Aqua Panic! PSP

Release date: 8 April 2010

Publisher: Eko Software

Welcome to the incredibly fun and colourful universe of Aqua Panic!

• Following a violent tropical cyclone, the fish, shrimps, octopuses and other creatures living in the sea are thrown out of the water and it's up to you to lead them back to freedom.
• Save as many fish as possible in 80 fiendishly difficult levels set across five different environments.
• Think fast to succeed in each of the three game modes: Adventure, Free Play and Survival.

Gameplay

The Eye Of Judgment Legends PSP

Release date: 12 March 2010

Publisher: SCEE

Collect every card, master your powers and prepare for the ultimate showdown with Scion, Biolith Lord.

• Every card from the PlayStation 3 version implemented digitally along with 30 new ones via PlayStation Store

• Card Trade mode via Ad Hoc Mode and Infrastructure Mode duels

• No need for extra peripherals such as a camera or physical cards

Note: online functionality not available on PSP-E1000 series.

Media type: UMD

Genre: Real Time Strategy

Players: 1 - 2

Ad Hoc Mode: 2 Players

Infrastructure Mode: 2 Players Gameplay Life is precious The aim of the game is to occupy five fields on the board. The key to success within THE EYE OF JUDGMENT LEGENDS is in-depth knowledge of how the cards work, as you embrace the powers that your creatures and spells possess and use them to defeat your rivals. Each player uses a deck of 30 digital game cards, which is made up of a combination of spell and creature cards. You summon a creature or spell using Mana, the energy needed to place digital game cards on the battlefield. Once summoned, creatures engage in a deadly battle and defeat will consign them to the graveyard. Use your spell cards to rotate enemies, reverse elements and heal your own creatures. The five elements, fire, earth, water, wood and Biolith, are represented by both colour and texture, and play a key role in preserving the life of your creatures. Creatures summoned to a field belonging to the same element as them gain more hit points, and stay in the game longer. Summon a Bewitching Elf Archeress to a wood field, for example, and it gains hit points as it belongs to this element. THE EYE OF JUDGMENT LEGENDS cards can now be downloaded from PlayStation Store, so let your journey begin. Multiplayer Perfect your duelling skills THE EYE OF JUDGMENT LEGENDS features a multiplayer mode, that lets you battle with other players both online and offline. One player creates a Duel Room for their opponent to enter, and, once the challenge is accepted, the battle begins. To access the multiplayer mode, you must play through a significant part of the story, and battle with the evil Preacher Noova. Once he has been defeated, you can access the multiplayer mode. As well as allowing you to battle other players and perfect your duelling skills, multiplayer mode also features a Trading Room. In the Trading Room, select cards that you do not need, and trade them with other players to strengthen your deck.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 PSP

Release date: 14 May 2010

Publisher: Bandai

Media type: UMD

Genre: Beat'em Up

Players: 1 - 4

Ad Hoc Mode: 2-4 Players

Infrastructure Mode: none

Put your fighting spirits to the test with intense and frantic battles on PSP.

• Relive the Shippuden storyline and continue through an all new adventure.
• Team up with a partner to unleash a devastatingly powerful Jutsu team attack on your opponents.
• Interrupt an enemy's Ultimate Jutsu to help or hinder another player.

Note: online functionality not available on PSP-E1000 series.

Presentation

Mesmerising manga

While Naruto's roots are firmly placed in the original manga series, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 takes a lot of its look from the successful anime series. Featuring the same slickly animated style and visuals, the game is bright, colourful and constantly dynamic.

From the menu screen you're immersed into the vibrant tone of Naruto, with a choice of Practice mode, Free Battle for a customisable fight with any of the available characters on the 13 battle maps, the story-driven Master Road and other assorted modes to check your records and settings.

The fights reveal nicely animated visuals which act and sound like their cartoon counterparts. Everything moves at an astonishing pace, with dramatic zooming and panning to keep track of the characters, as well as intensifying the action. Special moves light up the arenas, bathing them in colour and flashes, while Ultimate Jutsu attacks are accompanied by impressive cutscene animations which can be watched individually when you collect them during your quest. It all works together to make a satisfying and faithful recreation of the source material.

Gameplay

The ninja way

There is always something going on in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3. As a beat 'em up that allows you to fight on multiple levels, up to four characters can brawl simultaneously in an arena, making for some fraught and fun gameplay. Battles can bounce between foreground and background, upper stages and ground floor all in the space of seconds, adding unpredictability to the smooth and fast fights.

Should you want a little more purpose than just beating your foes into submission, the Master Road throws you into a mission based story where there are a mixture of over 80 conflicts and side scrolling platform style objectives where you must fulfil a certain goal such as reaching the end of the level in time or defeating a number of enemies. These offer a break from the regular fighting action, and there are even some challenging restrictions during the main battles to keep you guessing.

Power-ups, bonuses and collectibles can all be gained, keeping the incentive to progress, although it's the large combos and special moves which steal the show. Sandstorms, energy barriers (which can separate combatants), extendable tails, flying dragon sculptures... all these and more will emerge during a bout, with entertaining and engaging results.

Gensan PSP

Release date:	26 March 2010
Developer:	Irem Software
Publisher:	DHM Interactive
Media type:	UMD
Genre:	Action
Players:	1 - 2
Ad Hoc Mode:	2 Players
Infrastructure Mode:	none
Cross format compatibility:	PS3-PSP

Become a young carpenter and save your hometown from marauding enemies.

• Brace yourself for a fight to save your fellow citizens with the help of your girlfriend Kanna
• To develop your strength, don't forget the basics: eat properly and create new meals to improve your power
• Take on new jobs and use new weapons to fight off the Yakuza invaders

Note: online functionality not available on PSP-E1000 series.


GAMEPLAY:

Half-Minute Hero PSP

Release date: 12 February 2010

Publisher: Rising Star Games Ltd

Save the world 30 seconds at a time.

• A fresh take on the RPG that lets you clear stages in 30 second intervals.
• Four unique storylines, each with their own distinct gameplay style - you could be playing a strategy game one second and a shooter half a minute later.
• Old school 8-bit graphics meet a new age metal soundtrack from one of Japan's most acclaimed guitarists.

Note: online functionality not available on PSP-E1000 series.

Media type: Download

Genre: Role-Playing Game

Players: 1 - 4

Ad Hoc Mode: 2-4 Players

Infrastructure Mode: none Gameplay Fast and furious Have you got the skills and speed to master some of the fastest gameplay ever on PSP? Welcome to the world of Half-Minute Hero, an intriguing game that requires you to conquer over 100 levels of mind-bending puzzles and tasks with just 30 seconds at a time on the clock. With four modes to choose from, Half-Minute Hero features Hero, Princess, Knight and Evil Lord missions. During each one you are limited to a 30 second window in which you have to complete your goal; should the timer reach zero, the mission is over. In Hero mode, you will encounter a mission that requires you to save the world from destruction at the hands of an evil force. Assisted by the Time Goddess you must pray to the statues that she has placed throughout the level, in order to replenish the ticking clock. However, praying costs money and cost rises each time you do so, earning cash is derived from battling monsters dotted throughout the world map. In Princess mode, your goal is to save the King from a terrible illness by venturing outside the castle walls, defeating monsters and locating special items which will help him recover. The catch is the Queen will only keep the castle doors open for 30 seconds at a time so you need to be extremely fast at retrieving each object. Things take a twist in Evil Lord mode where the game takes a Real Time Strategy (RTS) twist and the object is to fend off attacks coming towards you using the appropriate troops in battle. Lastly, you have Knight mode where the goal is to let the clock run out as you try and cast a spell on the map to rid the area of invading monsters. Multiplayer Half minute heroes or villains? Half-Minute Hero features Wireless multiplayer via Ad Hoc Mode where you can play alongside three other friends. Choose from up to three maps to battle against the Evil Lord on. Strategies for each map will vary as you play through them but end goal remains the same - defeat the Evil Lord. As well as fighting alongside your friends, you can also fight against them in Battle mode, where you can trigger battles by holding down the R button and colliding with them to initiate a duel. If you encounter your friend while they are battling monsters, you can press the R button again to join the monsters and try and defeat your opponent. Should you lose, your hero gauge will be halved, so make sure you want to fight before you trigger one!

EA Sports 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa PSP

Release date: 30 April 2010

Publisher: EA SPORTS

Media type: UMD

Genre: Sports

Players: 1 - 2

Ad Hoc Mode: 2 Players

Infrastructure Mode: 2 Players Feel the pride and passion as competing nations collide at the world's greatest football competition. Features all 199 national teams that took part in qualification and all 10 stadia to be showcased in South Africa. Take your home nation from qualification right through to the big final and experience all the drama and pageantry along the way. Challenge a friend to a match via Ad Hoc Mode. Note: online functionality not available on PSP-E1000 series.

Xyanide: Resurrection PSP

Release date: 19 May 2010

Publisher: Playlogic

Media type: Download

Genre: Shoot'em Up

Players: 1 - 2

Ad Hoc Mode: 2 Players

Infrastructure Mode: none Embark on an epic voyage through space to capture the evil witch Aguira. Seize the role of a government executioner to capture the evil witch Aguira, as she transforms space as we know it, creating alternate worlds in which to hide. Employ a wide range of weapons and lightning fast reflexes to hold back the waves of enemies and bring the evil Aguira to justice. Unlock bonus content including developer artwork and the exclusive Xyanide animated comic. Note: online functionality not available on PSP-E1000 series.