The PSP has been winding down in North America over the last few years, and with the Vita on the market, publishers are hesitant to bring over games late in the portable’s life cycle – many of which are RPGs. As an RPG fan, I yearn for and wonder about these games. Maybe an opportunity will arise to bring them digitally to PSN for play on both the PSP and Vita, but until then, I’ve selected eight games that came late in the PSP’s lifespan. Sadly, we will probably always pine for these to release in English.

Grand Knights History

Japanese Release Date: September 1, 2011

The word “Vanillaware” is all fans need to hear. The developer is known for bringing us stunning 2D visuals in games like Odin Sphere, Muramasa: The Demon Blade, and GrimGrimoire. Naturally, when Grand Knights History was announced, excitement mounted. The anticipation was even more palpable since Grand Knights History is an ambitious, online-connected project. Not only do you align yourself with one of the three nations, but you also battle those in opposing nations and expand territories online. Xseed Games announced localization in September 2011, but a year later, Xseed revealed that Vanillaware didn’t have the resources to complete the localization because of the upcoming Vita and PS3 title Dragon’s Crown.

Genso Suikoden: Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki

Japanese Release Date: February 9, 2012

The last time we heard a peep out of the Suikoden series was 2009’s Suikoden Tierkreis. Just like Tierkreis, Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki is a side story that takes place in a universe outside of the main series’ lore. Recruiting Stars of Destiny is still front-and-center as players are launched 100 years into the past to train for an impending battle with the Centennial Monster, who is hell-bent on destroying the world. Tsumugareshi Hyakunen no Toki did not receive the best reviews overseas, so localization looks unlikely. That is unfortunate considering how much nostalgia people have for the series; fans over here are starving for another entry.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

Japanese Release Date: May 17, 2012

In September of 2011, Atlus released the first arc of Persona 2’s story – Innocent Sin – on PSP. Last May, the second half of the story, Eternal Punishment, released in Japan. But now after finally seeing Innocent Sin in action, it only makes sense to bring over Persona 2’s second-half of the story, Eternal Punishment, to North America. Like Innocent Sin’s PSP edition, Eternal Punishment boasts enhanced visuals, but it also entices with a new story arc written by Tadashi Satomi about what happened to Tatsuya (Innocent Sin’s main character) before he joins Eternal Punishment’s party mid-game. Atlus has brought over almost all the Persona titles thus far, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this one sees life on our shores even if it’s just a digital release on Vita. 

Final Fantasy Type-0

Japanese Release Date: October 27, 2011

Type-0 tells a darker tale than most Final Fantasy titles, and what’s the best way to do that? Throw in a colossal war between four nations and add in earth-shattering magic and mythological beasts just to make things more complicated and wondrous. Let’s face it: Final Fantasy is a big brand that can throw its weight around. With its various entries, popular spinoffs, and big sales, the potential for a quality title to sell well is high. Scoring an almost-perfect 39 from the popular Japanese magazine Famitsu, it stings not having the chance to play what might very well be one of the PSP’s best RPGs. Still, Square Enix rarely passes on a chance to cash in on the franchise, so rumors have been rampant about a potential Vita release. Fingers crossed! 

[Next Up: One of the best strategy RPG series around, Falcom love, and dungeon crawling against space dragons ....]