Rise of the imperfect indeed

• Graphics: 8/10
• Sound: 7/10
• Gameplay: 7.5/10
• Replay Value: 5/10
• Overall: 7/10

Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects outshines its console cousins to become essentially the best choice for those who are in need of a one-on-one fighter for the PSP, but it's a case where it succeeds in being a novelty for the system's current library rather than a star. Technically and aesthetically Marvel Nemesis is top-notch for the PSP, but with no online feature and a repetitive single player mode, there's not enough of a game here to keep people who aren't brawler or Marvel enthusiasts going for too long.

There's a conundrum involved in reviewing Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects for the PSP. It's essentially a very basic fighting game, with a superb cast of characters, that fills a currently existing void in the PSP game library. So the problem lies in discerning your need or desire for the features a game of this type brings to the PSP, because there's no real alternative.

Marvel Nemesis is a stripped down fighter, even more so than its' abysmal console cousins. In a sense though, the simplicity works to its advantage. Gone is the dreary single-player scenario of the console versions, which had you repeatedly slogging through incessant alien minions to fight against, and unlock, other characters. In its place are a series of 10 one-on-one fights per character in the single-player mode. This makes the PSP version much more of a cohesive pick-up and play experience.

Unfortunately, what didn't make it over to the PSP are the rewards for playing through single player. In the console versions, you had to suffer the single player version to unlock the characters for some fun versus and online play. Not so with the handheld edition, which is lacking an online mode and only offers multiplayer via Wi-Fi. Missing too are the unlockable comics and movies that gave incentive to playing the console versions. Not including an online mode in particular is a squandered opportunity to increase the appeal and longevity of this title.

The game itself feels like an unfocused prospect to base a captivating fighter on the vast and colorful Marvel license. The Marvel characters themselves feel great to control. They're colorfully animated and possess fighting styles that are true to their comic book source. The introduced cast of The Imperfects are all well designed characters in their own right, and there's definite appeal to see them appear in future games. In the aspect of character translation and creation, the developers pretty much nailed it.

The main dilemma is that there's not much of a game to wrap these characters around. While the get-to-the-point brawler aspect of the single player game is easy to get into, it's really all that's on offer. You start out able to choose between the Thing and Johnny Ohm, and have to take them through their 10 fights - loosely connected with a muddled story told in inter-level text paragraphs - to unlock another character. Then you get to do it all over again with a new character.

And I should really stress the 'all over again' part. You'll go through the same sequence of fights each time. If playing as a Marvel hero, then you'll fight the Imperfects in the same order regardless of character chosen. If playing as an Imperfect, you'll fight the same sequence of Marvel characters in the same sequence of environments. It's a task that can get old quickly if you're trying to unlock all 18 characters - and incentive is further drained by the limited gameplay and multiplayer options.

In place of multiplayer, the developers chose to include a card based power-up system to induce collectible freaks to keep playing. After each round you're given a bronze, silver, or gold rating and then offered your choice of 5 facedown cards. Selecting one will offer general or character specific power-ups, which you can then map to the d-pad for use in game. It does prove handy to have a quick fix for adding to your rage meter or gaining back some health in the midst of battle, but it doesn't add enough substance to the game to make you want to 'catch 'em all' (insert Pikachu here).

As stated above, though, the fighting itself is fun. With only one attack button, a block button, and a throw button at your disposal, it's simplistic, but that works to its advantage on the PSP as opposed to the consoles. There is a mobility button that allows you to use character specific means of getting around and evasion, like Spider-Man's webs or Storm's flying, and there's a rage meter lets you use your super powers and fills up gradually over time, or by holding down the charge button when not fighting.

While the sound is average, the graphics actually look cleaner on the PSP than on the console versions. The developers decided to go for a much more colorful comic-like look for the characters in the PSP version, and it works great. Environments, while not immensely detailed, are destructible and interactive so that you can use them to your advantage. The camera works much better on the PSP version too, it's closer in than on the consoles which makes it much easier to keep track of and respond to your opponents.

All the fundamentals for a great game are here but not realized by the game itself. Technically and aesthetically Marvel Nemesis is top-notch for the PSP, but there's not enough of a game here to keep people who aren't brawler or Marvel enthusiasts going for too long. It's the best choice for those who are in need of a one-on-one fighter for the PSP, but it's a case where it succeeds in being a novelty for the system's current library rather than a star.