed songs from electronic music artists that comprise the game’s tracklist, a new experience system that helps gamers unlock new skins, multiplayer, and avatars that give the player an ability in single player and multiplayer modes. Lumines: ES has traditional d-pad and analog stick control support, in addition to front touch screen controls to help newcomers play as well. Anyone who’s played a Lumines game can tell you that the gameplay formula is simple, fun, and addictive — Lumines: Electronic Symphony will undoubtedly be the same. Read full review >>

3. Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 ($39.99)

Capcom’s handheld installment of their best-selling fighting game might be the most value-packed of any game in the PlayStation Vita launch lineup, as it offers just about every single feature from its home console counterpart. 50 playable characters, traditional controls in addition to touch screen control support, everything from UMVC3 (including Heroes & Heralds mode, which was added to UMVC3 after release), Wi-Fi online multiplayer, Spectator Mode, Vita-exclusive replay save and playback, content trade via NEAR functionality, the ability to share DLC content from the PS3 version with the Vita version, and the ability to use Vita as a controller for the PS3 version of the game (with touch screen control support!) are all features included in the game. With all of those features — not to mention the addictive UMVC3 fighting formula — UMVC3 Vita is a content-packed must-have for Vita owners. Read the full review >>

4. WipEout 2048 ($39.99)

Sony’s futuristic anti-gravity racing series WipEout returns to PlayStation platforms once more with WipEout 2048. Cross-platform play with PS3 owners via WipEout HD, an online multiplayer mode with a campaign style (either mode supports up to eight players), co-op missions, and touch, tilt, and voice command support round out the game’s impressive feature set. WipEout 2048, like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, is another game with visuals that will shine brightly on the system’s OLED screen. Gamers looking for a fast-paced racing fix should consider picking SCEE Studio Liverpool’s Vita installment of the long-running series. Read full review >>

5. Rayman Origins ($39.99)

Michel Ancel’s limbless wonder returns for action in this port of the critically acclaimed 2D platformer released last year for home consoles. Although missing the multiplayer from the console version, Ubisoft has strived to include all of the gameplay from the home console version of the game. They’ve also included a zoom feature (so that gamers can find the game’s many collectibles) and a Ghost mode (where players can challenge each other’s ghosts at speed runs). Gamers who missed out on the game’s first release and/or are looking for a quality platformer to enjoy with their new handheld should consider picking up the Vita version. Read full review >>

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