PSP Emulation News & Lik Sang Mini Review Contest

[wraggster]

Today the 19th July to the 31st July at 11:59pm GMT, we have a great contest for you, <a href="http://www.yesasia.com/?/info.php?category=313&products_id=6764&lsaid=21979 3" target="_blank" >Lik Sang</a> have donated 5 of their <a href="http://www.yesasia.com/?/info.php?category=313&products_id=6764&lsaid=21979 3" target="_blank" >E3 Access DVDs</a> to the 5 best Reviewers(1 per winner) of Sony PSP Commercial Games/Hardware, the 5 winners will be announced on the 1st August, heres some details about the prizes on offer:

<img src="http://image.lik-sang.com/images//170/e3-access-2005.jpg">

<BLOCKQUOTE>Product Features

Over 13 hours of footage from the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)

Exclusive game footage available only on this official DVD

200+ Game Previews

Cutting edge, fully interactive and integrated 3D menus

Licensed soundtrack from Digital:Newage

Scene Selections (Game Index)

Complete Press Conference coverage - including nextgen systems (PS3, Xbox 360 etc.)

Additional interviews with key industry figures

Officially santioned by E3 Expo; produced in cooperation with IGN GameSpy and ESA

Booth Babes Featurette

Behind the Scenes Featurette

Region free, runs on every DVD player including the PS2 & Xbox


Description

E3 ACCESS 2005: The Future of Videogames 4-Disc set includes exclusive interviews with leading game developers, a myriad of game previews for titles that won't hit store shelves for months to come, behind the scenes footage of the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, full 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound, an exclusive soundtrack from Digital:Newage and more!

E3 is the world's largest, most exciting and well attended gathering of the finest minds in the video game industry and E3 ACCESS 2005: The Future of Videogames 4-Disc set brings together a complete behind the scenes package of games, interviews and babes.

The DVD includes a Feature Presentation delivering:

200+ Game Previews
Footage from all the upcoming games - direct from the E3 floor to your screens! Not only do we show you promotional and 'cut scene' highlights, but we plug you into direct in-game footage for XBOX, PS2, PSP, Gamecube, GBA and PC! In addition our most popular feature is back and bigger than ever - extended play-by-play commentaries from developers and publishers as they play their own creations.

Booth Babes Featurette
We give you the royal tour of E3's hottest babes at the biggest and best booths! Each year the Booth Babes are a signature E3 attraction and this year we're bringing you more scantily-clothed product fondling and flirting than ever before!

Behind the Scenes Featurette
Come with us as we head to LA for E3 2005 and experience the biggest gaming event of the year. Our team always has a blast and our cameras are there to catch it all! Last year you saw us lost, late, lazy and stuffing our faces as we pounded the carpets of the Expo. This year expect an even bigger slice of the E3 action as we introduce a dedicated behind-the-scenes camera to the mix!

Complete Press Conference coverage
We're there as the Big Three - Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft - unveil their latest and greatest product offerings. Every year the Press Conferences are breathtaking events and for the first time we are bringing them to you complete and uncut. You won't miss a second of the action or a minute of the detail as the biggest names in gaming let the cats out of their respective bags. Expect footage of PS3 and Xbox 360!

Custom 3D interactive menus
E3 ACCESS 2005: The Future of Videogames features all-new 3D animated sequences and interactive menus, all created exclusively by our team of in-house animators. This year we have spent more than six months in full production mode developing the animations to make your E3 ACCESS experience truly unforgettable!

Over 13 hours of content on 4 DVDs
Each year we pack more and more content into our products and 2005 will be our biggest and best value offering yet. E3 ACCESS 2005: The Future of Videogames is the only officially sanctioned E3 DVD product with over 10 hours of original content spread over 4 DVD discs. Get ready to experience the Future of Videogames!

FanCam V2

See E3 through the eyes of a fan! Check out all the action from the show floor as E3insider.com's FanCam takes reality TV to the next level!

Exclusive after-hours tour of the E3 show floor!

Join Tal Blevins (Editorial Director, IGN Games) and Dave 'Fargo' Kosak (Executive Editor, GameSpy) as they give you the grand tour of the E3 show floor in an exclusive after-hours walk-through! See E3 as only few ever have as Tal & Dave are let loose to share their thoughts and most intimate feelings with you. Be guided through the deafening silence of a dormant E3 and relish in the awkward silence of yet another doomed pun! This will be a tour nobody can afford to miss!

Witness the frenzy that is the IGN GameSpy editorial 'War Room'

Delve deep into the sacred inner workings of the IGN GameSpy War Room as journalistic integrity is brashly wavered to bring you the latest scoop from the show floor. See them laugh, see them cry (mostly cry) as they spin the stories you long to read!

IGN GameSpy 'Games of Show'

Hear from your favorite IGN GameSpy editors as they give you the low-down on their picks of the show. Experience the frenzy of ground zero as they battle the crowds to bring you the very cream of the E3 crop.


The ONLY officially sanctioned E3 DVD set produced in co-operation with the Electronic Software Association (ESA), IGN, GameSpy and E3 Expo, E3 ACCESS 2004: The Future of Videogames 4-Disc set gives viewers a chance to share in the excitement of witnessing the future of games for the Gamecube, Playstation 2, PSP, XBOX, PC and Gameboy Advance. </BLOCKQUOTE>

Remember that entries must be written by you and not copied from other sites, you can enter as many reviews as you like but can only win one prize.

Start posting those reviews

Thanks to <a href="http://www.yesasia.com/?/info.php?category=313&products_id=6764&lsaid=21979 3" target="_blank" >Lik Sang</a> for providing PSP Emulation News Visitors with a great chance to win some freebies.

Post reviews in this topic

[cklee]

Today the 19th July to the 31st July at 11:59pm GMT, we have a great contest for you, <a href="http://www.yesasia.com/?/info.php?category=313&products_id=6764&lsaid=21979 3" target="_blank" >Lik Sang</a> have donated 5 of their <a href="http://www.yesasia.com/?/info.php?category=313&products_id=6764&lsaid=21979 3" target="_blank" >E3 Access DVDs</a> to the 5 best Reviewers(1 per winner) of Sony PSP Commercial Games/Hardware, the 5 winners will be announced on the 1st August, heres some details about the prizes on offer:

<img src="http://image.lik-sang.com/images//170/e3-access-2005.jpg">

Remember that entries must be written by you and not copied from other sites, you can enter as many reviews as you like but can only win one prize.

Start posting those reviews

Thanks to <a href="http://www.yesasia.com/?/info.php?category=313&products_id=6764&lsaid=21979 3" target="_blank" >Lik Sang</a> for providing PSP Emulation News Visitors with a great chance to win some freebies.

Post reviews in this topic

excuse me, wraggster

is there a url to post these reviews?

thanks

[wraggster]

is this thread

[Velo]

Review for, Memory Stick Duos (In general)

Memory cards are always a welcome additions to any gaming system. The ability to save games, replays, and ect. on convenient "cards" has always been a stead-fast way to improve gaming experiences.With the PlayStation Portable, this is no differant.

The Memory Stick Duos, coming in various sizes from 32mb-2gb and above, are the key to the PSP's versatility and media capabilities. Sony's hand-held uses these memory sticks to hold not only game data, but movies, music, and other sorts of data.
The current problem with these memory sticks is that they cost large amounts of money compared to previous cards. Although a 128mb stick may set you back $20.00 or so, a 2gb or higher sticks may cost up to 200$. Many consumers are not willing to pay the price for these cards, rendering certain capabilities of the PSP useless.

Many of these cards are very useful, even those without much space. A 512mb stick is very versatile. Compared to the memory card that is shipped within the value pack, a 512mb stick is very powerful. The money that is needed to be forked out for these memory sticks is far too high for the average person to afford, but if you are willing to fork out the dough, then a Memory Stick Duo is one of the best additions to the PSP out there and possibly worth it in some occasions.

-James

[Velo]

could I do a review of the PSP itself? Why don't you do a review Wraggster? I'm sure you could come up with something.

-James

[Velo]

Ok, I'm just going to go for the whole PSP thing.

Review for, Playstation Portable(PSP)

Sony, the well known gaming company and Playstation's papa, has brought us quality gaming and media devices for ages. The first Playstation was a ground-breaking system that gave Sony their gaming edge. The Playstation 2 wasn't as ground-breaking, but generated millions upon millions of dollars. Now, Sony has stepped into the hand-held business with the Playstation Portable, or the PSP. Making this device was a huge risk for, not only Sony, but their customers. Although i'm sure Sony is happy with their device, they tagged on a hefty pricetag, $250 to protect their upkeep.

Now to the actual PSP.

The PSP is definitely a sexy device. Its highly reflective surface and screen give it a "breakable but not brittle" sense of feel. Grasping it in your hands alone kinda puts fear into your mind. Its buttons are very common, but the anolog nub can be a little annoying at time. Once you get the PSP started, you can see all of the many options that are built in. The sleep mode,for instance, is very handy when you fall asleep at 5:00 AM from playing it. The brightness settings are also a nice feature to have. Swiching from a dull (less-than normal) light, up to an extra bright mode, for when it is plugged into the wall. The wide screen justifies the word "magnificent" in clarity and beauty. The spread of your hands allows plenty of moveability when holding the PSP.

Once you pop in a game like Wipeout Pure, you automatically see the impressive 3d graphics at work, reaching that of the original Playstation and greater. The sound is clear and fresh through the built-in stereo system. Using the multi-media capabilities of the PSP, you can pop up your favorite tune or movie in no time at all. The music and movies play in crystal clear quality.

Once you experience the properties of this system and all of its capabilities, $250 doesn't seem like "that-much" anymore.

-James

[ViktorLaszl0]

Game reviewers often argue over a pint - what are the criteria of a good game? What makes a classic? For me, the first hurdle has always been my desire to play a game.

Is it there or not.

With desire, I mean an obsessive compulsion, which transcends the need for sleep, food or other Maslowian necessities. Lumines, my first PSP game, is one the most desirable games of all time.

The underlying logic is simple. First, picture Tetris in your head. Now tweak the image: square blocks consisting of four pieces fall from the top of the screen into a much wider area than Tetris. Your goal is to combine at least four similarly coloured block pieces into a unicoloured square. Repeat.

Of course, subtleties start to creep in: the games rhytm is structured around music. A bar moves over the screen in the space of 16 beats and when it crosses completed squares, it deletes them. Before completed squares are deleted, you can try to create combos by creating even more unicoloured squares.

After a while, the logic becomes intuition. You start to follow the beat to know when the blocks are erased, while sound effects morph seamlessly to form a song. Here, think of other Tetsuya Mizuguchi games, such as Rez for Dreamcast/PS2.

The result is hypnotic experience that transcends a simple puzzle game. You fall into a state of complete immersion, where only you, the music and the blocks exist. It's hypnotic, it's addictive - and it's totally desirable.

Then game sessions start to stretch - first into tens of minutes, then reaching close to an hour. That's when it's time to take a break from the main mode and check out the other game modes, such as puzzles. Again Lumines finds another way to affect your life: while sitting at work you suddenly realize how to complete yet another level.

As all stories of overwhelming desire must end, mine too inevitably leads to my separation from Lumines. I gave the game away to a friend, when I finally realized the toll on my personal life it was taking. I'll miss it dearly - but I'll cherish the memories and hum the brilliant Mondo Grosso tunes in my head, remembering the nights that finally gave way to morning and battery failure.

[FrozenIpaq]

Just thought I would post my review of THUG 2: Remix

Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix (PSP) Review



Throughout the review, the game will be referred to THUG 2 Remix in most occasions.

Introduction

The Tony Hawk skateboarding games started out a hit on the N64 and Playstation 1 consoles. The games succeeded in bringing in many new players, skateboarders and non-skateboarders. The first Tony Hawk is known as the classic, the game that all skateboarding fans/video game fans go back to when they need a taste of the beginning. As the Tony Hawk series progressed, it became more and more involved. As the Tony Hawk series reached the Underground title, it became the most interactive skateboarding/sports game yet. As THUG 2 Remix shows its players, it is indeed another step in the gaming industry. This step is the creation of a 3-D, portable and interactive skateboarding game.

Gameplay (9/10)

In the new portable version of the famous Tony Hawk series, the player is greeted with gameplay beyond imagination. The gameplay in THUG 2 Remix involves: Story mode, classic mode, wifi multiplayer, goal creation and create a skater. All of these elements make THUG 2 worth to play. The story mode is engaging, and the classic mode is what it is, the classic gameplay of the Tony Hawk series. Within these two modes, you have three difficulty choices: easy, normal and sick. These choices add to the replay value of the game and the players style. The main "plus" for THUG 2 Remix is the extra levels. There are about 4 new levels that were not in the THUG 2 console game that add to its playability and excitement. The wifi multiplayer is most enjoyable, with many modes to choose from. The multiplayer is great for anyone who wants something to do while waiting at an airport or a restaurant. The controls of the game are simple and should not have any "classic" players confused. The controls take about an average of 15 minutes to get used to, and after that, it is smooth sailing. The analog stick is mainly used to walk your character around and you are unable to use it while on the skateboard to direct/move him/her. The only setback to the gameplay is the loading times. The time it takes to actually start playing a level is 3-5 minutes. The game is not for the impatient person, but once started, the load time between levels in not really a problem.

Story (6/10)

The story in Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix is more of a short story book than a full story book. The point is clear and simple, a competition between Bam and Tony (two skateboarding "legends"). You create your character and then participate in this competition of the two and are placed on 1 of the 2 teams to compete on each level. The story mode is not your classic RPG story, but it is a story. I gave it a 6/10 because it is a sports game, and sports games do not usually have story lines. Implanting a story into THUG 2 Remix makes it unique and different than other sports games alike.

Graphics (8/10)

The graphics engine in THUG 2 Remix really shows the PSP's power. The game does not seem to cut any parts off due to graphical restraints, and the game itself looks beautiful. The graphics on the game compare to the graphics of its fellow THUG games. Although it is not exactly like the PS2 version, it sure looks like PS2 quality. The only draw back to the graphics are the cut scenes. The cut scenes layering is done poorly and the realism of it is worse than the gameplay graphics.

Music/Sound (7/10)

The music/sound in THUG 2 Remix is Hip-hop, punk, and rock. The music is more classical than it is modern. Although it contains rock, this rock is old school rock, something enjoyed by the older generation. You do not hear the modern punk/rock as you would expect, but the music is still enjoyable. The sound quality is good, not great. The music/sound is extraordinary though on a handheld device, and thus gets a 7/10.

Replay Value (8/10)

The replay value on the THUG 2 Remix game is relatively high. With 3 difficulty modes to choose from and two different game styles (classic/story), the player is bound to pick the game up again and play it after they have beaten it. The game allows for the players to choose more freely as to what they want to do. You can go through story mode by just completing the necessary goals, or you can complete every goal and unlock more levels/characters. The replay value is high because of the reward based system, and is sure to have its players unlocking as much as they can.

Final Verdict/Recommendation

The game itself is truly remarkable to see on the PSP and the PSP is the perfect device to play this game on. THUG 2 Remix is a portable console title that adds levels and creates a new atmosphere for its gamers. With it's extra levels, character customization, two modes, and interactive gameplay, THUG 2 Remix the game to own. If you stopped playing after Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, then this game is for you if you wish to try it out.

(7.6/10)

[rmedtx]

Im not that good at writing but here's mine

Untold Legends; Brotherhood of the Blade

This is a very solid action RPG with an isometric view like in the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance games. The game doesn’t innovate much to the genre but it’s so well designed that is both fun to play and very addictive. The experience system works really good. There are a lot of different weapons and armor and upgrade choices/combinations that will make you want to get the best of the best. As you progress in the game there will be more options available for you depending on your experience level .

Graphically, the game is really eye candy it takes advantage of the technical capabilities of the system with an dazzling 3D environment. The textures and maps look very realistic. The atmosphere in the different levels was very nicely achieved.
The sound effects are excellent, you can hear an enemy approaching just by the sound of it’s footsteps. The music is not exactly my favorite ever but it fits well.

The game is massive with tons of enemies and levels. The interface is very friendly and intuitive. Upgrading your characters, weapons and armor is very easy. The missions are very clear and the game play is not linear. You can explore all you want and go into side quests to earn more experience and/or items (armor, weapons, etc).
One of the few complaints I have about this game is the loading time, some times you have to go back because you got into the wrong area and the wait is just a pain in the neck.
One of the really cool things about this game that is got support for up to four-person wireless cooperative multiplayer gameplay.

Untold Legends is a game you will probably want to play more than once. It has 4 different types of heroes: Knight, Berzerker, Druid and Alchemist; each of them with different abilities, armors and weapons.

Graphics: 8.5/10
Sound: 9/10
Fun Level: 8/10
Control: 9/10
Replay value: 8/10
Total Score: 8.5/10

[consoul]

Twisted Metal: Head On Review

Heads online, Tales you lose.

You could be forgiven for thinking that every second title in the PSP's launch line-up is an old Playstation franchise revisited, though as the new incarnations of Ridge Racer and WipEout have proven, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

The path of the Twisted Metal franchise has been a long and bumpy ride. Ten years ago, developers SingleTrac established the vehicular combat genre with the original hit Playstation game. SingleTrac's 1996 follow-up, Twisted Metal 2: World Tour, was also hugely successful and is still fondly remembered by many as the peak of the series. After TM2, Sony handed the rights to the franchise over to 989 Studios, who produced Twisted Metal 3 (1998) and Twisted Metal 4 (1999), both of which were disappointing affairs. The introduction of a more realistic physics engine (TM was never about realism) was one of many mistakes that detracted from the gameplay in 989's sequels. Luxoflux's rival franchise, Vigilante 8, rightfully took the vehicle combat crown from the crumbling TM series.

Meanwhile, SingleTrac produced another vehicular combat game called Rogue Trip (1998), that was as close to an unofficial Twisted Metal sequel as they could legally get. It was enough to prove they still had the winning gameplay formula up their sleeve. Much to the relief of TM fans, Sony gave the franchise back to the members of the original development team, who formed a new game studio called Incog Inc. (aka Incognito) as part of Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica studio group. Incog reclaimed the throne and ushered the series into the next generation with Twisted Metal: Black (2001) on PS2. As the name implied, Black was a much darker take on the Twisted Metal universe, featuring tortured characters with disturbing storylines set in a gritty post-apocalyptic dystopia. The fact that all FMVs related to character plots were pulled from the PAL releases is indicative of just how gory and twisted Black was. Incog also released a final Twisted Metal game for the PSone in 2001 that went almost unnoticed. In sharp contrast to the decidedly adult Black, Twisted Metal: Small Brawl was a childish game based around kids with remote control cars. It went unnoticed for a reason: it was rubbish. 2002 saw the release of Twisted Metal: Black Online, a cutdown online-multiplayer-only version of Black that Sony offered as a free redemption game with US PS2 Network Adapters.

Are we there yet? Yes. That long and winding road brings us to Twisted Metal: Head On for PSP. The first thing that strikes you about Head On is that it is clearly not a sequel to Black. Head On's brightly coloured cel-shaded intro movie sets a distinctly different tone, setting the stage for a return to the quirkier, more comic feel of Twisted Metal 1 & 2. Indeed, Head On feels very much like a true sequel to (or contemporized version of) Twisted Metal 2: World Tour.

Once again, the mysterious Calypso organizes a tournament of vehicular destruction wreaking mayhem across the globe, promising to grant a single wish to the victor. All the usual vehicles and drivers return to fight their way through the arena battles and conquer the game's three boss stages. As well as Story mode, TM:HO provides Challenge and Endurance modes, as well as a swag of multiplayer modes and options.

The graphics, while not quite up to Black standards, do not disappoint, with detailed vehicles and environments and visually satisfying weapon effects. The game engine's draw distance is impressive, always allowing you to see the far side of the game's huge arenas, with only the faintest hints of texture switching and small detail pop-in. Aside from the first two stages (Stadium and LA) which are rather simple and sparse, the level design in the other stages (which include locations such as Paris, Egypt, Tokyo, Greece, Russia and Monaco) is excellent, with large interesting arenas peppered with hidden areas and plenty of destructible scenery. The frame rate is solid and the game cracks along at a frantic pace.

The game is easy to pick up and play, but like it's predecessors, features quite a bit of depth. Each vehicle has it's own special attack and machine guns, and there are loads of different weapon pick-ups throughout the stages, each of which also has a unique environmental attack. Through the use of directional and button combos, a wide variety of extra moves can be performed, such as rear fire, jumping, turbo, shield activation, cloaking, freezing, dropping mines, etc. The controls are very responsive, almost too responsive. The analog controls are so touchy that chances are you'll be swerving around madly unless you stick to the d-pad for steering. Even if you can get used to analog steering, you'll still find the overly sensitive analog control will lead to you regularly executing power moves accidentally. Exclusive use of the d-pad is recommended. By defeating opponents, players can pick up power-ups to upgrade their vehicles special attacks, guns, armor, turbos and such. The upgrades will carry over from one stage to the next, but are lost whenever your vehicle is destroyed.

Each stage in story mode contains an optional mini-game, which can be used to score a lot of easy weapon pick-ups, and should you perform well enough, you can unlock more hidden characters and deathmatch arenas too. These mini-games range from fun to frustrating, but provide a welcome diversion from the (ultimately repetitive) drive-and-shoot gameplay. The music for each stage is inoffensively generic and has been flavoured to suit each locale.

The AI displays a respectable amount of strategy at the Hard difficulty setting, and the bosses present a real challenge. I'd go so far as to say the last two bosses are cheap, but hey, this is essentially a tournament fighting game after all, so that's par for the course.

Despite the core elements all being intact, somehow Head On never really manages to be as satisfying or have the same impact that TM2: World Tour did. It's difficult to determine exactly which magic ingredient is missing. The formula is undoubtedly getting stale after a decade and may be more fun for the uninitiated than for veterans, but Story mode's lack of story is certainly one area in which Head On falls flat.

Whereas Black had three movie sequences for each character in Story mode (a beginning, middle and ending), the characters' storylines in Head On are virtually non-existent. Most people will miss the story altogether, as you actually have to press square on the character select screen to read a brief outline of their background and motivation. Once you're in the game, Story mode is identical for every character until their ending "movie". There's a short in-game intro cutscene from Calypso and a couple of even shorter boss intro cutscenes, but no real feeling of a story taking place at all. I used quotation marks around the word "movie" because it's more of a storyboard than a movie. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that these are in fact the storyboards of the ending movies that never got made. It's apparent from the impressive cel-shaded intro movie that 3D models of many of the characters had been built, and similar cel-shaded ending movies are what you'd expect to be rewarded with upon completion of the game. Instead you'll be subjected to a just barely animated hand-drawn storyboard of an ending sequence. The characters' lips don't even move when they speak. The weak characterization present in the uninteresting endings is really far too little and too late by then. Shabby Incog. Very shabby.

I expect the pressure to have Head On out for the US PSP launch had something to do with Story mode's obvious under-development, but whatever the reason, it really hurts the game. Without any kind of personality or story to hang onto, there's little motivation for players to complete Story mode with all 17 characters. Admittedly there are two branching points in Story mode, where you will have to choose one world location over another, but this still means that after playing through Story mode twice, you could potentially have seen pretty much everything it has to offer.

Fortunately, multiplayer is where the game really comes into its own. Head On supports wireless multiplayer in three forms: Ad Hoc, Infrastructure LAN and Infrastructure. This means you can play multiplayer with up to five other players by directly communicating with nearby PSPs, or with PSPs within range of one local wireless access point, or true wireless online with players across the globe. PSP has been lacking in true online titles, and Head On proves that it can be done very well.

Setting up or joining an online game is very straightforward and feels much like you'd expect from a home console. After accepting an online EULA, you pick a lobby room, see what games are on offer (or start your own), and you're up and playing in no time. It's been implemented exceptionally well. You can even chat in the lobby (a feature that was missing from PS2's Black Online), though PSP's mobile-phone keyboard interface is less than ideal for creative trash-talking. As well as the standard Deathmatch mode, there's Last Man Standing, Fox Hunt, and Collector modes (all available as individual or team-based versions), as well as 2 player co-operative Story mode.

There are a wide range of options for customizing the multiplayer modes, so there's plenty of scope for fresh match setups. As well as tweaking the settings for weapons, vehicles, health pick-ups and environments, the Power Relics from Twisted Metal: Black can be included to add an even broader range of special powers to multiplayer matches. If the host of a match quits, the game doesn't end; another player is automatically chosen as the new host. All the teething troubles reported with the TM servers when Head On was first released have been resolved. I've never dropped out or been kicked off, and I have always found games with minimal lag to join at any time of day or night. I have experienced occasional frame rate drops in online matches, but nothing significantly detrimental to the game experience.

Taking part in solid, good-looking, hectic six-player carnage with players across the globe on a handheld console is a pretty amazing experience. That's where Head On is head and shoulders above the pack right now. If you have a PSP, wireless internet access, and even the vaguest interest in the genre, then Twisted Metal: Head On is definitely worth checking out. Looked at solely as a single-player experience, it's good, but repeated play in Story mode soon becomes tedious.

Head On is neither a Rolls Royce nor a flaming wreck. With the latest Twisted Metal, Incog have rolled out a nice new model of a vehicle that we're already comfortable driving. Cruising round the same old streets may be starting to lose it's thrill, but taking this baby for a spin on the superhighway shows there's still some gas left in the tank.

7/10