The PSP version manages to retain all of the great attributes present from its console counter-parts.
I love racing games and I love the "Burnout" series. Having this quality of a game on the PSP is a testament to what this handheld can deliver given the right circumstances and under the right developer. This game offers a lot of events to partake in so you'll never be wont for something to do. The amount of tracks are limited, however, so you'll soon become very familiar with the layout of each course backwards and forwards. Replay value, depending on how anal you are about winning gold medals in every event, is definitely there. There is always something to replay to get a better score or beat a standing record.
The graphics are great offering almost the same detailed, chaotic frenzy available on the consoles. Of course the console versions look better, but considering the PSP's power the game looks pretty damn good; definitely one of the better looking games so far. All of the great crash effects are present and really hold their own. The sound is also decent. With grinding metal and revving engines providing the bulk of what you'll be hearing, the music tracks I could stand to be without. Thankfully none of the races last longer than several minutes so the music isn't that big of a deal. It would be great to be able to add your own soundtracks since the PSP is an all-in-one media device you'd think that would just be logical, but I'm afraid it isn't...at least this time.
The controls are pretty responsive with your car going where you want it when you want. Although I would recommend getting one of those bigger nubs available for the analog stick to replace the smaller nub since the smaller nub, while serviceable, tends to not hold up after long sessions. I always felt myself having to reposition my thumb over it to maintain good control, and the last thing you want to do when you're involved in an intense race is to have your thumb slip up. The bigger nubs are sold in a pack of three and are really worth it for games that employ the analog stick a lot. They just give your thumb more surface area to work with than the tiny one that comes with the PSP and they are really worth it.
About the only major gripe I have concerns the cars. In the console versions, when you select a car for a race you get to view a certain amount of stats for each car such as speed, weight, etc. These can help aid you in determining which car would be best suited for a particular event. So if you are about to race in a rampage event you would want a car with some weight behind it to give you more of an edge when bashing into your opponents. Those type of stats are not available in the PSP version. In the PSP version you are basically picking a car solely based on its looks. So you have to use your own judgment and say to yourself, "Yeah, that car LOOKS fast, I'll pick it." Granted, it is not that hard to look at the cars and figure out which one appears to be heavier or which car LOOKS faster, but it's not a very reliable way to pick your vehicle especially when some of the events are tough you race can be pretty tough if you don't have the appropriate vehicle. Time trials are especially intense. I don't know why they left those stats out of this version, while they are not really essential to the overall game experience they would have been a nice addition.
So if you like racing in general this is a solid game that offers great gameplay. If you are a "Burnout" fan odds are you already have it. But if you've on the fence and really not sure if this game is worth it it definitely is.
-K