I like it...a lot, 16 Aug 2008
Well, as you can see in the other reviews, there are quite a few negative issues that some people have with this game. However, I love this game. I've nearly finished, and when I do, I'm going to play it again. To me, thats the mark of an excellent game.

This is not a turn based, strategic battle system affair like its parent game, but rather an action based game. I love the hacky-slashy combat - which to me seems perfect for an impulsive "leap before you look" type like Zack. The battle is complicated by the DMW (Digital Mind Wave), a slot wheel that spins to dole out bonuses. This is presumably meant to represent Zack's SOLDIER enhancements, as it releases limit breaks, levels him up, and deals out random smaller bonuses. Personally, I like it. The system evolves throughout the game with more characters added and even extra reels. By the time that mini cutscenes about the characters are added I was impressed that square had managed to keep the whole thing fresh.

The real star of the game is the characterization, with all the characters exactly as you would wish them to be. The story is superb - mad as ever, thanks square! - although some of the cutscenes that repeat 1997 history have lost a little of their sheer horrified amazement. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoyed FFVII purely for the chance to meet Zack Fair, who is probably the best character in the FF series for a long time. The story will tug your heartstrings all the way through :)

It's also great to see a game so well adapted to the PSP. It fits sony's system perfectly, with lots of bitesize missions to do on the bus/train. I personally prefer doing lots of different missions to level up Zack and get new items than the traditional FF method of leveling...finding the monster that gives the most exp and killing it over and over and over....
In this way, leveling is taken care of for you while you search out new materia and equipment.

All this without even mentioning all the mini-games, side missions and materia fusion system. The music and graphics are also outstanding. Quite simply, I think this is a stunning game.

Random Levelling - what's all that about??, 09 Aug 2008
Good game this, story line and cut scenes are superb and feature many of the stars of the FF series, probably the best storyline you are likely to get!!
The game itself can be seen as an action game with inventory and magic control together with an almost completely random element which is the DMV which controls levelling (of Zak and also materia equipped), some special attacks and also special temporary statuses (for instance MP-free materia usage). This is almost random as a curse status stops the DMV and fusing certain materia will increase the probability of certain DMV instances - but generally it is random.

This didn't work for me, as winning boss battles could depend upon the DMV coming up trumps so I regularly had to refight bosses until the DMV came good and then the boss battles were easy. As I prefer to beat bosses first time or at least be able to work out how to beat them from one go this was not ideal, you can get wiped out in seconds so end up running round avoiding the monsters until the DMV wheel stops.

The other element to this game which you could completely miss/ignore is fusing materia to give status improvements but this again needs alot of though and practice (unless you use google ;)) to get right. I enjoyed this as about 75% through the game I realised that this was a very powerful and quite enjoyable element which made the mission trawling easier.

Overall a very enjoyable and polished game, with some depth if you want it, but the random levelling didn't work for me. FF fans will love this, Cloud as a new recruit makes an appearance, and alot of the signature FF elements are here.

A Contrasting Opinion, 31 Jul 2008
If I may offer a different view for potential buyers interested in this game, I'll try to be quick.

As a large and long time fan of FFVII (my first FF experience) I was sorely dissapointed to find that the weakest aspect to this game was the story. Three factors contibute to this fault: horrendous dialogue; over the top cheesy US voice acting; and character motives that have no real understanding behind them. It creates a frustrating and at times offensive experience, particularly for those that enjoyed and cherish characters realised in FFVII.

Surprisingly the main draw for me, and the reason I score this game so highly, is the gameplay in here. I wont specify the mechanics but suffice to say it is a great offering and will quench your needs whether you want a long sitting or a quick fix on the bus to work- you will get hooked.

The star of the show (for EU gamers only) is the hard mode, which really turns the story mode and the side missions (all 300 of them) into a real challenge right from the start. I relished this challenge right till the end as it really kept the combat interesting throughout my 30+ hours with Crisis Core.

The music, while well produced, is at times relentlessly repititous and considering most of it is heavy metal/ techno hybrid buzz it really can get dull after time or even right off the bat depending on your personal tastes. Battle sound effects are top notch, however environmental noises are virtually non-existent.

To conclude, Crisis Core's shallow story will no doubt appease younger fans and satisfy those who found Advent Children to be the best thing sinse sliced Sephiroth. However, disregarding the excellent gameplay- which I believe warrents a purchase for action/ RPG fans- those who regard the franchise dearly should perhaps approach this game with caution, as there will no doubt be fans who wish that the game that started it all had remained as a single classic.

Comments are valued,

Cheers.

Zack Rulez!, 27 Jul 2008
This game is absolutely fantastic. It gives many hours of great gaming and fun. The story line is fantastic, the graphics are sound, the gameplay is superb and it has absolutely everything a great rpg and final fantasy game should have. This is a must buy for any rpg or FF fan. If you've seen Final Fantasy Advent children this is the prequal and happens 2 years before the film.

Swing and a miss, 27 Jul 2008
// ---- Out of Mana.co.uk ---- \\

Crisis Core acts as a prequel to Final Fantasy VII and focuses rather disjointedly on the events before Cloud joins AVALANCHE and the original game which shook the late 90s begins. If you've not yet given it a go but consider yourself a moderate fan of FFVII, then you'll probably have a few questions. Does FFVII:CC weave a narrative worthy of merging into the oncoming plot traffic of its predecessor? Does it whisk you back a decade in time and fill you with warm, nostalgic memories of a time spent staggering between glorious pre-rendered works of art and whirling random encounter transitions? Are some of the darker elements of the plot handled with a degree of mystery and subtlety? The short answer to all of these questions is a faintly dejected `not really'.

Advent Children hardly set the stage for reassurance. Whilst the visuals and action were bang on form; the pacing was sloppy, the introduction to the final encounter was about as epic as a cucumber sandwich and for some reason Square lovingly topped the whole experience off with the kind of whimsical 'feel good' ending usually confined to daytime movies about mischievous runaway moppets.

The trend of outstanding CG effects remains strong and character models and overall animation in the glorious array of FMV sequences rival anything showcased in the aforementioned movie spin-off. The musical score as we've come to expect from anything made by Square fluctuates between varying levels of greatness. The voice acting however... well, let's just say three out of four isn't bad.

It's not that there's much particularly wrong with the English dubbing besides the odd awkwardly delivered line tripping over the clumsy dialogue like it's an obese cat sleeping in a doorway, the issue is that there's not much right with it either. To make matters even more distressing, we've been outright denied the opportunity to switch to Japanese audio with subtitles.

The combat system is very much your straightforward hack and slash picnic, Press X to hit target with sword until said target collapses in a heap, and Press Square to perform a roll-stroke-dodge combination which can be used to cavort out of danger (or often into it, should you get a bit carried away). You can also scroll through a selection of spells and skills which you've either found on your escapades or created using Materia Fusion. It all seems perfectly acceptable until the fetid abomination which is Crisis Core's limit break system rears its ugly head, anyway.

The DMW (that's `Dull Meter Watching' for those in the know) System does away with all that overrated nonsense everyone keeps banging on about, baloney like fast paced combat, strategy, customisation and fun and instead replaces them with a much more desirable spinning wheel.

If the battle designers of Crisis Core are to be believed then not only is the brutal crucifixion of strategy in games long overdue, but also slot machines are apparently a vastly superior form of entertainment far beyond our human comprehension. The best approach is to just go along with it. Struggle against the flow of the DMW and you'll have gnawed the corners off your PSP sooner than you can say "modulating phase", though it's difficult not getting a little deflated/annoyed/homicidal when it happens on the very last badly injured enemy.

Nonsensical happenings crop up now and then leaving you scratching your head or twisting it in a lupine manner trying to work out what on earth just happened. On one occasion, Zack had to save a village due to be bombed, from being bombed twenty seconds sooner by what I can only assume was a secret invisible rocket-launcher located in another dimension. To save the day, our dashing hero strikes the rockets with his sword, forcing them to rather smoothly split in two as if they were forged from Danish pastry. The entire scene makes absolutely no sense and worst of all forces you to partake in hideous `QuickTime' events a la shenmue. These silly attempts to crowbar in needless gameplay elements with no thought for context breaks flow and calls into question just what in Gaia possessed the designers to implement such sloppy game elements in the first place.

Overall, Crisis Core is saved by its gorgeous visuals and stunning FMV sequences but underneath all that you can't escape the sinking feeling that you're plodding through a shallow and often befuddling stab at an action RPG.

The Good
- Impressive FMV sequences
- Masses of quick side-missions which can easily be picked up when on the go

The Bad
- The tiresome DMW System ends up slowing down gameplay the point of agony
- Clunky dialogue and voice acting
- Fragmented story Frisbees immersion straight out of the window
- Side-missions suffer from `Quantity over Quality'
- Many scenes are lacking in the dark atmosphere which made the original stand out from the RPG crowd of the 90s
- Some real odd moments of nonsensical happenings

LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures takes the fun and creative construction of LEGO and combines it with the wits, daring and non-stop action from the original cinematic adventures that enthralled audiences everywhere (Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). With a unique tongue-in-cheek take on the original adventures, LEGO Indiana Jones follows Dr. Jones escapades through the jungles of South America to the mountaintops of India. Fans can build, battle and brawl their way through their favorite cinematic moments, from Indy's entanglements with snakes to his dashing boulder run.

Of course, pop culture's most iconic archeologist will whip through all the classic moments with the help of a host of supporting characters including Marion Ravenwood and Short Round. Players can also mix and match the body parts of more than 60 playable characters to create new heroes just as they could in the best-selling LEGO Star Wars games.

I like it...a lot, 16 Aug 2008
Well, as you can see in the other reviews, there are quite a few negative issues that some people have with this game. However, I love this game. I've nearly finished, and when I do, I'm going to play it again. To me, thats the mark of an excellent game.

This is not a turn based, strategic battle system affair like its parent game, but rather an action based game. I love the hacky-slashy combat - which to me seems perfect for an impulsive "leap before you look" type like Zack. The battle is complicated by the DMW (Digital Mind Wave), a slot wheel that spins to dole out bonuses. This is presumably meant to represent Zack's SOLDIER enhancements, as it releases limit breaks, levels him up, and deals out random smaller bonuses. Personally, I like it. The system evolves throughout the game with more characters added and even extra reels. By the time that mini cutscenes about the characters are added I was impressed that square had managed to keep the whole thing fresh.

The real star of the game is the characterization, with all the characters exactly as you would wish them to be. The story is superb - mad as ever, thanks square! - although some of the cutscenes that repeat 1997 history have lost a little of their sheer horrified amazement. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoyed FFVII purely for the chance to meet Zack Fair, who is probably the best character in the FF series for a long time. The story will tug your heartstrings all the way through :)

It's also great to see a game so well adapted to the PSP. It fits sony's system perfectly, with lots of bitesize missions to do on the bus/train. I personally prefer doing lots of different missions to level up Zack and get new items than the traditional FF method of leveling...finding the monster that gives the most exp and killing it over and over and over....
In this way, leveling is taken care of for you while you search out new materia and equipment.

All this without even mentioning all the mini-games, side missions and materia fusion system. The music and graphics are also outstanding. Quite simply, I think this is a stunning game.

Random Levelling - what's all that about??, 09 Aug 2008
Good game this, story line and cut scenes are superb and feature many of the stars of the FF series, probably the best storyline you are likely to get!!
The game itself can be seen as an action game with inventory and magic control together with an almost completely random element which is the DMV which controls levelling (of Zak and also materia equipped), some special attacks and also special temporary statuses (for instance MP-free materia usage). This is almost random as a curse status stops the DMV and fusing certain materia will increase the probability of certain DMV instances - but generally it is random.

This didn't work for me, as winning boss battles could depend upon the DMV coming up trumps so I regularly had to refight bosses until the DMV came good and then the boss battles were easy. As I prefer to beat bosses first time or at least be able to work out how to beat them from one go this was not ideal, you can get wiped out in seconds so end up running round avoiding the monsters until the DMV wheel stops.

The other element to this game which you could completely miss/ignore is fusing materia to give status improvements but this again needs alot of though and practice (unless you use google ;)) to get right. I enjoyed this as about 75% through the game I realised that this was a very powerful and quite enjoyable element which made the mission trawling easier.

Overall a very enjoyable and polished game, with some depth if you want it, but the random levelling didn't work for me. FF fans will love this, Cloud as a new recruit makes an appearance, and alot of the signature FF elements are here.

A Contrasting Opinion, 31 Jul 2008
If I may offer a different view for potential buyers interested in this game, I'll try to be quick.

As a large and long time fan of FFVII (my first FF experience) I was sorely dissapointed to find that the weakest aspect to this game was the story. Three factors contibute to this fault: horrendous dialogue; over the top cheesy US voice acting; and character motives that have no real understanding behind them. It creates a frustrating and at times offensive experience, particularly for those that enjoyed and cherish characters realised in FFVII.

Surprisingly the main draw for me, and the reason I score this game so highly, is the gameplay in here. I wont specify the mechanics but suffice to say it is a great offering and will quench your needs whether you want a long sitting or a quick fix on the bus to work- you will get hooked.

The star of the show (for EU gamers only) is the hard mode, which really turns the story mode and the side missions (all 300 of them) into a real challenge right from the start. I relished this challenge right till the end as it really kept the combat interesting throughout my 30+ hours with Crisis Core.

The music, while well produced, is at times relentlessly repititous and considering most of it is heavy metal/ techno hybrid buzz it really can get dull after time or even right off the bat depending on your personal tastes. Battle sound effects are top notch, however environmental noises are virtually non-existent.

To conclude, Crisis Core's shallow story will no doubt appease younger fans and satisfy those who found Advent Children to be the best thing sinse sliced Sephiroth. However, disregarding the excellent gameplay- which I believe warrents a purchase for action/ RPG fans- those who regard the franchise dearly should perhaps approach this game with caution, as there will no doubt be fans who wish that the game that started it all had remained as a single classic.

Comments are valued,

Cheers.

Zack Rulez!, 27 Jul 2008
This game is absolutely fantastic. It gives many hours of great gaming and fun. The story line is fantastic, the graphics are sound, the gameplay is superb and it has absolutely everything a great rpg and final fantasy game should have. This is a must buy for any rpg or FF fan. If you've seen Final Fantasy Advent children this is the prequal and happens 2 years before the film.

Swing and a miss, 27 Jul 2008
// ---- Out of Mana.co.uk ---- \\

Crisis Core acts as a prequel to Final Fantasy VII and focuses rather disjointedly on the events before Cloud joins AVALANCHE and the original game which shook the late 90s begins. If you've not yet given it a go but consider yourself a moderate fan of FFVII, then you'll probably have a few questions. Does FFVII:CC weave a narrative worthy of merging into the oncoming plot traffic of its predecessor? Does it whisk you back a decade in time and fill you with warm, nostalgic memories of a time spent staggering between glorious pre-rendered works of art and whirling random encounter transitions? Are some of the darker elements of the plot handled with a degree of mystery and subtlety? The short answer to all of these questions is a faintly dejected `not really'.

Advent Children hardly set the stage for reassurance. Whilst the visuals and action were bang on form; the pacing was sloppy, the introduction to the final encounter was about as epic as a cucumber sandwich and for some reason Square lovingly topped the whole experience off with the kind of whimsical 'feel good' ending usually confined to daytime movies about mischievous runaway moppets.

The trend of outstanding CG effects remains strong and character models and overall animation in the glorious array of FMV sequences rival anything showcased in the aforementioned movie spin-off. The musical score as we've come to expect from anything made by Square fluctuates between varying levels of greatness. The voice acting however... well, let's just say three out of four isn't bad.

It's not that there's much particularly wrong with the English dubbing besides the odd awkwardly delivered line tripping over the clumsy dialogue like it's an obese cat sleeping in a doorway, the issue is that there's not much right with it either. To make matters even more distressing, we've been outright denied the opportunity to switch to Japanese audio with subtitles.

The combat system is very much your straightforward hack and slash picnic, Press X to hit target with sword until said target collapses in a heap, and Press Square to perform a roll-stroke-dodge combination which can be used to cavort out of danger (or often into it, should you get a bit carried away). You can also scroll through a selection of spells and skills which you've either found on your escapades or created using Materia Fusion. It all seems perfectly acceptable until the fetid abomination which is Crisis Core's limit break system rears its ugly head, anyway.

The DMW (that's `Dull Meter Watching' for those in the know) System does away with all that overrated nonsense everyone keeps banging on about, baloney like fast paced combat, strategy, customisation and fun and instead replaces them with a much more desirable spinning wheel.

If the battle designers of Crisis Core are to be believed then not only is the brutal crucifixion of strategy in games long overdue, but also slot machines are apparently a vastly superior form of entertainment far beyond our human comprehension. The best approach is to just go along with it. Struggle against the flow of the DMW and you'll have gnawed the corners off your PSP sooner than you can say "modulating phase", though it's difficult not getting a little deflated/annoyed/homicidal when it happens on the very last badly injured enemy.

Nonsensical happenings crop up now and then leaving you scratching your head or twisting it in a lupine manner trying to work out what on earth just happened. On one occasion, Zack had to save a village due to be bombed, from being bombed twenty seconds sooner by what I can only assume was a secret invisible rocket-launcher located in another dimension. To save the day, our dashing hero strikes the rockets with his sword, forcing them to rather smoothly split in two as if they were forged from Danish pastry. The entire scene makes absolutely no sense and worst of all forces you to partake in hideous `QuickTime' events a la shenmue. These silly attempts to crowbar in needless gameplay elements with no thought for context breaks flow and calls into question just what in Gaia possessed the designers to implement such sloppy game elements in the first place.

Overall, Crisis Core is saved by its gorgeous visuals and stunning FMV sequences but underneath all that you can't escape the sinking feeling that you're plodding through a shallow and often befuddling stab at an action RPG.

The Good
- Impressive FMV sequences
- Masses of quick side-missions which can easily be picked up when on the go

The Bad
- The tiresome DMW System ends up slowing down gameplay the point of agony
- Clunky dialogue and voice acting
- Fragmented story Frisbees immersion straight out of the window
- Side-missions suffer from `Quantity over Quality'
- Many scenes are lacking in the dark atmosphere which made the original stand out from the RPG crowd of the 90s
- Some real odd moments of nonsensical happenings

Hats off to Lego Indy, 28 Jul 2008
Once again the Lego PSP series the programmers have done the business. Whilst not an exact copy of the first 3 films, this game only falls short of probably the best game on the PSP - Lego Star Wars - by a whisker.

It still has the comedy combined some excellent problem solving which, whilst not too difficult, does on occasions make the grey matter work.

The Characters are excellent and the mumbled dialogue perfectly spoken with an accent which relates directly to the people in the film.

It is very difficult to put down and with the stirring theme song always on hand this is a must for any PSP game player.

Very Enjoyable!, 22 Jul 2008
Well what can I say, this is one of the most enjoyable games I have played on the PSP in recent years, don't get me wrong the graphics won't blow you away, but is very good fun.
The format is identical to the Lego Starwars games where two characters with different skills fight there way through each level.The levels are spread across all three original films and are very charming following the films well. The levels can also be a tad challenging in places where you must solve puzzles to gain access to bonus aress too.
The best aspect is by far the multiplayer action, where you can have a friend help you through the game.
Like the starwars games the game can be replayed again and again using different characters to find all objects in the levels to unlock bonus areas.
After playing the game I can say that there isn't any bugs as of yet, so all is well there.
I'd recomend this game to anybody who enjoyed the Lego Starwars games, general gamers and fans of Indiana Jones. It's a great game at a reasonable price too.

Real good fun!, 21 Jul 2008
If you compare this to the masterpiece of LEGO Star Wars (as people undoubtedly will) then it is unsurprisingly slightly disappointing. Whereas the PSP version of the benchmark that was the Star Wars game was almost identical to the console versions, Lego Indiana Jones has some minor niggles that don't appear in the larger versions. However, the game itself is strong enough to ignore these and experience a very good game.

Yes, the problems with the camera are noticeable, especially in the earlier levels, and there are other occasional problems, such as the "loops of death" mentioned in the other review, but if you look past these you can find an excellent and absorbing game.

The characters and music are spot-on in all the levels, and once you disappear behind the headphones you can forget about everything else for a few hours. The brilliant stud-collecting and character-switching elements are as fun as ever, and there is plenty of replay value. I'm having great fun playing this game, and for fans of Indy and others alike, this will provide hours upon hours of excellent fun and a fantastic, movie-like experience.

Der der der der, der der derrrrr, 01 Jul 2008
As an owner of a PS3 and PSP, there were a few games I've been waiting for anxiously this year - GTA IV, MGS4 and strangely enough, Lego Indiana Jones.

Fortunately this has been released just in time for the summer and Big Brother. It means er indoors is happy watching the antics of a load of celeb wannabees, where as I can slip on my headphones and enjoy this baby.

So, first things first, you probably know by now it's a "sequel" to the Lego Star Wars game(s) and pretty much follows the same mould. There are 18 levels, 6 for each of the 3 original films (Raiders, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade) and each follows the story, interspersed with some quite funny videos to move things along from one bit to the next.

The basic idea is to play each level, to start with anyway, as two (sometimes more) characters that you can switch between. As you progress there are various puzzles to solve, hidden items to find and lots of fun to be had. As in the Star Wars games, you collect "studs" (or treasure, as the game calls it) in various ways as you go which can be used to unlock extra abilities and even cheats. There's more of an emphasis this time on solving puzzles than there was in LSW, but none of them are too taxing - I suppose you could look on it more like a Lego Tomb Raider for kids.

Some of the characters have extra or special abilities and some have phobias - Indy himself has the use of the famous whip but is scared of snakes, women characters can jump higher but some of them are scared of spiders. To progress you often need to switch to the other character to do specifc task, like using Indys whip to swing accross a chasm, and in some cases both need to work together, for example when one needs to push an object with the other on top so they can reach a high ledge.

In adition, items can be found lying around which give your character special powers - having a spade means they can dig things up and having a spanner means they can fix broken machinery - and as in the previous game, you can pick up hats to act as a disguise and get you through guarded doors into special areas.

One you complete a level in story mode, it becomes available as free play which means you can use any of the characters you have unlocked so far to replay it. This opens up more areas and keeps you coming back to try and find that elusive item you just missed last time through. Just like LSW there are 10 hidden artifacts in each level and collecting them all unlocks 3 extra levels. There is also a parcel as well as the postbox to post it in to find for each level, these gaining you "extras" to buy with your studs, my favourite of which is making the animals in the game poo out treasure! There's more too, I won't spoil the fun by saying exactly what, but a few familiar faces pop up in places....

Whilst the levels are probably slightly harder than in Star Wars, there is always plenty of help on the screen as to what to do and what to press next and it's usually fairly easy to complete tasks. Sometimes I found the perspective view a little difficult to deal with, especially as you have no control of the camera. Some of the areas in the levels are very big too, meaning there is sometimes a lot on the screen and it can be quite small and difficult to make out what is going on.

Generally I would say the graphics are good - not quite as clear as in Star Wars and I find a little grainy in places. The sound is excellent, with the proper film themes playing in each level, as they did in the films. I've been told off for singing along without realising anyway...

Techincally, it seems a few little bugs have crept in - I've found that I can often get stuck in a "loop of death" where your character dies but reappears in the same spot and dies again. Whilst there are no lives as such (you just loose some of your collected studs), it can be annoying. I've also managed to jump through things I shouldn't and ended up outside the confines of a level, but you can usually find a way back in, sometimes by having to die.

So, all in all not quite up there with Lego Star Wars for me, but a very good addition to the Lego stable of games and one I would recommend for kids of all ages.

I'm eagerly awaiting Lego Batman in September.....

I like it...a lot, 16 Aug 2008
Well, as you can see in the other reviews, there are quite a few negative issues that some people have with this game. However, I love this game. I've nearly finished, and when I do, I'm going to play it again. To me, thats the mark of an excellent game.

This is not a turn based, strategic battle system affair like its parent game, but rather an action based game. I love the hacky-slashy combat - which to me seems perfect for an impulsive "leap before you look" type like Zack. The battle is complicated by the DMW (Digital Mind Wave), a slot wheel that spins to dole out bonuses. This is presumably meant to represent Zack's SOLDIER enhancements, as it releases limit breaks, levels him up, and deals out random smaller bonuses. Personally, I like it. The system evolves throughout the game with more characters added and even extra reels. By the time that mini cutscenes about the characters are added I was impressed that square had managed to keep the whole thing fresh.

The real star of the game is the characterization, with all the characters exactly as you would wish them to be. The story is superb - mad as ever, thanks square! - although some of the cutscenes that repeat 1997 history have lost a little of their sheer horrified amazement. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoyed FFVII purely for the chance to meet Zack Fair, who is probably the best character in the FF series for a long time. The story will tug your heartstrings all the way through :)

It's also great to see a game so well adapted to the PSP. It fits sony's system perfectly, with lots of bitesize missions to do on the bus/train. I personally prefer doing lots of different missions to level up Zack and get new items than the traditional FF method of leveling...finding the monster that gives the most exp and killing it over and over and over....
In this way, leveling is taken care of for you while you search out new materia and equipment.

All this without even mentioning all the mini-games, side missions and materia fusion system. The music and graphics are also outstanding. Quite simply, I think this is a stunning game.

Random Levelling - what's all that about??, 09 Aug 2008
Good game this, story line and cut scenes are superb and feature many of the stars of the FF series, probably the best storyline you are likely to get!!
The game itself can be seen as an action game with inventory and magic control together with an almost completely random element which is the DMV which controls levelling (of Zak and also materia equipped), some special attacks and also special temporary statuses (for instance MP-free materia usage). This is almost random as a curse status stops the DMV and fusing certain materia will increase the probability of certain DMV instances - but generally it is random.

This didn't work for me, as winning boss battles could depend upon the DMV coming up trumps so I regularly had to refight bosses until the DMV came good and then the boss battles were easy. As I prefer to beat bosses first time or at least be able to work out how to beat them from one go this was not ideal, you can get wiped out in seconds so end up running round avoiding the monsters until the DMV wheel stops.

The other element to this game which you could completely miss/ignore is fusing materia to give status improvements but this again needs alot of though and practice (unless you use google ;)) to get right. I enjoyed this as about 75% through the game I realised that this was a very powerful and quite enjoyable element which made the mission trawling easier.

Overall a very enjoyable and polished game, with some depth if you want it, but the random levelling didn't work for me. FF fans will love this, Cloud as a new recruit makes an appearance, and alot of the signature FF elements are here.

A Contrasting Opinion, 31 Jul 2008
If I may offer a different view for potential buyers interested in this game, I'll try to be quick.

As a large and long time fan of FFVII (my first FF experience) I was sorely dissapointed to find that the weakest aspect to this game was the story. Three factors contibute to this fault: horrendous dialogue; over the top cheesy US voice acting; and character motives that have no real understanding behind them. It creates a frustrating and at times offensive experience, particularly for those that enjoyed and cherish characters realised in FFVII.

Surprisingly the main draw for me, and the reason I score this game so highly, is the gameplay in here. I wont specify the mechanics but suffice to say it is a great offering and will quench your needs whether you want a long sitting or a quick fix on the bus to work- you will get hooked.

The star of the show (for EU gamers only) is the hard mode, which really turns the story mode and the side missions (all 300 of them) into a real challenge right from the start. I relished this challenge right till the end as it really kept the combat interesting throughout my 30+ hours with Crisis Core.

The music, while well produced, is at times relentlessly repititous and considering most of it is heavy metal/ techno hybrid buzz it really can get dull after time or even right off the bat depending on your personal tastes. Battle sound effects are top notch, however environmental noises are virtually non-existent.

To conclude, Crisis Core's shallow story will no doubt appease younger fans and satisfy those who found Advent Children to be the best thing sinse sliced Sephiroth. However, disregarding the excellent gameplay- which I believe warrents a purchase for action/ RPG fans- those who regard the franchise dearly should perhaps approach this game with caution, as there will no doubt be fans who wish that the game that started it all had remained as a single classic.

Comments are valued,

Cheers.

Zack Rulez!, 27 Jul 2008
This game is absolutely fantastic. It gives many hours of great gaming and fun. The story line is fantastic, the graphics are sound, the gameplay is superb and it has absolutely everything a great rpg and final fantasy game should have. This is a must buy for any rpg or FF fan. If you've seen Final Fantasy Advent children this is the prequal and happens 2 years before the film.

Swing and a miss, 27 Jul 2008
// ---- Out of Mana.co.uk ---- \\

Crisis Core acts as a prequel to Final Fantasy VII and focuses rather disjointedly on the events before Cloud joins AVALANCHE and the original game which shook the late 90s begins. If you've not yet given it a go but consider yourself a moderate fan of FFVII, then you'll probably have a few questions. Does FFVII:CC weave a narrative worthy of merging into the oncoming plot traffic of its predecessor? Does it whisk you back a decade in time and fill you with warm, nostalgic memories of a time spent staggering between glorious pre-rendered works of art and whirling random encounter transitions? Are some of the darker elements of the plot handled with a degree of mystery and subtlety? The short answer to all of these questions is a faintly dejected `not really'.

Advent Children hardly set the stage for reassurance. Whilst the visuals and action were bang on form; the pacing was sloppy, the introduction to the final encounter was about as epic as a cucumber sandwich and for some reason Square lovingly topped the whole experience off with the kind of whimsical 'feel good' ending usually confined to daytime movies about mischievous runaway moppets.

The trend of outstanding CG effects remains strong and character models and overall animation in the glorious array of FMV sequences rival anything showcased in the aforementioned movie spin-off. The musical score as we've come to expect from anything made by Square fluctuates between varying levels of greatness. The voice acting however... well, let's just say three out of four isn't bad.

It's not that there's much particularly wrong with the English dubbing besides the odd awkwardly delivered line tripping over the clumsy dialogue like it's an obese cat sleeping in a doorway, the issue is that there's not much right with it either. To make matters even more distressing, we've been outright denied the opportunity to switch to Japanese audio with subtitles.

The combat system is very much your straightforward hack and slash picnic, Press X to hit target with sword until said target collapses in a heap, and Press Square to perform a roll-stroke-dodge combination which can be used to cavort out of danger (or often into it, should you get a bit carried away). You can also scroll through a selection of spells and skills which you've either found on your escapades or created using Materia Fusion. It all seems perfectly acceptable until the fetid abomination which is Crisis Core's limit break system rears its ugly head, anyway.

The DMW (that's `Dull Meter Watching' for those in the know) System does away with all that overrated nonsense everyone keeps banging on about, baloney like fast paced combat, strategy, customisation and fun and instead replaces them with a much more desirable spinning wheel.

If the battle designers of Crisis Core are to be believed then not only is the brutal crucifixion of strategy in games long overdue, but also slot machines are apparently a vastly superior form of entertainment far beyond our human comprehension. The best approach is to just go along with it. Struggle against the flow of the DMW and you'll have gnawed the corners off your PSP sooner than you can say "modulating phase", though it's difficult not getting a little deflated/annoyed/homicidal when it happens on the very last badly injured enemy.

Nonsensical happenings crop up now and then leaving you scratching your head or twisting it in a lupine manner trying to work out what on earth just happened. On one occasion, Zack had to save a village due to be bombed, from being bombed twenty seconds sooner by what I can only assume was a secret invisible rocket-launcher located in another dimension. To save the day, our dashing hero strikes the rockets with his sword, forcing them to rather smoothly split in two as if they were forged from Danish pastry. The entire scene makes absolutely no sense and worst of all forces you to partake in hideous `QuickTime' events a la shenmue. These silly attempts to crowbar in needless gameplay elements with no thought for context breaks flow and calls into question just what in Gaia possessed the designers to implement such sloppy game elements in the first place.

Overall, Crisis Core is saved by its gorgeous visuals and stunning FMV sequences but underneath all that you can't escape the sinking feeling that you're plodding through a shallow and often befuddling stab at an action RPG.

The Good
- Impressive FMV sequences
- Masses of quick side-missions which can easily be picked up when on the go

The Bad
- The tiresome DMW System ends up slowing down gameplay the point of agony
- Clunky dialogue and voice acting
- Fragmented story Frisbees immersion straight out of the window
- Side-missions suffer from `Quantity over Quality'
- Many scenes are lacking in the dark atmosphere which made the original stand out from the RPG crowd of the 90s
- Some real odd moments of nonsensical happenings

Hats off to Lego Indy, 28 Jul 2008
Once again the Lego PSP series the programmers have done the business. Whilst not an exact copy of the first 3 films, this game only falls short of probably the best game on the PSP - Lego Star Wars - by a whisker.

It still has the comedy combined some excellent problem solving which, whilst not too difficult, does on occasions make the grey matter work.

The Characters are excellent and the mumbled dialogue perfectly spoken with an accent which relates directly to the people in the film.

It is very difficult to put down and with the stirring theme song always on hand this is a must for any PSP game player.

Very Enjoyable!, 22 Jul 2008
Well what can I say, this is one of the most enjoyable games I have played on the PSP in recent years, don't get me wrong the graphics won't blow you away, but is very good fun.
The format is identical to the Lego Starwars games where two characters with different skills fight there way through each level.The levels are spread across all three original films and are very charming following the films well. The levels can also be a tad challenging in places where you must solve puzzles to gain access to bonus aress too.
The best aspect is by far the multiplayer action, where you can have a friend help you through the game.
Like the starwars games the game can be replayed again and again using different characters to find all objects in the levels to unlock bonus areas.
After playing the game I can say that there isn't any bugs as of yet, so all is well there.
I'd recomend this game to anybody who enjoyed the Lego Starwars games, general gamers and fans of Indiana Jones. It's a great game at a reasonable price too.

Real good fun!, 21 Jul 2008
If you compare this to the masterpiece of LEGO Star Wars (as people undoubtedly will) then it is unsurprisingly slightly disappointing. Whereas the PSP version of the benchmark that was the Star Wars game was almost identical to the console versions, Lego Indiana Jones has some minor niggles that don't appear in the larger versions. However, the game itself is strong enough to ignore these and experience a very good game.

Yes, the problems with the camera are noticeable, especially in the earlier levels, and there are other occasional problems, such as the "loops of death" mentioned in the other review, but if you look past these you can find an excellent and absorbing game.

The characters and music are spot-on in all the levels, and once you disappear behind the headphones you can forget about everything else for a few hours. The brilliant stud-collecting and character-switching elements are as fun as ever, and there is plenty of replay value. I'm having great fun playing this game, and for fans of Indy and others alike, this will provide hours upon hours of excellent fun and a fantastic, movie-like experience.

Der der der der, der der derrrrr, 01 Jul 2008
As an owner of a PS3 and PSP, there were a few games I've been waiting for anxiously this year - GTA IV, MGS4 and strangely enough, Lego Indiana Jones.

Fortunately this has been released just in time for the summer and Big Brother. It means er indoors is happy watching the antics of a load of celeb wannabees, where as I can slip on my headphones and enjoy this baby.

So, first things first, you probably know by now it's a "sequel" to the Lego Star Wars game(s) and pretty much follows the same mould. There are 18 levels, 6 for each of the 3 original films (Raiders, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade) and each follows the story, interspersed with some quite funny videos to move things along from one bit to the next.

The basic idea is to play each level, to start with anyway, as two (sometimes more) characters that you can switch between. As you progress there are various puzzles to solve, hidden items to find and lots of fun to be had. As in the Star Wars games, you collect "studs" (or treasure, as the game calls it) in various ways as you go which can be used to unlock extra abilities and even cheats. There's more of an emphasis this time on solving puzzles than there was in LSW, but none of them are too taxing - I suppose you could look on it more like a Lego Tomb Raider for kids.

Some of the characters have extra or special abilities and some have phobias - Indy himself has the use of the famous whip but is scared of snakes, women characters can jump higher but some of them are scared of spiders. To progress you often need to switch to the other character to do specifc task, like using Indys whip to swing accross a chasm, and in some cases both need to work together, for example when one needs to push an object with the other on top so they can reach a high ledge.

In adition, items can be found lying around which give your character special powers - having a spade means they can dig things up and having a spanner means they can fix broken machinery - and as in the previous game, you can pick up hats to act as a disguise and get you through guarded doors into special areas.

One you complete a level in story mode, it becomes available as free play which means you can use any of the characters you have unlocked so far to replay it. This opens up more areas and keeps you coming back to try and find that elusive item you just missed last time through. Just like LSW there are 10 hidden artifacts in each level and collecting them all unlocks 3 extra levels. There is also a parcel as well as the postbox to post it in to find for each level, these gaining you "extras" to buy with your studs, my favourite of which is making the animals in the game poo out treasure! There's more too, I won't spoil the fun by saying exactly what, but a few familiar faces pop up in places....

Whilst the levels are probably slightly harder than in Star Wars, there is always plenty of help on the screen as to what to do and what to press next and it's usually fairly easy to complete tasks. Sometimes I found the perspective view a little difficult to deal with, especially as you have no control of the camera. Some of the areas in the levels are very big too, meaning there is sometimes a lot on the screen and it can be quite small and difficult to make out what is going on.

Generally I would say the graphics are good - not quite as clear as in Star Wars and I find a little grainy in places. The sound is excellent, with the proper film themes playing in each level, as they did in the films. I've been told off for singing along without realising anyway...

Techincally, it seems a few little bugs have crept in - I've found that I can often get stuck in a "loop of death" where your character dies but reappears in the same spot and dies again. Whilst there are no lives as such (you just loose some of your collected studs), it can be annoying. I've also managed to jump through things I shouldn't and ended up outside the confines of a level, but you can usually find a way back in, sometimes by having to die.

So, all in all not quite up there with Lego Star Wars for me, but a very good addition to the Lego stable of games and one I would recommend for kids of all ages.

I'm eagerly awaiting Lego Batman in September.....

Fantastic Game 10/10, 26 Aug 2008
Brilliant graphics, good storyline, loved the monsters, lots of unlockables, and mini games. The only thing is that it was too short, I completed it in abouit 6 hours. But well worth it. Would recommend it to anyone. Callum Maxwell (age 10)

Absolutely Amazing, 20 Aug 2008
I am not exactly what you might class as a gamer, having bought my PSP to watch video's et al on the train when I was travelling home on a daily London commute. In a moment of madness I purchased this game and apart from a somewhat child like (it is a game) storyline, I have found it incredibly good. The graphics are smooth and very detailed and unlike true gamers, I found it a real challenge to complete.

Is it good, well if you want the opinion of 1 53 year old who normally the greatest game challenge is how to avoid countdown, this is the dogs - even the sound track is compelling. I doubt if I would buy a sequel, or even another game like this, but it has been tremendous fun and I can only recommend it.

Gameplay greatly satisfying but game is way too short, 18 Aug 2008
Fans of Kratos will not be disappointed, since look and feel are exactly the same on PS2 and PSP. Scenery, artwork and music are beautiful, diversity of quests and moves are good.
My only and great comment is on the length of the game: in normal modus I finished the game in under 5 hours. So maybe for experienced God of War players the game is nog challenging enough. For newbies: buy this game, and you will be overwhelmed!

Very Good Action Game, 09 Aug 2008
Good game this, not the best game ever but a decent story line and some good combo's make for a decent action game.

No real puzzles to get the grey matter going, no character development (outside of combo's etc) or freeplay, but if you are looking for an absorbing and all action game, there are few better than this.

its great, 27 Jul 2008
it is really good i played on my friend psp and it was so good i think it deserves 5 star and an A+!!!!!

FIFA 08 can now be played on a variety of platforms including Sony PSP !In this new version of the famous football game, EA Sports has designed an even more realistic game play, with loads of innovations such as a new shooting system.FIFA 08 has an impressive database that includes 620 teams, 30 championships and 15,000 players. You'll have to play like a pro for your team to win the cup !

The greatest battle of the new football season is not between any real world club but between the virtual giants of FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer. Konami's game has always been the favourite but last year FIFA closed the gap to such a degree that the title race has never been closer. This year's FIFA uses a completely new game engine, for the first time built specifically for the next gen consoles. But improved graphics and animation are only the half of it, with just as much focus going on the artificial intelligence thanks to the new "35 point decision engine". What this basically means is that every player on the pitch is fully aware of those around him and constantly thinking about tactics and position when not under your control.

Other changes include better modelled physics for taking a shot on goal, which take into account everything from air pressure to the angle of your foot. You're also able to create your own special moves to replicate every possible trick from real life. There are also new game modes. On top of this there are revamped online leagues to play a virtual season in the Premier League, Bundesliga, French League or Mexican 1st Division against real opponents. With 620 licensed teams, 30 offline leagues and 15,000 players as well FIFA might just have made enough new signings this year to put it over the top.

Harrison Dent

I like it...a lot, 16 Aug 2008
Well, as you can see in the other reviews, there are quite a few negative issues that some people have with this game. However, I love this game. I've nearly finished, and when I do, I'm going to play it again. To me, thats the mark of an excellent game.

This is not a turn based, strategic battle system affair like its parent game, but rather an action based game. I love the hacky-slashy combat - which to me seems perfect for an impulsive "leap before you look" type like Zack. The battle is complicated by the DMW (Digital Mind Wave), a slot wheel that spins to dole out bonuses. This is presumably meant to represent Zack's SOLDIER enhancements, as it releases limit breaks, levels him up, and deals out random smaller bonuses. Personally, I like it. The system evolves throughout the game with more characters added and even extra reels. By the time that mini cutscenes about the characters are added I was impressed that square had managed to keep the whole thing fresh.

The real star of the game is the characterization, with all the characters exactly as you would wish them to be. The story is superb - mad as ever, thanks square! - although some of the cutscenes that repeat 1997 history have lost a little of their sheer horrified amazement. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoyed FFVII purely for the chance to meet Zack Fair, who is probably the best character in the FF series for a long time. The story will tug your heartstrings all the way through :)

It's also great to see a game so well adapted to the PSP. It fits sony's system perfectly, with lots of bitesize missions to do on the bus/train. I personally prefer doing lots of different missions to level up Zack and get new items than the traditional FF method of leveling...finding the monster that gives the most exp and killing it over and over and over....
In this way, leveling is taken care of for you while you search out new materia and equipment.

All this without even mentioning all the mini-games, side missions and materia fusion system. The music and graphics are also outstanding. Quite simply, I think this is a stunning game.

Random Levelling - what's all that about??, 09 Aug 2008
Good game this, story line and cut scenes are superb and feature many of the stars of the FF series, probably the best storyline you are likely to get!!
The game itself can be seen as an action game with inventory and magic control together with an almost completely random element which is the DMV which controls levelling (of Zak and also materia equipped), some special attacks and also special temporary statuses (for instance MP-free materia usage). This is almost random as a curse status stops the DMV and fusing certain materia will increase the probability of certain DMV instances - but generally it is random.

This didn't work for me, as winning boss battles could depend upon the DMV coming up trumps so I regularly had to refight bosses until the DMV came good and then the boss battles were easy. As I prefer to beat bosses first time or at least be able to work out how to beat them from one go this was not ideal, you can get wiped out in seconds so end up running round avoiding the monsters until the DMV wheel stops.

The other element to this game which you could completely miss/ignore is fusing materia to give status improvements but this again needs alot of though and practice (unless you use google ;)) to get right. I enjoyed this as about 75% through the game I realised that this was a very powerful and quite enjoyable element which made the mission trawling easier.

Overall a very enjoyable and polished game, with some depth if you want it, but the random levelling didn't work for me. FF fans will love this, Cloud as a new recruit makes an appearance, and alot of the signature FF elements are here.

A Contrasting Opinion, 31 Jul 2008
If I may offer a different view for potential buyers interested in this game, I'll try to be quick.

As a large and long time fan of FFVII (my first FF experience) I was sorely dissapointed to find that the weakest aspect to this game was the story. Three factors contibute to this fault: horrendous dialogue; over the top cheesy US voice acting; and character motives that have no real understanding behind them. It creates a frustrating and at times offensive experience, particularly for those that enjoyed and cherish characters realised in FFVII.

Surprisingly the main draw for me, and the reason I score this game so highly, is the gameplay in here. I wont specify the mechanics but suffice to say it is a great offering and will quench your needs whether you want a long sitting or a quick fix on the bus to work- you will get hooked.

The star of the show (for EU gamers only) is the hard mode, which really turns the story mode and the side missions (all 300 of them) into a real challenge right from the start. I relished this challenge right till the end as it really kept the combat interesting throughout my 30+ hours with Crisis Core.

The music, while well produced, is at times relentlessly repititous and considering most of it is heavy metal/ techno hybrid buzz it really can get dull after time or even right off the bat depending on your personal tastes. Battle sound effects are top notch, however environmental noises are virtually non-existent.

To conclude, Crisis Core's shallow story will no doubt appease younger fans and satisfy those who found Advent Children to be the best thing sinse sliced Sephiroth. However, disregarding the excellent gameplay- which I believe warrents a purchase for action/ RPG fans- those who regard the franchise dearly should perhaps approach this game with caution, as there will no doubt be fans who wish that the game that started it all had remained as a single classic.

Comments are valued,

Cheers.

Zack Rulez!, 27 Jul 2008
This game is absolutely fantastic. It gives many hours of great gaming and fun. The story line is fantastic, the graphics are sound, the gameplay is superb and it has absolutely everything a great rpg and final fantasy game should have. This is a must buy for any rpg or FF fan. If you've seen Final Fantasy Advent children this is the prequal and happens 2 years before the film.

Swing and a miss, 27 Jul 2008
// ---- Out of Mana.co.uk ---- \\

Crisis Core acts as a prequel to Final Fantasy VII and focuses rather disjointedly on the events before Cloud joins AVALANCHE and the original game which shook the late 90s begins. If you've not yet given it a go but consider yourself a moderate fan of FFVII, then you'll probably have a few questions. Does FFVII:CC weave a narrative worthy of merging into the oncoming plot traffic of its predecessor? Does it whisk you back a decade in time and fill you with warm, nostalgic memories of a time spent staggering between glorious pre-rendered works of art and whirling random encounter transitions? Are some of the darker elements of the plot handled with a degree of mystery and subtlety? The short answer to all of these questions is a faintly dejected `not really'.

Advent Children hardly set the stage for reassurance. Whilst the visuals and action were bang on form; the pacing was sloppy, the introduction to the final encounter was about as epic as a cucumber sandwich and for some reason Square lovingly topped the whole experience off with the kind of whimsical 'feel good' ending usually confined to daytime movies about mischievous runaway moppets.

The trend of outstanding CG effects remains strong and character models and overall animation in the glorious array of FMV sequences rival anything showcased in the aforementioned movie spin-off. The musical score as we've come to expect from anything made by Square fluctuates between varying levels of greatness. The voice acting however... well, let's just say three out of four isn't bad.

It's not that there's much particularly wrong with the English dubbing besides the odd awkwardly delivered line tripping over the clumsy dialogue like it's an obese cat sleeping in a doorway, the issue is that there's not much right with it either. To make matters even more distressing, we've been outright denied the opportunity to switch to Japanese audio with subtitles.

The combat system is very much your straightforward hack and slash picnic, Press X to hit target with sword until said target collapses in a heap, and Press Square to perform a roll-stroke-dodge combination which can be used to cavort out of danger (or often into it, should you get a bit carried away). You can also scroll through a selection of spells and skills which you've either found on your escapades or created using Materia Fusion. It all seems perfectly acceptable until the fetid abomination which is Crisis Core's limit break system rears its ugly head, anyway.

The DMW (that's `Dull Meter Watching' for those in the know) System does away with all that overrated nonsense everyone keeps banging on about, baloney like fast paced combat, strategy, customisation and fun and instead replaces them with a much more desirable spinning wheel.

If the battle designers of Crisis Core are to be believed then not only is the brutal crucifixion of strategy in games long overdue, but also slot machines are apparently a vastly superior form of entertainment far beyond our human comprehension. The best approach is to just go along with it. Struggle against the flow of the DMW and you'll have gnawed the corners off your PSP sooner than you can say "modulating phase", though it's difficult not getting a little deflated/annoyed/homicidal when it happens on the very last badly injured enemy.

Nonsensical happenings crop up now and then leaving you scratching your head or twisting it in a lupine manner trying to work out what on earth just happened. On one occasion, Zack had to save a village due to be bombed, from being bombed twenty seconds sooner by what I can only assume was a secret invisible rocket-launcher located in another dimension. To save the day, our dashing hero strikes the rockets with his sword, forcing them to rather smoothly split in two as if they were forged from Danish pastry. The entire scene makes absolutely no sense and worst of all forces you to partake in hideous `QuickTime' events a la shenmue. These silly attempts to crowbar in needless gameplay elements with no thought for context breaks flow and calls into question just what in Gaia possessed the designers to implement such sloppy game elements in the first place.

Overall, Crisis Core is saved by its gorgeous visuals and stunning FMV sequences but underneath all that you can't escape the sinking feeling that you're plodding through a shallow and often befuddling stab at an action RPG.

The Good
- Impressive FMV sequences
- Masses of quick side-missions which can easily be picked up when on the go

The Bad
- The tiresome DMW System ends up slowing down gameplay the point of agony
- Clunky dialogue and voice acting
- Fragmented story Frisbees immersion straight out of the window
- Side-missions suffer from `Quantity over Quality'
- Many scenes are lacking in the dark atmosphere which made the original stand out from the RPG crowd of the 90s
- Some real odd moments of nonsensical happenings

Hats off to Lego Indy, 28 Jul 2008
Once again the Lego PSP series the programmers have done the business. Whilst not an exact copy of the first 3 films, this game only falls short of probably the best game on the PSP - Lego Star Wars - by a whisker.

It still has the comedy combined some excellent problem solving which, whilst not too difficult, does on occasions make the grey matter work.

The Characters are excellent and the mumbled dialogue perfectly spoken with an accent which relates directly to the people in the film.

It is very difficult to put down and with the stirring theme song always on hand this is a must for any PSP game player.

Very Enjoyable!, 22 Jul 2008
Well what can I say, this is one of the most enjoyable games I have played on the PSP in recent years, don't get me wrong the graphics won't blow you away, but is very good fun.
The format is identical to the Lego Starwars games where two characters with different skills fight there way through each level.The levels are spread across all three original films and are very charming following the films well. The levels can also be a tad challenging in places where you must solve puzzles to gain access to bonus aress too.
The best aspect is by far the multiplayer action, where you can have a friend help you through the game.
Like the starwars games the game can be replayed again and again using different characters to find all objects in the levels to unlock bonus areas.
After playing the game I can say that there isn't any bugs as of yet, so all is well there.
I'd recomend this game to anybody who enjoyed the Lego Starwars games, general gamers and fans of Indiana Jones. It's a great game at a reasonable price too.

Real good fun!, 21 Jul 2008
If you compare this to the masterpiece of LEGO Star Wars (as people undoubtedly will) then it is unsurprisingly slightly disappointing. Whereas the PSP version of the benchmark that was the Star Wars game was almost identical to the console versions, Lego Indiana Jones has some minor niggles that don't appear in the larger versions. However, the game itself is strong enough to ignore these and experience a very good game.

Yes, the problems with the camera are noticeable, especially in the earlier levels, and there are other occasional problems, such as the "loops of death" mentioned in the other review, but if you look past these you can find an excellent and absorbing game.

The characters and music are spot-on in all the levels, and once you disappear behind the headphones you can forget about everything else for a few hours. The brilliant stud-collecting and character-switching elements are as fun as ever, and there is plenty of replay value. I'm having great fun playing this game, and for fans of Indy and others alike, this will provide hours upon hours of excellent fun and a fantastic, movie-like experience.

Der der der der, der der derrrrr, 01 Jul 2008
As an owner of a PS3 and PSP, there were a few games I've been waiting for anxiously this year - GTA IV, MGS4 and strangely enough, Lego Indiana Jones.

Fortunately this has been released just in time for the summer and Big Brother. It means er indoors is happy watching the antics of a load of celeb wannabees, where as I can slip on my headphones and enjoy this baby.

So, first things first, you probably know by now it's a "sequel" to the Lego Star Wars game(s) and pretty much follows the same mould. There are 18 levels, 6 for each of the 3 original films (Raiders, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade) and each follows the story, interspersed with some quite funny videos to move things along from one bit to the next.

The basic idea is to play each level, to start with anyway, as two (sometimes more) characters that you can switch between. As you progress there are various puzzles to solve, hidden items to find and lots of fun to be had. As in the Star Wars games, you collect "studs" (or treasure, as the game calls it) in various ways as you go which can be used to unlock extra abilities and even cheats. There's more of an emphasis this time on solving puzzles than there was in LSW, but none of them are too taxing - I suppose you could look on it more like a Lego Tomb Raider for kids.

Some of the characters have extra or special abilities and some have phobias - Indy himself has the use of the famous whip but is scared of snakes, women characters can jump higher but some of them are scared of spiders. To progress you often need to switch to the other character to do specifc task, like using Indys whip to swing accross a chasm, and in some cases both need to work together, for example when one needs to push an object with the other on top so they can reach a high ledge.

In adition, items can be found lying around which give your character special powers - having a spade means they can dig things up and having a spanner means they can fix broken machinery - and as in the previous game, you can pick up hats to act as a disguise and get you through guarded doors into special areas.

One you complete a level in story mode, it becomes available as free play which means you can use any of the characters you have unlocked so far to replay it. This opens up more areas and keeps you coming back to try and find that elusive item you just missed last time through. Just like LSW there are 10 hidden artifacts in each level and collecting them all unlocks 3 extra levels. There is also a parcel as well as the postbox to post it in to find for each level, these gaining you "extras" to buy with your studs, my favourite of which is making the animals in the game poo out treasure! There's more too, I won't spoil the fun by saying exactly what, but a few familiar faces pop up in places....

Whilst the levels are probably slightly harder than in Star Wars, there is always plenty of help on the screen as to what to do and what to press next and it's usually fairly easy to complete tasks. Sometimes I found the perspective view a little difficult to deal with, especially as you have no control of the camera. Some of the areas in the levels are very big too, meaning there is sometimes a lot on the screen and it can be quite small and difficult to make out what is going on.

Generally I would say the graphics are good - not quite as clear as in Star Wars and I find a little grainy in places. The sound is excellent, with the proper film themes playing in each level, as they did in the films. I've been told off for singing along without realising anyway...

Techincally, it seems a few little bugs have crept in - I've found that I can often get stuck in a "loop of death" where your character dies but reappears in the same spot and dies again. Whilst there are no lives as such (you just loose some of your collected studs), it can be annoying. I've also managed to jump through things I shouldn't and ended up outside the confines of a level, but you can usually find a way back in, sometimes by having to die.

So, all in all not quite up there with Lego Star Wars for me, but a very good addition to the Lego stable of games and one I would recommend for kids of all ages.

I'm eagerly awaiting Lego Batman in September.....

Fantastic Game 10/10, 26 Aug 2008
Brilliant graphics, good storyline, loved the monsters, lots of unlockables, and mini games. The only thing is that it was too short, I completed it in abouit 6 hours. But well worth it. Would recommend it to anyone. Callum Maxwell (age 10)

Absolutely Amazing, 20 Aug 2008
I am not exactly what you might class as a gamer, having bought my PSP to watch video's et al on the train when I was travelling home on a daily London commute. In a moment of madness I purchased this game and apart from a somewhat child like (it is a game) storyline, I have found it incredibly good. The graphics are smooth and very detailed and unlike true gamers, I found it a real challenge to complete.

Is it good, well if you want the opinion of 1 53 year old who normally the greatest game challenge is how to avoid countdown, this is the dogs - even the sound track is compelling. I doubt if I would buy a sequel, or even another game like this, but it has been tremendous fun and I can only recommend it.

Gameplay greatly satisfying but game is way too short, 18 Aug 2008
Fans of Kratos will not be disappointed, since look and feel are exactly the same on PS2 and PSP. Scenery, artwork and music are beautiful, diversity of quests and moves are good.
My only and great comment is on the length of the game: in normal modus I finished the game in under 5 hours. So maybe for experienced God of War players the game is nog challenging enough. For newbies: buy this game, and you will be overwhelmed!

Very Good Action Game, 09 Aug 2008
Good game this, not the best game ever but a decent story line and some good combo's make for a decent action game.

No real puzzles to get the grey matter going, no character development (outside of combo's etc) or freeplay, but if you are looking for an absorbing and all action game, there are few better than this.

its great, 27 Jul 2008
it is really good i played on my friend psp and it was so good i think it deserves 5 star and an A+!!!!!


Pro evo shouldn't be on the shelves with this out., 07 Jun 2008
Fifa is a fantastic game just to limited with what you can do it's like a shortened version of playstation and x-box FIFA!

Solid Presentation. Flawed Gameplay., 31 Mar 2008
I think my title explains FIFA 08 well. I have played FIFA since 2002 and it always has been presented well. The large amount of official teams, kits, stadiums never fails to impress, and is always an advantage over Pro Evo. Add to that a pretty good soundtrack and commentary and FIFA 08 is looking good. All of this presenation is in the PSP version, and the menus are slick, however it is the on pitch gameplay that really matters, and this is where the PSP version suffers.

Having played FIFA for years on Professional or World Class difficulty I thought it would be the same for the PSP. Not so. This game is much harder!!! To the point where it is much less fun watching your opponent keep the ball and give you no space to build an attack. Even getting towards the goal to have a shot is a struggle- and only in Semi Pro mode!

FIFA 08's graphics are not too great, and that's expected for a portable game. The textures are grainy and the players themselves do not have the detail of console versions, but its still fairly good. The controls are the same as any PS2 FIFA, and you can assign movement to analog or directional buttons which is good, but I think when playing itself the controls are too sensitive.

There are some extras on the PSP version like mini games and a trivia quiz and these are pretty good, although after a few tries you'll want to head back to the pitch.

So FIFA 08 for the PSP is a good scaled down version of the console game, with all the official licenses available, but I think the gameplay is way too hard which hurts the experience. I don't think FIFA or Pro Evo has made a fantastic portable version, so I would say it's just down to personal choice.

A Real Disappointment, 06 Jan 2008
Each year there is a highly publicised battle between fifa and pro evo for who has produced the best footballing game. PES had it sewn up every time up until PES 5 and fifa 2006, when Pro Evo started simply rebranding exactly the same game each year, and fifa developed and improved theirs. this trend has continued until 2007. fifa 08 is- I gather- briliant on ps2, x box, etc.- but on psp is worse than fifa 07. The gameplay is worse, the graphics are worse and only the off-the-field elements are even slightly improved. If you have a psp, get pes 2008.

FIFA Rocks - PROEVO Sucks, 01 Dec 2007
The ONLY footie game to own for the diehard fan. Proevo lost it's appeal to me when I bought 07, & 08 improves the whole experience. Now adding pre-season friendles as well.

OK the keepers make Lehman style boobs on occasion, but that is realistic. You can pull off the special moves (with practice), but crossing is certainly harder. Crank up the difficulty level & enjoy a tough game of footie. As a plus you get proper leagues, Masterleague ? Pah !!

So so disappointing..., 19 Nov 2007
Firstly, FIFA does have some great features - competitions, player names, rivalries.

However, it's got some massive glitches and gaps.

Most annoying are the penalties given as free kicks, outside of the box. The offside and backpass rules are also a bit sketchy. Also, if you aren't a first tier team, the commmentary is pretty dull.

The game engine and AI aren't great. Runs are poor, as are through balls. Passing is ridiculous, with bad choices often being the first choise over an easy lay off.

The buttons are similar to the wholly superior PES, except for shoot/lob being reversed and the really annoying use of 'x' as 'change player' not 'default (eg. short pass/block tackle)'.

This is my first and last foray into the FIFA franchise. This isn't just sour grapes - my first two seasons at Southampton yielded the Championship, the Premiership, 2 League Cups, 2 FA Cups, the EFA (sic) Cup and the Charity Shield.

I like it...a lot, 16 Aug 2008
Well, as you can see in the other reviews, there are quite a few negative issues that some people have with this game. However, I love this game. I've nearly finished, and when I do, I'm going to play it again. To me, thats the mark of an excellent game.

This is not a turn based, strategic battle system affair like its parent game, but rather an action based game. I love the hacky-slashy combat - which to me seems perfect for an impulsive "leap before you look" type like Zack. The battle is complicated by the DMW (Digital Mind Wave), a slot wheel that spins to dole out bonuses. This is presumably meant to represent Zack's SOLDIER enhancements, as it releases limit breaks, levels him up, and deals out random smaller bonuses. Personally, I like it. The system evolves throughout the game with more characters added and even extra reels. By the time that mini cutscenes about the characters are added I was impressed that square had managed to keep the whole thing fresh.

The real star of the game is the characterization, with all the characters exactly as you would wish them to be. The story is superb - mad as ever, thanks square! - although some of the cutscenes that repeat 1997 history have lost a little of their sheer horrified amazement. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoyed FFVII purely for the chance to meet Zack Fair, who is probably the best character in the FF series for a long time. The story will tug your heartstrings all the way through :)

It's also great to see a game so well adapted to the PSP. It fits sony's system perfectly, with lots of bitesize missions to do on the bus/train. I personally prefer doing lots of different missions to level up Zack and get new items than the traditional FF method of leveling...finding the monster that gives the most exp and killing it over and over and over....
In this way, leveling is taken care of for you while you search out new materia and equipment.

All this without even mentioning all the mini-games, side missions and materia fusion system. The music and graphics are also outstanding. Quite simply, I think this is a stunning game.

Random Levelling - what's all that about??, 09 Aug 2008
Good game this, story line and cut scenes are superb and feature many of the stars of the FF series, probably the best storyline you are likely to get!!
The game itself can be seen as an action game with inventory and magic control together with an almost completely random element which is the DMV which controls levelling (of Zak and also materia equipped), some special attacks and also special temporary statuses (for instance MP-free materia usage). This is almost random as a curse status stops the DMV and fusing certain materia will increase the probability of certain DMV instances - but generally it is random.

This didn't work for me, as winning boss battles could depend upon the DMV coming up trumps so I regularly had to refight bosses until the DMV came good and then the boss battles were easy. As I prefer to beat bosses first time or at least be able to work out how to beat them from one go this was not ideal, you can get wiped out in seconds so end up running round avoiding the monsters until the DMV wheel stops.

The other element to this game which you could completely miss/ignore is fusing materia to give status improvements but this again needs alot of though and practice (unless you use google ;)) to get right. I enjoyed this as about 75% through the game I realised that this was a very powerful and quite enjoyable element which made the mission trawling easier.

Overall a very enjoyable and polished game, with some depth if you want it, but the random levelling didn't work for me. FF fans will love this, Cloud as a new recruit makes an appearance, and alot of the signature FF elements are here.

A Contrasting Opinion, 31 Jul 2008
If I may offer a different view for potential buyers interested in this game, I'll try to be quick.

As a large and long time fan of FFVII (my first FF experience) I was sorely dissapointed to find that the weakest aspect to this game was the story. Three factors contibute to this fault: horrendous dialogue; over the top cheesy US voice acting; and character motives that have no real understanding behind them. It creates a frustrating and at times offensive experience, particularly for those that enjoyed and cherish characters realised in FFVII.

Surprisingly the main draw for me, and the reason I score this game so highly, is the gameplay in here. I wont specify the mechanics but suffice to say it is a great offering and will quench your needs whether you want a long sitting or a quick fix on the bus to work- you will get hooked.

The star of the show (for EU gamers only) is the hard mode, which really turns the story mode and the side missions (all 300 of them) into a real challenge right from the start. I relished this challenge right till the end as it really kept the combat interesting throughout my 30+ hours with Crisis Core.

The music, while well produced, is at times relentlessly repititous and considering most of it is heavy metal/ techno hybrid buzz it really can get dull after time or even right off the bat depending on your personal tastes. Battle sound effects are top notch, however environmental noises are virtually non-existent.

To conclude, Crisis Core's shallow story will no doubt appease younger fans and satisfy those who found Advent Children to be the best thing sinse sliced Sephiroth. However, disregarding the excellent gameplay- which I believe warrents a purchase for action/ RPG fans- those who regard the franchise dearly should perhaps approach this game with caution, as there will no doubt be fans who wish that the game that started it all had remained as a single classic.

Comments are valued,

Cheers.

Zack Rulez!, 27 Jul 2008
This game is absolutely fantastic. It gives many hours of great gaming and fun. The story line is fantastic, the graphics are sound, the gameplay is superb and it has absolutely everything a great rpg and final fantasy game should have. This is a must buy for any rpg or FF fan. If you've seen Final Fantasy Advent children this is the prequal and happens 2 years before the film.

Swing and a miss, 27 Jul 2008
// ---- Out of Mana.co.uk ---- \\

Crisis Core acts as a prequel to Final Fantasy VII and focuses rather disjointedly on the events before Cloud joins AVALANCHE and the original game which shook the late 90s begins. If you've not yet given it a go but consider yourself a moderate fan of FFVII, then you'll probably have a few questions. Does FFVII:CC weave a narrative worthy of merging into the oncoming plot traffic of its predecessor? Does it whisk you back a decade in time and fill you with warm, nostalgic memories of a time spent staggering between glorious pre-rendered works of art and whirling random encounter transitions? Are some of the darker elements of the plot handled with a degree of mystery and subtlety? The short answer to all of these questions is a faintly dejected `not really'.

Advent Children hardly set the stage for reassurance. Whilst the visuals and action were bang on form; the pacing was sloppy, the introduction to the final encounter was about as epic as a cucumber sandwich and for some reason Square lovingly topped the whole experience off with the kind of whimsical 'feel good' ending usually confined to daytime movies about mischievous runaway moppets.

The trend of outstanding CG effects remains strong and character models and overall animation in the glorious array of FMV sequences rival anything showcased in the aforementioned movie spin-off. The musical score as we've come to expect from anything made by Square fluctuates between varying levels of greatness. The voice acting however... well, let's just say three out of four isn't bad.

It's not that there's much particularly wrong with the English dubbing besides the odd awkwardly delivered line tripping over the clumsy dialogue like it's an obese cat sleeping in a doorway, the issue is that there's not much right with it either. To make matters even more distressing, we've been outright denied the opportunity to switch to Japanese audio with subtitles.

The combat system is very much your straightforward hack and slash picnic, Press X to hit target with sword until said target collapses in a heap, and Press Square to perform a roll-stroke-dodge combination which can be used to cavort out of danger (or often into it, should you get a bit carried away). You can also scroll through a selection of spells and skills which you've either found on your escapades or created using Materia Fusion. It all seems perfectly acceptable until the fetid abomination which is Crisis Core's limit break system rears its ugly head, anyway.

The DMW (that's `Dull Meter Watching' for those in the know) System does away with all that overrated nonsense everyone keeps banging on about, baloney like fast paced combat, strategy, customisation and fun and instead replaces them with a much more desirable spinning wheel.

If the battle designers of Crisis Core are to be believed then not only is the brutal crucifixion of strategy in games long overdue, but also slot machines are apparently a vastly superior form of entertainment far beyond our human comprehension. The best approach is to just go along with it. Struggle against the flow of the DMW and you'll have gnawed the corners off your PSP sooner than you can say "modulating phase", though it's difficult not getting a little deflated/annoyed/homicidal when it happens on the very last badly injured enemy.

Nonsensical happenings crop up now and then leaving you scratching your head or twisting it in a lupine manner trying to work out what on earth just happened. On one occasion, Zack had to save a village due to be bombed, from being bombed twenty seconds sooner by what I can only assume was a secret invisible rocket-launcher located in another dimension. To save the day, our dashing hero strikes the rockets with his sword, forcing them to rather smoothly split in two as if they were forged from Danish pastry. The entire scene makes absolutely no sense and worst of all forces you to partake in hideous `QuickTime' events a la shenmue. These silly attempts to crowbar in needless gameplay elements with no thought for context breaks flow and calls into question just what in Gaia possessed the designers to implement such sloppy game elements in the first place.

Overall, Crisis Core is saved by its gorgeous visuals and stunning FMV sequences but underneath all that you can't escape the sinking feeling that you're plodding through a shallow and often befuddling stab at an action RPG.

The Good
- Impressive FMV sequences
- Masses of quick side-missions which can easily be picked up when on the go

The Bad
- The tiresome DMW System ends up slowing down gameplay the point of agony
- Clunky dialogue and voice acting
- Fragmented story Frisbees immersion straight out of the window
- Side-missions suffer from `Quantity over Quality'
- Many scenes are lacking in the dark atmosphere which made the original stand out from the RPG crowd of the 90s
- Some real odd moments of nonsensical happenings

Hats off to Lego Indy, 28 Jul 2008
Once again the Lego PSP series the programmers have done the business. Whilst not an exact copy of the first 3 films, this game only falls short of probably the best game on the PSP - Lego Star Wars - by a whisker.

It still has the comedy combined some excellent problem solving which, whilst not too difficult, does on occasions make the grey matter work.

The Characters are excellent and the mumbled dialogue perfectly spoken with an accent which relates directly to the people in the film.

It is very difficult to put down and with the stirring theme song always on hand this is a must for any PSP game player.

Very Enjoyable!, 22 Jul 2008
Well what can I say, this is one of the most enjoyable games I have played on the PSP in recent years, don't get me wrong the graphics won't blow you away, but is very good fun.
The format is identical to the Lego Starwars games where two characters with different skills fight there way through each level.The levels are spread across all three original films and are very charming following the films well. The levels can also be a tad challenging in places where you must solve puzzles to gain access to bonus aress too.
The best aspect is by far the multiplayer action, where you can have a friend help you through the game.
Like the starwars games the game can be replayed again and again using different characters to find all objects in the levels to unlock bonus areas.
After playing the game I can say that there isn't any bugs as of yet, so all is well there.
I'd recomend this game to anybody who enjoyed the Lego Starwars games, general gamers and fans of Indiana Jones. It's a great game at a reasonable price too.

Real good fun!, 21 Jul 2008
If you compare this to the masterpiece of LEGO Star Wars (as people undoubtedly will) then it is unsurprisingly slightly disappointing. Whereas the PSP version of the benchmark that was the Star Wars game was almost identical to the console versions, Lego Indiana Jones has some minor niggles that don't appear in the larger versions. However, the game itself is strong enough to ignore these and experience a very good game.

Yes, the problems with the camera are noticeable, especially in the earlier levels, and there are other occasional problems, such as the "loops of death" mentioned in the other review, but if you look past these you can find an excellent and absorbing game.

The characters and music are spot-on in all the levels, and once you disappear behind the headphones you can forget about everything else for a few hours. The brilliant stud-collecting and character-switching elements are as fun as ever, and there is plenty of replay value. I'm having great fun playing this game, and for fans of Indy and others alike, this will provide hours upon hours of excellent fun and a fantastic, movie-like experience.

Der der der der, der der derrrrr, 01 Jul 2008
As an owner of a PS3 and PSP, there were a few games I've been waiting for anxiously this year - GTA IV, MGS4 and strangely enough, Lego Indiana Jones.

Fortunately this has been released just in time for the summer and Big Brother. It means er indoors is happy watching the antics of a load of celeb wannabees, where as I can slip on my headphones and enjoy this baby.

So, first things first, you probably know by now it's a "sequel" to the Lego Star Wars game(s) and pretty much follows the same mould. There are 18 levels, 6 for each of the 3 original films (Raiders, Temple of Doom and Last Crusade) and each follows the story, interspersed with some quite funny videos to move things along from one bit to the next.

The basic idea is to play each level, to start with anyway, as two (sometimes more) characters that you can switch between. As you progress there are various puzzles to solve, hidden items to find and lots of fun to be had. As in the Star Wars games, you collect "studs" (or treasure, as the game calls it) in various ways as you go which can be used to unlock extra abilities and even cheats. There's more of an emphasis this time on solving puzzles than there was in LSW, but none of them are too taxing - I suppose you could look on it more like a Lego Tomb Raider for kids.

Some of the characters have extra or special abilities and some have phobias - Indy himself has the use of the famous whip but is scared of snakes, women characters can jump higher but some of them are scared of spiders. To progress you often need to switch to the other character to do specifc task, like using Indys whip to swing accross a chasm, and in some cases both need to work together, for example when one needs to push an object with the other on top so they can reach a high ledge.

In adition, items can be found lying around which give your character special powers - having a spade means they can dig things up and having a spanner means they can fix broken machinery - and as in the previous game, you can pick up hats to act as a disguise and get you through guarded doors into special areas.

One you complete a level in story mode, it becomes available as free play which means you can use any of the characters you have unlocked so far to replay it. This opens up more areas and keeps you coming back to try and find that elusive item you just missed last time through. Just like LSW there are 10 hidden artifacts in each level and collecting them all unlocks 3 extra levels. There is also a parcel as well as the postbox to post it in to find for each level, these gaining you "extras" to buy with your studs, my favourite of which is making the animals in the game poo out treasure! There's more too, I won't spoil the fun by saying exactly what, but a few familiar faces pop up in places....

Whilst the levels are probably slightly harder than in Star Wars, there is always plenty of help on the screen as to what to do and what to press next and it's usually fairly easy to complete tasks. Sometimes I found the perspective view a little difficult to deal with, especially as you have no control of the camera. Some of the areas in the levels are very big too, meaning there is sometimes a lot on the screen and it can be quite small and difficult to make out what is going on.

Generally I would say the graphics are good - not quite as clear as in Star Wars and I find a little grainy in places. The sound is excellent, with the proper film themes playing in each level, as they did in the films. I've been told off for singing along without realising anyway...

Techincally, it seems a few little bugs have crept in - I've found that I can often get stuck in a "loop of death" where your character dies but reappears in the same spot and dies again. Whilst there are no lives as such (you just loose some of your collected studs), it can be annoying. I've also managed to jump through things I shouldn't and ended up outside the confines of a level, but you can usually find a way back in, sometimes by having to die.

So, all in all not quite up there with Lego Star Wars for me, but a very good addition to the Lego stable of games and one I would recommend for kids of all ages.

I'm eagerly awaiting Lego Batman in September.....

Fantastic Game 10/10, 26 Aug 2008
Brilliant graphics, good storyline, loved the monsters, lots of unlockables, and mini games. The only thing is that it was too short, I completed it in abouit 6 hours. But well worth it. Would recommend it to anyone. Callum Maxwell (age 10)

Absolutely Amazing, 20 Aug 2008
I am not exactly what you might class as a gamer, having bought my PSP to watch video's et al on the train when I was travelling home on a daily London commute. In a moment of madness I purchased this game and apart from a somewhat child like (it is a game) storyline, I have found it incredibly good. The graphics are smooth and very detailed and unlike true gamers, I found it a real challenge to complete.

Is it good, well if you want the opinion of 1 53 year old who normally the greatest game challenge is how to avoid countdown, this is the dogs - even the sound track is compelling. I doubt if I would buy a sequel, or even another game like this, but it has been tremendous fun and I can only recommend it.

Gameplay greatly satisfying but game is way too short, 18 Aug 2008
Fans of Kratos will not be disappointed, since look and feel are exactly the same on PS2 and PSP. Scenery, artwork and music are beautiful, diversity of quests and moves are good.
My only and great comment is on the length of the game: in normal modus I finished the game in under 5 hours. So maybe for experienced God of War players the game is nog challenging enough. For newbies: buy this game, and you will be overwhelmed!

Very Good Action Game, 09 Aug 2008
Good game this, not the best game ever but a decent story line and some good combo's make for a decent action game.

No real puzzles to get the grey matter going, no character development (outside of combo's etc) or freeplay, but if you are looking for an absorbing and all action game, there are few better than this.

its great, 27 Jul 2008
it is really good i played on my friend psp and it was so good i think it deserves 5 star and an A+!!!!!


Pro evo shouldn't be on the shelves with this out., 07 Jun 2008
Fifa is a fantastic game just to limited with what you can do it's like a shortened version of playstation and x-box FIFA!

Solid Presentation. Flawed Gameplay., 31 Mar 2008
I think my title explains FIFA 08 well. I have played FIFA since 2002 and it always has been presented well. The large amount of official teams, kits, stadiums never fails to impress, and is always an advantage over Pro Evo. Add to that a pretty good soundtrack and commentary and FIFA 08 is looking good. All of this presenation is in the PSP version, and the menus are slick, however it is the on pitch gameplay that really matters, and this is where the PSP version suffers.

Having played FIFA for years on Professional or World Class difficulty I thought it would be the same for the PSP. Not so. This game is much harder!!! To the point where it is much less fun watching your opponent keep the ball and give you no space to build an attack. Even getting towards the goal to have a shot is a struggle- and only in Semi Pro mode!

FIFA 08's graphics are not too