Reading Games

So yeah, despite any monitary troubles I may have, I still must have the toys. Here's my review:

PSP
I've had an Xbox, a PS2, a PS1, SNES, etc, etc so I have played a lot of different systems. I have a Palm Tungsten E, had some crappy Casio Windows thing. I have an iPod and a couple of cheap players. I have a laptop (Mac) and a PC one too. I am covered, literally, with stuff, mainly carried in my backpack. (not my Xbox though)

But now I leave most of it in the car unless I need it specifically for something.

Why?

My PSP, of course. Even in it's first incarnation of firmware, I had PS2 level graphics, an Mp3 player, movies on the card and in the UMD (Universal Media Disk). I could look at my pics from my digital camera, even as a slide show.

Then they came out with the new firmware (updateable via the builtin wifi connection) and now I surf the web, game against others, download and upload images, set backgrounds on the OS screen. And that doesn't even mention the gameplay itself.

Physical Stuff
At first it may seem a bit bulky but it is really no heavier than a console controller and it fits the hands well enough so that with a little adjustment, you get used to it quickly.

The standard button layout is available save for the fact that you only get one set of pointer finger buttons instead of the 2 sets on the PS2 and this seems to have been taken into account in the game designs as I don't miss the extras. Frankly, remembering R1 R2 L1 L2 and the various combinations was a chore anyway.

There is a small analog joystick that reminds me more of a bit of faucet screen and can be very sensitive but is worth using in driving games.

Games and Gameplay
The graphics are miles beyond any other handheld and there is no arguing that. Cars are shiny, water looks... wet. The engine behind the graphics is able to handle a lot of detail, assuming that the developers programmed in those details.

By way of example, here are two games that I have been playing regularly: Burnout Legends and Hot Shots Golf

I picked these two games as they have a vastly different style of graphics.

Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee -
This is a simple anime character style game with a lot of thought given to the physics of gameplay and the scenery. The characters are cartoonish but that doesn't detract from the game and in fact gives it a feeling of fun as they react to the way they golf.

I have never ben a golf fan, be it game or real life game, but this one provides enough challenge and fun that I can pick it up, play a few rounds and then go on with my life. It also works well because you don't have to be glued to the controls to ehjoy it.

There is some variation in weather and locations and everything is well thought out to be an easy, enjoyable experience. The only thing that bugs me is the naming conventions that seem to plague these sorts of games. You can get a cute girl as your opponent whos name is Eric. ??? Oh well.

Burnout Legends -
Much like the last Burnout (version 3) this game is balls to the wall speed and crashing and general mayhem that makes the series so much fun to play.

The details are as good as on your PS2 or Xbox with shiny cars, reflected light in windows and the street. They sacrificed a few goodies like smoke from the tires when you start a Crash round from a dead stop but this does nothing to detract from the game at all.

The sound track is slamming with loud music, load times are not too bad (Midnight Club: Dub Editon was AWFUL at that) and controls are easy to use and are mostly like that of the console versions.

My only complaint is that in this game you are going so fast you NEED to see far away and while it is provided with fairly good programming, sometimes you miss that oncoming car and end up flipping ass over tea kettle through the air. Not that that isn't fun too but...

Conclusion
The system is solid, the games are good, the movies play great and sound good too. You can surf, you can dance, you can smash your friends into an embankment. And do it in tons of style.

Did I mention that I get to talk to all sorts of complete strangers who ask about the system?

By the way, if you have any specific questions, ask me and I'll let you know.

I know I'm dead on the surface But I'm screaming underneath