PSP Go Impressions and verdict

Dan Richardson

Basically, over the last few years Sony have released multiple hardware tune ups, but the PSP Go is the most radical model released since the original PSP phat. In a controversial move Sony have removed the UMD drive- the part that plays PSP disks and movies- instead forcing users to buy all of their games off of the Playstation Network Store and keep them on the unit’s internal 16gb flash drive or external memory stick.

As a result the unit is much sleeker with a smaller form factor. As you can see the Go is now even smaller than the DS Lite- to the extent that the device’s thickness is actually the same as the Lite with the clamshell open. This is really one of the first consoles (bar Game Boy Micro) that could fit in nearly anyone’s pocket, and the fact that everything is stored internally means that you don’t have to lug games around with you. This alone made the Go a must buy for me over the other version of the PSP at the moment, the 3000.

Due to the smaller form, however, users with large hands could be finding that the controls might be too cramped for them, especially for extended periods of use. I have had no such problems, but you might want to try a unit out beforehand if this could be a problem. This really is as small as I would ever want such a complicated portable games console to get, as any smaller and you would risk forgoing usability. For me the Go is the perfect compromise between style and function.
Another potential problem, however, is the fact that the PSP now uses its own proprietary cable for everything from charging the battery to data transfer. While this means that the Go isn’t over encumbered with unsightly ports for different connections, it does mean that if you lose this one cable then you’ll no longer be able to use a standard USB. Until third parties are allowed to produce the cables, users who lose them are likely to be charged over the odds for replacements.

Due to the fact that the Go has no way of playing physical copies of games, you’d hope that the software for downloading the digital equivalent would be fairly decent. Luckily Sony have gone to great lengths to ensure that transferring data to and from the PSP is super intuitive with the inclusion of Media Go. This program not only lets you transfer music albums, movies, photos, game saves and whole PSP titles to and from multiple machines but also lets you surf the Playstation Store. It even lets you subscribe to podcast RSS feeds and updates your PSP with the latest episodes every time you plug it in. It actually functions as a decent media player and I found myself preferring its interface which, while not as polished, is more intuitive to use than iTunes (bonus points for Media Go due to the fact that it recognises the band Tool- iTunes doesn't know who the fuck they are).  Due to this software it is feasible to use the Go as your primary media player, and, better still, it works with all models of PSPs- not just the Go.

The screen on the Go is fantastic- even though it is slightly smaller the resolution has remained the same as the PSP 3000, making the image ultra crisp. You can clearly see that Sony’s speciality is in making screens, as every image and movie really ‘pops’.
Unfortunately the speakers don’t live up to the screen’s standards and are pretty tinny. If you’re going to play extensively investing in a good set of headphones is a good idea, as the PSP has far superior sound processing to other handhelds. Playing with the built in speakers is a waste.

Although the offer during the launch window where buyers could get Gran Turismo PSP for free when they buy a Go has ended, if you already own an older model (or know someone who does- slightly cheeky) you can bag yourself 3 full free game downloads which is well worth a look. If this applies to you then the PSP Go is probably worthy of a purchase for first time PSP owners, but for gamers who already have a UMD collection it isn’t worth the price tag since they can’t be transferred and would simply have to be bought again.

The PSP go is available for £199 on most good websites or £225 on the high street. I give it a thumbs up for people looking for their first Playstation Portable.

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