Vita Wednesday: First-Party Launch Titles

With the launch of the PlayStation Vita, welcome to the first of two Vita Wednesdays.  This week's edition of Vita Wednesday coincides with the release of the First Edition Bundle while next week's edition will coincide with the release of the base model.  For the next two Wednesdays, I am going preview three of the biggest launch games for the new PS Vita.  This week, we will be taking a look at big first-party launch titles.  So without further ado, let us jump into the very first Vita Wednesday.

Naughty Dog hands over the reins to the Uncharted franchise to Sony Bend for Nathan Drake's debut on a handheld.  Uncharted: Golden Abyss is set before the events of Uncharted: Drake's Fortune.  You follow a much younger Nathan Drake on an adventure to uncover the dark secret behind the 400-year old massacre of a Spanish expedition.  For those looking for the multi-player from the last two Uncharted games, you are out of luck as Golden Abyss is just a solo affair.  Sony Bend looks to use the Vita to it's fullest as Golden Abyss uses each of the Vita's core features to offer a new variety of puzzles to Uncharted.  Those who are picking the Vita day one will most likely make Uncharted: Golden Abyss their first game purchase for their new system.  With the caliber of all the other entries in the series, that would be a very wise decision.

Sony's answer to Mario Kart, ModNation Racers has made its way into the Vita launch line-up with ModNation Racers: Road Trip.  Much like Mario Kart, ModNation Racers offers a solid single-player circuit to play through, but that is not the core of this series.  The core of ModNation Racers is the huge suite of creation tools.  You can create anything in the game from the racers to the karts to the tracks themselves.  These creation tools are made easier to use with the Vita's touch controls.  With just a few swipes of your finger, you can create a whole track.  One you are done creating your masterpieces, share them with your friends online.  Also you can enjoy all user-created content from the PS3 game on the go with Road Trip.

It would not be a launch of a Sony handheld without this iconic anti-gravity racing series.  WipeOut Pure launched alongside the PSP, now seven years later WipeOut 2048 launches alongside the PS Vita.  Unlike other entries in the WipeOut series, WipeOut 2048 does not take in the long distant future.  It takes place in the year 2048 in the dawn of the anti-gravity racing scene.  This new setting allows for a nice mix between modern and futuristic track designs.  WipeOut 2048 offers players 10 tracks that can be played both solo and with people online.  Also you can play anybody who has a copy of WipeOut HD with the multi-payer crossover feature.  With both ModNation Racers and WipeOut, Sony has racing fans of all ages covered at the launch of the their new handheld.