DS Daily: The better fit

i think Patapon would work equally well on the ds as it does on the psp
but currently I'd rather it stayed a psp exclusive.

I was discussing with a friend the other day on what would make the ideal handheld platform. Combining the PSP's ability to store data aside from save files would be very nice. It was envisioned as a way to get game expansions and exclusive content for the games. Of course, this requires support from developers and is idealistic at best. However, the DS stands out because of the lack of loading times and the dual screens. The DS fills all my handheld gaming needs aside from two games... Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions and Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles. These two games have me considering buying a PSP.

A game like Loco Roco would work well on the DS, as for vice versa I only own 3 DS games (Zelda, Maio Kart, and Super Mario) I don't know what DS game would work on the PSP.

I think that Mario Kart, Mario and Luigi: Partners in Time, Newe Super Mario Bros, Kirby Squeek Squad, Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow, Castlevania: Portrait of Ruin, and Final Fantasy 3 would work on the PSP.

I love them on the DS- but they could be ported.

First off, let me apologize for this post. I have gotten my DS and a PSP both in '08, so I am a relative noob to both... though I had my DS for about 3-4 weeks before I bit the bullet and picked up a PSP. Considering my newbie status, I am not as familiar with the PSP lineup, although though my long research (due to boring work days) I feel more confident in what the DS offers. The other product resulting from acquiring both systems relatively recently is that the strong points and weak points to both are fresh on my mind, and I've been looking for a platform to hash some of them out.

Each system has a distinct feel and the games slot nicely into that feel without too much crossover. Generally the DS strengths (a rich variety of RPGs, the standby series of Mario) and the PSP strengths (fantastic graphics, high octane titles like Need for Speed, Grand Theft Auto, etc) don't really intersect much. I think the PSP's ability to mimic a console makes it less relevant to gaming because that makes it more of a PS2-port dumping ground with few truly original titles. The DS's relatively poor visuals and such make it more prone to innovative/creative titles.

The one place where the PSP has the edge is a higher standard of mediocrity. It is not plagued by the 'z' titles, or the deluge of brain age-esque titles.

But more in line with the original question, games like Patapon and LocoRoco seem like they'd fit in well with the DS's catalog (although I say that without ever having played them), as well as Jeanne D'Arc (one of the few vaguely intriguing PSP RPGs). Going the opposite way, the only thing I can think of is Burnout Legends, which got poor reviews on the DS (which I haven't played on the DS, but I would guess the hardware just wasn't up to the speed the Burnout series requires), but is pretty great on the PSP (which I have played).

(One thing I would love to see would be Resident Evil 4 on PSP... *drool*)

Well, my DS has not been used in over a year. So it really is in need of a major overhall.

It's all mario and yoshi and Kirby. Not enough mature games. The graphics are pitiful.

And don't bring up sales, for as everybody knows McDonalds is the worlds biggest restuarant.

The DS actually has more memory potential then the UMD because the games are stored on lil flash carts. Most DS games only run in size from 30 to 70 megs. Slam a lil 1GB flash memory in a game and make something epic, with lots of downloadable content!

Games on the DS that make heavy use of the stylus (and are integral to gameplay instead of optional) are clearly going to be better suited to the touchscreen configuration.

I'm one of those who doesn't really think having two separate screens is a big plus, though. Nor do I find the DS screen size(s) to be as suitable for long-term game sessions as the single bigger PSP display. Also, with video out, I can play games on my HD projector and make them as big as I want.

I agree with the comment that the PSP has better sub-A quality titles. I've enjoyed many 70-ish rated PSP games immensely, while a quick check of Metacritic or other meta scores shows there's much more low-rated junk out there (per capita) on the DS. However, the DS has more popular franchises spanning more genres - while the PSP has more technical achievement titles with greater 'wow' factor.

That said, the best system for a given gamer depends ENTIRELY on the gamer. I don't like games like Brain Age, Feel the Magic, Nintendogs, Pokemon or the deluge of licensed kid drivel like Hannah Montana, Cars, Spiderwick, Kim Possible, etc. - I do like GTA, Burnout, God of War, Silent Hill, Daxter and Jeanne D'Arc. On my DS, the games that get the most gameplay are titles like Castlevania, Final Fantasy, Zelda, Age of Empires and Advance Wars.

As an aside: The old arguments about the PSP having too many ports and so forth never held any water with me. Both systems have too many watered down ports and rehashes for my tastes. While true that the PSP has more PS2 ports and the DS has more vintage sequels with basically similar gameplay and the aforementioned licensed junkware ratio.

Currently for me, the PSP gets the edge overall, though I think ultimately the DS will have longer 'legs' and continue to have stronger publisher support for the next two or three years. I'm not floored by the upcoming PSP game list other than a few obvious standouts.

I never understood why Capcom put Mega Man Powered Up out on the PSP. Mega Man's glory days were on Nintendo's systems, and this was a remake of the first game. And it was done up all cute. Seemed like it would work on the DS in my opinion, then maybe we might have seen cute remakes of Mega Man II and III.

I think the PSP tries to do too little with its games. It's all about flashy graphics and too many of the games on the system get lost as PS2 ports. If the developers went with simpler concepts, simpler graphics, or both, they might be able to do more with the system. Case in point, games like Loco Roco and Patapon do a whole lot with a little.

I think the PSP could benefit greatly from some of the more kid-friendly titles on the DS. I work in a Game Crazy, and everytime someone asks me "What do you have for PSP for an 8 year old?" I tell them "A DS Lite." The best game they could port to PSP in my opinion, hands down, is Animal Crossing. The PSP was made to play Animal Crossing. The joystick for movement, the hotkeys on ABXY, the sky's the limit. I would LOVE to be able to tell someone, "Oh, does your child have Animal Crossing yet on PSP? It's the best one by far, with the PSP's added memory and processor speed."

Animal Crossing fantasies aside, I'm still TOTALLY STOKED that Dungeon Maker is coming to DS.

I can only think about one, and - gasp! It's already on both platforms. I'm talking about Puzzle Quest. The DS version could be as well-polished as the PSP version, and the PSP version could have a touchscreen.

Ultimate Ghosts n' Goblins had horrible gameplay on PSP, but I think this is more of a designer issue than a PSP issue.

I may be wrong, but what I think the PSP needs that the DS has is download play. And the DS needs WPA.

-i still wish Me and My Katamari was a ds title.

-unfortunately i didnt buy dementium, but i always imagined it wouldve been even crazier on the psp.

-this doesnt apply to all shooters on the ds though, just dementium in particular

Heh, this post reminds me of this vid:

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=IzBeDbi3B9s

DS and PSP cross-platform play on Quake ftw. =P

@ Pixelator:

At any given time, we have exactly 0 copies of any of those games. Honestly, I don't see how you can even mention Gitaroo Man as a game for an 8yo.

Not to sound like a Nintendo fanboy, but I try to steer a person toward the system of best fit. If a kid wants a system that they can EVER find games for that aren't either hard-to-find to begin with or shovelware movie games, I'll point them toward the DS. I'm not trying to knock the PSP at all: I own both, and I think that on average, the PSP provides a longer and more in depth play experience. I just don't think it's well suited for children. It's more expensive to protect, it's more expensive to replace, and even moreso, there are fewer of them around. This translates to more parents coming in and asking me what their kids should be playing, instead of coming in with Mario or Kirby or Dogs on the tip of their tongue, and me pointing them in the right direction.

I also don't think there's a reasonable basis for comparison for DS and PSP ports. PS2 to PSP ports lose two buttons and and analog stick. Vintage ports from NES to DS gain four buttons. I know that that doesn't make the game, but it does frustrate things, and it complicates things further when trying to emulate. I put Jet Moto 2 on my PSP, and it was unplayable because I was missing the shoulder buttons I used to barrel roll. When you take away control, sometimes games get worse. It's just logical. I think Nintendo has a real advantage in that aspect, because they've generally strayed from porting anything with that complex a control scheme; the only thing that comes to mind is Super Mario 64 DS, which I haven't played, but it looks like it would be a nightmare to play because there are no C buttons or joystick.

Also, while I'm thinking about it, I'd like to see Wipeout on the DS.

i want loco roco.
(and katamari)

Crush would've kicked much more ass with a stylus controls, while Mario Kart DS would've done better on something with the power of a Dreamcast

lunar knights could be amazing on the psp enough said.

Some of my PSP games have disappointing framerates, I always hate that. That aside, I'd love to play a metroid-style castlevania on the PSP. I wasn't terribly impressed with dracula X chronicles, so maybe it's best that they don't.

In answer the question, I'd love to see Exit on the DS. The graphics are something it could probably pull off easily, and the gameplay wouldn't tax the system. I'd imagine there could be some pretty fun ways to use the touchscreen as well.

In answer to all of DS vs. PSP debate....please, can we just let it end? Please? I'm interested in reading the comments which relate to the post, not yet another one of those debates. Pretty please?

Ugh.

The only sensible comments are those coming from the ones who own both handhelds. Do not try to compare the two because they are completely different. Home console get their exclusives as do handhelds.

Sorry I guess I don't really belong here since I only have a PSP but I plan to get a DS down the track so I guess it is not a worry. I just hate it how the PSP-only users assume they know about the DS saying it is all kiddy stuff and PSP-only users saying the PSP is all about graphics and PS2 ports, it seems kinda silly to me that people will speak from experience they do not have.

So this is just an attempt to stop another DS vs. PSP argument since they NEVER end.

Beautiful Katamari SO should have been DS.

DS is fully capable of downloadable content take Professor Layton and the Curious Village as an example. Weekly puzzle downloads. As far as owning a DS and a PSP i must say the DS has a greater library of games that i enjoy way more and thats not saying i don't enjoy the psp because i have both but the DS kicks the PSP in the balls when it comes to games.

I have both the PSP and the DS.

Games that would be nice on the PSP from the DS games I have... Mario Kart would be nice to play on PSP's larger screen!

Games on the PSP that would be nice on the DS..
Final Fantasy Tactics!
I played FF3 on the DS and loved it, so picked up FF Tactics and was very very disappointed with the game play..