Now that you know a little more about the PS Vita’s hardware, maybe you are tempted to pick one up. Here are some of the launch titles I think you need to pair with the new portable gaming device. When choosing which games to pick up when you purchase your PS Vita, I think you should heavily consider the following:

Michael Jackson: The Experience HD:

Before you laugh- hey! I said BEFORE you laugh!- I was wondering how in the hell can Ubisoft make this dance game work on a portable device. Do I have to use the gyroscope mixed with some awkward groping on the Vita to play this? Although that sounds like a sure way to get some funny pictures of people, playing Michael Jackson: The Experience HD is a lot like Elite Beat Agents for the Nintendo DS. Great use of the multitouch screen on the Vita as you tap, slide and draw half to full circles to the beat of 15 songs. Not a huge list and hopes of DLC with more songs will be on the way soon. Pick this up if you are a fan of rhythm games and like at least some of the King of Pop’s music.

Rayman Origins:

Every portable gaming device needs a great 2D platformer and Rayman Origins is the Vita’s. Out of all the games I have played on the Vita, Rayman Origins looks the most exquisite. The Vita versions offers nothing different from its console brethren but Rayman Origins on the Vita holds its own when it comes to the visuals when you use the touch screen to zoom in and out of the game. This should be in the top 3 games you are thinking about purchasing.

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3:

I am terrible at fighting games yet I still have fun playing with my group of friends that are on my skill level. UMvC 3 has always been fun for me to play offline and with the new Heroes and Heralds mode. If Rayman Origins is the best looking game on the Vita, UMvC 3 comes a close second. Amazing detail and no slowdown is crazy to see on a portable gaming device. Load times are a little long but still end up being shorter than the console version.

Speaking of the console version, using the Vita as a controller for the PS3 is pretty damn sweet. Having 6 buttons on the touch screen mapped to any special moves is a nice touch and the D-pad on the Vita is on par with the Dual Shock 3 controller. Capcom and Sony still haven’t figured out how to get the DLC that came with the PS3 version of UMvC 3 to work with the Vita version yet so I can’t use Jill or Shuma Gorath in game currently. Between UMvC3 and BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend, I would say go with UMvC 3 if you are looking to take the fight to the Vita.

Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack:

Any game that can make me smile and feel like it is a privilege to play it should be praised. Drinkbox Studios should be commended on how much fun Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack is. Between the platforming, side scrolling Katamari style of sucking up items to get past obstacles, the music and all of the craziness that players see in the background of each level makes this my top pick for a game to get with your purchase of a Vita. It’s download only so if you don’t have $7.99 on your PSN account, pick up a PSN card to buy Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack when you get home (you probably DON’T want to be giving the attack-attractive PSN your credit card info).

Lumines: Electronic Symphony:

Testing out the battery life of your new Vita is pretty simple. Start playing Lumines: Electronic Symphony and in about 3-4 hours you will have drained the battery completely dry. The biggest draw to Lumines: Electronic Symphony, besides the amazing soundtrack, is the leaderboards. I can’t tell you how much this game pushes me to want to beat everyone on my friends leaderboard. Sad to report that I have yet to crack 200,000 points. If anyone remembers when the PSP launched, Lumines was one of the titles available at the same time. Unless block puzzle games are not something you rather enjoy all too often, it’s only fitting that you pick up Lumines: Electronic Symphony alongside the Vita. It was like they were made for each other.

Hopefully, you will consider one of these few games that I believe every PS Vita owner should have in their library. At least I hope that it makes your decision of what to get out of the 20+ launch titles for the new handheld a little bit easier. See you online!