Sony PSP Vs Nintendo DS

The Handheld Battle Heats Up

Sony PSP review & Nintendo DS review: The latest addition to the handheld market is the Sony PSP. Capable of playing MP3s as well as movies, the system has caught everyone off guard. It has more features than any of its handheld predecessors. Its competition is the Nintendo DS. The DS is unique because it features two screens. There is a top screen, and there is a bottom screen. The bottom screen is touch-sensitive, so you may use a stylus or even your finger to move things. This is innovative and allows game developers to become creative when designing games for the Nintendo DS. But, which is the better handheld system?

Review: Graphics

Both of these machines are about equal in the graphics department. The edge is given to the Sony PSP, however. The screen is large on the PSP and it is very detailed. It was revealed that the Sony PSP is as powerful as the Sega Dreamcast is. Today handhelds are becoming as powerful as current generation machines. Being a handheld is no longer an excuse for bad graphics. The Nintendo DS contains nice graphics, however when compared to the Sony PSP you can see that they're lacking.

Review: Games

The Sony PSP released with over 20 games at launch, which is great. Many systems have few starting titles, however the Sony PSP launched with almost as many as the current Nintendo DS library. As far as the actual games themselves, they appear to be heading into a different direction. Nintendo's flagship game is a remake of the hit game Super Mario 64. It is believed that this game has sold more Nintendo DS systems than the rest of their library. The Sony PSP does not have a clear leader at this point, however it should be noted that the Sony PSP boasts a large sports library, backed by EA. Something that the Nintendo DS is lacking at this point. Just because the Sony PSP has a large library, does not mean that they're quality games. Most of their games are just watered down ports of PS2 games. There are a few original ones but the Nintendo DS games are generally more fun and clever.

Review: Capabilities

Well the Nintendo DS got everyone's attention with its ability to have duel screens, one of which is touch-sensitive. This is the first time anything like this was done with a system. Two screens come in handy, for instance, one can be a map and the other an actual game. This part of the system turns off a few people because they do not see a use for it. However, when developers think outside of the box and develop games such as Wario Ware Touched, then you may truly see the power of the Nintendo DS. Unfortunately, not all the game developers have been this creative. The Sony PSP on the other hand has one screen; it is a large and incredibly detailed screen. All the games look crisp on the Sony PSP. It does not end there though. The Sony PSP can play movies as well as music. It uses a UMD memory stick so you're able to take songs from your computer and use the Sony PSP to play them. In addition, you may purchase movies made on a UMD stick that will allow you to watch favorite movies on the Sony PSP. Currently, there are only 20 movies available to watch on the PSP. The movies show perfect quality but they cost about the same as a DVD ($20). Therefore, if you really want the movie on your Sony PSP you can buy it, although you would be better off just taking that money and buying the actual DVD itself. The Sony PSP is also being noted for not having a very long battery life. Some estimates range between 3-4 hours of actual game time before the battery is completely drained.

Price

This is a big issue for Systems. The PSP costs $250, which is more than most gamers will be willing to pay for a handheld. The DS on the other hand is $100 cheaper at $150. You get what you pay for since the PSP has more features and is a more powerful system in general. The prices of the games are another issue. DS games average at $35 while the PSP games are $50. In addition, if you want to buy a UMD memory stick to use with your PSP it can cost $50 for a typical one. The PSP is more expensive in almost every aspect. Nevertheless, you get what you pay for. The PSP games look much better; however, the DS games are more creative.

Conclusion

Although the PSP and DS are two handheld systems, they are in completely different markets. The PSP is marketed towards the older gamers, with a hefty price tag and the ability to watch movies on it. If you already have an Ipod and a portable DVD player, you have to consider that most of the PSP features are going to be wasted. The Nintendo DS is marketed towards a younger audience. Its dual screens make it a very entertaining system. These systems are just too different to compare with each other. They both are doing incredibly well in their respective markets. For all the mature gamers, the PSP is necessary, but for your teens and younger gamers, the DS is a very innovative and fun machine.