* Earn experience points and level up as you clear each stage.
* Use special moves like squash hits, shake-the-wall and plasma canon.
* Collect medallions to open new stages.
* Fight against your friends via WLAN Ad-Hoc Mode.

Prepare you paddle for some RPG Pong-style action!

Use your paddle to fight you way through more than 120 stages, casting magic spells to fight legendary monsters!

Although the NBA Live series is winding down a long and successful run on the PlayStation 2, it's also in what should be its prime years on the PSP. Despite this difference, the two games are extremely similar. They have the same strengths: solid gameplay and a respectable list of features. Yet they also have the same weaknesses: Both seem to have peaked and offer very little in the way of new content.

Hopefully, you enjoyed last year's game modes because other than the FIBA tournament, which nobody really cares about, there's nothing new here. Dynasty mode, three-point shootout, slam-dunk contest, online play--they're all back and virtually untouched. You can intervene in simulated games and swing the odds in your favor by actually playing the game, which is great for people who don't have the time to play all the games in dynasty mode but also don't want to leave their won-loss record to chance. The PSP has two minigames, both of which were in the game last year: a head-to-head shooting contest called 2 ball and a DDR-style dribbling game known as handles. It also has a worthless feature called the crown, which is kind of like an achievement tracking system. But what's the point of earning accolades for achievements if you can't show them off online? The PS2 has a one-on-one mode that's not a whole heck of a lot of fun.

It's more of the same on the court. EA has scrapped the superstar concept, which simplifies and, thus, improves the gameplay experience. The game does differentiate stars from scrubs by giving the stars a "go to" move like a turnaround jumper, fadeaway, or sidestep, but these moves have little impact and you have little control over when they actually happen. By combining the dunk and layup buttons, which is step back to the controls scheme from 06, the PS2 version actually controls better this time around. The right analog stick is still used to perform dribble moves and, as always, it works great. The PSP makes do with the limited amount of buttons and single analog stick just fine, though using the triangle button to back down defenders is a hit or miss prospect. Half of the time it doesn't seem to work, no matter how many times you press and hold the button.

Last year's game bumped up the challenge by setting the default difficulty to all-star. That must have been too hard for people because it's back down to starter, which means games on the default setting are higher scoring this time around. There are plenty of dunks and good defense--no matter how hard you try--is near impossible. The artificial intelligence will routinely give star players (and often the point guard, even if he's not all that great) the ball and repeatedly drive to the hole. Switching defenses with the D pad doesn't slow down the onslaught, and it's extremely difficult to stay in front of the ball handlers--they're just too fast. Even if you do manage to play good D, you'll probably end up getting scored on because shooting percentages are extremely high--we're talking over 70 percent in some games. If you like scoring, you'll have a blast, but if you're into strategy and tough D, you'll just end up beating your head against the wall.

Both the PS2 and PSP versions look very similar to one another. But thanks to its smaller screen that hides a lot of visual flaws, the PSP version looks a little better. The PS2 isn't helped by a slow and somewhat choppy frame rate either. Players still have the inordinately large heads that let you more easily recognize them from afar. The two games have slightly different camera angles. On the PSP the action is viewed up close from an angle. This view helps make it easy to see what the ball handler is doing, but it's so close that you often can't see what all five of your players are doing. The default baseline camera angle on the PS2 works well, though you'll probably put up some shots from behind the backboard because it's tough to judge your position from this view. Rather than a quick camera rotation on possession changes, the PS2 version quickly fades in and out. It's distracting at first, but you'll eventually get used to it.

Once again, the duo of Steve Kerr and Marv Albert is nearly as good in video game form as they are on television. They do a fine job of keeping up with the action while mixing in a nice bit of analysis and banter in-between. Ernie Johnson and Greg Anthony do a great job calling the All-Star Weekend events. They're always good, but they're at their best when the competitors are at their worst--they'll really let you hear it if you stink.

NBA Live 08 is a competent, fun basketball game on both the PS2 and the PSP. The problem is that other than updated rosters, they're almost the exact same competent games from last year, which were almost exactly the same as the competent versions from the year before.

Look into our eyes, look into our eyes, don't look around the eyes, look into our eyes, three, two, one – you're under.

When you wake up you will think that a mini-game based software product tying in with a hugely successful (though arguably already past its peak in popularity) BBC comedy sketch series is actually a great idea that couldn't possibly fail or emerge as a hastily-developed, exploitative production.

Three, two, one – you're back in the room.

Actually, we're being unnecessarily cynical. Little Britain The Video Game sounds like the perfect candidate for a 'computer says no' scenario but it's actually being put together by Revolution Studios, Gamerholix and Gamesauce.

And while we can't vouch for the work of the last two as we've yet to see anything produced by either developer, Revolution certainly comes bundled with an enviable pedigree.

Inevitably, how the collaboration between the three will affect the content of the game is, at this stage, anyone's guess.

What we do know though is they're planning a collection of mini-games featuring Lou and Andy, Vicky Pollard, Mr. Mann, Emily and Florence, Marjorie Dawes, Daffyd Thomas, Judy & Maggie and Letty, with each mini-game playing out like a sketch from the TV show, so that all must be completed in order to reach the end credits.

There are other positive signs, too. Matt Lucas and David Walliams, stars of the TV show, have apparently played an integral part in the scripting of the game (as well as providing the voices, of course, alongside usual narrator Tom Baker), and the characters have all been modelled in 3D and hand animated to ensure the characteristics of their real-life counterparts are accurately replicated.

MX vs ATV™ Untamed™ shifts into high gear as Rainbow Studios' legendary Rhythm Racing™ engine has evolved to include throttle-based power slides, near upside down whips and new scrubs. Compete in the X-Cross tournament, which brings together eight unique and different racing series, and crosses them into one ultimate off-road championship. Tear through treacherous trails in the new Opencross mode, then quickly shift gears to navigate boulders, logs, and water pits in Endurocross. Take control of the ORV Sport, Monster or Trophy Truck, and blaze through massive environments to determine which vehicle owns the off-road.

* X-Cross: Race in each series individually, or choose the innovative career mode which combines eight unique racing series (Endurocross, Opencross, Supercross, Outdoor Nationals, Supermoto, Freestyle, Waypoint, and Minimoto) into one ultimate off-road championship. Go bar to bar against the top MX and ATV professional riders.
* Own the Off-road: Rip through swampy everglades in a Monster Truck, blitz through rough rivers with a Trophy Truck, and blaze through the desert dunes in the brand new ORV Sport. Choose from the eight baddest all-terrain machines, and battle it out to determine which vehicle truly owns the outdoors.
* Hang it freestyle: Natural environments provide unique launching pads to throw down more than 50 wild stylish tricks.
* Customization: Amp up your vehicle's power, handling, and acceleration with more than 100 sponsor parts and accessories.
* Mini-games: Put your tires on the ice in ATV Hockey, trap your opponent in a game of Snake, or avoid getting caught in Tag in one of the five fun mini-games.
* Multiplayer mode: Fire out of the gates in 12-player online competition or in 2-player split screen. Prove to your buds that you're the best off-road racer.

As we live in a world where video games look as real as live television, who would have thought that it all originated from Pong? Classic games like Pong, Centipede, and Battlezone began a video gaming revolution. Atari, the video game pioneer, is bringing back these and 8 other 2-dimensional classic games, giving it an updated look for the 21st Century and introducing a new way to play them.

No need to dust off your Atari 2600. These classic games are now available for you to take everywhere you go on the PSP© (Playstation©Portable) system. Whether you’re looking for that classic, retro experience, or you’re looking for new-age graphics, each game will be playable in both classic and evolved forms to satisfy your itch. As an added bonus, you’ll be able to unlock over 50 Atari 2600 titles giving you non-stop gaming action.

Asteroids - Shoot down flying saucers before they shoot you. Asteroids was originally released in 1979 and was quickly a hit in the United States, becoming Atari’s best-selling game of all time.

Asteroids Deluxe - Asteroids Deluxe was produced in 1980 as the sequel to Asteroids.

Battlezone - Drive your tank around the battlefield, fire your gun and destroy the enemy tanks. Battlezone was released in 1980 and is widely considered to be the first “virtual reality” game.

Centipede - The Centipede is attacking and you must destroy all the segments before it reaches the bottom of the garden and takes you out! Centipede was released in 1980.

Lunar Lander - The first carbon-conscious game! Land you craft on the craggy moonscape, but try to use as little fuel as you can. Lunar Lander was released in 1979. Though it never equaled the success of Asteroids, it has always retained a strong and loyal fan-base.

Millipede - Released in 1982 as a sequel to Centipede. Shoot the garden nasties and watch out for the Millipede!

Missile Command - Defend the cities and don’t let the nukes take out your missile stations. Released in 1980, Missile Command was a huge hit, often providing more revenue than contemporary machines until the mid-1990s.

Pong - Well, what can we say about this classic that you don’t already know? Pong was released in 1972 and is the oldest game of the collection. It’s a classic that never grows old.

Super Breakout - Move the bat and deflect the ball. Released in 1978, Super Breakout was microprocessor-based arcade game, as opposed to the discreet logic used in the original Breakout.

Tempest - Destroy the baddies as they make their way toward you. Tempest, released in 1981, was the first game to allow you to choose your starting level (a system Atari dubbed “SkillStep”). This feature increased the maximum starting level, depending on your performance in the previous game, essentially allowing you to continue — a feature that became a standard in later video games.

Warlords - It’s like Breakout, but with four players. Defend your base and destroy the others. Warlords was released in 1980.

Atari 2600 (Unlockable) - To unlock Atari 2600 games, you must earn all four awards for each of the main games.

Features:

* 11 Classic Atari Games in their Original and Evolved designs
* Over 50 unlockable Atari 2600 titles
* Battle it out via wireless multi-player available on Warlords and Battlezone

Last year, one portable game was able to capture the hearts of gamers everywhere. That game was Phoenix Wright. Who could resist the story of a lovable, sometimes hapless, lawyer that must endure hilarious over-the-top cases? The formula was a success, and gamers (casual and hardcore alike) became Phoenix Wright fans.

Capcom's trying to recreate that success once again in a new lawyer game, specifically designed for a western audience. The Adult Swim program Harvey Birdman was a perfect choice -- it too features a penchant for the nonsensical. Although the humor found in the series may be a bit more zany, edgy and dark, it's just as easy to fall in love with Harvey Birdman as Phoenix Wright. His affable nature in the face of such ridiculous trials makes this new game just as endearing as its DS counterpart.

Thanks to the incredible storage space offered by the PSP, the AV experience of Harvey Birdman is far enhanced from Phoenix Wright. Amazingly, everything is animated and voiced in the game. You can't help but feel like you're playing an interactive episode of the show. The writing and voice work is absolutely incredible -- you will find yourself laughing out loud quite a bit throughout the adventure. In fact, lines that would otherwise be mundane when simply read come to life due to such animated voice work. Even without previous knowledge of the show, you will find yourself enjoying all of the characters. The incredible production values must be commended, as they truly make the experience so much more engrossing.

The core gameplay is ripped directly from Phoenix Wright. You start off investigating crime scenes, looking for evidence while speaking with assorted characters. Eventually, you'll get to a trial when you've collected everything you need. During a trial, you'll have to question witnesses and break their testimonies by finding contradictions. You can press them for more information, or present evidence that contradicts what they're saying. Make a mistake, though, and you'll lose a life (represented by Birdman's crest). Lose all lives, and you'll get a dreaded Game Over.

Unfortunately, that's all the gameplay you'll find in Harvey Birdman. Compared to Phoenix Wright, the game is quite shallow. For example, you will never closely analyze evidence, looking for clues from multiple angles. The Psyche Lock aspect found in Justice for All is missing, as are the clever security camera segments from Ace Attorney. Within the context of the game, it doesn't feel like anything is lacking, but those that have played a Phoenix Wright game will find these omissions a bit unsatisfying.

The evidence collection and interrogations are also much simpler in this game. Perhaps it's because of the game's more casual audience? You will rarely get a Game Over, as the game does its best to make its answers very clear. The gameplay is very straightforward at times, making Harvey Birdman a collection of "interactive episodes," rather than a fully fledged game. That isn't a bad thing, per se. However, those expecting much more substance will be disappointed.

Perhaps the game's greatest flaw is how short it is. There are only five chapters, each taking less than an hour to complete. When the story is completed, there isn't much incentive to go and repeat the experience, unless you're trying to unlock some bonus videos (one per level). There might not be enough content to warrant the $30 price tag ($40 on Wii).

In spite of its simplistic gameplay and short length, we can't help but love Harvey Birdman. The game is outrageously funny, and the plentiful Street Fighter cameos and references were a surprising, much appreciated touch. Adventures like these aren't defined by their gameplay, but rather their characters and presentation. Undeniably, Harvey Birdman delivers both in spades. It's not a bad thing for a game to have us wanting more -- we certainly want a sequel as soon as possible. If you're looking for a hilarious, well produced adventure on the PSP, we recommend Harvey Birdman. Just, don't expect to play it for too long.

Info:

Warriors of the Lost Empire is an action RPG located in a fantasy land, built long ago by the great Emperor Hadrianus as a testament to his beautiful wife Antinos. But when Hadrianus mysteriously locked himself in the temple, the city dwellers began to flee. The city became besieged by criminals and other worldly creatures. A special team of warriors have been tasked with investigating the lost city. Players chose to play as one of the four characters; High Lander, Amazoness, Gladiator or Dark searcher, with full character and weapon customisation. As the player explores the world and battles the dark forces, new skills and attack combos are learnt. As well as trying to collect more than 150 weapons, players can also commission a blacksmith to create weapons with other items they uncover. There are ten different dungeons to explore with mythical creatures and bosses to battle and defeat. The fast game play along with the ability to draw enemies to attack and juggle each other makes Warriors of the Lost Empire a classic hack-and-slash. The game can also be played co-operatively with two players over WLAN.

Don't let its saccharin sweet exterior fool you. Downstream Panic! is one hardcore, ****ing difficult game. The colorful LocoRoco-esque presentation will easily trick gamers into thinking this is for kids. However, when you see your fish friends explode in an amazing display of blood and guts, you will think again.

The basic gameplay of Downstream Panic! is simple to grasp, and the game does a terrific job of teaching players the core essentials throughout the game. Like any good puzzle game, the game is easy to learn, but hard to master. Like in Lemmings, players must use the various tools at their disposal to safely create a path for the adorably helpless fish. Players will have access to bombs, spears, growing plants, and more in an effort to safely navigate the shark-infested, trap-riddled world of Downstream Panic!

A cute and hilarious CG scene illustrates the ordeal at hand: fish have somehow been magically transported into the sky, and it's up to you to somehow return them to the safety of the oceans below. The game starts innocently enough, with just one tool at your disposal: rockets that blow holes into the terrain. When the level begins, fish will burst free from their bubble at the top of the level, and as the steam of water comes pouring down, players must use their tools to route the stream to safety.

Additional tools are slowly introduced throughout the adventure. For example, you will be able to plant seeds that will grow instantly, and will block the flow of water. You may get a spear that can kill on-screen enemies. There are also fans that activate switches, and an ice beam.

These tools work in tandem with an ever-increasing supply of in-game elements. Enemies are the first thing to worry about. Sharks, for example, will slumber at various points of a stage. Should a hapless fish bump into it, it will be immediately shredded into bloody guts. There are other enemies later on that are even more terrifying: carnivorous fish that actually jump out to your doom, and flying birds that'll stalk you from afar. They are all horrifying.

Additional mechanics are introduced later on. For example, there are bridges that expand and retract whenever water (or wind) passes through a special switch. There are boulders that can be freed to blog certain arterial paths. It's up to the player to figure out how to use the limited resources at hand to take advantage of all the tricks hidden in each stage.

Downstream Panic! requires a great deal of forethought, and masterful execution. To complete a level, players must not only have a certain amount of fish survive, but actually make it to a specific point at the bottom of the stage. For example, if a fish goes too far to the left, they will be eaten by very, very hungry sharks. The buoys at the bottom indicate the "safe zone" for fish to fall into. The requirements for how many fish must survive varies per stage, and it will range anywhere from 55 to 90. It's clear that in later levels, a few sacrifices must be made for the greater good of the troupe.

Not only is the proper placement and use of all the tools vital to one's success, timing is a huge factor. Players must consider when to leak a certain contained area, for example. Water that flows too quickly may clog a certain passage, causing an overflow that will undoubtedly mean the doom for fish. Players will discover that their fish can die in a number of ways -- a single mistake will certainly mean failure in many of the stages.

Ultimately, each of the stages relies on trial-and-error guesswork that'll frustrate many gamers. The amount of things to keep track of, and the number of gameplay elements in use, increases quite rapidly, making every stage after the tenth one quite a challenge. Puzzle gamers will welcome the brain-twisting devilry on display, while others will simply be turned off by the surprising difficulty.

Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by Downstream Panic! It certainly hasn't garnered the attention it rightfully deserves. Not only is the gameplay surprisingly deep, it is challenging. The visual presentation is superb, with fantastic execution of the art. The audio elements may be grating to some, but there are a number of cute, fun tracks that'll have players merrily bouncing to.

There's also a lot of content and replayability. There are a large number of stages, and each of them can be revisited. Within each stage are a number of difficult-to-reach coins -- getting them all while surviving the minimum requirements for success can be qutie a challenge! For even more sadistic challenge, players will try the Survival Mode, which goes through the adventure, without replenishing the player's stock of fishes. Will anyone be able to get through such a daunting challenge in one piece? Unlikely.

An Atari rep told us that Downstream Panic! may be difficult to find in stores due to low retailer demand. That's a shame, really. This is an inventive title that really takes advantage of PSP's incredible power. Yes, it's much too difficult for the average gamer. However, hardcore puzzle fanatics are going to love this daring PSP exclusive.

Review taken from pspfanboy.

For the first time ever, Noel Edmonds brings his classic TV show to PSP.

Featuring famous clips, pics and hundreds of questions spanning decades of great TV, there's something for every member of the family.

Join Noel as he guides you through six rounds of fun to discover who is the real telly addict in your family!

We are thrilled to bring back a classic RPG franchise on current gen platforms,” said John Greiner President and CEO of Hudson Entertainment. “Both the PSP® system and Nintendo DS™ games offer players two deep, action-packed RPG experiences that truly represent what the Dungeon Explorer property is all about.”

Both versions deliver unique game play adventures, while updating the classic series with all-new engaging stories. On the PSP® system, players find themselves on a quest to uncover the fate of a legendary kingdom. Along the way, heroes will engage in epic battles and fight against demonic and monstrous creatures, armed with their own arsenal of assorted weapons. There are hundreds of variations between weapons, armor and equipment for players to choose from, all of which can be reworked as they progress through the adventure.

On the PSP® system, players have the ability to choose their warfare style with more than 150 different kinds of fighting arts, one of them being Big Bang Arts. Big Bang Arts, unique to Dungeon Explorer™ Warriors of Ancient Arts for the PSP® system, allows three players to team up to triple their destructive power in Ad-Hoc Multiplayer mode. Big Bang Arts harnesses the power of all three characters at once to unleash a devastating attack on the enemy. Timing is crucial, as the game is action-oriented, and must be calculated precisely in order to be successful. The PSP® system has been rated T (Teen) by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).