So, I picked up my PSP today. I almost cancelled my preorder because of the new car. Figured that with a car payment, do I really need another system? I decided I did need another system, because the DS has been such a disappointment to me.
Along with the PSP, I got an extended warranty (how can I lose?), Lumines and Untold Legends.
First off, the PSP. It sure is a sleek little machine. Excellent style. When you turn it on, it gets even better. The screen is gorgeous. It is so vibrant, and the 16:9 aspect ratio is great, it takes up the majority of the unit, and does a good job of drawing you into the game you're playing without a lot of empty plastic framing the action. Set up was a breeze. The only problem I ran into was getting connected to the internet. I use WEP and MAC Address filtering on my home network. I had a hard time finding the MAC address of the PSP, but soon found it and was able to connect. The sound is good. When you put on some headphones, the sound is great.
Next, the games. Lumines is a fine little game. I've played it about 6 times, and it certainly is good. I was a huge Tetris fan in (still am actually), so I figured I would love this. I still haven't really had that breakthrough game, but I think it's coming. Right now, I rate the game an 8/10, but once I get the hang of it and start having those dreams where I see the shapes, I'll probably feel stronger.
Untold Legends is an odd one to put my finger on. It's very much like the Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance Games. You can pick an alchemist, druid, something else, and a berzerker. I only played this for about 30 minutes. My first thought is that the game is too big for the small screen. The graphics are nice, but it's hard to see the detail with such a small display. The combat is hack 'n slash, so if you're into that kind of thing, then this game may be for you.
And on to movies. I have absolutely no interest in watching movies on my PSP. I put Spidey 2 in for about half an hour to see how the UMD performs. The picture was great, but I don't see myself going thru the trouble of encoding files to watch on my psp, or buying UMD's. I have a robust home entertainment center, and I'll stick to that for my movies.
The music. I have an iPod, this feature is worthless to me, haven't tried it, don't plan to.
All in all, it's a tight little system. It looks good, feels good, and plays good. The launch titles aren't extremely varied, but there is a good mixture of stuff out there already. More games are scheduled weekly. I'm considering getting either MVP or MLB when they are released. Ultimately to me though, handhelds are best at puzzle games. I tend to play on flights, so I may have to turn a game off at inopportune times... Still early, but I give the PSP a 9/10.
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