Rising Star Games had today confirmed the continuing expansion of its PSP retro "Evolution" series, announcing that 2007 will see the release of Rainbow Islands Evolution.

Based on the Taito classic, Rainbow Islands Evolution will see something of a dramatic overhaul to the game - Bub and Bob will now face seven record company bosses in a bid to stop them polluting the ecosystem with 'musical dirge'. Evidently, the guys at Rising Star aren't fans of X-Factor...

Evolution will also see the introduction of a third-dimension, allowing blocks to be pushed off platforms and disappear into the distance, with further gameplay tweaks to be unveiled closer to the game's release.

"We're overjoyed to be updating Rainbow Islands for the PSP." Says Tony Byus, Producer for Rainbow Islands Evolution: "We're passionate about keeping the classic gameplay intact, whilst updating and modernising the design without affecting that essential gameplay. In effect, our goal is to produce what Rainbow Islands could have been if the PSP's amazing power had been available in 1987."

Earlier in 2006, Rising Star released a version of the game, Rainbow Islands Revolution, for Nintendo DS - which saw a dramatic change in gameplay over the original 8-bit title - and it seems that the publisher is set to do exactly the same for PSP...hopefully without butchering the brand's heritage again.

We'll have more news shortly...