Nintendo DS vs Sony PSP part 2

 

In the next portion of this series of articles, I'll be looking at each individual aspect of the systems. The system that is overall better in that category gets 1 point. I won't be concluding which console is better just by looking at the scores, so if one console ends up with a higher score overall, that doesn't mean it's actually better.

Design:

The design of the console is one of the most important things to think about when comparing the console. For starters, both consoles are modeled nicely. The DS has a square-shaped feel to it. It doesn't feel bad, but in really challenging games, it can get pretty uncomfortable.
The PSP, on the other hand, is rounded on the edges, meaning it's easier to grip. While it may seem like I'm try to say the PSP is better, the PSP as a whole is very fragile. Just a couple drops could break it. also, there's nothing to cover the screen, so, unless you purchase a screen protector or some other device. But, while the DS can be uncomfortable at times to hold, it has a clam-shell design, meaning it can close itself to keep it's screen(s) clean. While the PSP may be more comfortable to hold, when you take consideration of the sturdiness of the devices, there is no competition.
The DS wins this one, hands down. There's no competition here, folks.

Winner: DS

Controls:

Here's where things get complicated. As I stated earlier, the PSP is more comfortable then the DS, but, other than that, there isn't much different about them. Both systems have a control pad, four face buttons on the front of the device, two shoulder buttons on the top of the device, and a Start and Select button. Earlier models of the PSP are horrendous. The control pad is so close to the base of the device, meaning it's nearly impossible to use in side-scrolling games. Fortunately, later models of the PSP have fixed this. I would almost say that the PSP 3000 models have a better control pad than the DS, but that's just my opinion.
However, both devices have their own methods of input. The DS has two screens, and the one on the bottom is a touch screen, meaning nearly endless possibilities for game developers. The PSP doesn't have a touch screen(or a second screen, for that matter.), but there IS an analog nub on the bottom-left of the system, meaning more precise three-dimensional movement in games.
It is nice that the PSP has an additional method of directional input, but the DS touch screen has so many more possibilities.

Winner: DS

Battery Life:

This one is also pretty hard. The DS can hold about 4-6 hours of charge, while the PSP holds only 2-3 hours worth. On the other hand, the DS take about 4 hours to fully charge, while the PSP can rejuice itself in about 90 minutes. This is a really tough one to give a proper comparison, so I'll leave this at a draw.

Winner: Tie

To be continued in part 3.

-GadgetJax