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World Poker Tour (PSP)
by bluetillew
I love poker and having reviewed the games that were available for the PSP opted for this one, World Poker Tour.
I've played quite a lot of poker online over the last few years, starting off playing sit n gos before moving onto cash games, just at low limits I might add. Not having played a poker game before, other than ... against other real people (online or against friends at home) I wasn't really sure what to expect really from this game. I thought anything that allowed me to play poker on the go, was worth trying and I thought it might even help me find holes in my game.
Well, first impressions were the graphics were OK but nothing great. I created my own player character to take on the poker tour, which took about 5 minutes, as the options were quite limited. You start with a small pot of money and the idea is obviously to win as much as possible, with the end goal winning the WPT. You choose which tournaments to play in, each with varying levels of buy-in. I suppose the higher the tournament buy-in the more difficult the game's supposed to be.
So I started playing tournaments against various random players at different levels of buy-ins. For those who play poker, you'll know that you don't just play the cards but the players too. One of the issues with this game, is that there just didn't seem to be any way of telling how any of your opponents actually played - e.g.; tight, loose, passive or aggressive - as their cards and actions appeared to be all too random. When I did get the money in, I found that I mostly had the best hand but then would be outdrawn.
However, the biggest issue I have with this game, is that you have to wait for what seems like an eternity for your opponents to decide what they're going to do. I think this is perhaps because I'm not used to waiting when playing online. Online there's a strict time limit, players are generally quick to respond plus I often play multiple tables at once so there's always lots of action. In this game, there's a option to skip the hand if you much your cards pre-flop, or at any time during the hand which is good but the game is still way too slow for me. This is the main reason why I haven't played this game hardly at all despite my love for poker. So, I might well have underestimated the artificial intelligence capabilities of the game itself because I haven't played it enough.
I tried going online once but that seemed like a complete waste of time because there wasn't anyone there to play against!
For those players who are used to playing online like me, I'd steer clear of this game as you'll just end up bored and frustrated. Save your money or better still, use it to play a real game online where, even if you go all in on your first hand and lose, will be a more memorable and enjoyable experience than this playing this game!
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Manhunt 2 (PSP)
by shaneo632
The two Manhunt games released for the PS2 remain two of the most controversial games ever made, and I was intrigued when I heard that it was being released on the PSP too. Although this is ultimately a dilluted version of the PS2's Manhunt 2, it's a refreshing tonic for the PSP, and probably the grisliest game on the ... platform.
If you've played Manhunt 2 on another platform, then you know the operating procedure: the premise has you as a guy who has been kidnapped and awakens as a contestant on a TV show called Manhunt, who has to fight and murder his way to salvation through numerous levels against increasingly more psychotic baddies who wield increasingly more insane weapons. If you've ever seen the great Arnold Schwarzenegger film The Running Man, it's a lot like that. For the most part this is a competent port of the original version, but the PSP's divisive control scheme is once again awkward, making aiming and hiding around a corner difficult, and often I've found myself doing one when I really meant to do the other.
Visually, this retains the same style and aesthetic of the higher-platform versions, and although obviously not as detailed, they're still appropriately murky and grimy looking. There's tonnes of gore, making the game live up to its infamy, and the character and weapon models are also pretty good looking. My only real complaint from a technical perspective is that some of the kills are distorted, presumably following the controversy about the violence. Aurally, the game really excels; the voice acting is among the best of its generation for sure, and the soundtrack really helps cement the palpable atmosphere and sense of dread that the visuals create.
Although more lean than the PS2 version, this is still a surprisingly comprehensive port that delivers a genuine challenge as well as plenty of grisly violence. Were it not for the controls, this would probably be five stars.
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Manhunt 2 (PSP)
by Dangey2009
The general story of Manhunt 2 focuses on the main character you play in the game. You play as Daniel Lamb. He is a scientist who wakes up in an abandoned run-down asylum. It looks like it's been unused for many years, however it hasn't. There are many inmates who have just broken loose and roaming around killing off the asylum guards. ... You have a companion with you who is mysterious man named Leo. He helps you and guides you through the game and your challenge. You escape the asylum and go through various different landscapes and levels killing many 'guard dogs' from an experiment known as 'The Project'.
In this game you are constantly hiding as everyone is after you and hunting your character down after your escape. The game relies on a lot of stealth on your part. You will need to hide and lurk in the shadows and not get spotted. You must sneak up on others and kill them in the form of some gory executions. If a guard gets too close to you when you're hiding you have to hit one or two of the buttons repeatedly to hold your breath which can be pretty tough to do. You won't get bored as it's not just all about hiding. You can find guns throughout the levels and start shooting.
The sound in this game really adds something to the atomsphere and enjoyment of playing this. It is extremely important in some games and in this one it sets a real creepy tone for the game. You will occasionally hear guard dogs talking to one another and Leo talking at you.
The graphics in this game are pretty spectacular. There are various places you visit in your adventure from a seedy sex club to backyards in local areas. Wherever you go the graphics are always realistic. The game can be quite gory and therefore wouldn't recommend this to children to play. Some of the executions are quite detailed although they have been made less violent in this one than in the original Manhunt.
I really enjoyed the weapons you could use in this game. There are a great variety to choose from like cattle prods, saws, crowbars and shovels to name but a few. Guns you can use include machine guns, pistols and shotguns, all of which are great fun to use in anger.
I would definately play this game over and over again and haven't completed it yet anyway. It does hold your interest and is fun. It made me feel like I was right there in the middle of some horror film. Great enjoyment to be had...
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