The Minis Review Thread!!!

Yo Peoples!

If you have purchased a mini off PSN, please post a mini-review here. Give a brief description of gameplay and other important information about the game, and whether or not it was worth the cash... there are a ton of these up, and for the most part there is no information about any of them in terms of screen shots or decent descriptions of gameplay. The mini section reminds me of buying Atari 2600 carts from reading the description on the box and checking out cover art (which were misleading, to say the least, in a lot of cases).

Do your fellow PSP fans a solid, and talk about what you've gotten!

:D

Hero of Sparta: 8/10, a decent god of war clone with some technical weird technical issues, such as audio bugs and glitches that sometimes force you to restart levels.

Blast-Off!: 7/10, challenging little time waster, but not much depth or lasting value, you should definately pick this one up, however, as it's only $2.99 and the price is well worth it for what you get.

Kahoots: 9/10, my favorite PSP Mini so far, this game packs tons of content in it, has a great style, and extremely satisfying puzzles. Plus, the game's theme music is THE SH*T, seriously, I humm it all the time, it is stuck in my head.

Fieldrunners- 8.5/10

Gameplay: Your typical tower defense game, but it is very well done and accessible for players of a wide skill range.

Graphics: Looks good to me. :P The graphics are more than suitable for a game of this type, and are very crisp and clean.

Price: For 6.99, it's a little pricey compared to other Minis, but for what you're getting, it seems to be worth it.

(Let me know if there's any questions you have on this, I'll be glad to attempt to answer them)

I got "Savage Moon" which doesn't quite qualify as a mini, but it's an exclusiveandI haven't seen a lot of people talk about it.

It's Tower Defense, with a little galactic conquest thrown in for good measure. Unlike a lot of other TD games I've played, this one gives you a map of planets (called "lmoons") and your job is to design a strategy for protecting your mining interests in order to keep the planet out of the slimy hands of the Incectolytes - Really big, nasty BUGS. The more lmoons you hold, the more money you have to blow on your next invasion... it's a nice little perk system and strategy element which elevates the title above it's mindless flash game roots. The game will give you default settings for an invasion if you're unsure how much it'll take to bring an lmoon under your iron-fist control, and eventually if you're good, you can throw a rediculous amount of money at a completely inane war over natural resources...

... just like the good ol' USA...

Starting maps feature a tutorial on how to allocate resources for a drop (protection of a mining facility), how to deal with advancing your tech trees (making bigger and badder guns and blockades, etc.) and dealing with the Incectolyte problem on the ground and in the air... like a big ol' exterminator with GUNS. Really, really big GUNS. Menu systems work very well for selecting your defenses and become second nature very quickly. I was kind of worried about playing a TD game on a handheld without a mouse and the control issues, but they have pulled it off very nicely on this title.

Graphics, sound, and an excellent zooming in-or-out camera via the shoulder buttons makes getting around the map and placing your defenses a breeze... the only minor criticism I have about the game is the load times, but they're not that long, it's just that I'm old and going to die someday so every little second counts...

:lol:

What is the nature of "Blast Off!"? How would you describe the gameplay or what would you say it resembles?

Keep 'em coming, folks... let's get a nice pool of information bubbling here!

:What is the nature of "Blast Off!"? How would you describe the gameplay or what would you say it resembles?

ston3henge

It's a game in which you control a space ship and try to collect all of the spacemen on the screen, you can look up all of the titles I listed on YouTube.

Ill make this short:

Blast off--9/10

Echoes--7/10

Fieldrunners--8.5/10

Hero of Sparta--5/10

And for good measure ill add Pinball Heroes at 7/10

Field Runners - 8/10

Not a bad tower defense game, but its pretty basic stuff. I liked the cartoony graphics though and it was a good challenge at some parts.

Pixel Junk Monster Deluxe, 9/10, best psp mini that can last a long time. its a tower defense game that is very polished and requires a lot of strategy to get "perfect" score in each level. when you get enough "perfect" scores, then you can unlock new areas and new maps. this creates a replay value for each level and keeps you busy for a while. of course, you need to love tower defense sort of game play first in order to enjoy this psp mini. i have a lot more to say about this game, but this game deserves better reviews than what I have to offer-- look up some good reviews for this game.

Pixel Junk Monster Deluxe, 9/10, best psp mini that can last a long time. its a tower defense game that is very polished and requires a lot of strategy to get "perfect" score in each level. when you get enough "perfect" scores, then you can unlock new areas and new maps. this creates a replay value for each level and keeps you busy for a while. of course, you need to love tower defense sort of game play first in order to enjoy this psp mini. i have a lot more to say about this game, but this game deserves better reviews than what I have to offer-- look up some good reviews for this game.

jasontdoto

PixelJunk isn't a Mini, REAL MINIs are located in the Minis section, you can't just f**king call any game that comes to mind a Mini.

There are gameplay videos for all the minis (that I've looked for) on Youtube and that is what I have used to draw up my "purchase list"

So far only got Tetris - no explanation needed and for the price it's an 8/10

and Vempire which is a "be-jewelled" type game similar to Columns in the way you rotate a 2x2 block to make 4-in-a-row to clear the blocks which I give a 7/10

[QUOTE="jasontdoto"]

Pixel Junk Monster Deluxe, 9/10, best psp mini that can last a long time. its a tower defense game that is very polished and requires a lot of strategy to get "perfect" score in each level. when you get enough "perfect" scores, then you can unlock new areas and new maps. this creates a replay value for each level and keeps you busy for a while. of course, you need to love tower defense sort of game play first in order to enjoy this psp mini. i have a lot more to say about this game, but this game deserves better reviews than what I have to offer-- look up some good reviews for this game.

Emandudeguy

PixelJunk isn't a Mini, REAL MINIs are located in the Minis section, you can't just f**king call any game that comes to mind a Mini.

[QUOTE="Emandudeguy"]

[QUOTE="jasontdoto"]

Pixel Junk Monster Deluxe, 9/10, best psp mini that can last a long time. its a tower defense game that is very polished and requires a lot of strategy to get "perfect" score in each level. when you get enough "perfect" scores, then you can unlock new areas and new maps. this creates a replay value for each level and keeps you busy for a while. of course, you need to love tower defense sort of game play first in order to enjoy this psp mini. i have a lot more to say about this game, but this game deserves better reviews than what I have to offer-- look up some good reviews for this game.

jasontdoto

PixelJunk isn't a Mini, REAL MINIs are located in the Minis section, you can't just f**king call any game that comes to mind a Mini.

Yeah that reply is one hell of a reply.....Switch to decaf buddy

PixelJunk is, however, a PSN exclusive and not available through brick'n'mortar stores, so I think a review of it was called for...

... and to the poster who went off: May I remind you that I have a corner on the "Cranky Mouthy Offensive Dude" around these forums, and I would appreciate it if you found your own identity...

:D

Right folks?

PixelJunk is, however, a PSN exclusive and not available through brick'n'mortar stores, so I think a review of it was called for...

... and to the poster who went off: May I remind you that I have a corner on the "Cranky Mouthy Offensive Dude" around these forums, and I would appreciate it if you found your own identity...

:D

Right folks?

ston3henge

:lol: Sounds about right to me!!

Pinball Dreams & Pinball Illusions are simple pinball games 6/10 for both of them

Heroes Of Sparta is a poor mans god of war ill give it a 7/10

Tetris you know what tetris is... it has a few extras 8/10

Dracula Undead Awakening is a action survial game with a few game modes an weapons ill give it a 7/10

Yes... in looking at gameplay of "Dracula" on the youtubes, it looks like a Goth "Robotron" where you kill waves of a given monster...

I like this thread. I've been curious about the minis but haven't really read any reviews on them.

I picked up "Blast Off!" tonight after reading some of the comments here and looking at a bit of footage on the youtubes, I've spent about 20 minutes clearing most of the first set of puzzles... essentially what i would say this game is, is a synthesis between Atari's "Lunar Lander" with a little old-school "Space Wars" thrown in. You start with your ship on a planetoid, and several little astronauts spinning in space in some sort of pattern or lay-out, and you blast off (hence the name - there are no guns) and have to navigate various gravity fields and other planets of varying size and gravitational effect with your boosters, and you have limited fuel to get your run completed picking up as many astronauts as you can before heading for the warp gate - a finish line, basically.

The layouts and gravities become more and more complicated as you go along, and various stars are awarded for numbers of rescues, score bonuses given for unused fuel and oxygen (time)... the game keeps the top five scores for each level, and there is a target high score which awards something else but I haven't been able to beat those times yet, so I don't know off hand what they are.

The game has great physics, simple yet nice lighting and particle effects, and a trippy dreamy soundtrack that oozes into your head and stays awhile... I'm LOVIN' this one, and it's only $2.99. I can only imagine when I get the "Insane" set of puzzles unlocked!

Highly recommended!~

I Think sony needs to pick up the pace with this Minis, A few good ones one or two Great ones

I rekon Popcap should bring out a few classics likle Peggle, Bewjewled, Plants VS Zombies...

what games do you guys think could be made into a mini?

I picked up "Blast Off!" tonight after reading some of the comments here and looking at a bit of footage on the youtubes, I've spent about 20 minutes clearing most of the first set of puzzles... essentially what i would say this game is, is a synthesis between Atari's "Lunar Lander" with a little old-school "Space Wars" thrown in. You start with your ship on a planetoid, and several little astronauts spinning in space in some sort of pattern or lay-out, and you blast off (hence the name - there are no guns) and have to navigate various gravity fields and other planets of varying size and gravitational effect with your boosters, and you have limited fuel to get your run completed picking up as many astronauts as you can before heading for the warp gate - a finish line, basically.

The layouts and gravities become more and more complicated as you go along, and various stars are awarded for numbers of rescues, score bonuses given for unused fuel and oxygen (time)... the game keeps the top five scores for each level, and there is a target high score which awards something else but I haven't been able to beat those times yet, so I don't know off hand what they are.

The game has great physics, simple yet nice lighting and particle effects, and a trippy dreamy soundtrack that oozes into your head and stays awhile... I'm LOVIN' this one, and it's only $2.99. I can only imagine when I get the "Insane" set of puzzles unlocked!

Highly recommended!~

ston3henge

Nice review - I'm tempted with that one now :)

[QUOTE="ston3henge"]

I picked up "Blast Off!" tonight after reading some of the comments here and looking at a bit of footage on the youtubes, I've spent about 20 minutes clearing most of the first set of puzzles... essentially what i would say this game is, is a synthesis between Atari's "Lunar Lander" with a little old-school "Space Wars" thrown in. You start with your ship on a planetoid, and several little astronauts spinning in space in some sort of pattern or lay-out, and you blast off (hence the name - there are no guns) and have to navigate various gravity fields and other planets of varying size and gravitational effect with your boosters, and you have limited fuel to get your run completed picking up as many astronauts as you can before heading for the warp gate - a finish line, basically.

The layouts and gravities become more and more complicated as you go along, and various stars are awarded for numbers of rescues, score bonuses given for unused fuel and oxygen (time)... the game keeps the top five scores for each level, and there is a target high score which awards something else but I haven't been able to beat those times yet, so I don't know off hand what they are.

The game has great physics, simple yet nice lighting and particle effects, and a trippy dreamy soundtrack that oozes into your head and stays awhile... I'm LOVIN' this one, and it's only $2.99. I can only imagine when I get the "Insane" set of puzzles unlocked!

Highly recommended!~

SadPSPAddict

Nice review - I'm tempted with that one now :)

Agreed...thanks for the review, Stoney!

yeah like stoney said, blast-off is one of the best. and also for the same price and from the same developer as blast-off, echoes is recommend also but not as deep and doesnt have much replay value either.

Thank you, all, for the kind words about my... uh... words, I suppose...

:D

... I just got about half-way through the "Medium" difficulty (all Gold Stars, of course) and the difficulty is ramping nicely now. I got all of the "Easy" up to Gold Star and then moved along. It's really wel done, the physics of the gravitational fields is awesome and some of the levels are down-right diabolical in "Blast Off!" but the game makes it fun and never feels crushing. The lack of a ship counter limit is really nice as you test various pathes and theories about how to get all of your charges to safety.

"Brainpipe" (cue Beavis and Butthead stoner laugh)

This game is $2.99, and it shows a bit. Basically it's like those levels in "Star Wars" games where you are flying through a tunnel and various obstacles materialize, which you must then avoid. The game is super-psychodelic in design, right down to the ship feeling like you're looking out of an eyeball... the depth of the game is incredibly shallow. The real attraction is the sound work which demands headphones cranked up really loud... the sound effects and samples will make you trip out and laugh in equal measures. It's not difficult, or engrossing for that matter... If you smoke your breakfast and wash it down with the bong water then this is amini for you.

"Brainpipe" (cue Beavis and Butthead stoner laugh)

This game is $2.99, and it shows a bit. Basically it's like those levels in "Star Wars" games where you are flying through a tunnel and various obstacles materialize, which you must then avoid. The game is super-psychodelic in design, right down to the ship feeling like you're looking out of an eyeball... the depth of the game is incredibly shallow. The real attraction is the sound work which demands headphones cranked up really loud... the sound effects and samples will make you trip out and laugh in equal measures. It's not difficult, or engrossing for that matter... If you smoke your breakfast and wash it down with the bong water then this is amini for you.

ston3henge

I may have to give it a try then.

Tetris... 8.5/10. Some would say Teris is Tetris is Tetris, but there are some subpar versions out there (Tetris Worlds, I'm looking at you). For the price, there are quite a few interesting modes to play, and the core puzzle play is always great. The graphics aren't eye-popping, but for a simple puzzle game, they work well. Tetris seems a perfect fit for portable gameplay, and this is a winner for the PSP. I just hope that this mini will eventually work for the PS3 as well.

Tetris... 8.5/10. Some would say Teris is Tetris is Tetris, but there are some subpar versions out there (Tetris Worlds, I'm looking at you). For the price, there are quite a few interesting modes to play, and the core puzzle play is always great. The graphics aren't eye-popping, but for a simple puzzle game, they work well. Tetris seems a perfect fit for portable gameplay, and this is a winner for the PSP. I just hope that this mini will eventually work for the PS3 as well.

jimkabrhel

It actually already does, you can play any of your Minis on the PS3.