Happy 20 years to the PSP!
Here’s my PSP 1000 model. This thing desperately needs some TLC; the battery no longer holds a charge and the control stick has an exaggerated drift, making most games unplayable. I get most of my PSP fix on the Steam Deck these days, but part of me wants to crack this thing open and see if I can restore it to working order.
Weird to think that we’ve now had two decades of 3D graphics on handhelds. Do you have any PSP favorites?
#psp #sony #retrogaming #handhelds
@[email protected] Favorites, literally the only two games I played on the PSP.
Final Fantasy Crisis Core (the reason I bought it)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite@[email protected] Trails in the Sky FC and SC, and Trails from Zero / Trails to Azure are all in my top 10 games of all time tier list (you need to mod your PSP to play the fan translations of Zero/Azure on PSP, but they’re out on modern systems with an official localisation now so there’s no point)
Persona 1 and 2 (again, there’s a fan translation of P2 Eternal Punishment)
@[email protected] It’s an incredible system for RPGs. Mods took it to the next level with all the emulators available, and of course PS1 back-compat was a huge boon
@[email protected] …have I mentioned Metal Gear Acid in the past few minutes??
@[email protected] I really need to dig into the Metal Gear series, got the HD collection for Xbox 360 recently
@[email protected] I just took apart my partner’s PSP last night to try to fix it! Unfortunately will need a new display but should be working again soon :)
@[email protected] Wow nice! I’ma have to try this soon. If you have any tips and tricks, let me know
@[email protected] I had a PSP-1000 but I can’t seem to find it so I might’ve sold it sadly. I softmodded it years ago to play FFVII on the go long before the Switch and Steam Deck existed.
@[email protected] One super annoying thing about the PSP batteries is if you turn the system off normally they self discharge very quickly. The PSP uses them to run a clock or something (but I guess has to power the firmware part of the board or something to do this) so with the system turned off it kills the battery in something like a week or two (haven’t ever timed it.) The protection circuit cuts it off, but then it’s already right at the edge of the lowest safe voltage and it doesn’t take long to go below that sitting on the shelf (or in a box or whatever.) Not sure if SONY had a special way of turning them off or what for long term storage. I had so many PSP batteries damaged due to too low voltage by this before I figured it out. The battery has to be removed when storing it.
@rootcompute (I think the protection circuit may also still self-drain tiny bits over time, so the batteries simply don’t last like they should period, but at least if removed they last many months instead of a week or two.)
Anyway, sorry for the aside, but I’m hoping it helps you or someone else As for favorite games:
SMT Persona 3 Portable of course.
SMT Persona 2
Pop’n Music Portable 1 & 2
Phantasy Star Portable 2 (so good I can tolerate the awful dub, lol)
Tenchu: Shadow Assassins (because Tenchu)
Riviera
Star Ocean 2 (enhanced port)
K-On Houkago Live (don’t judge me, it’s a fun rhythm game and the music has actual dynamics, unlike the OST versions)
Project Diva 2nd
Castlevania Dracula X (can unlock original RoB)
Valis Collection
Corpse Party
Ys AnthologyPSX games via POPS!
@nazokiyoubinbou This information about the batteries is very helpful, and explains a lot about the issues I’ve had with them over the years. If and when I end up ordering a new one for this unit, I will be sure to take the proper precautions like you outlined. Thanks much!
@[email protected] Glad it helped someone.
I’ve found out the hard way many times. The idea is presumably if you’re actively using your PSP you keep it on the charger most of the time anyway. But I used it like I did my NDS instead. As great as the PSP was in its own time for a handful of really great games, it just wasn’t as good at portability. Worse battery life, this battery issue, and even pretty bad suspend time. I ended up having to have chargers for wherever I went. (This was before simple DC-DC converters on lithium ion battery packs were ubiquitous.)
I’m still a bit embarrassed just how long it took me to suss out why all my batteries kept dying though. I mean, if you turn it off, it shouldn’t be draining the battery anymore, right? Most resource intensive clock ever…
@[email protected] It seems like a bizarre design choice. I guess that generation was the first time handheld systems had internal clocks, so there must have been some growing pains involved. Still, a cynical part of my brain almost wonders if that was a bit of planned obsolescence.
The PSP was ahead of its time in a lot of ways, but you’re right about the frustrating limitations around the portability. It’s too bad Sony didn’t get enough runway to find a healthy balance before it was too late
@[email protected] It’s not really that new. For instance, Gameboy games with BRAM. Well, I think I know what the culprit is here. The PSP uses a sort of minimal firmware on the battery. It largely consists of “keep booting” I guess, but it also allowed them to create debug batteries for working on systems. (See “Pandora battery which fully hackable systems like your 100x can utilize to recover even a complete brick with a borked NAND.”) Normally running a clock requires only the barest tiny trickle of power, which is why a single button cell battery can last something like ten years without replacement soldered in a sealed cartridge.
I think what’s going on here is the PSP batteries have to power that firmware section of the battery to run the clock. That uses a LOT more power…
@[email protected] my PSP 1000 is still in working order but on its second battery. Played it a couple of weeks ago. Sadly one of the speakers is broken (has been for over a decade).
Ridge Racer, Burnout Legends are great racing games. Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core was fun as well. Played that on Switch when it came out.
Back in the day I enjoyed some SOCOM online multiplayer as well. And played a lot of Mobile Suit Gundam on it. Plus Star Wars Battlefront!
