PS Vita owners haven't had that much to fall back on since the console launched. A handful of decent launch titles, some average releases since, and the promise of big third-party titles that just don't seem all that special.
But while the CoD's and Assassin's Creed's might be the franchises that attract the masses to Vita, those that have already invested actually have plenty of reason to hold onto their powerful portable.
Here's eight niche games to keep a look out for on PlayStation Network for PS Vita. Which ones are you looking forward to the most?
Snapshot
Release Date: TBA 2012
Snapshot is a game about photographs. In the game, players can capture the environment in photos to solve puzzles, overcome enemies, and maybe even save the world!
Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath HD
Release Date: TBA 2012
In the dusty, undeveloped wastelands of Western Mudos, cantankerous townsfolk find their settlements besieged by belligerent outlaws. Along comes Stranger, a tall, dark and enigmatic bounty hunter with a critter-firing crossbow. First released in 2005, Stranger’s Wrath has been passionately upgraded for this HD release.
Jet Set Radio HD
Release Date: September 2012
Tag, grind, and trick to the beat in SEGA’s hit game Jet Set Radio! Fight for control of Tokyo-to, mark your turf with graffiti, tag walls, billboards, and even rival gang members! Perform tricks and flips on magnetically driven in-line skates, but watch out for the local police force! Jet Set Radio is part of Sega’s Heritage Collection series and now features lush HD visuals, developer interviews, and amazing fan-created graffiti.
Sine Mora
Release Date: October 2012
Ronotra Koss is a serial revenge killer, blackmailing a young girl and smuggling military grade aibots. A phantom cell of time-travelling partisans is determined to infiltrate Siriad - the floating fortress guarding the peace and prosperity of their planet. A diesel-punk shoot 'em up game co-developed by Grasshopped Manufacturer and Digital Reality, it's set to bring an all-new side-scrolling shooting experience to Vita.
Retro City Rampage
Release Date: November 2012
A parody of the open-world action genre, Retro City Rampage takes modern game mechanics and mashes them into an authentic 8-bit experience. Equal parts fast paced arcade action and an epic mission based story mode, it's all the driving and shooting you'd expect and a whole lot more! With missions that twist pages straight from classic game experiences, you get to re-live and rewrite history in a way only a modern anti-hero could!
Spy Hunter
Release Date: October 2012
Spy Hunter is a reboot of the legendary combat driving series and races forward on its most thrilling and dangerous ride yet. The player once again takes on the role of the “Agent,” the driver of the high-tech G-6155 Interceptor supercar, armed extensively with advanced weaponry, and ready to take on a global terrorist organization set on world domination. The Interceptor seamlessly transforms from supercar to off-road assault vehicle to speed boat, allowing players to go where they like within its branching mission tracks.
Guacamelee
Release Date: Late 2012
Guacamelee! is a Metroid-vania style action-platformer set in a magical Mexican inspired world. The game features a down on his luck Mexican named Juan Aguacate, who sets out to save the world when El Presidente’s Daughter is kidnapped by an Evil Charro Skeleton. The story takes place in and around a small village in Mexico, and has the player travelling through alternate dimensions including “The World of the Dead” and “The World of Nightmares” on his quest to rescue the girl he loves.
Tearaway
Release Date: TBA 2013
Using the god-like powers inherent to someone who can hold an entire world in their giant hands, you can make your presence felt using a whole range of godly powers that take advantage of all of the Vita’s bells and whistles—some subtle and some epic. You can shake things up or turn them upside down. A gentle breath from you is a gusty storm. You can even poke your fingers into the back of the PS Vita to tear through into the world and help iota complete this very special delivery.
Which PS Vita game are you most looking forward to?