Where can you even begin with the Vita? It is an excellent yet overlooked piece of gaming hardware. It is phenomenally powerful and great at what it does. If you're a fan of games and are looking to try something new then look no further. The Vita is likely a good candidate for your next portable platform.
It will also be very interesting to see how Sony will implement the PS4's capabilities into allowing the Vita to become the ultimate second screen. All PS4 games will be able to be streamed from the PS4 directly to the Vita. As more information comes going into the next gen the Vita is sure to only get more exciting.
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At First Glance (Buttons, Sticks, and Touchscreens):
On the surface the Vita is a very sturdy piece of hardware. The face buttons all work great as well as the dual analog sticks. I was hesitant to believe the sticks would be good at first. As it turns out though, the dual analog sticks on the Vita are awesome just like everything else and are very precise. The rear and front touch screens also work well. Some games feel a little off but its no fault of the screen itself. The cameras (front and rear) on the Vita aren't exactly anything notable but they aren't particularly bad either.
Battery Life:
I've been getting about 4-5 hours of play time out of one charge. So the battery definitely isn't anything bad considering the quality of games the Vita is putting out. Indoors, it is fine to play most games with the screen on the lowest brightness. The only game I found that to be difficult with was Assassin's Creed III Liberation. The Vita also has great battery life when in sleep mode. I've had it in standby for as long as two days without too much of a hit to the battery. Definitely not something I could say about my phone!
The Screen, Pros and Cons:
The OLED screen is arguably the best feature with the device as the colors it produces are incredible. Images are sharp and clear and games and videos look amazing on it. See it for yourself and its likely you'll be sad that Sony is doing away with it in the next hardware revision in favor of a cheaper LCD screen.
There is no real downside to the OLED screen other than perhaps a slight decrease in battery life. It's beautiful but many Vita owners were confused by black spots or areas appearing on black screens. It's nothing major and doesn't affect anything visible when the screen isn't black, it's simply the mura effect of the OLED screen not to be confused with burn in. It's something you will inevitably notice should you pick up a Vita but it isn't anything to worry about.
Menus and Interface:
Originally, I had heard that the Vita's interface was cluttered and clunky. This was very far from the truth. The interface is not that much different than your typical smartphone. The bubbles can be rearranged in any order you like and multitasking on the Vita is very easy.
Memory Cards:
This is where Sony got everybody. The memory cards for the Vita have their own proprietary format and they are expensive. Good news is that they are dropping in price and they are also available for lower prices used. Shop around and you may find a deal. I predict the prices will fall again once the 64GB card hits NA sometime early next year.
Games:
But of course, we cannot forget the number one misconception surrounding the device....
"Vita Has No Games!"
Well you couldn't be any more wrong. While the Vita's current library consists of a lot of console ports they are particularly good ports. Currently I own and have played two ports: The Walking Dead and Need for Speed Most Wanted. The Walking Dead by comparison to the PS3 version has considerably less frame rate issues and Need for Speed is solid aside from super small text. The quality really does feel like a portable PS3. The graphics remain solid, as do the controls.
On top of that there are of course exclusive games that are well worth playing...
Killzone: Mercenary
Mercenary is a new release that just came out this month. The critics are seriously taking a dump on this game for some reason because its being compared to PS3 and 360 titles across all sites. This game seriously redefines the portable FPS experience and the user reviews show it. Mercenary runs off Killzone 3's Engine and it shows. While the game's visuals cannot be compared to the obviously stronger console counterpart the game truly does shine in every aspect. The multiplayer is downright addictive and the game while somewhat short offers a lot of replay value.
Persona 4 Golden
Persona 4 Golden is a remake of PS2's Persona 4. While it is still technically a port, it is exclusive to the Vita. For me, this was the game that sold me the system and after over 50 hours played, I have no regrets. The game will last a long time and gives great replay value with its NG+ system and new added content. P4G is an awesome JRPG with Pokemon-esque take turn combat. The story is fantastic and the characters are great enough to give you the feeling like you're taking part in that world. P4G is one of those games you'll likely be thinking about even when you're not playing it.
But of course these are just a couple titles in a long list of games. However, I only chose to look at the games I've actually played. As far as exclusives go don't forget Gravity Rush, Wipeout 2048, Soul Sacrifice, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Unit 13, and many more. Many of which can be downloaded FREE through Playstation+ right now.
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The future of this system is looking to be very promising as long as more quality titles continue to be released. If you're a fan of gaming you're only hurting yourself by not owning one of these devices. The Vita truly does make the PSP look like child's play.
Sony said it is going to be a 10 year life cycle for the Vita. Hardware wise the Vita is the best handheld to ever hit the market. Only time will tell if it will live up to its full potential. If you get one there's no way you can be disappointed, if you were on the fence but have the money consider getting one, especially if you already have PS+.
Verdict:
+ High Quality Console Experiences on the Go
+ Beautiful 5" OLED Screen. (16:9, 960x544)
+ Great Face Buttons, Touch Controls and Analog Sticks
+ Intuitive User Interface
+ Great Network Capabilities
+ Great Integration with Playstation+
+ NO Region Lock
- Expensive Memory Cards
- Needs More Vita Exclusive Titles
9/10
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