Roll up your sleeves, we're hands on with Miami Vice on PSP

Like a circle in a spiral, or maybe even a wheel within a wheel, the TV series Miami Vice, which inspired the game (GTA: Vice City), which in turn inspired the remake of the TV series as a film (the Michael Mann-directed Colin Farrell/Jamie Foxx movie) now has its own game, the straightforwardly-titled, Miami Vice The Game, which, just as you'd expect, is being made in sleepy Oxford.

But don't let that geographical dislocation confuse you. Oxford is the home of Rebellion, one of the most prolific PSP developers, a developer that has already pumped out Dead to Rights and From Russia With Love and that's also currently working on GUN Showdown.

We got hands on with the game out in its natural environment of L.A. though. And not only was Miami Vice The Game playable at E3 – according to our man in the know, it was pretty much finished too. That wasn't the greatest news to hear, though, as we started off on the opening mission of breaking into a drug baron's mansion.

Our first impressions were pretty negative, with the graphics muddy (no pastel tones in sight in this level set in the evening), and the controls frankly frustrating.

But the more we played, the better Miami Vice The Game got.

One reason for that is despite being a thirdperson shooter based on an action-packed TV series, the gameplay is fairly tactical. It felt rather like the Splinter Cell series of games; you use the left shoulder button to hide behind cover, while the right shoulder button brings up a red aiming line, as if your gun had a laser pointer attached.

Used in combination moves – pop out of cover, shoot and duck back again – the control method works great in tight corners, such as shooting through a cluttered library or a kitchen full of sneaky guards. It wasn't fast enough in situations that required a more run-and-gun approach though, as we found out trying (and dying) to clear a larger swimming pool area.

There were some nice touches evident, particularly the destructible environment, which in the demo enabled you to winkle out bad guys hiding behind tables. Another factor, which might work out well later in the game, is the stamina meter, which runs down as you sprint between cover points. The promised reputation system wasn't really evident, but that's not really surprising, as during this opening level you can only improve your reputation by avoiding health powerups.

But our basic concerns about the game's look and feel remain, so it's something of a mixed forecast at present. Sign up using our 'Track It!' button to get the definitive view when our review is posted.

Miami Vice The Game is due for release on the 21st July, a week before the new movie comes out in the US.