The Best PSP Games Of 2011

This year 2011, its being said to be the year of demise for the PSP.  Why? the PSP had a good half year, good game releases, but mid 2011 marked the date of the possible death of PSP: yep slow game releases, and so the disinterest of playing PSP games has grown. And now with all the rumors about the Vita more the reason for the PSP to make way for the future of handheld gaming.  So, Vita will dominate the portable gaming market coming 2012 and probably some years to come.

Here are the best releases I found this year for the PSP:

1. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 Innocent Sin is a turn-based Role-Playing Game (RPG) for PlayStation Portable. It is the last of the existing Japanese Persona games to be released in North America. Innocent Sin is a port of this 1999 game originally released for PlayStation that together with Persona 2: Eternal Punishment are sequels to the original game in the Persona series, Revelations: Persona. The game features addictive single player RPG gameplay, powerful "Personas" that are aspects of character's personalities manifested in magic based abilities, party based combat, random battles, a range of improvements over the original Sony gaming console release and the ability to alter the realities of the game by spreading rumors to non-player characters encountered.

2. Dissidia 012 [duodecim] Final FantasyCosmos, the goddess of harmony. Chaos—god of discord. Two divine powers locked in an endless struggle, each seeking to reign supreme.Long has the world played stage to their violent conflict, now at peace, now teetering on the verge of annihilation, but never for a moment striking a balance between the two.The scars of war run deep across the realm. And still these battles rage on, a tempest the eons cannot quell.The divine conflict between harmony and discord rages on, the fate of the world its promised prize. Fighting to secure it are brave souls summoned for that solitary purpose. These warriors, relying on what fragments of their shattered memories remain, fight to end the conflict - and for a chance to return home, to the worlds they each once knew.

3. In Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, you will experience a lost tale of political intrigue, conquest, and rebellion. It is your choices through a branching storyline that determine the fate of the Walister Resistance, characters in the game, and the story as a whole. Your rebellion is enhanced with reworked visuals, effects, a re-arranged soundtrack by the original composers, new character growth mechanics, and a new Wheel of Fortune system that adds even more replay value to the game. Get ready for an evolved "tactics" gameplay experience on the PSP! The creators of Final Fantasy Tactics bring you the next evolution in Tactics games from Square Enix in Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together! A dream team lead by Yasumi Matsuno has reunited to bring a perfect vision of their lost tale of political intrigue, conquest, and rebellion to vivid life. Experience an epic story where your choices determine the fate of the Walister Resistance. Order Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together today!

4. Patapon 3 is a Music-Rythym game with light strategy and RPG elements for PlayStation Portable (PSP) that challenges players in the role of the godhead of the rhythmic oriented Patapons to save the tribe from an all-new scourge that has been unleashed upon them. The third release in the PSP exclusive Patapon franchise, Patapon 3 features a deeper campaign mode than earlier releases, as well as eight-player support via a local ad-hoc wireless connection as well as over the Internet. In addition, players can expect co-op quest and capture the flag modes, improved character customization and select text chat functionality.


5. The 3rd Birthday - Hideous creatures descend on Manhattan. Ground reports from the squad tasked with containing the pandemonium refer to these life forms as "the Twisted." An investigatory team known as the CTI is formed within the year. The Overdive system emerges as a means of opposition, but only one viable candidate exists - Aya Brea. A gift as she awakens from a lost past on this, the occasion of her third birth. Take control of Aya Brea, the indomitable heroine from the Parasite Eve® series, in a visually stunning third-person shooter RPG. As the world rests on the brink of destruction by a horrific enemy known as "the Twisted," Aya remains the only candidate able to change the events of the past and save humanity from extinction.

6. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is the first of a new trilogy in the established The Legend of Heroes RPG series. A highly detailed 3D world, beautiful original soundtrack, and unique strategic battle system showcase production values a generation beyond the previous iteration. An epic story about preserving the peace against all odds spanning over 50 hours of gameplay, with numerous optional side quests, makes this the biggest adventure ever available on a handheld system.


7. ModNation Racers is a kart style racing game for PlayStation Portable (PSP) designed to provide gamers on the go with the same outstanding gameplay found in the PS3 version. The game features all the track-based driving and comic combat players relish in the kart racing genre, blended with extreme customization, and online sharing of user generated content expected of a modern online multiplayer title. Additional features included a single player career mode with 25+ crazy tracks, the PSP exclusive Last Kart Standing Mode and 6-racer multiplayer support via online or local ad-hoc wireless connections.

Paper Toss 2.0 Review

• Version: 1.0.1
• Release Date: Dec 8, 2011
• Price Purchased: Free
• Seller: Backflip Studios

Paper Toss 2.0 is actually the third entry into the popular series about throwing crumpled up pieces of paper into a trashcan. It’s the official sport of bored office peons worldwide, and who can blame them? You can get sucked into this activity for hours before you notice it’s time to get back to work. Playing on your phone just means less mess and less of a chance that your boss will get angry.
The core game has changed little from previous iterations. You must flick a ball of paper towards a trashcan while taking the wind direction (via office fan) into consideration. There’s no set start and end to the game, since you’re scored based on the number of consecutive shots you can make at any given time. Each of the six levels has different features, such as various trashcan distances, moving trashcans, employees to hit, bonus baskets, and more.

Another unproductive day at the office.

What makes Paper Toss 2.0 a cut above other free minigames is the wide variety of objects to be thrown, each with unique traits and physics. Some balls bounce off the environment, others (such as the tomato) splatter, bananas spin like a boomerang, and the list goes on. These items are unlocked with paper points, the in-game currency. Points can easily be unlocked by scoring. Making a basket in harder levels and special baskets, such as cups on desks, awards more paper points. There’s also an option to pay real money for bulk points, but doing so takes all the fun out of earning them, and frankly, they’re quite easy to get.
Paper points can also be used to buy power-ups. The problem with these is that they require far too many points for a one-time use with little return. For example, one power-up makes the basket bigger for your next throw and another turns off the fan for a single turn. The only power-up we found to be useful was rewind, which allows you to redo a missed shot when you’re on a streak.

Are you sure this is in my contract?

Did we mention that Paper Toss 2.0 is absolutely free? You’ll never have to pay a dime if you don’t want to. There are ads during gameplay along the top of the screen, but they’re unobtrusive. If you prefer them gone, a $.99 purchase will remove all ads from the game.
Also, GameCenter leaderboards mean you can still face off against fellow employees and friends. The flaw in these leaderboards is that they aren’t separated by object. Considering that each object behaves differently, this can skew the boards.
Download Paper Toss 2.0 with confidence. It’s a classic time waster gone digital, a major upgrade over the original, and best of all, it's free. Now go get your paper tossing on.
via : Slidetoplay 

Trenches II Review

 

• Version: 1.0.0
• Release Date: Dec 15, 2011
• Price Purchased: $0.99
• Seller: Electronic Arts Inc.

You've got to appreciate the originality of a war game that avoids the overdone wars. This isn't WWII, and it isn't Vietnam. This is the Great War, World War I, when soldiers dove into trenches to avoid enemy fire. For those not familiar with the Trenches series, this is the second official sequel but third in the series. Stenches, a spinoff of the main franchise, focused on the "what if" scenario of WWI soldiers versus zombies, but Trenches 2 expands on the original Trenches.
The war rages across Europe, and you're in charge. The game map is less linear than in previous games. You pick the missions to fight, causing the map to branch out in various directions.
Each level will look similar. You start in a bunker on one end, and the enemy starts at the other. The goal is usually to reach and destroy your enemy's bunker, but there are scenarios that will involve other objectives. Your enemies will also vary, depending on which army you control. You have the option of British, German, or French armies, each with their own specialties.

The inspiration for Spielberg's War Horse.

Your army is also varied, and you will need to learn which troops to use. You have your basic infantry, but you can also order machine gunners, snipers, and medics. You can also call in bombing runs or mustard gas attacks from above. Of course, all of these will require resources to "summon," so managing these resources will require your constant attention.
Once you're winning battles, you earn perk points, which you can spend to unlock new troops and upgrade your existing ones. As you can only have seven troop types per battle, you'll have to customize your army for each level. In case you haven't noticed, Trenches II will give you lots of options. You have control over how you play, but not the game itself.

He seems to enjoy his work.

For a game called Trenches, there are surprisingly few of them. This is important to note, because trenches are vital to your army's survival. Your Engineer can upgrade trenches into bunkers, and new troops will roll out from the closest bunker. Fewer trenches means more difficulty in keeping your army alive, which means that, no matter which difficulty level you choose, you're going to be fighting an uphill battle. Trenches II pulls no punches, and you will be stopping battles mid-fight to start over and rethink your strategy.
The biggest problem with Trenches II is the interface. On the iPhone's smaller screen, we ran into some issues. You command your army by tapping and drawing, but looking up and down the field requires constantly dragging your finger from side to side. It is also difficult when you have several troops in one spot, as selecting one particular troop is nearly impossible. The game works well, but the interface isn't perfect. There is an iPad version available, though.

Bringing out the big guns.

There's also a problem with the tutorial. It's a rushed, frantic mess that barely conveys enough information for you to feel comfortable. The text seems to rush by, and you'll have to learn advanced controls on the battlefield.
There is also a problem when buying new troops. There is no explanation of how each troop works, so you simply have no choice buy to spend your perk points and learn on the fly. Each troop type has their own custom actions and range of fire, but the game gives you none of that information.
Despite its flaws, Trenches is an addictive game that requires more than throwing a dozen soldiers at your enemy. Its cartoony facade may be misleading, as this game requires strategy and quick wits. The best part is that no matter how you play, you can always try again with a new plan.

via:Slidetoplay

How to give an app as a gift

Searching around for some last-minute holiday gifts? If you’ve got any iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch users left on your list, an app might be just the gift they’re looking for. To gift an app, simply open the App Store on your desktop computer or own iDevice, and find the app you’d like to send out. On the desktop, click on the downward-facing arrow next to the app price, and choose “Gift This App”, or if you’re on an iOS device, simply scroll to the bottom of the individual app’s page—if necessary—and tap on “Gift This App”. You’ll be taken to a page where you can enter the recipient’s email, a personal message, and choose whether to have the gifted app delivered by email or—if you’re on a desktop—via a physical page that you can print out and hand to the recipient yourself.  Just make sure you don’t send the app to new owners until after they’ve opened their iOS device.
via:iLounge