Buying the PS Vita as a handheld in 2025?

The OLED original Vita is a fantastic Ferrari of a handheld, but its library isn't for everyone. For fans of Japanese games it's a great library.

Are there a lot of melee action games? Stuff like Drakengard 3, Ninja Gaiden, etc.? I've been thinking about getting a VITA or PSP for awhile now.
 
I only have mine for Phantasy Star Nova and Macross Delta Scramble. I tried a bunch of other games on it but nothing really clicked.
 
Are there a lot of melee action games? Stuff like Drakengard 3, Ninja Gaiden, etc.? I've been thinking about getting a VITA or PSP for awhile now.
not sure if I would say a lot but they do exist. I beat Ninja Gaiden Sigma on it, it's the worst version (30fps) but still good. Sigma 2 is highly compromised.

If you're going to spend money you might as well do a Vita because it can play PSP games.
 
The Vita was the only device that I bought on day one (I actually got it 1 week before the official release through this cool promo on Best Buy Canada where you also get a free copy of Uncharted Golden Abyss) and to this day no other product can match its beauty and sexiness... and that frigging dpad man, holy moly.
 
No. PSP was perfect for its time period, I remember letting a classmate play with it during study hall for a bag of chips.

PS Vita was a disaster.
 
I'm not really into Handhelds but the Vita is such a wonderful device, not too keen of the UI though.
Sadly...games or lack of is a big problem.
Still got mine and booting it up with it's OLED screen...you wouldn't think it's as old as it is.
The system just looks nice and premium.
 
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Are there a lot of melee action games? Stuff like Drakengard 3, Ninja Gaiden, etc.? I've been thinking about getting a VITA or PSP for awhile now.

Some relevant stuff on Vita:

God Eater Resurrection
God Eater 2: Rage Burst
Muramasa Rebirth
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
Ragnarok Odyssey ACE
Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen
Soul Sacrifice Delta
Tokyo Xanadu
Toukiden: Kiwami
Toukiden 2
Valhalla Knights 3
Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni


There's plenty of stuff like this on PSP as well.
 
Some relevant stuff on Vita:

God Eater Resurrection
God Eater 2: Rage Burst
Muramasa Rebirth
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
Ragnarok Odyssey ACE
Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen
Soul Sacrifice Delta
Tokyo Xanadu
Toukiden: Kiwami
Toukiden 2
Valhalla Knights 3
Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni


There's plenty of stuff like this on PSP as well.

Some of that stuff I know and love on console, and the rest all looks good from glancing at gameplay vids prior to doing some more research! Thank you very much.
 
Best emulating machine in terms of build quality. The buttons are still the goat for me. Been using one for almost a decade and still no stick drift. Great piece of hardware.
 
Vita is stll great lil homebrew beast. still I got 3 oled ones, on 2 from good finds on ebay, one from runmaging electronic stores in japan. All homebrewed, mostly for exclusives and, fan translations, psp and ps1 games. Its still incredibly easy to take anywhere. Was thinking some time ago maybe to swap shells etc on some, but honestly with steam deck oled, ive shifted most of my handheld gameplay there over time.
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No. PSP was perfect for its time period, I remember letting a classmate play with it during study hall for a bag of chips.

PS Vita was a disaster.
Maybe then, just now vita is better option. Amazing screen, great huttons. Plays vita games, ton of ports there from community, and then plays all your psp, ps1 etc libraries
 


With all the news, hype, drama, backlash etc etc regarding the upcoming Switch2 it got me wondering about the Vita. Especially if used to its maximum capabilities with homebrewing/jailbreaking.

I had bought it around launch and played a few games on it for a couple months before selling it for a profit. Thought it was a nifty little thing and really enjoyed it apart from the memory card bullshit. I also got a 2nd hand Switch in 2020, tried a couple games on it but it felt way too flimsy and the button ergonomics were terrible for my big hands. Its still sitting somewhere in my brother's house since then.
Unless the Switch 2 feels completely different in my hands or there is a console-seller exclusive for me I don't plan to buy it. I know that Steam deck exists but for me it is not viable as a true handheld console because it's too bulky and I just don't see why I would go for it over a gaming laptop; which I have and use. The PSP, Vita, DS/3DS were great handhelds.

PS: The Vita oled 2000in black is sexy.

RqXh2RC.jpeg

Why do that when you can get a Steamdeck, a far more superior device in 2025.
 
Still using mine from time to time, be it for Muramasa or remote play from my PS4 in bed. What impresses me to this day is the battery life, especially in standby. Some witchcraft went into that mode.

Does it have its flaws? Plenty! Was it the perfect mashine for games like Hotline Miami? You bet!
The dual sticks also made Resistance - Retribution finally playable. Great PSP game!
 
One of the last decent mobile handhelds. None of the new ones can you carry in your pocket. They're all massive now.
 
Some relevant stuff on Vita:

God Eater Resurrection
God Eater 2: Rage Burst
Muramasa Rebirth
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Plus
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
Ragnarok Odyssey ACE
Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen
Soul Sacrifice Delta
Tokyo Xanadu
Toukiden: Kiwami
Toukiden 2
Valhalla Knights 3
Valkyrie Drive: Bhikkhuni


There's plenty of stuff like this on PSP as well.
Bookmarked! Thank you.

One of the last decent mobile handhelds. None of the new ones can you carry in your pocket. They're all massive now.
Exactly my point. But I've seen a few suggestions here for handheld emulators that looks very superior to te vita
 
Man! Booted up my white vita to get GTA Chinatown Wars . . . no longer on the store apparently.
What stranded on vita/psp games should I consider getting? Not things I can get on PC now.
 
Man! Booted up my white vita to get GTA Chinatown Wars . . . no longer on the store apparently.
What stranded on vita/psp games should I consider getting? Not things I can get on PC now.
According to psdeals.net it is still available for 14,99€. The store on the Vita sucks, didn't find games as well, had to buy some via PS3 to get them listed on my Vita.
Or did Rockstar delist their old games recently? I don't know how up to date the site is with such things
 
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Man! Booted up my white vita to get GTA Chinatown Wars . . . no longer on the store apparently.
What stranded on vita/psp games should I consider getting? Not things I can get on PC now.
PSP:
Jeanne d´Arc

Vita:
Tearaway is best played on Vita
Unit 13, especially in multiplayer. Underrated in my opinion. Had hours of fun with it.
TxK, the Tempest 3000 clone
 
I had one but the controls were horrendous - built for a child. The screen was amazing though - games developers abandoned it very fast it seemed.
 
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Hmm weird. I didn't see it scrolling the G's in the classic games. Search worked. Now I'm wondering if China wars and liberty city stores are worth $20 each
Chinatown Wars absolutely is, it is a top 3 GTA game. Super underrated

Liberty City Stories is better as a proof of concept tech demo thing, Vice City Stories is better of those two (if you want a good 3D GTA).
 
Hmm weird. I didn't see it scrolling the G's in the classic games. Search worked. Now I'm wondering if China wars and liberty city stores are worth $20 each
Do you want to keep it OFW? There are also Ports / Wrappers for your already purchased Steam / Andoid versions of GTA 3, VC and SA if you go the Ensō way
 
Chinatown Wars absolutely is, it is a top 3 GTA game. Super underrated

Liberty City Stories is better as a proof of concept tech demo thing, Vice City Stories is better of those two (if you want a good 3D GTA).

I feel like an idiot, can't figure out how to add funds to my wallet. I even got $15 from the PS Stars. Keeps redirecting me to the app and i don't see the option
 
Do you want to keep it OFW? There are also Ports / Wrappers for your already purchased Steam / Andoid versions of GTA 3, VC and SA if you go the Ensō way

I just watched a youtube video about how stupid easy it is to jailbreak now . . . and the sd card and adapter is $15 on amazon . . .
 
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