Massive PSP2 gameplay showreel: Definitely not pocket PS3, but definitely good enough

And they're right to do that clamouring. For whatever claims your press release touts, whatever lumps of fancy-named silicon you have under the hood, and however many times you carelessly spout hollow twatspeak like"revolution" or "paradigm shift", your console doesn't really exist until it has a decent amount of game contentto show off. And now the PSP2 (oh come on, Sony, you know that's what you'll default to) has.

Does it live up to the "PS3 in your pocket" claimsmade by so many excitable giddy-goats?No. But superficially at least,it's not far off. Is that enough to make a successful handheld? It remains to be seen. Have a look and lemee know what you think.

Despite using the kind of hatefully aspirational pop-rock soundtrack that leaves one aspiring only to global genocide, it's a pretty good showreel. You'll notice that even with the increased power, Sony is being very careful to minimise full-screen direct feed footage, preferring the more flattering look of shrunk-down, windowed video. It's like lens vaseline for the wrinkly starlet that is handheld gaming. Or the slightly jaggy Chimera with lightly washed-out textures, if you prefer a more literal description.

Whatever, it's some impressive eye candy for a handheld machine, and it should look great once the full effect of small-screen smoke and mirrorshits your hands. But what do you think of the game line-up? Is this the sort of stuff you buy a handheld for? Does the ground-pokinginventiveness of Little Deviants convince you that a back touch-panel is a worthwhile addition? Or do you still not get why anyone would want to play Uncharted without a sofa and a big TV in tow?

Feb 2, 2011

David Houghton
Long-time GR+ writer Dave has been gaming with immense dedication ever since he failed dismally at some '80s arcade racer on a childhood day at the seaside (due to being too small to reach the controls without help). These days he's an enigmatic blend of beard-stroking narrative discussion and hard-hitting Psycho Crushers.