Velocity

3 cert, Sony/Furutlab, PlayStation Network (PS3, PS Vita) ***

An old expression about books, covers and judging comes to mind. Velocity is, on one level, a low-fi, derivative game, a simple-looking eight-bit shooter with clear, but functional graphics. This top-down 2D title resembles dozens (if not hundreds) of predecessors, especially the 1981 classic Galaga.

But Velocity has its share of trimmings: While the object of the game is to zap enemies and rescue friends, you can also speed up your ship and (best of all) teleport. Teleporting is the key feature here – point a cursor at your intended location, and leap to that section of the screen. It’s very handy for giving you a speed boost, avoiding bad guys and helping out friends in hard-to- reach-places. It may not be the prettiest game, and the bombs you send in different directions could be more accurate, but it glides along nicely and you can buy it for a song.

Speaking of songs, kudos to the composers for the funky, kitschy synth music!