MetaReview: Medal of Honor Heroes 2 (PSP)

Even though we’ve learned to take some reviews with a grain of salt, when all of them are compiled together, gamers get a bigger picture of exactly what the hell is right (or wrong) with a game. Critics traditionally blab much more than they should and some critics unintentionally ramble on about little details that bugged them. Even so, that does not mean that everyone should try any game that looks good–it simply means to appreciate ratings that scream “Decent”, “Good”, or “Okay” much more. And Medal of Honor Heroes 2 sounds just like one of those games–IGN loved it, but the others said it was decent. Now the only question is: should you buy it or hold off?

• IGN (8.4/10)- “For on-the-go gamers Heroes is a great title though, as it autosaves every few minutes, and has almost no load time at all; extremely impressive for a system that is often plagued by a sluggish processing. Team Fusion went all out to make sure the game was optimized to its fullest, and it pays off in a big, big way.”
• GameSpot (7/10)- “Thanks to solid controls, a short, albeit enjoyable single-player campaign, and an impressive online mode, Medal of Honor Heroes 2 is a battle worth fighting.”
• GameSpy (7/10)- “[T]here’s still no headset voice support, and the diminutive map and mode counts put a significant crimp on multiplayer’s potential longevity.”

MetaReview: SOCOM: Tactical Strike (PSP)

Maybe SONY should consider continuing the Fireteam Bravo franchise on PSP, because despite a slew of positive, early impressions, Tactical Strike just doesn’t cut it with several critics. We reported to you earlier that the SOCOM fanbase was upset about this game, and the critics are just as disappointed:

• PSPFanboy (9.5/10)- “In spite of the flaws, SOCOM: Tactical Strike is one of the best experiences I’ve had to date on the PSP. This is an easy candidate for PSP GOTY. Gorgeous, believable graphics, innovative gameplay, and massive levels are just part of the game’s unique appeal…far from a pick-up-and-play game due to its rather unique and relentless gameplay, and will undoubtedly confuse and anger players expecting a traditional SOCOM experience”.
• IGN (7/10)- “[Tactical Strike] is an upsetting game. Not because it’s a poor title – not in the least, nor is it terribly difficult (though it can be frustrating). Rather, Tactical Strike is upsetting to us because it’s a perfect example of a game that could have been lot of fun, had it not been damaged by several seemingly obvious mechanical problems that take away from the overall experience”.
• Games Radar (7/10)- “If you factor into your plans the possibilities of your commands not being followed perfectly, you can have a slow-burn, satisfying experience.”

MetaReview: Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions (PSP)

Sure, Vahalla Knights and other unpopular RPGs have been popular with some PSP owners, but the majority still know RPGs as one thing: Final Fantasy, so it’s easy to say that War of the Lions could seriously move units (it has moved 300,000 in Japan alone, a milestone for any PSP game these days). What’s a bonus is that the critics have agreed: War of the Lions is a deep, storyline-driven game that has its flaws, but ends up as memorable and enjoyable, nonetheless.

• IGN (9/10)- “Even with the standard issues returning to the gameplay, and some skewed multiplayer elements, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions stands out as a great remake of a classic title”.
• PSPFanboy (8.5/10)- “Even with the disappointing slowdown, this game is a must-buy…especially if you missed it a decade ago…the new content [and] redone script may [make it] the best time to revisit Ramza and his friends”.

MetaReview: PaRappa the Rapper

One of the main complaints that PSP owners and potential PSP owners have against SONY and PSP third-party developers is the lack of originality in games. You’d think that instead of merely porting a Playstation or Dreamcast game, they’d add extra features or update the graphics. What we saw withFinal Fantasy was a good indication that any developer or manufacturer looking to port a game to the PSP better think of quality over greedy profits. From what we’ve seen, it looks like the reviews for PaRappa show that quality has been added, maybe just not enough.

• 1Up (7/10) – “While it’s always nice to have a good rhythm game on the go, PaRappa on PSP is still a serious value proposition at $30. There are plenty of extra remixes to download and play (about half of which are decent), but with essentially six levels it’s still a more flimsy package than current gamers are accustomed to…”
  
• GameDaily (7/10) – “Sadly, that sums up all the new content. Players can beat it within an hour and never play it again.”
• New York Times (8/10) – “It’s a shame the PSP version didn’t combine PaRappa the Rapper with its sequel, although even then it would have been an awfully short game.”

MetaReview: Final Fantasy I

The verdict is in for Square Enix’s $30 Final Fantasy I remake, which they’ve heavily advertised on the net and in gaming mags. The remake has promised to add a new dungeon, revitalize graphics, and bring back the storyline everyone fell in love with, but others were unsure that the game’s price was suited to a game that resembles the original AND all of its remakes. Some claimed that for the umpteenth time, this remake was shallow and added no depth to the game:

• PSPFanboy (8/10)- “Despite some dated aspects, such as ridiculous monster encounter rates and grid based movement, the game holds its own remarkably well for a twenty year old title and the improvements and extras are definitely worth the price.”
• GameSpot (6.5/10)- “Like most anything viewed through the rose-colored glasses of nostalgia, Final Fantasy I was better in the past than it is now.”
• 1Up (7/10)- “For such an antiquated adventure, a $30 asking price feels a tad steep…but highly dedicated FF fans will probably still get their money’s worth.”