PSP Owner's Club

[Wycked]

Ugh. Anyone got a PSP-2000 with a busted screen that I can use for parts? I had the corner of my memory stick somehow come off inside the slot, so when I took the stick out and put it back in, it bent up the connections. I think it may be screwed, as my poking and prodding at the stick slot assembly just doesn't seem to get it back to working just right without having to squeeze the system near the d-pad.

This is a pain in the ass, as I just got around to picking up SNK Arcade Classics, and haven't really gotten too far into Patapon 2 yet.

[Gretyl]

Now that this thread's up & running, I think I'll pass on a link to details on the (nigh-confirmed) PSP-Go: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2009 ... e-skus.ars

A digital-only Sony handheld with expandable storage? I could be highly interested for the right price.

[Wycked]

No need for parts anymore. Took the Dremel to the memory stick slot housing, did a little cutting, a little pin bending, and now somehow the memory stick not only works again, but seems to work faster than before.

Considering I now own more PSN games than UMD games, I would also be down for such a system. But 16 gigs isn't gonna cut it. Give me a Pro Duo slot to expand with my 8 gig memory stick, or whatever size they may get up to, and I'm totally down. As long as they start firing those UMD Legacy PSN titles right off the bat, and for a decent price. There are a few titles I'd consider keepers, but I sure as hell don't want to have to buy that second digital copy.

PSN Titles:
Ape Quest (freebie main hub section)
Beats
Castlevania Chronicles
Castlevania SOTN
Flow
Echochrome w/expansion
Everyday Shooter
No Gravity
Patapon 2
PQ
Super Stardust Portable w/expansion
Syphon Filter Combat Ops
Twisted Metal 2
Twisted Metal HO
Ultimate Ghosts & Goblins
Wild Arms
Wipeout Pure w/all North American DLC
Work Time Fun

UMD Titles:
FF7 Crisis Core*
Hot Shots Golf OT2*
Mega Man Powered Up*
N+
SNK Arcade Classics
Space Invaders Extreme*

* - my keepers, but in very poor condition due to flimsy-ass discs

[Gretyl]

You tried the "Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman!" demo that came out this week? That's one of the first PSP digital titles that made me do a double-take.

[Wycked]

(posting from psp at work. new open wifi that reaches the kitchen, whee!) I did, and then I realized that i had played this demo a while back in japanese. now that i understand what the hell is going on, it isn't bad.

[Wycked]

anyone try the rock band unplugged demo yet? being a fan of harmonix's older titles, as well as rock band,i'm buying it.

[Wycked]

So I picked up Rock Band Unplugged and Final Fantasy 7 (PSN).

RBU I really dig. I mean, I got started on Frequency and Amplitude, so combine it with Rock Band and I'm sold. And it's fucking tough... I have yet to get more than 3 stars on anything on expert.

FF7... what can I say, I'm a sucker for it.

Also, if Sony gives us some sort of digital copy option for our UMDs, then I'll be all up in the PSP Go. But as it is... someday I'd like to finish all the missions in Crisis Core, and I just can't bring myself to part with Mega Man Powered Up.

[Wycked]

So... no one else owns a PSP? Nothing to talk about? No one else been having issues with DLC in Rock Band Unplugged?

[nippletwister]

go buy some PSP movies.

[mrchonkie]

i had a psp that i foolishly bought while drunk. then i foolishly sold it when i was low on cash. i now await the new psp so i can get drunk and foolishly buy one of those. is there a street date on it?

[Gretyl]

So... no one else owns a PSP? Nothing to talk about? No one else been having issues with DLC in Rock Band Unplugged?

I might get a PSPgo once it price drops below $200. Might.

[Pokaris]

I've got one. I mostly play like Capcom Reloaded and Genesis Collection on it. I might pick up Gran Tourismo for it when that comes out, but I haven't been super impressed with newer games on it (e.g. God of War).

[Wycked]

Anyone pick up the PSPGo or any of the PSP Minis yet?

I got Tetris, as I vowed to should a Tetris ever grace the PS Store. Seems like EA's done a good job with Tetris, and this one's basically a combination of the Tetris and Tetris Pop you can get on probably any cell phone nowadays. That means you get classic Tetris running on TNT rules (endless flipping, HOLD section), the quick 40-line mode, and 12 other unlockable variant modes. Nice, clean interface and music. And $10.

[nippletwister]

Does it have the Tetris song?

[Wycked]

Seems to have a few different versions.

[Pokaris]

Gran Turismo is definitely worth picking up, I think it looks better than the PS2 one.

[Wycked]

I was interested, but 40 bucks for GT minus career mode, plus the whacked-out calendar-based store, and no DLC equals a no-sale for me.

[aeon grey]

I have a PSP but rarely ever buy games for it. I really enjoy it and it comes in handy often, but the pad of the analog stick fell off and it hurts my thumb incredibly bad at this point. I don't have many great games for it, I only generally pick up a couple a year depending on what kind of gift cards I end up getting around the holidays.

[Gretyl]

Man, that whole lack of UMD->digital program is mega-killing my PSP boner. WTG Sony.

[Wycked]

Yeah, but if they gave users that option, then what would stop everyone from buying the game, copying it, and selling it back or returning it? Or even just pass it along to friends who do the same thing without having to buy the disc in the first place? Retailers would take a hit, and probably buy up a lot fewer copies from Sony. I suppose they could have you purchase a license for your copy through the Store, but you'd probably have to somehow "unlock" or register the disc first. They'd want to make sure you're the only one playing that particular copy.

That said, I'd like some sort of low-cost/free option. I'd very much like to be able to put my copies of Crisis Core and Mega Man Powered Up onto the memory card... as it is, both discs are held together with Scotch tape, and make horrible sounds while played.

[Wycked]

How'd my shit get unstickied?

Also, Little Big Planet on the PSP is the shizzle.

[Gretyl]

How'd my shit get unstickied?

This is a problem easily unfucked.

Also, Little Big Planet on the PSP is the shizzle.

All new story levels? How's its online mode work? Do you see regular LBP levels? Can you team-edit to build a level?

[Wycked]

Yep, all new story levels. It's really just like the ps3 version minus some controls the PSP lacks buttons for (waving arms around, for example). The dev tools are the same for the most part, just seems to be a few bits missing that would probably push the psp just past its limits. Things like lighting, a third layer on the plane of movement, and really really custom shape creation, though the latter seems to be easily gotten around with other options. It's already doing so much as is that I think I can forgive the trimming-down.

The online seems to just be level sharing, either online or directly through ad-hoc. There's already been a software update, and I'm sure as time goes on the game'll get more options.

[Wycked]

I've been hitting the PSN Store pretty hard since coming home from basic, since I'll be allowed my PSP and some other comforts of home while at AIT when I finish. I also wound up getting $70 in PSN gift cards for Xmas, so I made a few purchases. Prepare for a list of mini-reviews... engage.

Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max. This one was a no-brainer. As what seemed like almost an added bonus, since I'm now rocking a 16-gig Mark 2 Pro Duo, loading times are almost completely gone. At some point I'll be going for Samurai Shodown Anthology, and I'm hoping the faster memory stick will alleviate some of the speed issues I've heard about.

Got Final Fantasy 8. That one's more for the wife, I didn't care for 8 enough to play through the 2nd disc.

Also got Mega Man Maverick Hunter X, waiting till I get somewhere with better wifi before I can download it.

I nabbed all 4 tables for Pinball Heroes: PAIN, High Velocity Bowling, Uncharted, and Hot Shots Golf. It's... well, it's pinball. The bowling one has a pretty sweet lounge style going, and the HSG one plays out like a game of golf. The other two are standard pinball. Throw in the achievement lists and online scoreboards, and they're pretty good for $4 apiece.

Pinball Fantasies is okay, it's just a port of the Amiga game of the same name from 17 years ago. The music is grating, and the landscape mode doesn't show the entire table at once, but enough to get the job done. And I swear to god, one of the tables is a direct copy of Epic Pinball's "Crash & Burn," minus the good visuals and sound. Cheap, but I'd go for Pinball Heroes instead.

Brainpipe reminds me of Tempest X3 on the PS1, but without shooting. Another good cheapo, even if all you do is fly down the tunnels avoiding things and collecting others.

Played the demo for Motorstorm: Arctic Edge. Can't say as I'll be going with that one... Think I'd rather have another Burnout title.

[Gretyl]

Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! (do that one next, plz)

[Wycked]

If you wanna buy it for me, sure. I've only played the Japanese (over a year ago) and US demos though, and don't plan on buying it.

It seems cool, the whole creating dungeons and trying to protect the "boss" character... But there's not really anything you can do once the good guys start coming in. You just have to hope your layout works. I always went for lots of turns, very few wide-open rooms, and no split paths. Just one long, winding path. The big rooms would be reserved for areas that tougher enemies seemed to appear and congregate in, so the good guys would wind up attacked on all 4 sides.

That's about it. At the library now, trying to download Mega Man and Samurai Shodown before they close.

[Wycked]

Sadly, a no-go on Samurai Shodown. I was 10 bucks off on the price (30, not 20).

So I went with Burnout Dominator. Same game as the PS2 version, with the obvious graphical limits and a slightly scaled-down soundtrack. But hey, it's EA Trax, you're gonna turn most of it off anyway. It does, however have downloadable content (unfortunately, only 2 tracks), and party play and ad-hoc multiplayer modes. Also, online scoreboards. Online play would've been nice, but oh well.

I loved this game on the PS2, and this version's no different. It took the series back to the classic Burnout 2 style of play, reintroducing Burnout chains and bringing back a single-event mode which was oddly absent from Burnout Revenge(4). Well worth 15 bucks.

And that'll be my last mini-review for a while. I'm heading back to finish up basic training, then it's off to AIT until late March. A list of the PSN games I have, and therefore recommend to you:

Available on UMD or download
LittleBigPlanet
Burnout Dominator (DLC server may no longer be up, have to track it down elsewhere if possible)
Mega Man Maverick Hunter X
Wipeout Pure (If you can find it, the DLC is a must-have; pretty much doubles the size of the game)
Work Time Fun
Ultimate Ghosts N Goblins
Twisted Metal Head On
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max

PSP Minis
Tetris
Brainpipe
Pinball Fantasies

PSNetwork Exclusives
Beats
Echochrome (the add-on level pack is worth it)
Everyday Shooter
flOw
Super Stardust Portable (the extra play modes/soundtracks add-on is definitely worth it)
Syphon Filter: Combat Ops
Pinball Heroes (all 4 tables totally worth the $4 apiece)
No Gravity: The Plague of Mind
Patapon 2

PS1 Classics
Resident Evil Director's Cut
Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 8
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Castlevania Chronicles
Twisted Metal 2
Wild Arms

Peace out!

[Wycked]

So I'm done with basic, now I'm stuck at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri for another month. You could say I'm at AIT, but anyone who's been to FLW knows... you're stuck there. PSPs are the big-ticket item, and thank god there's a Gamestop on post.

Since getting here, I've picked up Dracula: Undead Awakening ($6 PSP Mini) and GTA: Chinatown Wars.

DUA is good. If you liked Smash TV (me) and/or Van Helsing (not me), you'll dig it. Reflex-survival gaming at its finest.

GTACW is good too, if you dug the old-school GTAs, though I plan on beating it and selling it off. I could really care less about multiplayer modes in this style of GTA.

Up next will probably be Half-Minute Hero.

[Wycked]

So I guess I'm temporarily not a member of the club I started! Damned PSP just up and crapped out this morning. Hit the power switch, the power light just flickers once, and that's it. Had to bag and tag it. And I just picked up Prinny before coming home.

Someone buy me a PSP Go.

[Wycked]

PSP replaced a couple weeks ago. Hit up the PSN store!

Charge! Tank Squad is a turd, even for 2 bucks. 3 levels of 1 or 2 player (on the same system, no less) where you control a tank around the screen and defend your base, take out enemy tanks, and destroy the enemy base. 3 levels, 3 types of tanks, that's it. It's worse than anything you could get on a cell phone.

Echoshift is just as addicting and engrossing as Echochrome.

Samurai Shodown Anthology is the shit. Well worth 20 bucks for SS1 through 6, and it runs without a hitch.

[Gretyl]

Half-Minute Hero's supposed to be a good time. True?

[Wycked]

hit and miss with hmh. a couple modes are fun, the rest are mindless button mashing. would've been better as a regular rpg, as it is the levels just go by too quickly to give a shit towards the end.

oh, Let's Golf! is also a good mini. it's like a half-sized hot shots golf, with a bit less customization and no do-the-same-thing-over-and-over tournaments.