The PSP continues to be the little handheld that could. Though this system's release list was dwarfed by the DS, that doesn't take away from the quality of the releases that landed on the PSP in 2009. Though we have the expected remake, we also have two games that are not typical RPGs topping this year's best.
Best PSP
Half-Minute Hero
Half-Minute Hero kind of came out of left field, but it turned out to be one of the quirkiest and most enjoyable RPGs this year. Making use of the simple yet completely original concept of a thirty-second RPG, the game features one-hundred and forty-two mini-RPGs that can be completed in anywhere from thirty seconds to five minutes at a time. With four distinct game modes along with two special, single-map challenge modes, the fast and varied gameplay ensures that the game is not only consistently enjoyable, but also extraordinarily portable, moreso than any other handheld RPG on the market.
Thanks to the terrific, witty script filled with pop-culture, fantasy, and gaming jokes, and 8-bit visuals that harken back to the good old days, Half-Minute Hero manages to deliver on the artistic front as well. It's charming, extremely-blown-up sprite close-ups and silly two-frame animations are great fun to watch, especially when they represent characters as ridiculous as the ones found in this game. Half-Minute Hero is a complete package, with every element of the game standing firm on its own, easily making it the best game for the PSP this year. If you own a PSP, it's definitely a game you don't want to miss. -RPGamer