Review: PlayStation Vita a handheld gaming beast
19.05.12
, Which looks stunning. It's difficult to think of any game looking remotely close to this running on any other mobile device.
The combination of the touchscreen and app-style interface make the Vita far more user friendly compared to the PSP. Navigating requires simple swipes of the touchscreen, and typing text -- a huge headache on the PSP -- is a breeze on Vita.
There's also a rear touchpad, although it was tough to find innovative uses for it in this crop of 25 launch titles. The same applies for the solid front- and rear-facing cameras, featured with a series of augmented reality cards.
Perhaps the most welcome adjustment is the addition of a second thumbstick. In fact, the thumbsticks in general feel more comfortable and responsive.
Games come in two forms: retail packages featuring cartridges roughly the size of a SD card, and digital games through the PlayStation Network. Users can also choose to download retail games for a 10% discount. Although I was unable to test download speeds via 3G, Wi-Fi moved pretty quickly. The PlayStation Store also features a selection of films for purchase or rental.
Source: USA TODAY