Hand held sports games

I have always steered clear of sports games for hand held consoles because traditionally they're just not that great. Can anyone recommend a half decent game for the DS or PSP? Particularly the DS because thats what I usually bring when I'm traveling.

I was OK with some of the Fifa efforts on DS. You're not going to get all the features of the console game, but the "be a pro" mode is good enough to sink some time into.

I plan on getting further into sports titles on DS and 3DS, so hopefully we can tackle this more in the future. I think we all wish they were better.

True Swing Golf is pretty good.

Tecmo Bowl is awesome on DS. If you happen to bring your PSP with you, NBA2K11 is only $20 for download and retail also.

TopShelf wrote:I have always steered clear of sports games for hand held consoles because traditionally they're just not that great. Can anyone recommend a half decent game for the DS or PSP? Particularly the DS because thats what I usually bring when I'm traveling.

As a frequent business travelling I play mostly portable systems. The DS is a great system but the sports games on it are terrible. The resolution on the thing doesn't render lots of players in 3D well and it is just a blurry mess. Madden is terrible on DS. They should have just used the 2D SNES engine and just rename the players. I am hoping the new resolution of the 3DS fixes all of that. The Mario Golf and Tennis games are OK if you don't mind the games in annoying RPG framework of having to go around talking to people to play games.

The PSP does sports games well. Madden on PSP is like playing the PS2 version in features and gameplay. Nothing changes year to year and you can pick up an old UMD for $5 if you don't mind having Farve still on the Packers. Some great PSP versions I have played are the NBA Inside, Hot Shots Golf (1st version is actually better) and Hot Shots Tennis. Avoid Paynga Golf and NFL Street.

Best hand held sports game: NeoGeo Cup 98 plus on the NeoGeo Pocket Color. I still play this!

Whatever you do, dont get the PSP version of MLB: The Show. If you thought the load times were bad on the console, you might kill yourself waiting to get into a game on the PSP.

Anyone pick up the 3DS yet?

I picked up Ridge racer, which turned out to be pretty good.

I'm still pretty hesitant to pick up any of the sports games for this thing, although scoring a few 3D goals with Messi in Pro Evo soccer can't be terrible or possibly breaking Ronaldo's leg in 3D would be nice too.

ThatSportsGamer wrote:Whatever you do, dont get the PSP version of MLB: The Show. If you thought the load times were bad on the console, you might kill yourself waiting to get into a game on the PSP.

I played a ton of MLB 08: The Show. I'm patient, so the load times didn't get to me as much i guess. I recommend it. The newer ones are probably better too (haven't played any of them though)

Hot Shots / Everbody's Golf 2 on the PSP is awesome, sunk lots of time into it. Also the World Cup 2010 on PSP is really good too. It's full of great racing games too.

Madden 11 on PSP is nothing like the console versions of the game. I was hoping it would at least play like it does on 360. Not much of a fan. I hope Madden 12 on PSVita is a lot better.

I was under the impression it was like the PS2 version...