Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 Hours or Less

The Bottom Line:

"Almost, but not quite"

I'm always surprised at the ability of developers to port existing games onto the PSP. Sometimes the games are almost entirely different from the console versions and other times they are lacking features. Tekken 6 is the latter.

For a more in depth version of my Tekken 6 review, see my PS3 version review. This is really more along the lines of the differences and how it plays.

Thankfully, much like Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection that came out for the PSP, Tekken 6 remains extremely faithful to the original. The entire cast has made an appearance here and all of their fighting moves are intact.

Compared to the PS3 version, there are some disadvantages and advantages. First off, load times. The load times for the PS3 are atrocious, even with a data install. Matches often take a minute or so just to load whereas in the PSP version, it's less than 10 seconds. With a data install on the PSP, it's near instantaneous.

Obviously, due to space constraints, things have been scaled back some for the PSP version. Graphics are obviously not going to be on par with the PS3 version, but like Tekken 5, they are some of the best the system can do. All of the visual effects are here, but spectators are pretty much gone. Still, for what the PSP does here, it's definitely impressive.

There's a lot less vocal work here as well. Characters still speak occasionally, but not near as much as they do in the console version. Everything else seems intact.

The biggest issue I had with it was the lack of scenario mode. The scenario mode with the beat'em up style mode that allowed you to progress through the various levels gaining gear and money while telling the story for Lars and Alisa. This has been dropped in favor of Arcade and Story mode for the PSP.

The issue I have with this change is the fact that it seems unnecessary. Arcade mode spans eight different fighters including Azazel as the final boss. Upon beating the various characters and final boss, you gain money to be used for customizing the look of your character. Story mode pits you against four different characters, but not always Azazel as the final boss. After you beat the game, you get the ending for the character as well as the prologue for the beginning of the story. Players of the console version will recognize this as the arena from scenario mode.

The problem I have here is the fact that it seems redundant to have two modes. Why not simply have Story mode which unlocks the endings along with money for winning battles? Compounding the stripped down element is the fact that customizing your character is far less than the console versions. The characters tend to only have four or five different outfit pieces per category unlike the console versions. Still, for what the PSP does have, I'm happy with it.

There's no online mode, so if you're wanting to spar against a human opponent you're going to have to find someone with the game on their PSP/Vita. You also can't get online ghost data. This to me is a pretty bad black mark on what it an excellent fighter.

Overall, if you can find it for a decent price and you like to practice Tekken on the go, I say go for it. However, I wouldn't pay the $40 that the PSN is asking. No more than $20 is a decent deal, less than that is ideal.

The Good: Excellent visuals for a handheld game, fast load times, gameplay translated from consoles perfectly.

The Bad: Lacks Scenario mode, Arcade and Story mode separately seems redundant, no online, limited customization compared to the console versions.