When people think of the ultimate gaming device on the go, a couple devices come to mind usually. The Steam Deck (Which I still love despite what I’m going to say in this blogpost), The ROG Ally, the Nintendo Switch, even your phone but to me the ultimate device is going to be the PlayStation Portable (1000 version to be specific).
That statement might raise a few questions, why would a portable gaming device from 2005 be the ultimate device for gaming on the go in 2024? I’ll give you a few reasons why number one which to me is the most important is portability. As much as I like the Steam Deck and Switch they aren’t very good for spur of the moment on the go gaming, you usually have to pull it out of its case and get all set up which takes maybe only a couple minutes but then in my mind I really have to commit to wanting to play something especially in public.
Which the PSP all I’ve got to do is take it right out of my pocket and flip a switch then boom I’m back into my game where I left off. The other portable device are just too damn big, with my PSP I can just shove it in a pocket and carry it around very easily.
Another reason I love the PSP is the layout. With the other portable gaming options controls can feel a little clunky and holding the thing and become tiresome (especially with the Steam Deck). But the PSP is super light and the controls are very compact but feel great except for most first person shooters which can be a little rough but Metal Gear Peace walker plays like a dream to me.
Which brings me to my next point the games. There are some FANTASTIC titles on the PSP, Metal Gear, Tons of Racing Titles, Little big Planet, and many many more which I wont cover but yeah its got some amazing titles to choose from. But if the base catalog doesn’t suit your needs you’ll be happy to know this thing is easy as hell to homebrew and can emulate some PS1, Gameboy Advance, SNES, and other consoles quite well on the go. There’s also some other cool things the PSP can do once homebrewed like movies on the go and much more. There’s a whole scene testing the limits of what this thing can do so give it a look if you’re interested.
I think my final points for getting a PSP is the aesthetic and price. I think this thing is aesthetically gorgeous and you will look super cool in public if you pull one of these out and starting doing a little gaming while you’re on the bus or in a shop. And you can usually pick these things up pretty cheap. If you want the best experience I’d recommend either modding or buying a pre-modded IPS screen for it as the base display can be a little lacking especially after all these years. The IPS mod brings it back into the modern era and looks stunning.
So yeah, save the money on grabbing a Switch or a Steam Deck that’s just going to sit around and get yourself a PSP!