The allure of handhelds / Ramblings about handhelds

[JSR]

One week and one day. That's all the time between me and my new, shiny 3DS. Really, really looking forward to it. I even set my meet with my optician up on the same date, so that I can leave work a couple of hours earlier (I will probably be told I have eyecancer or something and not be able to see anything for a week...). So yeah, I think I will like the device.

I buy almost every shiny new piece of electronic released (just ask my PSPgo), especially if I can play games on it. But every handheld I owned, will at some point gather dust. I might get tired of the thing as the graphics can't compare to what the consoles offer, or I might not find anything worthwhile in its games selection (after, handhelds have their own brand of games), or I might just miss the much bigger screen that my TV provides. And every time this happens, I ask myself why I keep pouring money onto the things. I don't think I could live without them however.

I find that there is something very special about handhelds, that make them as appealing as our normal consoles. Firstly the games on the handhelds (except for the PSP) have always had their own flair. Games like Phoenix Wright, Castlevania (the metroidvania ones), Minish Cap, Scribblenauts, Layton or Picross are not available on any of the consoles. But what I like the most, is the feeling of having the entire game world between your hands, and peering through that little windows. I think it makes for a unique experience.

While the thread so far might have sounded like an IGN article (probably written by Greg Miller, what a douche), I really wanted to talk in general about handhelds. What makes them great, why have handheld games so little depth and get away with it, where do you like to play on your handheld, etc.

[vanpeebles]

I hate the way the new PSP is called the NGP. To me that's the Neo Geo Pocket, a superb machine killed by Nintendo shovelware.

[abigsmurf]

You can play handhelds on the loo or in the bath

->Open Spoiler<-

in b4 'omg you play in the bath?!?'

[wakka]

I actually have found that I rarely if ever carry handheld consoles around, but I've gotten a lot of use out of them at home. They really do have a unique charm, it's somehow satisfying how they're often shrunk down, faster paced versions of console games. Like Link's Awakening or the Metal Slug games on the NGPC (^^^agreed, one of the most underrated systems ever - why did no one ever copy the excellent digital stick?!)

[toythatkills]

You can play handhelds on the loo or in the bath

->Open Spoiler<-

in b4 'omg you play in the bath?!?'

I wouldn't dare.

[JSR]

I hate the way the new PSP is called the NGP. To me that's the Neo Geo Pocket, a superb machine killed by Nintendo shovelware.

I think the NGP title might be to steal some of the respect that Neo Geo Pocket has (at least in Japan). They might call it an homage if asked about it, but they know what they are doing.

I want to add that I think the NGP will do pretty much like the PSP. Maybe even poorer due to the widespread adoption of mobile gaming. It's premise is exactly the same:
-The PSP was touted to give you PS2 games on the go, the NGP gives you PS3 games
-Both tried to impress with extreme hardware (for a handheld)
-Both offered way to many multimedia features, that only confuses the average consumer
-Both are too big to be appealing as a "on the bus" device
-Both launched against a simpler Nintendo handheld, which focused on unique gameplay at a more reasonable price

[vanpeebles]

The NGP will always be my main fave having a high ratio of great games to crap followed by the original GB. I think the GB got far more out of its hardware than the GBA or DS.

[nakamura]

I quite like portables. I have played them more in the last 2 years then ever before but that is purely down to the hours I work and playing them there.

There isn't one portable that stands out for me though. The GBA would have been standout, a portable SNES after all but the sound on it was rubbish. The PSP is ok, only becomes amazing when you mod it for me.

[teddymeow]

I don't play on handhelds much. Totally psyched to be able to take home my 3DS next week once it's launched.

I'm also really looking forward to picking up my copy of Okami Den tomorrow.

[Sam The Man]

I want to add that I think the NGP will do pretty much like the PSP. Maybe even poorer due to the widespread adoption of mobile gaming. It's premise is exactly the same:
-The PSP was touted to give you PS2 games on the go, the NGP gives you PS3 games
-Both tried to impress with extreme hardware (for a handheld)
-Both offered way to many multimedia features, that only confuses the average consumer
-Both are too big to be appealing as a "on the bus" device
-Both launched against a simpler Nintendo handheld, which focused on unique gameplay at a more reasonable price

This is all true and i fear that unless Sony launch the PSP2 (NGP) at a good price like ?199.99 (non 3G ver) then they could get off to a bad start and well be looking at another 2nd place as far as the hardware sales is concerned. However it does offer some unique things that the PSP didn't in that it has not only a touch screen on the front but also a touch strip on the back as well as offering dual analogues (proper ones too) which will encourage more FPS on the machine which have been the best selling games of this generation. The dual analogues also allow them to re release old PS2 classics on the machine which would no doubt sell the machine as i for one would love to re play through FF12.

[koopatroopa90]

as well as offering dual analogues (proper ones too)

So long as they are proper ones/decent then I think this will really make the console more appealling - a true PS3 in your rather large pocket.


Used to play handhelds all the time but haven't so much recently. Am hoping the 3DS will buck that trend for me!
For me the Gameboy Micro is not only a great pocket gaming console but a thing of beauty too. Sure the screen's tiny but it is SO portable (especially when coupled with a flash cart with 10 games or so on) and plays very well despite this, whilst being made out of metal with the lovely blue LEDs on the START/SELECT buttons. So many good games too: Advance Wars, The Tower SP, Street Figther, loads of Marios, Mario Kart, Pokemon etc. Wish I hadn't sold my Famicom version but still love my all black version, might have to start playing it again now!

[ShadowDancer]

The NGP will always be my main fave having a high ratio of great games to crap followed by the original GB. I think the GB got far more out of its hardware than the GBA or DS.

Didn't it only have around 40 official UK released games..

As great as that may be, that is pretty short lived.

Its pokemon that sold the GBC at the time that killed the NGPC and not the 'shovelware'

That said, the gameboy is the undisputed champion and I am a massive fan of the pocket colour.

[Decider-VT]

Not a huge fan of handhelds but I'm giddy over the Pandora. It's going to take an incredible amount of willpower to not spend the money I had earmarked for the 3DS on one.

[crazymadone]

Didn't it only have around 40 official UK released games..

As great as that may be, that is pretty short lived.

Indeed and I reckon close to half of them were fighting games and at least 5 were gambling titles.

Might have some appeal to the Japanese but you really can see why it didn't appeal to the Western mass market.

Saying that there are some fantastic titles aside from the (mostly excellent) fighters.. Sonic, Slugs, Turfmasters. There really aren't many bad titles for it but the third party support was dire.

And to date the only platform I can think of where we didn't draw the short straw on the packaging/boxes

[importaku]

Love handheld gaming, something great about having a portable console with a huge library of games to choose from.

Mine get regular use both at home & when im out but i never play on the bus as my journey is too short but i do use it on the train when i travel & every break & lunchtime at work. One thing about porables is the games, sure theres ports & cut down version of full home console games but theres also games made that are exclusive to handhelds that would never appear on a home console. Thats what makes them good as if you stuck to home only consoles you would miss out on quite a lot of those games.

The DS has been one awesome console, so many great games that it has become my fave handheld so far. The 3DS has a lot of work if it wants to beat it.