Hidden gems: 8 Vita games that (almost) everybody forgot

By now, it should be universally accepted that the Vita's got loads of good games, spanning multiple genres and graphical styles.

However, as with any other console, some worthy competitors have drowned in the deluge of greatness, failing to find mainstream success and slowly fading into obscurity.

None of the following titles have been completely ignored by gamers in the west, but they haven't really caught on either. Perhaps you passed one by because of its weird title, or perhaps it released so long ago that you simply forgot it existed.

Whatever your reason, here's a look at eight games that don't deserve to be overlooked.

Best described as WarioWare on the Vita, Frobisher Says! has all of the eccentric humor associated with its Nintendo-produced counterpart, and that's a very, very good thing.

Here's another comparison: like Tearaway, this minigame compilation utilizes nearly every feature on the Vita, making it an excellent showcase of the system's capabilities. Also, the game is free to start, with 25 levels included for no cost whatsoever.

Frobisher pays, not you.

Sony shut down its Liverpool development branch in August of 2012, but before closing up shop, the talented folks at Studio Liverpool produced the gem that is WipEout 2048.

A launch title for the PS Vita - and still one of its most visually impressive games - WipEout 2048 delivers speed, tight controls, unlockable ships, a diverse selection of tracks, and pretty much everything else you'd want in a racing game. Way to end on a high, Studio Liverpool.

I'm not sure if Disgaea 4 has been "forgotten", but it certainly isn't talked about enough, perhaps because of the steep learning curve common to every main entry in the series.

However, past that formidable mountain of battle systems lies an irreverent, hilarious strategy RPG that exults in shoving huge numbers in your face. If you've ever wanted to deal more than a billion damage points in a single attack, Disgaea 4 is the game for you.

Although golf is often derided as a boring, sluggish game (by me, at least), the sport's video game representations tend to be massively entertaining, and Everybody's Golf ( or Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational if you're American) is no exception.

Those not inclined to strategize can ignore the more advanced mechanics, whereas others will greatly enjoy their inclusion, making Hot Shots Golf a universally appealing title.

Inspired by Atari's arcade classic Tempest and featuring the same tube-shooter gameplay, TxK is one of the Vita's best exclusives, standing proudly at the pinnacle of the twitch gaming genre.

TxK's explosive neon graphics are dazzling in action, as is its techno soundtrack, which does a fantastic job of getting you in the mood for the retro goodness packed within. Lasers everywhere, indeed.

The Vita version of Dustforce is plagued by occasional input failure - especially when attempting to run on the ceiling - but if you've a taste for stylish acrobatics or speed-driven platforming, don't be deterred by the minor imperfections.

The wealth of stages, augmented since release by a trio of free level packs, will delight fans of the precision-platforming genre; there's a lot to bite into here, and the rewards certainly outweigh the frustration.

The Ys series of RPGs has always been a little niche, so it's both unsurprising and lamentable that its latest title has skipped the spotlight.

Memories of Celceta has a lot going for it, too: vibrant visuals, stellar music, and fast-paced combat that's centered around swapping characters to take advantage of enemy weaknesses. I found the story to be a little uninspired, but the game's other strengths more than compensate for the deficit.

From the very outset, the grapple-y platforming gameplay of Sayonara UmiharaKawase + is as brutally difficult as its aesthetics are cheery (that is to say, obnoxiously so), which explains the game's obscurity in the west.

However, there's fun aplenty if you're willing to master the fishing hook's multiple physics-based maneuvers - and for Nintendo fans who happen to own a Vita, the Super Famicom original is included as a bonus.