What do you get when you combine a demon with partygoers? Why...a racing game where everyone is trying to save their immortal souls, that's what! Are you already confused? Well, don't feel bad, because really, it's about the lames storyline ever to hit a game, and it's tacked onto one of the lamest racing games to come about in a long time. The game is Pocket Racers for PSP, and while it attempts to allow all its sins to be forgiven by being dubbed a "budget title," it's just a weak premise and weak game all around.
A story may not be …
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Pocket Racers
ATV Offroad Fury Pro
Platform reviewed: PSP
The ATV Offroad Fury series is one of those licenses that you really have to be a fan of to enjoy at this point. The first game was good and fun, but the developers just keep pumping out new sequels, most with very few new features, to the point where most feel like an update, less than a full new game. And this is exactly the case with ATV Offroad Fury Pro for PSP. It's a good game for fans of the offroad racing genre, but most everyone else will grow tired of the stale "jump around arenas" gameplay. It does an excellent …
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Lumines II
Along with Wipeout Pure, Lumines was the definitive launch title for the PlayStation Portable nearly a year and a half ago. Widespread praise for the game was complemented by a call for more content, which was promised with its sequel, Lumines II. While the game certainly offers more content than the original, Lumines II doesn't provide enough of an upgrade to justify its purchase.
Lumines II is an extraordinarily straightforward puzzle game similar to Tetris. The object of the game is to join blocks of a similar color by directing falling …
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Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories
As the best-selling game for the platform, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories shattered expectations on PlayStation Portable with incredible graphics and free-roaming gameplay for which the series has been famous. With Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories, Rockstar promises a follow up that intends to outshine its predecessor with bigger gameplay and better graphics. The 1980s flashback that Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories provides is a wonderful action-packed romp that tops the PlayStation Portable library; however, it doesn't fully …
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Death Jr. 2 – Root of Evil
The original Death Jr., which hit the PSP about a year ago, was a respectable platformer that put characters in the robes of the son of the Grim Reaper. It was a fairly enjoyable outing, with a cast of incredibly odd, but certainly unique characters, good graphics and about average level designs. It's key weaknesses were the simplicity of the action, which involved nothing more than the basic of platforming basics - jump,smash and swing, to be precise, and the annoying camera. With Death Jr. 2, the camera's been fixed for the most part, but the …
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Family Guy
Platform reviewed: PSPLicensed games, especially those based on TV shows, are a crapshoot. You either get fantastic stuff, like The Simpsons: Hit & Run, or you get a UMD of Much Boredeom, which is what the Family Guy game is. Here's a title that does little but stick a slight bit of comedy, and I do mean slight, into a simplistic platformer/shooter/stealth title.Yes, you read that right, The Family Guy aims to be everything to everyone when it comes to gameplay. When you start the game as baby uber-genius Stewie, you're stuck running around the …
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MotoGP
Platform reviewed: PSP
MotoGP for PS2 has often been considered one of the best motorcycle racing (not motocross) sims available. So it makes sense that at some point Namco/Bandai would feel the need to port the game over the PSP. While handhelds might not be the best platforms for sim racing games, Namco/Bandai's put forth a noble effort, that while not without its faults, is worth looking into for anyone interested in the MotoGP racing genre.
MotoGP has all the makings of a great racing title - a good mix of real world tracks, a roster …
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The Godfather: Mob Wars
Don't let your expectations get in the way of a good game--The Godfather: Mob Wars is a rare departure from motion picture-licensed gaming fare. The Godfather: Mob Wars, which borrows heavily from its console counterparts, sets itself apart by introducing new gameplay elements tailored to the handheld's strengths. While it may not be so good an offer you can't refuse, Electronic Arts has taken enough creative liberty with The Godfather: Mob Wars to craft a well-presented, interesting and enjoyable experience. The Godfather: Mob Wars closely …
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Magix Movies2Go
Ask anyone who's still using their PSP, and the odds are they're using it to play full length movies and short videos on, versus using it as a handheld gaming device. After all, the beautiful screen on the system is hard to ignore, and if you're clever enough to hunt around, you can find large capacity memory sticks (for storing movies) fairly cheap, so you can carry around several videos at a time. The trick with the PSP has been getting movies on converted in a usable format easily. PSP Video 9, probably the premiere video conversion app, …
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Rengoku II: Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N.
PlayStation Portable has received few original properties since its launch well over a year ago; instead, its library is peppered with ports and extensions of well-known franchises. Konami has been among the very few publishers attempting to create totally new games for the handheld, one of which was Rengoku: The Tower of Purgatory. While not a spectacular as one would hope, it did kick start a new series of action games on the fledgling portable that continues with its new sequel. Rengoku II: Stairway to H.E.A.V.E.N. extends the frenzied …
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