When the PlayStation Portable launched, it was clear that Sony had no intention of creating a simple, casual handheld system. The PSP was ambitious—it was a multimedia device, a showcase for graphical power, and a serious contender in the portable space. mpo1551 While Nintendo’s handhelds thrived on charm and innovation, the PSP went bold, bringing full console-style games to your pocket. And many of those games proved that portability didn’t have to mean compromise.
Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror brought a console-style stealth-action experience to the PSP without sacrificing depth or quality. Tight controls, a robust story mode, and solid multiplayer helped the game stand out. It was proof that tactical shooters could work on a handheld, delivering tension and immersion in a way that hadn’t really been attempted on portable devices before.
Another game that made waves was Daxter, a spin-off from the beloved Jak and Daxter series. In this title, players controlled the wise-cracking ottsel in a solo adventure full of platforming challenges, cinematic action sequences, and dream-inspired boss battles. It retained the humor and charm of the series while offering a new angle that gave it a fresh identity. For many PSP owners, Daxter became the go-to game that demonstrated the system’s potential to deliver full-fledged platforming fun.
Resistance: Retribution also deserves credit for being one of the best first-person shooter adaptations for handheld play. Instead of trying to replicate the exact gameplay of its PS3 counterparts, it shifted to a third-person perspective and focused on cover-based combat. This clever pivot allowed it to feel both true to the series and tailored to the PSP’s control scheme, resulting in one of the most enjoyable portable action games of its time.
These games—and many more like them—proved the PSP wasn’t just a sidekick to home consoles. It stood on its own as a serious gaming machine capable of delivering premium content. The system may be discontinued, but its library remains a testament to a time when handheld gaming aimed to do more, and often succeeded.