6 Cheap Video Games for Your Playstation Portable (PSP)

Let's face it; the PSP, or Playstation Portable, doesn't exactly have a flawless game library. However, there are a lot of great games out there for the system that'll eat up your time without wasting your money. Here are some of the best PSP games out there, many of which are "Greatest Hits" and therefore cost less than 20 bucks.

1.Lumines - This is Tetris for the next generation, an addictive and frenetic blend of techno music that isn't annoying and fast, unique gameplay. It's not just another puzzle game; the graphics are absolutely dazzling and you'll find yourself playing a single game for upwards of an hour just trying to get to the next board. It's very Zen in that you won't be getting frustrated; it's just absolutely fantastic fun. Just make sure you've got some time to devote to this game, because once you buy it, it's not going to let you go.

2.Star Wars: Battlefront II - As far as Playstation II to PSP conversions go, Battlefront II is one of the closest. There are some problems with navigation, but for the most part the controls are pretty tight and you get the same addictive rush you get with the bigger console version. It's both fun and not too deep, plus the levels are fairly short, making this a fantastic game when you've got to kill some time on an airplane or bus.

3.Megaman X: Maverick Hunter - Old school gamers usually decide to go with the Nintendo DS because the Playstation Portable doesn't really have the same potential for older games (unless of course you hack the firmware to run old SNES games). Megaman X: Maverick Hunter X is an exception to the rule, though; it's a remake of one of the greatest Super Nintendo games of all times, updated with new graphics, cut scenes, and tweaked levels to make it better than ever. Great for fans of the original video game and newcomers alike.

4.Daxter - Platformers are kind of difficult on the PSP, because it's a 3D system with one analog nub, so navigation can be difficult. Daxter has an amazing camera and some of the best gameplay this side of Ratchet and Clank. You play Daxter from Jak and Daxter, a small rodent-y thing that runs around gassing bugs. The platforming's simple but intuitive and fun, making this a great video game. This game's normally about $40, but there's a link at the end of this article to an on line store that sells it for $25.

5.Untold Legends - Fans of action RPGs like Diablo should check out this fairly generic but still fun dungeon crawler. You upgrade skills, travel towns, fight giant spiders (of course!) and quite a few other interesting enemies in your quest to stop a great evil. Yeah, yeah, you've heard it all before, but get off your high horse! The game play is fantastic, and that's what counts. Hacking and slashing and spell casting is great, especially when you've got a friend to play multiplayer with. If you're looking to buy PSP games that kill spare time, there's no better place to start.

6.Wipeout Pure - The Playstation Portable's analog nub is perfect for racing games, and this futuristic launch title will . I'm not exactly a racing fan, but the weapons, the great level design, and the challenging game play, this is one video game you don't want to pass up at a $20 price tag.

Of course, there are more great games for the PSP being released all the time, and it's starting to look like the Playstation Portable will be a viable portable system despite its control issues. If nothing else, check the links below for information on how to hack your PSP to play homebrew games, emulators, and more.