Rather than living up to name, Vempire-one of the first PSP minis-is a puzzle experience, taking cues from the likes of Bejewelled and a multitude of online flash games. Is this a perfect example of why PSP Minis are the future, or would you rather be playing the vampire themed game the title made you think of?
Played on a large board made up of squares, you rotate blocks of different colours and properties to create lines of 4 or more similar blocks to clear the board of them. Pressing either shoulder buttons will rotate the currently selected set of 4 squares that way, forcing you to think much more about where your blocks will be going, rather than simply swapping the places of two selections. The game adds things to spice up the gameplay, but this amounts to little more than the screen being obstructed for a few seconds or a series of blocks you cannot get rid of being adding to the mix.
The gameplay is simple, but surely that was the point of PSP Minis in the first place. Because of this simplicity it’s sure to strike a chord with certain players. If it does, then prepare to get your money’s worth and more thanks to an excessive amount of stages and options to mess around with. The stages themselves are little more than extra wallpapers to play on, but those who work through the story mode can use the coins they find to buy useful items that allow you to be much more effective when playing. The lack of a multiplayer mode is disappointing, but it’s hard to deny that there is sure to be enough content here for any veteran puzzle game player. If you ‘get’ Vempire, then it is sure to get you.
The vampiric element of the title is seen in the presentation of Vempire, with each stage inspired by the creatures. Haunted houses and terrifying open plains was probably the look that the developers were going for, but it comes across like a poor cartoon in places. For a puzzle game though, the sounds and visuals are serviceable, never escaping the decent territory of quality.
Vempire is a fun diversion, getting the balance between having enough content and a sturdy focus on gameplay just right. At £2.49 though, it may seem a tad steep for a game that is also available on iPhone for less than 99 pence. If you don’t own an iPhone however, and you’re looking for a puzzle title to satisfy your needs, Vempire could be the one. PSP Minis are off to a relatively good start.
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