If you've ever played a first-person shooter on the PSP, you know that the controls invariably suck, thanks to the lack of a second analog stick for looking around. The creators of Killzone know that too, and that's probably why they made the sequel to their PS2 shooter into a more handheld-friendly, top-down action game. Unlike every other shooter to go through a similar conversion, though, Killzone: Liberation is unique for noꦺt only being great on its own, but for actually improving on the console original.

As Capt. Jan Templar, you'll storm through war-torn trenches, mine-filled swamps and futuristic military bases, fighting a mostly solitary war against the Nazi-like Helghast army. What makes Liberation interesting, though, is how many elements it borrows from FPSes, and how well it implements them. Y🍸ou'll need to duck behind cover constantly, manag🔯e an extremely limited arsenal (you can carry only one gun at a time, as well as a few grenades) and sometimes order a computer-controlled sidekick around. Terrain also factors in heavily, as high-up snipers can instantly turn your hiding places into deathtraps.

In contrast to the gameplay, the controls - tailored to the PSP - are context-sensitive and simple. Templar targets foes automatically, so long as he's pointed in the right direction, and shooting while behind cover automatically makes him pop up and squeeze off a few shots before ducking down again. Issuing orders is similarly easy, as time slows to a crawl, enabling you pick a pre-designated strategic location or target. It might sound overly simple, but things like this effectively keep Liberation from tripping over its own complexities.