What's good (and upcoming) on the Vita?

[Sulaco]

So I got a new Vita (non-OLED) for Christmas. Complete surprise. I haven't really kept up with the Vita at all, aside from occasionally hearing some folks say it "has no games", "is a failure", etc.

So I'm debating returning it/selling it, but wanted to hear what everyone's take on its library and outlook is. I got Uncharted with it, but to be honest, I never even finished Uncharted 3...I might be getting a bit burned out on the series.

I also have a PSP, and love many of the JRPGs for that system. Problem is I can't use WiFi with the PSP because it won't accept my router security. So it would be nice to have WiFi access to the PSN store with the Vita. But worth it for ~$200?

I'm leaning towards returning it and either putting the money towards future games, or perhaps a Wii U bundle. But thoughts on the Vita and its library are welcome.

 

[ViRGE]

So I'm debating returning it/selling it, but wanted to hear what everyone's take on its library and outlook is. I got Uncharted with it, but to be honest, I never even finished Uncharted 3...I might be getting a bit burned out on the series.

As a Vita owner since launch, there's honestly nothing on my radar that I really want for 2015. All major western game development has ended, so the games that get released for it these days are indies and localizations of Japanese games. The indies can be fun, but rarely are they limited to the Vita. And I never was a huge fan of JRPGs.

Just looking at the schedule, random games that may or may not interest you:

Hyperdimension Neptunia 2
Persona 4: Dancing all Night
Steins;Gate
htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary
Dragon Fin Soup

As for multiplatforms:

Mighty No. 9
Tales from the Borderlands
Hotline Miami: Wrong Number
Grim Fandago Remastered
Shovel Knight

If you're a big JRPG fan, then 2015 should be decent enough for you. Otherwise the current library is basically as good as it gets.

As for the current library, some of the standout games are:

Persona 4 Golden
Velocity 2X
Rayman Origins (multiplat)
Tearaway
Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster (multiplat)
Child of Light (multiplat)
Gravity Rush

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's hard to guess whether or not you'll enjoy the library for it. You know what you like much better than we do. So try this:

Go to Amazon, look at the games. Are there games you want to play? Keep it. Are there few or none? Return it.

 

[ImpulsE69]

While I've always liked the idea of the PSP and Vita, Sony's straight up mishandling of it has always prevented me from getting one. I realize the PSP has other uses, but I already had/have many other ways to accomplish the same things. For the type of games I like the DS was always fine. The 3DS is really kind of like the Vita at the end of the day...just not that many great games for it overall for how long it's been out.

 

[Sulaco]

It's hard to guess whether or not you'll enjoy the library for it. You know what you like much better than we do. So try this:

Go to Amazon, look at the games. Are there games you want to play? Keep it. Are there few or none? Return it.

Well, I've done that. That's why I'm asking.

Unless I had the time to really look into each and every game and IP on the system, the vast majority are ones I don't recognize and have never heard of, honestly. Or they're ports of well-known home console titles.

That's where input from folks who have one or have played titles they can readily recommend come in. Hidden gems, under-the-radar games, and other quality but obscure games that don't leap off the page with recommendations.

And thanks for your reply, Virge. I'm leaning heavily towards returning it.

Not because I don't think I could have fun with it, but that $200 could be better used towards stuff I know I would enjoy much more.

 

[mmntech]

I've had the Vita since launch and it's already been relegated to my drawer of forgotten video games. Sony has stated that they will no longer be making any new first party games for the system. Which means they've essentially abandoned it. Major third party publishers aren't developing for it either. So what we have left are your choice of indie titles or obscure JRPGs.

Virge pretty much listed everything I can think of that's on the horizon. It does have some pretty decent games from its earlier library. Uncharted: Golden Abyss, LittleBigPlanet Vita, Wipeout 2048, Rayman Origins, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, Gravity Rush, Tearaway. If you have a PS4, you can also remote play most titles.

I know it's hard when you're given something like that as a gift. If you do return it, I'd exchange it for a 3DS XL, or hold out for the "New 3DS". It's a much better handheld. Probably because Nintendo actually puts effort into developing software for their portable line.

 

[ViRGE]

I know it's hard when you're given something like that as a gift. If you do return it, I'd exchange it for a 3DS XL, or hold out for the "New 3DS". It's a much better handheld. Probably because Nintendo actually puts effort into developing software for their portable line.

That's my thought as well. The 3DS is actually pretty rubbish hardware wise (no pixel shaders in 2014?) but of the two handhelds it's the far more successful one. And it still has the full support of its creator. That said the JRPG situation on the Vita is rather strong, but again that's really its only strength.

Meanwhile if you are dead-set on picking a struggling system, then the Wii U you mentioned is a good choice. Hardware sales haven't been great and 3rd party support is spotty, but Nintendo still makes some killer platform-exclusive titles. It's just not portable, and there won't be a ton of JRPGs.

 

[Zodiark1593]

That's my thought as well. The 3DS is actually pretty rubbish hardware wise (no pixel shaders in 2014?) but of the two handhelds it's the far more successful one. And it still has the full support of its creator. That said the JRPG situation on the Vita is rather strong, but again that's really its only strength.

Meanwhile if you are dead-set on picking a struggling system, then the Wii U you mentioned is a good choice. Hardware sales haven't been great and 3rd party support is spotty, but Nintendo still makes some killer platform-exclusive titles. It's just not portable, and there won't be a ton of JRPGs.

Technically the 3ds has pixel shader effects, however, rather than programmable units, these shaders perform only effects that are built in hardware. In a way, it's an extension of OpenGL ES 1.1. At the time, it did as good, if not better than the gpu in the iPhone 3GS. Throw in 2x1 SSAA in many of it's titles (headroom from having 3d off), and image quality is reasonable.

Of course, a couple years in the mobile world is worth a millennia, don't expect the 3ds to hold a candle to current smartphones in sheer power.

 

[ViRGE]

Technically the 3ds has pixel shader effects, however, rather than programmable units, these shaders perform only effects that are built in hardware. In a way, it's an extension of OpenGL ES 1.1. At the time, it did as good, if not better than the gpu in the iPhone 3GS. Throw in 2x1 SSAA in many of it's titles (headroom from having 3d off), and image quality is reasonable.

Of course, a couple years in the mobile world is worth a millennia, don't expect the 3ds to hold a candle to current smartphones in sheer power.

Oh I don't expect it to hold its own with smartphones, especially current ones. But I contend that shipping without pixel shaders in 2011 was a bad idea. There were plenty of low power implementations available; the 3GS had ES 2.0 hardware as early as 2009. Nintendo should have dropped the silly 3D screen and used the power for a better SoC.

 

[mmntech]

Smartphones have gotten a l ot more powerful, but few current games really take advantage of it. So it's a bit of a moot point. You don't need a Tegra 4 or A8 to play Candy Crush.

If I were redesigning the 3DS, I'd probably drop the 3D and opt for a higher resolution display instead. 400x240 was rough even for the time. That's actually lower than the PSP's, which came out six years earlier. Even by 2011, people were beginning to realize that 3D was just a fad.

As for the Vita, it's fatal flaw is that Sony never invested in software for it. For example, Resistance: Burning Skies should never have been allowed to be a bad game. That's one of Sony's core franchises and surely would have been a huge system seller. The other problem was that Sony tried to port too many console games onto the hardware. Case in point, Boarderlands 2. Any game like that is always going to end up as a lacklustre port. Which is why handhelds need unique titles.

The obscenely overpriced memory cards were the final nail in the Vita's coffin. It was basically DOA.

 

[gorcorps]

I've played the crap out of the pinball games (zen pinball and pinball arcade). Other than that, there hasn't been much I've used it for lately.

 

[zerocool84]

I'd sell it and get a 3DS XL. There's so many better games for it. I really wanted a Vita when it was released but they've essentially abandoned it and it's for indie games now.

 

[pathos]

Remember, the vita plays psp games, but only games purchased through the psn (no disc slot, so physical games are out).

I mainly play jrpg's, and between the psp titles, and vita titles, I actually have quite a few games I can play on my Vita.

Sword Art Online (translation is very bad, but outside of that, very solid game, with a LOT of content)

Neptune Rebirth 1 and 2

Persona 3 and 4 remakes

Shin Megumi games (1 and 2 I think on the psn?)

Altelier plus games (totori and meruru, and I think ayesha coming out in the future)

Plus, some smaller games, like Demon Gaze, among others.

I'd sell it and get a 3DS XL. There's so many better games for it. I really wanted a Vita when it was released but they've essentially abandoned it and it's for indie games now.

Technically, the ds/3ds library is much larger than the vita's, but honestly, I'm trying to remember the last game I purchased for my 3ds. perhaps one of the shin megumi games, like devil survivor 2, or tensei 4 or 5, or whatever. But, there are absolutely no games coming out on those that I'm interested in, in the near future.

Granted, the past library is quite huge, so if he's interested in picking up all the games he's missed, he'd be busy for awhile. Plus, it has 2 of my favorite handheld games of all times across the 2 platforms (the last fire emblem game, and Radiant Historia...those 2 games alone make my 3ds worth the purchase).

But, if looking at nothing but jrpg releases, in the future, I'd argue that isn't that much value in the 3ds at this time, unless there is some large anouncement I'm unaware of.

 

[Sulaco]

Yeah, I've had a 3DS XL for a couple of years now. It doesn't get anywhere near daily play (handhelds usually don't for me), but I've enjoyed the games I've gotten (Fire Emblem still remains one of the best RPGs I've played recently), so I feel its been worth it.

Anyway, I sold the Vita tonight for just over $200 (included a charging station and memory card.

I just could not see anything in the library, aside from maybe one or two games, that looked really compelling. I just couldn't justify $200 for that. :\

 

[cmdrdredd]

I keep my vita because it is the oled one and on the chance a new rpg comes to it (lets face it, vita games especially rpgs look better than 3ds games) i want to have the one with the better screen. Thats really all i keep it for honestly.