The PlayStation Portable

Con's
Lack of game titles
Load times

The PlayStation Portable is, in a single word, underrated. However, were it not for its resounding flop, the system, games, and accessories would probably not be available at such wonderfully low prices. The PSP is a great game system, and it can be found used for dirt cheap.

The first thing you notice about the PSP is, of course, the screen. It's huge and beautiful; watching movies on it is easy. Movies and games alike look brilliant.

The biggest problem with the PSP is the lack of game titles. The amount of store space the PSP and its games take up is a testament to this fact. That is not to say there are no good games available, there are plenty, but this lack of variety gives the PSP less longevity than other portable game systems.

For the games that are out there, gameplay is very good. Everything from racing games to first-person shooters, the big screen makes them all playable. The analog stick, which slides rather than tilts, feels weird at first. It's different enough from the analog sticks everyone is used to that it takes some time to adapt. I also noticed that it seems to stick a little bit, or slide back to neutral too slowly. I do not know if this is a universal problem or if it is specific to my unit. However, with a little practice the stick becomes second nature.

Unfortunately, the horrible speeds of the Universal Media Discs show themselves in gameplay. Load times for games and levels approach two minutes in some cases. I'm not sure what affect a faster drive would have on battery life, but it's a trade I would gladly have made.

The battery life of the PSP is surprisingly good. While it varies a lot depending on how it's used, mine typically lasts for about eight hours of mixed use. Aftermarket batteries are available that can increase battery life up to 20 percent.

The biggest battery killer in the PSP is its built-in WiFi. This features allows for online game play and web browsing. The web browser in the PSP is usuable in desperate situations, but certainly not for everyday use. The PSP can play audio and video loaded on its memory stick, as well as image slide shows. Saved game data is also stored on the memory stick, so having one is essential. Saved games typically take up less than one megabyte, so a small cheap memory card is fine if it won't be used to store audio or video.

The PSP uses a unique text entry system, similar to the one found in cellular phones. For big text messagers, PSP text entry is already second nature.

The unpopularity of the PSP is a big part of what makes it great. While it does cripple the online play, the low prices more than make up for it. The system, along with a handfull of games and accessories, can be found used for under $150. Many great games can be found used for less than $10, and even brand new ones rarely exceed $30 or $35. For the price, the PSP can't be beat.