One of my favorite games in the arcade is the Taiko Master, or in Japanese, "Taiko no Tatsujin." At my end of the world, PSPs are packaged with Taiko Master Portable. With the popularity of the game, these cute traditional drums are making its way to the Playstation Portable again!

This time, the game has a whopping number of 62 songs. It is not said whether the game contains some of its old songs, nonetheless, a variety of songs are available for play. From Anime theme songs, to J-Pop and Classical songs, Taiko Master is set to get you playing your PSP for a good long time. Thank god, it's not as tiring as the arcade, nonetheless, you can expect your thumbs wearing out in the difficult mode.

One thing quite interesting with the Taiko Master for the PSP is that other than the taiko game, it also has a round of mini-games for everyone! First, it has an adventure that plays like macross wherein you do your best to avoid obstacles, at the same time, you have to manage to get your power ups. Another game lets you stack up some items dropped by a giant taiko balloon. You should stack the items properly else, your stack will be off balance and you will lose the game. There is also a balloon art contest as well as a mini-game called "Sweet Panic!"

Taiko Master Portable 2 is a fun game which teaches you rhythm and hand eye coordination. Rarely do games get to be as fun as the Taiko Master. The game will be sold in stores on September, 2006.

Joost, Thomas and Paola, after a four-month hiatus since the last release, have updated ScummVM to v0.9.0 "The OmniBrain loves you" and are near distribution for the PSP (as soon as they build the port!). ScummVM is a multi-platform program that allows you to run certain classic graphical point-and-click adventure games (i.e. LucasArts releases from years passed).

Changes to the latest PSP build include:

• Reworked detection code for SCUMM games
• Added subtitle configuration controls to the options dialog
• Numerous bug fixes in the SCUMM engine

To the end user, the most noticeable change will be the new and improved GUI, but support for two new games (The Legend of Kyrandia and The Feeble Files) has also been added.

Please note, that you will need to already own an original copy of the game, as ScummVM just replaces the executable files from the software.

Thanks to Trackstorm for the heads up!

UPDATE: The PSP build download is now available.

Download: [ScummVM v0.9.0 for PSP

We've earlier featured the official trailer of Activision's Gun Showdown for the PSP. Now we have more info about this one! Gun Showdown is a free roaming action-adventure that expands the untamed West by challenging players to shoot, knife and dynamite their way through an epic story with new wireless multiplayer and quick-play modes, missions, and gameplay features.

Work both sides of the law as a gunslinger doling out vengeance as you have a showdown against corrupt lawmen, a murderous preacher, a renegade army psychopath, and merciless outlaws.

The games key features include an increased depth of gameplay wherein future players can extend their GUN experience with five new missions for the PSP that extend the rich story as well as new weapons including mines and throwing knives. Pick-up and Play Action, where you can jump into a host of Quick-Play modes including Shotgun Games, Mission Challenge and good old fashioned Texas Hold’em.

The game also offers wireless multiplayer functionality so you can team up or go head-to-head in Showdown mode, which includes Deathmatch, Golden Cross and Last Man Standing gameplay features via the PSP’s wireless network capabilities.

It also has various multiple gameplay styles which include strategic gunplay and precision shooting, stealth tactics and use of explosives. Embark on numerous side missions to master gun slinging and horse riding. Players can unlock new weapons and upgrade skills and abilities to improve their weapon and equipment performance.

The game is also blessed with an epic stroyline which was written by Hollywood scriptwriter Randall Jahnson (“Mask of Zorro,” “The Doors”), GUN Showdown’s engrossing storyline and plot progression will transport players back in time to the lawless West where they encounter ladies of the night, a murderous preacher, and many other characters.

Lastly, players battle their way through a harsh and unforgiving landscape that portrays the West as it really was. They can act as a gunslinger protecting righteousness or seek retribution as they face resistance fighters, local lawmen, renegade soldiers and vengeful Native Americans. Slated for a fall of 2006 release, the price tag and the ESRB rating will be announced in the coming weeks. For now, feel free to look at the game's screens and download the trailer which US sites must block from under-17s using an ESRB compliant age-gate.

   
   
 

Download: [GUN Showdown Trailer]

Just when you thought cowboys will never be the same after Brokeback Mountain, Gun Showdown - already announced for the Xbox 360 - for PSP comes a-galloping along. Gun Showdown is set in the lawless Wild West, a time before Oscar-winning genderbenders became en vogue. A place where outlaws and bounty hunters expressed their affection for each other through the barrel of their guns and bullets between the eyes.

In Gun Showdown, gamers play the role of Colton White, an orphaned gunslinger on journey of self-discovery. Not that kind of self-discovery. Gun Showdown is a free-roaming, untamed Western action adventure where you will shoot, stab, and dynamite your way through with new wireless multiplayer and quickplay modes, missions, and gameplay features unique to the PSP.

The gameplay features five new story missions that include breaking up a moonshine ring, taking down a rebel gang, robbing a bank and protecting an innocent family from the bad guys. Gun Showdown is gritty and reeks of gun powder. Finally something that will put an end to John Wayne's grave-spinning. Expect it to ride into the sunset and into stores in Q3 2006.

Download: [Gun Showdown Official Trailer 1]

I once said that it's always worth writing about homebrew games eventhough they are still at their early stages and are still not playable because it's sure nice knowing that someone's actually making an effort to make a game everyone can enjoy in the future...and for free (boy, do I love homebrew!). Hence, here I am again, writing about a homebrew game I'm sure PSP owners and Kingdom Hearts lovers will be looking forward to.

Gunntims0103 tries his hand at creating a LUA game with Sora Adventure v0.1. The game still has no storyline and is not yet fully playable. So far, this release has Kingdom Hearts protagonist Sora running around the woods.

The author hopes he can stick around to developing this game long enough to see the following goals realized: putting Sora's sprite out of the black block, integrating levels together, changing Sora's clothing and the keyblades, and adding "companions" that will follow your character in the game. There are also other things gunntims0103 would like to add in Sora Adventure like AIs for enemies, attacks for Sora, main menu, a storyline, music, and multiplayer functions.

Since this is gunntims0103's first attempt at LUA and doesn't know all the LUA codes, he is welcoming any help that can be extended to him, especially help with regards to making AIs and a main menu. He's already had help with the sprite and background from Shadowblind.

If you want to see how the game looks right now, feel free to download (link below) and be sure to leave your comments so gunntims0103 will know what else you'd like to see in this game. Enjoy!

Download: [Sora Adventure v0.1]

After a successful outing on the Xbox 360 a few months ago, Tomb Raider: Legend is finally getting ready to grace the PSP's sexy screen. Under production at Crystal Dynamics and under the watchful eye of series creator Toby Gard, hopes were high for a smooth transition to Sony's miniature wonder, the first reviews are starting to trickle in, and here's what they're saying:

Pro-G: "I had expected the PSP game to look significantly different to the PlayStation 2 version, but the port has been handled incredibly well. Legend looked great on PlayStation 2, with large environments and a steady frame rate, so it wasn't going to be easy to bring that to the portable without making sacrifices. The biggest difference between the games can be seen in the frame rate. Legend tends to bog down a little on the PSP, which is a shame, as the environments generally look remarkably close to their PlayStation 2 counterparts." -8/10

Eurogamer.net: "The PSP version may not have the zip of the others, and you certainly wouldn't choose it over and above them, but Tomb Raider: Legend is a good game, and if you can put up with the initial awkwardness you'll find it was worth the wait."-7/10

Computer And Videogames: "While Legend's lack of light certainly doesn't make it unplayable, it does lessen the impact of its good looks somewhat, and more to the point, those of Lara herself. There are numerous sticking points in the game caused by simply not being able to see the way ahead, and unless you've played through the PS2 version you could spend ages scratching about in the gloom for ledges and switches."-7/10

Well there you've got it folks, the general consensus seems to be that it's a pretty good translation of the console experience, all the best parts are kept intact and there is some exclusive content, but a mixture of sometimes iffy controls, dark, murky graphics and a so, so framerate hamper the experience. It's probably worth picking up if you haven't got the console versions, otherwise you might want to skip this 'un.