The wave of Nostalgia breaks its way onto PSP format with a collection of Capcom's original arcade classics. This may sound familiar to those of you with PS2s but the portable �version has a different line-up to the version released on its big brother console last year. With Vol. 2 to be released fairly soon the PSP version offers a compromise between the 2 and also the freedom to jump into a mini game any time any �place. � �
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Looking at the selection of titles if you grew up watching The A team, Knight Rider and were curious why Baywatch was so damn entertaining then there'll be plenty of titles you'll recognise. At first the name �might not be enough to jog your memory but the handy short demo that pops up will certainly make you say: "Oooh, I remember this." There's a pretty good spread of genres covered and as you'd expect with a compilation game there's some �classics surrounded by some poor fillers and topped off with a little something for everyone.
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The major titles alone are probably enough to convince punters to part with their hard earned cash for some retro gaming; Final Fight, Black Tiger, Strider, 1941 and Forgotten Worlds are personal favourites �although by no means the only ones worth loading up. I suppose it all depends on which game tickled your fancy back in the early 90's but in terms of gameplay those titles definitely offer more and set the foundations that games are still based upon �today. It's also refreshing to see creative and bizarre levels and 'bad-guys' from the old school imagination of Capcom's developers. Obviously the benchmark has been raised to a totally new level thanks to the much greater power developers have �access to these days, but you can still appreciate the creativity.
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All the games have been ported very well so nothing is lost in terms of graphics or sound, they look exactly as you'll remember them. Some games even have the added functionality of being able to expand and flip �the screen to make the most of viewing the game in its full glory. 1941 is a prime example where you'll have so much chaos buzzing around the screen that you'll want to flip your handheld 90 degrees and play it vertical just so you can fully �appreciate what's going on. There are a few titbits to unlock as you make you're way through each game but to be honest they're nothing worth getting excited about. Tips, artwork and some music may sound like a nice touch to give you a complete �overview of a classic game bit the reward feels a tad limp.
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Controls are as simple as they could possibly be because these games were born in a world where all a gamer needed was a stick and a button (2 at the most). Going back to simple scrolling level structures on �platform and shoot/beat 'em up games is a rare sight in the modern era. Although it restricts a game's lifespan it is good to have a change from the sometimes over-elaborate games today where you lose track of what your actual mission is. Thanks to �the lack of save option each game has a pretty limited lifespan anyway, but these games were designed to get the maximum amount of shrapnel pumped into them at an arcade - not to tie you down every evening for 2 months as you freely roam around a �universe. Short sharp joy - that's what it's all about. Turn on infinite continues and pick a game to complete, it doesn't boast the same incentive and sense of achievement but you will be entertained for half an hour or so. Hooking up the �multiplayer option means you can freely Wi-Fi with another gamer and gate-crash as Player 2, but unfortunately it doesn't host the disc sharing option.
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Admittedly, Capcom could have spoiled PSP gamers by providing them with Street Fighter II instead of the exceedingly dismal original. Or maybe even thrown in Ghouls n Ghosts - but its lack of inclusion probably �has more to do with the forthcoming PSP release of Extreme Ghouls n Ghosts. But, there's still enough arcade action and mix of games to satisfy most people who are keen for a quick step back in time.
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I doubt many younger generation gamers will be bothered by the Capcom selection because without the nostalgia there's only gameplay and graphics to go on and all the games will struggle because times have �changed. However, even with poor filler games and some bizarre choices (Quiz and Dragons is a random quiz quest with a question base from 1990 America - not exactly ideal for the European market) there is more than enough quality in CCC Remixed to �gladly fill up those rainy afternoons in a caravan in Cornwall.
