PSP or DS?

[Itisnotlogical]

I can't decide, really. Should I get a DS or a PSP, come the end of the year when I'll have the funds for one of them? I'm tired of trying to fenagle my R trigger on the GBA to a point where it will work more than 50% of the time, which is the bulk of my argument for a DS. But, friend codes seem like they'd piss me off far beyond the point where it'd be worth it. On the other hand, I'm dying to play FF7: Crisis Core, MGS: Portable Ops, and whatever Capcom's planning to dish out for the as-yet-unnamed RE title on the PSP. Either way, I can't decide. Help?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

What kinds of games do you like? That's really what will make or break it for you.

The DS has a lot of RPGs, strategy games, platformers, puzzle games, and a couple shooters. The PSP has more in the way of action games and shooters. Better graphics overall. Plus, you can watch movies on it.

I, personally, swear by my DS. But it's all going to depend on what you want in a portable gaming system.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I trust Nintendo for hand-held games better, but I would suggest looking at a game library and see which ones you want. You'll find good games either way, but you have to pick one.

 

[clint g]

It depends on the games you like. I find the DS to have the larger, better selection of games. I know some people swear that the PSP does have a nice selection, but I just dont see it. With a couple of exception there arent too many games on the PSP that appeal to me

 

[Kelthaz]

PSP with custom firmware > DS >>>>>> PSP.

The PSP is by far the best in hardware. The fantastic hi-res widescreen and controls (for the PSP-2000/3000 anyway) are second to none. The widescreen is also great for platformers. The games are definitely lacking, but with homebrew...

The DS sucks hardware wise. I'm sure quite a few people will disagree with me, but the touch screen is the stupidiest thing I've seen since the virtual boy. The two screens are a nice touch, but they're also small and that damn gap is annoying. Also, the DS specs flat out suck; 3D cannot be done on the DS. Of course, it has some of the best games ever made on it. The list is virtually endless and continues to grow every day. There's plenty for the casual gamer as well as the hardcore gamer.

I own and love both of them, but I'll try to be unbiased here. Ditch the PSP and go with a DS Lite. Buy a PSP later if you find that you need a second handheld.

 

[CommodoreKong]

You just have to look at a list of the top games for the systems and figure out which ones

For me the DS has tons of great games and there are very few PSP games I'm interested in, and the PSP game I most want to play isn't even out yet (Kingdom Hearts). After looking at the lists you may feel the same way or differently. Honestly it's the best way to decide about buying any console.

The DS list and the PSP list

 

[Robert Maxwell]

Also, the DS specs flat out suck; 3D cannot be done on the DS.

While I agree the DS is no powerhouse (it's slightly less powerful than the N64), where do you get the idea that 3D "cannot be done" on it?

Mariokart--probably the best-selling game of all time for the DS--is entirely 3D. Many of the games that come out for the DS are also 3D. Not all of them, sure, but that's hardly a condemnation of the system. I'd rather have a well-done 2D game than a half-assed 3D one. Some games just work better in a 2D format. Don't be a 3D elitist.

 

[Kelthaz]

Also, the DS specs flat out suck; 3D cannot be done on the DS.

While I agree the DS is no powerhouse (it's slightly less powerful than the N64), where do you get the idea that 3D "cannot be done" on it?

Well the limited 3D that Mario Kart uses can be done on the DS, but I'm referring more to full 3D games such as God of War, Devil May Cry, or Ninja Gaiden. They did try putting a Ninja Gaiden game on the DS, and, well, I think it speaks for itself.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJyK9KqyqJg[/yt]

 

[Robert Maxwell]

What I see there are 3D characters moving around on painted 2D environments. Not the worst thing I've ever seen. You might have noticed it done before--on the PS1. A lot.

Anyway, Metroid Prime: Hunters, Animal Crossing, Mario 64, and Mariokart are all fully 3D. There's also Phantom Hourglass (Zelda), the FFIII and FFIV remakes (the latter is more fully 3D). I'm sure I'm forgetting others, those are just ones I've played/own.

 

[darthraidr]

i bought a PSP at launch and i think it was the biggest mistake i've made when it comes to gaming... i have 4 games for it because there is nothing that great on the system.

i didnt buy a DS because at the time when it launched it seemed very uncertain... and the fact that you are better off not buying a first generation nintendo handheld.

a few months ago i debated picking up a DS, but in the end, i passed and picked up an ipod Touch... mp3 player AND lots of super cheap, super fun games.

 

[Caleuche]

I recently had the PSP vs DS decision myself. I went with the PSP for a number of factors.
-I wanted racing/shoot 'em up/traditional style games over puzzle games.
-I really like Tekken and Tomb raider.
-I hate any computer system that involves screenpens or touch screens or anything I can lose/break or ruin with sweaty fingerprints.
-Better graphics.
-Movies
-The DS is clearly aimed at girls with things like Animal crossing and Ninten-doggies (whatever). Yes, moronic male pride was a factor. Yes, I know how idiotic that is.

My only problem with the PSP now I have it is the limited number of games for the system and the fact that very few shops in the UK sell the games at all, whereas the DS games appear are extremely common.

 

[Kelthaz]

What I see there are 3D characters moving around on painted 2D environments. Not the worst thing I've ever seen. You might have noticed it done before--on the PS1. A lot.

Yup, it reminded me of Final Fanjtasy VIII and IX. Pre-rendered graphics are ugly as hell. They work okay in an RPG, but for an action game you need the ability to move the camera and actually look around. The DS is pretty much incapable of that except for on a very limited level. Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword might even look okay, if the competition didn't completely crush it and almost look like a PS2 game.

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T_F3zSM0lA[/yt]

 

[Galactus]

i bought a PSP at launch and i think it was the biggest mistake i've made when it comes to gaming... i have 4 games for it because there is nothing that great on the system.

i didnt buy a DS because at the time when it launched it seemed very uncertain... and the fact that you are better off not buying a first generation nintendo handheld.

a few months ago i debated picking up a DS, but in the end, i passed and picked up an ipod Touch... mp3 player AND lots of super cheap, super fun games.

I really think this what a lot of people are doing or will be doing in the future. The DS will survive but the PSP will probably die soon. I think it would be dead if it wasn't for Japan now.

 

[Kelthaz]

^ I thought the same thing about the PSP almost two years ago; the damn thing is still going. It has virtually no support from companies, sales are abysmal (fortunately they started off really high), and piracy is killing what little life the system has. But the thing refuses to die. Games keep coming out for it and it slowly keeps selling. I don't know how it does it, even with Japan's support.

 

[firehawk12]

The PSP is huge in Japan. Monster Hunter is probably singlehandedly keeping the platform alive, selling several million copies every time the a new game is released.

It's gotten to the point where a lot of Japanese devs are moving to the PSP because they can still do somewhat "good" looking games and be able to sell them to a bigger number of people. Persona 3 Portable and Valkyria Chronicles 2 are my most anticipated games of the season and almost enough to make me figure out how to order them online through the Sony store.

 

[Servo]

I'm looking to get a PSP in the January sales. Will probably go for a 3000 instead of the PSPGo though. The games library appeals to me a lot more than the DS's, with stuff like Killzone: Liberation, Resistance: Retribution, and Motorstorm: Arctic Edge on offer. I also like the fact that I can play the PSOne classics I got off PSN, like FFVII, on it.

 

[bigdaddy]

a few months ago i debated picking up a DS, but in the end, i passed and picked up an ipod Touch... mp3 player AND lots of super cheap, super fun games.

I was waiting for someone to say the Touch. Problem is you don't actually own any of the games, but they are cheap / free.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

What I see there are 3D characters moving around on painted 2D environments. Not the worst thing I've ever seen. You might have noticed it done before--on the PS1. A lot.

Yup, it reminded me of Final Fanjtasy VIII and IX. Pre-rendered graphics are ugly as hell. They work okay in an RPG, but for an action game you need the ability to move the camera and actually look around. The DS is pretty much incapable of that except for on a very limited level. Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword might even look okay, if the competition didn't completely crush it and almost look like a PS2 game.

Well, I don't believe anyone claimed the DS had graphics as nice as the PSP. It doesn't, it won't, and it can't. It's a less powerful machine.

I was only objecting to your claim that it couldn't do 3D decently. It can, but given the specs of the machine, 3D is not always the best way to go. The PSP is a newer system and was always meant to be strong in the 3D department. Just different design decisions and tradeoffs there. Both systems have things they're good at, and things they're not so good at.

 

[Cutter John]

Well there is Dementium: The Ward. Probably the best straight 3D game I've seen on the DS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-CQn63K-Wg

Another DS fan here. I mainly got it for the Final Fantasy ports. I like the touchscreen feature, plus the fact that it folds up, so the screen is better protected. Its a little small for my big ol' hands, so I would up inventing ina Nerf brand enclosure. Protects the game from drops, and it make sit easier to grip.

I guess I'm a bit old school, since gameplay is a lot more important to me than eye-bleeding graphics. So I found a lot to like with the variety of game types. Apart from the RPG's, I like the wide variety of casula games. Stuff I can play for 30 minutes on my break, or on the busride home.

And while I don't know anyone with a lot of Gameboy Advanced carts, I do have to give Ninetendo props for adding the slot that makes the DS backwards compatible.

 

[Kelthaz]

I was only objecting to your claim that it couldn't do 3D decently. It can, but given the specs of the machine, 3D is not always the best way to go. The PSP is a newer system and was always meant to be strong in the 3D department. Just different design decisions and tradeoffs there. Both systems have things they're good at, and things they're not so good at.

Well, yeah, if you noticed I did strongly recommend the DS. It has the better games and better life expectancy (the PSP has got to be on its last legs soon). The two have very different design philosophies, but with that comes disadvantages. The DS's big disadvantage is with 3D action games. It technically can do 3D graphics, but so can the Genesis and SNES. Basically, the limited 3D capabilities of the DS limit the potential for 3D games far beyond keeping a high polygon count. That's all I was trying to say.

Oh, and the PSP is newer than the DS, but only by three weeks. The two portables pretty much came out at the exact same time.