PSP kids' game recommendations

[Gary Whitta]

Okay, so a friend of mine's 8 year-old nephew apparently wants nothing but PSP games for Christmas. He's into typical boy things, superheroes and whatnot.

I, as someone who is supposed to know something about videogames, have been asked to recommend some titles. But my PSP game-fu is somewhat weak at the moment, so I thought I'd throw it open to the QT3 crowd for some suggestions...

[Marcus]

Yeah I'd get him a SP... damn a PSP for an 8 year old? Thats hard core.

Also The Xmen game he might like but really there are not that many games that would appeal to an 8 year old.

Perhaps burnout ledgends?

[RickH]

As the parent of an eight-year-old, I would recommend a screen protector, a full-body cushiony skin/shell, and an extended no-questions-asked warranty.

I loaned my kid my DS for half an hour and the upper screen came back scratched, I don't know how they do it. The PSP is off limits unless they are already seated and don't get up while they play. You should see the poor SP's my kids have. You often have to try multiple times to get the games to boot up, clean & blow, clean & blow.

As for games, kids love monkeys with helmets, go with Ape Escape. If Burnout Legends has a crash mode (I don't have my copy handy), kids love that, too.

EDIT: Crash Tag Team Racing isn't out yet, but if it's as good as the Nitro Kart game was, it should be a kid-pleaser. Nitro Kart was a bit dependent on the powerslides, hope they fix that. Other racing games are probably too unforgiving for an 8-year old kid. THUG 2 and SSX have some appeal to kids, but they really can't handle the necessary tricks to advance in the games.

MediEvil Resurrection might be good, I haven't played my copy yet. Should be OK for a Scooby-Doo viewer. Pac-Man World 3 should be out by Christmas, too. Spongebob Yellow Avenger has slipped to 2006. Tokobot might have some potential as well, but puzzle/strategy games are a risk for kids. I notice The Incredibles is coming out on UMD in December.

My experience is that old arcade games do not hold kids interest.

[Marcus]

Yeah burnout has a crash mode and I would think that it would be a sure fire hit.

Also the Marvel Fighting game might be pretty good ( even though it really does suck ) for a kid his age.

[Jojo]

As the parent of an eight-year-old, I would recommend a screen protector, a full-body cushiony skin/shell, and an extended no-questions-asked warranty.

How about one of those briefcase handcuff-chain things so it can't be lost?

Isn't there a Harry Potter PSP game due next month? Assuming its any good, that sounds perfect for an 8 year old.

[RickH]

As the parent of an eight-year-old, I would recommend a screen protector, a full-body cushiony skin/shell, and an extended no-questions-asked warranty.

How about one of those briefcase handcuff-chain things so it can't be lost?

You joke, but that's the only way I'd let a kid walk around in public with equipment & software that has a $300 replacement value.

[Misguided]

Great for kids of all ages:
Gripshift
Hot Shots Golf
Ridge Racer

If mild violence (explosions, etc) is tolerable:
Burnout Legends

Heard good stuff about but haven't played:
Virtua Tennis
X-Men Legends II (cartoon violence)

[TriggerHappy]

Namco Collection!

[Flowers]

As a former (physical) eight year old, and a current (mental, physical, emotional) eleven year old, I can say that any game is as good a bet as any other. I remember that I always hated the shit out of kids games. It doesn't matter if the kid is lousy at it, they don't have jobs so they can play a level over and over until they get it right.

Also, I would recommend GTA:LC, mostly because the dirty stuff will go right over his head, and if it doesn't, he'll be the coolest kid in his class for at least three days as a result.

[Bren]

Also, I would recommend GTA:LC, mostly because the dirty stuff will go right over his head, and if it doesn't, he'll be the coolest kid in his class for at least three days as a result.

For an 8 year old? Are you kidding?

I have an 8 year old, and there's no way I'd let him even WATCH me play LCS. It is FULL of violence, drugs, sex and language.

"DIE MOTHERFUCKER!!!" will not go over an 8 year old kid's head -- it will go in his ears, and later come out his mouth.

You want the kid to be cool? Buy him a Dragonball Z t-shirt. Done.

[Dave Long]

Also, I would recommend GTA:LC, mostly because the dirty stuff will go right over his head, and if it doesn't, he'll be the coolest kid in his class for at least three days as a result.

Let me guess, you're about 19 or so, right?

Whoa... waitaminnit... you're actually 11? Do your parents know you're here?

--Dave

[Moore]

I dont have kids, but I dont see much of an issue, I was reading playboy, watching evil dead and porkys at age 8. Not much damage, and I havent killed anyone or anything. I just like horror movies and still think porky's is funnier than it really is to this day. That doesnt seem so bad.

Also- I still think C.H.U.D. is a decent flick, so maybe there was some damage.

Foul language though, parents said dont talk like that, so I didnt, around anyone who'd care. Seems simple enough.

[fuzzyslug]

Great for kids of all ages:
Gripshift
Hot Shots Golf
Ridge Racer

If mild violence (explosions, etc) is tolerable:
Burnout Legends

Heard good stuff about but haven't played:
Virtua Tennis
X-Men Legends II (cartoon violence)

I'll second some of Misguided's choices here. Burnout Legends, Virtua Tennis, and X-Men Legends II would all be great games for an 8 year old, although I've only read about X-men. Burnout Legends and Virtua Tennis are the two best games for the system and share the benefit of sporting a pretty wide appeal

[Ben Sones]

Lumines has a pretty universal appeal, and is an awesome game.

[Flowers]

I dont have kids, but I dont see much of an issue, I was reading playboy, watching evil dead and porkys at age 8. Not much damage, and I havent killed anyone or anything. I just like horror movies and still think porky's is funnier than it really is to this day. That doesnt seem so bad.

Also- I still think C.H.U.D. is a decent flick, so maybe there was some damage.

Foul language though, parents said dont talk like that, so I didnt, around anyone who'd care. Seems simple enough.

Hey there,

I was the kid with showtime who went to rated R movies wth his parents, nice to meet ya.
So I saw Out For Justice, I turned out ok. As far as a filthy mouth, that's all catholic school. FYI, the kid that knows what dirty words mean is cooler than the gelled up twat in merchandise couture.

You wanna talk about messing up a kid's life? Make him watch ET, he'll cry for, like, a week. Remember when Karate kid came out? How many of you got crane kicked that month? Yeah, me too. Kids are durable, don't treat them like they should be damaged by everyday life.

[Bren]

Yeah, you guys turned out fine, except for having no idea what's appropriate for an 8 year old.

If Karate Kid leads to crane kicking, what could GTA: LCS lead to, hm? Not the most compelling argument.

Lumines: seconded.

I'd like to slip in a little plug for NFS: Rivals, or NFS: Most Wanted 5-1-0, which comes out pretty soon.

[Moore]

Well, my dog is happy, and I'm fine being the cool uncle that gets yelled at by his sister. Don't plan on having any of my own, poor ROI, and I couldnt deal with that level of resposibility (ie- everything that happens to them AND everything they do = all your fault. NO thanks)

I am great w/ kids though, so long as I can hand them off to the parents when they get tired. I had an uncle that would always just get exactly what I wanted for xmas, ewok village, gijoe aircraft carrier, whataver, so I've decided to not have kids and just be that guy for my neices and nephews. I'll try to not buy them Texas Chainsaw Massacre until they are 10 or whatever, I guess.

[Marcus]

I didnt say Lumines because while its a great game I dont see an 8 year old playing it over say the Marvel Fighting game.

[Bren]

True enough. My boy didn't think much of it. Loved NFS though.

[RickH]

I didnt say Lumines because while its a great game I dont see an 8 year old playing it over say the Marvel Fighting game.

I literally see my kids passing over Lumines to play THUG2. Not all games are universal in appeal.

Oh, and thanks for all the parenting advice, childless ones. :roll:

[Winterrain]

Lumines is a great game for the PSP. The only game my wife actually finds fun. Should work for an 8 year old.

Everybodys Golf isnt too bad, though I think it will have a high frustration level.

Archer Maclean's Mercury is the game im buying for my wife next.

[krayzkrok]

Mercury would work well. It reminds me of Spindizzy on the ZX Spectrum - a game I used to play when I wasn't much older than 8.