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Does the classic series make a triumphant return on the PSP? Or does it fall well below expectations?

What’s it like to take over the development of a legendary series created by a renowned developer? The feeling that a developer should have is fright. After Burner, created by Yu Suzuki, is a landmark series that originates from the late ‘80s. Suzuki has a plethora of video games in his catalogue that he’s worked on such as Virtua Fighter and Shenmue. So if you ask me, following in his footsteps is not an easy process.

After a long hiatus, the series returns in the form of After Burner: Black Falcon for the PSP. AB: BF follows the path of three similar, but individual storylines. The main plot revolves around a rogue named Forge. Forge left the influential JTF Scramble Team and has turned into a terrorist threat to the US Government. Forge’s terrorist group happens to be called “the Black Falcon”, hence the title of the game.

The three storylines that are introduced involve the last three members of Scramble Team. What exactly are their missions? Well of course, to put a stop to Forge’s diabolical plans. The playable characters are Billy Blaze, Harrison Duke, and Tomiko Rossellini. Tomiko is the group’s only female fighter pilot and with a name like that, I find it hard to figure out how she fits in. Fortunately enough, each character’s story arch completes at the end of their adventure to take down Forge. Overall, the plot is well-rounded and offers a sense of justification for playing through After Burner: Black Falcon.

As for the gameplay, Black Falcon is basically an on-rail shooter. If you are unfamiliar with an on-rail shooter, it forces players to follow a particular path and limits their on screen movement. The 24 levels players navigate through are linear and generic. The end of the levels frequently concludes with a boss battle and a few lackeys to pick apart. Surprisingly enough, the normal difficulty may end up being adequate for beginners since the game is a lot harder than I first imagined.