Pursuit Force

Leaping while driving from a police car straight onto the hood of a fleeing gangster and taking him down before he even rounds the corner — that is Pursuit Force in a nutshell. This action racing ride from London Studio takes B-movie police chases and pushes them to an absurd, adrenaline-fueled extreme in which physics is merely a vague suggestion.

The gameplay mixes two things that at first glance do not go together: fast arcade driving and shooting. Not only do you chase criminals through the streets, but at full speed you can jump out of your own vehicle, leap between the enemies' moving cars, shoot them down, and literally take over their vehicles. This „stunts-while-driving" mechanic is the absolute heart of the game and gives the chases a verve you will not experience in classic races.

The whole thing is styled as a tribute to over-the-top action films: gangs control the city, you are the elite unit that sets things straight, and every mission escalates into ever wilder stunt scenes. The pace is high, the presentation bombastic, and the game rewards you for boldness and risk — the crazier the maneuver, the better. It is pure, unabashed fun that does not take itself seriously.

On the PSP it was one of those titles that showed the handheld console could handle a really cranked-up, action-driven game with console pacing. The short, intense missions also fit the format of handheld play perfectly, letting you go to war in any free moment.

If you love arcade action without unnecessary fuss and dream of leaping between cars like an action hero, Pursuit Force fulfills that dream. It is a wild, energetic treat that is above all about fun.

Why play it: A crazy combination of racing and shooting where you leap between moving cars — adrenaline-fueled arcade action in cinematic style, right in your pocket.