The Best PSP RPGs Available Right Now
The PSP is seemingly something of an overlooked RPG behemoth, with RPG series such as Monster Hunter, Disgaea, Star Ocean, Final Fantasy and Phantasy Star swelling its RPG ranks to the point of bursting.
Thanks to that fact, compiling this list was no easy feat. I find myself knowing that this list is missing some of the best RPG offerings on the console, but slimming that large library down to five was not easy. Before we get to our top five, here are our Near Misses.
The Near Misses
Picking out this list was a difficult process, and a few absolutely incredible RPGs didn't make the cut as a result. Chief amongst these is Nippon Ichi's Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days, an incredibly competent and complete handheld port of the PS2 title that actually comes out better than the original game.
Also there on the near misses list is Dissidia: Final Fantasy, missing out partially due to the fact it isn't a strictly traditional RPG and partly due to the fact the storyline is bare bones. It may not quite be top five material, but Dissidia is definitely a must-have for all FF fans.
Finally we have some space RPGs - the pairing of Star Ocean First Evolution and Second Departure, great remakes of the first two titles in the Star Ocean series, and Phantasy Star Portable, a well executed portable version of the online classic. All of the games in this section are well worth your time, and borderline must-have - so go get 'em.
The Very Best PSP RPGs
5. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Final Fantasy Tactics is considered by many to be one of the best strategy RPGs ever made, though the biggest negative mark against it was how badly the PS1 original had aged. With a hammy translation and low resolution, the game was difficult to play in the modern age.
We can be thankful for War of the Lions, then, a version of the title for the PSP that goes beyond a port with a full retranslation, new scenarios and pretty new animation stories to help flesh out the storyline. Square Enix even went as far as to add some newer FF cameos into the game along with the ones in the original.
FFT: The War of the Lions is a chance to experience a classic without having to deal with the bits that time hasn't been kind to. Everything that made the original great is still there including the hard-as-nails, addictive SRPG gameplay - it just looks, sounds and reads better.
4. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite couldn't be further from the previous title on the list, with action-RPG gameplay built specifically for the PSP from the ground up. Thanks to that fact the game's graphics are positively gorgeous and the gameplay itself split into shorter missions, designed for handheld play in shorter bursts.
The action-RPG gameplay is addictive, the soundtrack is superb and the amount of content in the game is simply astounding. All this, combined with its 'designed for handheld' approach make Monster Hunter Freedom Unite a delicious prospect for PSP owners, and a must-own game for RPG fans.
Monster Hunter is something of a phenomenon in Japan, and is partially responsible for the success of the console over there. While the series has moved to Wii for now, Sony can be content that the best title in the series - this - is only on their handheld.
3. Jeanne d'Arc
Level 5 are a very popular RPG developer, and if you want to know why Jeanne d'Arc is the ideal way to see. Another strategy RPG, Level 5 roughly adapts the story of Joan of Arc during the Hundred Years War for an RPG, mixing fantasy elements with some historically accurate characters and events.
Not only one of the best titles on the PSP, Jeanne d'Arc stands next to FFT as one of the greatest strategy RPGs of all time. While the title has some shortcomings these are clearly part of its design as everything Level 5 set out to do they accomplish with a level of polish rarely seen at all, leave alone on handheld machines.
Jeanne d'Arc is a far too overlooked gem for the PSP, and a skillful example of how to make a game that is a complete, satisfying package. A must play.
2. Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness
The guys over at Nippon Ichi are now known as some of the masters of the truly Japanese RPG, making no effort to Westernize their games, instead localizing them for the fans who admire the culture the games were built for. Despite this broader reputation, their true rise in popularity in the West can be traced back to one game: Disgaea.
Originally released on the PS2 in 2003, Disgaea was the start of a revival of the strategy RPG genre and proof that Japanese-styled games could sell in the West without heavy localization in the 3D age. Disgaea has a hilarious and compelling storyline, memorable characters, great gameplay and sprite artwork that'll recall days of gaming past.
Disgaea's PSP port may not be entirely original or exclusive, but it's still a must-own for any PSP RPG fan - the game becomes even more addictive on the go, and it's definitely one of the more important RPGs of the decade, as it started the Western rise of one of today's most prolific JRPG publishers.
1. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
It's kind of true that Crisis Core's inclusion on this list is partially influenced by rose-tinted glasses for the Final Fantasy VII universe, but the manner in which Crisis Core recalls the world of arguably the most important JRPG of all time and tugs at your heartstrings with familiar characters, locations and lines of dialogue is simply masterful.
Aside from the familiar faces, places and music, Crisis Core has great action-RPG gameplay underneath, with manages to combine elements of FF7 such as Materia with a completely different style of gameplay without seeming forced or out of place.
It can get a little repetitive, but the true star of the show here is the story. Some of the new elements are a little iffy, but Crisis Core is a well-written, well-translated and well-acted game, with impressive graphics for a handheld title, with most of the story events taking place in-engine.
Crisis Core is a great showcase of what the PSP can do, a great trip down memory lane and a great RPG overall. I dare anyone who played FF7 not to feel shivers down their spine when they see the events in Nibelheim from Zack's perspective...
The Very Best Related Games
What's a related game? It's a game that isn't technically an RPG but one that we feel RPG fans will love and should give a go. In the case of the PSP we've picked out one, and it's related to another title in this list...
1. Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
If you're one of the unfortunate people who hasn't played Disgaea, you won't know what a Prinny is - they're minor characters from the series with some rather explosive qualities. In this title they reign supreme - and yes - they are the heroes.
Prinny is a Hack-and-Slash platformer that's so difficult it hands you 1000 lives at the start, confident that with even this number of lives the game will be a challenge - and it is. It's got all the great storyline qualities you'd expect from a Disgaea title, with cameo roles from many of the best characters from the main Disgaea series.
It's hard, fun and unashamedly Japanese, and holds many of the qualities that RPG fans love - and so it's our best recommendation of a non-RPG for RPG gamers on the PSP.
That about wraps it up for our Best PSP RPGs article - for now. If you're hungry for more PSP you can head to our PSP Portal, but our firm recommendation is that you grab some - if not all - of the games on this list.
Don't forget to also check out our top picks of Playstation 3 RPGs and Xbox 360 RPGs, too!
Stick with us at RPGSite for all the latest on PSP RPGs, including a series of PSP RPG catch-up reviews over the next few weeks - reviewing the games we missed out on reviewing when they first came out.