Game Details
| Size | 512 MB |
| Region | USA |
| Genre | Simulation, Turn Based Strategy |
| Format | 7z / ISO |
| Year | October 8, 2006 |
| Console | PSP |
Scarface: Money. Power. Respect. (2006) is a distinct tactical empire-building game released for the PlayStation Portable. While home console players received the open-world action game Scarface: The World Is Yours, developer FarSight Studios and publisher Sierra Entertainment took a completely different, highly strategic approach for the handheld.
Instead of an over-the-shoulder action game, this title is a turn-based strategy and resource management simulator, playing out like a criminal version of Risk combined with street-level economics.
Story & Premise: The Rise of Tony Montana
The game acts as a direct digital retelling of Brian De Palma’s iconic 1983 film. You step into the combat boots of Tony Montana, a Cuban political refugee who arrives in Miami during the Mariel boatlift with nothing but a hunger for the American Dream.
The narrative structures itself across the distinct cinematic milestones of the movie. You start as a small-time muscle dealer working for Frank Lopez, slowly executing hits, establishing local distribution corners, and systematically wiping out rival cartels—including the Diaz Brothers and Gaspar Gomez—to assume the throne as Miami’s undisputed drug kingpin.
Back Cover Description
THE WORLD IS YOURS… ONE SECTOR AT A TIME.
Rise through the ranks of the Miami underworld in the ultimate struggle for money, power, and respect. Command your cartel from a bird’s-eye tactical map, outmaneuver rival factions in turn-based territorial warfare, and manage your illicit supply chains to maximize street profits. In this town, you gotta make the money first, then you get the power, then you get the respect!
- Deep Turn-Based Territory Conquest: Divide and conquer Miami across dozens of neighborhoods, managing thugs, pushers, and lookouts!
- Authentic Movie Assets: Immerse yourself in the world of Scarface featuring actual video cutscenes and music tracks pulled straight from the film!
- Real-Time Combat Intervention: Direct your street enforcers manually during turf wars using tactical, real-time strategy skirmishes!
Key Gameplay Features
- The Tactical Overview Matrix: The core gameplay operates on a stylized, color-coded grid map of Miami divided into various boroughs. During the Strategic Phase, players manage cartel finances, buy raw product from supply pipelines, adjust retail street prices based on local market demands, and distribute resources to defend their active borders.
- Cartel Resource Management: To maintain your grip on a neighborhood, you must recruit and balance three distinct street units:
- Pushers: The financial engine. They physically sell your inventory to generate massive daily cash flow but have zero defensive capabilities.
- Thugs: The muscle. They patrol turf borders, absorb damage, and attack rival neighborhood blocks.
- Lookouts: The early warning system. They reduce the fog of war and lower the chances of unexpected police raids or rival ambushes.
- Real-Time Street Skirmishes: When you attempt to take an enemy sector, the game shifts to a real-time combat interface. While you don’t directly steer Tony with an analog stick, you act as a field commander, issuing movement markers, target priorities, and weapon upgrades (like swapping pistols for submachine guns) to your squad of thugs as they trade gunfire with rival gangs.
- The “Say Hello to My Little Friend” Multi-Mode: Beyond the core story campaign, the title includes a robust 4-Player Wireless Multiplayer Mode via the PSP’s Ad-Hoc network feature. Players can customize their own syndicates to fight for complete control of Miami in customizable match layouts like Land Grab.
Short Review: High-Stakes Strategy with Stiff Delivery
The Good
- Addictive Strategic Loop: The basic mechanics of buying low, shipping product across town, managing street-level enforcement, and watching your bank account balloon is incredibly satisfying for strategy enthusiasts.
- Fantastic Film Atmosphere: The presentation leverages the Scarface license incredibly well. The menus are clean, the voice samples feel authentic, and unlocking real movie clips as narrative milestones provides fantastic incentive to keep pushing through the campaign.
The Bad
- Repetitive Combat Scenarios: Once the novelty of the real-time combat wears off, you quickly realize it lacks deep tactical depth. Most encounters boil down to simply having more thugs with bigger guns than the opponent, turning battles into a predictable numbers game.
- Clunky User Interface: Navigating deep trade menus, shifting individual product counts between warehouses, and micro-managing units across dozens of tiny map sectors using the PSP’s directional pad can occasionally feel tedious and menu-heavy during extended play sessions.
Screenshots
