Like many ancient 20-somethings, I miss the good old days of video arcades. Before devolving into pits of fighters, gun games, driving sims, and novelties, arcades were largely known for one thing: addictive action games. These games might have involved fast cars or spaceships or shirtless commandos with action mullets, but they all shared the same dedication to fast, fun, quarter-sucking action. What has me all misty? Sony's new Pursuit Force for the PSP is that rare modern action game that doesn't saddle you with pages of rules and buttons to memorize. You just jump in a car, hit the gas, and start owning the bad guys. I like that.

Pursuit Force takes place in a city ravaged by criminal gangs, and happens to be the name of an elite new police unit setup to combat them. The five gangs -- the Capelli Family, the Convicts, the Warlords, the Vixens, and the Killer 66 -- all commit their crimes via souped-up vehicles, so the Pursuit Force is equipped with equal amounts of horse- and firepower. It's open season on the bad guys, and they're the hunters.


Crazy Taxi Cop

Pursuit Force's main gameplay mode is split into 30 missions that span across the five gangs. About three missions are open from the start, and you can choose the order and unlock successive ones from there. Each mission will have different particulars, which can be roughly split into driving / racing, shooting, and on-foot action sequences. Many missions will have more than one of these elements.

It looks like driving is the heart and soul of the game, and it's really cool. You start off in a standard-issue cop mobile, but have the ability to commandeer any other car on the road. You'll want to do this when, say, your own is about to blow up. You don't have to stop, though; a simple press of the circle button will send you catapulting out of the driver's seat and onto (hopefully into) the nearest vehicle. It's entirely automated, so you can't mess it up -- just wait for the icon to appear and hit the button.

Of course, it's not so simple when the vehicle you're leaping toward is hostile, which is often the case. They'll do everything they can to shake you off, including shooting. You can hang down from the front or side of the car for cover and pop up to shoot; take out the occupants and you've got yourself a new ride. This car-hopping / car-jacking dynamic is very fast and fun, and gives the action a really crazy, seat-of-your-pants feel.