|
||||
 |
||||
|
|
||||
|
Average PSP Games
Updated October 20, 2007 While not the best, these titles still offer entertainment value and are highly playable — but renting is recommended instead of purchase. Games are listed in order with the best at the top of the page. |
||||
  Virtua Tennis 3This sequel offers a few minor improvements, however it is essentially the same as Virtua Tennis: World Tour. It is worth owning either but not both. The game would get a higher rating if it didn't feel like a shameless attempt for the developers to easily cash in on previous success. |
||||
 MercuryGraphics are simple and fun, especially the movement and effects of the mercury as it trickles and splits through the courses. Controls work well, although camera issues are more frequent than they should be and lead to frustration on some levels. |
||||
 World Soccer Winning Eleven 9Controls are uncomplicated and intuitive, and impressive graphics include great character animations. These positives are offset by a lack of franchised teams/players, sometimes excessive loading times, and a repetitive and pointless soundtrack. |
||||
 LEGO Star Wars II: The Original TrilogyCombine the films with the cuteness of LEGO, and what results is a likable and sometimes irreverent game based on the original material. Missions are lengthy and often challenging, though play grows tiresome with repetitive destruction and object gathering. |
||||
 The WarriorsThis action game is more fun than the 1979 movie it was adapted from. The story, exploration, interactive environments, and other challenges mix well with the sometimes frustrating battles. |
||||
 Me & My KatamariThe graphics and audio are charming, marred by repetitive level environments and imprecise controls. Unless a portable version of Katamari is absolutely required, stick to the console versions. |
||||
 Test Drive UnlimitedMassive driving environments, exploration, and nice graphics make up for the difficult and uninteresting racing elements. The car handling also leaves something to be desired. |
||||
 TokobotAs a charming platformer with lots of puzzles, this title is initially very entertaining. Camera and control issues become more obvious as the game proceeds, and the concept looses its lustre as the challenges become more routine. |
||||
 Ultimate Ghosts 'n GoblinsBoth the appeal and the difficulty from the 1985 arcade plaformer have translated well to this remake. Excellent graphics and audio help to lessen the frustration when levels must be replayed many times for mastery. |
||||
 Mercury MeltdownCartoon graphics and a tedious soundtrack replace parts of the original that weren't broken. The camera quirks have been fixed, and this sequel offers more content. |
||||
 Capcom Classics Collection ReloadedGood emulation showcases these arcade titles, and there are plenty of solid games to appeal to fans of classic gaming. As with so many other arcade collections, the PSP controls are imperfect for arcade action. Load times are annoying, since they are often as long as the game-play. |
||||
 WRC: FIA World Rally ChampionshipVoiced navigator audio combined with beautiful graphics make this is a fun change from the plethora of street racing titles. The difficulty makes it less suited for casual gamers or those who are easily frustrated. |
||||
 Guilty Gear JudgementThe controls and 2D animé graphic style have translated well to the PSP. It isn't as difficult as some of the other 2D fighters, which also makes it more appealing to casual gamers. |
||||
|
|
||||
 Fight Night Round 3Nice graphics, modeling, and textures help this button-mashing fighter, but the obnoxious product placement quickly grows old. |
||||
 Prince of Persia RevelationsControlling the swashbuckling, acrobat prince is more difficult than it should be. The frustration from mastering the controls improves over time, but the repeated loading does not. |
||||
 Capcom Classics Collection RemixedThe various arcade games are well emulated with multiple display modes and Wi-Fi multi-player options. While the obscurity of the lesser-known titles provides additional fun from discovery, this collection is best suited for hard-core fans of classic fighters, platformers, and shooters. Load times are annoying, since they are often as long as the game-play. |
||||
 Gradius CollectionAll of these side-scrolling shooters are extremely challenging, harkening back to when arcades demanded many defeats (and more quarters) to memorize levels and enemy behavior. Fans of the genre will find good controls and enough action for hours of entertainment. |
||||
 Namco Museum Battle CollectionMost classic arcade games (especially the maze genre) just aren't at their best with either the PSP's directional buttons or the analog nub. For those that can overlook the control issues, this collection provides hours of entertaining portable arcade action. |
||||
 Twisted Metal: Head OnFans of the classic driving-battle series will love the solid controls and updated presentation, but after a decade the concept has grown stale. |
||||
 Burnout DominatorFans of Burnout: Legends will be disappointed by the lack of "Crash Mode" challenges, one of the features that separated the previous title from other racing games. There is significantly less traffic to avoid, and the action feels much more like a Need for Speed game than part of the Burnout series. |
||||
 Every Extend ExtraThe graphics and audio create a neon-techno experience in an updated version of Missile Command. The repetitive and unvaried game-play doesn't live up to the presentation, and at the end of the day this game is more fun to watch than it is to play. |
||||
 Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City StoriesThe graphic and control glitches that were acceptable on the console are worse in this PSP version. The driving part of the game is still fun, but the story and missions stink. Character play has serious control and graphic flaws. This is possibly the most overrated PSP game ever, loved so much only because it is a portable version. |
||||
 PQ: Practical Intelligence QuotientMany of the puzzles are engaging, and the controls are straightforward and work well. After a few hours of play the consistent graphics and audio become dull. |
||||
 ATV Offroad Fury ProThis sequel is a marked improvement over the repeated frustration experienced when playing ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails. With significantly better controls, now anyone can have a few hours of fun doing tricks and tearing up the tracks. |
||||
 SSX On TourThe graphics are solid and fun to look at — except when the clipping bugs and camera problems affect play. An excellent soundtrack and good controls make up for some of the flaws. |
||||
 Need for Speed Carbon: Own the CityThis is what the other Need for Speed PSP games should have been, with minor improvements that were necessary in the previous titles. Even with the changes, there are still frame-rate problems and not enough to boost this game from being tired and familiar. |
||||
 Need for Speed Most Wanted 5-1-0Until the races are won and the later events are unlocked, the thrill of speed expected from a racing title is missing. There isn't anything horribly wrong with this game, but it left us with an overwhelming feeling of having been there and done it before. |
||||
 Tiger Woods PGA TourGolf fans will love this game, even with the frustrating load times and the inexact analog control. The presentation is generally impressive with a few texture problems. |
||||
 Snoopy vs. The Red BaronWe didn't expect a Snoopy game to be so much fun. With clean humor, decent controls, and surprising difficulty this title is appropriate for many audiences. The lack of mission and play diversity is the only major drawback. |
||||
 After Burner: Black FalconThis remake of the arcade classic offers great graphics, intense yet lighthearted action, and short missions perfect for portable gaming. It would be more highly rated if the game wasn't played from start to finish in an afternoon. |
||||
 Pinball Hall of Fame: The Gottlieb CollectionDetailed simulations of pinball and novelty machines provide hours of fun, some with surprising difficulty. For those that still remember or care about pinball, this is next best thing to being in the arcade. |
||||
 Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos TowerAs with so many other arcade translations, the PSP's directional buttons don't do justice to this 2D fighter. In addition, the characters and graphics have aged less gracefully than other ports of arcade fighting titles. |
||||
 WTF: Work Time FunThese mini-games are structured around taking temp jobs, earning money, buying trinkets, and in-game emails. While it offers a lot of style, this title is only for those with a compatible sense of humor. |
||||
 BombermanOther than the updated presentation, there is little to separate this version from the last few decades of Bomberman titles. This predictability can be good or bad, depending on gaming preferences and perspective. |
||||
 Street Fighter Alpha 3 MaxThis portable version brings back everything that made the 2D fighters so popular in the 90s, and the graphics look fantastic on the PSP's screen. The arcade play and combos do not translate perfectly to the PSP controls. |
||||
 Dead Head FredThe story, humor, graphics, environments, and audio are noteworthy. It's too bad the play doesn't live up to the presentation, mainly because it is standard platformer action that has been better executed in other original PSP titles. |
||||
 GUN ShowdownExploration, hunting, shoot-outs, and side missions are the focus of this wild-west action title. The controls can be awkward, but are still workable with practice. Decent graphics and voice acting partially make up for the vacancy of the game environs. |
||||
 Justice League HeroesEverything is adequate, with the high-point being the one-liners that express the rivalries and tentative bonds between characters. The formula is entertaining for the first few hours, but the action gets repetitive and offers little replay value. |
||||
|
|
||||
 Sonic Rivals1991's Sonic the Hedgehog was great because of lightening-fast platform action and playability for anyone regardless of gaming experience. Both the graphics and sense of speed from the early Sonic titles have been restored, yet the 3D environments and camera angles are awkward and frustrating. |
||||
 Mortal Kombat: UnchainedThe battles are often fun, but they seem too short when compared to loading times. For those that appreciate graphic gore and gallons of blood in a fighting game, this title won't disappoint. |
||||
 Dynasty WarriorsThis button-mashing, fighting extravaganza would be better if the otherwise excellent graphics didn't slow down during battles. While there is a strategy element, it is difficult to figure out how it affects the game outcome. |
||||
 Spider-Man 2The overall presentation would have been high quality if it wasn't diminished by occasional graphics glitches, frame-rate drops when the action increases, repetitive soundtrack, and annoying load times. This game is too short, and can be played from start to finish in an afternoon — with no motivation to play it again. |
||||
 Activision Hits RemixedForty games with good controls, emulation, options, and extras make this a sentimental package for those that enjoyed playing the Atari 2600. It is also a reminder of how far gaming has evolved over the last 25 years. |
||||
 Need for Speed Underground RivalsThe cars lack lighting effects necessary to appear as if they were in the environments, there is no sense of speed during play, and the controls are sloppy and unresponsive. It almost feels like racing underwater when compared to the better PSP racing titles. |
||||
 Ape Escape: On the LooseThe charm of the original Ape Escape is present in this PSP version, and the controls have been adapted as well as possible — however the lack of a second analog control makes this version comparatively frustrating. New mini-games are the significant difference between this and the 1998 PSX release. |
||||
 Juiced 2: Hot Import NightsImproved controls and straightforward, enjoyable career management make this racing experience superior to the original. Graphics are decent, however they are offset by generic race circuits, uninspiring music tracks, and an annoying in-game race commentator. |
||||
 MotoGPThe graphics are exceptional. Even though motorcycle racing is a nice change from the more common street racing titles, the competition in the events is too predictable and there are not enough tracks to keep long-term interest. |
||||
 Coded ArmsThis is a traditional first-person-shooter with decent graphics and action, disproving the conventional wisdom that first-person-shooters can't be done on a handheld. The play is solid, although genre enthusiasts won't find anything revolutionary here. The biggest problem is the lack of story to tie the game together. |
||||
 Crash Tag Team RacingThe title would suggest this is a kart-racer, although more time is spent platforming by collecting power-ups, exploring, and solving puzzles. The quality of play is highly varied, with some amusing elements and many more that are less engaging. Load times can be very distracting. |
||||
 Death, Jr.The visuals in this platform-shooter are reminiscent of Tim Burton's animations, but they don't fully succeed. Some areas are too dark to see what is going on, the music is wearisome, the targeting system is annoying, and the camera requires constant manipulation to see what is going on. |
||||
|
More Reviews
|
||||
|
Contents Copyright © 2003-2008 Andrew Kator & Jennifer Legaz. All Rights Reserved. |
