From Value Pack to Blister Pack: the PSP-2000

PSP-2000 Daxter Bundle

Manufacturer: Sony (product page)

Price: $199.99 (shop for this product)



A very different message than the first package

Here we are, looking at a new PlayStation Portable. I remember reviewing the first PSP and looking at the package. The thing looked dangerous; that box looked like you were dealing with an expensive (and advanced) piece of technology. While the original price of $250 was expensive for a portable, you felt, looking at that box and that shiny black system, that you had gotten your money's worth.

The new package takes a very different approach. Sony now has a brighter colored box, with the Ice Silver system peeking out of the front and a vinyl sticker showing a game of Daxter already being played. At $200, the new system comes with the updated hardware, a 1GB memory stick, a copy of Daxter, and a UMD movie of Family Guy: Frickin’ Sweet collection. The new hardware also features a TV-out jack so you can play your games and movies on the big screen. While the first PSP looked like it was all business, this PSP arrives with a more inviting message. It's here to party.

So what’s new?

What's new with the PSP-2000? Other than a name that makes it sound like it's seven years late? Let's get the physical changes out the of way first; believe me, you’ll notice them very quickly.

The system itself is very light. Incredibly light, in fact; the hardware is now a third lighter than the original PlayStation Portable. It can be disconcerting when you first pick up the hardware with its Daxter sticker over the screen, as it feels like a plastic shell instead of a real system. In fact, as we noted when we first played with one at E3, it feels cheap. If you run your finger over the top of the system, you'll also feel a bump where the screen meets the plastic shell, instead of the smooth surface the original PSP sported. Not a big deal, but you can tell the screen and plastic shell are now two separate pieces. The system is also now shiny and slick across both the front and the back, instead of the more grainy plastic of the original's rear. While it feels like it may slide out of your hands at first, holding the system is an extremely comfortable affair. As you get used to the new weight, the "cheap" feeling fades away, and the new lightweight design makes the system easier to play during marathon sessions.

The speakers have been moved from the bottom of the system's face to the top, making the sound easier to hear. The D-pad on the new hardware is raised slightly higher than the original, which is a subtle but nice change; games feel a tiny bit easier to control now. The "nipple" analog stick feels no different than the original, although the new stick is of course tighter than my broken-in original unit. The headphone jack is in a slightly different place, and while the jack is also used for the TV-out cable, it looks no different than the original.

The wireless toggle has been moved from the side to the top, the cavity for the Pro Duo memory cards has been moved slightly as well, and now the cover is attached to the system by two flexible plastic tethers as shown in the picture. In the hands of young children, I’d be very scared of these coming off, in fact.

The IR port, which was never put to any real use on the original system, has been omitted completely from the top of the system. The USB port remains in the same place, but the spring-loaded port for the UMDs has been replaced by a flip-up port that you have to open yourself. The UMD rests inside the system now, instead of being put into the metal track of the original. Don't worry about the sound of the UMD rattling around; once you close the system it fits in place perfectly. It doesn’t feel as solid or as satisfying as the old UMD slot, but 'tis enough, 'twill serve.

Although some changes such as the new UMD drive and the slot for the memory cards may feel slightly flimsy, the payoff is that the lighter weight and slimmer design is much more comfortable to hold. The system no longer seems intimidating, it feels like a toy—and I mean that in a good way. This is something people will want to pick up and play with, and that’s a very welcome feeling. The original PSP seemed to make some people nervous, and now it's a system you won't mind passing around.

Keep in mind that the response time of the screen has not been improved; if you were bothered by ghosting in the original hardware, you'll be bothered by ghosting with the new PSP. Disappointing.