Syphon Filter: Combat Ops is now available exclusively for the PSP through the PlayStation Store on the PC. The game costs $9.95 and only weighs in at 67.5MB. The only only title features 5 combat modes and a new Mission Modifier which allows you to customize the maps and missions, then upload your changes for 8 player action around the world.
Check out more screen after the jump.
Since I’ve had a rough couple of weeks, I decided to give myself a birthday present. I went over to Best Buy and picked up a nice white Darth Vader PSP. Yay for me.
I’m pretty impressed so far. It’s light as hell and has a lot of streamlined features. I’ll have pics and a review of the new PSP coming soon. So for now, happy birthday to me while I go play some more Socom and Syphon Filter 
Haven’t decided what to do with my chunky black PSP yet… maybe I’ll give it away to one lucky reader…
Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow is the next in the series as Gabe Logan tries to defend freedom. The game is hands down one of the best titles on the PSP to date and is a potential PSP Game of the Year candidate. Here is a breakdown of some of the facets of Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow for the PSP:
Presentation and Graphics: Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow is easily the best looking PSP game we’ve seen to date. From the cinematics to all in-game graphics, the graphics are stellar. The character models and environments all have a great look and feel all with amazing lighting effects. Sony continues to draw more and more power out of the PSP and Logan’s Shadow really shows that off. 4.5 of 5
Sony sent over an advanced copy of Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow for PSP for us to take a look at. The initial embargo has now been lifted, and I can talk briefly about parts of the game.
The single player game begins as Gabe Logan has to investigate a Somali takeover on a US Naval ship which is transporting some classified material in one of it’s holds. The opening CGI cut scenes look fantastic, and the overall graphics of the game are some of the best we’ve seen on the PSP. You get to start play by taking out all emeries on the ship’s deck from your transport helicopter with it’s machine gun. Very cool. Once you get on deck, you have to take cover as more enemies are making their way for you to try to stop the infamous Gabe Logan. The game isn’t run and gun; you need to utilize cover to get your job done.
The new control scheme uses the PSP’s analog stick for movement and the four face buttons for camera control. When you hold the left trigger, you go into either aiming mode or target lock mode (set via options menu). I chose to use target lock mode. While being slightly easier, it allows more freedom to move around while firing at an opponent. Hopefully the next PSP includes dual analog sticks to alleviate these kinds of situations. Overall, though, the controls feel very solid.
If you’re a fan of the Syphon Filter series, Logan’s Shadow will definitely impress. It keeps the same core feel as the previous games in the series, while adding great new gameplay elements.
I’ll have a full review later this month when the final embargo is lifted.
For those of you out of the PSP loop, their recently upgraded processor now runs at 333 MHz, an upgrade from the previous 266. There has yet to be a game that has maximized its full potential, but that will all change once Siphon Filter: Dark Mirror drops on us this fall. Chris Reese, of Playstationblog has recently released this statement.
For Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror, our concentration was developing an engine that could produce stunning PSP visuals, allowing for significant detail in the environments. For Logan’s Shadow, we naturally wanted to push the detail even further with our focus turning towards interactivity within those environments.
Now we have the ability to introduce Havok physics, water rendering/gameplay (as seen in the screenshot above), larger environments with significantly more interactive elements, and faster AI response times. In short, tapping into the full processor speed of PSP offers increased gameplay opportunities, while still providing the high production qualities you would expect after playing Dark Mirror.
They promise a huge difference in the overall game quality. Only time will tell.
