80
I initially started this review with the traditional PSP vs DS comparison but quickly came to appreciate that beauty isn't everything and that gameplay and hardware are just as important. Not only does this hold true in most situations, I learn that it applies very much in my experience.
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» Read the full review
80
nice system, great graphics, sleek design
flaws include: loading times! lol and its delicate
compared to the ds, which I have dropped on several occasions (when I have passed out due to lack of sleep) nothing.
though PSP lou never want to drop. (unless in a metal w/leather cushion)
100
The PSP allows you to play games, watch movies, play music, watch videos, and even go on the Internet. You can play online and do MANY other things.
100
The PSP would have to be my favorite handheld. It has everything the Gameboy didnt. Online play, Good games, Internet Browser, Flash compatibility, and much more. Best handheld EVER!
99
It's good beacause you can play video games but movies too, and have music, pictures and go on the internet. It has good graphics for games and movies.
99
The Playstation portable is the best portable out there, for now. It is the perfect Multimedia device. They only reason I rated it 99 is because most of the games have loading screens which I hate. Loading screens need to die. Along with a good size memory card this can keep anyone busy for days on end.
So I HIGHLY recomend this to anyone and everyone over the age of 12.
100
This is the ultimate machine and I dont even know how anyone can think of comparing this to the DS. The great graphics are PS2 quality and the Sanyo screen shows over a million colors so that any movie of game being played is PERFECT. Its not to big and fits comfortably in my hands. most of all I can now surf the web from any where. I can't wait for the PS3 because then, if I get an internet connection, I can stream any movie or music using the location free player, and even better, The PSP doubles and a wireless controller for the PS3. The PSP is the best and I would recommend it to anybody!
100
This system is inspiring other companies to do other crap to bring up sales. Way to go SONY!
97
I took it out of the box installed the ion lithium battery and 32mb memory card, connected the power cords and powered this beast up, only to find that my screen has dozens of white dots everywhere. I went online and found out that a ton of PSP's had defective screens. The screen had pixels missing everywhere, ugly white blotches. I went back to the store and exchanged it for another and checked the screen in the store to make sure that this unit was not defective as well. I would strongly suggest that you ask to inspect the screen before you make your purchase.
What's in the box
There are many bundles to choose from. I decided to buy just the regular value pack. If you are lucky enough to still find one of the 1st million PSP units made then you will get a copy of Spiderman 2, a demo disk, but none of the games are playable, still the games are fun to watch none the less. Instruction books and quick start guides are as you would expect (who reads them anyway). You also get a 32mb memory stick Pro Duo, an ion-lithium battery, a pair of headphones with remote control and a lanyard. Why Sony would include a white Lanyard and white headphones with a shiny black PSP are beyond me>
The PSP itself is a very shiny black which looks stunning. It fits in your hands very well indeed. The screen is huge and the picture quality will blow you away.
There is a USB connection on top of the unit so you can connect the PSP to your home computer. There is a 3.5mm headphone jack on the left underside of the unit and a power connection on the right underside of the body. On the left hand side of the body is the slot for your memory card. On the top are 2 screw holes so you can attach screen protectors. On the back is the UMD drive. The UMD drive door pops outwards from the body when you press the eject button.
3.2.1 playtime.
When you first turn it on you will be prompted to enter the current time and date, which is very easy to do. Once you have done that you will be presented with the main system menu. There are 5 icons to choose from - video settings, photo, music, video, and game. You highlight the menu you want by using the D-pad, Once highlighted, sub menus will appear. All are very self explanatory, the ease of use is a nice change compared to some technology today.
I wanted to see how well movies played on this unit, so I popped in Spiderman 2. UMD's are very similar to the Sony Minidisk and can hold up to 1.8gb of data. The PSP operates very quietly and loads fairly quickly. Spiderman 2 loaded and started playing and I could not believe my eyes. I was totally amazed. Playback was seamless, there was no lag, slowdown, blurred images, playback was silky smooth. The picture quality was quite simply stunning, just like watching a DVD on a regular TV. The PSP's sound reproduction can be somewhat tinny, which can take away from the movie or game that you might be playing, but plug in the headphones and you will not be disappointed.
The battery that comes with the PSP is very good. Gone are the days where you need to buy 6 batteries to get an hour worth of play. The ion-lithium battery takes about 2 hours to get a full charge, and will last for about 4-6 hours depending on whether you're playing games, watching movies or listening to MP3's.
Wait, there's more
Not only does the PSP play movies and games, it also doubles up as a MP3 player and a picture viewer. This is where the USB connection comes into play. You connect the PSP to your computer and you can transfer MP3's and pictures to your PSP. It is very easy to do. When connected to the computer the PSP is recognized as a mass storage device. Select the USB option from the menu, and your ready to start transferring. Just select the file you want to copy across and away you go.
MP3 playback is fairly good, you can't complain, it's no iPOD but it is still good. Depending on what size memory card you have you can load dozens of songs onto your PSP and then you will have a portable MP3 Player. I also bought an FM transmitter. If you plug the FM transmitter into the PSP you can listen to your music through your car stereo or any stereo. The fact that the PSP can also play movies is also cool. I now have a UMD system in my car that I can listen to through my subs and amps.
While the screen in terms of picture quality is outstanding, the durability of the screen is questionable. The screen is very easily scratched. There are a number of screen protectors for you to buy. These range from little bits of film that cover your screen, to a full blown screen protector that screws onto the PSP unit, either way is fine. I strongly advise anyone buying a PSP to take this into account. Neither option is very expensive, but each option is a very worthwhile investment.
Overall
The PSP is quite simply awesome. It is by far the best handheld to ever grace Gods green earth. It is a superb gaming platform, but in addition to that a great MP3 Player, picture viewer and UMD player. A true multimedia device. What more could you ask for? There is going to be a very strong games library for years to come, you cannot go wrong with the PSP. While kind of pricey at $249, it is a great investment, that if looked after, will last a very long time. This is the way gaming should be.
100
I think the PSP deserves a 101. Great graphics, awesome gameplay, head to head ad hoc or infrastructure, and most of all the feel of holding the system in your hands is ehilirating.
100
The best thing I have ever purchased, perfection, get one it blows the DS out of the water.
99
This portable gaming device leaves all the competition in the dust. It makes the DS seem like a baby's toy. With wi-fi compatibility and a interent browser, the possible uses are endless. The battery life may not be as good as the competition but the graphics equal that out.
I usually take my PSP and use it as if it was a laptop. Rumor has it that upgrade 3.0 will have some applications such as a word processor and calculator. This will be a great day as Sony has announced that they are stopping production of their Palm Pilots to be replaced by the PSP. All in all, if you are in the market for the ultimate portible gaming device, you must get the Sony PSP because the future is bright for the PSP
94
This thing is sweet I have had it for a while now and I think its time for a review.
Options: pretty simple but easy and works good.
Photo: great to put on pics and easy to view them (great for 2.0).
Video: great quality but kinda quite on umd movies.
Game: unbelivable graphics for a handheld. Addictive. Too bad about long load times.
Browser: kinda slow but I can't complain about a full web browser on a handheld.
GREAT!!! PSP WALKS ALL OVER DS (even though I have both) 
100
Duh! This is a PSP site! If the PSP didn't rock Nintendo DS's butt off, we wouldn't be here! I give it a perfect score.
90
Its the best handheld console out at the moment, with the best graphics processing unit for handhelds. One downfall for me was that it's like a dust magnet and it just gets filthy so I highly suggest getting a screen protector and a case!
97
Lots of features and endless possibilities. Needs some more games and another analog stick. But everything is all good in the hood.
99
This is an amazing portable with great capability and features. I just can't wait for some games that will bring out its true potential.
93
one of the things I love most about the PSP is the pause/hibernation right smack dab in the middle of the game with the power slide. You don't have to power it down like a pc/laptop. One of the things I hate most about the PSP is the clunky interface. You'd think Sony would have given a little more thought into how to navigate through all of the cool functions that this little baby offers.
I have run into some excruciatingly long load times (Ape escape, Wipeout pure). And when the PSP is whirling the UMD around, the mechanical spinning wears down the battery faster. The sound could be louder (I like music obnoxiously loud) and what's up with the jack for the headphone? Anyway, I just plug my earbuds into the controller's hole, and put the Sony earphones into a drawer to collect dust, with the power brick and the clunky external battery pack. I find that I can make it through two 12-hour shifts at work with sporadic game play/mp3 play without a recharge, though I have an extra battery in my backpack for those long and boring days. Many have complained about the wrist strap, I tied the end of mine in a knot and stuck a cloth through the end of the loop for wiping. I use it curled around my left hand's fingers as a game stabilizer (that I really need when I'm tilting back and forth while I'm playing wipeout, or while bumping around in the ambulance.
Why buy UMD movies?
I got mine in California when they first came out in the US, and noticed about 7 dead pixels across the top. Unnoticeable during gameplay, or while i'm showing off my pics.
I don't have any problems with portability (I toss it into my little backpack of stuff for work) or physical performance of the machine (besides the load times), but some of my games' UMD cases are broken-the clear part is separated from the white plastic. I'm not sure where my USB cord came from, but it works with both the PSP and my Razr. And while I have no qualms about throwing my GBsp around like a frisbee, I'm a little more conscientious of where I toss my backpack when the PSP is in it.
I love using the thumb analog stick and the ease of downloading MP3's and pics onto the PRO Duo memory stick. And though I haven't used it yet, I think that having this thing as an eBook reader and web browser is super. I do sometimes long for a stylus and touch screen, but that's what the DS is for.
90
This thing was great. It came with a lot of stuff. The PSP is so cool. It plays games, music, movies, and can view photos. The only thing I didn't like was that you are forced to buy a bigger and memory stick for all the cool stuff you want to do. Overall this product is the best handheld i've seen.
99
Wow, I just got this thing and it is above my expectations. The video for Wipeout Pure on the demo disc just made me say "What the hell am I holding in my hand that can do this?" Anyway, it's awesome.
95
This system is awsome! I'll try to be as honest as I can in this review. The graphics are at least equivalent to those of the Playstation One. It plays music, movies, and, of course, games. If you are the obsessive perfectionist type it will look especially good because of its clean-cut simplistic elegance. Needless to say the PSP is certainly not limited to perfectionists.
The PSP has a few quirks, though. If you are an "on the go" sort you'll have to really watch the PSP because it smudges and scratches easily. And, there really were no instant classic launch games. The PSP has amazing potential and hopefully Sony will work off of that.
85
I really wish it had a second analog stick so that it could better accomodate first person shooters.
The memory slot hatch tends to pop open easily when I'm playing, but it's tethered by a flat piece of flexible plastic, so there's no danger of it getting lost. However, I'd have liked it better if it would close more securely. The memory card itself is spring loaded, and it seems very secure, even if the protective hatch were left open accidentally.
The plastic used on the face of the PSP is prone to attracting dust, fingerprints, and so on, and it seems like it's be really easy to scratch, so investing in on of the many screen protecting films on the market is a really good idea.
The build is pretty sound overall, but the UMD hatch seems like it would be easy to break off. I doubt it would do so accidentally, though, so while I wouldn't toss my PSP around the way I would a Gameboy Advance, I'm still pretty confident about putting it in my backpack along with a full load of textbooks, as long as it's on top.
The PSP's thickness (or rather lack thereof) and it's width at times makes for an uncomfortable grip when playing fast paced games. My hand sometimes cramps when playing Wipeout Pure. I'd say my hand size is average for an adult asian male. I think it's the right size in terms of portability, but then I don't carry in my pockets.
Its got a beautiful screen, and lucky for me, I got a dead pixel free unit on the first try. If there is any ghosting due to the slower refresh speeds of LCD screens, it's not enough to detract from my gaming experience.
I find the battery life suprisingly long given the estimates floating around prior to release, but it's still too short, especially if you're playing on long road trips. Playing Lumines, I seem to get around 4 hours of gameplay, with the wi-fi switch off, switching the screen brightness to the minimally acceptable brightness, and volume at a reasonable level. I've noticed a third party higher-capacity battery is on the market, but there aren't any reviews as to it's quality. I hope Sony will release newer, longer lasting batteries as technology permits.
The PSP standard set really should come with a USB cable. Fortunately, my Canon Digital Elph's cable fits prefectly. The headphones and remote feel cheap in build, but the sound quality is decent enough. I think the wrist strap is ugly.
I plan to buy a better case, but the one included is adequate. I've read reports of some people's PSPs getting scratched from the soft case, but this hasn't been my experience.
It's the most advanced portable console on the market, but I have to say that the selection of games is somewhat lacking at the moment (about 8 months since launch). The fact that the PSP can handle emulation offsets somewhat, just be sure not to upgrade your firmware if you intend to run emulators.
Bottom line is that the PSP itself is wonderful in and of itself, but it's sorely lacking in the games department, which is really what makes or breaks any console, regardless of its technical specifications. If you feel lukewarm about the current line-up of games, I'd wait until a few games come out that really peak your interest. Keep in mind that the PSP's games are not region encoded, so you can play Asian or North American games, if you don't mind the potential language barrier.
95
I love the PSP. Since most people on this site have them already I'll leave it at its worth getting because of all the great features and I will tell everyone my complaints about it. It's not loud enough. the analog stick isn't comfortable, and it gets dirty from fingerprints too easily. This shows you that there are so many good things about it since I could only find three things I didnt like with the system. Love the screen width. Love the main menu. GET ONE NOW, it's worth it, really.
99
In my opinion, this is the one device that is going to revolutionize the multimedia experience as we see it today. With talk of webcams, and other devices, this and future incarnations of this device are going to be must haves.
99
I am wriitng this for fanboys. I mean honestly DS fanboys bash the PSP, PSP fanboys bash the DS, Gizmondo people bash the PSP and DS and so on.
Give it up people, play what you like whether it be the PSP, DS, Gizmondo, or the GameCom (or whatever it was called). Systems are made for people to enjoy not obsess over.
I for one like the PSP more for the fact it has the beautiful screen, graphics, music, movies, etc etc (we know all this already).
I just feel people spend to much time bashing other systems then their own.
I know this is pretty much not a review of the system, but I feel the need to say this because of the DS vs PSP posts on message boards.
99
I've had the PSP since launch day, which is almost four months now and I can't get enough of it. Nothing has worn down or fallen apart from using it on a regular basis. This has to be the best handheld I've ever had in my hands. Everything from the sleek design to the clarity of the screen to the shininess that it has. It's truly jawdropping to see it. Pretty much everyone that I've shown it too has HAD to purchase a PSP, everyone loved it that much.
You can play games, listen to music, watch videos, view photos, and now with the version 2.00 firmware you can surf the net. Do yourself a favor and go buy one now!
87
This is a sleeker more usable handheld than say the Lynx or the Gameboy. I like the ability to have media on the go. The M4A format is nice to have episodes or movies or that vid you've been wanting to share. I'm not so fond of proprietary formats, but this is SONY and that's what they do.
Pros
• Good sized, clear screen
• Video capability
• Mp3 capability
• Games are not region encoded
• Ad-hoc wireless head to head (some games only)
Cons
• No real web browser as of July 2005 (although I hear that's on the mend)
• No internal hard drive
• Expensive games in a limited range of genres
• UMD movies are region encoded
• Memory sticks are proprietary and expensive
The Cons are all things I can livve with. Even the fingerprint hell that your screen becomes. I got a Japanese PSP as I will be wanting the UK movie releases, so it's the right region.
My biggest complaints are the same as all early adopters: lack of local stores carying items, high entry fee, limited release of games.
I love it because it's slick, It will eventually have the games I want, I love the media capabilities, I love the potential that WiFi offers and memory sticks take up a lot less room than DVD's when travelling.
99
What can I say? I love this machine!
97
When I first saw the PSP on TV I knew I had to get one. The gaming aspect of the device is incredible. The graphics are great and the games are fun to play. You can also listen to your mp3s, watch mpegs, and collect JPEG pictures. Some of the games you can even play online with a wireless connection. The only complaint I have with the PSP is the dead pixels. I was unlucky and got three on the screen. Lets put it this way, my friend saw my PSP when he came over. Two days later he had one of his own.Thank you Sony for such a great machine.
96
Wow this was the best $250 I ever spent. The PSP is the perfect size, shape, and weight for a handheld. And look at alll it can do. Sure the included memory stick is too small to be of much use except to get you started. But once you get a bigger memory stick this is one amazing gadget.
99
This is so kewl and im speachless or lets say typeless.
90
Great design, great graphics, good game selection, what more do you want. Well, I wish it had a microdrive instead of MS, simply becuase it would hold more, but other than that, and the one dead pixel I have, I love it.
95
If you're here and haven't had the pleasure, what is your malfunction?
The widescreen is incredible, especially when playing a game in first person perspective.. You'll be amazed that your eyes actually have to look around. The games and movies will only get better and more abundant from here.
70
This sony PSP system is great, I mean look at the stuff you can do; play games,listen to music, photos and videos. Sure this is a great piece of technology, but if you're just a regular guy then $250 is a lot. After you buy it, you have to go to the store and get a game for $40 and a movie for $15. But the worst thing that's included in the Value Pack is the memory stick. Only 32mb, good for nothing if you're a video gamer. So that means you have to go to the store and buy a good memory stick, maybe 256mb or more which costs a lot. The PSP itself is great, but with the added cost of accesories the price turns out to be really high. I love my sony PSP, but sometimes I consider this a rip-off.
99
What can I say? This system is one of the best, if not the best system out right now. It really is ps2 in the palm of your hands. Of course depending on who you speak to, people will have their own opinions; but I love this thing. Its so practical. Games, mp3, photos, and movies in one nicely designed package. Call me a fan boy, but I give the unit 99/100. The only complain I have is the lack of games. WE NEED SOME NEW (more interesting) GAMES!!!
97
As you already know, the PSP screen is beautiful in it's widescreen 16:9 resolution and it's 16.7 million colors (that's right, 16.7 million colors!) and it's glossy looking finish. So far, I have not seen any battery problems and it feels nice in my hands. The user interface to access the games is well done.
My only problems with the PSP are that turning on the Wi-Fi is a bit confusing, they don't include the USB cable to connect to a PC, and it doesn't include a game. I mean maybe you can only afford the PSP and nothing else.
In conclusion, PSP is perfect in every possible aspect. IF, you don't have a PSP, but you're reading this review, you better get yourself one. Period.
96
The PSP is the greatest thing that gould ever happen to a gadget freak like me. Gotta love the widescreen LCD and the integration of the analog joystick. Games that look as good as they did on the PS2, I almost considered selling my PS2 and just solely using the PSP untill PS3 came out. Anyways this protable cant be touched by anything out on the market right now so, BUY IT!
95
Ok, I really do still not like Playstation. Other than some good RPGs, there really aren't any games I like on the PS/PS2. Tack that onto the fact that the PS2 has crappy graphics, and I never imagined I would fall in love with the PSP!
However, after going to E3 and actually playing this amazing console first hand, while watching preview after preview of all the amazing games that are coming out for it, I had no choice!
The PSP will absolutely become the standard for portable media as we know it. The only thing that I wish it had were some Pocket PC applications. If these come out in the near future (which looks plausible), this console would get a 100 in my eyes.
95
This is my second PSP, I first bought a JP one, which was 100% okay. But due the lack of time to play on it, I sold it. Now I am back with a US version. 1 dead pixel, but it's okay (well, not really, but I am trying to convince myself it is...  )
Anyway, PSP is still much beter then the Nintendo DS, screen is HUGE and Wipout Pure rules :D Must have!
9
i will never waste my $350on a 2gb memory card. iPod 60gb costs $350 too. I regret buying my PSP. Sport games on PSP are just too tiny to see. It doesn't look like PS2 quality. I felt lied to when I first played FIFA on the PSP. It looks tiny and the graphics suck.
91
I have been a long time user of handheld gaming systems. My first system was the Sega Game Gear, which was an incredibly fun handheld back in the day. I later jumped on the Game Boy bandwagon after the Game Boy Color was released in 1998.
The PSP could very well be my favorite handheld device ever. Here is my review.
Design
Pros: The PSP has a strong, sexy design. I love the absolute beauty of the machine; it's heavymetal (glossy black) color, it's clear L&R buttons, and it's beautiful screen. It really is a futuristic design; the Game Boy never had this type of beauty.
Cons: The design looks a bit "fragile" so to speak. It's heavymetal color also attracts fingerprints like a protestute in New Orleans.
Controls
Pros: The PSP has very conformtable controls, for the most part. It feels similar to the orignal Playstation controllers, which were lighter and had smaller buttons than the current Dual-shock line of Playstation and Playstation 2 controllers. Overall, it's rather comfy, and the d-pad is one of the best in the industry.
Cons: I have large hands, so playing with the analog "nub" leaves cramps and just doesn't feel right. Still, ya get used to it.
Screen Quality
Pros: Let's just put it this way; this thing's screen puts all of our TV's (which are analog) to shame. Only our SUV's Panasonic LCD Screen can compare. The colors are very vibrant.
Cons: Attracts fingerprints like a magnet. It also has refresh problems; it creates shadows on fast moving characters. Then again, all LCD's have this problem.
Graphics
Pros: The graphics are very good; Untold Legends looks comparable to the Gauntlet games for the Playstation 2 and Gamecube. Also, other games (such as NBA and Hot Shots Golf) look absolutely gorgeous. I have no problem with the visuals.
Audio
Pros: The PSP has very high quality audio. Granted, you'll want to use headphones to get that "bass" effect, but even the system's speakers are high quality.
Cons: System speakers are a little on the "quite" side.
Multimedia
I haven't fooled too much with the music and movie capabilities, although I love putting my pictures on a memory stick duo (the 32 meg one that was included) and showing them to my friends. I'm going to pick up a larger stick soon, so size will not be a problem.
88
I love my PSP. Others love their PSPs. Shall we get together and call it a date? My only gripe is, WHY can't we get a memory card that is easily available? Oh, PSP I love you anyway.
The only game system that makes me feel more like a mature gamer. It plays REAL movies and music. I can share photos. I can... Oh, yeah! Play games.
100
I must say I have fallen madly in love with my PSP, it is by far the best gaming tool I have and mostly because it is portable. It's so sleek and looks so good, and is fairly easy to hide in class, I can play Untold legends while my teacher lectures, WOO HOO!! But this is really the best thing out on the market if you don't have it GO GET IT!!!
100
Movies, Music, Games, Internet. All very costly and hmmm NOT portable. Lets see here, all those things now not costly (when looked at as a whole) AND portable. Just the mere co-existance of these componants all housed under one portable unit as small as my hand allows me to give this a full fledged 100.
95
I love my PSP. It basically goes everywhere I go. (Now I know why there is a wrist band thing on it) The only reason I give it a 95 is because I have 5 dead pixels scattered around but it doesn't affect my game play. Plus I had to buy more memory sticks to even store all the multimedia stuff I want it to.
100
The iPod revolutionized MP3 players. The PSP will revolutionize mobile gaming. The Sony PSP simply surpasses any and all expectations I had for a mobile gaming platform. I am *not* a Nintendo fanboy, but I currently have a GC and I used to have a GBA. The elegant design of the hardware, plus the stunning graphics and gameplay, not to mention the movie/mp3 playing ability, makes the PSP a bargain IMO. Buy it, you'll like it!
92
I just read the review by the 35 year old reader. I have to say I am amazed that on a system the size of the PSP he was unable to find the WiFi switch. Nevertheless, let me proceed with my review. For the record, I am 41 years of age, and have been gaming since the game Gods smiled on civilization oh so long ago.
Simply put, the PSP is an absolute marvel. It is amusing to see us actually reading reviews where people are comparing and sometimes griping about how the PSP and the PS2 stack up. This, in and of itself, is an absolute testament to the prowess of this handheld dynamo. Just give that last comment some thought, and I save about 300 words of explanation. Simply an awesome concept.
We now have a system in our hands that is truly next-gen and not just some semi-souped up version of an older technology. Having been a professional gaming writer in the past, I can say with reasonable assuredness that my pals at Nintendo have been duly trumped.
The PSP is an astonishing piece of equipment with an immediate, addictive appeal that will soon grow an many. Those who chose not become the early adopters will buy this unit shortly after seeing someone using it, and having a chance to simply hold it. The quality of this piece is exuded in every aspect of its design and physical feature set. The PSP is fabulously crafted and stands head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
I was impressed enough to purchase one for my son and I to enjoy, and within two days was compelled to get another so that I did not have to share time with him to play the device. Now we are playing head-to-head games ad hoc, and have successfully networked through the router as well.
Admittedly, the mp3 aspect of the device is nowhere near the quality that an audiophile would like to enjoy, but when functioning as a sole source device for movie, game, music and photo content it becomes hard to be overtly picky.
I am writing this from a business trip in Miami, Florida, and the ride on the plane was all the more pleasant while listening to tunes on my PSP with BOSE noise cancelling headphones attached. I also enjoyed the "Stealth" trailer I downloaded for the ride, and got several rounds of W1p3out Pure in before we touched down. I can find nothing negative about my time with the unit thus far, and really feel that the money I have now spent on two of these units was not wasted in any way.
The PSP is quality, a delight to see and be seen with and really does a great job of delivering a quality gaming experience on the fly. Don't give too much to any of the hyperbole for or against. Make up your own mind by at least test driving this bad boy for a few. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. It's a SONY, no baloney!
90
I love my PSP. The screen is beautiful, the design is stunning, the games are FANTASTIC (will be even better when they start porting my PS2 favourites over to PSP! - GTA, DMC, GT4!). With my 1GB MSDP, I have 3 movies to accompany me wherever I go, and 2 hours of trance music from Armin Van Buuren
It follows me EVERYWHERE, and I mean EVERYWHERE. And my gf's hooked on it too.... Lumines and Puzzle Bubble are a girl's best friend... who need diamonds when you have a PSP!
85
Unpacked and start setting up... and bang: no USB cable by default. WHY?
No browser by default - WHY?
No WPA support, no channel option under wireless - WHY?
Besides these stupid shortcomings the device is truly a high-quality masterpiece, especially the display: this screen is far the best I have ever seen in this small size.
Due to the medium type (disc), game load times are pretty long, it's unfortunate but understandable, although unless Sony releases a UMD-writer, UMD will have a very limited market: as 1GB memory card goes ~$100, it doesn't help Sony to prevent piracy. I predict we'll see the first pirated PSP game within a year, which will run from memory card.
95
I love the PSP. Sony did a great job bringing the handheld to the next level. Big screen, nice design, WiFi ability.....it has it all. Well almost all
The few things that would have been nice is Web browsing out of the box, but that is going to be added later on. A way to connect to the internet via USB for those without wireless connection close be would have been a good addition.
But over all, I have to say if you want a All-In-One entertainmemt system, the PSP ishould be very high on your list of things to get. You can play games, UMD movies, MP3's and put digital pics on it to show others.
This thing is great!!!! GET ONE if you don' have one already.
100
Umm, if you're here, you probably already have a PSP. This isn't meant for you.
For those of you that are still on the fence, come! Join the dark shiny side! You won't regret it. The PSP is the perfect package. It has the 1st and 3rd party game support that's unrivaled in the industry. It has a screen that no other portable console can match now. It plays great games, plays movies (that you can buy in UMD format or rip from your own dvds and movie files), plays music, shows pictures and the most important thing... It'll totally impress everyone around you!
Sure, $250 is a bit steep, but it's a worthwhile investment to see what the future of portable gaming will look like.
95
When I first saw pictures of the psp i thougt that would be nice to get , but then i read some reviews and saw he specs of the beast and I had to have one.
So i got my psp(JAP) off ebay with ridgeracers. I cant complain about the interface very easy to use. RidgeRacers lokks brilliant lokks as good as RR5 i have for my PS2.
The psp looks the part and looks like an expensive peice of kit than can perform , unlike the ds that looks boring and simple. The layout of the buttons are very good, and with the inclusion of the analouge stick sony has a trump card. The analouge stick it no the best positioned but it can easily be used and it makes a change from the d-pad we are used to seeing on gameboys.
Sony took a small risk when they decided to use UMD's. I think they are great as they are small and are protected so it you have on ein your pocket it wont scratch. The memory stick duo slot is also a great feature that enables people to put their own music, video and pictures on the psp making it the ful entertainment pakage.
However there are a few items sony could have added to make the psp perfect. A Video out would ahve been great and may still be implemented in the future. A screen protector with the value pack or a built in one as the face plate does scratch easily. There are a few other minor points but these do no detract from the system.
Overall sony has launched a next generation product. The psp is an amazing peice of kit that is well worth the £200 i payed for it.
100
I was pre-order number1at my local Electronics Boutique, since last December, so I have been waiting for this. It's simply amazing for a handheld device, and is leaps beyond anything so far put out. The very first thing that everyone will notice once on, is it's screen. The screen is really incredible, and until you actually have one in your hands, all the pictures you have seen can't really convey how nice, clear, crisp, and big it is. The colour saturation, contrast, are all very nice.
The very next thing one will notice after fiddling with it for a little bit, is that the PSP is a dust, and fingerprint magnet. Want to make sure that last bit of dust is out of your clean room, bring the PSP in. This is of course due to the fact that the unit is finished in a high gloss black finish, which is muy sexy, but will show those fingerprints.
Graphically... it is just about PS2 graphics, and in a couple of the launch titles, actually cleaner than the PS2 versions of the same game. For Movies, we watched Spiderman 2 which came with it, and there wasn't any noticable ghosting.
As an mp3 player, it needs some help. It is quite functional and the sound is good. However, they need to release a firmware update to address the cumbersome file system it uses. Still, a nice feature to have none the less, even with the current file system. (Remember this is a games first machine)
It also serves nicely as a photo viewer. You can set it up to do a slideshow, you can zoom in and out, you can pan all around the picture, etc.
So to sum this up, we are very, very happy with ours. Just hopeful that they will release a firmware update in the future (I am confident they will) to address such things as the aforementioned file system. It would also be nice to be able to set any picture, or colour you like as your main background. (Currently it changes colour depending on which month it is)
Bottom line: It is one nice piece of portable hardware.
98
The PSP is a great handheld. In fact, it is so great I can't use words to describe it. I'm going to keep this review short because I really want to get back to THUG 2 Remix and Untold Legends. There are so many good things about the PSP. The graphics are awesome, the audio is great, but it is better with the headphones.
The only Problems I have with this system is that it is very delicate, the battery could be better(Sony is coming out with a battery with double the life later this summer) so I suggest buying that battery when it comes out,and the screen scratches easily,so I highly recommend a screen protector. Those are small flaws that you shouldn't worry about because there are solutions.
90
Call me old (35) or call me inexperienced (this is my first portable game) but the PSP has so many buttons all over it that it's hard to pick up without pressing something! I solved this problem by using the strap that came with it.
The other thing that bugged me was the WiFi switch. I kept on being told by the network set up to switch on WiFi but it never showed me where the switch was. A simple picture could have helped a lot! Yes, it was in the manual, but only on the general page that shows all the buttons. And anyway, I had hoped I wouldn't have to read the manual.
Finally, those gripes aside, the hardware is great. Just remember to tuck the microfibre cloth inside the case so you can polish the PSP before and after use!
95
When I first saw pictures of the psp i thougt that would be nice to get , but then i read some reviews and saw he specs of the beast and I had to have one.
So i got my psp(JAP) off ebay with ridgeracers. I cant complain about the interface very easy to use. RidgeRacers lokks brilliant lokks as good as RR5 i have for my PS2.
The psp looks the part and looks like an expensive peice of kit than can perform , unlike the ds that looks boring and simple. The layout of the buttons are very good, and with the inclusion of the analouge stick sony has a trump card. The analouge stick it no the best positioned but it can easily be used and it makes a change from the d-pad we are used to seeing on gameboys.
Sony took a small risk when they decided to use UMD's. I think they are great as they are small and are protected so it you have on ein your pocket it wont scratch. The memory stick duo slot is also a great feature that enables people to put their own music, video and pictures on the psp making it the ful entertainment pakage.
However there are a few items sony could have added to make the psp perfect. A Video out would ahve been great and may still be implemented in the future. A screen protector with the value pack or a built in one as the face plate does scratch easily. There are a few other minor points but these do no detract from the system.
Overall sony has launched a next generation product. The psp is an amazing peice of kit that is well worth the £200 i payed for it.
98
Appearance
When I first took out the PSP, it looked smaller than I thought it was. I looked around at all the buttons and inputs and quickly noticed that my fingerprints were already showing up. The screen is VERY nice and big. You will definately want a screen protecter. The buttons are just like the PS2 and the shoulder triggers are nice and sturdy. The analog stick dosn't stick out too much and feels great. The back of the PSP has the logo which is cool and it is also where the battery is. Overall, the PSP looks wonderful but it feels fragile, which makes me over protective of mine.
Movie and MP3 Performance
When I got my PSP all charged up, I turned it on and noticed the sleek menu. It is very easy to navigate through and has tons of features. I popped in the Spiderman 2 UMD that came in the value pack. I played the first scene and the quality was beyond my expectations. The screen's picture is so clear and it looks better than my TV! Sound is alright comming from the speakers on the system but headphones are much better and louder. The 'Hold' button is nice when you watching movies and there is a nice navigational menu when you press 'Triangle'. Then I thought I would put some videos from my PC onto my PSP. I had an extra USB cable and I downloaded PSPVideo 9. Convertering the video was very easy. After formating the 32MB Duo stick that came in the Value pack, I checked out the video. The quality was not as good as the Spiderman 2 UMD but that's only because of the low compression quaity from only having 32MB. This is a killer feature for the console. I put on a few MP3s which was extremely easy and they have CD quality on my PSP. It is easy to fast forward and rewind with the D-pad. Definately a feature that will make me want to keep my PSP.
Game Performance
After the videos, I got my copy of Ridge Racer. I really like the cases for the games. The loading times were quick for Ridge Racer. The menu is easy to navigate through. I did a quick race to test out the game. The buttons are perfect, the only thing I didn't like is it is hard to reach the 'Start' button to pause when racing or turning. I can't wait for more great titles to come out.
Value Pack/Accessories
I got the value pack for $250. It comes with a ton of great stuff for the PSP. The headphones and remote are nice to have. Headphones aren't the greatest but you can easily replace them. The remote has a clip on it so you can put your PSP in your pocket and clip the remote so you don't have to get your PSP out of your pocket. The case is good and I use it when I'm not playing my PSP. It has 'PSP' on it which looks nice. It also comes with a hand strap which I have never really used. It seems the PSP is too heavy for a hand strap. It was nice to see a polish cloth. I use it for the screen and it works great. It gets all my finger prints off. The Value Pack also comes with a Spiderman 2 full movie and a sample disc with various movie and game trailors, as well as some music videos. It is good to see a newer movie in there (I haven't seen SM2 yet)
Overall
The PSP is an awsome handheld not only for gaming but also for movies, music, and photos. The Value Pack was worth the $250. The movie and music features will definately attract more people to buy one. There are some flaws, the system picks up a bunch of finger prints and smears. It feels very fragile and I have to be very careful with it. There also aren't many games, but most of them are great. I can't wait to see what comes for the PSP.
96
Ok i just got my PSP and i was truly amazed. The screen was perfect no dead pixels or anything. The Users interface is very good at directing you to where u need to go and everything is very smooth. Even the name PSP lets you know right off the bat that it is a sleek new product from Sony. As for me there is no cons only pros although one con is that it is a magnet and i mean a realy magnet for any fingerprints or any dust. The PSP for me was a real suprise i didn't expect this much out of a small thing. And its a huge thumbs up!!!
90
Gameboy move over, the next generation of handhelds has arrived. Considering the futuristic, sleek look and feel of the psp, Nintendo has got their work cut our for them. It looks like Sony has got all the cards to do the same for the handheld market as they did for the console market.
The system is still in need of a a true triple A title, but the psp by itself shines enough to outdo any handheld at the moment. Everything about the system is amazing. The big screen, the clear sound, the slick intro and menu all scream next generation handheld gaming.
While you could be relatively save dropping a gameboy, the psp does look more fragile. But then again, it's aimed at a slightly older target audience.
The handheld future is indeed bright. The ball is in Nintendo's court. Since the DS is the "third pillar", the race for the next true gameboy is on.
Some things could be better. First of all the battery life is relatively short. Hopefully Sony or third parties will come up with larger capacity batteries.
Dual analogue sticks would have been a welcome addition. It would also have been nice if the L and R buttons were analogue in order to support better control in racing games.
100
I'm not going to make a mad ass long review because I'll only be repeating what everyone else has been saying.
The Hype is true, If you've only seen photos and vidclips your STILL gonna be amazed when you see it in your hands!!
When I opened the box up with the psp inside and turned it on for the first time I was just amazed...I mean if they can make a gadget like this anything is possible!!
Naturally there are flaws, but they're liveable. Actaully there's only one for me:
* The thing is shiny, which means it attracts finger prints and dust like a magnet. (so you NEED a good cover for it)
The rest are not noticable. PSP's gonna be big baby!
100
I got my PSP off of Play-Asia.com and i have fallen under the deep spell of love for this machine. It deserves a 100.
100
The best piece of portable kit I have ever owned. Play games and MP4 films on a great screen! The quality of the films played on the screen are amazing.
With all the new stuff coming out for the PSP - web browser / keyboard, this is a must to own.
My advice is get yourself one of these today.
96
The Sony PSP is a wonderful system. It does everything you want it to. Music,Photos, Games, Movies....all on one device!
I bought the PSP Standard Pack. I opened it up and saw the PSP. It was very cool. It had a huge screen, bigger than I thought. My system was perfect. No dead pixels, no joystick porblems, and no L and R button problems, and no Button problems. I don't have a game yet, but I booted it up anyway. It was easy to set the system to English language, so I set it up to English language. I looked at the main menu. It was very cool and easy to navigate in.
I like this system a lot and can't wait for Metal Gear Acid to come!
*Pros*
* Huge Screen
* Feels like a Sony product
* Sleek
* High quality games
* Plays Music, Movies, View Photos, and play Games
*Cons*
* A little bit big and a little hard to fit into pocket
* Fingerprints show up very easily
* Seems like it is fragile
Overall, this is one good system and it is worth it to buy it!
90
One of the purposes I bought the PSP is for use as an MP3 Player. I played back many different files and was overall impressed with the sound quality.
* First and foremost the PSP can be recharged. Most of the MP3 players on the lower end price range use standard batteries and cannot be recharged.
* The PSP also goes into a 'Sleep' or 'Suspended' state when playback has been going on for some time. Screen shuts down.
* Transfer rate to unit from USB was pretty quick. I uploaded about 15-20 files in it was anywhere from 30-60 seconds.
* On the unit itself the screen displays MP3/WMA information. Such as the song title, artist, and type of file.
* Headphones are useful with the volume control and standard playback buttons.
* Unit headphones are uncomfortable, after extended use my ears hurt and they felt kinda contorted.
* Weight of the PSP unit in comparisons to standard MP3/WMA players is rather bulky. I wouldnt recommend going running with a PSP strapped to your arm or to your waist. Remember those times you thought you could go running with the new CD Player back in the 90's, yeah your gonna have a struggle minus the CD skipping.
Seeing that most of us didnt buy the unit just for MP3 playback, you should be OK. Future ideas for the PSP R&D group. Make the headphones more comfortable. Possibly allow files to be transmitted wirelessly rather than through USB. Allow file properties to be edited. Have UMD discs available to be burned with MP3/WMA data or other types of data. Other than that. Great System.
90
Okay so I read the last review of the PSP and how the individual stood in line for 5 hours in Akihabara. Well I can't resist telling my story either and here is how it went.
I moved to Japan at the end of September. Me being a HUGE gadget fan makes this move all the better. I know the PSP will be coming out and I have been telling everyone I meet/work with that I will be buying one on the day it comes out.
Now it is just a few days away for the PSP to come out and I am getting a bit worried. I start reading some webpages about the release of the PSP and wonder if I should start figuring out where to find one on release day.
I throw a Texas Hold'em Tourney at my house and start BSing about the PSP and one of the guys tells me that he has already seen it at a store downtown. He gives me the directions and I figure I will head there the next day.
Saturday 11 Dec 04. I run down to the local Seiyu (department store with an Electronics store on the top floor) and ask about the PSP coming out tomorrow. They don't understand me very well but after pointing to a picture of the PSP they grab a translator/dictionary off the shelf and explain to me that the PSP will be given out tomrrow morning in a lottery. They will only have 2 to be given out in the lottery, and that the lottery tickets will be given on a first come first serve basis when the store opens at 9am. I leave the Seiyu and go down to the local Game Store and find that they have been selling the PSP as pre-orders and that I am too late to get one. I leave disappointed in my pursuit. At this point in time I am contemplating standing in line for the PSP Lottery at the Seiyu.
Saturday evening comes and I am off to a Christmas Party. While at the dinner table I am telling one of the guys my wife works with about how I wanted to get a PSP but it looks like I will be unable to. He tells me there is a Toys-R-Us down the road and that I should check out that place.
I wake up Sunday 12 Dec 04 at about 8-8:30am. And I think to myself, you might as well go to Akihabara (called the Electronic City. Land of All gadgets big and small) and try your hand at getting one. I wake the wife up and tell her to get ready cause we are going to Akihabara. Of course I don't have enough yen to purchase a PSP and take the train to Akihabara (cost about $18 each round trip) so I need to run and change some of my cash to yen.
Needless to say, nothing is open on Sunday morning at 9:30am and I am unable to exchange my cash. Now I am really disappointed. But, the wife makes a suggestion. She says, why don't we go ahead and try the Toys-R-Us store. I figure why not, I have a slim to nil chance of finding one there but at least there is that slim chance.
Off the wife and I go to figure out where Toys-R-Us is. We haven't been there before so we run home and check to see if we have a map to it. Low and behold we do have a map. Of we go and find the Toys-R-Us with no problem.
10:45am Sunday 12 Dec 04. I race upstairs to the Toys-R-Us and find that they are completly sold out. But there is a Justin Pit One upstairs (sorta like a LOAX and a LOAX is like a Best Buy). I won't lie, I'm mopeing by now. My slim chances are getting smaller and smaller. I walk over to the section where they are selling games and DVDs. I see the display for the PSP and grab the PSP Value Pak, walk up to the counter to check out. They look at me and cross their arms signifing they do not have any and they are sold out. (Trust me when I say this is a universal sign because I have seen it many times.) I drop my head and put back the Value Pak. But they have a box for the standard version of the PSP. I grab it and walk up to the counter and the attendant leans down into a box and grabs up a Standard Pak PSP. OMG!!!!! I can't believe it. All of this worrying and disappointment has paid off. I am now the proud owner of a PSP. Purchased on opening day at almost 11am without having to stand in line for hours upon hours. Oh and of course like most everyone else I picked up Ridge Racers.
My opinion of the PSP is that it is the best portable system ever devised. No I have not seen/played with the Nintendo DS. I do wish the PSP had some type of chat program or some way to be informed that someone would like to play a specific game with me. Which from what I have been told is what the Nintendo DS is good for. But that is not to say that they can't make a small program that could be loaded in the games directory on the memory card with this capability for the PSP. I haven't had any problems with the analog stick. Nor the UMD drive bay. I do have a single dead pixel. But it is only noticable when the screen is dark. (ex. When a game has "Now Loading" The PSP Value Pak in my opinion isn't really worth the extra money for a headphones and 32MB memory card. I did purchase a 512MB memory stick duo for my PSP and the carrying case with strap.
Graphics are absoultely beatiful. I couldn't as for a better looking portable.
Thanks
Whistlre
90
From the moment that I played my PSP in a Roppongi cafe I knew that it was special. The controls, the comfortable hand position and the *AMAZING* screen definition made me realise that there is only one portable entertainment winner. Sounding biased? Here's why...
I got to Akihabara at 6.45am. I thought I'd be early. Being a 'Gaijin' I thought I'd outfox the locals. Boy, was I wrong. As the morning lightened, I took my place amongst 900 people that had spent the night there. Whoops. First bad decision.
So I stood there. Then the line moved, making sure that we didn't cross the path of any moving traffic. Some guy dressed in a Santa outfit handed out tickets that made sure we only bought one each, just to make sure the 200,000 units went around. The line moved quickly for the next 1.45hrs. Then it stopped. Why was this? The nearest information point to me is a guy chatting on his N.DS (via pictochat) to other people in the queue, asking why we weren't moving. Thankfully, I can understand Hiragana enough to pick out phrases that explain the stand-still. LAOX have run out of stock, pure and simple. Meanwhile, people are smiliing as they leave the shop with cute little bags. I wonder what's inside? Hmmm.
I contemplate the coldness of my my feet and the gnawing in my stomach compared to the warmth of my my bed (that also contains my fiancee) and the alluring look of the McDonalds in the distance, and decide on staying in line. Second bad decision.
Then it rains. It's cold. We're all wet. Then, some cute asian girl dressed up as the cat from Dokodemo Issho turns up and hands out plastic rain sheets to protect us from the rain. How sweet. Akihabara seems better.
Then the line moves. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Then it stops! WTF? Soon, a store employee rushes past with factory sealed boxes of PSP's on a sack truck and the line chatters LOUDLY.
Then, we're all moving, out of the rain and into LAOX, Astobitcity1.
The guy at the bottom of the escalator checks my ticket and motions me up the escalator. I ascend and see the queue. It isn't that bad, after all, we are guaranteed a unit so the shop is calm - yet frenzied.
I pick up a box for a PSP, Ridge Racer, PSP Screen Protector, NDS, Screen Protector, SM64DS & Wario DS. Only 5 more minutes until I obtain my quarry.
Time slows.
Suddenly I'm a tourist in a foreign land, witnessing the things I've only dreamed of and read about in magazines. Is it really happening to me? Did I just wait in line for 5 hours?
I hit the checkout. The store clerk mutters something that my poor grasp of Japanese finds elusive. I think he said 'No boxes. That's what the tickets are for'. He grunts, tells me the total Yen and ushers me out the back door.
I have a PSP VP, RRacer, NDS & Games.
Now I'm the gloating individual that struts his stuff past the line of people waiting, hoping to purchase a unit. Oh, how I smile. It's almost as if 'Stayin' Alive' was playing from some imaginary 80ft speakers as I walk away from the line of people, bag in hand, knowing that some of the poor people behind me might not get a unit.
And next thing you know (read: home, charged both, back out), I'm sat in the Roppongi cafe playing my NDS. It seems like a toy. I try Wario DS. It's fun, but not that similar to the GBA version - just with a stlyus. I try SM64DS. It seems like the N64 version, but with touchscreen bolted on (and some cute mini-games).
Then I pull out my PSP. I'm blown away by the unit. Ridge Racer looks amazing, even the menus look incredible. Then I realize I'm back at the start of this review...
Note: This is all IMHO. I was there on launch day. I bought both handhelds side by side. I don't prefer one unit to the other - but, I know which machine will be lusted after by gadget fans. I do, however, have this advice :
Own both handhelds (reommended) and you'll have twice the fun, and won't miss out. Own only one, and you'll have your weapon of choice. Which weapon will you choose?
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