The NBA Street series has established itself over the years as a wild, enjoyable, over-the-top basketball series, loaded with stylish moves, high-flying dunks, and all sorts of NBA goodness in a package stretched larger than life. Now, after enjoying a few entries on home consoles, the action can be taken on the go with the Sony PSP and NBA Street Showdown, and while some stuff has been shrunken down to fit into the machine, it's still a worthwhile romp.

Like the previous versions, you simply select your favorite NBA team and then go to work in either arcade or tournament modes, working your way up with well-timed three point shots, alley-oop plays, or slam dunks while also working on defensive plays to keep the opposing team from scoring. The action remains pretty constant and the gameplay is still well done, even if the trick system is a little condensed from the console versions. The ability to build up a GameBreaker to get an extra boost in points is a nice touch.

The game may not be as deep as console editions, but it does have a few bonus games going for it, including an endearing arcade shootout mode where you throw balls at pre-set baskets to build up points. This is a fun little distraction that will help you improve your shooting skills for the real thing, and you can change difficulty at any time to make yourself a better player.

As far as presentation, the sound is fantastic, complete with licensed music and great sound effects. The graphics aren't as detailed as the previous releases, but they still get the job done, particularly with animation and great background details.

Those who want to get a little NBA action on the go without taking the simulation route that Sony offers will want to put a little Showdown in their lives with this latest edition of NBA Street. Fans of the series won't be disappointed, and those seeking something fast and fun will be happy they picked it up.