PSP Living Up to the Hype
I’ve owned every home game console ever made but I haven’t ever made the jump to the hand held gaming market. They just didn’t offer me the entertainment I desired….until now. Enter the Sony PSP
If you haven’t heard of the PSP then I don’t know where you’ve been. The buzz leading up to it and the hype around it’s release was well orchestrated by Sony. I did my best to fight the urge to buy the first generation, knowing that the second gen would fix many bugs and may add features. However when my laptop hard drive died on a recent trip the thought of a 12hr plane ride from Hawaii to Boston with no laptop pushed me over the edge. I’ve never been so happy to have a hard drive fail.
There were a few things I really wanted to see from the PSP before I bought it, namely web browsing, IM and GPS. Well it appears that PSP web browsing is now a reality even if it is a hack for now. This means that sony will likely come out with a browser and IM app for the PSP. Also a GPS has already been announced, so basically all my desires are coming true.
All the new features aside this is a great gaming device. The screen is superb and the sound with the included headphones excellent. I love the built in analog controller and the fact that the controls are the same as the PS2 made me feel right at home. The battery life was great for me. I got full game play from Hawaii to LA and then enough time in LA to charge it up again for the trip to Boston. Two kids sitting in the same row couldn’t keep their eye’s off it and mom didn’t seem too happy that their Gameboy Advanced no longer satisfied them. Setting up wireless networks was a snap and I was able to check the Sony web site for updates immediately. Tiger Woods golf has already given me hours of solitary game play and I can’t wait for the time when I am in an airport and can randomly challenge someone to a game of Wipeout Pure or Twisted Metal head on. I will be getting the GPS as soon as it comes out and add another review then. The only movie I have watched is the included Spider Man 2, which looked and sounded great, and I look forward to getting a memory card and compressing some flicks down for my next long flight.
Overall I am very satisfied with the PSP, both it’s current capabilities and it’s future expandability. I am not sorry I didn’t wait for version 2 (yet) but if it’s that much better I’ll just have to pick it up too. 
If you’ve never owned a handheld gaming system this is the one to finally buy. There is nothing like being able to get your guilt free gaming on in places where there’s no chance of doing anything else productive. PSP gets 5 stars in my book.