Sony PSP

Posted by T3 Online on Sat 23 Apr 2005

The most talked-up handheld of all time is here at last.

Let's get this straight from the start - the PSP looks incredible. The huge, crystal-clear LCD will take your breath away, even if the piano-black body and transparent shoulder buttons haven't already made you giddy. The D-pad and main controls are all within reach and provide a familiar PlayStation feel, which is only heightened when you load up classics such as Ridge Racers or new additions like Metal Gear Acid. It's like having a PS2 in your hand, only the graphics look better on the smaller screen.

As for its size, the device is a bit long for normal pockets so you'll need a bag or case to carry it around. Also, the analogue joystick is awkwardly positioned - a shame, because it's great for driving games.

As for games, there are around 20 at launch with another dozen appearing in the next month. Highlights includes puzzle masterpiece Lumines and Everybody's Golf, but it's also worth checking out Mercury and Ridge Racers, if only to impress your friends with its pin-sharp, super-fast graphics.

There are 30 on UMD available around the launch period. It's also possible to run video clips off a Memory Stick Duo if you have one large enough and can also be bothered compressing the file to a format PSP can read.

The battery life is PSP's biggest downfall, lasting just 2.5 hours in our tests. Admittedly it does vary depending on what you're using the machine for, but it can be even less if you're playing a game over Wi-Fi. A spare battery (or even two) is essential for long journeys.

A criticism aimed at Japanese and US PSPs was the number of dead pixels. For the record, our unit's screen has had no such problems, with no dead pixels or debris under the surface. It looks flawlessly superb and it's so surprisingly big that every time you look at it you're amazed how much it dominates the face of the unit.

So, like a village idiot smeared with cow dung, nothing comes close to this. If you can stomach the limited battery life, the PSP is quite simply the most essential gadget since the iPod. Its killer looks easily rival Apple's MP3 player for style and performance-wise it stands head and shoulders over Nintendo's DS. It's not perfect, but we're prepared to forgive a few flaws in exchange for the best handheld gaming experience so far.