Updated 12/29/2013
This is the bundle for the PS Vita WiFi with NFL Madden 13
This is my first handheld gaming system I've ever bought. I usually don't buy new systems until at least 2 years, it seems the systems need at least 2 years to come out before good games and/or good updates start to come up from the surface. But, i thought why not and with a $30.00 Promotional Credit it helped make this review system a 5 star rating.
First off you NEED a memory Card, with the $30.00 credit from Amazon i bought the 32 GB memory Card which is originally 80.00(Amazon) for $50.00...which helped a lot. I disagree with the price for the memory card and i think its the reason for the slow sales of the PS Vita. The vita has a 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB in north america. In japan they started to produce a 64GB card, which i believe is needed for the U.S. My 32 Gb is filled but mainly since ive recieved the free ps plus games I did not purchase the PS Vita with 3G only because i didn't want to have a payment plan, i just feel its like paying for Xbox Live and PlayStation Network has been great for me on the Ps3.
After a few days without a memory card and limited options of only being able to look at the PlayStation Store on the Vita. Only able to download or send a message or two to a friend, not being able to try out Madden 13, just look at the owners manual. I set up the vita in terms of WiFi connection and linking my PlayStation account to the Vita.
Now i finally received my memory card, and it was like i bought a new system, i was able to download all apps from the store, was able to use the front or back camera which is a cool feature but low megapixel. Play madden 13, download demos, play music, video, and transfer some classics from my Ps3 via the content manager.
Madden 13 is overall a good not great experience, but a great start for games if you like playing football or sports games in general. I'm going to keep this short because you can see madden 13 reviews in the actually game section of amazon. But if not for lag in cut-scenes even after updates of the game, it would be a great experience. I rate this game now a 8.0 until they fix those issues.
The system comes with AR cards which i have not yet used but have seen it in motion on YouTube. Looks great and will later update very soon when i do use them.
The actual catalog for vita is still in need of improvement, it has a least 1 or 2 games of each genre that wont disappoint. I know for a fact the games will get better and after another year of gaming for the vita it soon will be pushing games out on a regular pace. It does have trophies for the games which is a plus to add to your ps3 trophies collection.
Backwards compatibility is gradually getting there, each week they are adding a few psp and/or ps1 classic games to the catalog that works for the PS Vita. Has no disc slots though for PSP games.
The apps for the vita are great, and hopefully more to come.
YouTube, twitter, Facebook , Netflix, Flickr etc.
Ps Plus was added a little after i posted this review, its been great i have several games for free since i bought ps plus in feb of 2013, these games with the addition of the ps3 games i get, i have over 30 games ive received free and many with nice discounts so i can be able to keep them till the end of my subscription which is not till may of 2014. Its nice to also use the ps store on the computer if you dont own a certain system but have ps plus. I was able to get the free games given to ps4 users even though i dont own the system yet.
Also has an internet browser which is very similar to the ps3 internet browser because it has no flash player. :(
The front touchscreen is a 5" OLED Screen that shows off the games well so the movies or TV shows you watch on Netflix look great. I wound get a Microfiber Cloth to keep it clean from finger prints. You can pick the option to use the buttons instead of the touch all the time for most apps and navigation. Graphics are as close to ps3 as your going to get now.
If you get a great WiFi Connection its the greatest. Just to be able to watch a movie anywhere or go to YouTube to play a song or video is great.
The speakers are good but not great...i would buy headphones, it also saves battery life.
Speaking of battery life, its all depends on what you doing (Gaming, Music, etc) it ranges from a good 5.0 to 10+ hours.
I purchased the external charger, which is great, if the power goes out in your area or on the go without a car charger or just going for a walk. A good 4-8 hours of battery life on it.
Overall this is a near perfect handheld system. Here are my scores and explanation why.
Graphics- 9.6- Some games can blow your mind, and they will get better.
Navigation- 10.0- Very easy and with ability to use the button also helps, can open and close apps with ease. Touchscreen is cool. :-)
Hardware- 9.4- Great so far having use alot of things and have not been disappointed. Speakers need an upgrade by using headphones or portable speakers.Has built in memory to open multiple apps and can also play music in the background and continue using the system like it standard background music and go back to a game or netflix and it pauses whatever you doing.
Backwards compatibility- 7.0- Has a good amount of games for both the Ps1 and Psp and after some time they will all be there. But without a slot for PSP games, it makes former users of the Psp to keep there system. I've never purchased a Psp before so i will just have to use the store to get those games.
Controls- 9.5- In the palm of the hands it feels great and has all the buttons needed without the L2 or R2 on a ps3 controller. With analog controls, also a tilt feature like the six-axis that works well. No vibration though.
PS Store- 9.1- Nothing special but not bad at all has what you need. And shows you what will work on the system instead of navigating through the ps3 to find out. UPDATE: PS PLUS added...what a great addition, because to to get free games use while you have the subscription or games with huge discounts to keep forever. If you own a ps3, or ps4 you will have free games for all systems.
Internet- 9.0- So far ive done good with it, i was hoping where i work i would be able to have a great WiFi connection but its a little slow and not good enough to keep a Netflix show going smooth without buffering after a min or two...but at work and its business not pleasure. But one night i was driving with some friends and i let him use it and he used his phone as a wifi hotspot and it was great he said and i was driving all around. Needs Flash for Internet Browser!!!
Games- 7.0- With the system out for 2 years being it came out in Japan first at the end of 2011...it has its fair share of games so far but to compare to a console lineup is hard. With additions of Killzone, Tearaway, Walking Dead(needs patches), and hopefully dead Nation which was announced at e3 2013. I still believe it needs to start making more game system sellers like a GTA or God of War, or even bring back an old franchise like crash bandicoot exclusive to the vita...syphon filter, anything really. SO far So good though.
Remote Play- The device can be used as a second screen device for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 for streaming content directly from the console to the PlayStation Vita. For the ps3, there hasnt been ps3 games available to be played, but you can play ps1 games or play your music, videos or look at photos via your xmb from the ps3. I don't own the ps4 yet cause as i say i always wait for new systems, but from what ive seen there isnt much lag or off screen or audio problems with remote play even with many known titles. It will be a nice addition to the ps vita functionality. From what i hear all ps4 games should be remote play except ones used by the camera. And also a hint for people looking at the ps4 game box in the back to see if hbas remote play. I looked at nba 2k14 and it had no symbol for remote play but it does do that. Other boxes do have that, so make sure you do a little research if your buying the game for the remote play capability aspect. I cannot review it though cause i don't own the Ps4 yet.
Overall- W/O Memory Card 3.0 or even less lol- You need a memory card unless your using the vita to send a message to a friend or going on the internet browser, or looking at products on the store that you cant download and save. You cant do much at all and i felt at times i never owned the Vita.
With Memory Card- 9.4-(Update) This is the review after a year, my previous review score was a 9.2. With the addition of ps plus, a few great games and the lowered price since black friday i had to bump the score up. But with the lack of game system sellers, the lack of ps1 backwards compatibility and memory card prices still far too high. I had to lower the score, so in my option it went up .2 instead of even more. I couldn't contribute the remote play into the review to be fair cause i dont own a ps4. They have added Vita bundles and i hear they may bundle the ps4 and ps vita...that should help with the sales. As i said when i first posted this review it should continue to raise in rating, raise in sales, and become the best handheld you will ever own IF they answer some demands of consumers.
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Explorer John
You can find this much cheaper.
Reviewed in Canada on November 4, 2014