I don’t really remember when there was a [i]Star Wars[/i] game that truly rocked on a handheld system; most of them outright blew, like [i]Apprentice of the Force[/i] for the GBA. To be honest, I was rather skeptical about how [i]Battlefront 2[/i] would turn out on the PSP, with controls being my biggest fear. Was it fulfilled?
Overall, the graphics are pretty goodA
Before the review, let me tell you guys that I am a huge Spiderman fan. I like the films, love the comics and cartoons, and I think (with a few exceptions) the games are fantastic. Since [i]Spiderman 2[/i] was an excellent game for the big consoles (with the PC version being pure garbage), I was getting my hopes up for the PSP version. I was expecting the same ability to free-roam, with an all right story mode, and new extras …the perfect launch title and film adaptation. Instead, I was kicked in the nuts.
First of all, the controls suck. It’s hard to control the game, especially when you’re slinging webs. It’s not like you’re really doing that much, since the game is linear and mission-based. So long what people adored so much like free-roaming and web slinging around New York. Some of the levels are new but utterly useless.
Why there were new villains added is a mystery to me because they don’t advance the story really, other than the bosses saying, A
Metal Gear Acid is a rather interesting product. In recent years, we’ve seen many of our beloved franchises break out of their traditional genres. Mega Man X Command Mission, for instance, turned a pure side-scrolling action game into a Final Fantasy-esque, turn-based RPG. Other titles that have recently shaken things up are Onimusha Tactics and Paper Mario 2: The Thousand Year Door. While Metal Gear Solid was never a cookie-cutter action game, Metal Gear Acid pushes the series further from its roots than ever before. It takes the familiar Metal Gear elements and squeezes them into a turn-based card game. The concept may sound odd, and it will likely be limited to a niche audience, but the game can be a real gem for those who love both Metal Gear and turn-based strategy games.
The first thing anyone familiar with the Metal Gear series will notice is that this title was not directed by Hideo Kojima. He surely had some input, but the fresh development minds behind this entry have resulted in some definite changes. For starters, the story is odd… very oddA
Sony’s new PSP seems to be the system of choice for reviving an old series, and Twisted Metal is certainly a series in need of rejuvenation. After hitting its peak with Twisted Metal 2, the series rock-bottomed with the subsequent sequel. Some redemption was found in Twisted Metal Black for the PS2, but that was more of a dark re-imagining of the series than a genuine return to form. Luckily, Twisted Metal: Head On has now arrived, and fans are likely to receive it as a breath of fresh exhaust fumes. It returns to the light-hearted art and gameplay style of Twisted Metal 2, and it even includes a few levels from that game. Updating old franchises for newer generations can be a dicey proposition, but Head-On succeeds by adding enough new content to make the trip worthwhile.
If you’ve played Twisted Metal, the concept shouldn’t be anything new to you. Vehicular deathmatch is the best way to describe it. Twisted Metal takes the Demolition Derby concept and adds guns, rockets, upgrades, and undead bikers. The gameplay formula isn’t anything special, but it’s a lot of fun in practice. Players can choose between ten classic characters at the outset, and there are also a few more hidden within the game. Head-On looks and plays great on the PSP, though it is a bit difficult to get used to. The analog stick is very sensitive, and this leads to a bit of a learning curve for controlling the vehicles. After a few matches, though, you should be able to exercise the right amount of pressure on each turn and dominate the competition. The graphics look fantastic, complete with awe-inspiring weapon effects and great-looking levelsA
Darkstalkers Chronicle is a bit of an oddball in the PSP launch line-up. Sharing shelf space with the latest and greatest in portable 3D gaming, this beefed-up port of a four-and-a-half year old 2D Dreamcast game certainly stands out. Normally, this sort of dichotomy just wouldn’t make sense, but the Darkstalkers series has a fervent fan base that will consider its launch availability a big plus for Sony’s new handheld. The series was never a mainstream hitA
