VG REVIEW: Pursuit Force

"PURSUIT FORCE"
Sony, for the PlayStation Portable
rated T for Teen (mild language, suggestive themes, violence), $39.99.
Rating: 3 stars

Remember the 80s? The makers of "Pursuit Force" sure do.

And not just the pixilated arcade classics of that era, either. No, this high-octane action title offers homages to the testosterone-fueled films that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone and cheesy Saturday morning cartoon shows like "C.O.P.S."

Does it go without saying that this is a silly game? Good thing, then, that it’s a lot of fun, too.

In the game, you are part of an elite, futuristic police force, dedicated to taking back the streets from the criminal gangs who consider the city their playground. That one gang, named the Vixens, consists of a group of former Hollywood stunt women who have turned to crime, gives you an idea of the tongue-in-cheek attitude on display here.

Most of the time, your missions will consist of chasing down and stopping the crooks by car, boat or motorcycle.

The nifty catch is that you can hop from one moving vehicle to the next, slamming on top of an enemy’s transport and then commandeering it with a few quick bursts from your firearm.

Every few levels, you’ll be given a different mission, such as protecting an informant from attack, taking out a group of thugs on foot or manning a helicopter gun. These variations in the basic premise do a nice job of keeping the game from getting stale.

Apart from the single-player mode, which is extensive, there are few other options. Surprisingly, there’s no real multiplayer mode, which would enhance a game of this nature.

"Pursuit" controls easily, with most actions engaged with the simple press of a button. The game also looks good, featuring crisp colors and sharp details.

"Pursuit Force" doesn’t have any goals other than to entertain you. It’s an empty-headed, shallow bauble, yes, but considering the dearth of solid PSP titles out there, we should welcome a game that manages to so solidly offer fun for fun’s sake.

Copyright The Patriot-News, 2006