Summer is here, which can mean one of two things: you're either traveling to awesome vacation destinations, or you're enjoying a satisfying stay-cation right in the comforts of your home. Whatever the case may be, there will be times when you'll want to break out your PS Vita and escape into an alternate world of mythical beasts, high school dramas and epic journeys to save the world.
Here are five games that should help you through your summer drought, whether you're stuck on a plane for hours on end, or just lounging away beside the pool.
Soul Sacrifice Delta
There was no question that a game I gave a 10/10 to, due to its haunting atmosphere, brilliant story and fantastic characters, wouldn't make this list. Soul Sacrifice Delta is easily one of the most impressive games on the Vita, packing an amazing amount of content, and is one of those games that can be played either in short bursts or long stretches of time.
If you enjoy the Monster Hunter genre, but like more fast-paced action, with constantly changing and evolving weaponry, SSD has all those things in droves. It doesn't hurt that the game looks gorgeous.
Persona 4 Golden
Another no brainer. Any new Vita owner who asks his fellow peers about what games he should buy for the system, is immediately told Persona 4 Golden, without question. It's so popular that the upcoming PlayStation TV is being refered to as the Persona 4 Golden Box. That should tell you something.
But I'm sure you're asking, "Why on earth would I want to play a game that simulates high school when I'm supposed to be enjoying my Summer vacation?" Great question Timmy. Persona 4 Golden, like Soul Sacrifice Delta, is once again the whole package. It has an engaging storyline that takes you through a school year filled with mysterious deaths, alternate dimensions, and easily some of the greatest character development Atlus could pack onto that 5 inch screen. Though it's a port of a PS2 title, the Vita version contains new story elements, characters, and Personas to summons. Honestly, you could just choose Persona 4 Golden to play this Summer and be content with that for months to come.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD
Another PS2 port? Final Fantasy X, during its release on the PS2, wowed a lot of players, including myself. Up until then, I spent my early years of Final Fantasy, looking at sprites, or blocky polygon characters. Now characters had expressions, and they had a voice! My mind was blown.
It's an easy recommendation because you're not only getting the first game, but its (not as good) sequel, allowing you to play the story to completion. On the surface, Final Fantasy X tells a story about saving the world, but beneath those layers lies a story about love, feeling like you don't belong, and ultimately acceptance. It doesn't matter whether you've played it on the PS2 or you're completely new to this entry, it's a story worth experiencing.
Borderlands 2
Ok, this is the last port I'll recommend, I swear, but it's an impressive one when you overlook some of the technical faults present. At its core, Borderlands 2 on the Vita is the same exact version that's available on consoles, no corners cut in terms of content. Not only does it come with the base game, but it also includes all available DLC. So in terms of length and longevity, Borderlands 2 has you covered.
The best news is that there have already been updates that fix some of the performance issues and ensure a much smoother gameplay experience. Bottom line is, if you like a whole lot of Loot in your Shoot, there's very little reason to pass up on one of the most content rich FPS games on the Vita.
Tearaway
Media Molecule are a crafty bunch, and it shows more than ever in Tearaway. Tearaway not only functions as a fun platformer that rewards you for exploration and experimentation, but it also brings out your crafty side. Many items in levels can be cut out of paper into shapes, that are then used as actually assets in the game. Sometimes you can even change an entire texture of a hill or an animal simply by taking a picture of something, and the texture will appear in game.
Tearaway is the perfect summer game because it won't take up too much of your time, if that's your thing. It's a short game by comparison to the others I've listed, and you actually get to be a star in the game. Well, the sun actually. You can't get any more summer than that.
