PSP

Carol Vorderman’s Sudoku

June 5, 2007

PSP / Reviews / by Graham Russell Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Don’t worry if you don’t know who Carol Vorderman is; it just means you’re not British. A game show host and former MENSA member, Vorderman is a star in the UK, where publisher Empire Interactive is based. Despite the fact that they neglected to explain her identity to the rest of the world, their Carol Vorderman’s Sudoku is a solid game on its own merits.

Sadly, the concept of a sudoku game on the PSP is just not as fluid as on the rival DS. Touch-screen control just works better for newspaper-style puzzle games. Considering the PSP’s limitations, though, this title comes through nicely. Selecting numbers takes a bit to get used to, but it becomes rather intuitive with practice.

Empire Interactive went to a lot of effort to create tutorial and help videos for new Sudoku players, and though slow and simplistic, they do the job well. However, it’s hard to imagine someone not knowing what Sudoku is and still buying a game that features it, so it’s confusing to see all of this included. However, there are some tips and tricks videos for Sudoku veterans. The video looks fine, and can be somewhat useful, but it could have been simpler and faster. All signs point to Empire wanting to get the most out of the money they paid Vorderman, keeping her on the screen for as long as possible.

Included in the game are puzzles separated by difficulty, a A

Metal Slug Anthology

June 5, 2007

PSP / Reviews / by Graham Russell Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Metal Slug and its sequels were rarities for SNK: hit games that weren’t 2D fighters. Due to its addictive gameplay and distinctive style, the series always found a home in a Neo Geo MVS slot.

In this compilation commemorating the series’ 10th anniversary, SNK has placed all seven Metal Slug releases on one disc. In addition, there are a few extras of varying types, though this wasn’t a focus for this title. The real focus here is on the core gameplay. Though the series has simple 2-D graphics, the levels are detailed and deep and the games themselves are just truly fun. The original Slug is simple and straightforward, and the recent Slug 6 has advanced options and six characters, making the journey from entry to entry more bearable.

The controls are solid, at least. The D-pad is a fine way to move, and everything is responsive. The sound is emulated with no problem, and the graphics are still as charming as always. There are three modes for the screen resolution: the original, a stretched one that fills the screen, and a compromise that retains the original aspect ratio.

Unfortunately, the PSP just isn’t a powerful enough system to run all of the games correctly. Long menu and startup load times are a pain, and inconvenient freezes and hiccups interrupt gameplay more frequently than is acceptable. The slowdowns of the original game are not only present, but enhanced by this problem.

Much of Metal Slug‘s charm is in playing with a friend. Sadly, for this version, two copies of the game are needed. This doesn’t come as a surprise, but it still has an effect on how the game feels. One-player is a blast, but it still isn’t the same.

All in all, Metal Slug Anthology is a great set of games that suffers from mediocre-at-best emulation and presentation. It’s still fun, if you can find it for cheap.

Aedis Eclipse: Generation of Chaos

May 30, 2007

PSP / Reviews / by Graham Russell Make a comment! / Tweet it!

The Generation of Chaos series, developed by Japanese firm Idea Factory, has seen success in Japan, but it hasn’t been able to catch on in the Western Hemisphere. In Aedis Eclipse, the second PSP installment of the series, nothing’s really changed.

The game is a turn-based tactical strategy game with RPG elements, but it doesn’t play like Disgaea or other NIS titles. Where most titles rely on a grid system, Aedis‘ levels look more like board games, with pre-defined paths and special spaces. Players can move along paths, capturing areas, switching elemental alignments and fighting enemies.

There are a lot of fun, innovative ideas in this title. Too many, really. The title’s menus are too many and too unclear, and it can take hours to get used to where things are. There are entire areas of information that have no bearing on how the game plays, and those sections aren’t distinguished in any way from those that players should pay attention to.

Since the overworld of the game is very segmented and tactical, the battles seem strange and foreign. They can best be described as real-time mini-battles, and though you can choose formations for the leader and his minions, it seems to make little difference. At first, the change of pace is refreshing and the leader’s special attacks are flashy and eye-catching. As the game goes on, hitting the 350th identical battle where your actions make no difference can only be described as infuriating.

The three campaigns do offer a large amount of gameplay and deep customization. Not just ramping up slowly in difficulty, the different areas play and look different, and the storylines are sufficiently interesting.

The thing that really holds this game back is its complete incompetence when it comes to load times. The pace of games in this genre is already quite slow, and Idea Factory did absolutely nothing to compensate. Moreover, many added annoyances, like the unnecessary turn indicator animations and slowly fading objective screens, make this thing deathly slow. For a portable iteration of any title, the pace must be sped up. Console gamers can reliably sit down for a few hours at a time, but handheld games have to be able to be booted for just a few minutes at a time. One turn of Aedis can’t be completed in this short of a time.

Though a lot of work was put into this title and it shows, Aedis just shouldn’t be on the PSP. However, it’s not horrible, and players willing to take the day or two to get used to it can find some enjoyment here.

Test Drive Unlimited

May 25, 2007

PSP / Reviews / by Graham Russell Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Veteran racing developer Melbourne House has taken the reins for the PSP port of Test Drive: Unlimited, relieving Eden Studios of those duties. The Xbox 360 version of this game was a critical success, but the game relied upon a massive online world for its charm. The PSP version, while lacking in the online department, takes more of a single-player focus, and ultimately is better for it.

The game’s graphics engine really pushes the PSP to its limits. The Hawaiian landscapes are adequate at worst, and Melbourne House managed to minimize load times for everything, resulting in a much smoother experience. The level of detail is perfect for the screen size, and the game successfully manages to keep its cool feel throughout.

The PSP port’s online play suffers from connection and lag issues, and is limited. Only four players can connect at a time, and sometimes players disappear for no particular reason.

Melbourne House seems to have noticed the system’s online shortcomings, choosing to compensate by making improvements to how the cars handle. The vehicles each have a noticeably different feel, and this does make the car choice more than just a superficial one. Unfortunately, the team’s engine does have a few flaws. Virtually all roadside items are treated the same, and a small roadside pole can bring cars traveling at any speed to an immediate stop. This becomes annoying at times, especially in the middle of races. Also, the cars take no damage, which is strange for a supposedly A

Luxor: The Wrath of Set

May 25, 2007

PSP / Reviews / by Graham Russell Make a comment! / Tweet it!

Mumbo Jumbo’s Luxor: The Wrath of Set, a PSP port of the popular casual online game, has a simple premise: players shoot colored balls into a line of similar spheres, lining up groups of three or more of the same color to make them disappear. The gameplay is very similar to Zuma and Magnetica, and there’s no real twist here other than that players shoot from the bottom instead of the middle. The challenge of the game comes from setting off chains, racking up points and finishing levels as quickly as possible.

This version of the game features over 120 levels, though many are eerily similar. The gameplay itself is solid and fun enough, and the graphics, while simple, are polished and work well.

But it’s just the same thing over and over. Luxor lacks the extra modes that salvage similar games, like Magnetica. The main game is relatively addictive, but this really feels like part of a compilation, rather than a standalone game. Casual gamers may not need many hours of gameplay, but there’s not enough here to warrant a purchase for any serious gamer.

Zuma, Luxor and clones are available online, and the vastly superior Magnetica is out for the DS. However, for the puzzle fans with no DS that must have something to play, The Wrath of Set isn’t horrible. Just keep the box – you’ll be trading it back in soon.

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