Hands-On With the PSP-3000 41
Eurogamer got a chance to take a look at Sony's latest hardware revision for the PSP. Their overall impression of the new model is positive, finding that a redesigned screen offers noticeably better graphics and higher brightness without affecting battery life. They also say the button pads may be slightly different, and the unit comes with useful firmware upgrades.
"Elsewhere, our side-by-side comparison of the current PSP/PSP-2000 firmware, 4.05, and the new 4.20 firmware on the PSP-3000 reveals a 'USB Auto-Connect' option, which promises to automatically switch the handheld to USB mode when a cable is connected. It will do this from anywhere on the XMB, but it won't interrupt gameplay. ... The new-model PSP also allows you to play games on a TV by hooking it up with a special adapter (sold separately) and a composite cable, whereas the old one would only allow composite cables to display video, with gaming reserved for component output."
Re:Custom Firmware (Score:5, Informative)
*Adjust the CPU/GPU clock, with separate settings for games and XMB. This makes a huge difference to the smoothness of a lot of games.
*More brightness levels for the screen while in battery mode.
*Allows you to back up your UMD games over USB to ISO files.
*Allows the use of ISOs without needing the UMD (cures loading time issues with games)
*Emulators! Almost everything up to and including the Playstation is emulated at full speed. SNES, GBA, Mega Drive, Neo-Geo, CPS1, you name it. For me this makes it the best console I've ever had, handheld or otherwise.
*Selectable region for UMD movies.
*Tons of other stuff homebrew developers have made; demoscene stuff, email programs, there's even a port of Cave Story!
Re:Custom Firmware (Score:3, Informative)
I opted to use the tool, it's extremely easy and it only takes a few minutes. Check out this thread on SA [somethingawful.com] for very helpful instructions and some homebrew links.
Re:Custom Firmware (Score:4, Informative)
it's pretty much impossible to permanently brick your PSP nowadays. even if you do something stupid like turn off the PSP while flashing the firmware, you can unbrick it with a Pandora's battery.
right now i mostly use my PSP to read ebooks, listen to audiobooks (i find the PSP's built-in media player too basic for use as a music player), or play PSX games. and with CFW, you don't need to repurchase your PSX games from the playstation store. you can just rip your discs onto your hard drive and convert them into POPS format.
but even if you choose not to go with CFW, i would recommend these under appreciated lesser-known titles:
Bounty Hounds - a very well executed sci-fi Action-RPG with stunning graphics and equally great gameplay. the PSP has suffered a dearth of sci-fi RPGs since its launch, so Bounty Hounds is certainly a welcome addition.
Field Commander - a fun turn-based strategy game similar in theme to Command & Conquer, but without having to mine for resources.
Warhammer 40,000: Squad Command - probably one of the most underrated and original strategy games for the PSP. Squad Command, as its name suggests is centered around squad tactics and is set in the gritty WH40K universe. it's almost like a hybrid of Killzone: Liberation and an SRPG.
S.W.A.T. Target Liberty - admittedly, this game isn't for everyone. it's really more of a S.W.A.T. sim than a shooter. and unlike typical shooters, you're rewarded points based on how many people you save (including suspects) rather than how many you kill, which makes it far more challenging than the average run and gun shooter. you'll have to be resourceful, think tactically, and make use less-than-lethal weapons such as flashbangs, smoke grenades, tasers, pepper ball rounds, rubber bullets, C2 charges, etc.
and i know you said you don't like Japanese games, but i think others might enjoy these particular import titles:
Gundam Battle Tactics/Royale/Chronicle/Universe - whether you're into Gundam or not, the Gundam Battle series contains some of the best original titles developed exclusively for the PSP. i personally much prefer the Gundam Battle series to Armored Core: Formula Front.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Rengou vs. Z.A.F.T. - Gundam video games have always been notoriously bad, which makes it even more ironic that the PSP has two great Gundam series. well, this one is actually a port of an arcade series, but the original experience seems to have brought over fully intact. Federation vs. ZAFT really pushes the graphical capabilities of the PSP, and the game is much faster-paced than the Gundam Battle series. you'll need to find an online menu translation if you want to try this import though, as its menus are pretty much entirely in Japanese. but the intense gameplay and stunning graphics are definitely worth the effort.
Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai/Shin Budokai 2 Another Road - this is a cell shaded 3D fighting game based on the DBZ series. the fighting system isn't as deep as, say, Tekken or SoulCalibur, but that also makes it easier to pick up and get into. the automatic camera movements make the action much more dramatic and also make you feel like you're watching the anime series.
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness - this really isn't an underrated title like the others, but it is a translated Japanese SRPG. the reason i'm mentioning Disgaea is because it's simply one of the best games for the PSP, and if you haven't bought it yet, you need to do so immediately. forget Final Fantasy Tactics or Jeanne D'Arc. if you like SRPGs, you need this.
honestly, there have been a ton of great games released for the PSP, you just have to look around and find some non-mainstream game review sites. heck, there are a ton of big mainstream titles that are pretty fun too, but there are simply too many to list. anyone still complaining about the PSP lacking good games either isn't looking, or perhaps they should have bought a different console.
Re:Custom Firmware (Score:2, Informative)
Nobody gives a crap about any of those, not even the publishers. They're abandonware. The GBA or PSX games are the only ones that even come close to warez.
It's pretty hard to classify something as abandonware when anyone with a wii can purchase it for a fair price...