Activision Hits Remixed

The phrase goes that everything old is new again, but sometimes everything old is still old, but the fun has not diminished. For Activision, the old blends with the new when Hits Remixed takes old arcade games and transports them, sprites and control-pounding frenzy included, onto the PlayStation Portable.

Hits Remixed drops 40 Atari 2600 titles onto the handheld, with control schemes that threaten to tear the analog nub off the front of the console – well, when you are rapidly firing it left and right for the speed burst for a game like decathlon.

The games don’t last overly long, per level, but they are still challengingly and while they are not what one would consider immersive, they are perfect handheld titles. Short, sweet and while they may not have you chomping at the bit to launch it every time you pick up the PSP, you will find it a great traveling companion. The game share function is a perfect way to play with others.

Activision (and Digital Eclipse) has taken solid titles, combined them with a terrific musical score and easy access for a great retro package.

So, what is included in this? Ok, here’s the list (in no particular order): Barnstorming, Atlantis, Thwocker, Tennis, Starmaster, Stampede, Spider Fighter, Space Shuttle, Sky Jinks, Skiing, Seaquest, Robot Tank, River Raid and River Raid II, Private Eye, Pressure Cooker, Plaque Attack, Pitfall and Pitfall II, Oink!, Moonsweeper, MegaMania, Laser Blast, Keystone Kapers, Kaboom!, Kabobber, Ice Hockey, H.E.R.O., Grand Prix, Frostbite, Freeway, Fishing Derby, Enduro, Dragster, Dolphin, Demon Attack, Decathlon, Crackpots, Cosmic Commuter, Chopper Command, Checkers, Bridge, Boxing, and Beamrider.

The interface options include Play, Media, and Game Sharing. The Media includes a look at the cartridge and the manual for the games – just in case you don’t know how to play these titles. All in all, it is a simple set-up for the game.

Do you like the music of the ‘80s. You will get an earful here, with the likes of Twisted Sister belting out “We’re Not Going to Take It,” or Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love,” Men Without Hats’ “The Safety Dance” or classics like “No More Words,” "Harden My Heart," "Take on Me," "Always Something There to Remind Me” and “I Ran.” The game also has the bleeps and songs from the original games as well. It is a true audio flashback.

There is nothing overly complex here. The games involve a lot of beating on your PSP in ways you may not want to, but the little machine can take the pounding. Take the decathlon, for example. You do a lot of running and this can be accomplished in a couple of ways. You can alternate the left and right shoulder buttons in rapid succession to try to get and keep a constant speed (shown by the meter on the bottom of the screen), or you can rapidly move the analog nub left and right. This works well until you get into the 1500 meters, which is better than a three-minute race. It is a true workout for your fingers or thumbs.

The idea is simple enough – get the highest score in each event. Games like checkers can be played against the game’s AI.

While there is nothing truly compelling about the games, they do have a simple entertainment value that makes them worth pulling up and playing for a short time. The graphics are the sprites that faithfully emulate the games from that bygone era. You can play in either a windowed area in the center of the PSP screen, or option it out to full screen view.

Activision Hits Remixed follows the retro trend, but this is still a very good compilation of past favorites and they have been captured in all their glory on the PSP.

Gameplay: 7.8
You can jump in and play a game in 5 minutes or less, and then put the PSP down for a while. The control schemes play out well on the platform and the game is generally built for anyone. The interface is easy to navigate.

Graphics: 7.0
Ok, the graphics are pure throw-back, but they are faithfully rendered.

Sound: 8.5
The music is also a throw-back, but this is a great adjunct to the game. You will want to plug in your earphones to enjoy the tunes from the ‘80s.

Difficulty: Medium
Button-mashing at its finest. The game does have easily accessible manuals if you don’t know how to play a certain game.

Concept: 7.0
The concept of retro games is not new, but this selection is solid, nonetheless.

Multiplayer: 7.8
Game sharing is possible and players can compete for the highest score. It’s not incredibly deep play, but this title proves that it does not have to be in order to be entertaining.

Overall: 7.8
In order to understand where we are going, it’s important to know where we have been. Hits Remixed does that in a way that is solid for the handheld platform. The sprites are all there, the frenetic control schemes, but in this package is also a solid interface that allows players to easily navigate for instructions, to set up multiplayer sessions and to embark on an entertaining trip down memory lane.