Filed under: Tips
December has finally begun. You know what that means: only 25 days left until Christmas. Whether you're a newcomer, or a long time fan, PSP has a lot to offer this holiday season. Read up on what's hot and what's not, and make sure you get the best stocking stuffer for the PSP fan.Hardware
If you're looking to get a new PSP system, there's one clear choice: the PSP Daxter Entertainment Pack is the best deal of the bunch, giving you almost everything you need for the ultimate PSP experience. Daxter is an accessible game for all ages, and is one of the system's best. Add a great Family Guy UMD movie, a 1GB Memory Stick, and a sleek looking silver PSP, and you have a great gaming value. For $30 less, you'll get a standard black machine which doesn't include all of these goodies.
Accessories
One of the great new features of the PSP is the ability to output gameplay to a TV. If your giftee has the new PSP model and an HDTV, make sure you give him or her these Component AV Cables. Getting anything else won't allow you to play games on the TV, so make sure you check the packaging carefully.
This is for the hardcore PSP user. If you know someone that loves watching movies, listening to music, and playing games on his or PSP, you can't go wrong with this admittedly pricey gift. However, with downloads on the PLAYSTATION Store already topping 1GB, this will be an incredible gift for those that want to make the most of their systems. 8GB of Memory Stick data is the most you can get right now. Chances are, you'll surprise anyone with a gift like this.
The PSP 2000 is great. There's one problem: there aren't many cases to protect it right now. The best options currently are soft pouches. We wanted to point you to some of the cooler import cases, but they're hard to come by.
Software
Easily the most misunderstood PSP game of the year, SOCOM: Tactical Strike offers an unprecedented amount of gameplay and depth for a handheld game. This is definitely not for the average gamer. Rather, give this game to someone that appreciates strategy and military simulation. Most likely, if your giftee prefers the typical run-and-gun action of a SOCOM game, they'll be very confused and frustrated by this unique and realistic approach to the genre.
PSP's 2007 software lineup can be defined by its dominance in one genre: the SRPG. Jeanne d'Arc is easily the best looking of the SRPG games released this year, and the most accessible. Gamers that have never played a strategy game will appreciate the streamlined battle system, intuitive controls, and accessible tutorials of Jeanne d'Arc. Veterans will love the budget price, lengthy gameplay, and strangely compelling story that puts its own unique twist on the Joan of Arc tale.
The action gamer is going to love Logan's Shadow. The game sports some of the finest graphics on PSP, and features an action-packed story that's ripped out of 24. Not only does the game feature a compelling and lengthy single player campaign, there's online multiplayer. This is perfect for the gamer looking for extreme action on the go.
Don't forget Crush this holiday season. The game will be hard to find in stores due to Sega's pathetic attempts at marketing the title. However, if you do find this rare gem, pick it up. It features some truly innovative mind-bending gameplay that's perfect for gamers of all ages. The story will intrigue and the puzzles will change the way you look at perspective. The budget price of the game adds even more value to an already-excellent game.
Puzzle Quest received a lot of praise for its innovative blend of puzzle and RPG elements. This highly accessible game is perfect for gamers of all ages (Note: Moms love Bejeweled-styled games for some reason). At less than $20, this is the perfect gift for the thrifty shopper.
