February 22 marks the third birthday of the PlayStation Vita, so in celebration we’re having a whole series of features in homage to Sony’s brilliant little handheld. Join us in spreading the love for the Vita with #VivaPSVita!
It’s hard to believe it’s been three years since the Vita entered our lives. We’ve loved it ever since, but sadly not everyone does. The PlayStation Vita has come under a lot of attack during its short life, and unfortunately Sony doesn’t seem to support it as much as the fans would like. Well, GameSpew are making a stand, and we’re making our love for the Vita known. Join us in spreading the love on Twitter by using the hashtag #VivaPSVita and let’s show the nay-sayers what they’re missing out on!
One big complaint that a lot of people make about the Vita is the lack of games. This just isn’t true! It’s a sad fact that, in the UK at least, not many places stock Vita games, and when they do, there’s a very limited selection on a very small section of a shelf. But just log on to the PlayStation store, and you’ll see literally hundreds of games available to download: from big-name titles like Uncharted and Final Fantasy to obscure Japanese titles that you wouldn’t be able to play anywhere else.
Not only that, but there’s a whole category of free Vita games and applications available to download straight away. Not demos, not trials, but completely free. And some of them are bloody addictive. So dust off your Vita, log onto the store, and show it some love… free of charge!
Here’s the list of free Vita games available on the UK store:
1. Best of Arcade Games
“Brick Breaker, Tetraminos, Bubble Buster and Air Hockey: rediscover four timeless classics with this Best of Arcade Games compilation.”
2. Best of Board Games
“Chess, Mah-jong, Solitaire: rediscover three timeless classics with this Best of Board Games compilation.”
3. Cliff Diving
“Take a deep breath and don’t look down – there’s no room for vertigo in the high-flying world of Cliff Diving. Join daredevil Diver Dan as he scales the highest cliffs in search of the ultimate adrenaline rush: the perfect dive. Place your AR Play Cards on any flat surface and build a series of high diving boards wherever you are, then send Dan leaping off the edge to perform the death-defying dives that will earn him the big bucks.”
4. Crazy Market
“Crazy Market is the free-to-play game that will put the smile back on your face! Take control of the pretty Lulu or the dynamic Eugene and take position behind the cash register from the biggest supermarket in town. But the task won’t be so easy: the Boss is pretty nuts and won’t hesitate to throw bombs directly on the conveyor belt, where customers may also forget their babies or even their cute little doggies!”
5. Deathmatch Village
“It’s high time you unleashed your inner redneck! Get ready for Deathmatch Village! Chock-full of frenetic shotgun-blastin’ & pitchfork-proddin’ action, this free-to-play 2D multiplayer game is a breath of fresh air for the whole MOBA genre. Crush your opponents and snatch them piggies! And don’t forget to recharge your donkey once in a while!”
6. Destiny of Spirits
“Summon and collect magical Spirits to save the world from the evil forces of chaos in this free-to-play global location game. Trade and borrow from your friends to build your collection of supernatural warriors, as you prepare to face a series of challenges and a legion of enemies.”
7. Ecolibrium
“Bring harmony to virtual ecosystems full of amazing and fantastical creatures and plants. Choose different combinations of species, plants and artefacts and strike the perfect balance in your ecosystems to avoid extinction. Use the PS Vita system’s touchscreen to bring your virtual world to life in this unique Discovery App.”
8. Fat Princess: Piece of Cake
“Get ready for a medieval royal rumble in this strategic, free to play puzzler set in the beloved world of Fat Princess. Enjoy classic puzzle gameplay as you match chains of gems on the game board to battle enemies and protect your portly princess.”
9. Fireworks
“As the fireworks fly up into the sky, it’s up to you to detonate them at the perfect time and in the correct order to wow the crowds and score maximum points to take you on to the next stage. But if you miss more than three fireworks, the show’s over! Have you got what it takes to light up the night sky?”
10. Frobisher Says!
“Frobisher Says! is a collection of crazy mini-games. Bell ringing, soup stirring, accordion playing – if you can imagine an activity, Frobisher has probably thought of it, added an outrageous twist and created a unique challenge to test you. To be successful, you’ll need to make use of the full range of features your PlayStation Vita has to offer. Tickle the touchscreen, wiggle the analogue sticks, shout into the microphone – who knows what you’ll need to do? Whatever it is, you need to be quick, as the faster you can complete each challenge, the more points you’ll get before the next task begins.”
11. Imaginstruments
“Become an Imaginstruments virtuoso and start making music with your PS Vita. Mix drums, melodies and bass sounds, add effects and change the key and tempo of your tracks, all in real-time and on-the-go. With six virtual instrument tracks to choose from, you can bring each sound into the mix and start creating some unique grooves.”
12. Invoker’s Tournament
“Fight your way through frenetic online battles in this new Action MOBA! Collect and learn to use the different invocations and rise to the title of Tournament Champion!”
13. No Heroes Allowed: No Puzzles Either!
“As the all-powerful God of Destruction, you must quickly move falling tiles to match three or more identical icons – which will then summon a pack of deadly monsters hungry for juicy hero flesh.”
14. Paint Park
“Let your imagination run wild and your creative juices flow by downloading Paint Park – the first exclusive art app for PlayStation Vita. Use the PS Vita system’s touchscreen to draw, doodle, sketch and scribble anything you can think of in quick and easy ways; and connect with your friends via Ad Hoc Mode to take part in exciting multiplayer contests.”
15. Paint Park Plus
“Let your imagination run wild as you use the PS Vita system’s touchscreen to draw, doodle, sketch and scribble, then Tweet your masterpieces, or use Twitter to engage in a variety of fun-filled play modes. Add some colour to your social networking experience – it’s time to let your artwork do the talking with Paint Park Plus.”
16. Table Football
“Bring your own football stadium to life on any flat surface and play five-a-side football matches and tournaments wherever you are. Place all six AR Play Cards to create a pitch, two supporters’ stands and a scoreboard and start challenging friends via Ad Hoc Mode or taking on computer controlled opponents.”
17. Treasure Park
“Discover secret treasure with logic and lucky guesses by downloading Treasure Park today absolutely free. Use touchscreen controls to design your treasure-laden puzzle sheets, and share your creations with fellow hunters. The aim of the game is to tap squares on the puzzle sheets to find the hidden prizes within five attempts. If you fail to find the treasure, or if you set off a booby trap, it’s game over.”
18. Treasures of Montezuma: Blitz
“Treasures of Montezuma Blitz taps into the full power of PlayStation Vita and utilizes the unique abilities of the hand-held console to deliver a fun and visually stunning match-three experience! With both Front and Rear Touch at your fingertips, there is no limit to how fast you can play, and gravity adds even more challenge to the game’s fast-paced rounds. Use awesome bonuses to compete with your friends and be the best in weekly tournaments!”
19. Treasures of Montezuma: Arena
“Fight to survive! Help Montezuma make his way through the dark catacombs of a sinister ziggurat. Master unique gameplay mechanics combining traditional “match-three” puzzles, turn-based battles, and role-playing elements! Use ancient artefacts and mighty totems to fight bloodthirsty creatures! Challenge your friends and other players in battles and tournaments!”
This list is correct as of February 2015. Game descriptions are taken from the PlayStation Store. Join in the conversation on Twitter by using hashtag #VivaPSVita!
