There has been an ongoing debate for a few years about which of these portable devices is better. The PSP has a larger screen that can play movies, games, music and surf the Internet. The Nintendo DS features two smaller screens, but with touchscreen capabilities that almost every game released for the DS takes advantage of. Then the battle of the handhelds begins! For the sake of this argument, I’ll refer to the PSP Slim and DS Lite, as they are the newest versions of each handheld.
The PSP Slim 3000 is the newest model of PSP. It features the same slim design as the PSP 2000, but adds an anti-glare screen that makes gaming in bright sunlight a little easier. Also included with the PSP 3000 model is a built-in microphone that allows you to use the PSP essentially like a phone with the Skype software that comes installed. The 3000 also features the same capabilities as the previous two PSP models, with the ability to play movies, games, music, and surf the Internet with WiFi access.
The DS Lite, which is a slim version of the original DS, features the stylus touch screen, along with the ability to access the Internet via WiFi. The ultimate decision of what’s best here comes down to the style of play you enjoy and how much accessibility you want while on the go. The games available for the DS are geared more towards a younger generation of gamers, with games featuring Sonic, Mario and Pokémon predominant on their biggest selling list. These light-hearted games are great for fun, but most of them offer little replay value, outside of the Mario franchise.
The PSP, on the other hand, appeals to the older generation of gamers. It features titles as obscure as Manhunt 2, God of War, and Socom. However, the PSP is not without its light-hearted titles. Games like Patapon and LocoRoco have given PSP gamers hours of fun with their innovative new gameplay.
The PSP should be the choice for gamers who enjoy more mature games with a little less interaction, as well as a movie player, music player, and web browser all in one portable system. While the DS doesn’t have many of these extras, it does do one thing well, and that’s a good light-hearted game.