The PSP Go has received a lot of flak ever since Sony first introduced the device, along with its planned pricing. Now that it’s out, that tune hasn’t changed. It’s still overpriced, and Sony’s marketing hats aren’t doing enough to change that perception.
Not that it’s a bad piece of tech. On the contrary, the PSP Go is a great-looking and compact device, much better, in many ways, than its numerous predecessors. The hardware is well-designed, with a smooth sliding mechanism, small but comfortable controls and responsive buttons. Because of the size, it’s actually the first PSP Go that is actually portable, unlike the unpocketable slabs the previous iterations used to be.
The smaller 3.8-inch screen (compared to 4.3 inches from the 3000) manages the same 480 x 272 pixel resolution as the previous PSP 3000. Games, websites and movies look gorgeous on the display, with bright colors and sharp images. Battery lasts for a good four and a half hours of continuous use, which is pretty acceptable.
Sony gave up UMD support in exchange for digital distribution. While definitely a welcome change, it means you can’t play your old media on the device anymore if you’re upgrading. Even worse, Sony isn’t providing a means for users to download games they previously bought on a UMD. You’re basically out on your own, with no means to bring your favorite titles over.
Onboard storage is ample at 16GB, with support for Memory Stick Micro card expansion. It also comes with Wi-Fi connectivity and Bluetooth support, but abandons the mini-USB, so that’s a mixed bag.
At a $250 price, the only reason to buy a PSP Go is if you find the reduced size an absolute necessity. The larger PSP 3000, which can play both UMD and PS Store downloads, is only $170. While hardware performance does appear to be a bit better, it’s not enough to warrant inheriting all the baggage Sony decided to burden it with.
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