The PlayStation Portable was one of the most impressive handhelds ever made during its era. Sporting impressive graphics and gameplay that brought the console experience straight to gamers’ pockets around the globe.
One of the most popular genres, shooting games, is more than well represented on the system and that makes perfect sense as they are some of the best pick-up-and-play titles around.
In this article, we’re going to talk about the top 10 best PSP shooting games. We’ll tell you about what makes them so great, a few highlights of each game, and some games related to that titles that you might also enjoy.
Here are our 10 top PSP shooters:
10. Every Extend Extra
Q Entertainment’s puzzle shooter from Kanta Matsuhisa, Every Extend Extra is less about shooting enemies than it is about causing chain reactions using strategically placed explosions? Sound wild? It is. Every Extend Extra is a light and sound extravaganza that relies upon your tactical self destruction – and avoiding that of enemies – in order to survive. Avoid the blast radius of enemies but lure others into it for a maximum chain or set up your own with an explosion that clears the screen.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Avseq
- Qubed
- Evasive Space
9. Killzone: Liberation
A unique mixture of a dungeon crawling exploration game and a shooter, 2006’s Killzone: Liberation from Guerilla Games differs from the previous title for the PSP and the mainline console games in that its isometric view offers unique opportunities for gameplay that the other formats don’t have. Playing as Jan Templar, the player has to work with the AI-controlled teammates to overcome the Helghast resistance. You can upgrade weapons and abilities along the way as well as engage in extra challenges at higher difficulties. Presented in a stark though defined graphical style, Killzone: Liberation is a worthy, creative sequel to the first game.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Star Wars Battlefront II
- Syndicate
- Quake 4
8. Floating Cloud God Saves the Pilgrims
As the cloud god, it is your job to protect the pilgrims that have come to worship. The only problem is that is often easier said than done. Combining platforming-shooter mechanics with a tower defense strategy scheme, Floating Cloud God Saves the Pilgrims is accessible but very challenging at upper levels. Don’t let the whimsical 8-bit style graphics fool you: Floating Cloud God Saves the Pilgrims is one challenging modern game.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Contra: Hardcore
- Metal Slug 3
- Oniken
7. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo 2
Zipper Interactive’s 2006 sequel to the first critically acclaimed game, Fireteam Bravo 2 takes place in the fictional Adjikistan as the SEALs are commissioned to deal with terrorists threatening the peace. It is eventually revealed that there are various conspiracies afoot that threaten world peace, broadening the scale of the story. Beyond that, the shooter combines tactical elements and immersive elements such as local influence and command equity mechanics. These determine how you prosecute the war as well as what options you have available to you. Well designed with tight controls and crystal clear graphics, Fireteam Bravo 2 is one heck of a portable shooter.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon
- Battlefield 2
- Arma 3
6. SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo
The first installment from Zipper Interactive, Fireteam Bravo largely pioneers the action depicted in its finely-tuned sequel. Compensating for the lack of a second analog stick, the devs implemented an R-button lock on that takes some getting used to but ultimately works really well. Underlined with a solid story and cinematic production quality, Fireteam Bravo is guaranteed to drain away hours of your time in its single-player campaign. Alongside its sequel, the Fireteam Bravo games serve as some of the best examples, in terms of gameplay, of the kind of console shooters gamers love.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Rogue Warrior
- Breach and Clear
- Counter-Strike
5. Space Invaders Extreme
How do you put a spin on a classic formula? If you’re Taito, you take it to the extreme as they did in Space Invaders Extreme which combines the classic’s arcade gameplay with modern conventions like stages and boss fights. What you get is a game that straddles both eras and does a great job of being its own thing as well. From its addictive, if simple, gameplay to its cool retro-inspired graphics, 2008’s Space Invaders Extreme reminds you of what made the original arcade hit so glorious.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Immortal: Unchained
- Galaxian
- Get Even
4. Resistance: Retribution
Grappling with the chimera menace, SIE Bend Studio’s 2009 installment in the popular resistance series brings the epic gameplay you’d expect from a third-person shooter to a portable system in a title that spares neither single player nor multiplayer excellence. Whether or not you care about the story, Resistance offers solid gameplay including stage and action sets interspersed with unique gameplay mechanics to break up the action. Though somewhat dark and muddled by modern standards, the graphics convey what is necessary and the user interface is largely uncluttered. Sporting awesome controls and compelling gameplay, Resistance: Retribution is one of the many games on this list that would be at home on the console as much as it is suited for the portable world.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Fuse
- Quantum Theory
- Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier
3. Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow
The last title in the legendary series so far, Logan’s Shadow takes us into a shadowy world of terrorists and global intrigue as we seek to save the globe once again using stealth action mechanics. Additions to this title that did not make an appearance in other games include advance melee mechanics as well as new stealth options such as blind firing around corners and using enemies as human shields. Using dark, moody graphics to convey gravity and tension, Logan’s Shadow is the best fusion of a Hollywood blockbuster with awesome gameplay we have seen on the PSP.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Wolfenstein: Young Blood
- Halo Infinite
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint
2. Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror
SCE Bend Studio’s stealth action third-person shooter in the Syphon Filter series, Dark Mirror, does a lot to advance the game’s core mechanics on the portable but, beyond that, offers some of the most compelling stealth shooter action on the PSP. If you like a solid story, amazing gameplay, and endless challenge, Dark Mirror is a game that delivers on a consistent basis. Often criticized for being needlessly complex or hard to understand, Dark Mirror keeps the basics of a console game while getting rid of things that might make a portable title unenjoyable. What you get is a roller coaster of action that doesn’t let up. It is rare that devs offer such a tight, streamlined experience, but Dark Mirror is just that.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
- Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
- Rogue Ops
1. Velocity
Ostensibly a space rescue game in the guise of a shooter, Velocity is one of the most creative, challenging efforts in this genre in some time. You explore space looking for stranded ships to save. A seemingly simple mission, this becomes more complex as you go along because of various obstacles, puzzles, and traps. You can upgrade your ship’s abilities to take out enemies and you also have to master increasingly complex puzzle mechanisms in order to free your fellow spacefarers. Presented in an a faux-retro design style, Velocity uses basic gameplay but ratchets it up to extremes of challenge and fun that few titles can match.
You’re probably going to like this game if you also like:
- Pikuniku
- Dream Alone
- Left Alive
