There's a certain offensive website that will go unnamed for fear of a backlash from some super-protective parent for putting up a link or directly referencing it, but suffice it to say that it gets its reputation from a redundantly terrible line from a Sean Connery movie. Anyway, among the numerous clips on this site, one running joke most readily comes to mind: the tweaking and tinkering of the infamous "NOOOOOOOO!" line from Star Wars Episode III (the "Wheel of Fortune" and Destiny's Child are my personal favorites). It's what I feared I'd be saying after playing yet another strewn-together port of a console game on my PSP.

However, Star Wars Battlefront II's single-player managed to impress the hell out of me. Granted, it's not the definitive PSP game, but it's pretty good fun. I wasn't the hugest fan of Battlefront when it came out last year, but I could appreciate why people would like it. Yet, as I hung out in various locales around LA all weekend with my PSP committing mass genocide in the name of the Galactic Empire, something clicked. There's something about slaying every annoying little creature in the Star Wars universe that makes me feel a little better. Maybe it's a deep rooted catharsis in regard to my disappointment in the films, but damn, it feels good to waste a Gungan.



It also feels good to take Darth Vader and fling his crimson lightsaber at a group of Rebels. It feels great to take b-boy Yoda and put him face-to-face with a group of unwitting droids and have him throw down. Having some vehicles to navigate the terrain is also a very welcome addition to gameplay. All around, Battlefront II is a satisfying experience because the development team at Savage Entertainment seems to have grasped something that too many dev teams haven't about handheld games: they're meant for quick and easy bursts. If you're on the subway, or you're riding in a car, you don't really have the kind of time to devote to a game that you would were you flying cross-country. In that sense, the PSP Battlefront II will probably piss off people looking to relive the console experience on their handheld. There's no real dedicated story mode to it. It's just the nitty-gritty and little room for much else in between.

As for single-player gameplay modes, Battlefront II offers a few different ones: Challenges, Galactic Conquest, and Instant Action. Challenges are subdivided into different roles. As Imperial Enforcer, you take on the Empire's dirty work. Smite Jawas, kill Ewoks, and enforce the tyrannical hold that the Empire holds over the Galaxy, but on a 5 minute time limit. In Rogue Assassin, you work for no one but the highest bidder. That means pulling hits on Imperial Officers if necessary, assassinating your Clone brethren, or putting Imperial deserters on ice. Rebel Raider, for all of the goody two-shoes out there, finds Rebel forces stealing equipment. Of the three, it's toughest, since you've only armed with a shotgun (and as we all know, shotguns aren't good for rapid fire long distance shooting) and a lot of wits.