I got my hands on a completely uncorded and free Vita yesterday. I like all games, regardless of system/developer, and try to be as absolutely unbiased as possible. Here are my honest and as objective-as-possible impressions, if anyone cares to hear them:
I love all gaming. I think fanboyism is as silly as it comes, and roll my eyes when people try to defend a particular publisher or company like its war. For some background, I bought a PSP on launch day, which I eventually had to sell to pay for school. I got a DS that first Christmas, upgraded to a Lite on Day One, and eventually had to sell that for school. I've sense re-bought things, and have a PSP3000 and about 30 games, and a DSiXL with about 10 games, and a 3DS with about 12 games. I recognize that both the 3DS and Vita are going to have their pros and cons, and both are probably going to be worth owning for most any gamer interested in handheld gaming.
Anyhoo...
Was talking to the head of Best Buy's gaming department yesterday, when I asked him when they were going to get a Vita system to play with. He tells me to hold on, goes in back, and brings out a shiny Vita for me to manhandle to my heart's content. Completely wire/cord free.
I tried to make mental note of my impressions, and what struck me, in order, was:
-This thing is LIGHT. So light. It feels solid, and nice. But since it's bigger it *feels* less hefty than the PSP or, heck, even my iPhone (even though that's not the case).
-The analog sticks were kind of disappointing. Sure, dual analog is going to be AMAZING for controls, but the actual sticks themselves were a bit underwhelming. They're small, their range of motion is limited, and they're too loose for my tastes. Plus, the fact that they don't work as buttons when you click down might prove to be a problem down the road.
-The D-pad is incredible. Super nice. I don't much care for fighters; but those of you who do are going to love this pad, I think.
-Other buttons are surprisingly small, but not bothersome at all.
I turned it on... it took a bit longer to boot up than I was expecting. Not long, but a few seconds. For some reason I kind of expected it to be instant. Even putting it to sleep and waking it later on took a second or two. Not a big deal - at all. But yeah...
-The screen is gorgeous. Colors are very vivid, blacks are incredibly dark, and it's plenty bright at the max setting. Games are going to look great on this thing. It's also BIG, but not too big. It's amazing how Sony designed the system so that it's plenty large, but it never seems too large.
-Unfortunately, though, the plastic screen doesn't feel nearly as nice as it looks. It feels like a big step down from many months of using my iPhone 4S. Luckily, though, the OS/screen are very responsive, and is more similar to iOS than the often clunky and hesitating Android. Flipping through pages and making selections was a breeze. This is a big deal to me, and I'm glad to see Sony worked on it.
-But why oh why is the menu so aliased?! I wasn't expecting it at all... but the menus are kinda jaggy. Seems like a silly oversight.
-Stupid speaker placement. Both my hands cover up the speakers.
I then messed with the games that were pre-installed. I played about five minutes of Uncharted, five minutes of WipEout, and just a few seconds of Little Deviants.
-Uncharted is definitely the best looking handheld game, ever, as of right now. It seriously rivals the first game on the PS3, and in some areas, looks even better and closer to UC2. However, there are jaggies. Lots of them. I know, I know... this won't bother some people. But it was certainly disappointing. It's a shame this game couldn't run at the native res. Big disappointment, and a big hit, IMO. That said, controls were very good, the touch screen sections were neat (but entirely unnecessary), and the dialogue seemed as witty as ever.
-Personally, from what I played, it would be Wipeout that would sell me on a launch unit. It's gorgeous looking. 30fps is a bit disappointing, but you quickly stop noticing... and it's definitely easier to overlook than the jaggies on UC. The courses look awesome, the controls are tight, and the music (from what I could barely hear) was pretty nice. Another game that I just don't think could be done on any other handheld (or smartphone).
-Little Deviants looked good - colorful and nice and crisp. But the back touchpad was actually kind of challenging to use. Your (or at least my) body doesn't adjust as easily as I though. And reaching toward the middle of the trackpad is difficult. Seemed like a fun diversion; but probably should be included with every system rather than a $30+ stand alone title. THIS is the kind of game I wouldn't have been surprised to see on the App Store for $4.99.
*****
Conclusion:
The Vita is some seriously lust-worthy hardware. It feels very nice, and the screen is gorgeous. The graphics kick ass, and the touchscreen responsiveness is as good as it needs to be. Dual sticks are going to be wonderful, but I can't help but think Sony could have designed them a bit better. That said, I didn't get a big shit-eating grin on my face like I did the first time I touched and played with a 3DS. Seeing 3D without glasses was one of those "Super Mario 64 moments" for me; where you can't help but think "damn, this is a giant step." That's not to say the Vita isn't impressive - it is. But it's an expected step forward. No doubt smartphones will have just as good of graphics on some games within a year or so. And really, a big part of the Vita's appeal is the graphics. THAT SAID, the fact that it has *real* controls can not be dismissed. PS3 ports, console-spinoffs with zero simplification in controls, a real portable Call of Duty, and new IPs that require several buttons and real joysticks are now all possible in the handheld space. And that's awesome! Very awesome. Sony is giving us something that we may never see again, and so I hope it's a success. But I can't help but think it *might* not be.
It's not in my budget right now, unfortunately. I've been without a job for too long to be able to justify whipping out the credit card. I've toyed with trading in some games... but I did that a bunch in HS and early college and have regretted it many times. If I got a good job tonight, I would unquestionably buy one tomorrow, though. I think it's certainly worth the $250 price tag; though the memory cards are, objectively, way overpriced.
I don't see any reason why I won't have my career going soon. And so long as that's the case, I'll definitely own one by Christmas.
