Super Stardust Portable Comments by Simon Parkin

I can't imagine trying to control this without 2 analog sticks.

It works fine using just the face buttons to be honest. I was impressed. I've not played Super Stardust HD to be honest, but Super Stardust on the Amiga was one of my favourite games.

Oh and the PSP version would be even better with the warp tunnel levels from the Amiga version :-D

Funny really how much this and Geometry Wars get compared. A good Stardust session can last well over an hour, whilst I don't think I've lasted longer that 5 minutes on GW. To me they're miles apart in terms of overall gameplay experience.

It works really very well on the PSP, somewhat to my surprise. Very good value for the price.

The control system sounds like it has been gimped - how can that be good?

Look alright, but I think I'l still to the PS3 version. Mainly because I don't have a PSP, so if I bought it I could only sit there pretending to play.

"switching between weapon types requires you to move your finger off the analogue nub and onto the d-pad, a physical stretch that can be costly in the heat of battle"

So its a good thing you can redefine the controls.
Personally I put the smartbomb on the D-pad's down button, and one of the weapon-changes on the Right trigger.
Works much, much better for me.

"There is no opportunity to save your progress - the game follows orthodox shoot-'em-up rules requiring players to restart from the beginning each time"

This is wrong. Your progress IS saved - in the normal Arcade mode you can start from any planet you've reached, and retaining your weapon power.

The controls work perfectly.

Absolutely love this on the PS3.

Passed on my PSP quite some time ago. A truly horrible little games console.

It's a brilliant conversion, and for the price I'd say it's one of the best games on the PSP. Great to keep on the memory stick for a quick blast when you have time to kill.

I quite like it to be honest, though I have to say it isn't quite as sublime as the PS3 version. Still, Ive had some fun with it and will continue to while away my commute with it from time to time.

As far as comparisons with G Wars go I love both games but as peterfll mentions they really are very different games. Except of course that you have to fly around a screen in a space ship shoot things!

I was actually playing the PS3 version of this on Monday, I'm 2 trophies off 100% but BUGGER OFF if I'm doing the Late Boomer one. Great game. Is this £3.50 for the PSP? Any word on filesize? Custom soundtrack? That would be ace as I mainly sit listening to mixes I'm working on the bus... with that I can check them out and nail large clusters of rock too.

the controls work just fine and the final boss is much better than the PS3 version.

No tunnels, no sale.

Eh? Once you complete a stage you can replay from that point. You don't have to restart from the beginning each time.

I think this runs at 60fps like the SSHD (didn't spot that being mentioned in the review). All I know is that it's one of the smoothest PSP games I have ever seen and it's quite good.

it's a fair score. i though the PS3 version was excellent and was expecting concessions with the controls for this version given PSP's lack of control features. in the end the game works surprisingly well and with a little adjustment to the default settings i find it just as addictive as the HD original.

toy_brain, i'll have to try that configuration. it sounds a lot better than what have at the moment.

widge, i have the expansion pack for it which brings the size to 75mb. surprisingly small.

comparing GW and SSDHD is a crime in my book. both should be owned. the only thing they share in common is the genre they operate in.

Cool, I could do with little nuggets of games to have on m'device.
Anything on custom soundtrack?

no custom soundtrack. :(

@rhubarbandcustard

" A truly horrible little games console"

Bunkum. Its just the software lineup that's the problem.
I dont think i've booted an IS..i mean UMD in ages, nothing even vaguely tempting really.
But as an portable emulator for nearly every console pre PSX, an MP3 and video player, its a great little device.

It really has turned into my mp3 player of recent... although thats partly to me not getting the bus recently.
I think people booting ISOUMDahem is a bit of a problem with the platform. If you've got something for 'free', you don't put any value in it, and therefore have no incentive to give it a play to get your moneys worth out of it.

it's only bad if you think you should pick up the same games as you do on your home system. Look for stuff you can't/wouldn't and it's a superb box. Try WH40K Squad Command, Crush, Crisis Core, Killzone Liberation. Don't buy driving games.

"Eh? Once you complete a stage you can replay from that point. You don't have to restart from the beginning each time. "

Mm. It's an odd mistake to make in a review - the fact that you can start on any level you've reached is pretty unmissable in the menus, unless you haven't made it off level 1, of course...

; )

Super Stardust HD is the closest Sony's console has to a Geometry Wars. While the game lacks some of its rival's finesse, not to mention its narrow but deep design, perfectly pitched difficulty and always on-screen high-score challenge

Im sick and tired of this........

why do reviewers put their reputations on the line by continually showing xbox bias. i own a 360 and a ps3 and i gta say sshd is a completely different game to GW. why compare the two unless ure trying to promote xbox to the masses. a statement like that reveals the inner 360 fanboy shouting WIN!! to be honest i prefer sshd it looks nicer and i like the way its a deeper experience than GW. differnt weapons for different rock types and its a round planet that u get to manouver around. plus the multiplayer games kick ass.

its another name to note- simon parkin- along with dan whitehead, take his words with a pinch of salt people

Really? I'd like a nice rally game one day. Sony and Square seem to be happy to breathe a little bit of life into it over here, LBP rumours, that new Resistance game, FFXIIIagito. The pusp has plenty of good exclusive games, if you went out and bought them all, you'd have a nice collection. The issue is the frequency and visibility of games. Inbetween good stuff, you get these voids of nothing.

Pixeljunk Monsters is coming out too isn't it? What would be nice is if PJM linked up to your PS3 copy if you have it. You can play it at home and then continue it on your travels.

Yup the control system works well even though your missing an analogue stick it doesn't seem to matter.
The review should be ammended as everyone has pointed out
the games does save and controls can be reconfigured as well.

*wishing more Amiga classics would be ported over to current day consoles*

RIP Factor 5...

Originally released on PlayStation Network for PS3, Super Stardust HD is the closest Sony's console has to a Geometry Wars. While the game lacks some of its rival's finesse, not to mention its narrow but deep design, perfectly pitched difficulty and always on-screen high-score challenge, it nevertheless holds its own, maintaining its position as the strongest shooter on PSN even 18 months later.

What is this for? Are you reviewing SSHD or advertising GW? It even sounds like you NEVER touched SSHD in your entire life.

Your lovely review failed to mention that 1) You can start a new game from any level you previously reached in arcade mode and 2) you can customize the controls.

The last lazy review I read from someone who sounds like he blindly hates the PSP was the Ace Combat X review.

SSP is a great time killer and since I've never tried any other versions - the controls seem fine and natural. It is perfect portable fun!

Can you download it off teh interwebs via PC? I might buy it today and stick it on!

should be able to use the PC PSN store.

Why were the warp tunnels dropped from Stardust anyway? They were awesome!

This sounds great by the way, and I suppose it's typical of EG to mark a PSP or NDS game down for being, you know, portable.

"This is wrong. Your progress IS saved - in the normal Arcade mode you can start from any planet you've reached, and retaining your weapon power."

You're right: I expressed myself clumsily there. The preceding line was meant to point out that you unlock planets in sequence, and the one you quoted was meant point out that you can't save progress within playthroughs (e.g. halfway through a set of planet stages).

Also: I absolutely did make it off the first planet you cheeky bugger. You and me, Radiant Silvergun, let's go Campbell. :)

Finally, I did say that the control scheme is "perfectly serviceable". But at the same time it is quantitatively less precise than that employed in the PS3 version. It would be remiss not to mention that.

Finally, playing the game for extended periods gives me cramp in my hand, whatever control scheme I'm using.

Simon.

I don't subscribe to the 360-bias therioes, but I do think the review draws unecessary comparisons with Geometry Wars. Comparing SSHD and GW as "rivals" is highly subjective, perhaps too much. Once you get beyond the "small ship shooting things" basis they offer completely different experiences, both with their respective merits.

This really is a superb little game and I would highly recomend it. The controls are superb whatever the reviewer says.
Given the high fun/price ratio of the game, to me it deserves a 9/10.

Currently playing this on my PSP - to say that this is nothing like Geometry Wars is like saying Duke Nukem was nothing like Doom.

While they both have their nuances, I feel quite sure the masses would be puzzled by the outcry against comparison.

Seems more like PS3 fanboy's outrage at daring to compare a (currently) PS3/PSP exclusive against a 360 stalwart from years past.

They're both novel games, a refreshing blast from the past brought bang up-to-date, gaming for gamings sake and feel pure and pleasing to the old school generation i.e. those old enough to have enjoyed the heyday of arcades first hand, which includes me.

SSP is probably the best value PSP game period - and even if you like Geometry Wars - you might, just might, thoroughly enjoy this too - go buy it.

I'd have given it an 8/10 due to the value pushing it's net worth up.

EDIT: just seen Light&Shadow's comments - lets split our differences an give it 8.5 then lol

I have to say that I don't think GW2 has noticeable levels of 'finesse' above SSHD. I own both and have spent far longer on SSHD. Both excellent games but that comment was a little 'off' i thought. Just my opinion...

The solo expansion pack has been out for weeks !

Fair enough.