New PSP games for 2009…now who said that console was dead in the water???

Just last week I blew nearly Php 1000 to get the mainboard on my PSP replaced…around nine months ago, I accidentally dropped my unit on the floor of the smoking lounge in the office where I used to work in. Initially, there seemed to be no problem with my unit’s performance…until the past couple of weeks, when after having fully charged my unit, after barely an hour of continuous play, the low-battery signal would flash on-screen. I would then turn it on, only to have that same pesky low-batt reminder.

I had it sent to several repair shops…then I decided to take my chances and get my PSP-1000’s motherboard changed.

So far so good…however, one of my cards seems to have a trojan which is preventing me from backing up my saved files (especially for Phantasy Star Portable – I already have a level-65 character there)

Meanwhile, even as I deliberate over getting myself a Nintendo DSi within the year (only to be sidetracked when I saw my nephew’s brand-spankin’- new PS3 *Aw, shit, gotta have that!!!!*)

I hear that the following games are already headed for the PSP within this year:

SoulCalibur:  Broken Destiny (Fall 2009)

SoulCalibur: Broken Destiny PSP trailer

I have played already this one on the Xbox 360 and couldn’t help but fall in love with all that customizability (a la Tekken: Dark Resurrection – also from the good folks at Namco Bandai).  Even while the PSP port will not feature Darth Vader or Yoda – the bonus characters added to the Xbox 360 and Wii versions of this game, I still look forward to playing these characters:

Ivy Valentine

Hilde

All the more reason why I wait with bated breath for this to drop…

Tekken 6 (Fall 2009)

Interview with Namco Bandai developer Katsuhiro Harada regarding what to expect for the upcoming PSP port of Tekken 6.  Suffice to start, the following new characters will be joining in an ever-growing family that includes these hotties:

(l to r) Lili, Christie & Asuka

Zafina

She’s a guardian of an ancient Egyptian tomb.  Her crouching stance and cat-like moves draw comparisons to Christie Monteiro

Bob

Don’t let that mall-cop uniform fool y’all – underneath all that blubber lies the spirit of a free-style karate practitioner.

I just hope that it has backward compatibilty – any of your characters from Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection could be uploaded to their equivalents in this version.

Rock Band Unplugged (June 2009)

GameSpot video preview of Rock Band: Unplugged for the PSP.

Looks tough – believe me.

Little Big Planet (latter half of 2009?)

Yup, still the PS3 version, but that should give you an idea as to how this critically-acclaimed game should play.

Also expected by the last half of 2009 are English-language versions of Monster Hunter Freedom 2G and Dissidia: Final Fantasy.   I’m sticking with my Japanese version of MHF2G (w/ English-language patch)…I hear most of the blood will be taken out in the version to be released as Monster Hunter Freedom Unite.  There will also be a new Silent Hill game as well as ports of Army of Two and Assassin’s Creed (scaled, of course, for the PSP)

Meanwhile, I am still enjoying Phantasy Star: Portable on that console (my primary character’s stats – level 67)  while I am off to a good start with Resistance: Retribution (love the newbie-friendly aiming system and great replay value).

PSP gaming