PSP Impressions.

[Lt. Drebin]

OK. It's been out for a while.

What do we all think of it now that we've had extended time with it?

What is the gamer perception.

I think Sony is in some trouble. This thing is getting hammered in Japan. The DS is still regularly outselling it.....in fact the DS is currently the top selling console in Japan. Marred by manufacturing flaws and lackluster games.....the PSP is hurting. I had my PSP fo all of two weeks and I returned it in hopes of better games in the future. I'm not saying that every game on the DS is great, but they are all saved by the innovation aspect...those games have something to fall back on...you're more likely to hear someone say "I'll take it because it's different". IMO. The PSP needs some serious fuel...and that may still be to come, but the DS still also has it's best still to come. I feel it's unlikely that the PSP will be able to topple a new Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Mario Kart, etc, etc. Sure the PSP is graphically astounding, but is it enough. So far, IMO, it isn't.

I'm not trying to flame the PSP...I'm truely disappointed. I want this thing to succeed in the worst way, but, so far, it looks as if Sony has some serious internal and external hurdles to climb. It will take some serious work to convince me to buy another PSP...I can't help but get that "been there, done that" feeling everytime I pick it up.

Some numbers: http://forum.pcvsconsole.com/viewthread.php?tid=8272&page=15

 

[Kyorisu]

No matter how clever/fun/creative a nintendo game is. The lighting and uber bright textures get on my nerves.

Go sony.

 

[Reginald]

I have not played it yet, but I have read some terrible customer reviews of this. Apart from when you go to Amazon.co.uk and read the PSP customer reviews that say:

OMG! I haen'vt plaid dis yet bt it iz amazin!!! it beets da ds cus it has da rite numba of screens!! and da grafics r kl! loads of peeps say dat da buttns fall of but dis cnt b tru cuz it is made by sny. lol!!!

Thank God Amazon removed all reviews like that...

I am happy that Nintendo still has a firm grasp of the handheld world, but it would have been nice to get some decent competition for once

 

[Lt. Drebin]

I have not played it yet, but I have read some terrible customer reviews of this. Apart from when you go to Amazon.co.uk and read the PSP customer reviews that say:



Thank God Amazon removed all reviews like that...

I am happy that Nintendo still has a firm grasp of the handheld world, but it would have been nice to get some decent competition for once

I still feel the best is yet to come for the PSP. I'm just praying that all the bad press it's recieved won't carry over too much once a better game lineup is on the shelves. It's got some demons to shake off.

 

[Reginald]

I still feel the best is yet to come for the PSP. I'm just praying that all the bad press it's recieved won't carry over too much once a better game lineup is on the shelves. It's got some demons to shake off.

Oh I never denied it could do well. In fact, I am actually considering buying one when it gets cheaper. The console itself is a powerhouse and if I don't buy it for the games, it will be for the novelty of watching Sin City on the bus in the mornings.

 

[Fletch]

OMG! I haen'vt plaid dis yet bt it iz amazin!!! it beets da ds cus it has da rite numba of screens!! and da grafics r kl! loads of peeps say dat da buttns fall of but dis cnt b tru cuz it is made by sny. lol!!!

hehe, i love poeple like that :E

 

[Kyorisu]

It's still far from dead right now, but I do think that once Nintendo gets its big guns out, Sony will have something to worry about. I doubt Grand Theft Auto PSP will be enough to save the handheld.

GTA lol that wouldn't sell well. Just wait until the final fantasy hybrids roll in. Thar goes your sales.

 

[Lt. Drebin]

I can guaratee that GTA won't be enough to get me to buy a PSP, but I'm really hoping that FF7 and GTM are solid, because they reall need a boost. In Japan the DS is doubling up the PSP on a regular basis, it's not even out in Europe and sales data in the US is only accurate on an annual basis. The problem for me is that those are the only few games I can think of, off the top of my head, that even remotely appeal to me on the PSP. It's like every game on the PS2 is coming to the PSP or vice versa. I don't know if those few games are going to make it a worthwhile experience or are going to cut it against 6-7 high-profile/quality, exclusive titles coming soon to the DS. And, when you think about it, every title on the DS has the ability to be an exclusive....at LEAST from a gameplay standpoint....that's an incredible selling point. Something we'll see again from Nintendo with the Rev.

It's a tough call still. The DS is just offering such a dramatically different handheld experience I feel like the public perception is something along the line of "I have to have a DS, and maybe I'll get a PSP if I have extra cash". At least that's what the sales numbers tell me in Japan. The PSP is beautiful, yes, but it has only one unique feature from the DS...it's own proprietary movies. You can import the MP3/video player for the GBA/DS.

 

[MuToiD_MaN]

I really like my PSP. Granted I haven't had the chance to use a DS for any period of time, partially because none of my friends have them, and partly because any time I see one in a public kiosk the touchpad is totally broken from some sort of wicked abuse. At least I hope that it takes some abuse to ruin one of those.

As far as faulty manufacturing claims, mine has been fine thus far. I've had it fall onto thin carpet from 5 feet and no damage, but I can see how a disc unit is probably several times more fragile than a cart handheld like a GBA. So that could be considered a flaw since it is a handheld.

I also like the PSP because of the easy-as-cake-to-run homebrew software, but I could hardly call that a point to stand on because you might say that it's something the manufacturer didn't intend But I get to play NES games on-the-go at no cost to me, so I'm happy there. Plus Doom and Quake are coming along nicely.

I have Wipeout, Lumines, Ridge Racer, Mercury, and Darkstalkers (listed in order of most enjoyed and consequently most played), all of which I wouldn't regret purchasing, but for those RPG and mainstream action type fans out there, I can see why the game list wouldn't be all that attractive. All I know is that it was a great purchase for me. By the way, I want a goddamn side-scrolling shooter! How long do I have to wait for a Gradius, R-Type, or Darius title to satisfy my craving? I mean, look at the thing, it is perfect for it!

Sorry, got a little emotional. But honestly, I wouldn't trade my PSP for a DS any day.

 

[Warbie]

I'm still waiting for decent games to appear on the PSP. I'm also waiting for some good looking ones to be announced too.

It's been a little while now, and Lumines is still the best game on the system.

Come on Sony, get it together :/

 

[DarkStar]

I'm still waiting for decent games to appear on the PSP. I'm also waiting for some good looking ones to be announced too.

It's been a little while now, and Lumines is still the best game on the system.

Come on Sony, get it together :/

Lumines is the game I play the most on my PSP too.

It is so true Warbie, the software for the PSP so far has been pretty poor.

 

[gh0st]

i dont play my psp anymore. i put porn on it and listen to mp3's via my cars cassette adapter. so, it does many things well but its still a jack of all trades but master of none.

 

[Qonfused]

My (rich) friend bought one and never plays it... I'm like, wtf?

 

[Lt. Drebin]

i dont play my psp anymore. i put porn on it and listen to mp3's via my cars cassette adapter. so, it does many things well but its still a jack of all trades but master of none.

You nailed it IMO. When you engineer a device to be able to do so much, you engineer it to be a master of nothing. It's a handheld gaming device....I have a Creative Portable Media Center....it plays movies and music, etc. People that can afford the PSP probobly have most of this stuff. Sony's focus needs to be on high-quality game titles and less on the movies and the possible music UMDs coming out. Look what's happening with the much-hyped Coded Arms....the game is a disaster thus far....difficult control scheme and lacking gameplay. I really hope developers don't simply believe that the PSP will survive on it's graphical capability alone.