In the late 80s, Nintendo once again reinvented the video game world with its Game Boy, the first major portable game system. Having sold over 70 million units worldwide, with each of its successors selling around the same amount, Nintendo dominated the handheld market for well over a decade. This all changed in 2004, when the first serious threat was posed to Nintendo’s dominance: the Sony PlayStation Portable , or PSP. Now, Nintendo’s current handheld, the Nintendo DS (short for Dual Screen, a reference to the fact that the system uses two screens), is going up against the PSP and leaves gamers everywhere wondering which handheld is for them. Read on to find out.

Nintendo DS

Launched in late 2004, the DS met with instant success. The system has two screens, one on top and one on bottom. The bottom screen is touch sensitive with the use of a stylus, and games often utilize that feature for gameplay. The system also has a microphone for voice recognition and input. With all these strange new features, you’d think it’d be difficult to get into. On the contrary. These unique features all combine to create an innovative and immersive gameplay experience that is unmatched. Not to mention the DS has a Game Boy Advance slot, so all of your Game Boy Advance games can still be played!

Since this is the Nintendo DS, it’s to be expected that the best part about this unique system is the games. And that is true! All of Nintendo’s major franchises have visited the DS in one form of another, from the Super Mario Brothers, to Metroid, to Star Fox, to Mario Kart, and an upcoming Zelda title…some of which allow online multiplayer! Plus, there are all new franchises such as Nintendogs and Brain Age, games that specifically utilize the touch screen and microphone. For example, in Brain Age, you do math problems, and answer them by writing in the answer with the stylus! And in Nintendogs, you can use the microphone to actually teach your virtual dog tricks! All this innovation has made the DS the most successful handheld of the two, and even acted as a bit of a source of inspiration for the Wii .

But that doesn’t mean the PSP is bad. Oh no.

Sony PlayStation Portable

With the massive success of the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 , it was no surprise that Sony jumped into the handheld game as well. While the PlayStation Portable might not be as successful as the Nintendo DS, it definitely holds its own and has been the biggest threat to Nintendo’s handhelds so far. Featuring a huge amount of games from successful PlayStation franchises like Metal Gear Solid, Syphon Filter, Jak and Daxter, and Ratchet and Clank, the PSP is no slouch when it comes to games. And especially with its PS2 style graphics and presentations. The PSP difference? The PSP is about more than games. It is a digital experience.

The PSP, first of all, not only plays games but it plays movies in the UMD format. Plenty of modern and classic films are available for the PSP, and while the support for UMD has died down over the years, the collection available is great and varied enough for you to want to keep a few movies with your games. The PSP also is compatible with Sandisk Memory Stick ProDuos, and with such massive storage space you can store  photos, videos, music, and whatever else you please to take with you on the road. The PSP also features online Wi-Fi capabilities. Not only can you play some of your favorite games online, but the system has a fully operational Online Browser to access the internet from any wireless hotspot! The PSP also has a huge amount of accessories to help guide you with all these features, and they are definitely great to have. The PSP is certainly more than games…with all of these features, plus an upcoming GPS add-on, the PSP is a small digital experience ready to be taken on the road.

The Verdict

These systems all have their strengths and weaknesses. But what should you buy? Well, if you want fun, innovative original games, go for the DS and you won’t be disappointed…especially if you are a fan of Nintendo’s franchises. If you want games, but would also love to have a portable mp3 player, video player, and online browser, go for the PSP. The DS runs for $129.99, and the PSP goes for $169.99. Both systems are absolutely amazing, so whatever you choose, there's no way you'll lose.

Just a note about the writer of this guide:

Thumbmonkey is a small company dedicated to providing its customers with a reliable, friendly and affordable source for their gaming fun! We carry a wide selection of video games and accessories for most of the major video game platforms.