PSP World

Pursuit Force

To say that the PSP's output has been a little disappointing would be a huge understatement and unless you're completely new to the gaming world you will know that the majority of titles have consisted of old PlayStation ports. Original titles have been woefully thin on the ground and after some eight months the PSP is still looking for it's killer app. That rare title, which you simply must have, but can only play on one system. This is generally highly original and utilizes everything that makes said platform so desirable in the first place. With this in mind it was a bit of a surprise when Pursuit Force landed on my desk just before Christmas and even more so when you consider that this has had a European release before appearing Stateside. Could it be the game to renew my faith in the PSP's gaming capabilities? Read on and see...

It's difficult to put Pursuit Force in a fixed category but if I were to point you in any direction it would be the various spy games that have graced arcades and consoles over the last decade. Not that there's a great deal of stealth or much use of specially designed gadgets here. Pursuit Force is all about action: car chases, high-speed boat pursuits, guns and some rather Indiana Jones like acrobatics. There's even a bomb on the bus! This is all a result of your city being overrun by a handful of violent gangs and it's up to you to regain control and so bring harmony back to the area. It's pretty sizable too so not only will you race though cityscapes, deserts and mountains but you'll also have seasons and weather to deal with too.

The gangs themselves, while very different, tend to commit similar crimes and your missions grow in complexity as the game progresses. Initially it's a case of chasing down and stopping a gang truck filled with stolen goods but later missions involve you having to reach a destination in an allotted time, indulging in an on-foot shootout, rescuing a prisoner and dropping them off at HQ and finally jumping aboard an incredibly well-armed helicopter to stop the remainder of the gang from reaching the border. Fail in any of these and it's back to the beginning. This unfortunately is one of Pursuit Forces’ drawbacks and because of the way the missions are constructed you will find yourself re-playing the easier sections over and over again when all you really want to do is get to the point where you got shot, crashed or simply ran out of time.

Visually, Pursuit Force is very impressive indeed proving that all those teaser movies doing the rounds for the past few months weren't simply FMV intros. The attention to detail here is truly stunning and not only do the various environments feel incredibly solid but so do the vehicles, which reflect the light as they turn in and out of the sunlight. There’s also the small things from the different debris that flies up from the jeep’s tires to the rain drops which, slowly drip their way down your PSP screen as if it were a camera in some wild police chase documentary. It doesn't stop there either, as the overall presentation is also worth a mention, with polished menus and a selection of user-friendly options making the whole thing very easy to navigate.

The audio elements are also well up to scratch with really good sound effects. There is music (a kind of generic action theme) but it's not nearly as prevalent as the sound effects. There's also some great voice acting with the various characters actually sounding credible as opposed to the amateur dramatics company who appear in a many current titles.

The control takes a little getting used to, mostly due to the sheer number of moves and gaming modes at your disposal in any one mission. Driving is probably the simplest and whether you are on a bike, in a jeep, a boat or car the mechanics are very similar. Encounter a gang vehicle and things become a little more complicated as you can either jump from your vehicle to theirs (with the extra option of ducking their bullets) or simply take them out from a distance although without the right weapon this can be incredibly time-consuming. Then there are the on-foot battles, which can be very problematic but rather than the control being at fault here, it's the confusing and ever changing camera angles. This is especially true when you handcuff a gang member (which happens automatically when you get too close) rather than shooting them. Your other mode is a kind of 'on the rails' shooter and although you're generally on a timer the helicopter sections follow a fixed path. These are incredibly satisfying but usually very challenging too.

Outside of the main mission there are a number of bonus missions covering everything from races to time trials. These do have to be unlocked though and you'll still have to tackle the main or career mode before these become available. There is a further incentive to complete the whole game too as high scores are rewarded with unlocked concept art and FMV from the making of the game.

Whatever other critics are saying this has certainly been what a many PSP owners have been waiting for. The mixture of incredible visuals and fast moving gameplay is sure to bring you back for 'just one more go'. It's been some time since I enjoyed a game so much and only Ridge Racer and Medieval on the PSP demanded so many gaming hours from me. On the down side it's not terribly original and you'll have encountered most of the gaming elements in your average spy game. It's also a little derivative and although the missions become longer most of them are just a remix of levels you've previously played. Even so, Pursuit Force has more than enough satisfying gameplay to belong in your collection. Snag yourself a copy now or when it eventually turns up Stateside.

By Andrew Blanchard

Review Round-Up

Times Online: 10.0
“Even by the high standards already set, Pursuit Force is an astonishing title.”

CVG: 8.0
“It's one of those games, like the recent Burnout Legends, that'll have you bumping into strangers on the bus as you dodge through virtual traffic in short sharp bursts of pure gaming bliss. Try not to make wailing siren noises, mind, otherwise you'll just end up looking daft.”

PALGN: 7.0
“We cannot help but feel a little disappointed by Pursuit Force. It's still a decent game, but we're still waiting for that killer app for the PSP.”

NTSC-UK: 4.0
“We could meander and inform of the various obligatory Time Trial and Race modes that support the main Career mode, but to do so would be a disservice to the point, thus being: you should buy this game only if you like stabbing your hands with bits of glass like Batman does in Arkham Asylum.”

Aggregate Rating: 7.6