More PSP impressions
My new 4GB memory stick came in the mail, so there's a lot I've been playing!
Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX:
+ Very solid port of the arcade version.
+ Extra characters galore.
+ Controls feel solid.
+ Graphics mostly nice.
+ Compresses to ~95MB.
- Graphics seem off no matter what. Some aliasing is noticeable in small text. I think the screen is always stretched vertically a bit, since the PSP's vertical resolution is bigger than the arcade's. Not a big deal unless you're a pixel-whore like I am.
- Characters look sort of fat in widescreen mode.
- Doing moves with the shoulder buttons can be awkward.
Patapon:
+ Quirky storyline.
+ Unique gameplay (realtime startegy + music).
+ Cool graphical style.
+ Compresses to ~180MB.
O The chanting will get stuck in your head.
WTF: Work Time Fun:
+ Varied gameplay.
+ Weird, in a good way.
+ Some of the "tools" you unlock are actually useful.
O Fans of "Ganbare NeoPoke Kun" on the NeoGeo Pocket Color would like this, as it's a similar game in many ways.
- Slot Machine unlock system is annoying.
Gradius Collection:
+ Very accurate ports of arcade versions.
+ Multiple games in one.
+ Great levels, with a lot of challenge.
+ Autofire included for all games.
O If you don't like hard games, stay away.
Gitaroo Man Lives:
+ Unique music game.
+ Quirky storyline and voice acting (reminds me of Parappa the Rapper a lot).
O A little bit is lost in the translation. The main character's name "U-1" is a pun of the Japanese name "Yuuichi", but in the USA version, it's pronounced like "You Won". No real way to convey that I guess.
- The voice acting gets sort of grating after a while.
(Homebrew) EZ2DJ Portable:
+ Simulation of EZ2DJ, which hasn't seen any home versions, or many simulators. AKA, it's an opportunity to play a rare game.
+ Solid gameplay, ala DJMAX and beatmania IIDX.
+ Songs are "keysounded", just like the above games.
+ Seems to be actively developed (Last release: March 2008)
O Isn't its own game, since it's really an elaborate skin and songpack for JzBMSPlayer.
- Skin is sloppy in some parts. Beatmania % indicator doesn't mesh with new skin, for example.
- JzBMSPlayer supports compressed folders, but none of the songs are compressed. This would save space.
- Limitations of JzBMSPlayer really show. Long notes from EZ2DJ aren't possible with JzBMS, so some of the gameplay from the original is removed. Also, songs are in .wav, making for a big song size.
(Homebrew) AntiTetris:
+ Amusing to prank your friends with.
+ Fun physics engine to mess with.
+ <1MB.
O Not really a game, but you can set your own goals. Trying to cram as many pieces into the field without dying is fun.
(Homebrew) Game and Watch Fantasies:
+ Unique gameplay.
+ Tricky levels.
+ ~5.5MB.
And a bit of a different review: the PSP D-Pad Mod.
+ Improves tactile response. D-Pad feels solid and "clicky" and not mushy.
+ Improves sensitivity of diagonals. Street Fighter Alpha 3 is perfectly playable.
- Voids warranty.
Street Fighter Alpha 3 MAX:
+ Very solid port of the arcade version.
+ Extra characters galore.
+ Controls feel solid.
+ Graphics mostly nice.
+ Compresses to ~95MB.
- Graphics seem off no matter what. Some aliasing is noticeable in small text. I think the screen is always stretched vertically a bit, since the PSP's vertical resolution is bigger than the arcade's. Not a big deal unless you're a pixel-whore like I am.
- Characters look sort of fat in widescreen mode.
- Doing moves with the shoulder buttons can be awkward.
Patapon:
+ Quirky storyline.
+ Unique gameplay (realtime startegy + music).
+ Cool graphical style.
+ Compresses to ~180MB.
O The chanting will get stuck in your head.
WTF: Work Time Fun:
+ Varied gameplay.
+ Weird, in a good way.
+ Some of the "tools" you unlock are actually useful.
O Fans of "Ganbare NeoPoke Kun" on the NeoGeo Pocket Color would like this, as it's a similar game in many ways.
- Slot Machine unlock system is annoying.
Gradius Collection:
+ Very accurate ports of arcade versions.
+ Multiple games in one.
+ Great levels, with a lot of challenge.
+ Autofire included for all games.
O If you don't like hard games, stay away.
Gitaroo Man Lives:
+ Unique music game.
+ Quirky storyline and voice acting (reminds me of Parappa the Rapper a lot).
O A little bit is lost in the translation. The main character's name "U-1" is a pun of the Japanese name "Yuuichi", but in the USA version, it's pronounced like "You Won". No real way to convey that I guess.
- The voice acting gets sort of grating after a while.
(Homebrew) EZ2DJ Portable:
+ Simulation of EZ2DJ, which hasn't seen any home versions, or many simulators. AKA, it's an opportunity to play a rare game.
+ Solid gameplay, ala DJMAX and beatmania IIDX.
+ Songs are "keysounded", just like the above games.
+ Seems to be actively developed (Last release: March 2008)
O Isn't its own game, since it's really an elaborate skin and songpack for JzBMSPlayer.
- Skin is sloppy in some parts. Beatmania % indicator doesn't mesh with new skin, for example.
- JzBMSPlayer supports compressed folders, but none of the songs are compressed. This would save space.
- Limitations of JzBMSPlayer really show. Long notes from EZ2DJ aren't possible with JzBMS, so some of the gameplay from the original is removed. Also, songs are in .wav, making for a big song size.
(Homebrew) AntiTetris:
+ Amusing to prank your friends with.
+ Fun physics engine to mess with.
+ <1MB.
O Not really a game, but you can set your own goals. Trying to cram as many pieces into the field without dying is fun.
(Homebrew) Game and Watch Fantasies:
+ Unique gameplay.
+ Tricky levels.
+ ~5.5MB.
And a bit of a different review: the PSP D-Pad Mod.
+ Improves tactile response. D-Pad feels solid and "clicky" and not mushy.
+ Improves sensitivity of diagonals. Street Fighter Alpha 3 is perfectly playable.
- Voids warranty.