PSP Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadron Entertainment Pack - Ceramic White Review

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(More customer reviews)So I have owned the Sony PSP Star Wars Battlefront Renegade Squadron Entertainment Pack - Ceramic White for about 3 weeks now.I never owned the original PSP, and mostly got this for "remote play" capabilities with the PS3 (e.g. remote access to your PS3 using the PSP and a wifi connection).Simply put, the PSP is AWESOME.Seriously.

The Good:

1. Aesthetics/Design/Construction.
The white slim looks and feels great.I briefly owned the black slim before returning it and getting the white one.The black looked slick, but it was a real fingerprint magnet.The white looks better, very sleek and clean.Fingerprints do not show up on it much either, which is great.The silver slim was just too cheap looking, like the silver was spray painted on, so I never considered it.Nice how the back is totally flat also, unlike the old psp.The non-spring door battery cover is fine.I was worried after reading reviews of how it is cheap feeling and fragile, but it's just fine.It is easy to open/close, gives a nice "snap" when it opens or closes, won't break if you're not rough with it (care is required), and eliminates worries about the spring door mechanism from malfunctioning.I never had an original PSP 1000, but the slim feels solid and not cheap at all to me.

2. Screen.
Very bright, nice 480x272 resolution.Movies and games just look great on it.

3. Music.
MP3s (and WMA supported also) sound great on the PSP.The visualization has about six different "patterns" that are interesting.The interface looks good, better in fact than the music player interface on the PS3, and features all the important info, and can be toggled on/off also.Recent firmware now allows for music to be played back while viewing photos.

4. Video.
Ability to run full 480x272 video off of files stored on the memory stick was a contentious issue in the first couple years, as Sony had evidently crippled video file on the memory stick to a max resolution of 320x240 in order to "encourage" users to buy overpriced UMDs.Several months ago, Sony saw the error of its ways and relented to user requests and now the PSP is fully able to play back 480x272 (the PSP's native resolution) video off of videos stored on your memory stick.Using the freeware "psp video 9," you can create video files ranging from 700mb (~1.5hrs video) to 1gb (~2hrs) that look and sound as good as a UMD movie.

Functionality is great too, with the newer firmwares you can search through your video file for scenes by varying intervals (1,2, or 5 minute), which is great since your own video files will be a single file.This is really not to be underestimated in its usefulness, plus it is really cool to use!

5. Photos.
The photo viewer is pretty cool as well, but could use a bit more customization.You can view standard file types (jpg, gif, bmp, and tiff I believe) and have a few slideshow and zoom options.The background of photos that are not 480x272 resolution is white, which cannot be changed to another color (like black), which is not a big deal but I hope Sony will allow you to use a black background in the future.

6. Games.
This is of course the main feature of the PSP.I wasn't expecting the games to be too good, but there are quite a few very good games.So far, my favorites are: Silent Hill Origins, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty/Vice City Stories, NBA 08, Outrun 2006, Burnout Legends, FIFA 08, Madden 08, Legend of Heroes, Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron, Daxter, Wipeout Pure, and Siphon Filter: Dark Mirror.You would be amazed at the graphics, gameplay, story, audio (music/voiceovers) this little system is capable of!Some of these are just great games.

7. Remote Play/Location Free Player.
This is the original reason I bought the PSP, to remotely (via wifi) connect to my PS3 and access the music, video, photos, and even games on it.When it works, it is just really really cool.The PS3 interface shows up on the PSP screen (which can be adjusted for quality based on the bandwidth you want to set it to -- there are five different settings), and you can play movies, trailers, photos, audio, even some games (like Lair!) on your PSP.I haven't used Location Free player yet, but basically it is like using a Slingbox on the PSP, so that you can watch TV, access your DVR, etc., on your PSP using a wifi connection.I plan to try it someday for sure.

8. Internet.
You can use the browser to surf the internet on the PSP when you have access to wifi.It works well enough, and the key input system is pretty decent for a non-QWERTY/touchscreen input system.

9. Functionality/Performance.
The much maligned battery life, is really not that bad at all.Using the PSP to listen to mp3s, watch videos, play games, I get about 3-4 hours of usage (depending on how much video/games I watch/play), which gets me through average usage easily.For longer trips, I have the 2200mAh (oem) extended battery which works great and will give me roughly 6-8 hours of usage.Incredible.The battery will stick out the back, but you can go to dealextreme-dot-com and buy a bigger battery cover (black or white) for less than four dollars.Sony will evidently release an official extended battery kit with a bigger battery cover in black and silver (no white though, booo!) for about 45 dollars sometime in the next month or so.

During gameplay, I have never had any slowdown of framerate or crashing EVER.Not once on over 14 games that I now own.Great performance.Videos and music also perform flawlessly.Load times are not that bad, and don't bother me much as it is only in the beginning mostly, and so gameplay during games is very quick.

The XMB (cross media bar) user interface is fantastic and so easy to use and rather stylish as well.Love using it.Video out to your TV is a cool feature that I have not yet used.

The Not-so-good:

1. Fingerprint magnet (black PSP).White one has no issues with this.
2. Cannot change background color to black when viewing photos.
3. Wifi is 802.11b only, no 802.11g (faster) support... yet.
4. Remote play is hit or miss regarding connectivity.Still not easy to connect to the PS3.Hopefully, Sony will improve upon this with updates.Remote on/off of the PS3 works well enough though.
5. Soon to be released extended battery kit will not include a white cover.No biggie, just go to dealextreme-dot-com to find a white one from Hong Kong (cheap too).
6. Limited audio/video codec support, including no DIVX/XVID support yet for videos or AAC for audio.But using PSP Video 9 (freeware) to convert videos works just fine to convert videos of most types into viewable 480x272 (or less if you want) mp4 video.
7. UMD spinning noise is a bit loud/harsh on the ears, but luckily it spins rarely and usually at the beginning of the game or rarely during gameplay (e.g. loading new levels, etc.).
8. Volume on audio/video playback from memory stick is TOO QUIET!Setting "dynamic normalization" under "audio" settings helps it get louder, but still it's too soft.The volume from the speakers is okay but I always use headphones so I cannot really judge it.
9. Expensive assessories.Getting a couple extended batteries, a battery charger, a nice protective case, a screen protector, some UMD cases, headphones, wrist strap, a few games, a nice memory stick pro duo (I got the 8gb one -- you won't want less than that), and the price quickly jumps up to almost PS3 range (easily over 500 dollars).
10. Cool accessories only available in Japan, including a camera, GPS, and DMB (mobile television).I don't really miss those though. Bottom Line:

As you can judge from my lengthy review, I love my new white PSP slim.It is so fun, versatile, and cool (remote play will impress your friends and family) that you will not regret plopping down some serious cash to build up your PSP slim system!

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Product Description:
Featuring a limited edition, Ceramic White, Darth Vader silkscreened PSP system and the hit game Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade SquadronTM, the Star Wars Battlefront Entertainment Pack provides the ultimate collectible, all-in-one portable entertainment experience in one low-priced pack

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PSP Composite AV Cable Review

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(More customer reviews)So when I opened my package, the Composite AV link said "Videos, Music, and UMDs on your television."Unfortunately this was a warning that this site as well as the few others which sell this product are missing.Because in the big and fine print on the packaging, it clearly states gameplay cannot be played through these cables.

Bwuh?!?Yes, I was quite shocked and annoyed as well but there it is, the key feature of the PSP-2000 is lacking in these cables.And these worst part is how hard this information was to come by.Consider yourself warned.I sure wasn't.

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2000 PSP Composite AV Cable

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Sonic Rivals 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Sonic Rivals 2 lets you play as different teams through a story mode, or enjoy free play. You get to experience the familiar Sonic world on your PSP in casual adventure fun.

Be Sonic & Tails, Shadow & Metal Sonic, Knuckles & Rogue, or Silver & Espio. Each character has her or her own personality, special abilities and look. You can test them all out in free play mode to get the hang of their talents and see which one is the best fit for you.

People new to the Sonic world might find this game a bit challenging. where most games have an easy ramp-up level or two where they say "press X now to attack", this game simply drops you into a level and expects you to know everything. The plot comes at you staccato with references to people and places you might not recognize at all. Really, the plot means nothing - but again it might be frustrating to a newcomer. They feel like they're missing what is going on in more than one way.

Still, once you get the hang of the buttons and accept the plot problems, the game is arcade fun. The maps have a lot of tiny details that add interest, far more banners and mossy areas and ivy trails than were necessary. The graphic designers obviously had some fun here. There are high roads and low roads and hidden roads - there's a lot of incentive to play and replay a level. the first few times through a level are just to get the sense of its general layout. It's only after a number of times through a level that you really start to explore all its paths.

The sound is what you'd expect from an arcade style game. Upbeat, stereotypical voices, jazzy pop music, appropriate brrrrings! and "Yeah, let's do this!" calls. It adds a boost of fun to your zooming around in loop-de-loops.

The controls are responsive and get you where you need to go. They've really got that aspect of Sonic games down.

Highly recommended for Sonic fans who want yet another handheld way to spend some time in mindless fun while they ride a bus or wait in line. There's no multi-hour RPG puzzles here, nothing to tie you up if you have to hit pause. It's perfect for filling in the quiet times of day with something fun and engaging. If you're new to the Sonic series, though, I'd recommend starting with Sonic Rivals 1. That way you get at least some grounding in what is going on.

For parents, this is good clean fun. Little characters are racing along roller coaster style racetracks and trying to gather gold hoops. It's rated E for everyone.

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Product Description:
The gloves are off and Sonic and his rivals are gearing up for an intense new head-to-head competition exclusively on the PSP(PlayStation Portable) system. This sequel to Sonic's 2D action platformer features all-new "jostling" controls for tighter competition and a brand-new Battle mode that allows two players to jump into six different Multiplayer challenges by sharing one disc. With three new characters, 12 new stages, and upgraded signature moves for each character, the enhanced Rivals experience will bring a whole new level of handheld fun to the PSP system.
Features:

Battle Mode: players will select from six ways to thrash their rival buddies: Knockout, Ring Battle, Race, King of the Hill, Capture the Chao, and Tag.
Single Disc Game Sharing: two players will easily access the Multiplayer challenge with just a single disc using the wireless function.
Intriguing New Storyline: the Chao seem to be disappearing and all eight rivals must work fast to find out who is behind it.
Three New Playable Characters: Miles "Tails" Prower and two other new characters round out the cast of eight rivals.
Free Play Mode: free from rivalry, the player can experience the challenging old-school Sonic-style map at their own pace!
Expanded Card Collection: players can now collect 150 new cards for loads of new options to customize their playable characters.

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Gun Showdown Review

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(More customer reviews)This game was easily my favorite game of the last year. After purchasing the gamecube version i fell in love immediately and proceeded to play it many many times on all difficulty settings. Now that the PSP edition is here, i finally have a holster-sized copy to bring with on the go.

First off, The game does indeed have all the contents and full story mode and exploration factor of its console brethren, plus 5 new missions that were originally cut out of the original release. The graphics are surprisingly clear and crisp, and smooth. What hinders the game in the graphic department is the "ghosting" of fast movement on the psp's lcd screen, albeit this is a hardware problem and not the game's fault.

Camera and Controls- are probably the biggest problem with Gun: showdown. With the widescreen display on the psp's screen, Colton stands left of center, to allow for what they probably thought was an easier viewing angle for over the shoulder firing. Unfortunately the camera is panned to close to colton and doesn't include enough of his environment around him that it becomes clausterphobic to play, especially when in an interior of a building. Aiming is tricky at first, and definately not the most accurate system that could have been implemented for the psp's lack of 2 analog control sticks.You use the Triangle, Square, X and Circle Buttons for looking up and down and left and right, while the left analog nub is used for moving backwards and forwards. The camera control quickly becomes the achilles heal of an impressive game.

The controls also lack user-friendly control with horse-riding. The horse sprints uncharacteristically faster than its console counterpart, and the sprint button is the same as jump, which can make those pony express missions 10 times more frustrating.

The Focus or quickdraw mode is still one of the games best features and works incredibly well, so if you were too worried about not surviving that gunfight for lack of control, than fear not, you are still in charge of Colton's lighting quick reflexes and aim.

The music is still in its full glory and the game includes one of the best in game music scores since Elder Scrolls Oblivion, or METAL GEAR SOLID 3. The audio and voice acting are superb, which is an astounding leap for video games in general (does anyone else remember how horrid PS1 voice acting was).

The Online modes are a lot of fun, and whether you have a friend to play with or not, the in game AI is incredible. Taking on other bandits who sprint from side to side and rolling out of your fire, whilst getting in a quick headshot on you is impressive, especially for a PSP title. The poker mode is hands down why i bought the PSP version (it was my favorite mini-game on the Gamecube version). While i did notice some of the card opponents names had been changed from the original game, it was essentially the same setup, and play rules. There are actually two ways to play poker solo. One is in quick play mode, where the stakes are low. and the other (and i'd recommend more) is in the multiplayer mode, where you can host your own tournament in ad=hoc, and whether anyone else is playing with you or not, the games AI will fill in whoever isn't there, and with much higher stakes, games last much longer.

Sadly though, the rewards for accomplishing mini-games do not translate into the main game, but they are good enough to warrant many playthroughs.

The main game is still the same great story, and is highly recommended. If you are new to the game i would actually recommend picking up one of the console versions of it first. If you are like me, a Gun vetaran, and want to have it on the go, i'd recommend it in a heartbeat.

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Product Description:
Set in the untamed West of the late-1800s, GUN is a free-roaming action-adventure game that takes players to a world without laws where greed, lust and murder are rampant. As Colton White, a vengeful gunslinger, players must straddle the line between good and evil as they showdown against corrupt lawmen, a murderous preacher, renegade army psychopaths, merciless outlaws and unforgiving Native Americans, while waging war on horseback, collecting bounties, and commandeering trains. Players travel through an action-packed landscape of high mountain wilderness, deserts and bustling territorial towns in an epic story of betrayal, greed, and revenge.

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300: March To Glory Review

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(More customer reviews)Here is what I liked about 300 March to Glory for the PSP
PROS:
Good voice acting, nice bonus interviews with Frank Miller and several trailers for 300 the film that look cool on the PSP screen as well as other unlockable comic art etc...
Neutrals:
The gameplay is basically a little bit hack n' slash, a little bit strategy and little bit of RPG (very little)upgrading is cool and different methods of killing are satisfying to learn and execute but the game needed more variety in between the fighting besides God of War style minigames.Basically you will be holding L trigger to block hits and getting in specific style hits on bosses etc when they are vulnerable, not bad but not groundbreaking gameplay either.
Cons:
On certain levels the ground rolls by like one of those old car racing games where the road moved under the vehicles.
Decent enough, but not greatif you like Frank Miller and the film adaptation I say give it a shot, but you might want to wait till the price drops.

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300: March to Glory PSP

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Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai Another Road Review

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(More customer reviews)A little over a year later after the first Dragonball Z Shin Budokai was released, Dimps graces us with yet another game aptly titled Dragonball Z Shin Budokai Another Road. Named so because, with this game, it explores a different universe untouched by the manga, anime and/or the movies. According to the original plot, Trunks from the future helps defeat Perfect Cell in our present day, and also prevents Goku from dying of a heart ailment. With peace restored once more, Trunks goes back to the future. Future Trunks as we all know, would face Majin Buu, Babidi and Dabura later on. Dragonball Z Shin Budokai Another Road wraps up this story by placing gamers in the role of Trunks. Players fly around the map looking for enemy encounters &, while doing so, must defend cities being attacked by those enemies. This, in itself, adds a whole new strategic element to the game. Each stage you clear earns you Zenie(DBZ currency) which can be used to buy customization cards. Those cards build up the stats and abilities of each individual character. These cards, ultimately, make you become more powerful on the battlefield and help differentiate one character from another. You start out with Trunks but, as you progress, the game allows you to select other Dragonball Z characters. There are 24 characters in all. Upon first look at the game, you'd probably say that much hasn't changed from the first game to this game but, if you look closer, you'll see alot of subtle changes Dimps made to the game that makes it a more robust game. The AI has been improved a great deal from the first game(no longer will it be a cakewalk..now- you've got a good challenge)- They made it to where you can tweak the camera to play in a more Budokai Tenkaichi fashion(which is really going over well with DBZ fans)- The backgrounds of the battlefields you fight on are more alive now with lightining, molten lava and whatnot flashing & moving in the distance- and, lastly, everyones' specials are more flashier & more hyper than before. Hardcore Dragonball Z Shin Budokai fans will see alot more for their buck with this installment. This series seems to be getting embraced by us DBZ fans quite well which makes me wonder why Atari hasn't decided to release other DBZ licensed games for the Playstation Portable(like Dragonball Z Budokai Tenkaichi, Super Dragonball Z & Sagas). Regardless, I'm sure we'll see another Shin Budokai game in the near future. If they can make it as good as Shin Budokai Another Road or better, I'll definitely be there.

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DBZ Shin BudokaiAnother Road is THE way to experience the explosive intensity of the DBZ world because only DBZ Shin BudokaiAnother Road features the never before told story of the future world of Trunks over a portable WiFinetwork.

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Tekken - Dark Resurrection Review

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(More customer reviews)wow, it feels like playing PS2 Tekken 5 on the PSP with same type of graphics and loadtime. Personally the only reason you would want this game is to play Tekken anywhere you go, other than that its almost identical to the PS2 Tekken 5, all the ending are the same all the moves are the same. you do get 2 new characters. To sum it up: I love it, its gotta be the best fighting game on the psp and the best port from ps2 to psp! now if only they can port god of war to the psp with this kind of quality!

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Product Description:
Tekken: Dark Resurrection arrives on the PSP, bringing one of the most explosive fighting games to the handheld platform. New characters Lili and Dragunov join the classic cast such as Jin, Heihachi, Paul and Law in the battle to be crowned King of the Iron Fist Tournament. An all-new intro movie lets you dive into the midst of the world of Tekken, this time with ad-hoc multiplayer mode to fight against friends as well as more items to customize your favorite characters. Now you can fight anytime, anywhere. Are you ready?

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Manhunt 2 Review

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(More customer reviews)Manhunt 2 by Rockstar Games is a perfectly serviceable adventure game that holds up very well on the PSP.As the game strongly advises from the onset - be sure to play these games with headphones on and preferably in a darkened environment.To do so otherwise greatly diminishes the expertly crafted mood and atmosphere that truly is the best thing about this title.As for the gameplay itself Manhunt2 is a decent, but not great, adventure romp that most players should be able to complete in 10 hours or so.The game spans 15 episodic chapters (with 1 bonus chapter unlocked after completion) that delves into the character and story of Nathan Lamb, a man with no clue as to his past and present state locked up in a psychiatric ward.Graphically, the heavily grained and filtered visual style looks really sharp on the PSP and the audio is wonderfully layered with some excellent effects and a truly magnificent ambient score.

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Product Description:
Manhunt 2 creates a horrifying new environment that tests your nerve and your skill. An experiment at a secret research facility has gone catastrophically wrong. Daniel is sent to the Dixmor Asylum, where six years later a freakish storm of lightning hits the power. Leaving it dark and haunting. Daniel Lamb and Leo Kasper are the only surviving subjects. They have one chance to take back their lives and they're taking it. Anyone who stands in their way is a dead man.

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Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron Review

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(More customer reviews)As this game's lengthy title suggests, Renegade Squadron is just the latest in a long-running line of Battlefront games, which in turn owe a lot to the Battlefield WWII games. It's all about running around a virtual battlefield with different soldiers and their vehicles -- and is about as close to playing with Star Wars toys as you'll get in a video game, even more so than the Lego games. Claims that this is exclusive to the PSP are technically true, but remember that the same kind of game is available elsewhere on the PS2, XBOX, Windows, and Macintosh, in arguably better form (Star Wars Battlefront II).

The PSP already has a similar game to this, in the form of Star Wars Battlefront II (2005). That well-intentioned port pushed the PSP farther than it could go, with clunky controls, slow framerates, and local-only multiplayer, which was the kiss of death for a game primarily designed for online play. It still sold well and can be found cheaply, but Renegade renders it irrelevant. In single-player mode, Renegade Squadron is one of the first game to use the full 333 MHz of the PSP's clockspeed. In multiplayer mode, it drops to the usual 222 MHz to conserve power, but because of a few smart design choices, raw power isn't absolutely needed for a great experience.

What's new here? The biggest change is in the controls, which are greatly improved over the PSP version of Star Wars Battlefront II. When you're on the ground, you can holding down the R button to lock your sights on an enemy, letting you circle around him without losing your aim. While you're flying around in space (in X-Wing and TIE Fighters, as well as the Millenium Falcon), you can autoselect a target with one button, and pressing another will enable an autopilot to point you in the right direction. Since the autopilot follows lines of sight only, you'll still need to use your brain to maneuver the 3D objects in the space scenes. These changes are well-suited to the handheld, and while they make things easier, the tactical challenges are still present. I'd rather fight against my onscreen enemies than the controls of a game!

The other main difference between Renegade Squadron and the previous iteration on PSP is the inclusion of Infrastructure multiplayer. In other words, you can play on the internet with strangers, using a Gamespy-powered server explorer, much like the console and computer versions of the game. I didn't notice any significant lag when playing online, and there were plenty of opponents.

Other nice touches: the short (took me about 3 hours) campaign story is typical Star Wars, interwoven with events and characters from the films. You rescue Ackbar, you fake out the Emperor, and there's a lot of Han Solo fan service such as "Greedo shot first" in-jokes. Like most SW stories, it doesn't take many risks, except for the scene where you infiltrate the Emperor's home and smash up his holy relics, Taliban style. It's told with beautifully painted panels, which are partially animated (more than a pop-up book, less than a cartoon). Voiceovers and sound effects are of typically high LucasArts quality. Character customization is simple yet richly integrated into gameplay, forcing you to to choose the balance of health, firepower, speed, and other attributes based upon the needs of each mission.

If you've enjoyed other versions of Star Wars Battlefront, is this worth getting? In my opinion, the fixed controls and fully developed multiplayer makes this the best portable version of this kind of game yet. It can't compete with PC and console versions (with higher resolutions, better controls, and more robust online play with voice and keyboard support), but it's easily the best Star Wars game to come along since SWBF2. It's a great little game and if you're a Star Wars fan with a PSP, you should have it already. If you don't yet have a PSP, there's a white, slim PSP with a Darth Vader silkscreen packed in with this game, too!

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Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron PSP

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