The PlayStation Portable Turns 20: A Look Back at Its Most Iconic Titles

Today, Nintendo dominates the handheld market. Outside of a few handheld PC competitors like the Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG ALLY, nothing can compete with the Nintendo Switch. However, it wasn't always like this. Yes, Nintendo has always been a superpower in the handheld market, but there was a time when PlayStation was a worthy competitor. Today is Sony's beloved handheld's 20th birthday so let's look back at its history and some of its most iconic titles.

The original PlayStation Portable was released in Japan on December 12, 2004. This console was in direct competition with the Nintendo DS. Throughout the years the PSP got its fair share of upgraded models from the original PSP-1000 in 2004 to the October 26, 2011 PSP Street model. Fans and critics generally loved the PlayStation Portable.

The praise and criticism were fairly unanimous across the board. The PlayStation Portable has very powerful hardware and its design is well with its size and sleek feel. When compared to the Nintendo DS it was seen as the more powerful console but that doesn't always mean it will do better. The DS sold more units than the PlayStation Portable.

During its life cycle, there were 1,370 games released for the PlayStation Portable. The console saw many different types of genres and many PlayStation IPs found success on it. When looking at the best-selling games on the console they tended to lean towards arcade-like titles that were easy to pick up and play in short bursts. Games like Monster Hunter Portable 3rd and Gran Turismo. Monster Hunter did very well on the handheld with two of its games being among the best-selling games on the console. The amount of great games didn't end there though, here are some of the highlights of the PlayStation Portable.

• Release Date: June 8, 2010
• Metascore: 89 (Generally Favorable)
• User Score: 8.5 (Generally Favorable)

It's not a surprise that Metal Gear Solid is one of the best games on the console. There aren't many if any bad entries in this franchise. It tells a great story following Big Boss in events after the phenomenal Metal Gear Solid 3. On top of being a great solo experience, it taps into multiplayer as well with great Co-Op options. Peace Walker was a must-have if you owned a PlayStation Portable.

• Release Date: March 22, 2005
• Metascore: 89 (Generally Favorable)
• User Score: 7.5 (Generally Favorable)

The best PlayStation Portable games are ones that can be enjoyed in quick bursts and Lumines embodies that perfectly. The title is a block-dropping game that at first glance looks reminiscent of Tetris. The objective is to rotate and align blocks in a way to create colored squares. There's a vertical line that sweeps across the screen from left to right and when the line collides with colored squares they disappear and the player earns points. It's a nice twist on the falling block puzzle gameplay loop.

• Release Date: July 5, 2010
• Metascore: 89 (Generally Favorable)
• User Score: 8.8 (Generally Favorable)

Persona 3 Portable is a fresh take on the classic original title. While many would argue this isn't the definitive way to enjoy this RPG it does provide a nice alternative way to experience it if you've already placed many hours into the original. Being able to take one of the best JRPGs on the go is extremely underrated so it makes sense that this title is one of the best on the handheld. If you haven't played it, it is still worth your time today. Persona 3 Portable is one of the best versions of one of the best JRPGs of modern gaming.

• Release Date: March 17, 2009
• Metascore: 90 (Universal Acclaim)
• User Score: 7.6 (Generally Favorable)

Rockstar was one of the biggest winners of this era of gaming. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars was a major success on both the PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo DS. It felt like everyone was in love with this entry on release. This game trims a lot of the fat in a Grand Theft Auto experience without losing any sort of mechanical depth which is something that even games of today fail at. A great bite-sized game that's even better on the go.

• Release Date: March 4, 2008
• Metascore: 91 (Universal Acclaim)
• User Score: 8.4 (Generally Favorable)

The de-facto best game on the PlayStation Portable in terms of sales and critical reception is without a doubt, God of War: Chains of Olympus. Gaming publication, GamePro, said in their review that Chains of Olympus is the best PSP title they've ever played. Being able to capture the intense gameplay and excitement of God of War is nothing short of impressive and many players consider it the best looking game on the console. This title encapsulates everything that made the PlayStation Portable great as well as achieving greatness as one of the best portable titles ever.

20 years later, the PlayStation Portable continues to hold a place in the hearts of its fans. One of the most enduring aspects of the Portable is its homebrew and modding community. People have been tinkering with this hardware ever since the console originally hit stores and today it is still being used as a hacker's dream. As we celebrate 20 years of the PlayStation Portable its impact continues to stretch far beyond its time. A truly great handheld experience.