![]() ![]() ![]() When Sony first demonstrated the Vita, it seemed as though it had created a handheld video game console with touchscreen elements. It’s a useless addition because it's definitely inferior to browsing with your smartphone. It’s about as functional here as it was on the PSP – which is to say not very much at all. Short of factory resetting the system, there is no way to share multiple accounts on one Vita like you can on a PlayStation 3.The Vita also includes a web browser. When you log into your PlayStation Network account on the Vita, your account is connected to that Vita. Checking these things doesn’t interrupt your game it just slows you down, so it’s a small complaint. This means there is no quick way to check trophies, friends lists, or messages. To multitask, you have to pause a game, close the software, and then open the other app. In regard to software that can be run simultaneously, there is no XMB like the PSP and the PlayStation 3. You can’t do things like begin playing a game on a cartridge, and then open a game on the memory card, however, which is fine because I don’t foresee a need to have multiple games -running at once. ![]() Some of the assorted applications can run simultaneously, such as games and the trophy viewer application. Removing the application shortcuts is instantly understandable and executable with no tutorial. These shortcuts can be removed by simulating a peeling motion from the top of the screen to the bottom left. When you open an application, a shortcut is created that can be reached by swiping the screen to the left. They can be moved around, but cannot be bundled or organized in any other fashion. Visually, apps are displayed as circular discs that resemble bubbles. The menus should look familiar to most smartphone users, as every available piece of software gets its own specific application. The Vita does beat the 3DS by the large margin, however, offering longer continuous play and a longer sleep time, even with a paused game in progress. The Vita tuckers out after about four to five hours of continuous play, which is on par with the PSP but far below the DS battery life. Jumping between the X button and the right control stick may prove difficult to gamers with larger hands. The one minor downside of the control sticks is their close proximity to the d-pad and the face buttons. They sit close enough to the system’s surface that they don’t feel like they will catch on things when the device is hastily stuffed into a backpack or pocket. They lack the same range of movement and don’t double as buttons when pressed, but they feel perfect for the handheld system. These sticks aren’t replicas of those on the PlayStation 3 controller, but they’re close. It also makes you forget you are playing a handheld. The importance of the built-in dual control sticks cannot be understated it’s the primary element that sets the Vita apart from the PSP, the 3DS (which only offers a second analog stick via a peripheral), and game-friendly mobile phones. Thankfully, this design doesn’t hinder the responsiveness. The d-pad has the same satisfying click of the face buttons, but where the DualShock 3 breaks the d-pad into four separate buttons, the Vita has one solid piece of plastic with no separation. The shoulder buttons feel more similar to the later PSP models, offering the slight illusion of a trigger without actually having it. The face buttons click responsively but lack the soft, pressure-sensitive push of the PlayStation 3 buttons. Though it has a similar layout, the buttons feel different compared to the DualShock 3 controller. It doesn’t dig into your palms, and the chassis is rounded on the sides so there are no uncomfortable sharp edges. It’s larger than any of the other competing handheld devices (including mobile phones), but it’s never unwieldy. The sleek and sturdy Vita feels great in your hands. Video playback looked great on the screen as well. During my review I saw no hints of ghosting or tearing, frequent problems on the PSP. The fact that the image quality is even in the neighborhood of the high-powered console is an incredible feat in and of itself. The graphical fidelity is markedly better than the PSP and PlayStation 2, but not quite on the same level as the PlayStation 3. Though it doesn’t have the resolution of the iPhone 4’s Retina display, this five-inch, 960x544 resolution OLED screen still delivers bright, colorful, and stunning visuals. The screen is the first thing you will notice about the Vita, and understandably so. Is Sony’s new handheld gaming platform worth the price of admission? We break down its performance and hand out a final grade in anticipation of the February 22 release. ![]()
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