Girl Gamer's No-Nonsense Sony PSP Review

If you want the best portable game system on the market, there is no need to look any further than the Sony PSP. Sure it is expensive (about $250), but if you’re a gamer at heart and want to bring great graphics along with your on trips and to boring family functions then there is really no other option. Yeah, yeah, yeah…I do know all about the Nintendo DS. That system may currently have more games and may play old Advanced games, but it doesn’t hold a candle to the outstanding graphics and undeniable geek-chic factor of the PSP.

Tech Bits

Released in American in early 2005, the PSP has sold well and become ridiculously popular outselling the DS in many (if not most) markets. I foresee that the chasm will only grow as the holiday season approaches. The handheld system has better graphical quality than the PS1 but (of course) is not as good as the PS2. That said, there is no denying that the screen quality is outstanding. If there is one thing that Sony has always been good at, it is making a sharp-looking screen (be it television, monitor, or in this case PSP). The “wow factor” is pretty outstanding with the 4.3” LCD in an anamorphic widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. The unit itself is 6.7” wide by .9” tall and 2.9” deep. It fits comfortably in my hands and my fingers rest nicely on the controls.

Speaking of cool tech things, the PSP is more than just a game system. The 480 x272 pixel, 16.77 million color display is also intended for movies. Lucky owners of the systems can also upload photos and music to the PSP. All game data in addition to pictures and tunes are stored on a Memory Stick Duo card. The only real limitations are on how much stress your pocketbook can endure. Pictures and music can be uploaded by hooking your computer to the PSP via a USB cable (which is, by the way, not included in the “value pack”).

Currently locked at 222MHz, the PSP has the capability of eventually running as high as 333MHz. Sony has yet to release any games that utilize the advanced technology at least in part because of the concern of draining the included lithium-ion battery. Considering the high quality of the current games, I’m jazzed to see how much better future games will look. I anticipate some increasingly amazing things to come. Speaking of actual gameplay, the built in 802.11b wireless functionality can enable ad hoc multiplayer functionality (up to 16 PSP systems) on compatible games. As of October 3, 2005 system version 2.01 has been released and an internet browser has been added—PSP owners can now surf the web wirelessly (though there have been some massive vulnerabilities which have popped up since the version’s release so I’d wait to try this if I were you).

Controls

Outside of the graphics, the PSP’s other real benefit is in the controls. If you’ve played the DualShock controllers on PS1 or PS2 you already know how to use this system. There are the expected directional buttons (left, right, up, down) on the left side of the screen. There is an analog “stick” (actually more like pad) just below that. Like other Sony systems there are also the command keys (triangle, circle, x, and square). The only real difference is that there aren’t two left and right buttons on the top of the unit—there is only one of each. I find that the PSP is a bit less natural to hold than a regular controller but the difference isn’t horrible. In fact, I find it refreshing that I didn’t have to relearn how to game in order to enjoy my portable. A bit of a sidenote, the system also has external speakers (annoying in a public place) and a jack for headphones. The PSP comes with a set so you have no excuse not to use them. Plus, the sound is better through the phones.

What’s in the Box?

The PSP Value Pack (aka the one you buy for $250) really is pretty bare-bones. The box is tiny. It includes just the black PSP, an AC adapter, the lithium-ion battery pack, a 32MB Memory Stick Duo, a set of headphones, a soft case (more like a sock) and a UMD sampler. If you really want a functional system I highly suggest also purchasing the requisite USB cable, a larger Memory Stick (especially if you’ll be storing music—I certainly will not), and a better (hard-sided) case in case you are prone to dropping things (like me). There are tons of available accessories including a car adaptor, accessory cases, screen protectors, and much else. It’s all up to you as to how you intend on using the system.

Movies

In all honesty I will never, ever buy a UMD movie. UMD is the format that the PSP plays. Both games and movies are released in this tiny plastic-covered disk. I do know that there are a few hundred titles available. The price isn’t great, they aren’t widely distributed, and by and large nobody is buying them. I suspect that people look at the PSP in much the same way as I do. My system is exclusively for gaming. I really don’t care one whit about playing music or movies. Here is a brief sampling of the current titles: Spiderman, Napoleon Dynamite, Hellraiser, Kalifornia, Sin City, Dodgeball, and U2: Rattle and Hum. If they were cheaper I might be more interested, but currently UMD movies sell for between $15 and $25.

Games

My real focus is on the games. Like I said in the beginning, there is no question that the PSP currently has fewer titles than the less expensive and less impressive DS. That said, there are no fewer than forty more titles slated to be released by the end of the year. There are currently over sixty games being sold that range in price from about $30 to $50. Titles include releases from franchises like Dynasty Warriors, FIFA Soccer, Need for Speed, Twisted Metal, Midnight Club, and Metal Gear among many others. My initial PSP purchase also gave me a great excuse to pick up five games. I purchased Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade, Lumines, Need for Speed Underground Rivals, Death Jr., and Ridge Racer. In the future I do expect to also pick up X-Men Legends 2 and Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects. I really genuinely enjoy playing Death Jr., Lumines, and Untold Legends while my husband is attached to the hip with Need For Speed Underground Rivals. The controls are very similar to what you’d expect with the PS2 which makes the learning curve nearly non-existent.

No-Nonsense Summary

Depending on whom you’re buying for and what your budget is, I can concede that the DS may be the better option. For me, though, after conducting some research (about a month’s worth) I settled on the PSP because as far as sheer gaming capacity goes it appeals to me. I love the system’s look, I appreciate that it is easy to use, I like the games I’ve played (and own), and I adore the flexibility (even if I’m not ever going to utilize many features). Most of all, I suspect that the PSP will be around a while and that great games will continue to be designed and distributed. It is a high-quality, cutting-edge system even if it may be prohibitively expensive.