As someone who is a bit older than most active video game fanatics, I have experienced the "back in the day" systems of NEO GEO and the Original Game Boy. These always brought me a lot of joy as a youth, and I still think fondly back to those black and white hours worth of gaming with Tetris. In just twenty or so years, the leap in technology and capabilities of hand held systems has been astounding, and a year ago I purchased the Nintendo DS. While I was fairly impressed with it, I have been truly blown away by the Sony PSP, which I bought a couple of months ago. The PSP 2000 is my favorite video gaming system, and I like it even better than the larger PS2 console, which I have owned since it was released.

The PSP that I bought was the Gods of War-Chains of Olympus edition, which is a bundle sold for $199.00 USD. It is bright red, which makes it much easier to find, and has an attractive piece of artwork on the back of the games main character Kratos. For this price, which is substantially more than a DS, I also received the excellent video game, as well as the UMD movie Superbad, a lithium ion battery, an AC adaptor, and AC power cord. At first I balked at the idea of paying this much money for a handheld video game system, but that changed after I tried a demonstration set at my local electronics store. My only major complaint on what does not come with it, is that you have to purchase the memory card separately. This is not a big deal if you buy a used one, which I did for around $15, but it would be reasonable to expect at least a meagerly capable one as part of a bundle.

Its hard to believe that a handheld system that weighs only under half a pound, could have so much capabilities, but this is the pantheon of all these smaller systems. It fits comfortably in your hands, although this light weight will almost have you scared enough to grip it quite tightly. Its ergonomic build allows you to easily access all controls, with the buttons being properly spaced, and not requiring a lot of force to use them. While some might find the start/select, and volume control buttons to be a bit on the smallish side, I like how they are at the bottom, and that they don't interfere with gameplay.

The graphics are incredible, and I have been dazzled by the game that came with the system. It is comparable to a PS2, and the 4.3 inch 480x272 pixel screen is crystal clear. There is no blurrying of colors, that sometimes happens with the DS, and even quick movements will not interfere with this high level of quality. If you like sporting games, which are my favorite, you will be impressed by how it looks like you are in the middle of the action. Everything looks realistic, and it is easy in fighting games to see which move you need to make, due to this clarity that I have not been able to see on other handheld systems.

The sound is great as well, and if you are in a public place, I would recommend using headphones. A lot of handhelds don't seem to be able to deliver appropriate sound volume, but the PSP handles this with ease. The volume controls are on the lower part of the console, and at full blast, it is excellent for movies and video games. The speakers generate sound that is clear, and there is no tin quality that has been almost acceptable with other handheld systems. Although not Bose quality, it is great for jamming to music as well, and on a bus trip for church our youth enjoyed playing their "music" on it.

The game library is fantastic for the PSP, with several hundred games to choose from. The best part about the games on this are the graphics and sound, but sometimes it can take awhile to load them up. Some of the more extensive sporting selections, such as Fight Night Round 3 and Madden Football, can take several minutes to get started. There are some delays during parts of these games, but they are not so long that they will make you frustrated. It is more of an annoyance, and I'm hoping that for their next generation PSP, they will find a way to incorporate a faster processor.

If you like movies, there are plenty of them in Universal Media Disc format to choose from. Retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City sell them, and they usually range between $9-$19 new. The best deals can be found at used video game stores, and I've been able to build a large selection of PSP movies for around $5-$8 each. Although watching a movie on PSP will not take your breath away, like a 52" LCD with blue-ray will, it is a pleasant experience. The movies have been formatted for the small screen, and it is a great way to pass the time on a road trip or rainy day. The screen provides that clarity for movies as well as it does for games, and the sound is perfect.

My major disappointment is the web browser, which reminds me of what I had on my cellphone about five years ago. It takes FOREVER to get to a website, and you might as well forget going to one with a lot of information to load up. It has a hard time in fully loading up webpages, and while it might be useful to find a quick phone number or establishment address, it is a poor choice for getting on the internet. Another less major fault I have found is the battery life, and I guess I'm somewhat sympathetic about this, because of its high level of capabilities. I've found that the battery lasts about five hours with a full charge, and sometimes a bit less when playing engaging video games. It also does not give you much of a warning when its going to shut off, as there is no chime or other annoying noise to let you know that this is going to happen. All you have as a warning is the green light on the lower right hand side, and if it blinks, then it is time to start charging it. Its cool that you can still play while charging, so be sure to have it plugged in on a regular basis to keep the battery power up.

The PSP has some minor faults, but I think it is the best gaming system there is for the handheld category. It is much better than the DS, and worth the extra $50-$70, because it is truly much more advanced. In addition to all of its capabilities, it is also quite durable, and mine has survived two rather unexpected and unfortunate drops. The replay value is incredible, and it is easy to get addicted to this system, with all of its great games that have incredible graphics. I am very pleased with my purchase of it, and fully recommend it to gamers everywhere.