Top 10 PlayStation Vita JRPGs (First Three Years)
Ten ways to skin a dragon
Written by A.J. Maciejewski for PlayStation Vita on
If there's a single genre that stands out on the Vita, it's JRPGs. On this day three years ago, the PlayStation Vita was widely released in North America and I wrote this list to mark the occasion. So, slip into some comfortable cosplay and enjoy this look back at ten incredibly fantastical stories of slaying demons and saving the world. As a side note, strategy games aren't included in this list (sorry, Disgaea).
10 Atelier Rorona Plus: The Alchemist of Arland
Join Rorona on her quest to keep the doors of her family's financially unsuccessful alchemy workshop open. As a remake of a PlayStation 3 game that came out four years prior, Atelier Rorona Plus does a great job of updating the modern classic with improved graphics and plenty of new content. If you enjoy this one then be sure to check out Totori, Meruru, and Ayesha's Vita adventures as well.
9 Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth1
Here's another remake of a few years old PlayStation 3 game. The plot revolves around a struggle known as, believe it or not, the Console War. You play as a goddess named Neptune whose land represents a fictional game console. What the other goddesses' lands named Lastation, Lowee, and Leanbox represent is a complete mystery (if you've just awaken from a decade-long coma). Anyway, this remake is an entire overhaul of the original, so if you didn't like it before then you may actually enjoy this version.
8 Freedom Wars
In an overpopulated dystopian future where simply existing is a crime, you must complete a seemingly endless list of tasks in order to lower your sentence. After finally beating the game, you may be a prisoner for only a few hundred thousand more years. Yay?
7 Demon Gaze
Old school first person dungeon crawler fans rejoice! Demon Gaze brings retro dungeon exploring to the modern age with hours upon hours of uncovering a multitude of maps all while maintaining a ridiculously sophomoric sense of humour. Pull up your undies and find enough treasure so you can pay Fran the rent that you owe. Trust me; you wouldn't want to make her angry.
6 Muramasa Rebirth
As a port of a 2009 Wii game with plenty of additional content, Muramasa Rebirth fits perfectly on Sony's handheld. Muramasa is definitely an underrated gem featuring beautiful hand-crafted art (similar to the developer's previous game Odin Sphere) and intense hack and slash battles. Any action RPG fan who hasn't tried it yet would be surprised that they've been missing out on such an impressive experience.
5 Soul Sacrifice
Gamers delighted in taking a trip to the dark side when Soul Sacrifice was released in 2013. The massive action-based battles made levelling up your character to the point where they can take down colossal enemies a rewarding journey. After saving and sacrificing countless hordes of demonic creatures, will you save or sacrifice the sorcerer who enslaved you?
4 Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster
Final Fantasy X impressed many fans when it initially released more than a decade earlier as the first main Final Fantasy with full 3D graphics and voice acting. Although some find the journey too drawn-out at times, there's no denying the impact that it had on the genre since its debut. With the direct sequel also included, this package is a must-buy for anyone wanting to adventure back to Spira.
3 Tales of Hearts R
Tales of Hearts was only released to Japanese audiences for DS back in 2008, so being able to play a remake of it in North America without having to import is a treat. If you enjoy Tales then this is one worth checking out as it's one of the best portable titles that the series has to offer. However, if you speak the language, you may find the clashing Japanese dialog and English text distracting.
2 Ys: Memories of Celceta
As the third incarnation of the fourth Ys game (let that sink in for a second), Memories of Celceta continues the successful portable formula that's already been established in The Ark of Napishtim, The Oath in Felghana, and Seven. You'll indulge in exploring the more open-ended world while taking on a vast assortment of side quests as the legendary Adol Christin. That being said, all of the fun to be had may actually distract you from the main story. Wait, what's the goal of this game? I forgot; I have amnesia.
1 Persona 4 Golden
By the time this version of Persona 4 came out it was already well established as one of the best JRPGs for PlayStation 2. However, the developers' painstaking attention to detail and ability to tweak everything to perfection made it even better for PlayStation Vita. Just remember, next time it's raining outside in the middle of the night, don't look at your TV!
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