PS Vita Review

Although it’s fairly early into the new year, the PS Vita seems to be one of the most anticipated gaming system releases. While many gamers are excited about what the PS Vita has to offer, there are others who are on the bridge about whether they should purchase it now or wait until later. Most people are debating if they should purchase the PS Vita due to the price of the unit plus the additional price for games. However, this seems to be a truly solid and respectable addition to the PlayStation family of gaming systems and most users who have managed to get their own Vita have not regretted the decision. If you’re curious about what this conveniently portable little system has to offer, this exclusive review will provide you with everything you need to know.

General Specifications

The PS Vita is a handheld system that features a 5-inch OLED touchscreen and two analog sticks. It is able to support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 3G. The inside features a 4 core SGX543MP4+ graphics processing unit and a 4 core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor. The XrossMediaBar has been replaced by LiveArea software for the user interface.

The layout of the device has all of the buttons that gamers have become accustomed to using on previous PlayStation systems. In addition to the analog sticks, there is the D-pad, L and R shoulder buttons, PlayStation button, start and select buttons, and the traditional face buttons – triangle, circle, x, and square. There is a front and a rear camera present, microhone, rear touchpad, electronic compass, and a motion sensing system included in the overall design. Devices that are enabled to use 3G are also able to make use of a built-in GPS system that has been included. Additionally, each device has 512 MB of RAM and 128 MB of VRAM. There is a media slot and PS Vita card slot that allows users to change their memory capacity to meet their needs.

The unit lasts for around 4 hours of gameplay assuming that the player does not use sound or the network during this time. Additionally, it can play up to 9 hours of music if the screen is turned off. It is comfortable to hold and use, so you don’t have to worry about getting cramped hands or discomfort during your hours of extended play with your favorite games.

Apps

There are also several apps that come pre-installed. These are known as:

• Party
  Allows players to create their own “party” that allows them to play games and chat with their friends on the PlayStation Network. 
• Near
  Players can keep connected and updated with the gaming achievements of their friends within the area and other areas.
• Photos
  Front and rear facing cameras allow players to take pictures and capture screenshots quickly and easily, then store them in the app.
• PS Store
  Self-explanitory, but it allows players to access the PlayStation store in order to purchase games and other necessities.

And of course, there are other apps that will also become active, such as Skype, Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter, and Netflix. The abilities that combining numerous social apps with this portable gaming system could deliver seems endless, especially in consideration of the rear touch pad which many gamers are hoping will gain an evolved usage as PS Vita and PlayStation gaming continue to progress.

Additional Considerations

The graphic quality available with the PS Vita is fairly impressive. While it is not completely equal to the quality of graphics that can be experienced on a PS3, it is able to produce impressive quality visuals on the 5-inch screen. Players who have already had access to the PS Vita have been expressing that the graphics is perhaps one of the greatest elements that they appreciate about the unit, overall. The device also allows you to download games off of the PlayStation Network for your convenience.

There are currently two different versions of the PS Vita that are available. The version that offers the full price ($300) is able to handle 3G and Wi-Fi, with a plan that is provided by AT&T. If you’re located in Europe, the plan is provided by Vodafone. The version that holds the cheaper price of $250 is not enabled for 3G but is still able to work on Wi-Fi. The price differences and the different versions are worth considering if you want to expand your social gaming experiences with the PS Vita. Likewise, if you want to get PS Vita cards that will offer you more memory, it is also additional money — although there are a few bundle packs and starter kits available that will provide you with most of what you need for a decent price.