NintendoDS vs PSP

[fstorm1]

Earlier this year I asked which of the "larger" consoles was worth my cash, Wii or XBOX or PS2. I never did buy any of them as I just never thought I'd use it enough to warrant the cost. Well, now I'm thinking of a portable unit. My nice lady friend has an old GBA, and I played Super Mario World Advance to the end, but beyond that, the only other game I played with any regularity was Pac Man. I've since tried the DS and think it's pretty nice, namely the catalog of games (particularly the Mario titles and the Brain Age series). I've never held a PSP in my hands so haven't had a real chance to give it a run through. I've asked around and my replies have seemed almost completely 50/50. I don't play a ton, but then I suspect I'll have the hardware for longer than most people. I like the DS catalog and the ability to play GB games. The PSP is intriguing for the graphics, and it's catalog is a bit more diverse and "adult". I don't suspect I'll watch any movies on it as I prefer to watch stuff BIG. The ability to go online is a nice feature, as well as using the unit as an MP3 player (although it seems like it would be a bit bulky for just that use). So, I'm pretty well stuck. I have absolutely no clue as to which to get. So, I do what I always do: ask the Brewer nation. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/tongue.gif

 

NintendoDS or PSP. You will decide my course of action. Thanks a ton in advance.

[endaround]

If you don't plan on using the PSP for a video player, go with the DS. Unless there is a game that you are dying to play on the PSP, the DS just has so much more its not funny.

[adamb100]

You can run custom firmware on it and play NES, SNES, Genesis, N64 games on the PSP. Very cool.

[logan82]

Not all gameboy games play on DS. I think only GB Advance games fit.

[Terok Balefire]

The catalog for the DS is just ridiculous and will continue to do so because it's still the biggest seller in the videogame world, yes even bigger than the Wii. If you are just concerned about games the DS is the way to go.

[RightFieldCoder]

The DS has a lot of non-timed strategy games (my favorite genre is turn-based strategy) that make you think. Panzer Tactics, Advance Wars, Fire Emblem, Chessmaster, Picross, Age of Empires, Prince of Persia. You can play for 15 min, close the lid, and the DS goes into sleep mode saving your game right where you are so you can get back to work when your boss walks by. There are also a bunch of great platformers that holds up to the Nintendo tradition. Mario 64, New Super Mario Bros., Princess Peach, Yoshi's Island. The DS also plays every GBA game of which there are plenty of great ones. If you are a fan of multiplayer or FPS, the DS is not for you.

 

The PSP has a bunch of PS2 rehashes. If you want to play the same games you played years ago, but with new levels and on the go, the PSP is for you. Or, if you want it to play other media files the PSP is for you

 

But I may be just a bit biased.

[bjkrautk]

The DS has a lot of non-timed strategy games (my favorite genre is turn-based strategy) that make you think. .... Fire Emblem, .... The DS also plays every GBA game of which there are plenty of great ones. If you are a fan of multiplayer or FPS, the DS is not for you.

 

The PSP has a bunch of PS2 rehashes. If you want to play the same games you played years ago, but with new levels and on the go, the PSP is for you. Or, if you want it to play other media files the PSP is for you

 

But I may be just a bit biased.

As the one person who posted his enthusiasm for Fire Emblem on the Wii (I love the new game, BTW), I do feel a need to point out that the franchise hasn't actually come out on the DS yet. There are 2 GBA Fire Emblem games which will work on the DS - and which I highly recommend - but no dual-screen support. (Don't feel too bad about that mistake, the IGN.com reviewer for the new Wii game made the same one. Plus, the next FE game is all but guaranteed to be coming out on the DS.)

 

There are about 5-10 games that I'd want to play on the PSP. I own at least 20 games on the DS, and that number is sure to go up. The only way that I would be able to recommend the PSP over a DS to someone would be:

 

1) They own a PS3, and want to take advantage of the remote play settings / other new features (I don't own a PSP, so I don't really know everything it can do....but I do know that something was added in the latest PS3 firmware update).

 

2) They want a device that can be used to support video podcast playback. (Google 'Revision3' if you have no idea what I'm talking about.) It's kind of a geek-thing, but it's the main reason that I caved and bought my iPod over a year ago.

 

(Either way, I could probably recommend a few games for you to pick up.)