5 of the best PS Vita launch games

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5 of the best PS Vita launch games – WipEout 2048

The futuristic hovercraft racing game, a stalwart of previous PlayStation systems, returns for another outing on the Vita.

Yes, it’s more of the same – but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Fling your arrow-shaped vehicle around the tracks (which, this being set before other WipEout games, more closely resemble modern-day cities), and blast your opponents with the selection of weapons.

And once you’ve learned all the racing lines and speed pad locations, you can play against your mates on their Vitas – or compete cross-platform with PS3-owning chums on WipEout HD.

5 of the best PS Vita launch games – Uncharted: Golden Abyss

£40, playstation.com

One of Sony’s flagship launch titles, Uncharted: Golden Abyss brings the Uncharted franchise’s cinematic sheen to the small screen.

It wins points for not simply trying to duplicate its big brothers’ gameplay on the small screen. Instead, it’s a showcase for the Vita’s box of tricks, making use of its twin touchscreens and even — surprisingly — its camera.

5 of the best PS Vita launch games – FIFA Football

£40, ea.com

Another key console franchise makes its way onto Sony’s new handheld. Essentially duplicating the PS3 FIFA experience, it adds a couple of new features pioneered in the touchscreen smartphone FIFA games – like touch to pass.

If you’re a footy fan, you really have no excuse for missing this.

5 of the best PS Vita launch games – Escape Plan

£10, playstation.com

Probably the most startlingly different of the PS Vita launch titles, Escape Plan’s a PSN-only purchase with a quirky, Tim Burton-esque black and white look.

Making full use of the PS Vita’s Sixaxis controls and touch screens, your task is to guide Lil and Laarg as they make their bid for freedom from their nemesis Bakuki.

That goal can only be accomplished by gleefully flinging them to their deaths over and over again as you experiment with different ways of getting past each of the 78 puzzle rooms.

5 of the best PS Vita launch games – Rayman Origins

£35, ubisoft.com

Ubisoft’s platfomer has been ported from the PS3 to the Vita, with all of its challenging gameplay intact.

New features include a time-trial “ghost mode” and the abilty to zoom out using the touchscreen. Some sacrifices have been made in porting the game to the handheld – the co-op multiplayer has been given the boot on the Vita – but on the whole this is a worthwhile purchase for platform game fans.

Though if you’ve already got Rayman Origins on the PS3, it’s not an essential purchase.

About

Dan is Editor-in-chief of Stuff, working across the magazine and the Stuff.tv website. Our Editor-in-Chief is a regular at tech shows such as CES in Las Vegas, IFA in Berlin and Mobile World Congress in Barcelona as well as at other launches and events. He has been a CES Innovation Awards judge. Dan is completely platform agnostic and very at home using and writing about Windows, macOS, Android and iOS/iPadOS plus lots and lots of gadgets including audio and smart home gear, laptops and smartphones. He's also been interviewed and quoted in a wide variety of places including The Sun, BBC World Service, BBC News Online, BBC Radio 5Live, BBC Radio 4, Sky News Radio and BBC Local Radio.