How many games have you swing your analogue stick around in a circle in order to defeat the enemy and control your ship at the same time? The answer? Only one. So, how many of the games that do require you to use the controls in this way actually work well and provide a worthwhile experience? The answer? None.

Yes, the above paragraph just about sums up Hammer Wars, the latest PSP Mini to hit the PlayStation Store. Sure it looks quite nice and is backed by a decent idea, however it really doesn’t work very well thanks to an awkward control scheme which has you wondering why the developer didn’t at least offer an alternative for those who just couldn’t get on with it.

So what is it all about? Well throughout the game’s five chapters you take on various enemies, sometimes trying to clear out caves of giant worms and at other times protecting your emperor from flying wasps with explosive devices strapped to their back, which, it seems, tend to destruct on impact (a particularly frustrating part of the game that is too).

While Hammer Wars does have its good points in that the presentation and general look of the game are wonderfully crafted, it is the bad points that really stand out. To begin with, when I first started the game I found that my ship was getting stuck in the scenery at the side of the screen and the controls certainly didn’t help here considering that all you do is swing around in a circle, with no real way to steer your ship in the right direction.

It gets worse though, for instance, most of the action later in the game seems to take place off the screen, therefore even though you are supposed to be protecting someone, they disappear off screen where they seem to continue the fight without you. Finally because you are only using the analogue stick, your screensaver comes on and while it’s not a major inconvience it is still something that really shouldn’t happen.

The worst problem comes in that sometimes the game doesn’t even work at all, on numerous occasions I have loaded up to find that those who I am supposed to be protecting aren’t even there, leaving me to fly around the screen with only the background music for company. Broken? Just a bit. In fact given the problems I encountered on my PSPgo it really makes me wonder if the game has been tested on this device at all and not just the older machines with the bigger screen.

Pros

• Graphics looks decent

Cons

• Awful controls
• Action takes place off screen
• Seems broken at points

Hammer Wars is a perfect example of a developer trying a new idea and not quite pulling it off. The game is certainly an attempt at something new, however it just doesn’t work at all, meaning that we can only recommend that you avoid this game at all costs.

Score: 2/10