Virtua Tennis or Popolocrois? October in general?

[Gadfly2317]

I think both of these come out this week. What to get? Virtua Tennis is the one I'm covetting most; I haven't played any of the other games in the series, and it looks and sounds like hand-held pick-up-and-play bliss. But, I do have a fair number of short-play handheld games; in fact, all my PsP games are like that.

Where Advance Wars on DS is eating chunks of time, I'd kinda like something substantive for PsP, too. But is Popolocrois that game? Or is Liberty City Stories? Or something else I haven't heard of yet?

In general, what are you PsP players picking up in October? This looks like the best month so far for the PsP since launch. Are there games coming in November/December I should hold off for? I was eyeing Grip Shift, but after trying it out, was kinda turned off by the sloppy control. I'm just more sketchy about picking up PsP games because of questions about quality, control, and price. When I pay $50 for a handheld game, it damned better deliver BIG time.

[T.Tashi]

I think both of these come out this week. What to get? Virtua Tennis is the one I'm covetting most; I haven't played any of the other games in the series, and it looks and sounds like hand-held pick-up-and-play bliss. But, I do have a fair number of short-play handheld games; in fact, all my PsP games are like that.

Where Advance Wars on DS is eating chunks of time, I'd kinda like something substantive for PsP, too. But is Popolocrois that game? Or is Liberty City Stories? Or something else I haven't heard of yet?

In general, what are you PsP players picking up in October? This looks like the best month so far for the PsP since launch. Are there games coming in November/December I should hold off for? I was eyeing Grip Shift, but after trying it out, was kinda turned off by the sloppy control. I'm just more sketchy about picking up PsP games because of questions about quality, control, and price. When I pay $50 for a handheld game, it damned better deliver BIG time.
If I'm not mistaken, Popolocrois got delayed (for the third time) til early Nov. unless Agetec bumped it back up. But fortunately Legend of Heroes is due out Oct. 25th. I'm getting that one for sure. I can wait on LCS. I've been seriously starving for a psp jrpg.

[Gadfly2317]

If I'm not mistaken, Popolocrois got delayed (for the third time) til early Nov. unless Agetec bumped it back up. But fortunately Legend of Heroes is due out Oct. 25th. I'm getting that one for sure. I can wait on LCS. I've been seriously starving for a psp jrpg.

What's Legend of Heroes? (how traditional, random battles avoidable, a very original story?)

Also, have you seen Lord of the Rings Tactics, a PsP exclusive? I hadn't heard of it, but stumbled across it at IGN yesterday. While I still generally shun EA, this title looks really potentially sweet, since Tactical games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Advance Wars are my fave handheld RPG's. Have you heard of any other tactical RPG's for PsP scheduled in the next few months?

[T.Tashi]

What's Legend of Heroes? (how traditional, random battles avoidable, a very original story?)

Also, have you seen Lord of the Rings Tactics, a PsP exclusive? I hadn't heard of it, but stumbled across it at IGN yesterday. While I still generally shun EA, this title looks really potentially sweet, since Tactical games like Final Fantasy Tactics and Advance Wars are my fave handheld RPG's. Have you heard of any other tactical RPG's for PsP scheduled in the next few months?
LoH is looking pretty sweet. It's described as a semi-turned based battle system. Not sure what that means but it sounds like you pre-select battle commands for the whole party that you can change anytime, I'm thinking maybe sort of like Star Ocean. No random battles. You can see the enemy onscreen. Everything I read has been really mum about the story other than a guy is on a quest to find his sister, but it seems a very traditional J.RPG.


There's a lot of RPGs coming through Dec. 31st both real time (Ys, and Kingdom of Paradise) and turn based, but LotR Tactics is the only stratgey rpg I know of.

[Aylmer]

When Virtua Tennis came out on the Dreamcast, it was for many months considered the best multiplayer action game ever. I had it, and it was awesome. Pick up and play, and the action and fun was nonstop. It even had some very cool single player modes.

Then, Sega ported it to the GBA, and I thought, I gotta have it, awesome 3D Pong (which is as good a description for Virtua Tennis as I can come up with) on a handheld. But, sadly, the GBA just wasn't up to the task. Analog control was the key, plus a higher resolution was needed.

The PSP has the horsepower, graphics and the large screen. If the Analog Nub can be made to work with the required sensitivity for Virtua Tennis, then on the PSP it could actually be the fabled Killer App, with online multiplayer especially.

I did not even know it was on it's way. Something to keep an eye on.

[Gadfly2317]

When Virtua Tennis came out on the Dreamcast, it was for many months considered the best multiplayer action game ever. I had it, and it was awesome. Pick up and play, and the action and fun was nonstop. It even had some very cool single player modes.

Then, Sega ported it to the GBA, and I thought, I gotta have it, awesome 3D Pong (which is as good a description for Virtua Tennis as I can come up with) on a handheld. But, sadly, the GBA just wasn't up to the task. Analog control was the key, plus a higher resolution was needed.

The PSP has the horsepower, graphics and the large screen. If the Analog Nub can be made to work with the required sensitivity for Virtua Tennis, then on the PSP it could actually be the fabled Killer App, with online multiplayer especially.

I did not even know it was on it's way. Something to keep an eye on.

It also looks like they added a bunch of mini-games and stuff, making it more than a simple rehash. But then, I never played any virtua tennis game, so none of it would be a rehash to me, and its the type of game I'd rather have on a handheld than a console.

[Aylmer]

I was in Babbage's yesterday, and they had Virtua Tennis for the PSP in stock. I perused the manual in the display package, and it seems that the Analog Nub can indeed be used for character movement, along with the directional pad. So, I'll keep my eye open for reviews. I almost jumped yesterday, but after the GBA version fiasco, I have to be more cautious.

[Gadfly2317]

I was in Babbage's yesterday, and they had Virtua Tennis for the PSP in stock. I perused the manual in the display package, and it seems that the Analog Nub can indeed be used for character movement, along with the directional pad. So, I'll keep my eye open for reviews. I almost jumped yesterday, but after the GBA version fiasco, I have to be more cautious.
Early reviews have been extremely positive, and the minigames look really cool.

How much were they selling it for?

[Aylmer]

It was $39.00.

[Gadfly2317]

It was $39.00.

I picked it up last night, played it for several hours. Very addictive and fun; but either it's a deceptively hard game (with easy controls) or I'm just starting to suck at games in my old age. Or both. I mean, right off the bat on the early stages just kicking my ass; the mini-game/training stuff is really cool and different, stuff like battling a tank by returning the tennis balls it fires at you while its strafes back and forth.

I feel ok spending $39 on this one; I'll get a LOT of hours of play out of this one. Not just a great portable game, but a great game in general.

[Glockstar]

Yep.

I got the game a day after it came out, but haven't spent a whole lot of time with it. I could only give the most initial-ist of impressions, that's why I haven't said anything yet.

But what I would say is in agreement with what Gadfly said. The controls are breezy; nice and cool. But that doesn't mean the gameplay is; it's quite hectic and stressful. It's all about timing. But not just with your button presses but also with the d-pad/nub movements, as you have to make sure your guy is in position too. Which takes a fair amount of skill I'm finding out. The guy always wants to plant both of his feet and square himself to the net so that's something you have to account for when you're chasing after the ball. Then, after you get all of the position-shot timing right, you have to maintain a high-level of concentration, reflexes and eye-hand (or thumb) coordination. You need mental stamina. So while it's easy, it's not.

I've mostly been playing the (first?) 4 mini-games - which are also training tools - but still haven't been able to do well enough to get my scores recorded. I'm getting old...

But what's your excuse Gadfly? :p
No but you like those 2D shooters... you're pretty good at them aren't you? How do you think this game compares to those shooters with regards to the skills necessary to do well?

[Gadfly2317]

I've mostly been playing the (first?) 4 mini-games - which are also training tools - but still haven't been able to do well enough to get my scores recorded. I'm getting old...

But what's your excuse Gadfly? :p
No but you like those 2D shooters... you're pretty good at them aren't you? How do you think this game compares to those shooters with regards to the skills necessary to do well?

I eventually got "ok" at Ikaruga, but only was able to "beat it" after opening extra continues. I just really like that style of gameplay all the way back through Galaga and Space Invaders. Based on our score comparision thread on Ikaruga, we all sucked bad compared to Cuddly Knife (aka Peanut). Nanostray which I just picked up, I'm having no problem getting through levels, but am getting crappy rankings (C's and D's.) Love shooters, the intensity, the "space out concentration" effect, the simplicity, the bosses. . . but I've always been and will always be a C-student at best.

Shooter skills, that space out focus on a bazillion bullets and enemies skills while blasting away is totally different from the timing, set-up, and execution to win a tennis match. It's actually really strategic.

Virtua Tennis, I guess it's just that its skill set is really subtle and I haven't figured out how to get the most out of stuff, or maybe even how to pull off certain types of shots. My tennis skills are limited to Mario Tennis, which while a lot of fun, is more a surrealistic tennis party game, and it in no way prepares you for something like Virtua Tennis.

[Aylmer]

I just got the new PSM and they gave Virtua Tennis a 9.5. And, since i just got my PSP online via my wireless DSL I was full of anticipation, ready to cruise over to the store to grab it.

Then, I read that it was Ad Hoc multiplayer only! Man, talk about a let down! What could very well be the greatest multiplayer action game of all time, and it's NOT online? WTF!?!?

Oh, well. Such is life.