The idea of game compilations is certainly not new, in fact every year it seems that a new company takes a stab at creating one. While their efforts are certainly appreciated, everyone knows I can always use a new disc chock full of great games, the undisputed king of this realm is undoubtedly Midway. Since the early days of the PSOne Midway has been churning out collections of some of our favorite old-school titles. Now with the introduction of the PSP I can finally do something I have only read about in fairy tales, play Mortal Kombat II wherever and whenever I want, even wirelessly!!
The PSP incarnation of Midway’s latest arcade collection is sort of like a greatest hits version if you will. It contains 21 total games all of which are derived from their previous two compilations. You have such classics as Spy Hunter, Rampage, and even the more obscure Xenophobe, all of which are perfectly translated and presented in high-resolution glory on the PSP’s gorgeous screen.
You will also notice that this collection is not a simple port; these are the original versions of the games from their arcade counterparts. While some people will find the loading times annoying, they are necessary as the game is no longer running directly from the arcade board. Sure there are short moments of inactivity in between rounds of MK, but at the same time you are granted the luxury of being able to play these classics anywhere you choose. Below is a list of all the games included in this compilation.
- Spy Hunter
- Sinistar
- Defender
- Paperboy
- 720
- Klax
- Joust
- Marble Madness
- Toobin’
- Rampage
- Gauntlet
- Rampart
- Wizard of Wor
- Xybots
- Championship Sprint
- Arch Rivals
- Cyberball 2072
- Xenophobe
- Mortal Kombat
- Mortal Kombat 2
- Mortal Kombat 3
The sound is also extremely well done, hearing the subtle sounds carnage in Mortal Kombat really bring back memories of the quarter-muncher from my childhood. As with all PSP titles though you will obtain a much better appreciation for the sound if you invest in a good set of headphones as the PSP speakers leave much to be desired.
While the loading times may bother some, my biggest complaint was the control system for some of the games. The d-pad works great for most of the older titles such as Spy Hunter and Rampart but for games like Mortal Kombat some functions are downright frustrating. The analog fixes most of the issues, but as all fighting purists, read anal retentive guys like me, know that using an analog pad for a 2D fighter can really hinder your performance. Sure this is a small gripe and it really doesn’t affect the game at all, but I really wish the d-pad was a bit more responsive for the MK titles.
With a massive selection of classic titles and wireless multi-player Extended Play is more than worth the $30 price tag. PSP owners looking for a quick fix with some classic ramifications need not look any further. While some of the newer Midway arcade games would have been a plus, there simply isn’t any room to complain about this incredibly great addition to the PSP library.
