When it comes to playing classic video games on a handheld system the PlayStation Portable is an old-school gamers dream come true. With loads of retro collections and upgrades of old-school hits, the PSP delivers it all with the highest quality possible on a high resolution screen larger than any other handheld system to date. When playing Santa this year consider these gift ideas to get your friends and loved ones hooked on the classic game collections and remakes for the PSP.
PlayStation Network Gift Card
Not only can the PlayStation Portable play games and movies via Sony’s UMD Disc technology, but it can also download and play a multitude of classic PlayStation One titles and remixes (aka remakes) available to purchase exclusively via the PlayStation Network (PSN). Since the games on PSN can only be downloaded, you can’t give them as a physical gift, which is where the PSN Card comes in. These gift cards come preloaded with points that can be used to purchase the games directly through PSN and download them right to the PSP.
Database of classic video games available on the PlayStation Network.
Atari Classics Evolved
Packshot © Atari
Remixed upgrades to 11 of top Atari 2600 hits featuring all new modernized graphics, backgrounds and sounds, but with the original gameplay intact. Beating the remixed games will unlock over 50 original classic 2600 titles.
Remixed titles include:
- Battlezone
- Centipede
- Millipede
- Missile Command
- Tempest
- Lunar Lander
- Super Breakout
- Warlord
- Asteroids
- Asteroids Deluxe
- Pong
Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded
Packshot © Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
Capcom, the leader in classic arcade action, have gathered some of their most exciting titles in this collection of 19 greatest hits. At center stage is their popular series of Street Fighter II games, but there are also a wide variety of other fun and exciting titles that made Capcom a giant in the business. While there are a few stinkers in the bunch, most of these are winners.
- Street Fighter II
- Street Fighter II Champion Edition
- Street Fighter II Turbo: Hyper Fighting
- 1942
- 1943
- 1943: Midway Kaisen
- Ghosts 'N Goblins
- Ghouls 'N Ghosts
- Super Ghouls 'N Ghosts
- Commando
- Mercs
- Son Son
- Vulgu
- Higemaru
- Exed Exes
- Gun Smoke
- The King of Dragons
- Knights of the Round
- Eco Fighters
Capcom Classics Collection Remixed
Packshot © Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
Just getting the chance to play the original Bionic Commando is reason enough to snag this additional volume of 20 classic Capcom games. While Reloaded focused on their arcade hits, Remixed is all about their best retro console titles. The games included are…
- 1941: Counter Attack
- Avengers
- Bionic Commando
- Black Tiger
- Block Block
- Captain Commando
- Final Fight
- Forgotten Worlds
- Last Duel
- Legendary Wings
- Magic Sword
- Mega Twins
- Quiz & Dragons
- Section Z
- Side Arms: Hyper Dyne
- The Speed Rumbler
- Street Fighter
- Strider
- Three Wonders
- Varth
SNK Arcade Classics Volume 1
Packshot © SNK PLAYMORE CORPORATION
Back in the early 90s SNK only released games for Arcades and their very own home console system, the NeoGeo. Unfortunatly the NeoGeo came with a high price tag of $600, with each game cartridge costing $200 a pop, making today's Next-Gen consoles look budget. With such a high price tag few could afford the pleasures SNK had to offer. 18 years later these titles are finally available on the PSP! With 16 original SNK/NeoGeo titles, if you compare with the prices of the original games, you’ve got a savings of about $3170!
- Art of Fighting
- Baseball Stars 2
- Burning Fight
- Fatal Fury
- KOF94
- King of the Monsters
- Last Resort
- Magician Lord
- Metal Slug
- Neo Turf Masters
- Samurai Shodown
- Sengoku
- Shock Troopers
- Super SIdekicks3
- Top Hunter
- World Heroes
For the Nintendo Wii version of this collection, check out our Nintendo Wii Retro Video Games Holiday Gift Guide 2011 Part 1
Namco Museum Battle Collection
Packshot © NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
The king of classic coin-ops is back with a collection of their all time favorites. Namco not only originated some of history’s greatest arcade titles like Pac-Man, Galaga (a personal fav), Rally-X, Galaxian and Dig Dug. This collection includes 17 of their greatest hits, plus four “Arrangement” games. Arrangements are variations and remakes of the originals using the same mechanics but adding new design, levels and include versus and co-op modes via wireless connectivity. The titles include...
- Galaxian
- King and Balloon
- Pac-Man
- Rally-X
- Ms. Pac-Man
- Galaga
- Bosconian
- New Rally-X
- Dig Dug
- Xevious
- Mappy
- Tower of Druaga
- Dragon Buster
- Grobda
- Motos
- Dig Dug II
- Rolling Thunder
- Pac-Man Arrangement
- Dig Dug Arrangement
- Galaga Arrangement
- New Rally-X Arrangement
SEGA Genesis Collection
Packshot © SEGA Corporation.
The SEGA Genesis still stands as SEGA's most popular contribution to the console wars, mainly from it's library of high quality games. This UMD collects 28 of those original Genesis titles, plus five unlockable classic SEGA arcade games.
- Alex Kidd in the Enchanted Castle
- Altered Beast
- Bonanza Bros.
- Columns
- Comix Zone
- Decap Attack
- Ecco the Dolphin
- Ecco: The Tides of Time
- Ecco Jr.
- Flicky
- Gain Ground
- Golden Axe
- Golden Axe II
- Golden Axe III
- Kid Chameleon
- Phantasy Star II
- Phantasy Star III
- Phantasy Star IV
- Ristar
- Shadow Dancer: The Secret of Shinobi
- Shinobi III
- Sonic The Hedgehog
- Sonic The Hedgehog 2
- Super Thunder Blade
- Sword of Vermilion
- Vectorman
- Vectorman 2
- Virtua Fighter 2
Unlockable Arcade Titles
- Astro Blaster
- Congo Bongo
- Eliminator
- Space Fury
- Super Zaxxon
Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play
Packshot © Midway Home Entertainment, Inc.
Since the days of the SEGA Saturn and PlayStation One Midway has regularly opened up the vaults to bring their best classic coin-op arcade games to home consoles. With each advancing console more titles are added as the collections grow and we are now treated to an array of 21 classic titles all for the PSP, many of which feature wireless two-player action.
- 720 Degrees
- Arch Rivals
- Championship Sprint
- Cyberball 2072
- Defender
- Gauntlet
- Joust
- Klax
- Marble Madness
- Mortal Kombat
- Mortal Kombat 2
- Mortal Kombat 3
- Paperboy
- Rampage
- Rampart
- Sinistar
- Spy Hunter
- Toobin'
- Wizard of Wor
- Xenophobe
- Xybots
EA Replay
Packshot © Electronic Arts Inc.
With all of the Next-Gen big budget Electronic Arts sports, racing and action titles of today it’s hard to remember a time when EA was making 2D action and adventure games for classic console systems. This rarity of a collection featuring some of EA early-90s titles will get your memory jogging. While most in the group are winners there are a few stinkers in the bunch, but with the low price and titles such as Wing Commander and Mutant League Football included, you can’t go wrong with this set.
- B.O.B.
- Budokan
- Desert Strike
- Haunting Starring Polterguy
- Jungle Strike
- Mutant League Football
- Road Rash
- Road Rash II
- Road Rash III
- Syndicate
- Ultima VII: The Black Gate
- Wing Commander
- Wing Commander: Secret Missions
Taito Legends Power-Up
Packshot © Empire Interactive Ltd.; Taito © Taito Corporation.
Although the Taito Corporation is best known for the original Space Invaders, an arcade hit and the most popular game for the Atari 2600, they also released a boatload of terrific titles dating back to 1975. This collection puts together 21 of their top hits (although missing a few like Double Dragon and Bubble Bobble), plus four 3D remakes. The titles packed in are...
- Space Invaders
- Space Invaders Part 2
- Return of the Invaders
- New Zealand Story
- Crazy Balloon
- Crazy Balloon 2005 (3D Remake)
- Chalk 'n Pop
- Lunar Rescue
- Phoenix
- Balloon Bombers
- Balloon Bomb 2005 (3D Remake)
- Legend of Kage
- Legend of Kage 2005
- Alpine Ski
- The Fairyland Story
- Rastan Saga
- Raimais
- Kiki Kaikai
- Kuri Kinton
- Space Dungeon
- Qix
- Space Chaser
- Elevator Action
- Cameltry
- Cameltry 2005 (3D Remake)