Nintendo DS or PSP? ARGHHHHH (brain explodes)

Ok, so here's the deal. I want a psp, right. But I also want Final Fantasy IV Ds. It looks great, and I love Final Fantasy (at least some - between 4-9) The story sounds great, the graphics look great, and it sounds like a real meaty final fantasy experience. But I don't want an NDS. I don't give a toss about Mario and his assorted crowd of hangers on. I'm sure there are lots of really fun games on the NDS (it has loads more games released and upcoming than the PSP) But I'm more of a hardcore gamer. I like grown up games (sad, I know, but there it is.) I got bored of Mario back when I was a kid, and Zelda likewise. My last console was a Gamecube, and I only used it to play non-nintendo games (Rogue Squadron, Soul Calibur ii etc.) While there are some titles that look cool for the Ds (advance wars, The World Ends With You, AOE, Ninja Gaiden, Lunar Knights) there are just more on the PSP (God of War, Tekken, Syphon Filter, MGS, GTA, Daxter etc) Plus there's the ability to play PSONE games to your PSP, (with a PS3 of course) which I really want to be able to do, because there are so many wicked RPG's for the PSONE that I want to be able to play on the go (Final Fantasies 7-9, Chrono Cross, Xenogears etc.) Plus the graphics on the PSP are so much more impressive, and it has that huge (compared to the DS) sexy screen.

But that said, there aren't any titles for the PSP itself that I couldn't bare to pass up on (how I feel about Final Fantasy iv Ds). It has Crisis Core: FF VII, but from what I hear, the battle system is a mess, and it sounds like just another hollow exploitative rip-off of FFVII's greatness (I loathed Advent Children.) Apparently the PSP is getting it's own exclusive new Final Fantasy some point far in the future with 'Final Fantasy Agito XIII' which sounds like it could be cool, but I'm not to keen on any of the new FF's made since the merger with Enix, and it might be just like Crisis core (a shallow portable tie-in.)

And there's also the possibility that Square will release more 3D remakes of their old titles on the DS, which would be even more annoying to miss (FFVI in particular)

So I'm in a bit of a quandry. Here are my options:

Buy a PSP, and the PSONE version of FFIV, and miss out on the cool looking new graphics (I had to give up on FFVI because I just couldn't take the return to 16 bit graphics after the new PSONE FF's)

Buy a PSP, and hope that the upgraded IV is released on some other system that I actually want to buy in the future, and make do with Crisis Core and hope FF Agito XIII is freakin awesome.

Buy a nintendo Ds and FFIV ds, play it, finish it, and then try out the best sounding games left on the system, while I continue to play my old playstation games at home.

Buy an NDS and a PSP, which would be expensive, and leave me feeling frustrated that I'd bought another system that I hardly ever played.

I'm stuck! Any help will be greatly appreciated (but please, no fanboy rants from any side.)

If you already have an mp3 player get a DS it has generally better games anyway.

PSP for emulators (if you hack it), MP3, watching movies and stuff

DS for games

If you already have an mp3 player get a DS it has generally better games anyway.

wukepingu

I've got an ipod. But I've looked at all the best games for DS, and they're mostly just not my thing.

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PSP Has lots of titles coming from square now, and games like dissidia and KH look great so go with that if possible.ChrnoTrigger

Dissidia and Kingdom Hearts: Birth of sleep both sound a lot more action based than traditional final fantasys. Althought they both look cool, what I really want is a quality traditional RPG with decent graphics and a good story.

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I'm just being overly picky.

[QUOTE="wukepingu"]

If you already have an mp3 player get a DS it has generally better games anyway.

freemind13

I've got an ipod. But I've looked at all the best games for DS, and they're mostly just not my thing.

.

PSP Has lots of titles coming from square now, and games like dissidia and KH look great so go with that if possible.ChrnoTrigger

Dissidia and Kingdom Hearts: Birth of sleep both sound a lot more action based than traditional final fantasys. Althought they both look cool, what I really want is a quality traditional RPG with decent graphics and a good story.

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess I'm just being overly picky.

Quality traditional RPG? not many of those are there :/ Most of the good ones on the DS are remakes, there might be a couple on the DS though maybe not as good as you're expecting them to be.

"I want a psp"

"I don't want an NDS"

Hmm...

Quality traditional RPG? not many of those are there :/ Most of the good ones on the DS are remakes, there might be a couple on the DS though maybe not as good as you're expecting them to be.

There were lots on the PSONE. At least fairly traditional anyway. Yeah, maybe the ones on DS aren't that good.

"I want a psp"

"I don't want an NDS"

Hmm...

BubbyJello

Yeah, what I mean is that I want the psp for it's graphics, the general type of games you get on it (action, beat 'em up etc), it's look, it's capabilities etc.

But at the same time i'm torn, because the game I want most off either platform is on the DS. I've got nothing massive against the DS. I'd just prefer the PSP otherwise.

There were lots on the PSONE. At least fairly traditional anyway. Yeah, maybe the ones on DS aren't that good anyway.

Yeah, what I mean is that I want the psp for it's graphics, the type of games you get on it, it's look, it's capabilities etc.

But at the same time i'm torn, because the game I want most of either platform is on the DS. I've got nothing massive against the DS. I'd just prefer the PSP otherwise.

freemind13

There needs to be more games like golden sun.. Whatever happened to all the great RPG support on the GBA? It's as if it just dissapeared :x

[QUOTE="freemind13"]

There were lots on the PSONE. At least fairly traditional anyway. Yeah, maybe the ones on DS aren't that good anyway.

Yeah, what I mean is that I want the psp for it's graphics, the type of games you get on it, it's look, it's capabilities etc.

But at the same time i'm torn, because the game I want most of either platform is on the DS. I've got nothing massive against the DS. I'd just prefer the PSP otherwise.

ChrnoTrigger

There needs to be more games like golden sun.. Whatever happened to all the great RPG support on the GBA? It's as if it just dissapeared :x

just ignore anyone who tells you which handheld to get, go to a store or check websites and see the games library each have.. then check the features each handheld has... try both see which one is more comfortable for you... then make your decision..

Both are great handhelds, both have great games... period !!

Buy a PSP with the Ps1 version of FF4.angelkimne

Yeah, I guess I'll just do that. Seems a shame though to miss out on all that 3D goodness. And apparently the dialogue has also been spruced up for the new version.

If you already have an mp3 player get a DS it has generally better games anyway.

wukepingu

for the most part...i think the PSP has some great games as well, though.

I'll never recommend anyone buying any system based on one game alone. FFIV for the DS is a great game. I'm loving the upgraded character models and the new cutscenes are adding to the emotional impact.

I have not heard anything, but aside from the Whynt minigames, I don't see why this could not eventually come to the PSP, although it took long enough to get FF and FFII from the GBA. It also looks like DS will be the home of the older DQ games, as well as the new installment, so there may be future games that interest you.

Honestly the PSP has way more bang for your buck, like you said, PS1 games, Music, Video, the PSP game's you listed.

Then you have emulators and stuff if you want to homebrew it.

The thing is if you want to put all that stuff on your PSP you need a 4gb card (which I have, it was like 60 bucks i think) because space runs out fast.

Having played FFIV on the SNES, it actually feels like the exact same experiance, its kind of akward at times, playing it on DS, its like it has the production quality of a modern game, but it feels quite outdated. You'll get the full experiance playing the previous FFIV versions, and the DS seriously lacks any traditional RPGs, most of them are weird dungeon crawlers or half-baked SRPGs. PSP has a few more interesting traditional RPGs like Brave Story and such, it was quite enjoyable.

Based on what you wrote, and FFIV being the only thing you really want, and the fact that you want traditional RPGs, I would definatly recommend going with the PSP.
110million

Cheers. that's really helpful. Makes me feel a lot better about missing out on it. Guess I'll just check out Brave Story, (and maybe crisis core or War of Lions for my FF fix), play my PSONE RPG favs, and hope that square's future releases for psp hit the spot.

I'll never recommend anyone buying any system based on one game alone. FFIV for the DS is a great game. I'm loving the upgraded character models and the new cutscenes are adding to the emotional impact.

I have not heard anything, but aside from the Whynt minigames, I don't see why this could not eventually come to the PSP, although it took long enough to get FF and FFII from the GBA. It also looks like DS will be the home of the older DQ games, as well as the new installment, so there may be future games that interest you.

shadowcat2576

I've read in some places that nintendo have the rights to iv (although if that was true I guess they wouldn't have been able to put it on the PSONE)? Also, it seems like the type of games Square are doing for the psp are of a rather different flavour (more action RPG.) Have never tried Dragon Quest, but the ones on the ds so far don't really look like my sort of thing (monster collecting). How likely do you think it is that FFVI will be re-done on DS?

I've read in some places that nintendo have the rights to iv (although if that was true I guess they wouldn't have been able to put it on the PSONE)? Also, it seems like the type of games Square are doing for the psp are of a rather different flavour (more action RPG.) Have never tried Dragon Quest, but the ones on the ds so far don't really look like my sort of thing (monster collecting). How likely do you think it is that FFVI will be re-done on DS?

freemind13

As for FFVI, nothing is certain, but I'd say there's a 75-80% chance of seeing it on the DS. Reaction to FFIV has been good, and I think it's been selling well. VI has always been the more popular of the two, so I definately hope so. I've put off getting the GBA version in hopes of a DS announcement.

If you're an RPG fan, you would most likely be disappointed with the DS. Sure, maybe you'll love FFIV, but one game cannot make a whole console worth buying. $200+ for ONE game? I mean, what else does the DS have? FFIII and FFXII: RW? III was bland and RW was just a mess.

The PSP, however, has tons of great RPGs for fans of any type (old-school, action RPG, sRPG, etc). Not even talking about the sRPGs, of which the PSP has many great ones, the PSP has a hard to refuse line-up. Sure, if you don't like action RPGs then you might not like Crisis Core, but it is NOT shallow by any means. Also, what about FF1/2? What about all the great old-school ones?

Really, you would regret getting a DS just for FFIV. I own both consoles and I must say that for RPGs, the DS doesn't even come close to the PSP in number/quality.

I haven't played any of the DQ games since the original when it was Dragonwarrior. The scans I've seen of DQIV look great, with V and VI to follow. I do believe they are much more traditional than the DQM and DQ:RS already on the DS.

As for FFVI, nothing is certain, but I'd say there's a 75-80% chance of seeing it on the DS. Reaction to FFIV has been good, and I think it's been selling well. VI has always been the more popular of the two, so I definately hope so. I've put off getting the GBA version in hopes of a DS announcement.

shadowcat2576

Dragon Quest iv sounds ok. Doesn't look as impressive as FFIV ds though (looks like 2d sprites on 3d backgrounds.) I think I would be happy enough to miss out on it, considering I've never played the series. I wonder if v and vi will be similar. I would be gutted to miss out on a 3d remake of FFvi though. I never completed that, as I just found the graphics unappealing after the 3d ff's (although the gameplay was great)

The biggest problem with the PSP is its battery life, making it a slight failure as a handheld.angryfodder

Yeah, I've read a lot about that. But it seems like if you get the PSP slim (which I would), plus the extended battery pack (with bulky cover) or maybe even one of the more reliable third party batteries, you might be able to get the battery life up to a tolerable level (7-10 hours max probably, unless you want to carry around a huge battery plug-in.) Course, it'll never be up to nintendo ds standards, but then the NDS graphics will never compete with the PSP's.

If you're an RPG fan, you would most likely be disappointed with the DS. Sure, maybe you'll love FFIV, but one game cannot make a whole console worth buying. $200+ for ONE game? I mean, what else does the DS have? FFIII and FFXII: RW? III was bland and RW was just a mess.

The PSP, however, has tons of great RPGs for fans of any type (old-school, action RPG, sRPG, etc). Not even talking about the sRPGs, of which the PSP has many great ones, the PSP has a hard to refuse line-up. Sure, if you don't like action RPGs then you might not like Crisis Core, but it is NOT shallow by any means. Also, what about FF1/2? What about all the great old-school ones?

Really, you would regret getting a DS just for FFIV. I own both consoles and I must say that for RPGs, the DS doesn't even come close to the PSP in number/quality.

SlorgieNel

Yeah, not really bothered about FFiii as the story's apparently not up to much, although i guess i might get it if I got an NDS anyway. Revenant Wings looked flawed, but again might be worth a play. There's also crystal chronicles, which didn't look to bad.

I suppose what I like is middle of the road rpg's. I like a good story, decent graphics (PSONE level preferabbly), and deep gameplay (exploration and character growth). I know the PSP has tales of eternia, but that seemed a bit too hardcore (story seems non-existent). In a lot of the things I read, crisis core's battle system sounded majorly flawed. It seemed like you could just get by with a lot of button mashing. And the DMW sounded irritating. Also, it sounded fairly linear, when what I really loved about FFVII was the ability to explore the story as and when I wished. But I guess you can't know that much about something without playing it. I've never played FFtactics or any other SRPG before, but it seems like they're more about battling and tactics and less about the freedom to explore stuff. War of Lions still sounded interesting though.

It seemed like FFI & II were just more ports of the originals. While I might pick them up at some stage, without some type of remake I doubt I'd enjoy them that much. I'm just too shallow and graphically orientated! Also, couldn't you just play the GBA versions on the NDS? Would that be any different?

Be interested if you could recommend any others though.

Tekken is great on PSP - just thought I'd throw that out there....angryfodder

Yeah, I've heard it's brilliant, and that'd be a likely purchase if I got a PSP.