Need PSP buying advice

[Via]

I just got word that my BORING 3 week trip to Europe this Summer has been confirmed.

Since gaming is my hobby I figured maybe I'd buy a PSP and some games to keep me from going nuts.

I see refurbished PSPs on sale from time to time. Avoid or no?

As to games -

I figure I'll get a golf game. Which year of Tiger Woods is the best? (I don't even know if there is more than one version)

I also like racing and (especially) RPGs. Which are the best of each on the PSP?

And finally - what other games are standouts for the PSP?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[oznerol]

I know I always hate when people do this - but I will, anyway - you consider getting a DS instead of a PSP?

Cheaper, has good golf games (Nintendo Touch Golf), and a ton of RPGs, and some all-around great portable games (advance wars, professor layton, etc).

Anyway, if you want all of the extra media stuff on the PSP, though, then that is better. In which case, refurbished units are alright, and if you're really bent on getting it cheaper, used on Craigslist (or the FS/FT forums here) isn't a bad option. Make sure you ask about dead pixels which is an issue the PSP screen has sometimes.

Final Fantasy Crisis Core is a good RPG for it, as well.

 

[Baked]

Buy DSLite. Buy Edge DS. Win.

But if you insist on getting a PSP, get Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 if you like golf game. Wipeout Pulse is pretty awesome for a racing game.. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for RPG. Patapon and LocoRoco are both highly active and innovative games you might wanna try.

 

[Oyeve]

Yeah, DS trumps PSP.

 

[me123]

I would buy a new one from Dell. They are on sale right now.

Ratchet and Clank Bundle $170

PSP 2000 for $144.

 

[gorcorps]

PSP is worthless IMO. Not very many decent games and you have to flash the firmware (last time I checked) to get any good use out of it via homebrew and stuff... which voids your warranty.

 

[JoPh]

dont...

DS with acekard2...

 

[DaveSimmons]

(especially) RPGs.

Japanese RPGs? The DS has many more of them than the PSP, though the PSP ones look nicer.

 

[SandEagle]

Originally posted by: Baked
Buy DSLite. Buy Edge DS. Win.

But if you insist on getting a PSP, get Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee 2 if you like golf game. Wipeout Pulse is pretty awesome for a racing game.. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for RPG. Patapon and LocoRoco are both highly active and innovative games you might wanna try.

This. I sold my PSP due to lack of good games and picked up the DS Lite. Tons of awesome games on the DS.

 

[Via]

hmmm.. unanimous "avoid PSP and check out DS lite" sentiment.

Will do.

 

[coreyb]

psp > ds if you have never played the good snes/psx rpgs. My sister has a DS and it's fun to play once in a while, but the small screen and crappy graphics compared to the psp make it not worth it. I have way more fun on my psp playing street fighter, star ocean, hot shots golf, etc...plus the 20+ amazing snes/psx games you can play.

 

[Via]

If I do go PSP route does anyone have any personal experience as far as PSP 2000 vs PSP 3000 screens?

I read that the PSP 3000 is sharper and brighter than the PSP 2000 screen but has way more artifacts. Has anybody played the same game on both models?

Also - What is the battery life situation of DS vs PSP?

(Many questions, I know. But I really do want to get this right and I trust first hand experiences over reviews)

 

[coreyb]

Well first of all you can't mod the psp3000 yet (as far as I know), and the biggest reason people get psp's is for the homebrew,emulator capabilities. I've seen them both side by side and there isn't much difference IMO.

 

[supesman]

ONe thing i hate about the PSP is that there's no battery indicator while you're playing the game. So if you're out of battery, the system just turns off. But you resume it from that point you stopped which is good. I would recommend god of war and if you can get PEPSIMAN, it's a PS1 game but the PSP has the emulator already built in so no modding necessary for that.

 

[KINGGABBO]

DS has a much longer battery life than the PSP IMO. But, I never ran out of battery on my PSP in one play session either. So they are both pretty good.

I say if you need the media functions of the PSP such as watching UMDs, videos on your memory stick, or its MP3/WMA playback, as well as playing games, get it.

If you're strictly looking for gaming get the DS Lite. There are tons better games for it.

 

[gregoryvg]

I think PSP has a couple of Grand Theft Auto games that got good reviews. I don't knwo if you are into that, but GTA: Vice City Stories should keep you busy for a bit.

 

[gar655]

PSP also double as a very nice media player. I use mine all the time to watch movies on the plane (ripped from DVD). You can also throw mp3s, AAC, WMA files on there too.

I mainly play Tekken Dark Resurrection on it, but just picked up a used copy of Siphon Filter Dark Mirror for $12. Not a bad 3rd person shooter/puzzle/platformer, especially for the money.

As for pure gaming, the DS has a much bigger variety and the touch screen is nice, but when I get tired of playing games I can watch a movie or listen to music. I don't need to bring 3 different devices if I don't want to.

I use a the "grip" style extra battery (search amazon for it) and I get well over 10 hours of total time w/o having to recharge. More than you can use in a day. Recharge at night.

Go for the PSP if you want something more than just games.

Gene

 

[mmntech]

The PSP is probably one of the best PMPs I've seen in it's price range. Nice big screen which is true 16:9, good audio and video quality. Plus it's got internet, and streaming functions using RSS Streaming Tools, TVersity, or a PS3. The big problem with it is lack of new games. I'm not sure exactly why this is. Piracy is the common scapegoat but I'm not 100% convinced on that, especially given that the PC probably has much higher piracy rates and plenty of games are still developed for it. I think Sony has just failed to invest in it.

Good games? Wipeout Pulse & Pure, Ace Combat X, Daxter, Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, Jeanne D'arc, Sega Genesis Collection, God of War: Chains of Olympus, Patapon, LocoRoco. All excellent tiles that I've played. More DLC is also starting to pop up for the PSP ever since the store went live. PS1 games can be downloaded and actually play quite well on it.