PSP Games to Watch For

The New Straits Times

Play : Potent Games for Psp

Here are the Playstation Portable games that we should get our hands on this year.

FLATOUT HEAD ON (January)

A handheld entry in the dynamic racing franchise, FlatOut Head On delivers the most destructive racer ever onto the PSP system.

The game takes the trademark mayhem of FlatOut and FlatOut 2, lifting destruction racing to a whole new level of bone-breaking slaughter, capturing arcade destruction racing at its best and most extreme with real world physics, three different game modes, and WiFi racing, stunts and competitions.

PURSUIT FORCE: EXTREME JUSTICE (January)

In Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice, the gangs, hoodlums and ruffians of Capital City are out of control.

Needless to say, it's up to you to drive them out of town.

However, that's trickier than it sounds, thanks to the introduction of new gangs specialising in their own forms of chaos.

Plus, you've now got to deal with a rival squad of "heavy- handed" police called the Viper division.

Thankfully, you've got a string of vehicles at your disposal and can leap between planes, hovercraft, jet skis, tanks, trains and helicopters in your pursuit of justice.

Other new features include a "Justice Bar" that helps you to regain strength and prolong missions and a four-player wireless mode for multiplayer pursuits.

DUNGEON EXPLORER: WARRIOR OF ANCIENT ARTS (February)

Hudson's classic dungeon crawler series returns for the new generation with this completely revamped and re-envisioned action- RPG, expanding on the multiplayer elements that made the game so popular.

Prepare to battle demonic forces and seal the gateway from which they have come.

You are a Warrior of Ancient Arts, trained in the ways of mystical forces and weapon arts. Lead up to three comrades-in-arms via single player or Ad Hoc Multiplayer mode to defeat the evil that plagues the land and seal off the Great Labyrinth from which these creatures spawn.

GOD OF WAR: CHAINS OF OLYMPUS (March)

As many who know the tales of the God of War know, Kratos, after being deceived into killing his wife and daughter, denounced his service to Ares.

In order to seek absolution from his past sins, the Ghost of Sparta pledged himself as a champion to the Gods for the years to follow. In God of War: Chains of Olympus, Kratos will venture to lands that no mortal has ever walked upon.

With the world plunged in eternal darkness and the Gods rendered powerless, Kratos will ultimately be forced to choose between his own personal redemption and saving the ancient world from certain destruction.

Developed from the outset as an original story, God of War: Chains of Olympus delivers detailed graphics, incredible animation detail and yet another adventure in the dark and brutal world of Greek mythology.

FINAL FANTASY VII: CRISIS CORE (March)

Described as an action RPG, this game becomes the fourth entry in the "Compilation of Final Fantasy VII" project which includes Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII for mobile, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children for DVD and Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus for PS2.

FFVII: Crisis Core allows you to play Zack, Cloud's counter-part from FFVII and this game's hero.

Of course Aerith, Cloud, and Sephiroth make appearences as well.

Battle in real-time and come face-toface with such legendary summons as Ifrit and Bahamut.

For those who don't know these names, they were characters of the game on the original Playstation console.

WILD ARMS XF (March)

The first PSP entry in the Westernthemed RPG series. Set once again in the land of Falgaia, Wild Arms XF tells the story of Clarisa, a knight in the army of the peaceful kingdom of Elecius. The story begins when the queen is killed in what appears to be more than just an accident.

In place of the turn-based battles of the console games, Wild ARMs XF offers a unique strategy role-playing experience with a hex- based grid system producing more tactical positioning options, a large number of job classes allowing vast party customisation, and a wide range of mission objectives

WINNING ELEVEN: PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 (March)

Developed by Konami's football Studio in Tokyo, the game contains all the realism and intuitive controls associated with the series.

The PSP version of PES 2008 shares a lot in common with the existing PlayStation 2 game, with a wide range of tournaments and leagues on offer, alongside an all-new World Tour mode, wherein users are set a series of challenges as they tour the globe.

As each task is successfully completed, further tests designed to show the capability of your chosen squad are unlocked.

Full Edit modes have also been incorporated into PES 2008, while the data sharing aspect has been totally reworked to allow users to continue building their team while away from their home system.

As such, Master League information can now be swapped between the PSP and PlayStation 2 versions, as can League, World Tour and Cup Mode data.

TOM CLANCY'S ENDWAR (April)

From 2011 to 2014, the world enjoyed an unprecedented era of peace as enhanced defence technology eliminated the threat of nuclear war. It didn't last.

By 2020, constant depletion of resources has international tensions at a breaking point. One spark will ignite what no one thought could ever happen ... a third and final world war. World War III comes to life in Tom Clancy's EndWar.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN (May)

Revisit the rich, fantasy land of Narnia! Based on the second Walt Disney and Walden Media film of the epic Narnia series, Prince Caspian finds Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter whisked back to Narnia to help drive out the cruel King Miraz.

HELLBOY: THE SCIENCE OF EVIL (June)

Hellboy provide players with fresh adventures featuring the unmistakable fusion of action, atmosphere and humour of the comic book and movie franchise.

It uncovers a Nazi plot for world domination. Defeat the crazed Hermann Von Klempt before he can exert his evil will upon a hapless world.

As a visceral brawler, the game lets players unleash Hellboy's superhuman abilities as they smash their way through hordes of enemies with contextual use of the environment for added destructive power and strategy.

Other notable games that will feature on the PSP include Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, DC Universe and Gran Turismo 4 Mobile.

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