I've just got back from Singapore where I was lucky enough to pick up a PSP, Ridge Racers and Lumines for £250 in the Fu Nan Centre. I managed to get a screen protector and plug adaptor thrown in free so I was pretty happy with my early adopter price.
Here's few early impressions.
Build Quality & Accessories
First things first: I checked the thing out thoroughly before purchase. Internet horror stories made me paranoid about dead pixels et al, so I spent some time on a number of games and game modes (Ridge Racers white loading screens and Lumines black ones helped out very nicely) to thoroughly check my machine out and particularly the screen. Happy to report that it checked out fine. No dead pixels, good sound, the D-pad started off a little squeaky but extended Lumines play has seemingly ironed that out.
The machine was smaller than I imagined it to be. Also a little thicker. Definitely longer. Its very comfortable to hold, with the D-Pad and facia buttons extremely easy to access, as are the shoulder buttons. The analogue nub feels awesome, though I'm not convinced about its positioning just yet. I've tried it with Ridge Racers and it didn't feel 'right'. Though this is far and away more likely to be because I've only ever played Ridge Racer with the D-pad, like any true aficionado.
I'd read reports that the PSP felt 'fragile'. I can't say I feel that way about it. It feels solid enough and quite weighty. Sure, I don't want to drop it, but then I don't really want to drop any of my consumer electronics! Would the thing survive a fall? I'm not sure - probably. Would it take less damage than an GBA-SP hitting the deck? Unlikely. Lets just say - the wrist strap is always on for good measure!
The case that comes with it is a little underwhelming to say the least. Its not that practical either in my opinion. I like to keep charging machines within their pouches/cases. The PSP cover doesn't seem designed to allow the wrist strap entry if you wish to charge the thing at the same time (and therefore have the power connector exposed in the short side of the pouch). A minor niggle I suppose. It also doesn't cover the PSP, a real oversight. A zip pouch would have been preferred - ay least for peace of mind.
The earphones are comfortable and offer excellent sound. They're certainly better than the iPod pack-in earphones. I'm not 100% enamoured with the remote. It seems odd that its metallic grey in colour and plasticy. A more logical colour would obviously be white to fit in with the wrist strap and earphones. The PSP is black, the remote is grey and the earphones are white?! I dunno. Again - a minor niggle. It attaches better to clothing than say the - iPod remote (with its ridiculously shallow 'bite'), so thats a plus.
The PSP itself is a lovely little thing. A little busy on the front but the smooth facia interrupted by the controls is very nice to behold. The silver edging, transparent shoulder buttons, yellow power connector, matte black back, grille and speaker indents result in a lot of (fussy?) detail - but the overall effect is pleasing. It feels like a quality product before you even turn it on. You feel like you've purchased something special. The weightiness of the machine adds to this. All of this pails into insignificance of course when that power button is turned on and its whirs into life...
The Screen. What hasn't been said about The Screen?. Its a joy to behold. Crisp, sharp, vibrant, gorgeous colour depth and its so enormous. Its unbelievable. Whats the use of PS2-comparable innards if the screen isn't up to scratch? That must have been the mantra at Sony when they were designing the PSP - and did they ever come through on providing us with an eye opener of a viewing window. Very, very impressive indeed.
So all round a very pleasing little bundle. And nothing in the way of hardware issues as yet (**crosses fingers**). Living in the UK we may receive hardware last of all but on the plus side this allows time to iron out all those launch faults. This is the first time I've ever purchased Japanese hardware so close to launch. I was very afraid of hardware issues, even though I'm generally pretty lucky with new electronics. I have to say that Internet scaremongering may have made me a bit more paranoid than I perhaps needed to be.
Battery Life/Loading Times
The other big bugbear of the PSP launch reports were that of the battery life and load times. Over Xmas I had some incredibly long flights and longer waits. I'm the sort of person that always keeps things charged, a prudent measure considering the journeys I've had recently. I'm also NOT the sort of person that will sit there for 3 hours straight playing a game. I dip in and out - playing for 5/10/15 minutes at a time or swapping with a friend.
Bearing this in mind, take this journey into account: 2 hour wait at Jakarta airport, 9 hour flight to Kuwait, 4.5 hour wait, 6.5 hour flight to London. When I left the hotel in Jakarta the PSP was at 100% charge, screen at maximum brightness and sound about 3/4 up on the headphones. Over the course of the journey and waiting periods the PSP was used between me and my friends on and off (though not consistently) for numerous short periods of time (I couldn't add them all up since I was sleeping at some points) with Ridge Racers and Lumines being swapped out at intervals. On arrival in London 34% of battery life was left. I can say that no one was being particularly conservative with the power, especially me. In fact I rarely checked. But it held out. This is a true test of real world use thats relevant to me, to the way I'd use a portable games machine. It held out as much as I needed it to. And therefore I am happy. This example may not be much use to someone who buries their head in a game and looks up 5 hours later. But thats just not me.
As for loading times - it may sound trite, biased or whatever, but I just simply didn't notice them. There's really little else I can say about it. Maybe I'm so in love with my PSP I'm willing to ignore them or maybe they're so slight as to be irrelevant - all I can honestly say is that they didn't bother me in the least.
The PSP Interface
Turning the machine on and a nice Sony chime brings you to the root menu of the PSP. I noticed it was decked out in grey (January's shade?) rather than December's red. A short minute of configuration sorts the date/time and clock region. Menu's are in English which was very nice. The browser allows configuration of wireless networks (i've yet to try this), viewing of jpegs and video, listening to MP3s and of course UMD access. The "Home" button on the facia brings one back to this area if one so requires.
I have a 128mb Sony Memory Stick Duo Pro in my S700i phone with which I was taking pictures and short 3gp video clips in Bali, Surabaya and Sumatra over Xmas. Two MP3s reside on the Stick as well. I plugged this into the PSP and was pleased to be able to view my pictures (again, the screen is fantastic for this), but not the video or the MP3s. Seems like the directories created on the Memory Stick by my S700i cannot be interrogated by the PSP. I shall purchase a USB 2.0 cable, memory card reader and larger (512mb +?) Memory Stick Duo Pro soon, to make more of these functions. I'm very keen to start encoding some video to use on the go with my PSP as well as a shortlist of MP3s. I love that I have this functionality. I hate that its just out of my reach for now!
Lumines
I had to have this game. I wasn't even sure why. I heard Tetsuya Mizuguchi. I heard Rez. But I saw puzzle game. I saw 2D. Not the way to show off the raw horsepower of Sony's mighty new handheld, surely? But in the end, its magical. Truly magical. It transcends the hardware its on. Makes it irrelevant.
I love this game. I've played it non-stop (or at least as 'non-stop' as I ever play games ). I took 11 flights (yes, ELEVEN) in the Far East over Xmas. This game made them all a pleasure. Hyperbole? Definitely. But try it and see.
Basic concept is simple: arrange blocks of 2X2 in colour and they disappear (giving you points) when a scan line travelling from left to right passes over them. If you can arrange more than one 2X2 square or larger in one pass then you get a multiplier bonus. Occasionally gems appear within blocks of a certain colour. When scanned as part of a 2X2 or more, any linked same-colour squares disappear, creating huge bonuses and encouraging you to link same-colour squares across the grid. Difficulty spikes as the blocks fall faster and the scan line moves slower. Its simple. And beautiful.
The moment you start Challenge mode the fantastic Mondo Grosso lulls you into a captivating block-building trance. Its a hook that never fails to catch. The background is alive with pulsating animation, equaliser bars, sparkling showers as blocks are scanned out of existence, and your mischievious avatar chuckling when a bonus multiplier is unleashed. As Challenge mode progresses skins are unlocked, changing the mood, tempo and background animations and well as the colour of the blocks. These vary considerably and demonstrates the whacked out imagination of the team that put this little gem together. Its never less than enthralling, a real feast for the eyes - much like the polygonal bliss of Rez.
Puzzle modes, 2P and VS modes and a host of skins and Challenges make this a seriously complete package. If you're after a PSP - then make this an essential purchase.
Ridge Racers
OK, so the major launch title. The title with all the buzz. The jaw dropper. I'm a huge Ridge Racer fan although its been a long while since I played RRV. I was apprehensive that I may have outgrown the Ridge style or that I wouldn't be able to cut it any more. I'm happy to say that sitting back in the saddle of Namco's supercars has never been more pleasing.
Or gorgeous.
The game is simply amazing to look at. Its silky, fast, has lighting and shader effects that put most contemporary console games to shame (seriously) and its no less than a masterclass of Ridge Racing history to boot. Thanks Namco. My hats off to you.
The first time you catch sight of the remixed Rave City Downtown is one of those all too rare moments in videogaming - when you realise that you are in the company of a goalpost shifter - the synchronicity of booming digital beats, gloriously detailed technicolour architecture running at insane speeds in the palm of your hand through a beautifully crisp widescreen display. Its like nothing that has ever come before. Its quite something that its come so early in the PSP's lifetime.
What amazes more is just how complete a package this game is. Twelve tracks and their reverse iterations plucked from all the Ridge games, bonus movies and cars from across the universe gained from wins among a series of World tours. Add to this wireless multiplayer and an arranged mode to suit a custom journey all presented in a peerlessly stylish fashion and you have a lovingly created title that defies its extremely short development time. Simply amazing.
So thats it. I absolutely adore my new PSP, as my impressions clearly show. I have great hopes for its future and can only wonder at what's in store. Hope these impressions have been informative.
Here's few early impressions.
Build Quality & Accessories
First things first: I checked the thing out thoroughly before purchase. Internet horror stories made me paranoid about dead pixels et al, so I spent some time on a number of games and game modes (Ridge Racers white loading screens and Lumines black ones helped out very nicely) to thoroughly check my machine out and particularly the screen. Happy to report that it checked out fine. No dead pixels, good sound, the D-pad started off a little squeaky but extended Lumines play has seemingly ironed that out.
The machine was smaller than I imagined it to be. Also a little thicker. Definitely longer. Its very comfortable to hold, with the D-Pad and facia buttons extremely easy to access, as are the shoulder buttons. The analogue nub feels awesome, though I'm not convinced about its positioning just yet. I've tried it with Ridge Racers and it didn't feel 'right'. Though this is far and away more likely to be because I've only ever played Ridge Racer with the D-pad, like any true aficionado.
I'd read reports that the PSP felt 'fragile'. I can't say I feel that way about it. It feels solid enough and quite weighty. Sure, I don't want to drop it, but then I don't really want to drop any of my consumer electronics! Would the thing survive a fall? I'm not sure - probably. Would it take less damage than an GBA-SP hitting the deck? Unlikely. Lets just say - the wrist strap is always on for good measure!
The case that comes with it is a little underwhelming to say the least. Its not that practical either in my opinion. I like to keep charging machines within their pouches/cases. The PSP cover doesn't seem designed to allow the wrist strap entry if you wish to charge the thing at the same time (and therefore have the power connector exposed in the short side of the pouch). A minor niggle I suppose. It also doesn't cover the PSP, a real oversight. A zip pouch would have been preferred - ay least for peace of mind.
The earphones are comfortable and offer excellent sound. They're certainly better than the iPod pack-in earphones. I'm not 100% enamoured with the remote. It seems odd that its metallic grey in colour and plasticy. A more logical colour would obviously be white to fit in with the wrist strap and earphones. The PSP is black, the remote is grey and the earphones are white?! I dunno. Again - a minor niggle. It attaches better to clothing than say the - iPod remote (with its ridiculously shallow 'bite'), so thats a plus.
The PSP itself is a lovely little thing. A little busy on the front but the smooth facia interrupted by the controls is very nice to behold. The silver edging, transparent shoulder buttons, yellow power connector, matte black back, grille and speaker indents result in a lot of (fussy?) detail - but the overall effect is pleasing. It feels like a quality product before you even turn it on. You feel like you've purchased something special. The weightiness of the machine adds to this. All of this pails into insignificance of course when that power button is turned on and its whirs into life...
The Screen. What hasn't been said about The Screen?. Its a joy to behold. Crisp, sharp, vibrant, gorgeous colour depth and its so enormous. Its unbelievable. Whats the use of PS2-comparable innards if the screen isn't up to scratch? That must have been the mantra at Sony when they were designing the PSP - and did they ever come through on providing us with an eye opener of a viewing window. Very, very impressive indeed.
So all round a very pleasing little bundle. And nothing in the way of hardware issues as yet (**crosses fingers**). Living in the UK we may receive hardware last of all but on the plus side this allows time to iron out all those launch faults. This is the first time I've ever purchased Japanese hardware so close to launch. I was very afraid of hardware issues, even though I'm generally pretty lucky with new electronics. I have to say that Internet scaremongering may have made me a bit more paranoid than I perhaps needed to be.
Battery Life/Loading Times
The other big bugbear of the PSP launch reports were that of the battery life and load times. Over Xmas I had some incredibly long flights and longer waits. I'm the sort of person that always keeps things charged, a prudent measure considering the journeys I've had recently. I'm also NOT the sort of person that will sit there for 3 hours straight playing a game. I dip in and out - playing for 5/10/15 minutes at a time or swapping with a friend.
Bearing this in mind, take this journey into account: 2 hour wait at Jakarta airport, 9 hour flight to Kuwait, 4.5 hour wait, 6.5 hour flight to London. When I left the hotel in Jakarta the PSP was at 100% charge, screen at maximum brightness and sound about 3/4 up on the headphones. Over the course of the journey and waiting periods the PSP was used between me and my friends on and off (though not consistently) for numerous short periods of time (I couldn't add them all up since I was sleeping at some points) with Ridge Racers and Lumines being swapped out at intervals. On arrival in London 34% of battery life was left. I can say that no one was being particularly conservative with the power, especially me. In fact I rarely checked. But it held out. This is a true test of real world use thats relevant to me, to the way I'd use a portable games machine. It held out as much as I needed it to. And therefore I am happy. This example may not be much use to someone who buries their head in a game and looks up 5 hours later. But thats just not me.
As for loading times - it may sound trite, biased or whatever, but I just simply didn't notice them. There's really little else I can say about it. Maybe I'm so in love with my PSP I'm willing to ignore them or maybe they're so slight as to be irrelevant - all I can honestly say is that they didn't bother me in the least.
The PSP Interface
Turning the machine on and a nice Sony chime brings you to the root menu of the PSP. I noticed it was decked out in grey (January's shade?) rather than December's red. A short minute of configuration sorts the date/time and clock region. Menu's are in English which was very nice. The browser allows configuration of wireless networks (i've yet to try this), viewing of jpegs and video, listening to MP3s and of course UMD access. The "Home" button on the facia brings one back to this area if one so requires.
I have a 128mb Sony Memory Stick Duo Pro in my S700i phone with which I was taking pictures and short 3gp video clips in Bali, Surabaya and Sumatra over Xmas. Two MP3s reside on the Stick as well. I plugged this into the PSP and was pleased to be able to view my pictures (again, the screen is fantastic for this), but not the video or the MP3s. Seems like the directories created on the Memory Stick by my S700i cannot be interrogated by the PSP. I shall purchase a USB 2.0 cable, memory card reader and larger (512mb +?) Memory Stick Duo Pro soon, to make more of these functions. I'm very keen to start encoding some video to use on the go with my PSP as well as a shortlist of MP3s. I love that I have this functionality. I hate that its just out of my reach for now!
Lumines
I had to have this game. I wasn't even sure why. I heard Tetsuya Mizuguchi. I heard Rez. But I saw puzzle game. I saw 2D. Not the way to show off the raw horsepower of Sony's mighty new handheld, surely? But in the end, its magical. Truly magical. It transcends the hardware its on. Makes it irrelevant.
I love this game. I've played it non-stop (or at least as 'non-stop' as I ever play games
). I took 11 flights (yes, ELEVEN) in the Far East over Xmas. This game made them all a pleasure. Hyperbole? Definitely. But try it and see.Basic concept is simple: arrange blocks of 2X2 in colour and they disappear (giving you points) when a scan line travelling from left to right passes over them. If you can arrange more than one 2X2 square or larger in one pass then you get a multiplier bonus. Occasionally gems appear within blocks of a certain colour. When scanned as part of a 2X2 or more, any linked same-colour squares disappear, creating huge bonuses and encouraging you to link same-colour squares across the grid. Difficulty spikes as the blocks fall faster and the scan line moves slower. Its simple. And beautiful.
The moment you start Challenge mode the fantastic Mondo Grosso lulls you into a captivating block-building trance. Its a hook that never fails to catch. The background is alive with pulsating animation, equaliser bars, sparkling showers as blocks are scanned out of existence, and your mischievious avatar chuckling when a bonus multiplier is unleashed. As Challenge mode progresses skins are unlocked, changing the mood, tempo and background animations and well as the colour of the blocks. These vary considerably and demonstrates the whacked out imagination of the team that put this little gem together. Its never less than enthralling, a real feast for the eyes - much like the polygonal bliss of Rez.
Puzzle modes, 2P and VS modes and a host of skins and Challenges make this a seriously complete package. If you're after a PSP - then make this an essential purchase.
Ridge Racers
OK, so the major launch title. The title with all the buzz. The jaw dropper. I'm a huge Ridge Racer fan although its been a long while since I played RRV. I was apprehensive that I may have outgrown the Ridge style or that I wouldn't be able to cut it any more. I'm happy to say that sitting back in the saddle of Namco's supercars has never been more pleasing.
Or gorgeous.
The game is simply amazing to look at. Its silky, fast, has lighting and shader effects that put most contemporary console games to shame (seriously) and its no less than a masterclass of Ridge Racing history to boot. Thanks Namco. My hats off to you.
The first time you catch sight of the remixed Rave City Downtown is one of those all too rare moments in videogaming - when you realise that you are in the company of a goalpost shifter - the synchronicity of booming digital beats, gloriously detailed technicolour architecture running at insane speeds in the palm of your hand through a beautifully crisp widescreen display. Its like nothing that has ever come before. Its quite something that its come so early in the PSP's lifetime.
What amazes more is just how complete a package this game is. Twelve tracks and their reverse iterations plucked from all the Ridge games, bonus movies and cars from across the universe gained from wins among a series of World tours. Add to this wireless multiplayer and an arranged mode to suit a custom journey all presented in a peerlessly stylish fashion and you have a lovingly created title that defies its extremely short development time. Simply amazing.
So thats it. I absolutely adore my new PSP, as my impressions clearly show. I have great hopes for its future and can only wonder at what's in store. Hope these impressions have been informative.
