Just a little while ago, I purchased a PSP 3000. Now I'm not sure if this was wise, as I already own and LOVE a DSlite, and own more DS games on it than I've had time to play (The World Ends With You and Knights in the Nightmare are looking at me from my shelf, all alone). However, I had been lured into getting the PSP Kamen no Maid Guy: Boyoyon Battle Royale special edition at the last con I went to, and wanted to actually play it.

Now it's been a couple of weeks, and I've gotten a few more games and given the handheld a little more love. Just not as much as the DS.

First, I really like being able to transfer music and stuff to the PSP, and this awesome, awesome wallpaper greets me every time I turn the thing on.


However, the addition this stuff is a mixed blessing, as it means more menus and updates. I liked the DS for being able to just turn it on and play. I'd really like to get an emulator on here and also check out the homebrew scene, but it seems that's pretty tricky with the 3000 model. I guess I'll have to wait on that for now.

The best feature of the PSP has got to be the screen. I knew that the PSP graphics were supposed to be better than the DS, but I didn't anticipate how nice and crisp everything looked. It's a really, really slick looking device.

That again is a double edged sword, as it immediately gets smudged and nasty as soon as you touch it. More on this later.

As far as game selection, I only have four games, but can't profess to liking them as much as my DS games. Here are some mini reviews:

Ape Escape Academy:
It's an Ape Escape themed mini game collection. Nothing terribly special to see here. The mini games are a mixed bag: some good, some nearly unplayable (the karate one comes to mind).

Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles:
Easily the best PSP game I own. Rondo of Blood is a great game, and I'm really happy to be able to play it for several reasons. First, I love the old school linear Castlevanias as much as I love the newer exploration based games. Second, I'd never be able to play the Turbo CD version. Third, it leads into Symphony of the Night, one of the best games ever. Better yet, it contains both the original 16 bit (ish) Turbo CD version along with the new version, made 3D (BC: Rearmed Style). It's a great game with a lot of replay value, as there are lots of secrets and each stage has two branching paths.

Kamen no Maid Guy: Boyoyon Battle Royale:
This is a very strange game based on a very funny anime that I saw at Anime Weekend Atlanta last year (any other Dtoiders going this year?). First, it came with some sweet extras: a shirt, a pin, and a PSP strap/cleaner.

See it there? It's got some semi-nude anime ladies on it, but I'm never taking it off my PSP ever. Remember how I said I'd get back to the smudging issue? Well the other side of this strap is actually a screen cleaning cloth! It's amazingly convenient. I don't know if they make other straps with the same function, but if they do I couldn't recommend it highly enough.
The actual game is decent, but too strange to describe here. Expect a full review later.

Me & My Katamari:
I thought this game was an entirely adequate entry in the Katamari series. It's a little odd to control, as you use the d-pad and buttons as you would the two sticks on the PS2 controller, and the spacing is a little different, but it's totally playable. The King is particularly funny in this one, though.

Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters:
I've not played a lot, but I'm not terribly impressed. I haven't played other R&C games, except for a demo of Secret Agent Clank, but they strike me as relatively plain 3D action romps. I don't dislike it; I actually like the character Clank a lot, but it doesn't do much for me.

My PSP Do Want list:
Patapon
LocoRoco
Megaman: Powered Up
Parappa the Rapper
Final Fantasy Tactics
Mobile Light Force
Maverick Hunter X
Ultimate Ghosts n' Goblins
Darkstalkers (stylistically my favorite series ever, but I still don't own any games TT_TT)

There are also tons of import retro collections that I want to look into, especially the Parodius one. Also, the import To-Love-Ru game.

So it's pretty cool, but I still think the DS overall has better games. What do you guys think?