PSP Go Review - GTADude - 8/10

Sony’s second worst kept secret of 2009 hits Australian shelves October 1st, it is of course none other than the PSP Go. Sony’s all new; all digital PSP begins a new chapter in video game history, through full on digital video game distribution. Digital video game distribution most likely won’t become standard for quite some time, but Sony seems eager to get a head start. Slimmer, smaller and sleeker than ever before, the PSP Go sure looks like a fantastic piece of kit, at least from a solely aesthetic standpoint. But is this new design and change in approach revolutionary, or simply an object born out of over eagerness on the part of Sony? More importantly, is there any reason for owners of older PSP models to upgrade? Well, let’s find out…





Hardware

One of the most obvious changes with the PSP is the change in design and smaller overall size. Calling the Go “small” would be an understatement. Whilst it is noticeably smaller from a height and depth perspective, Sony have hugely shrunk the handhelds width. These changes in overall size were no doubt only made possible because of the complete removal of the UMD drive. This controversial decision renders any UMD’s you may have completely useless. The PSP Go retains the glossy, fingerprint prone finish of its predecessors, and also appears to be VERY well made. Its small and slim design doesn’t give it a fragile feel; in fact it feels like the most well made PSP to date. Sony have also done away with the 4.3inch LCD screen found in all other PSP models, and have replaced it with a smaller 3.8inch screen. Whilst smaller in size, the new LCD screen retains the same resolution as all other, older models. The newer screen also displays noticeably sharper colors, and what seems to be a better overall response rate. The Go features a new, non-removable battery (No doubt Sony’s attempt at stopping piracy); along with newly adopted Bluetooth capabilities (Allowing connectivity with mobile phones, & even PS3 controllers!) and 16GB’s of internal flash memory (Expandable with M2 memory cards). The screen now slides up to reveal the controls, which haven’t undergone any major changes, apart from the repositioning of the “Start” and “Select” buttons. The L and R shoulder buttons are now positioned almost uncomfortably close to the back of the screen, and the analogue stick has been moved a little further in. This feels very strange at first, but you’ll come to enjoy not having to bend your finger in order to use the nub.




Software

Whilst the firmware of the PSP Go is the same as older models, it does have a few tricks up its sleeve. The most impressive of these is the newly implemented “Pause Game” feature, which is activated with the systems “PS” button. This feature (Which is similar to the PS3’s in game XMB) allows you to save your game and return to the XMB, which you are now free to navigate. The only other major software difference is the added option of an on screen analogue clock and calendar, which displays when the PSP Go is in the closed position (i.e: Screen covering controls). Many people may find the stupidly big analogue clock annoying, but this feature can thankfully be turned off in the settings menu.

Of course, the most important thing to remember when purchasing a PSP Go is that only downloadable games can be played. As of October 1st, Sony have added quite a few PSP games to the PSN store. Notable titles include Gran Turismo, MotorStorm: Arctic Edge, Soul Caliber: Broken Destiny, God of War: Chains of Olympus and both PSP Grand Theft Auto games. With the convenience of downloadable games, comes the pain of having to wait for the files to download, some of which are upwards of 1.5GB. The size of downloading games alone will hurt your monthly internet allowance, especially if you intend on downloading multiple games. Alongside these PSP games are “PSP Mini’s”. At the moment there are only a handful on PSN, but Sony will be continually adding games to the collection. PSP minis are bite sized affordable games, which include the likes of “Fieldrunners” and “Hero of Sparta”. Whilst not life changing, these minis are a welcomed addition to the PSN game library.





Price

For most people, this will be the decider for whether or not to purchase a PSP Go. The RRP of the handheld is $449.95, and no, that wasn’t a typo. No matter how long you stare at the sleek new design, or the enticing 16GB flash memory, $449.95 is too much. Even when you take into account the sale price of $398 (GAME, JB, Big W etc) and the free Gran Turismo offer from Sony, most people still won’t be able to justify the purchase. The PSP Go might be the start of full on digital distribution, but with that price tag, Australia’s dismal internet plans and more importantly, Australia’s laughable internet speed, the PSP Go might end up being a case of “What could have been”. Buying a Go will also let Sony dictate how much you’ll be paying for games. Don’t think just because your not buying a physical game you’ll be making much of a saving, if any at all. Many UMD PSP games are actually cheaper than there digital counterparts.





Official Specs

Dimensions: 128 x 16.5 x 69 mm (w x h x d)
Weight: 158g / 5.6 oz (including battery)
CPU: PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1-333 MHz, Main memory 64MB)
Display: 3.8 inches (16:9), 480 x 272 pixels, Approx 16,770,000 colors displayed
Sound: Built in speakers, built in microphone
Internal memory: 16GB
Wireless: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0
Supplied Accessories: AC adapter, USB cable, Media Go





Final Verdict

A sleek sexy new design, 16GB of internal flash memory and the simple fact that a PSP now actually fits in your pocket, most likely won’t be enough reason for existing PSP owners to upgrade. Even those who don’t currently have a PSP will be put off by the outrageous price tag.
That being said, there’s no doubt Sony have thrown the first punch in the digital distribution arena, and that can only be a good thing. I personally believe the PSP Go, even with all its flaws could still thrive in countries such as tech savvy Japan. Ultimately, if you have the money you won’t be disappointed with your purchase. I sure wasn’t!


Appearance: 10 / 10
Portability: 10 / 10
Hardware: 9 / 10
Software: 7 /10
Value: 3 / 10


Overall: 8 / 10


Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave any comments / questions you may have below! :-)

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GTADude 04/10/2009

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