PSP vs NDS

[Thanee]

I'm pondering buying one of those in the near future, but havn't really looked into the capabilities of each (or are there even other options?), yet.

I don't have (or have used) any recent console... the closest is a NES emulator.

So, what are the pros and cons here, and which would be the better choice overall.


It's mostly for some fun games while traveling and such. Maybe watching a movie during a long train ride (though I also have a laptop for that). I don't need it to play music (my walkman mobile is quite capable of that).

Game types of interest are mostly:

- roleplaying games (preferably non-anime)
- action roleplaying games
- rts games
- strategy/tactical games
- maybe some fun jump'n'run or fighting game

Which has (likely) the better support for these genres, if there's a difference even?

Bye
Thanee

 

[John Crichton]

The DS has a superior selection of games and covers all the genres you mentioned. Access to the GBA library is a big deal here. Both are lacking in RTS games (more the domain of the PC) but there are a ton of RPGs on the DS, especially if you include the GBA games, which include the redone Final Fantasy games from the NES/SNES era.

The only question I have would be how strong your desire to watch movies is on this device? Only the PSP can do that. The advantages to the PSP is the screen is beautiful, can play movies and is getting better and better games, including lots in the RPG & action/RPG genres.

In all, I'd check a site like www.gamespot.com and see which titles catch your eye the most looking at what is available now and what will be out by the end of this year. I own both and have played them an equal amount of time.

I am also addicted to Lumines (PSP). The DS doesn't have a game that touches it.

 

[ThirdWizard]

I am also addicted to Lumines (PSP). The DS doesn't have a game that touches it.

Meteos?

 

[GlassJaw]

DS ftw.

 

[John Crichton]

Meteos?

A fun game, for sure. But not better than Lumines in my eyes.

 

[Arnwyn]

- roleplaying games (preferably non-anime)
- action roleplaying games
- rts games
- strategy/tactical games
- maybe some fun jump'n'run or fighting game

Which has (likely) the better support for these genres, if there's a difference even?

What John Crichton said.

The DS currently has the great number of variety of games (even if they don't use the DS's "features" and would have been far better served to be on the PSP instead *cough*Final Fantasy III*cough*) thanks to it's much larger installed base in Japan (where almost all of the DS games, and all of its AAA titles, are coming from). It's also cheaper, despite the PSP's recent price drop. As it stands right now, the DS is the superior option for both number and variety of games (including most of your list, above).

Fighting games (and jump'n'run games, like Mega Man, the Metal Slug Anthology, etc), OTOH, are all PSP...

(For me, the DS was my first choice; even though I despise the touch screen and that idiotic microphone, the games coming out are the one's I'm more interested in: Final Fantasy III [the sole reason I bought the DS], Children of Mana, Mario Kart DS, and the upcoming Final Fantasy Tactics A2, Dragon Quest IX, Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings, etc.)

 

[Thanee]

Thanks for the input! I'll spend some time browsing for available games to see what looks cool.

Bye
Thanee

P.S. I guess I can see why RTS doesn't quite work well on consoles... no mouse.

 

[GoodKingJayIII]

P.S. I guess I can see why RTS doesn't quite work well on consoles... no mouse.

Funnily enough, the upcoming Heroes of Mana for the DS is an RTS that will employ the touch pad for most of its control scheme.

 

[trancejeremy]

I have both. I own 27 PSP games, and 1 DS game (though I've had more, most were adventure games that I sold once I finished). So I would recommend the PSP myself.

IMHO, the PSP has the edge in RPGs, including a whole lot of action rgps. Untold Legends 1 & 2, Dungeon Siege, 3 super hero games (X-men Legends 2, Marvel Superheroes, Justice League), plus upcoming ones like Valhalla Knights, Alien Syndrome, and Oblivion (if it ever comes out). And in more traditional RPGs it's pretty decent, although from the western side, it's only got a few (Lord of the Rings tactics and the upcoming D&D Tactics most notably). But the DS doesn't have any non-Japanese RPGs (although Bioware is apparently working on one)

The DS has the edge in strategy games and adventure games. Particularly the latter.

I would actually dispute that the DS has variety. It has more games, but a lot of the games are actually non-games, "So and such training" and kiddie stuff, like Hannah Montana and "Petz Vetz".

 

[TwistedBishop]

I would actually dispute that the DS has variety. It has more games, but a lot of the games are actually non-games, "So and such training" and kiddie stuff, like Hannah Montana and "Petz Vetz".

I partially agree with that. The ratio of good games on each system is actually much closer than people tend to give the PSP credit for. It's quanity of games that the DS has, between drawing on the GBA library and all the development being done for it currently.

In the end, you have to go where the games you want to play are.