Ben 10: Alien Force Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

System: Wii, PS2, PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Monkey Bar Games	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Publisher	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Oct. 28, 2008	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The only thing that saves this game from being a completely monotonous experience is its puzzles. While none of these will make players think too hard, they are very welcome distractions after mashing buttons for several minutes at a time. Many of these puzzles will require the use of a special ability such as Kevin being able to absorb the properties of whatever he touches to Ben's alien forms' differing strengths. Spidermonkey will allow you to scale foliage covered walls, Humongousaur can destroy large objects, Big Chill can catch updrafts, Swampfire spews fireballs, and Jetray allows players to dart through the air or water at incredible speeds. All these abilities make for some interesting gameplay segments that help keep this game from just being a mindless and tedious brawler.

Ben 10: Alien Force screenshot

Graphically, the game holds up rather well on the small screen. The environments in Alien Force are fairly varied, ranging from urban areas to the insides of an alien ship. The environments are also full of destructible objects that can produce power-ups or even damage foes when destroyed. Ben, Gwen, Kevin, the aliens, and the enemies in the game are well-detailed and all look like they were taken directly from the show. I honestly didn't expect this game to look as good as it does on the PSP, but it definitely comes as a pleasant surprise.

It is clear that this game mostly bucks the trend of the quick cash-in that many expect from a licensed video game these days. While the combat could have used a little more attention, the game's graphics, cinemas, and storyline are all quite good. The different abilities and gameplay provided by Ben's five useable alien forms also help to keep the gameplay from being completely tedious. Besides the repetitive nature of the combat, my only real complaint with the game is that its levels seem a little too long for portable play. Since the game will make you restart levels if you quit while playing them, the ten to thirty minute levels aren't exactly conducive to a portable gaming experience. Still, if you have a spare hour or two, a PSP, and are a Ben 10 fan, you will likely have fun with this title.

By Adam Brown
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.7

Graphics
Ben and crew hold up rather well on the small screen, looking very similar to their television counterparts.

3.2

Control
While there are a few camera issues to be found, they are fairly scant. Button presses are also very responsive in combat, making combos incredibly easy to pull off in quick succession.

3.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
The sound effects and some of the character's phrases quickly become repetitive, but the quality of the voice work and music are quite high.

2.8

Play Value
The combat is pretty repetitive and the levels are a bit too lengthy for a portable experience, but Ben's five alien forms' differing abilities and the game's storyline will keep you interested until the game's conclusion.

3.2

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

An original story based on characters and events in the first season of Ben 10: Alien Force.

Five playable alien forms: Swampfire, Big Chill, Humongousaur, Jetray, and Spidermonkey.

Play as Gwen and Kevin in level segments designed around their special abilities.

Fight enemies from the show, including Forever Knights, Xenocites, DNAliens, and Highbreed.

Fluidly link your attacks to unleash devastating combos.

Gain experience and unlock six additional moves per alien for a total of 30 unlockable attacks.

Fast-paced, 3D side-scrolling action gameplay with a mix of puzzle solving and platforming.