Status:
Complete and Play Tested
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Iron Man 2: The Video Game (PSP) Review
Gameplay & Controls
On PSP, Iron Man 2 shifts away from expansive flight sequences and full movie adaptation, delivering a linear on-rails and corridor shooter with Iron Man and War Machine. Controls lean on thumbsticks for movement and buttons for targeting and weapons. Hovering feels sluggish, and flying is limited by energy restrictions (). Combat becomes repetitive quickly, with only a handful of enemy typesfoot soldiers, drones, helicopters, and tanksthat lack variety or challenge ().
🎯 Story & Presentation
Despite borrowing the roster and some plot from the film, the PSP version crafts its own narrative featuring Ultimo and Crimson Dynamo. Cutscenes are minimal and low-budgetmostly static portraits with dialoguedevoid of cinematic flair ().
🎥 Visuals & Performance
Built on the same underpowered engine as Conduit on Wii, visuals are muddy and blanddull textures, lackluster explosions, and sluggish frame rates, especially when many enemies appear onscreen ().
🛠 Suit Upgrades & Replayability
An armor upgrade system allows customization of weapons, mobility, and defenses. While this adds a layer of progression, the short campaign (around four hours) and repetitive gameplay minimize long-term impact . Players must replay missions across difficulty levels and suit choices to access completion-based trophies ().
🎧 Audio
Featuring voice work from Don Cheadle (War Machine) and Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), the audio presentation is competent but unremarkable. Sound effects and score are basic, failing to impress ().
Pros & Cons
Pros
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Simple armor upgrade system adds customization ()
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Alternate play as War Machine delivers slightly different experience ()
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Short length keeps it concise for fans seeking a quick Iron Man fix ()
Cons
Controls feel sluggish; hovering drains energy too quickly ()
Repetitive corridor combat with limited enemy variety
Weak visuals and frame-rate drops during heavy scenes ()
Minimal story and presentationno cinematic tie-in to the film ()
🎯 Final Verdict
Iron Man 2 on PSP is a mediocre licensed tie-in that hits a few notes for die-hard fans. Its suit upgrade system and playable War Machine offer brief novelty, but the repetitive combat, lackluster visuals, and short campaign keep it from feeling truly heroic. It's tolerable for Iron Man enthusiasts or trophy hunters, but overall, there's little to recommend beyond nostalgia.
Score: 5.0 / 10 Functional but unremarkable; only for completists or fans craving a portable Iron Man experience.
