The Sony PlayStation Portable, or PSP, was a handheld gaming console released in 2005. While it was not as successful as its main rival, the Nintendo DS, it still managed tocarve out a nichefor itself and offer a number of features that set it apart from other handheld consoles.
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The PSP managed over 80 million sales and was extremely successful, while it didn’t reach the heights of the DS, it still goes down as one of the best, and most innovative devices in gaming history. And with its success came a lot of things it did better than its competitors.
6The Graphics
One of the most notable things that the PSP did better than other handheld consoles was its graphics. The PSP was powered by a custom 333 MHz processor and had a high-resolution 4.3-inch screen, which allowed it to display games with much higher quality graphics than other handheld consoles at the time. This made it a popular choice for gamers who wanted a more immersive andvisually striking gamingexperience on the go.
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This also made the PSP home for a lot of high-budget, action-adventure games with set-pieces and strong visuals, in a way the Nintendo DS simply couldn’t do.
5An Entire Multimedia System
The PSP was exceptionalfor playing games of course, but what made this console impressive, and really set it apart from any other handheld console ever was everything else it could do. The PSP, through various partnerships, had a top-quality comic book reader as well. There were multiple different publishers who made their comic books available for purchase.
The PSP also had a basic web browser, on which players could open up to three tabs and carry out most Internet functions at a basic level. Most important, however, was the PSP’s media players. Sony made sure the PSP had a top-notch music player and players could essentially download as much music as they want onto their PSP, make catalogs, and form playlists. Lastly, the PSP could even play videos and even movies with its inbuilt UMD drive, letting users watch movies on the go.
4Exclusives
Modern Sony consoles are synonymous with exclusives, but the PSP had asolid collection of exclusive gamesit could lean heavily on. These were all distinctly different from what Nintendo offers as well. With the likes ofGod of War: Chains of Olympus,GTA: Liberty City Stories,andMGS: Peace Walker.
Along with this were multiple iterations of the Final Fantasy Series as well as games. Along with a host of strategy RPGS that hold critical acclaim;Tactics Ogre, Valkyria Chronicles,andFinal Fantasy Tactics.
3Design
One of the key reasons for the PSP’s success was its design. The PSP had a sleek and stylish design that was unlike any other handheld console at the time. It featured a clamshell form factor, with a large 4.3-inch screen on one half and the buttons and control sticks on the other. This design made it easy to hold and use, and also protected the screen from scratches and damage.
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The PSP also had a large selection of colors and designs available, which allowed users to personalize their device and make it stand out. Additionally, the PSP was also designed with a UMD (Universal Media Disc) drive which allowed it to play games and movies on UMD discs. These designs were improved and tweaked throughout multiple iterations of the console which made it fresh and new and attracted customers. The design was different from any previous handheld console and yet it was still relatively comfortable and accessible.
2Convenience
An aspect of the PSP that set it apart from its competitors was its built-in WiFi connectivity. As mentioned above, this allowed users to download music, do web browsing, look up guides, walkthroughs, and tips for the games they were playing there and then- on the go.
Coupled with this was the console’s insane battery life, the best in the market for sure. This made the PSP convenient for long gaming sessions, road trips, and flights, without the need to stress about charging all the time.
1More Is More
The PSP was audacious, it represented Sony entering a market every industry expert thought was dead for anything non-Nintendo, and yet the PSP made its mark. How? It just had everything, featuring over 1300 games over its lifespan meant the PSP was arguably the best place to play games, its impressive graphics, and incredible display only added to this.
Moreover, itset the blueprintfor all consoles to follow, making gaming machines a truly all-purpose buy and acting as home entertainment systems. The PSP did this through its third-party integration, focusing heavily on system software, and even venturing into truly wireless multiplayer, and this multiplayer was surprisingly reliable, especially for games such asNaruto Ultimate Ninja.
All in all, what set the PSP apart from its competition was how much it focused on delivering to playersa complete experience, having everything anyone at the time could ask for, and more.
