One of the best things about a new console or handheld isn't just that you can enjoy newer titles, but you can also play older games on the new hardware (assuming it's backward compatible). Such is the case of the Vita, and while the launch library has been nothing short of impressive, the demand for digital PSP games has skyrocketed. The only downside is that these older games are still around the same price as when they launched ($39.99 for Persona 3 Portable!?). Well, not anymore if you have a European PlayStation account.
A permanent price drop has been placed on more than 50 PSP titles on the European PlayStation Store. Several high-profile titles are included, and below are the games that were listed in Sony's announcement. (Note: Asterisk = Vita compatibility)
101-in-1 Megamix*2010 FIFA World Cup South AfricaAce Combat Joint Assault*ARMORED CORE 3 Portable*ARMORED CORE LAST RAVEN Portable*ARMORED CORE SILENT LINE Portable*Army of TWO: The 40th DayAsphalt : Urban GT 2*Bakugan: Defenders of The Core*Ben 10: Protector of Earth*BEN10 ALIEN FORCE: VILGAX ATTACKS*BIGS 2*BlazBlue Continuum Shift 2*Blazeblue Calamity Trigger Portable*BLOOD BOWL*Brothers In Arms D-Day*Castle Rustle*Chessmaster: The Art Of Learning*Corpse Party*Cover Girl*Crystal Mines*Dante’s InfernoDespicable Me*Driver 76*DYNASTY WARRIORS*DYNASTY WARRIORS VOL.2*Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce*FIFA 11Free Running*Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2*Gladiator Begins*GODS EATER BURST*Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus*Harry Potter and the Goblet of FireLunar: Silver Star Harmony*MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 2K9*Manhunt 2*METAL SLUG XX*Michael Jackson The Experience*MYST*MYTRAN WARS*Need For Speed Most Wanted 5-1-0NEOGEO HEROES -Ultimate Shooting-*Prince of Persia Rival Swords*Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands*Prince of Persia: Revelations*Pro Cycling 2009-Tour de France*Pro Cycling 2010 – Tour de France*Rugby League Challenge*Samurai Warriors: State Of War*Shin Megami Tensei: Persona Full Game*Splinter Cell Essentials*Street Riders*The Red StarTHE WARRIORS*Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10TOM CLANCY GHOST RECON PREDATORTOMB RAIDER: LEGEND*Warriors Orochi*Warriors Orochi 2*Ys I & II Chronicles*Ys SEVEN*Ys: The Oath in Felghana*
While it's disappointing that this has only affected the European PlayStation Store, it's safe to assume that the price drops will hit the North American and Asian markets as well. If you're dying for more Vita games, now is a good time to pick up some PSP titles to tie you over. The larger screen and second analog stick makes it worth it for quite a few of the above titles. Now if only Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection and Monster Hunter: Freedom Unite would join the crew…