Okay… So first off I have to correct something I said in the past. I said that my first PlayStation that I owned was the PS3. Well. That was a lie. The PS3 was the first PlayStation home console I owned. But I did get a PSP at its release in 2005. But… I never really played it. For some reason, probably because I didn’t own many games, I rarely played my PSP. So, this year I dusted off my old PSP and finally gave it the love it deserves. I fell in love. The PSP is a wonderful system and I cannot believe that I have had one sitting here for fifteen years waiting. Since dusting my old PSP off, I have really dived into the system and let me tell you what I think.

The PSP was so far ahead of its time. As you can see in the photo above, I now have two PSP’s. My original one is a 1000 model because I bought it at release. But, after falling in love with the system, I really wanted to get a 3000 version. I cruised Ebay for months watching them sell for insane prices. But, I was patient. I waited and continued to bid and I eventually got a 3000 model fairly cheap. Not only is the 3000 version WAY lighter, but you can use AV cables with the 3000 to play on the TV (the reason I wanted it). And it works amazingly well. I have been using the AV cables to capture footage and it looks great. It feels like a Nintendo Switch. Only twelve years earlier. You can also install games on it, cruise the internet, and watch movies. The PSP honestly can do so much and it’s sort of amazing that it did all of this back in 2005.

Now, I want to talk about something the PSP did that will probably never happen again. It uses an optical drive to play a special disc format, the UMD.

These UMD’s are sort of space consuming and I quickly realized that you need a way to carry them all. I had a little carrying case for my PSP from the original launch, but it only had six spaces for UMD’s. Which was fine when I originally had my PSP, because I only owned four games (Mx vs Atv, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, Little Big Planet, and Need for Speed Most Wanted). But now… It has gotten out of hand. I have been addicted to buying PSP games. Keep in mind I really only got into the PSP in March. Since then I have bought twenty seven new games for my PSP. It’s out of control. Granted the games are usually cheap now, so it’s actually an amazing console to collect for. I also started buying movies for my PSP. Oh yeah… I don’t know if I said; they also released hundreds of movies on UMD. These UMD movies play incredibly well, even through the AV cables to a TV. I have been buying and watching movies constantly on my PSP. I have bought around forty movies for the system. As I said… I seriously got addicted to my PSP.

Back to the games. I cannot believe how many incredible games there are on the PSP. I have played a TON of great games since getting back into it. Some shout outs: All the Socom games, both Wipeout games, all the Grand Theft Autos, Final Fantasy Crisis Core, all the Metal Gear games, Motor storm Arctic Edge, and (one of my favorite games I have played in a long time) Jeanne D’arc. There is an extensive catalog of amazing games on the PSP. And if somehow that wasn’t enough, you can install almost any PlayStation 1 game digitally. You used to be able to download these games straight from the PlayStation store ON the PSP. But unfortunately, the store was shut down on the PSP in 2016. BUT! Fortunately, you can still download the games to a PS3 and install them via a USB to the PSP. It’s super easy and only takes a couple minutes. It is honestly amazing just what the PSP can do.

So, is the PSP worth it in 2020?

To be honest: 100%, absolutely, undeniably yes.

I owned one for years and I am so embarrassed to say that I just let it collect dust. I am happy, however, that I finally gave this amazing little machine a chance. I now own two and have been playing them for the past couple months straight. I have played them more than any other console in my house recently. Honestly the only gripe I have is the battery on my original PSP does not last very long. But it doesn’t even cost that much to replace. I have constantly been playing my PSP’s. And the ten deliveries I have inbound to my house this week with random PSP games will only extend that play time. The console is sort of expensive right now (around $150), but it is incredibly worth it. The games and movies, however, are VERY cheap. Most are selling for five/six dollars on Ebay. I recommend anyone that loves handhelds, look into getting a PSP. I’m thinking of buying a third one just so I don’t have any down time between charges.

The PSP is my new favorite handheld. Nearly every day I have gotten some form of package containing a game or movie for my PSP. It is constant Christmas at my house and I cannot wait for even more games for my catalog. The PSP gets a 4 out of 4. That’s right, this little console gets a perfect score. It is quickly becoming one of my favorite consoles (not just handhelds) of all time.