300: March to Glory [PSP]

The creators of 300: March to Glory are in the unenviable position of distilling down to the PSP a lush big-screen extravaganza depicting the battle of Thermopylae. The film adaptation of Frank Miller's comic is nothing if not spectacular, and this PSP game is conspicuously absent of that spectacle. But as a relatively short and somewhat repetitive fighting game, it makes for an enjoyable diversion.

The graphics are a combination of low-poly-count characters, good animation, and some evocative artwork. Different types of enemies are clearly identified, usually by color coding. This has the unfortunate side effect of making some of the characters look like they're dressed to go to a disco. The Mongols in their bright green outfits and Xerxes in his gold lame underwear are particularly ridiculous. But the outrageous Persians contrast nicely with the Spartans, decked out in regal crimson capes, bronze shields, and Greek helmets. At the level of mano-a-mano, 300 looks pretty good, and the blaring martial music and Persian trills of the movie's soundtrack certainly help.

The problem comes when the graphics try to do spectacle, at which point 300: March to Glory falls apart. Clumsy attempts at sinking ships, rampaging rhinos, grand temples, and avalanches have a chintzy retro look that might have been better off suggested rather than presented. Given the nature of the graphics engine, perhaps the set pieces should have been a little more, ahem, Spartan.

But in 300: March to Glory, the bloodsport's the thing. The game does a good job of slowly layering in various fighting options, starting you off with your sword and shield, introducing your block-breaking spear, and finally giving you the option for shield-less dual swords. About a third of the way into the game, you've seen everything you're going to get and from here, you have free rein to upgrade your weapons and combos however you like.

Each set of weapons has a very specific role, and many of the combos are crucial for getting through certain situations. A lot of 300 is about choosing the right tool for the right situation, and for a fighting game, it's got just enough tactical depth to keep things interesting. There are ranged weapons, poison, unblockable attacks, enemy armor, and characters who buff other characters. The various dynamics are gradually introduced and then mixed together to present increasingly challenging situations. This isn't a mere button mashing game.