BreakQuest (Brent S.): The first game that I was tasked with reviewing was Breakquest. Breakquest is a pretty strait ahead block breaking game. You play as a ship at the bottom of the screen, shooting a ricocheting ball up at a pattern of blocks. As you break the blocks they release power ups, and in some cases the blocks also release icons that will produce a negative effect on your ship and weapons. The physics of the game are very satisfying, your ship moves with a weight and gravity that has a pleasing feel, and is perhaps the best aspect of the game.
Other than that I have not found a lot to like about this game. I think a game like this has to grab you almost right off the bat, and this game sure did not. We are not sure what they are charging for Breakquest, but when I put it in the context of other PSP and PS3 games that are out there, I am not sure at what price I would recommend it. The sounds tend to be a bit annoying, a lot of bleats and blips that leave me cold. The game is a perfect example of how things can be competently executed, and this game is, but still at the same time totally unengaging. If you are a sucker for any block breaking game you might like this, but otherwise I would skip it.
Kahoots (Emilio Z.) is puzzle game in the vain of echochrome and Lemmings. The objective of the game is to get the Kahoot to the exit in the level. The basic mechanic is to move the blocks in the level and arrange them in a way where the Kahoot can walk to the exit. The puzzles usually take a few minutes to solve and are really well paced. It really lends itself to quick pick up and play style that compliments the idea of the PSP minis. The levels progress in complexity and introduce trap doors, blocks that can’t be moved, cannons, and spikes that kill you.
I did find myself getting frustrated from time to time because of the way the camera works in this game. To see the entire level you need to pan around. Sometimes I found that as I was panning around to plan my next moves and I would forget to hold the L1 trigger to stop my Kahoot from moving. He would die and I would have to start over. One recommendation I would suggest to people is to stop the Kahoot from the beginning and study the level. Once you understand the level and plan your strategy make your moves and watch your Kahoot walk to safety. In some of the later levels you will need to do this during the level, because of the introduction of enemies that are moving around the level. I really did like the puzzles in this game and with the additional challenges of a cupcake in each level it allows its puzzles to be played more then once. If your a fan of puzzle games like Lemmings or echochrome this is the game for you.
Vempire (Brent S.)is a very simple game, and this is just about all there is to say about it. Essentially it is a pattern matching, puzzle game set on a grid. Your goal is to match a row of four of the same types of blocks. There are two colored block types, blocks that feature gold bars, and eventually blocks that feature manna vials. Matching four of the colored blocks allows you to score, the gold bars when matched yield, wait for it, gold, that allows you to buy power ups, and manna allows you to summon game aids that help you while you are playing. You are timed, and during that time you have to get a certain number of these four block rows, get enough, you move onto the next level. Fail and you have to restart. Periodically you will be confronted with a “boss” that will make your matching slightly more difficult by attempting to distract you in some manner.
The game features a kind of spooky theme in both its graphics and sound, think of an episode of Scooby-Doo, and you will have a good idea of what they achieved. The game plays all right, and if you like this type of thing, then you could probably do worse. If you are hankering for a portable puzzle game on your PSP, you like hokey take on an occult theme, then maybe this is the game for you, otherwise, skip it.
Pinball Fantasies (Emilio Z.) is an emulator of pinball on the Amiga. There are four tables in the game: Party Land, Speed Devils, Billion Dollar Game Show, and Stones ‘N Bones. This game has a sense of nostalgia to it. It takes me back to when I played my first PC pinball games. Like those the game is really simple, and the physics are dated, but the gameplay is fairly addicting. You can control the ball with relative ease that allows you to rack up scores at a high rate. I have purchased pinball games on my cell phone and this is a much better version then those.
One of the more interesting things about this game is that it allow the game to be played in landscape mode. You hold the PSP sideways. This allows you to see more of the table and really gives it that pinball table feeling. Pinball Fantasies is tribute to games that many of us have played in the past. It can bring back a lot of memories of good times. If your looking for a simple and nostalgic way to play some games from your past this Pinball Fantasies is the game for you. If your not as familiar or appreciate those older games then this may be somewhat of a turnoff for you.
