PSP vs. NDS

[Turrican]

Thats it. An actual new 2D Mario? That pretty much assures the DS the lead for awhile now (assuming its good).

People continue to brag that we're finally getting a Mario sidescroller... But all those years had we not Wario Lands?

However, PSP is getting Gomakaimura, so on that front the fight is open.

I honestly hope that both platforms will compete fiercely with awesome titles, this would be the best scenario for us all.

Oh, and Ord... your PSP on ebay - let's talk about it, won't ya

[PaCrappa]

This debate is stupid and generally turns into people who only own one system or the other defending their choice rather than actually making informed statements about the qualities of each library. It's like saying you prefer Coke without ever trying Pepsi... how do you know? What are you basing this on?

I'm very fortunate in this regard. My friend Paleface has a PSP and since he buys every Japanese developed action game and a whole slew of other types of games (for any system he owns), I have played a fuckload of PSP stuff. I can say from personal experience it either stinks, or is redundant if you own a PS2.

I guess the people needing "shumps with TATE" aren't getting enough action at home?

Pa

[jp]

I guess the people needing "shumps with TATE" aren't getting enough action at home?

Pa

I guess its just easier to turn a portable sideways as opposed to a TV. *shrugs*


Ah, the laziness of gamers.

[PaCrappa]

I dunno about lazy. It's just the fixation that I find weird. I love me some shooters. And if I had to say one way or another, I 'd call vertical ones my preference. I know I'm not the only one here who has a sideways TV set. And let's see... I guess I mentioned the part about not really being focused on "on the go" gaming. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I've never had any problem finding something totally awesome to play on a handheld (mostly GBA because it kicks the shit out of all handhelds) for however long it was going to take me to get back home to my precious sideways TV set. Yeah sure vertical shooters on a handheld would be fab. I'm just a little shocked that it is somehow such a focal point when considering the purchase of a handheld gaming device. I mean, are the "shumps with TATE" crowd going to get rid of their other consoles as well as their own sideways TV sets in favor of the technologically overachieving PSP? Or perhaps is it that they're so fixated on only doing the exact same thing with every free second that "shumps with TATE" is all they can think about? Is a $250 handheld really the sweet choice if there's going to be two "shumps with TATE" and a sea of redundant sameness? These are the things I think about when reading message board threads about handhelds.

Pa

[jp]

I was being sarcastic while agreeing with you.


And I totally agree with what you just said. I rarely ever feel like playing shmups on handhelds/smaller screens. They just aren't as fun that way. Thats why I doubt I'll ever carry a shmup with me if I'm taking my Navi HiSaturn somewhere... screen is too damn small for shmupping.

[Moogs]

I still have yet to play a PSP game that's kept me preoccupied as much as Ridge Racer did. This is a sad statement, cos I'm a huge Mega Man fan, and I got Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X a week ago.

And I don't like it very much at all.

Just to get the good things (or, rather, thing) out of the way first, the game looks great. The animation is fast and smooth (which really kind of points out that the refresh rate on the PSP's screen isn't that great), and the colours are nice and vibrant.

But, hey, not only did Capcom move around all the Dr. Light capsules (six levels beaten, and I still don't have my dash boots. Why? Cos it's in frickin' Flame Mammoth's level, one of the last levels I always tackle. Compare that to the original MMX, where the boots were in Chill Penguin's level... the first level I always play), but the game doesn't even feel the same anymore. Maybe it has something to do with how stiff the PSP's control pad and buttons are, or maybe the shift to polygonal graphics triggered the change. Either way, something ain't right.

Of course, since this is a game from 1993 being re-released and remade in 2006, Capcom had to throw in more nonsense story elements than the series already had. We learn after the introductory level that Vile doesn't work for Sigma, but, rather, he wants to defeat him and take over the world for himself. Who cares? We also get to hear everyone talk, and while the voices are respectable, the dialogue is just pure garbage. Everytime X encounters a Maverick, he expresses disbelief that they've sided with Sigma, then comes to the revelation that "Face it, you've gone maverick!"

This little conversations also make it clear that Mega Man characters should never address each other by name. Hearing X say "Armored Armadillo" is pretty damn hilarious. And it's not even supposed to be funny. We also get to hear X shout out the name of the weapon he's using EVERYTIME HE FIRES IT! WHY?!

Finally, and this is the worst part, the music fucking sucks. All the familiar and catchy tunes from the original have been remixed into watered down techno tracks. Melodies take a backseat to generic beats, and some harmonies are completely gone. The jazzy bass work in Launch Octopus' stage theme has been subdued. Spark Mandrill's stage music doesn't even sound like rock anymore, with that final drum fill before the music loops completely taken out. Apparently, Keiji Inafune had this music all set and ready to go to be used in the Mega Man X Collection, then he pulled it at the last minute to save it for the PSP remakes of the X games.

Well, good; no need to tarnish the classic versions with this musical swill.

On the bright side, though, the demo for Mega Man: Powered Up is pretty damn cool.

And I've hijacked this thread completely. Sorry.

I prefer the DS.

Everyone is so angry at the "Inafune took out features out of the Collection to put it in MHX" rumor that I think it's clouding their eyes from the fact that MMHX is awesome.

Not me. I don't care that there weren't any extra features in the MMX Collection; all I wanted was a compilation of MMX games. That's what I got.

The music is a matter of taste, but I think it's mostly solid (except for a couple of tunes.) You would've probably liked it too if you weren't resented about it being in MHX and not the Collection. If you hate the remixes with such a passion, why the hell would you want them to be in the Collection?

I didn't say I wanted the remixed music in the MMX Collection. All I said was that they were supposedly pulled at the last minute to be used solely for Maverick Hunter X. Like I said: "no need to tarnish the classic versions with this musical swill."

I still stand by my claim that the game just doesn't feel right. You're right, I hate the fact that it broke tradition, because I think it's pretty screwy that I didn't stumble across a capsule until I was seven stages into the game.

Honestly, the game doesn't suck, it's just messing with the head of someone who knows the original like the back of his hand.

[Blade]

DS.

I prefer hardware with the possibility of outlasting software, thanks. (as opposed to vice-versa, ala Sony)

Well if you'd quit throwing your controllers against the wall in frustration this sort of thing wouldn't happen.

[UnscathedFlyingObject]

I still have yet to play a PSP game that's kept me preoccupied as much as Ridge Racer did. This is a sad statement, cos I'm a huge Mega Man fan, and I got Mega Man: Maverick Hunter X a week ago.

And I don't like it very much at all.

Just to get the good things (or, rather, thing) out of the way first, the game looks great. The animation is fast and smooth (which really kind of points out that the refresh rate on the PSP's screen isn't that great), and the colours are nice and vibrant.

But, hey, not only did Capcom move around all the Dr. Light capsules (six levels beaten, and I still don't have my dash boots. Why? Cos it's in frickin' Flame Mammoth's level, one of the last levels I always tackle. Compare that to the original MMX, where the boots were in Chill Penguin's level... the first level I always play), but the game doesn't even feel the same anymore. Maybe it has something to do with how stiff the PSP's control pad and buttons are, or maybe the shift to polygonal graphics triggered the change. Either way, something ain't right.

Of course, since this is a game from 1993 being re-released and remade in 2006, Capcom had to throw in more nonsense story elements than the series already had. We learn after the introductory level that Vile doesn't work for Sigma, but, rather, he wants to defeat him and take over the world for himself. Who cares? We also get to hear everyone talk, and while the voices are respectable, the dialogue is just pure garbage. Everytime X encounters a Maverick, he expresses disbelief that they've sided with Sigma, then comes to the revelation that "Face it, you've gone maverick!"

This little conversations also make it clear that Mega Man characters should never address each other by name. Hearing X say "Armored Armadillo" is pretty damn hilarious. And it's not even supposed to be funny. We also get to hear X shout out the name of the weapon he's using EVERYTIME HE FIRES IT! WHY?!

Finally, and this is the worst part, the music fucking sucks. All the familiar and catchy tunes from the original have been remixed into watered down techno tracks. Melodies take a backseat to generic beats, and some harmonies are completely gone. The jazzy bass work in Launch Octopus' stage theme has been subdued. Spark Mandrill's stage music doesn't even sound like rock anymore, with that final drum fill before the music loops completely taken out. Apparently, Keiji Inafune had this music all set and ready to go to be used in the Mega Man X Collection, then he pulled it at the last minute to save it for the PSP remakes of the X games.

Well, good; no need to tarnish the classic versions with this musical swill.

On the bright side, though, the demo for Mega Man: Powered Up is pretty damn cool.

And I've hijacked this thread completely. Sorry.

I prefer the DS.

Everyone is so angry at the "Inafune took out features out of the Collection to put it in MHX" rumor that I think it's clouding their eyes from the fact that MMHX is awesome.

Not me. I don't care that there weren't any extra features in the MMX Collection; all I wanted was a compilation of MMX games. That's what I got.

The music is a matter of taste, but I think it's mostly solid (except for a couple of tunes.) You would've probably liked it too if you weren't resented about it being in MHX and not the Collection. If you hate the remixes with such a passion, why the hell would you want them to be in the Collection?

I didn't say I wanted the remixed music in the MMX Collection. All I said was that they were supposedly pulled at the last minute to be used solely for Maverick Hunter X. Like I said: "no need to tarnish the classic versions with this musical swill."

I still stand by my claim that the game just doesn't feel right. You're right, I hate the fact that it broke tradition, because I think it's pretty screwy that I didn't stumble across a capsule until I was seven stages into the game.

Honestly, the game doesn't suck, it's just messing with the head of someone who knows the original like the back of his hand.

I'm sick of playing the original too, but I approached MHX with an open mind. I didn't bother me to have to find the capsules again because I can beat every Maverick boss without any enhancements, weapons, or extra energy.

Wait until you play Vile mode. You'll think they slaughtered the level design.

[Moogs]

Oddly enough, the only reason I want to beat the game is to unlock Vile Mode. I've always liked him, if only because he reminds me of Boba Fett. I just didn't exactly want to learn anything about him or any other Mega Man character, for that matter.

As much as I love Mega Man, I have to say the storylines have never been that great.

[sethsez]

I don't think messing around with the level design in a remake of MMX is a problem. I mean, if they didn't change things around somewhat then what would be the point of the game?

[BIG]

I have both and love them, but if I was forced to make a choice, I would pick the PSP.

The DS has some great games, but I only find myself being able to play for a short time before I'm bored and need to change the game.

With the PSP, it has a lot more 'console'-style games, which I can happily sit and play for a couple of hours, especially handy because my job does involve the odd long trip.

My sentiments,exactly.

The only DS games I like are either rehashes of an existing franchise (Advance Wars,Mario Kart),or new installments of an ongoing series (New SMB,Castlevania,etc).

B-

[Moogs]

I don't think messing around with the level design in a remake of MMX is a problem. I mean, if they didn't change things around somewhat then what would be the point of the game?

They just shifted a few power-up locations around. There isn't much of a redesign at all. At least not in the main game.

[BrianC]

Thats it. An actual new 2D Mario? That pretty much assures the DS the lead for awhile now (assuming its good).

People continue to brag that we're finally getting a Mario sidescroller... But all those years had we not Wario Lands?

The DS is also getting a new Wario platfomer (Kaito Wario. From the one screenshot I have seen, it looks like it will be a metriod style game) and Stafi 4 (not much info about this, but I heard some good things about the other games). These are probably a bit further down the road, but they do sound promising. I'm also excited that the DS is getting an exclusive Mega Man game (Rockman ZX). I hope it turns out good.

I have both and love them, but if I was forced to make a choice, I would pick the PSP.

The DS has some great games, but I only find myself being able to play for a short time before I'm bored and need to change the game.

With the PSP, it has a lot more 'console'-style games, which I can happily sit and play for a couple of hours, especially handy because my job does involve the odd long trip.

My sentiments,exactly.

The only DS games I like are either rehashes of an existing franchise (Advance Wars,Mario Kart),or new installments of an ongoing series (New SMB,Castlevania,etc).

B-

I like the DS for the opposite reason, but I didn't find myself getting bored with Trauma Center, Kirby Canvus Curse, Meteos, Mario Kart DS, Pac 'n Roll, Goemon DS, Ouendan, etc. There are more pick up and play games for the DS, but I see that as a good thing, not a bad one. Also, the PSP sounds like more of a hassle for long trips with its shorter battery life. I heard that GTA sucks batteries and only allows saving at certain points, sometimes one or two hours between.

I think the "gimmicky features" add to the DS and allow for games not on other systems. I sincerely doubt that Kirby Canvus Curse, Trauma Center, or Ouendan would be as enjoyable without the "gimmicky" touch screen features that are essential to the gameplay of those games.

Mario Kart DS is not a rehash. It does have features from other games, but that's a given for sequels/new games in series. The new Nitro course's tracks are very well designed and fresh. It is the first Mario Kart with a single player mission mode and bosses. It does have classic tracks, but those are there as a bonus. It also has a new drifting technique.

My favorite games for the DS are games like Ouendan or Trauma Center that aren't part of an existing franchise and do something different from the norm.

[BIG]

Thats it. An actual new 2D Mario? That pretty much assures the DS the lead for awhile now (assuming its good).

People continue to brag that we're finally getting a Mario sidescroller... But all those years had we not Wario Lands?

The DS is also getting a new Wario platfomer (Kaito Wario. From the one screenshot I have seen, it looks like it will be a metriod style game) and Stafi 4 (not much info about this, but I heard some good things about the other games). These are probably a bit further down the road, but they do sound promising. I'm also excited that the DS is getting an exclusive Mega Man game (Rockman ZX). I hope it turns out good.

I have both and love them, but if I was forced to make a choice, I would pick the PSP.

The DS has some great games, but I only find myself being able to play for a short time before I'm bored and need to change the game.

With the PSP, it has a lot more 'console'-style games, which I can happily sit and play for a couple of hours, especially handy because my job does involve the odd long trip.

My sentiments,exactly.

The only DS games I like are either rehashes of an existing franchise (Advance Wars,Mario Kart),or new installments of an ongoing series (New SMB,Castlevania,etc).

B-

I like the DS for the opposite reason, but I didn't find myself getting bored with Trauma Center, Kirby Canvus Curse, Meteos, Mario Kart DS, Pac 'n Roll, Goemon DS, Ouendan, etc. There are more pick up and play games for the DS, but I see that as a good thing, not a bad one. Also, the PSP sounds like more of a hassle for long trips with its shorter battery life. I heard that GTA sucks batteries and only allows saving at certain points, sometimes one or two hours between.

I think the "gimmicky features" add to the DS and allow for games not on other systems. I sincerely doubt that Kirby Canvus Curse, Trauma Center, or Ouendan would be as enjoyable without the "gimmicky" touch screen features that are essential to the gameplay of those games.

Mario Kart DS is not a rehash. It does have features from other games, but that's a given for sequels/new games in series. The new Nitro course's tracks are very well designed and fresh. It is the first Mario Kart with a single player mission mode and bosses. It does have classic tracks, but those are there as a bonus. It also has a new drifting technique.

My favorite games for the DS are games like Ouendan or Trauma Center that aren't part of an existing franchise and do something different from the norm.

I,too,like Ouendan and Trauma Center,as they are both excellent games.

However,neither games can hold my interest for more than 10-15mins. at a time,whereas I can spend hours and hours playing games like SFZ3,Ridge Racer,MGA,Lumines,Katamari,Prince of Persia,SW:BF II,SOCOM:FtB,etc.

B-

[sethsez]

SFZ3,Ridge Racer,MGA,Lumines,Katamari,Prince of Persia,SW:BF II,SOCOM:FtB

Wait, wasn't one of your main complaints with the DS that the only games you were interested in were new entries into established franchises? Right there I see a port, a series entry, a series entry (albiet a unique one), a unique game, a series entry, a port, a port, and a series entry.

[Turrican]

SFZ3,Ridge Racer,MGA,Lumines,Katamari,Prince of Persia,SW:BF II,SOCOM:FtB

Wait, wasn't one of your main complaints with the DS that the only games you were interested in were new entries into established franchises? Right there I see a port, a series entry, a series entry (albiet a unique one), a unique game, a series entry, a port, a port, and a series entry.

Prince of Persia as in "PoP Revelations"? It has been bashed pretty badly at ntsc-uk.com:

http://www.ntsc-uk.com/review.php?platf ... evelations

[sethsez]

Yeah. A port of Warrior Within seems like a questionable idea to begin with, sinec it really wasn't anybody's favorite, and it doesn't appear to be a particularly good port either.

[captain ahar]

right now i've only got ds, but i haven't played it in ages.

i'm getting close to the edge of picking up a psp. some recent trades with dave4shmups have placed sengoku cannon and star soldier in my hands for very little, and with the coming releases of Gradius Portable and the Capcom collection. along with wipeout, infected, and a smattering of others.

plus with the future prospect of homebrew, it seems very much worth it. i think in the end, psp is going to be the one i remember most fondly.

[jp]

I like the DS for the opposite reason, but I didn't find myself getting bored with Trauma Center, Kirby Canvus Curse, Meteos, Mario Kart DS, Pac 'n Roll, Goemon DS, Ouendan, etc. There are more pick up and play games for the DS, but I see that as a good thing, not a bad one. Also, the PSP sounds like more of a hassle for long trips with its shorter battery life. I heard that GTA sucks batteries and only allows saving at certain points, sometimes one or two hours between.

I think the "gimmicky features" add to the DS and allow for games not on other systems. I sincerely doubt that Kirby Canvus Curse, Trauma Center, or Ouendan would be as enjoyable without the "gimmicky" touch screen features that are essential to the gameplay of those games.

Mario Kart DS is not a rehash. It does have features from other games, but that's a given for sequels/new games in series. The new Nitro course's tracks are very well designed and fresh. It is the first Mario Kart with a single player mission mode and bosses. It does have classic tracks, but those are there as a bonus. It also has a new drifting technique.

My favorite games for the DS are games like Ouendan or Trauma Center that aren't part of an existing franchise and do something different from the norm.

My sentiments exactly. Portable gaming is really only about pick-up-and-play for me. Of course, I can sit down with friends or on a LAN and play Mario Kart DS for hours on end... or try to unlock everything in Jump Superstars, but for the most part I'm just playing DS briefly between work/school/friends/real consoles/etc.

Though games are coming that will be "longer". FFIII remake, World of Mana, Metroid Prime: Hunters, new Castlevania "Sorrow" game, etc.

Not to mention the ones already like that: Resident Evil, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Pac'n'Roll, Devilish, etc.

And I think E3 is going to be mad exciting for DS owners, since everything we've been promised since the launch will pretty much be released before E3... hopefully that have a whole new batch of greatness up their sleeves (unless, like you guys said, it turns into the GBA, which would suck).

[PaCrappa]

In direct response to that last part I'll mention that the GBA is home to a couple dozen sweet sweet action games of the top shelf variety. And I'm not talking about the unnecessary ports. If Nintendo closed up shop today the GBA would still have a greater library of quality action titles than the XBOX and the N64 combined. Which makes it well awesome enough to not worry if another system "turns into the GBA". Because truning into the GBA is turning into a handheld worth my attention and money. Which is better than the original GB, GBC, Game Gear, Lynx, Game.com, GP32, N-Gage, or the muchas overrated NGPC.

Pa

[jp]

In direct response to that last part I'll mention that the GBA is home to a couple dozen sweet sweet action games of the top shelf variety. And I'm not talking about the unnecessary ports. If Nintendo closed up shop today the GBA would still have a greater library of quality action titles than the XBOX and the N64 combined. Which makes it well awesome enough to not worry if another system "turns into the GBA". Because truning into the GBA is turning into a handheld worth my attention and money. Which is better than the original GB, GBC, Game Gear, Lynx, Game.com, GP32, or the muchas overrated NGPC.

Pa

True enough. I was just referencing how, for awhile, the GBA mostly got crap. But its library is top notch. Which is another thing that makes the DS kick all that much more ass.

Now... we need a Gargoyle's Quest game for the DS/GBA and I'll be set. Oh, and Mega Man Mania.

[judesalmon]

I like the DS for the opposite reason, but I didn't find myself getting bored with Trauma Center, Kirby Canvus Curse, Meteos, Mario Kart DS, Pac 'n Roll, Goemon DS, Ouendan, etc. There are more pick up and play games for the DS, but I see that as a good thing, not a bad one. Also, the PSP sounds like more of a hassle for long trips with its shorter battery life. I heard that GTA sucks batteries and only allows saving at certain points, sometimes one or two hours between.

I think the "gimmicky features" add to the DS and allow for games not on other systems. I sincerely doubt that Kirby Canvus Curse, Trauma Center, or Ouendan would be as enjoyable without the "gimmicky" touch screen features that are essential to the gameplay of those games.

Mario Kart DS is not a rehash. It does have features from other games, but that's a given for sequels/new games in series. The new Nitro course's tracks are very well designed and fresh. It is the first Mario Kart with a single player mission mode and bosses. It does have classic tracks, but those are there as a bonus. It also has a new drifting technique.

My favorite games for the DS are games like Ouendan or Trauma Center that aren't part of an existing franchise and do something different from the norm.

I enjoy everything the DS has to offer too, but not for prolonged periods as I can with my PSP.

As the suitability of a PSP on long trips and GTA: LCS - it's just another example of people buying into anti-Sony hype.

[BrianC]

As the suitability of a PSP on long trips and GTA: LCS - it's just another example of people buying into anti-Sony hype.

That doesn't explain anything. I know that there are car adapters, but you didn't give any solid reason why exactly you think the PSP is good for long trips. Are you sure that the complaints about battery life aren't legitimate complaints?

Honestly, I don't understand the prolonged play argument, especially when games like Goemon DS, Advance Wars, Kirby Canvus Curse, Castlevania Dawn of Sorrow, Mario Kart DS, and Super Mario 64 DS exist. These games either have a reasonable amout of depth, a good sized qurst, or a great deal of replay value (which IMO fit some of those pick up and play games).

To be honest, that GTA game sounds pretty darn cool to me despite what I heard about it sucking battery life and, if I get PSP, it will probably be one of the games I get for it. I'm interested in Wipeout Pure, Ridge Racer, and Lumines too.

[judesalmon]

I made my point with my initial post - the more console style games found on the PSP are more engaging to me, so I find it easier to devote long periods of time to them than I do games on the DS. Thus, on my not infrequent long journeys (LA this month, Tokyo next - both about 12 hour flights), the PSP is my chosen handheld gaming device.

That isn't to say others may not take the converse view, but I merely stated why I prefer my PSP over my DS, from my own personal standpoint.

A full charge of a PSP battery should give you about 6 hours on GTA - on my way back from San Francisco in November (again, about a 12-hour flight) I played GTA constantly, and my second battery still had charge in it when I got back to the UK.

[BrianC]

Six hours battery life for GTA? That doesn't sound too bad. I heard that many PSP games only lasted 2-3 hours and that movies suck up a lot of life. I guess I heard wrong.

[VNAF Ace]

PSP. Better hardware. More features. Good games.

[judesalmon]

Six hours battery life for GTA? That doesn't sound too bad. I heard that many PSP games only lasted 2-3 hours and that movies suck up a lot of life. I guess I heard wrong.

Sony has banned streaming on the PSP (because disc access eats battery), so the battery isn't that bad - of course, the less a game loads the better for the battery, but even GTA isn't that bad.

Movies on UMD I don't know about, but off of Memory Stick, they hardly use any battery life.

[DC906270]

i would have a PSP if i had a choice (ive not played either tho)

if only for Goku-Makaimura which is due out for PSP shortly
Am also interested in the Capcom Classics Collection for Varth, 1941, Strider and GnG portable, and Gradius Portable

PSP is too expo at the mo tho. may get one in 5 years time when the prices are rock bottom and people cant give them away

The only games that have ever made me have a passing thought about acquiring a DS (beg cheat steal) are Rainbow Islands DS and Bubble Bobble DS

[Neon]

DS has a Mr. Driller game and New Rainbow Islands. They're probably more or less the same as the other iterations I have, but might be worth checking out at some point. I'm unimpressed with both consoles at the mo in terms of game library, but it's early yet.

I'd say it's an exaggeration that the GBA has dozens of great games (though I'm über open to recommendations) but Mr. Driller Ace and Yossy's (tee hee) Island for teh win. Then there's that Gameboy color port of pop 'n pop. Best portable ever, yes, not that that's saying much.

I dunno if I really need videogames with me 24/7 anyways. Sure there's car/plane trips, but even then you could just read a good book or something. Certainly I'd rather spend the hundreds necessary for portables on more Saturn, Jamma, or PS2 games.

[VNAF Ace]

Even though I said I preferred the PSP...

I don't really have much use for a portable system. I can't play games in the car since I drive. I already have a PS2, GCN (with GB Player), and Xbox (I'm not listing my older consoles). And I've cut back on gaming since I'm in college now.