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Dirt 2-Xbox 360 Video Game Review
October 26, 2009 — muzikman
Title:
PSP Debate: Should Sony Pull The Plug?
May 23, 2009 — muzikman
YES:
Over the past few years, the Sony PSP has undergone change after change after change and during the next month there is the great possibility that a fourth edition will be announced. With so many alterations made in the system’s life cycle, one has to wonder whether Sony knew what they were doing when they decided to compete in the handheld market. Was the PSP a great idea mishandled by inexperience or was it the beginning of a trend that lead the Playstation brand from being the top gaming platform in the world into the third place winner in a three man competition. The truth of the matter is that no matter how many times the PSP undergoes the knife; nothing will make the portable console appealing to the masses unless Sony addresses some major issues.
The PSP library has had few successful titles. Aside from Patapon, Loco Roco and God of War: Chains of Olympus, the selection has been largely forgettable. In some cases, games are simply striped down versions of PS2 titles such as Metal Gear Solid, Tekken, Socom and the Grand Theft Auto series while other games are re-releases of older PSone titles such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Valkrye Profile. These games were fun when they were initially released with better graphics and sound quality many years prior on a much larger display. Original content for the PSP is consistently underwhelming. There is a lack of a certified system seller or “killer App” to give the PSP an identity. Some franchises, however, managed to reinvent themselves onto the small screen by altering their genre slightly. Critically acclaimed Sony first person shooters Killzone and Resistance: Fall of Man are proof of this trend. Killzone became a top-down strategy shooter while Resistance became an over-the-shoulder third person shooter and the end result for both was… interesting, but ultimately not compelling enough to warrant purchasing the system.
Sony developed the UMD format so that a variety of media could be enjoyed on the PSP. Sadly, the world turned its back on the new format. Downloadable distribution changed the way we look at on demand entertainment and as a result the UMD format became a burden that fell squarely on Sony’s shoulders. UMD movies have all but disappeared and the only titles left can be found in bargain bins throughout the country. The UMD format became the beta max for the 21st century. The only media now that the UMD carries are games, which is fine, but Sony recently released Patapon 2, the sequel to one of the better games for the system as a download only. This suggests that even Sony has outgrown the UMD format and embraces the benefits of downloadable distribution.
Seriously, how often have you actually carried around this thing outside your home? The screen is virtually unprotected while the chances of dropping the system are fairly high. In what scenario are we traveling and playing games at the same time. If you are driving, it is dangerous. If you are a passenger, it is nauseating. Forget about using it on the bus or the subway. In the time it takes for a game to load, you will already be half way where you need to go and let’s not forget the bull’s-eye on your back telling everyone to rob you—we are talking about a two-hundred dollar piece of hardware. The battery life is unforgiving with constant recharges that provide only a couple hours of genuine playtime. Most of your PSP experience forces you into house arrest due to the fact that it is plugged into the wall most of the time.
So why are we choosing the PSP in the first place? It is not like we are devoid of options when it comes to portable entertainment. If I want a device that simply plays great games, I’ll buy the less expensive Nintendo DSi. If I need an all-in-one device to play games, watch movies, listen to music, web browse and take photos, I’ll get the Apple Iphone. With that I’ll be able to engage in everything listed above right out of the box along with a GPS, cell phone and a touch screen. So why are you buying a PSP? Mainly, because it matches your PS3 and you were promised original content that wasn’t abysmal.
In closing, the PSP might not be as future proof as Sony had once intended. The games are not strong enough to grab consumer’s attention the way other consoles do. The UMD format is archaic and has no real place in the world of downloadable distribution. The PSP is not very portable with its delicate nature and pitiful battery life and there are other devices on the market that do what the PSP does better.
M. Michael Chwedyk-MuzikReviews.com Sr. Video Game Reviewer
May 17, 2009
For Questions or Comments on This Review email me mchwedyk@muzikreviews.com
NO:
The Sony PlayStation Portable has been through many ups and downs throughout its short lifetime, originally released on March 24th, 2005 in North America, but I think it still has potential or at least more potential then most people give it.
First off the PSP has big time name recognition. With both “Sony” and “PlayStation” appearing on the box, they’ve already won over fan-boys of Sony’s home consoles. It’s also a huge selling point when the system can sync up with the home console and, for example, be used as the vehicle’s rear-view. On top of this the system also hosts an abundance of Sony exclusive titles that some fans may not be able to play new versions of because of the PlayStation 3’s steep price point. Games that are not always ports of the PS3 version, but rather all new adventures that follow the same story line as their older brothers. Series such as God of War, S.O.C.O.M., Metal Gear Solid, and Hot Shots Golf, not to mention Final Fantasy VII, which is arguably the best RPG of all time.
Another benefit to having the Sony name is being able to access the PlayStation Store, where you can purchase: old games that may or may not have appeared on a previous Sony system, new games that publishers release as downloads instead of on a cartridge and other applications that will help extend the system’s uses.
A strong point to the PSP is its ability to see other things. Users can it play games and watch movies, the small screen might not seem like much but it is high def, and most things look better on the 11cm screen then they look on he biggest tube televisions. On top of that, you can listen to music and view pictures. There is even an internet browser, if you happen to be somewhere that offers free WiFi. The system has a slot for memory cards, so you could have multiple memory units, each with its own type of media on it.
Another great feature is its sleep function. You no longer have to find a save point to stop playing, just turn off the power and the system will save the current state of the game you’re playing, so next time you turn it on you will be able to continue playing from wherever you stopped.
The PSP offers a low price as well. For as low as $140, or the $170 recommended price, you can own one of these powerful, multimedia machines that is graphically comparable to the original PlayStation, but portable (I wonder where they got the name).
The PSP also has longevity. A lot of its titles receive just as good of scores as the top games on other consoles. The Grand Theft Auto: Stories games, Lumines and even games that were originally released as budget titles; like LocoRoco 2 all have garnered rave reviews. These games are all great examples of what this system is capable of.
All in all the system’s sales might not be enough to predict the console’s future success, but Sony is still doing everything they can to make this little piece of hardware as popular as possible.
May 23, 2009
For questions or comments on this article send an email to rsmith@muzikreviews.com
