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Bite-sized gaming on the go
Handheld consoles and bite-sized indie games easily go hand-in-hand. Indie experiences are usually short and sweet--perfect for the gamer on the go--and it seems that Sony is taking advantage of those small game benefits with a huge lineup of independent titles coming to the PS Vita. Quick puzzlers, platformers, shooters, and rhythm games are all on their way, and we got a chance to play some of the standouts.
Metrico
Metrico is a trip. At first, the unimposing 2D platformer doesn't look like much--its just a small man standing on simplistic polygonal shapes. Then you pick up the controls and weird things start happening. Performing actions with your character changes the environment around you; it's up to you to figure out how you're affecting the world, then use that knowledge to move on. For example, jumping might move the block in front of you one step toward your character. Walking right might move a pillar to the left, or touching one block could make another disappear. It's part exploration and part platforming, and is definitely a game you should get your hands on and try.
Kickbeat
While most rhythm games simply involve musical instruments or cute, non-violent creatures, Kickbeat adds something a little different: combat. That's right--missing a note in this game won't just mess up a song, it might just mess up your face. You play as a martial arts master as he defends himself against surrounding ninja enemies. Your foes attack in a rhythm and you'll have to time your offensive abilities and special moves according to the level's beat or get beaten to a pulp. Now that's what we'd call a dance of death.
Legend of Raven
Previously titled Yatagarasu Attack on Cataclysm, a 2D fighting game originally planned to release on the Nintendo 3DS, the now-titled Legend of Raven is making its way to the PS Vita. The fighter is being made by former King of Fighters and SNK developers, which should give you some indication of their hardcore fighting pedigree. Players will be able to choose from eight fighters that use unique weapons and special moves in one-on-one combat that's reminiscent of the developer's previous titles. Also, the Vita game will feature a new soundtrack and ad-hoc local multiplayer so you can battle your buddies.
Proteus
Proteus is a game that you definitely need to play yourself for it to fully make sense. In it, you're dropped onto a simple, colorful 3D island covered in trees, furry creatures, insects, and crescendoing ambient noise, and you explore this environment from the first-person perspective. If you chase these interesting sounds and creatures, the surrounding musical rumble becomes more intense, and it's supplemented by chiptune sound effects produced by the animals you pass. There isn't necessarily a goal to your exploration, just more of an opportunity to experience the world around you.
TxK
From the maker of the classic old-school shooter Tempest 2000 comes a game that plays a whole lot like, well, Tempest 2000. You play as the same horseshoe-shaped spaceship as you fend off enemies with your energy blasts. Movement is limited to the shape of the stage's platform. Sometimes you'll be placed in a cylindrical tube, or a square-shaped tunnel; other levels will drop you into more complicated polygonal stages. As you shoot for survival, you'll be rewarded with more powerful weapons and other bonuses by collecting power-ups. TxK will definitely bring back memories from the retro arcade days.
Zrun
To get an idea of what ZRun is, think Temple Run--but instead of running through Mayan temples dodging boulders, you're booking it through city streets ducking zombies. Everyday objects like vending machines, cars, signs, and roadblocks get in your way (and, of course, the flesh-eating undead), so you'll have to use your runner's roll-diving, jumping, kicking, and pistol-shooting skills to make it through unscathed.
Open Me
Everybody loves to open boxes. Heck, every year we have an entire day dedicated to opening presents. Anyway, Open Me is an augmented reality game that challenges players to open boxes for valuable rewards. But opening the boxes won't be easy. You have to use the Vita's gyroscope sensors to look around the box and find parts that you can manipulate. For instance, one puzzle had a box with a security camera on top. When we moved the Vita, the box would automatically shift, hiding its rear side. So, we had to "cover" the camera's lens by holding our finger on the touch screen while stepping behind and opening a flap, resulting in us opening the box and solving the puzzle.
Floating Cloud God Saves the Pilgrims
The title of this game says it all. You play as a strange, bearded floating cloud god, and it's your job to protect five little pilgrims as they travel across a 2D side-scrolling level. The pilgrims move at their own pace, but are completely defenseless against the variety of ghosts and devilish demons that attack them. To fend off these hellish enemies, you shoot gusts of wind horizontally across the screen or bomb the ground with powerful wind blasts. The gameplay isn't as simple as the average side-scrolling shoot-em-up, mind you. Some enemies require a combination of attacks to defeat--like stunning an enemy with a horizontal blast then crushing it with a downward barrage.
