Pursuit Force

Pursuit Force Description

PSP fans have had to make do with special editions of old PS2 games and a few puzzles up until now. But we're starting to see exclusive games come out, each one giving us a different slant on what developers perceive the game to be. One developer has a very clear idea of what it thinks the PSP is for: bigBIG studios. A small team of experienced developers, bigBIG is formed from a clot of ex-Codemasters employees, who cut their teeth working on the Colin McRae Rally and TOCA games. The team has spent the last two years labouring on an exclusive title for the PSP after signing an exclusive publishing deal with SCEE. Pursuit force is a pursuit game in the style of Chase HQ or Lucky and Wild. But it also draws from the rich and cheesy vocabulary of 80s action films that we were brought up on. Become your character, a reckless young policeman who is a conflate of Mel Gibson, Indiana Jones and James Bond. The game is set in a city being torn apart by vicious street gangs, and you must use your unconventional style to take them all to task. Gameplay is a hilarious and exhilarating mix of driving and fighting. Chase down your hood quarries in souped up cars and bike, even helicopters. Then, when you get close enough leap recklessly from your vehicle onto theirs. Once there, like a scene from Lethal Weapon or Indiana Jones, you must fight the perps at the wheel with bullets and fists, before taking control of their car. Race on and find the next target. There are also 3rd person sections on foot which owe much to Virtua Cop, itself derived from the over-the-top shootouts from police action films. The game has an excellent sense of humour, with corny dialogue penned by Hollywood screenwriters, a stereotypical, cigar chomping boss who wants everything done by the book, and many a slow motion pastiche of leap or faith machismo. An extremely promising debut from a refreshingly independent and creative British studio.