Remembering the Classics - Old School PSP Games

The PSP is technologically a very impressive machine. Visuals once thought impossible on the small screen have appeared and exceeded expectations. Some of us don't really want all the bells and whistles modern games have.

Where are the oldschool psp games? Of course, the PSP is still quite young, so no specific PSP games are going to be considered old-school. Namco, Midway, and Capcom, however, have heard the call for some retro gaming action, and have supplied us with compilations of their greatest hits.

Namco's Museum Battle Collection contains some of the most famous video games of all time. Pac Man, Ms. Pac Man (she never actually married Pac Man, apparently), Galaga, Galaxian, and Dig Dug all make an appearance here, along with several other games that are less household names.

One of the fun things about this edition is the ability to play with your PSP turned to the side, like an old tabletop arcade game. These old games are the kind that inspire one to achieve top scores rather than "beating" them, as the games of today. They're quick to play and to load though, perfect for a portable system. An extra bonus are remixed edition of classic games, with updated graphics and gameplay devices like bosses and power-ups.

Midway's entry is Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play. It contains 21 classic Midway games, from the older games like Defender, Marble Madness, and Spy Hunter to their more recent hits like Mortal Kombat. Added features include wireless multiplayer which utilizes game sharing. With game sharing, you can play these classics with a friend regardless of whether or not they own the game.

Capcom already has two entries in the classic-gaming genre. Capcom Classics Collection Remixed features some great arcade hits like Magic Sword and Final Fight, and a few NES classics such as Bionic Commando. The old fighting games of a bygone era show up just as you remembered them here, and are certain to entertain you not just on a nostalgic level.

Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded arguably has the best assortment of the bunch, with Street Fighter II leading the pack. The oft-overlooked Knights of the Realm appears here, as well as the ever-frustrating Ghouls n' Ghosts and Super Ghouls and Ghosts.

As you can see, a few companies have heeded the call from some good ol' classic gaming on the PSP, so those in search of such an experience do not seek in vain. Classic games are well suited to a portable system, so it is not surprising that there are several titles available already, and there are sure to be more in the future as the PSP's library continues to grow.