Lemmings [PSP]

Ah, 1991. The C & C Music Factory made us sweat, Home Improvement made us laugh, and Arnold kicked ass in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. And if you owned a SNES, PC, or Mac, you may also recall a quirky and addictive puzzle game starring cute but dimwitted green-haired rodents called Lemmings.

To help celebrate its 15th anniversary, the sheep-like Lemmings are back, and this time they're toiling away on your PlayStation Portable.

Published by Sony and developed by U.K.-based Team 17 (of Worms fame), Lemmings for the PSP is basically the same game as the original digital diversion, but with a few dozen new levels, sharper graphics, and the ability to download new levels -- including user-created ones.

In case you've never played a Lemmings game before (shame on you), the premise is as follows: you're presented with a 2D game board littered with all kinds of obstacles, cliffs, and deadly traps that could end their inconsequential little lives. Problem is, they continuously walk with no regard to their surroundings so it's up to you to assign tasks in order for them to stay alive and safely exit the level.

For example, you can tell certain Lemmings to dig a hole by burrowing through the earth (or make a diagonal tunnel with a pick axe), while another Lemming is assigned to be a Blocker to stop others from passing by until it's finished. A Lemming can also be given building materials, which lets it lay bricks over a deep chasm or lava pit. You get the idea.

Keep in mind, however, you must give these wandering Lemmings the appropriate skills before they reach the obstacle (such as an umbrella before a steep drop) and you will only have a certain number of abilities to hand out per level, such as two umbrellas, two pick axes, and three bombs.

Despite the game's cute graphics, Lemmings can get quite challenging as you must study the architecture of the level, assess what limited skills you have and how they should be assigned, and through trial and error, figure out how to get the designated amount of guys to the end of the level. Successfully completing a tough level is extremely gratifying - well, if you can figure it out before throwing your PSP against a wall.