The PlayStation Portable (PSP) was Sony’s ambitious attempt to bring console-level gaming to a portable device, and while its time in the spotlight was relatively short, it left a lasting impact on the gaming world. During its lifespan, the PSP hosted a variety of titles that became favorites among fans, offering rich storytelling, expansive worlds, and exciting gameplay that made it more than just a portable version of console games. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite are just a few examples of the great games that defined the PSP.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII was one of the most beloved titles on the PSP, offering fans a prequel to the highly successful Final Fantasy VII. Set years before Cloud Strife’s story began, the game follows Zack Fair, a SOLDIER who uncovers dark secrets surrounding the Shinra corporation. The real-time combat system added a dynamic element to the gameplay, and the game’s Marco88 cinematic presentation made it feel like a console-level RPG despite being on a handheld device. Crisis Core is considered one of the best handheld games of all time, largely due to its emotional narrative and strong connection to the Final Fantasy VII universe.
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories brought the high-octane action and open-world chaos of the GTA series to the PSP, capturing everything that fans loved about the franchise in a portable format. Set in the same Liberty City featured in Grand Theft Auto III, the game allowed players to engage in criminal activities, wreak havoc on the streets, and complete missions in a massive open world. The game didn’t feel like a watered-down version of the console experience—instead, it offered a full-fledged GTA experience that worked perfectly on the handheld system. Its success proved that portable gaming could handle large, expansive worlds without sacrificing gameplay depth.
Another standout PSP game was Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, which became a global phenomenon due to its addictive gameplay and cooperative multiplayer mode. Players hunt down massive creatures, gather resources, and craft weapons and armor in a game that rewards strategy, patience, and teamwork. The game’s multiplayer mode allowed players to team up and face some of the game’s toughest monsters together, adding a layer of social interaction to the already rich gameplay. Monster Hunter Freedom Unite set the stage for the franchise’s future success, making it one of the most influential titles on the PSP and laying the groundwork for the Monster Hunter games that would come to dominate gaming in the years that followed.
These three games—Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite—highlight the PSP’s potential as a platform for rich, immersive gaming experiences. While the PSP may no longer be a part of Sony’s gaming lineup, its legacy lives on through the impact these games had on portable gaming. It proved that handheld consoles could provide deep, engaging experiences that rivaled their home console counterparts, and its influence continues to be felt in modern gaming.