Many users have complained about the number of action video games for Sony's PlayStation Portable. Well, those users need to pick up Killzone: Liberation. This short but action-packed third-person shooter provides more thrills than we usually see on this handheld console.

A sequel to Killzone for PS2, Liberation follows the same story but abandons the first-person viewpoint for a top-down view. This actually works quite well on the PSP, giving you a great view of the action while still offering solid control of your character Templar (although sometimes positioning him at just the right angle can take a few tries).

The story is fairly basic: as in the previous video game, humans are at war with the Helghast, a group of aliens who were once human long ago. Plot-points are given before each mission, but they're thin enough that they can be comfortably ignored as you enter the fray.

The video game lets you give orders to teammates, so it has a squad-based tactical feel at times. And the enemy AI is top-notch, so you need to be on your toes or you'll be taken out quickly. Overall, the combat is handled well and feels quite satisfying, especially after you make it through a tough stretch of action.

In addition to the too-short single player campaign, the video game offers cooperative multiplayer--after you complete a single-player mission, you'll be able to play it side-by-side with a buddy. There are also competitive modes and a head-to-head multiplayer mode (although only over ad hoc wireless, not the Internet) featuring traditional game types such as deathmatch and capture the flag.

The graphics and animations on Liberation are top-notch. The environments are sharply rendered and its rag-doll physics are realistically done. And the video game is clean enough to earn it a Teen rating, so despite its title, you don't need to worry about picking it up for adolescent gamers.

Some missions are quite difficult and will require some repetition to make it through. Even with such the case, it still takes only a few hours to play through the entire single-player campaign. But Killzone: Liberation's multiplayer modes extend the longevity of the video game, and the action is so fun and fierce that it's worth playing through more than once. This video game makes for a great PSP shooter that action gamers will really enjoy.


Pro: Great action, sharp graphics, solid multiplayer
Con: Short single-player campaign