Console wars are inevitable in this industry. Each system’s respective soldiers dig in to their trenches made of EGM’s and press releases and proceed to hurl NPD numbers, game reviews, and insults at each other until everyone forgets that they’re spending more time defending their console of choice than actually playing it. I’ll be the first to say that these close-minded fanboys do nothing to help the industry. True gamers should be able to evaluate what systems fulfill their needs the most and choose accordingly. Of course the best solution would be to get your hands on as many consoles as possible, providing the broadest spectrum of gaming experiences. But what happens when you’re left with the choice to only choose one? That’s the scenario I aim to assist here. Today’s confrontation is between the Sony PSP and the Nintendo DS. There won’t be any sales numbers in this article – that’s a topic for another day. It doesn’t matter how well each system is currently selling, I just want to take a look at the unique aspects of each unit, and let you come to your own conclusion on which machine is right for you.

Nintendo's Handheld Gamble

In terms of the hardware that powers the experience, the DS is certainly the most distinctive. With dual displays, a microphone, Wi-Fi connectivity, a touch screen (duh), and graphics that trump the Nintendo 64, it’s no surprise that developers have much more creative freedom with the DS. Initially, developers didn’t seem to know what to make of the hardware they had in front of them. Early titles were conservative in terms of gameplay design, taking very few risks. That isn’t to say there weren’t quality games like Super Mario 64, but everyone seemed to be playing it safe. Publishers weren’t sure how receptive gamers would be to controlling games in a manner so different than what was the norm.

It wasn’t until late 2005 that the DS started to get some truly inspiring titles that offered experiences unlike anything else available on US shores. Games like Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney and Trauma Center: Under the Knife immediately sold out and gamers were left scouring Ebay for them. In addition to these unique titles, Nintendo unleashed its first killer app, Mario Kart DS. Launching side by side with Nintendo’s Wi-Fi connection, Mario Kart DS ushered in the online era for Nintendo’s handheld.

Moving through 2006, the DS has seen many of Nintendo’s tried and true franchises make an appearance. Metroid Prime: Hunters proved that the DS is more than capable of pulling off a first person shooter, while Star Fox: Command finally gave gamers the sequel they’d been waiting for since 1997. Nintendo also saw fit to bring a brand new Mario game to the handheld, titled New Super Mario Bros. Borrowing gameplay elements from almost all of its predecessors, but retaining an old school appearance, New Super Mario Bros. appealed to young and old alike. In addition to all of the domestic games available, the DS has no region encoding, allowing you to import titles that either have long localization delays or never come out here here in the first place. Some great examples of games worth importing are Phoenix Wright 2: Justice for All and Osu! Tatakae! Ouendan. Any way you slice it, the Nintendo DS has a broad library that provides an experience unlike another game console out there.

Nintendo has recently been positioning the DS as more than just a game system. This is an unusual stance for Nintendo, and I’m unsure how much it will impact the system’s success in the long run. For example, Japan got a version of the Opera browser for the DS, allowing users to surf the web using the built in Wi-Fi of the system. It’s worth noting that the browser is priced just like a game, and is not an internal upgrade to the system. Though the DS screens are lower resolution than the PSP, Opera manages to provide multi-page rendering options, and the touch screen makes it much easier to navigate than the PSP.

Recommended DS Games:

• Advance Wars: Dual Strike

• Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!

• Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin

• Elite Beat Agents

• Final Fantasy III

• Mario Kart DS

• Metroid Prime: Hunters

• New Super Mario Bros.

• Nintendogs

• Star Fox Command

• Tetris DS

• Trauma Center: Under the Knife