This arrived today and I've had a very brief go on it, I'll post some more in-depth thoughts when I get chance to really get into it.
Now, I've played a friends copy of the Xbox version and I think that my first impressions of the PSP game have suffered because of that. Yes, I know that you can't really compare the two versions due to the differences in power etc, but the fact that Rockstar Leeds has attempted to cram a home console version onto the PSP rather than take advantage of the PSP really stuck in my mind during the first half hour of play. Load times are another issue that really stuck in my mind - nearly 60 second load between garage and city, city to race, completed race to next race. You even have to wait 10-20 secs switxhing between cars in the garage. This isn't something you can sit down and have a 10 minute blast with IM(early)O. Controls are also a little twitchy, but after extensive play no doubt I'll become adapted to it.
Having said all of the above, the game is technically excellent. Rockstar Leeds have managed to produce some excellent reflection and particle effects on the hand held, and the game does compare pretty favourably to the PS2 version. The few races I've completed have been fun and highly enjoyable, but the sense of speed is debatable - again, this is likely due to the fact I haven't played it enough to get the speed of the cars up to scratch.
Like I said, I'll post some more well-thought out opinions on the game after I've clocked up a few hours play. Like a few other PSP releases, I have the feeling that this will be a very good little title - but severely hampered by load times.
Now, I've played a friends copy of the Xbox version and I think that my first impressions of the PSP game have suffered because of that. Yes, I know that you can't really compare the two versions due to the differences in power etc, but the fact that Rockstar Leeds has attempted to cram a home console version onto the PSP rather than take advantage of the PSP really stuck in my mind during the first half hour of play. Load times are another issue that really stuck in my mind - nearly 60 second load between garage and city, city to race, completed race to next race. You even have to wait 10-20 secs switxhing between cars in the garage. This isn't something you can sit down and have a 10 minute blast with IM(early)O. Controls are also a little twitchy, but after extensive play no doubt I'll become adapted to it.
Having said all of the above, the game is technically excellent. Rockstar Leeds have managed to produce some excellent reflection and particle effects on the hand held, and the game does compare pretty favourably to the PS2 version. The few races I've completed have been fun and highly enjoyable, but the sense of speed is debatable - again, this is likely due to the fact I haven't played it enough to get the speed of the cars up to scratch.
Like I said, I'll post some more well-thought out opinions on the game after I've clocked up a few hours play. Like a few other PSP releases, I have the feeling that this will be a very good little title - but severely hampered by load times.
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