There's been a bit of jabber about the same game titles coming out for both the PSP and home consoles, most of it coming from us. Ports, for instance, was something I eschewed because I felt it used resources that could have been directed towards making more original titles. However, some readers made a few comments that I consider to be, to say the least, very reasonable.First, the ports that have come out for PSP haven't been all bad; in fact some, like SOCOM and Burnout Legends, have been exceedingly excellent. Second, ports are exactly that: portable versions of the same game that you can play anywhere, and there's nothing wrong with having that. In light of these observations, it's obvious that ported games do have a place in the PSP's repertoire.
An article by USA Today supports the notion that the PSP version of games can match up with their home console counterparts. But on the flip side, the report also dredges up a few weaknesses and briefly cites the PSPs lack of buttons and less-than-impressive AI as the system's more glaring shortcomings. With that said, given the portable's ample but less powerful hardware, are PSP ports really dumber than their original home console version?
In regard to SOCOM, the article implies that the AI of opponents in the game is inconsistent, a fact that's also said is present in Madden NFL 06. I've observed strange and stupid behavior in GTA:LCS as well, and more than a few instances of wonky driving from the bots in Wipeout Pure. Granted, these are not game-ending, joy-killing instances that prevent us from enjoying the overall experience, but are we fine with taking such a performance hit just to be able to take our games out on the road with us?
It doesn't help that companies like EA often charge full price for these titles. If they considered the possible issue of a somewhat reduced quality gaming experience and lowered prices because of it (or just because they decided to be our pals for once), then that would be ideal.
I say it all depends on several factors: Are the games playable? Does having weak AI make it difficult to enjoy? I believe the ability to enjoy a game thoroughly rests on a phenomenon called suspension of disbelief. When it comes to relating an experience (which all games essentially are), the capacity of the player to be completely immersed in the reality of the game, to essentially believe in the rules and bylaws within the game, is what determines its success as interactive entertainment. If there are way too many moments in the game when stuff starts to go outside of those rules, and all without the player's input or control, then that leads to frustration, which in turn leads to fear, then anger, then...well, you know where that ends.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-09-2005 @ 3:47PM
Hunter said...
The cops in GTA:LCS are some of the best I've fought against in the GTA franchise, though a coupla times Salvatore killed himself by jumping over walkway railing into the water.
I'm looking forward to the day when cops in any GTA game on any console know better than to run into a tank.
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12-09-2005 @ 4:39PM
S.Fuller said...
I would say that the police in Need For Speed 5-1-0 are more agressive than the PC version of the same game. The game is not as open ended as the PC version, but it is still a lot of fun to play, and has the right amount of "short attention span" design that I expect most of my PSP games to have. I personally don't play PSP games that I can't easily break into play sessions of 10 - 15 minutes. It just doesn't fit my life and how I use the console. Unlike my son, who can play his GBA for hours at a stretch on a long car trip.
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12-09-2005 @ 9:37PM
T. Hamilton said...
I have a big yes on this topic. I'll start with one of the most recent psp titles, SOCOM. In SOCOM, you can walk right up to an enemy very loudly and kill them. Whats the problem, it's supposed to be a stealth game. They rarely shoot back, and they also run into the open to get killed. And I geuss they have no gernades either.
Another game is Grand Theft Auto. The police dont come into the alleyways unless they see you. And Im talking about when they are after you. Yea they shoot alot but there still dumb. In Spider Man 2 lets just say there is no A.I.. The AI in these games don't make them bad , but what happened?
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12-12-2005 @ 11:44AM
hotcarl said...
I think that all these problems are still due to the reletively new console and not so much the psp. We're all looking for the amazing late gen ps2 games (Burnout Revenge, Resident Evil 4,San Andreas, Soul Calibur 3, Socom 3(I haven't played this but i'd assum it's pretty damn nice)) and titles that aren't out yet like Black and FF XII. The thing is they just haven't broken the psp down as far as the ps2. They have VERY similar Specs as far just the hardware, but there's alot more to making the game. The games that we are seeing on the PSP now, to me, look like middle generation ps2 games. for example Burnout Legends is comparable more to burnout 2&3 than "Revenge" and GTA:LCS is more like Vice City than San Andreas. But Thats not a bad start, and I can see some very advanced games coming out during the psp's life span.
hot carl
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