Retro games are a love/hate proposition for gamers. There are camps of players that detest anything that isn't original issue, and by "original" we generally mean from the '70s or '80s. There are other players that feel a bit deflated with the current crop of games, and want to see new games mirror the style of older classics, or remake favorite franchises. A possible third camp of players are those that grew up in last decade or so, and just don't get all the hubbub. Excluding that last group, Gravity Crash Portable is likely to have a polarizing impact. It looks retro, but it doesn't always play that way. If you are wondering about the game's DNA, it is as fresh as a daisy. Derivative though it may be, Gravity Crash Portable doesn't have any direct antecedent (unless you count the not-so-portable original for PS3). Developer Just Add Water deserves credit for creating original content that feels immediately familiar because it draws on years and years of tradition.

I'll leave you to look up terms like "vector graphics" if you don't have a reference point from years of games like Battlezone and the original Star Wars arcade cabinet. The simple, geometric shapes that make up the world you explore during a session of Gravity Crash combine to create a world worth exploring. What's better than that is creating your own levels using these same shapes and objects. The game provides a lot of audio feedback, letting you know through flashing lights and buzzing klaxons when important things are happening in the game. You'll start hearing the klaxon quite a bit, as the difficulty ramps up... Gravity Crash Portable sports a busy display, but we appreciated the prominent radar (a la Defender) that shows clusters of enemies, pick-ups, and goals. If that weren't enough, look for frequent mission reminders and even a few pointy arrows helping you get to the right place and accomplish what needs doing. All the sounds and sights may distract you from listening to some excellent background music, rousing and futuristic while staying true to the retro roots that Gravity Crash Portable sports at every turn.

The throwback quality of Gravity Crash Portable doesn't stop with the visuals, fortunately. We mentioned the retro radar, but there's a bit of Defender in the gameplay, as well. Also, a bit of every side-scrolling 2D game you've ever played. If it sounds like a derivative jumble, believe us when we say that the whole thing holds together. The best comparison we can make is to developers like PopCap Games, who keep mixing and mingling old elements until they feel new somehow. The premise behind Gravity Crash Portable is straight space exploration, with some specific objectives contained in each level, or planet. The stages are whole planetary systems that you'll have to work your way through until the threat to the galaxy is neutralized. The catch to this is that you'll be facing the enemy army alone, one ship against an armada. Battling foes in the air and on the ground, you'll navigate through levels in space, underground, and even underwater. Amidst the strange settings, you'll find some gnarly threats.

In addition to the main Campaign Mode, you can select Planet Mode to revisit any level you previously unlocked. When returning to a planet in this latter mode, you'll see the level objectives, along with your best score up to that point. Considering the threshold for completing a level in Campaign Mode is relatively low, replaying exposes you to whole areas of the planet you may not have previously explored. You can also select Survivor Mode to blow through as many levels as possible before being annihilated. The lack of any multiplayer or online play is a bummer, but the Editor thrown in more than makes up for the pain. In addition to the editor, there's a cute, packed-in arcade title called "Gold Grabber" that feels a whole lot like the classic, Robotron 2084. But before we get too far away from that editor, suffice it to say that we're impressed. Features like layered composition, customized colors, copy/paste, and the ability to save and share levels with friends makes this more than just a cute distraction from the main show. Whether it's possible to build each and every one of the levels you play during Campaign using the editor provided is an open question, but it certainly feels like you have all the tools necessary. All that's missing is some way to upload and share levels directly from the PSP, so there would actually be some type of community around this content. We've seen this done well in other games, and it's a shame that Gravity Crash Portable didn't go the extra step to perfection...

Gravity Crash Portable makes a habit of providing direction at every turn. From the main menu, you'll find a handy link titled, "How To Play," and a Pilot Training segment that helps you grasp the basic controls of your ship, and the different actions possible within the game's world. The editor also includes a link that explains how to use the various tools, but players aren't forced to sit through these tutorials, if they prefer to simply pick up and play. We found things to be fairly self-explanatory, but the movement of the ship can catch you off guard. When they named this thing Gravity Crash, they weren't kidding around. Gravity plays a definite role in the game, and on planets that possess high-normal gravity, you'll find yourself fighting the elements as much as you fight enemies. It's a bit like the momentum that a ship gained in Asteroids, which could be a killer, if not closely monitored and managed. Several options for controlling your ship help to mitigate the difficulty level, so that experts can handicap by selecting a more complex layout for moving the ship, while novices keep things simple. This makes things accessible for players of almost any level, but Gravity Crash Portable eventually ends up in the same territory as most retro games, which is to say that it gets hard! The hardest limitation is fuel, which you can control somewhat through careful navigation and memorization of recharge spots in the level. Even when the tank runs dry and you have to restart, the game is smart about bringing you back into the level using a checkpoint system. You don't see these checkpoints or have to save, so the frustration level stays relatively low.

The truly unique aspect of Gravity Crash Portable is hidden in plain view, right in the title of the game. Each time you begin a round of play, whether for training or "real" action, you'll be asked to choose from one of three ship types. The so-called "Classic Controls" involve rotating the ship using the Analog Stick, and firing weapons or thrusting with two other buttons. Notice we said "rotating the ship" rather than moving? In this control type, you'll only move when the thruster fires. You'll be bouncing off the walls more frequently in this mode, which depletes shields. You'll also tend to use more fuel, especially on planets with stronger gravity. "Dual Controls" are almost exactly like the aforementioned Robotron: 2084 and this control scheme can make things easier for you, since moving and shooting are not linked. Move up while shooting down, rather than have to rotate the ship to shoot in a particular direction. The final, and arguably easiest, control scheme is "Anti Gravity." In this mode, you'll move and thrust using the Analog Stick while using one button to fire in the direction where you're heading. If shooting seems too puny, there are four special weapons to be deployed when things get tough. If that weren't enough, you can choose from one of two shield types, evenly balanced but possibly better suited to particular styles of playing.

The idea of tweaking a retro game to suit one's play style is a bit of an anachronism. Gravity Crash Portable is more of an homage than a true retro game. It has all the retro trappings, but developer Just Add Water took inspiration from older games to create something that feels like a delicious stew made from leftovers that is truly more than the sum of its parts. Grab this is you enjoy side-scrolling action, shooting, exploration, and a brisk challenge. There are some obvious issues like not having enough web integration and no multiplayer, that need to be addressed in a future release. Considering the limited run of retro and revival titles during the past year, we're happy to see something as original and fun to play as Gravity Crash Portable. This franchise could definitely grow legs.