PSP

When it came to portable gaming joy it was Nintendo that dominated the market with its Game Boy.  Years have passed and others have tried to introduce their own hardware (anyone remember Sega’s attempt?) but were crushed by the evolving technology Nintendo kept introducing.  The little system went from black and white to color to the marvel that is the Nintendo DS with its dual screens and touch pad technology.  Yes, it seemed like Nintendo would rule forever . . . until Sony set out to create their portable gaming machine.  The result is the Sony PSP--the best thing to happen to handheld gaming systems since, well, Nintendo.  How good is the PSP and is it worth the hefty price tag?  Oh mama it’s that good and baby you better believe it’s worth every penny.

It’s called the Sony PSP Bundle and judging by the sturdy box Sony has indeed bundled the system up with loads of goodies.  Since its introduction rumors have been flying around concerning the price tag even after the system was released in Japan a few months earlier at a retail price of roughly $199 US dollars.  For its North American release the bundle was advertised in game stores like GameStop or EB for $250 but again it’s been bundled up with some items Japanese PSP owners have to buy separately.

Upon opening the box and taking in that new console smell (ah, there’s nothing quite like it) I was greeted by a really thick instruction manual.  Anxious to discover more I picked up a cheap cardboard slipcover that protects the UMV disc of my Spider-Man 2 movie.  That’s right, you get a movie and while I wished it were packaged a little better I was happy with the choice of movie.  Moving right along I discovered the iPod-styled earphone with its own remote to control the volume.  I’ve also discovered the AC adaptor for recharging the rechargeable lithium ion battery, a UMV filled with demo videos and a really good cleaning cloth (more on that later).  There’s even a 32MB Memory Stick Duo (it’s tinier than the usual Sony Memory Stick).  Then, tucked in there was the PSP and its soft case.  Taking it out I felt its delicious weight--not too heavy or too light--it felt perfect.  Then I took it out of its protective case and I fell in love.

Yes I’ve seen hundreds of pictures of it but looking at it directly while it’s in your hands is enough to make a hardcore gamer girl’s knees go weak.  Its design is sleek and it’s indeed very sexy and looking at that wide screen (4.3 inches to be exact) almost brought tears to my eyes.  Right off the bat your eyes will go to the button scheme that’s identical to any PlayStation controller: triangle, circle, X and the square button.  Even the directional pad is straight out of the Dual Shock controller.  Jutting on the top corner of the system is the shoulder buttons.  I also loved the way Sony strategically placed the Select and Start buttons.  Where do you put in the memory card, you’ll ask?  There’s a slot in the left side of the PSP used for inserting the Memory Stick to save your game.

First thing you’ll be doing is recharging the battery with the accompanying AC Adaptor.  The little system boasts that it can last up to anywhere up to ten hours each recharge and judging by a repeat viewing of Spider-Man 2 its battery power can really give you quite a workout so go ahead and play hard.  This was a sigh of relief seeing as I plan to use every aspect of the PSP’s capabilities.  According to the instruction manual it can also be used to listen to MP3s.

Starting the PSP up you’ll encounter a menu screen similar to the one found in the PS2 so you can enter in the date and time and get system particulars (e.g. what you have saved on your Memory Stick etc.).  Its flashy screens are impressive and I didn’t even put in a game!  Checking out the system further I’ve come to discover its online component meaning you can play multiplayer matches without hooking it up to wires.  It works a bit like the Nintendo DS that requires you to be within range of a “hot spot.”

Not to knock the Nintendo DS--after all, Super Mario DS is an awesome game--the PSP has a better lineup of launch titles.  Right off the bat there’s Need for Speed Underground Rivals, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix and Twisted Metal Head-On.  Want more?  There’s Metal Gear Acid, Spider-Man 2 and there are even talks of a Grand Theft Auto game in the works.  In short, there are a lot of third party games to buy on Day One.

Now allow me to dispel any negative things you might have heard about the Sony PSP.  There have been reports from Japan that slightly twisting the system would immediately open the UMV bay and thus ending your game abruptly.  I have yet to experience this seeing as I’ve no games to try it out on but twisting my PSP during the demo or the film resulted in nothing.  There were also rumors that, due to its closeness to the wide screen, the Square button would often get stuck.  Again I repeatedly pushed every button and only experienced the tightness you get from using a new controller for the first time.  The screen does attract some dust and fingerprints (a lot, actually) so you’ll be grateful for the cloth and the soft case.  Nothing, so far, has convinced me that the system is flawed enough to stop you from playing hard or enjoying a movie.

The PSP hits retailers on Thursday, March 24^th.

Pros:

• That new console smell.

•  The PSP’s graphical capabilities are superb.

•  The system’s sound is amazing both with or without the earphones.

•  It’s bundled with all the right things.

•  Play with up to fifteen players using a Wi-Fi connection.

•  The launch titles beat the Nintendo DS titles.

•  It feels great in your hands.

Cons:

• iPod-styled ear buds are uncomfortable.

•  Spider-Man 2 movie comes in a cheap cardboard slipcover.

•  PSP screen collects more fingerprints and dust particles than Gil Grissom from CSI does.

•  It doesn’t cost $149.

Verdict: 9.8
The Sony PSP is a masterpiece of technology that is everything we’d ever dream it would be and more.  It’s graphical and sound capabilities will truly blow you away and I cannot wait to see what other things Sony has in store for this handheld system.  With launch titles that are already looking real good we can come to expect that these things will indeed be amazing.  If you want to take your games on the go this is the system to own.