The PlayStation Network has had a slow start, and the promises of a vibrant environment for content have gone unfulfilled. Two titles have appeared recently, Super Stardust HD And PAIN. While Super Stardust HD follows a formula similar to Geometry Wars, simple arcade space action using the dual joysticks for control, PAIN is a game heavy on physics and user-created fun. I sat down and played both of these games at E3, but I only would want to play one of these again.

PAIN has been a highly anticipated title since it first appeared on the PlayStation Network radar several months ago. But even after watching someone play in free play mode for a while, and trying myself, I never saw the crazy crashes from early previews. Most shots ended with a thud against a wall, sometimes landing in a trash bin or breaking a window. Perhaps a tutorial could explain what to look for that would cause something interesting to happen, but it definitely wasn't obvious.

Super Stardust HD, on the other hand, was a lot of fun to play. The playing field surrounds a planet/moon/asteroid/sphere, which means you never hit an edge. But your shots don't orbit the planet you're defending, so you have to keep circling, breaking large asteroids into pieces a la 'Asteroids.' Other enemies appear, like worms (space worms I suppose), and ship-seeking mines. A few different play modes match the style of gameplay you want, either quick arcade-style games, or a more involved mission mode.

So avoid pain by avoiding PAIN, and get a lovely arcade space shooter with Super Stardust HD.