No gaming system is going to be perfect for everyone, and the launch of a new game system will never be flawless. However, the PlayStation Vita is the closest to perfection for any launch video game system I have ever owned, which makes it perfect when graded on a curve (thus my review title). I will explain the many positives and few negatives that I have found in the PSV thus far in this review.
One would typically say that a launch game system is only beneficial for habitual early-adopters and hardcore gamers. If you are one of those types (as I am), you will want to pick up a Vita. It is a powerful system that has multiple control schemes which work flawlessly, has many great games (I only have a few, but many launch games have reviewed well and many more are on the way), and has the best screen I've seen on a mobile device. The touchscreen responsiveness especially impressed me, and is on-par with an iPad or iPhone. This adds a lot of functionality to games...with gameplay using traditional button/analog stick controls, the touchscreen allows for an interactive HUD on the left and right of the screen. This HUD can include buttons for interacting with the game environment in specific ways and because of the system layout these can all be placed within easy reach for your thumbs without overlapping with the action.
For those of you intrigued by the Vita, but who do not typically early-adopt or game all that frequently, I would say the PSV is still for you. The only barrier to ownership is the costs associated with a launch system, but trust me, you will find the system well worth it once you've had it for two or three days. Anyone who has used a smartphone will understand the controls and capabilities of the system. The screens are fully customizable with wallpapers and icon arrangements, and you can even customize your lock-screen wallpaper through the photo app. It interfaces easily with a PS3, PC, or Mac and has many demos right now so that you can get about 10 hours of entertainment out of the system without even purchasing a game (provided you have or are willing to set up an account with the PSN). There are even a few low cost games (<$10) that are very good, like Hustle Kings, Super Stardust Delta, and Mutant Blobs Attack. There is also a browser, Google maps, Netflix, and a Twitter client (Facebook too, but they are working on it at the moment).
Speaking of these "app" features, we come to one of the minor issues of the system. The browser loads quickly, but does not render pages fast when you scroll. Google maps and Netflix load fairly slowly as well. They are certainly usable, but I would imagine if you are used to the iPhone or Android you will find them lacking by comparison. However, keep in mind that there is room for improvements via system updates, and given that the hardware in this system is more powerful than almost everything else out there, this will be an easy fix in the near future.
One question many of you may have that I cannot answer is whether you should buy the WiFi or 3G version. This really depends on your AT&T coverage/speed in your location and whether you want to travel with your system or not. For me (I'm in MN), AT&T works great here. Through the launch bundle I activated one month of data for $15, got one month free and will get Super Stardust Delta free soon as well. Totally worth it for me, not worth it for many others. And for those complaints about the free data/game with the 3G launch bundle not really being free, this really only affects people who aren't early-adopters but have been hooked by these promises. Everyone else who would buy the Vita anyway are paying the normal price for the 3G system and getting a free 8GB memory card even if they don't use the 3G data right away. Keep all of this in mind when looking at which system to buy.
So I'll reiterate the main negative aspect of this purchase that I've touched on above: the high cost of early adoption. Yes, the costs associated with buying a Vita and its accessories now are higher than they will be in 6 months or a year. Sony did appear to create a new memory standard just to sell it at an inflated price so they could recoup the losses they are inevitably taking on each Vita system sold. These costs will go down over time, so if you have a real problem with this, wait to buy a Vita, but you absolutely should buy it. Game costs are also high now but will go down, though it appears that most games are still worth the current cost to take advantage of this great system. And seeing these launch games, I am very much looking forward to future games that will better take advantage of the system as developers become quickly better at programming for the PSV.
One final aspect of the system to understand - the battery life is below par for a mobile device. I've gone through three charge cycles thus far, and have actually been getting the max capacity quoted by Sony for gaming use: 5 hours. This is with the 3G and bluetooth off (I've gamed at home using WiFi), and the screen at its lowest brightness (which is the brightest "low" setting I've ever seen). Be ready to charge this system often with heavy use.
To sum up: Vita good....Vita very, very good. Great controls, operating software, hardware, screen, and games. Good content management and customization. OK apps thus far but they will improve. Poor battery life but still useable. If you have enough interest to read through this whole review, and don't hate Sony for some reason (I'm looking at you XBox gamers), you should, without question, purchase a PSVita. Thanks for reading!
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Rolled the Dice on a Used Console!
Overall system is in wonderful condition other than the common problem of the touchscreen not working while plugged in charging (kind of sucks but it forces you to take a healthy break from playing time). Also, like the reviewers before me I wish I would’ve had more details as to what my order would contain precisely. It came with just the console and charger alone. But again, the console is in wonderful shape for the most part. That screen is the only reason to buy it instead of a Slim model, and she is truly beautiful. So I really have no “complaints” at all, more of a suggestion to be more descriptive and include at least an 8gb memory card. Cheers!
