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> Results: NFL Street Unleashed
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NFL Street seems like the perfect title to put the brand new PSP through its paces. Solid single and 2-player action with simple-to-use controls, deep game modes, and sharp colorful graphics, should be a (pardon the inappropriate metaphor) slam dunk for the new system. And playing the game proves those thoughts absolutely right, the game is perfect for the PSP, or it would be, if it weren't for the horribly long load times.
First off, the game is basically a port of the recent NFL Street Vol. 2. The graphics, playing fields, controls, options, players, music, moves, playbooks, etc., are all the same. The only real difference is that there are slightly fewer outrageous style moves, and this is because there's only one available trigger button (compared to the Xbox's white and black buttons, and the PS2's four button triggers). The other difference is that this game is called "Unleashed," which refers to the fact that you're playing it on the bus, or in the bathroom, or while taking the dog for a walk, and it might also refer to the handful of added minigames unique to this port. The great news is that the game looks sensational on the PSP screen. The sound is good, especially on headphones, and the controls are excellent with both the D-pad and the stick. There's a little of the LCD blurring going on, but it's never a problem and the music thumps along with the trash talk. For those who've never played the game, here's what you can expect. Two teams of six based either on real NFL teams (Packers vs. Cowboys) or you can pick players using a draft. Players can run the NFL gauntlet, train a handmade team (it's as dull here as it is on the consoles), or play a mode called "Own the City," which challenges your team to rule the imaginary thug world of street football. NFL Challenge mode is here too, and it's just as challenging (some would call it frustrating) as before. The new stuff consists of a few new minigames like one that plays like Britney's Dance Beat. I'm not joking. The rest of them are imaginative and best of all, can be played in wireless multiplayer. The game plays very well wirelessly, by the way. Even through cubical walls.  The point is the game offers everything the full console versions do. Players need not feel they're compromising if they buy this game over the console version. As mentioned, the only real problem here is the load times. They're long. 20-40 seconds every time you want to do anything that involves changing settings, saving progress, starting a new game, etc., It gets annoying quickly and could easily push a lesser game into the "do not buy" category. As it stands the load times are just a flaw on an otherwise killer port. Of all the PSP ports, NFL Street comes to the new system the most unchanged. That's a bad thing if players are looking for something new from the franchise, but since the game is now portable and since NFL Street is such a solid game to begin with, that's still a compelling reason to buy the game again. Here's hoping they can do something about the load times for the next iteration of the newly pocket-sized franchise. 
The game is simple, easy to pick up, and it's one where random button mashing often leads to success. That makes it good for younger kids and non-game playing adults. Best of all and worst of all, the single player mode stinks, so it's the kind of game you're going to need to play together. The game is very violent and players play without pads. Beware kids imitating it and clothes lining their friends and then unleashing a torrent of inoffensive but rude trash-talking.
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