Coming in October, NIS America's upcoming release of Mana-Khemia looks to bring some very standard JRPG fare to the PSP. It's been a while since a traditional RPG has arrived on PSP, especially so shortly after a Japanese release. We're keeping an eye out on this one, if only because there are so few games to actually look out for in the immediate future.

[Via PSPHyper]

Sony's been keeping their upcoming PSP-exclusive chibi Bleach game under wraps for quite some time. A trailer hidden in the last Heat the Soul game revealed this upcoming 2D action title, but little has been seen since then. Well, a new Japanese ad is ready to introduce the game to the masses. The game, which will be available in Japan in October, will undoubtedly tear up the sales charts like every other major PSP release these days.

One of our readers rightfully asked why we post so much information on Japanese games. The truth of the matter is, Japan just gets more games than us. Games like Gundam are system-sellers on that side of the Pacific. The upcoming Macross game will also undoubtedly do very well. While most of us will never have a chance to actually play these titles (lest we import), at least we can take some comfort that PSP is doing incredibly well in Japan? Check out this new promotional video to check out some hot mech-on-mech action.

What's better than pictures? How about a moving picture? The first official trailer for the upcoming PSN download No Gravity has appeared on the web, and it confirms what we've seen from the stills: it's pretty. Right now, it's only confirmed for a European PSN release in August, but seeing the RP logo from the ESRB has us confident that this will hit the States not too far off in the future.

[Via PPGN]

The newly released "features trailer" of Fading Shadows attempts to highlight the unique selling points of this PSP-exclusive puzzle game. After a quiet launch in Europe a few months ago, Agetec is bringing the game over to the States in just a few weeks time. You play a shimmering beam of light and must transport a magical ball through various stages. We got some early hands-on time a few months ago, and really enjoyed the mellow (but challenging) experience the game offers.

Unless you're a truly hardcore otaku, it might be hard to understand the appeal of Idolmaster. This was a huge success in Japan, in spite of it being on Xbox 360. Imagine how well it will do when it arrives on Japan's most successful console right now. Yeah, we're thinking this is going to cause a massive surge of sales, one only rivaled by Monster Hunter.

[Via Siliconera]

Want to be a "chick magnet" in Tokyo? Why not pick up Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G? This ad from PlayStation shows fashionable Japanese females getting together for an Ad-Hoc game of the popular PSP exclusive. Don't you wish you could join them? (Also, why does a game as successful as Monster Hunter need to advertise?)

Will Sega's Phantasy Star Portable be able to take on Capcom's Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G? The two games are targeting very similar markets: social RPG games on the PSP. This new ad released in Japan highlights the community aspects of Phantasy Star Portable, but misses what we would've focused on: its acronym. Clearly, PSP is MEANT for the PSP. This is gaming destiny!

We don't think an ad like that would've been too dramatic for Japanese tastes ...

What is Super Stardust Portable? Well, it's exactly what it sounds like. It's a PSP version of Super Stardust HD, ready to play anywhere you go. The PSN download-exclusive title is making the big jump from PS3 to PSP, and Housemarque (developers of the original SSHD) have succeeded in creating an authentic Stardust experience for the handheld.

There are obviously going to be two big questions on everyone's mind regarding SSHD. Firstly, the controls. PSP may not have a second analog stick, so how will this work? Well, you simply use the face buttons to shoot in the direction you'd like. It may take a little while to get accostmed to, but SSHD vets will be boosting, bombing and shooting in no time. (ProTip: To do a circular attack with the Gold Melter, press all the face buttons at once.) Secondly, the graphics. While the visuals are obviously toned down from the PS3, the PSP version is able to render a surprising amount of enemies on screen while maintaining a silky smooth framerate. It may not be PSP's best looking game, but for a quick pick-up-and-play title, SSP offers more than enough detail.

Gallery: Super Stardust Portable

It's difficult to truly grasp the feel of an RPG in an environment like E3. There's just too much hustle and bustle, and there simply isn't enough time to get into the game. Perhaps we need more time with Valhalla Knights 2, but in our brief time with the title, it really felt like "more of the same." For RPG-starved PSP fans, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, the dated visuals and presentation certainly don't inspire.

There is some hope, though. The trailer shows that there is an experienced staff working on this sequel. The original story is written by the scenario writer of Final Fantasy XII, Miwa Shoda. There's also new classes, monsters and co-operative play over Ad-Hoc. There are a lot of features to highlight -- but will that be enough to stand out in a library of other PSP RPGs?

Gallery: Valhalla Knights 2

There's no shortage of anime fighters on the PSP. How will Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! stand up to the rest of the competition? To be honest, the newly released trailer doesn't look bad ... but it doesn't seem to be particularly noteworthy either. The gameplay looks to be rather standard 2D fighting fare, but for many, that won't really be a problem.