Once again the trend has come for a games company to release their entire back catalogue (or a selection of it) in one set for the newest system. Midway are easily one of the greatest creators of games during the 1980s and early 1990s, and though they haven't done anything spectacular in a while (other than the great new Mortal Kombat games) like SEGA they can look back at their past at when they really dominated, especially in the arcades. Although some have commented on the sound and general conversion of these games, unless you're willing to carry an arcade machine in your pocket (not very practical) then this is as close to the real arcade experience that you can get on your PSP.

Midway Arcade Treasures: Extended Play includes twenty-one games, and of these nine were voted Greatest Arcade games ever. One thing that did impress me about this set was that, apart from the Mortal Kombat Trilogy, the other eighteen games are all unique and not just sequels and updates, as was seen in Capcom Reloaded. However, whereas that set included a lot of extras to reflect the games' development and show the history of the company, there is nothing here to do this and so you get no background into how the company evolved over the years. The menu is a bland and uninspiring selection screen and nothing more, with no fancy animations or anything to justify the loading that (while not excessive) is too long for what the PSP is actually loading. A number of games are improved with the use of multiplayer, obviously Mortal Kombat, but also games like Toobin', Rampart and Rampage benefit from this, and it is implemented a lot better than most PSP games, making more an easily accessible experience for you and your friends to enjoy. So, without further ado, here's what this collection has to offer.

720? (1 Player)

This is a horrible, horrible game - almost like what any Tony Hawk's game would be if it was made by baboons. Not a good game in any way and though a cult has grown from the whole 'Skate or a Die' catchphrase, hearing it spoken is just plain scary.

Arch Rivals (2 Players)

A wonderfully simple basketball simulation and, like a lot of old games, it's amazing to see so much control and action being gained from two buttons. This has a great feel as you control a two-on-two basketball game and it actually feels at times like you might win. The music and look of Arch Rivals is superb, and it is just a little sign of the greatness that was to become NBA Jam.

Championship Sprint (2 Players)

A simple game, more like a flash or mobile game, as it really is just driving around a very basic circuit. The very difficult controls mean that most of the time you'll be hitting the barriers, going backwards and generally not going anywhere fast. Not a terrible game, just not one you'll be spending a long time on.

Cyberball 2072 (2 Players)

I expected this to be a Running Man rip-off, but was happily surprised to see Midway create an authentic and playable American Football-sim and add to it this unique feature. Basically, it's like Madden only with robots and this makes for a fun game all round, with the extensive selection of plays that means that no game is the same.

Defender (1 Player)

This game is 27 years old. I'll repeat that: twenty-seven! It's older than me, so I expected to laugh at the outdated graphics, sound and gameplay… I didn't. In fact, this is one of the greatest games every created. You fly a ship, you destroy everything in sight and then continue on to the next level - it's as simple as it gets, but Defender proves without doubt that sometimes this is the best thing.

Gauntlet (4 Players)

A poor man's Zelda? Maybe, but this is a simple and fun game that mixes the adventure of Zelda with the magic of Zelda and the story of… okay, so it may not be original, but it's still a very good game to play. I do wish that they had adapted it to include some game saves though, as it's not really suitable for a portable, but it's still a great game.

Joust (2 Players)

This is possibly one of the simplest and most addictive games in existence. Taking control of a man on a flying steed (I always thought it was a duck!) you must fly through the air and bounce onto the several similar opponents scattered about the arena. It's simple but highly effective, with a great learning curve as the game gets harder and faster as you progress through the levels. Perfect!

Klax (2 Players)

The Tetris of this set and a very good game in its own right. Controlling a catcher, you must catch the coloured blocks that approach the end of a conveyor belt and deposit them on their corresponding colour - match three and they disappear. Simple and effective gaming that comes close to matching Tetris or Columns and is perfect for a handheld console.

Marble Madness (2 Players)

An odd puzzle game that is very addictive, but also very difficult to play. I feel an update for the DS and the use of the touch screen would work well, but on the PSP the controls are very awkward. It's still a good game, though.

Mortal Kombat (2 Players)

Ever since I was forced (due to my love of SmackDown) to update my firmware, I have been waiting for the release of this game. I spent almost the first two years of my gaming life playing Mortal Kombat in one form or another and the PSP is able to wonderfully recreate the arcade original. One problem I do have is that it's in 'Free Play' mode and so you have infinite chances to play, which can make it feel too easy at times. The characters look wonderful though, and all the classic sounds are here, from the music to the "Get over here!!!", while the use of Fatalities to end your match was such a unique (at the time) element that really pushed this past the serious, hardcore fighting of Street Fighter. The game is perfect as a single player game and in two player you can once again rip out the heart of your best friend... ah, happy days!

Mortal Kombat II (2 Players)

I never thought that the original could be beaten and though this comes close it's not quite as great as the original. Midway piled on the extras with the inclusion of twelve fighters (all wonderfully presented here) and the addition of Babality, Animality and Friendships to the gruesome Fatalities. The combo system was modified and became a lot more fluid, leading to a fast and furious game. Your thumbs will hate you after playing this game for a few hours. Two player is once again a great addition, although nothing different to the original.

Mortal Kombat 3 (2 Players)

The weakest of the series and for me it just looked too polished graphically, making everything seem too real. The decision to unmask Sub Zero and the absence of Scorpion was also a sore point. The heavy use of combos and the addition of the 'Run' button meant that the game could be won or lost in a single flurry and this made for a frustrating experience. Once again Midway piled on the extras, however by this point you'll find yourself wanting more than to fight an opponent and move onto the next, but that is all the game has on offer. On its own the game is great, but when compared with its two predecessors it shows all the flaws and lack of originality that became the downfall of the series in the mid-Nineties.

Paperboy (1 Player)

A classic game that I think everyone has played in some form or another. At times it's a bit too difficult, but this adds to the longevity and addictiveness. The graphics and sound aren't great (and that's me being kind), but it works well for a game that's over twenty years old!

Rampage (3 Players)

You control a beast and must destroy a city, take out humans, tower blocks, planes and tanks. The sheer carnage and action this game delivers is phenomenal and it makes me wish that the update had been this good. Rampage is so simple and yet so brilliant; it's what every Godzilla game should have been and anything less would be a let down.

Rampart (3 Players)

Like a lot of the games here, you can almost see the beginnings of a genre here, in this case that of the real-time strategy. You create castles and then defend them, and very simple gameplay makes for a very good game. While it is very basic in what it achieves, visually it does exactly what it needs to do and succeeds tenfold to make this a very playable addition to the set!

Sinistar (1 Player)

This suffers from the main ship being far too small and also from the 'Asteroids-rip-off' tag. It's fun in small bursts, but not as playable as most of the others.

Spyhunter (1 Player)

Outrun with guns, that's what this game is and that should make it a no-brainer for a classic. It is, sometimes, but the controls are so sensitive that the game can be far too difficult to play and really enjoy. However, the look of the game is very cute, almost like Micro Machines, while the use of Blues Brothers music is a little odd yet engaging.

Toobin' (2 Players)

I thought this game would be horrible and here's why: You are a 'dude' riding through an obstacle course on a rubber ring. That's it. That's all you're doing. However, this is fabulous! Once again this is spoilt a little by the never-ending 'free play', but it's still one of the best games on this set.

Wizard of Wor (2 Players)

Wor? Don't you mean War? No, Wor! No, I don't get it either. This is almost like Pac-Man, as you control a character (a wizard, I presume) firing to clear all the enemies on the screen before a similar 'wizard' does the same. It's a very odd game that should be fun, but isn't, and it isn't helped by having horrible graphics and the worst music on the set.

Xenophobe (3 Players)

Ignore this game, because it's a horrible waste of time, like if Disney had made Aliens!

Xybots (2 Players)

This is almost like an embryonic version of Doom. You control a space captain who moves through a maze and kills all the enemy aliens and robots. The action is shown in a first person perspective that is controlled very well, considering the amount of buttons needed to manoeuvre your character. It should have been a horrible mess, but instead makes for one of the better games in the collection.

Of the twenty-one games on offer, they are almost all perfect and even those that aren't so good are okay in short bursts. It has to be admitted that most people will be buying this game for the Mortal Kombat games, and until they do a proper 'Mortal Kombat Kollection' then this is probably the best way to play them on your PSP. What is so good about it is that if you don't want to play a fighting game, then there is lots of variety on offer and so I'm sure you'll find something to suit your mood. I'd be lying if I said that this was an essential set to own on your PSP, but if you are looking for a nostalgia kick then this is the best example of it on the market.

Reviewed by David Simpson for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).