Killzone (PSP)

KILLZONE throws players into a dark and dangerous war-torn world that has them fighting futuristic soldiers in a violent outer space environment in which only the strong survive. The movie-like opening draws you into the game, giving you a preview of the battle that lies ahead. The storyline introduces you to the cast of characters responsible for slaughtering the Helghast, an evil robot-like race whose sole purpose is to eliminate what's left of the human population.

The strategy is fairly straightforward: Try to survive. Players pick a weapon, with choices ranging from handguns and machine guns to rocket launchers and grenades, and maneuver through hostile surroundings while shooting up the enemy before they shoot you.

Killzone's graphics are remarkable: Shattered glass, abandoned buildings, and a murky, gray fog over the battlefield allow players to experience a frightening war-like environment. But really it's all just a setup for killing and more killing. The easy-to-navigate first level allows you to gain confidence before moving on to the more challenging portions of the game. The enemy you'll face is clever and ruthless, firing at will and with amazing accuracy.

The action-packed game would be exciting even without the violence, because of its fantastic attention to detail and intriguing storyline. But the bloody, detailed gore is the main feature and distracts from the overall enjoyment. Blood pooling on the ground after multiple gunshot wounds to the head is a common sight. It may entertain mature players, but this game glamorizes over-the-top violence and is not suitable for younger, more impressionable players.