PSP Go Review

At first glance, it seems that the Sony PSP does not look like something radically new for the PSP family. Yes, it is more compact than the three previous generations of portable gaming and multimedia devices. Yes, there are new features like Bluetooth, a retractable controller, as well as a smaller and more portable size of the device itself. But the real changes here are a radical deviation, i.e. - It is a fact that Go was the first portable gaming system to become fully digital and abandon cartridges and optical discs.
Is this a good idea? Well ... with the success of Apple's iPhone and iPhone Touch, which were not designed as gaming systems, Sony has no other choice but to leave this fact unnoticed and take the next step. As they say, it's better late than never (you can ask if Sony should have taken this step 4 years ago, but that's another story). Nevertheless, although we welcome the transition to digital systems based on Internet connectivity, this It is certainly fraught with difficulties, and how Sony will overcome them will go a long way in determining Sony's success.

Design

Although the feature list is not much different from previous versions of the PSP, the PSP Go has undergone a complete redesign, with the main emphasis on a retractable controller. While PSP Go is available only in black and white; do not be surprised if you see a large gamut of colors in poor markets.
First, Sony got rid of the UMD connector and placed 16 GB of internal memory. The screen also decreased: from 4.3 inches to 3.8 inches, while maintaining the same resolution by 480x272 pixels. In addition, the Memory Stick Pro Duo slot has been replaced with a smaller slot - Micro M2, which is also a development by Sony. And finally, a retractable controller has been added that hides controls when you don't need to use them.
The whole redesign made PSP Go easier by 5.4 ounces from its predecessor, and its dimensions are now as follows: 5 inches wide, 2.75 inches high (when closed), and a little more than half an inch thick (when open, width is about 4 inches). When closed, Go looks very cute and minimalistic, and we are pleased that this is the first PSP that fits easily in your pocket.



The screen seems much livelier and slightly brighter than at 3000. A smaller screen size gives us less visual space, but since the resolution has remained unchanged, some graphic details look sharper and sharper.
The PSP Go case is made of glossy black plastic, as in all previous versions, and, all the same, fingerprints remain on the case. However, the plastic around the buttons and the D-pad has a more matte finish. The back side of the device retained the glossy surface, but two round rubber bands appeared that help you hold the device in your hands.



PSP Go is very comfortable to hold, but I definitely have some complaints about the location of the buttons during the game. We tested our PSP Go with MotorStorm: Arctic Edge and couldn't help but notice that the new button position is a bit uncomfortable. Although this may not be a hindrance for beginners, PSP veterans will probably notice the change.
The Analog Stick has also become smaller than previous PSP models, but also more durable and tough. Also, friction during circular motion has become more sensitive than in the PSP 1000-3000.
For the most part, the buttons began to feel and operate very well. The front control buttons have become slightly smaller compared to 3000, and now they are not so much free as in previous models.
The L and R buttons have become much more pronounced. As for the Select and Start buttons, they became too close to each other and it became much less convenient to use them, especially during the game, when one of these buttons needs to be quickly pressed.
The display buttons, button sound and volume buttons have also been moved: now they are in the intermediate space between the L and R buttons. They all seem to be conveniently located and work well, but unfortunately, you will have to look at their location when the controller is pulled down.


Most of the other buttons and switches remained in the same places as in previous versions of the PSP: the on / off switch is still in the lower right part and the wireless communicator is on the lower left side, just below the new Micro M2 memory card slot.
As already noted in PSP Go, added a connection via Bluetooth 3.0. This should facilitate the connection of wireless devices, although I could not connect a stereo Bluetooth headset to it, which on the iPhone was not difficult. However, the addition of Bluetooth has provided some interesting Go features, one of which is the ability to control the PSP using the PS3 controller, although this needs to be configured.
Like the PSP 3000, this model has a built-in microphone for applications such as Skype calls via Wi-Fi, etc. The microphone is located between the analog stick and the Start and Select buttons. (You can also choose: use the built-in microphone or the microphone of the Bluetooth headset).
Two things you won’t find on your PSP Go: a second analog stick and touch screen. Which have long been on the PSP's wish list. This would make managing in first-person shooter much easier. The lack of a touch screen is noticeable, as the rival of the DS / DSi and iPhone / iPod Touch gaming platforms have been using it for a long time. The touch screen on the PSP will also be indispensable for the tap keyboard when surfing the web and entering data.

Games and multimedia.

After removing the UMD socket, all multimedia applications and games should be accessible from 16 GB of internal memory or Micro M2 flash card. Users can download software from the PlayStation Store directly to the PSP Go (this is done via Wi-Fi) or when transferring data from a PC or PS3 via USB.
Sony will sell multi-budget downloadable games (which will also be available on UMD) and for this type of games, I recommend downloading games to a PC or PS3 and then dropping them onto PSP Go instead of using a Wi-Fi connection on your PSP. For example, downloading Motorstorm: Arctic Edge (520MB) via Go is over 2 hours. While on a PC, the jump took less than 20 minutes.
PlayStation Store is not the most convenient online app store service I used. You will not be able to see screenshots from games, and, for the most part, they are not sorted in the most convenient and logical way. Plus, as soon as you start downloading the game, your PSP Go essentially becomes blocked, i.e. you cannot use it for any other purpose until your download is complete.
If you have content on several Sony devices and you are going to synchronize it with the PlayStation Network online service in order to be able to play everything that you downloaded or bought on all devices (games, videos), this is not the most convenient way, but it works, and the fact that you can sync up to 5 Sony devices (PSP and PS3) is really good. The best example of this is the games originally developed for Psone, which can be run on both PS3 and PSP. Having bought them once, you can synchronize them with other PSP or PS3 devices by downloading the game to your account at no extra charge.
PSP owners who make the transition to Go will have to manually transfer the saved files from Stick Pro Duo to your new system. This, of course, is inconvenient. But if you want to continue the game, which was synchronized with the online service - this should be done. Also, the lack of a UMD drive prevents you from playing your old UMD games. This is another reason PSP owners should think twice before upgrading.
In addition to the game, PSP Go is also a solid multimedia device. In addition to playing video, digital music and viewing photos, a built-in web browser also appeared. In addition, a special Internet radio player appeared (though, setting up access to the Internet and music is something more confusing than it should be).
Cords for connecting the PSP Go to the TV (for watching videos and games) must be purchased separately.

operating system

The PSP Go seems to have a slightly modified OS installed than its predecessors. My review was on a system running software version 5.7, while my PSP 3000 was updated to version 6.0. In my opinion, there are slight differences between the two versions, but this is most likely due to the fact that the retractable controller affects the behavior of the device.
For example, when Go is closed, the device enters standby mode, and a screensaver appears displaying the analog clock and date. You can press both side buttons to enter the calendar menu and scroll through the months by pressing R or L. When you open the device, you will be taken to the menu. You can change the way PSP Go behaves when the screen is closed. Instead of displaying the clock, you can put the device into sleep mode. When playing a video, you can close Go and continue watching without crashing. (If you really want to turn off Go, you will have to hold the button off for 3 seconds.)
The only significant improvement in PSP Go firmware is the ability to pause the game and return to the menu. During the game, when you press the button with the PlayStation logo in the lower left corner of the screen, a menu will appear similar to the one that appears when you click the Home button in older versions of PSP. By choosing “Pause the game”, you can pause the game for a long time, and then by clicking on “Resume the game” continue from the paused moment.

Performance and battery life

Although there are some rumors that the PSP Go has acquired a faster chipset that may offer performance benefits in the future, I did not notice any noticeable differences with the PSP 3000 I currently have. Playing in the digital version of Motorstorm: Arctic Edge, loading the game was almost identical on both devices.
Moreover, PSP like the iPhone has never stood out with a large battery. And while the PSP Go uses the same battery as the PSP 2000 and PSP 3000, it’s important to note that the user cannot change it on his own, which means that you cannot have 1 more battery with you to replace it with a further charge. It seems that this was a deliberate step by Sony in the fight against piracy, as in previous PSP models it was possible to replace the battery.
Sony claims that a full PSP Go battery should last between 3 and 6 hours during the game. I managed to squeeze a little over 5 hours in the game Motorstorm: Arctic Edge with brightness at the lowest level, and with a volume level of 25%. Of course, your results may vary depending on the display settings. I was hoping for a longer Go battery life in the closed state, but, unfortunately, it is not very different from the PSP 3000.
I also noticed that on previous PSP models you can manually check the current state of the battery charge, but I could not find this option in the settings of PSP Go. Perhaps the option will appear in subsequent firmware updates 5.7, although the current version of other PSP models is version 6.0.

Accessories

Complete with PSP Go you will receive a charger, a USB cable, Media Go software and an instruction manual. Unlike previous models, PSP Go does not provide a standard mini-USB port. the place of this, everything should be connected through its own port: a network adapter, a USB cable, as well as the aforementioned PSP Go accessory - an AV cable that allows you to watch games and videos on a TV screen.
Media Go firmware allows you to convert most video formats for playback on your PSP Go and can rip audio CDs. The program acts as an intermediary (like iTunes and iPod) between your computer and PSP Go. (Many other programs - such as Format Factory - are also available for converting video in PSP format.)

Conclusion

Liked:

Elegance, slim design, 16 GB of internal memory, memory card slot, Bluetooth, good compatibility with PS3, the ability to get easy access to several downloaded games without the need to keep bulky UMDs on hand, the ability to pause and resume the game.

Did not like:

Expensive, despite the lack of a touch screen and a second analogue., A smaller display size (but the same extension is preserved), inconvenient placement of the joystick, it is not possible to use old PSP accessories, use of the obscure and expensive Memory Stick M2, an irreplaceable battery, slow loading time of “heavy ”Games, the online store is not very convenient (in contrast, for example, from the App Store).

Conclusion:

PSP Go is a small and sexy toy with a new design, but its high price and some minor disappointments mean that there is no need to update your PSP. (At least for now).

As I said in the introduction, PSP Go is a bold move for Sony. In terms of design, this model is the most compact of the PSP family. And it is very attractive, although not without some drawbacks. I will say this: you can either fall in love with this model or hate it (in terms of design). However, its success will largely depend on the software running on it and the number of game developers at Sony to produce more low-cost games with stunning graphics and take full advantage of Go's capabilities.
We also need to see what Sony will offer: PSP Mini services or additional nongaming applications, while making a final decision on switching to Go is difficult. But for now, it's safe to say that this is a sexy toy at an overpriced price of $ 250. And this remains a reality, because at the moment it is very difficult to get people to buy Go, which is limited in the number of games, and few people will agree to this.
Do not draw conclusions like: PSP Go is still under development. Buy it if it strikes your imagination, but make an informed and thoughtful choice. But it is worth remembering that after a while it will cost much less, and perhaps it will be displaced by a new model.
Although, if Sony now drops the price of Go, I would recommend that you buy a PSP Go rather than a PSP 3000.