Poll: The 3DS or the Vita

[tippy2k2]

Hello Escapists!

As happens in every man's life, they have to make a choice that will alter their very existence forever. For me...that time has come:

I want to get a handheld but am torn between the 3DS and the Vita and I am hoping that the collective brains of The Escapist will be able to assist in my decision making. There are a few games that I want for both systems:

Vita: Valkyria Chronicles II and Persona
3DS: Fire Emblem

So to assist me in making my ever so important decision, could a few helpful citizens answer these questions:

1. Besides the above-mentioned games, what RPG's exist on both respective consoles that I may be interested in. Basically, any high-quality RPG (ideally tactical ones but JRPG/WRPG are also acceptable) is what I'm after.

2. Does the Playstation Plus make getting the Vita worth it? That PS+ program looks bad ass but I don't know how good it actually is when it comes to Vita usage.

3. Are there any super sneaky hidden costs to the system of choice (for example, you HAVE to buy the memory cards for the Vita)?

Thank you for your assistance.

 

[shrekfan246]

VitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVita-

Sorry. I'm under confirmation bias since I own one and not the other, which I imagine will happen a fair amount with the 3DS too.

1) Gravity Rush is a pseudo-action-RPG. It's more Zelda than Final Fantasy, but still worth getting. There's, of course, also Final Fantasy! Or Grandia, or Chrono Cross, or Legend of Dragoon, or countless other PS1 games. There's also the Disgaea franchise, which are tactical RPGs, as the PSP remakes are available for download and the Vita itself has a re-release of the third game. I believe Final Fantasy Tactics is on the PSN, as well as the Tactics Ogre game that was on the PSP. And, of course, Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden. And probably more that I just haven't paid attention to.

EDIT: I suppose to be a little fair, I think the 3DS has more "original"/"new" RPGs in its current catalog than the Vita does. The Vita has the PS1/PSP catalog, but there isn't a large number of new RPGs for the Vita itself from what I've seen so far.

2) I don't really know as I don't have it, but I've heard it's pretty neat for Vita users as well.

3) I wouldn't say it's sneaky... but yes, if you're going to be downloading titles off of the PSN, you'll want to buy a decent sized memory card, because those games can get pretty large.

 

[tippy2k2]

VitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVita-

Sorry. I'm under confirmation bias since I own one and not the other, which I imagine will happen a fair amount with the 3DS too.

...you're going to have to be more specific about which system you're backing; I can't tell

I'm actually banking on the fact that there will be a confirmation bias for both sides to show up in this thread to really highlight the pros of each system (specifically the games for what good is a shiny system if the games suck). Frankly, the cons are of minimal concern to me for being a fairly educated gamer, I am pretty well aware of the cons (like the memory card thing or to be fair to both sides, the kind of shitty battery that the original 3DS has).

 

[shrekfan246]

VitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVitaVita-

Sorry. I'm under confirmation bias since I own one and not the other, which I imagine will happen a fair amount with the 3DS too.

...you're going to have to be more specific about which system you're backing; I can't tell

I'm actually banking on the fact that there will be a confirmation bias for both sides to show up in this thread to really highlight the pros of each system (specifically the games for what good is a shiny system if the games suck). Frankly, the cons are of minimal concern to me for being a fairly educated gamer, I am pretty well aware of the cons (like the memory card thing or to be fair to both sides, the kind of shitty battery that the original 3DS has).

The battery isn't really all that excellent in the Vita either. It's good for a few hours, generally four-eight depending on how continuously you play it, but then you'll have to plug it back in again. But, putting it in sleep mode doesn't drain the battery (from what I've seen of mine) and then all you have to do is hit the power or Playstation button and it pops back on and you can jump right back into whatever game you were playing when you put it to sleep, literally in the same exact spot you "paused" it at.

 

[FinalDream]

I?ve had both and I would go for the 3DS right now!

RPGs (or similar):

Tales of the Abyss
Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance
Heroes of Ruin
Zelda Ocarina of Time Remake
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Ghost Recon Shadow Wars (like Xcom)
Castlevania Lords of Shadow: Mirror of Fate
Fire Emblem Awakening

Plus you have all of the excellent first party games (Mario etc) and you can tap into a wealth of DS RPG's? too.

It should work out cheaper and your guaranteed new games, unlike the Vita?s barren release schedule.

Edit: If you do get a 3DS, make it an XL!

 

[VanQ]

I'm an early adopter for both handhelds. My vote would have to go with the Vita, hands down. No hesitation.

Question #1: If you don't mind my linking to one of my older posts, take a read of this post if you're interested in Japanese titles. Also, the image in the spoiler is worth a look at regardless of region. The image is designed specifically for people searching for recommendations. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.400887-Question-for-the-Region-Free-Vita-Players#16496356
Remember that the Vita is compatible with most US PSP games as digital downloads and every Japanese PSP game is available on the JP PSN so if you never had a PSP, think of it as being able to buy both handhelds at once except you get to play those PSP games on that gorgeous OLED screen.

Question #2:PS+ is one of the best services I have ever subscribed to. Sony shows that they care about their customers with this service. The free games they put up, while never brand new, are still often a good mix of indie and AAA titles that you may not have gotten around to yet. Some people I know literally get by only subscribing to PS+ and never buying games because there's always a lot on offer and they cycle new games monthly. If you have a PS3, even better! The amount of games you'll get for free will be a pleasant surprise.

Question #3: I haven't come across any hidden costs. Not all games on the service are free just because you subscribe but they offer plenty of discounts for PS+ members as well. I almost feel like a damn spokesman talking up his own service but I honestly think it's that good.


Quite honestly, I have owned both since launch day and I have barely touched my 3DS. At all. I can't even remember where I put that thing. Your best bet is to look at the list of games that are available and choose yourself. I have a couple of 3DS games but none of them have been particularly spectacular and the e-shop is mostly shovelware and mobile phone tier games.

The other thing about the Vita that is very important to me on a personal level is that it is entirely region free, unlike the 3DS. I speak Japanese well enough to play their games but I'm locked out from the ability to play Japanese only 3DS games because of region locking. It's disappointing but I don't have the money to shell out for a Japanese 3DS, so I can't comment on that.

And the Vita battery is a funny beast, like shrekfan246 pointed out already, continuous play ranges from 4-8 hours but the sleep mode is God tier. I put my game to sleep off the charger in the middle of a dungeon in P4G and came back about 2 weeks later and still had 3/4 battery and it picked right up from where I left it. I have no idea how it works, I just know that it's fabulous.

I won't rant on much longer, the cost of buying a Vita is high, I know that. But never once have I felt a shred of buyers remorse for it. I hope this post has been helpful, if you have any more specific questions about either system, feel free to quote me or shoot me a PM, I'm always happy to help.

 

[Auron225]

I always base my decision on the games that are out or coming out - more so than the system itself. Who knows, I may have both at some point but I plan on getting a 3DS sometime this year.

I've wanted Kingdom Hearts 3D since it came out but couldn't justify getting a 3DS just for that. There are other games I would get but none big enough to sway me. However, Pokemon X and Y also come out this year - now I can justify it I don't really know what games the Vita is offering but KH 3D and Pokemon X are enough to persuade me to get a 3DS. I think Sony should really market the Vita more, I don't know anything about it =S

 

[Casual Shinji]

If I was forced I'd probably go for the 3DS.

Nintendo simply knows how to handle handheld gaming. Or at least better then Sony does, who seem to believe people want a portable home console experience.

 

[VanQ]

If I was forced I'd probably go for the 3DS.

Nintendo simply knows how to handle handheld gaming. Or at least better then Sony does, who seem to believe people want a portable home console experience.

This is one of those things people say that really bugs me. I'm not trying to jibe at or offend you, by the way. But when I was a kid playing games like Crash Bandicoot or the Oddworld games or any of the games from the mid to late 90s on PS1, I dreamed of the day that I'd be able to play them on my GameBoy.

Fair enough, Sony promised exactly that with the PSP and didn't deliver but every time I turn on my Vita, my inner child squee's with joy. I find that the experience the Vita offers is very different from both the 3DS and from home consoles. When I have 10 minutes to spare, the Vita is obviously not always my first thought. But when I'm stuck on a plane for 8+ hours or traveling far away from my PC and home consoles, the Vita is my go-to handheld.

The Vita offers both home console and casual, on-the-go experiences! And hell, with games like Mutant Blobs Attack, Disgaea, Lumines, DJ Max, Project Diva, Super Stardust Delta, Sound Shapes, Touch My Katamari and a whole load of other titles that could just as easily fill in a 10 minute gap as a 4 hour gap.

It'd be a good idea to not comment on things you aren't entirely certain about because you'll only end up misleading folks. Sony have heard the complaints and have done things to remedy them but people remain caught up in their initial reactions to the product.

The Vita is over a year old now, things you read when it first came out are now out of date.

Oh and OP, if you're a fan of Final Fantasy, there's a promotion going on the PSN at the moment. "Buy 1 year and get 3 months of PSN free" and I think FF games are all having a huge sale at the moment, 50% off if I remember correctly. And I'd wait til the 20th before making a decision, Sony's having that big announcement thingy. Who knows, they might announce a price cut along with everything they're announcing.

 

[Cheesepower5]

3DS Has:
Fire Emblem: Awakening, The Crimson Shroud, Liberation Maiden, Etrian Odyssey IV, OoT3D and Devil Survivor: Overclocked.

Will have:
Shin Megami Tensei IV, SMT Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers, Pokemon X/Y, Mario and Luigi Dream Team and definitely so much more.

I have nothing against the Vita, but I think 3DS has more to offer.

 

[Casual Shinji]

If I was forced I'd probably go for the 3DS.

Nintendo simply knows how to handle handheld gaming. Or at least better then Sony does, who seem to believe people want a portable home console experience.

This is one of those things people say that really bugs me. I'm not trying to jibe at or offend you, by the way. But when I was a kid playing games like Crash Bandicoot or the Oddworld games or any of the games from the mid to late 90s on PS1, I dreamed of the day that I'd be able to play them on my GameBoy.

Fair enough, Sony promised exactly that with the PSP and didn't deliver but every time I turn on my Vita, my inner child squee's with joy. I find that the experience the Vita offers is very different from both the 3DS and from home consoles. When I have 10 minutes to spare, the Vita is obviously not always my first thought. But when I'm stuck on a plane for 8+ hours or traveling far away from my PC and home consoles, the Vita is my go-to handheld.

The Vita offers both home console and casual, on-the-go experiences! And hell, with games like Mutant Blobs Attack, Disgaea, Lumines, DJ Max, Project Diva, Super Stardust Delta, Sound Shapes, Touch My Katamari and a whole load of other titles that could just as easily fill in a 10 minute gap as a 4 hour gap.

It'd be a good idea to not comment on things you aren't entirely certain about because you'll only end up misleading folks. Sony have heard the complaints and have done things to remedy them but people remain caught up in their initial reactions to the product.

The Vita is over a year old now, things you read when it first came out are now out of date.

The thing is, I'm not a fan of handhelds at all. But all the Vita seems to me is Sony's subborn attempt at still trying to push a handheld console experience, when everybody on the go is already gaming on their phone.

When I look at each device individually, or from what I've seen from both of them, the 3DS instills more trust in me than the Vita. The latter of which seems to sell itself on spin offs from other better games and the ability to play PS1/PS2 games from PSN which can also easily be played on my own PS3.

 

[VanQ]

Snip.

Thing is, Sony aren't pushing the portable home experience like you're claiming they are. I can tell you from experience that while they do offer that, they also offer plenty of regular handheld titles and some mobile titles. I like being able to take my PS1/PS2 games with me on the go.

I can see where you're coming from though. Looking at the miniscule marketing they've done in the west that just keeps focusing on "We have Assassin's Creed and CoD on Vita now" it's not surprising one thinks that way. Thing is, if Sony were half smart about it, they'd advertise the many localized games that are on the device.

Hell, if they were smart they'd push to have more games localized. Many of the games only available in Japan are some of the best reasons to buy the Vita at this point but the same can be said about the 3DS. I'd dig mine out if I could play Bravely Default.

Then again, this is a thread about handhelds and what you could just as easily do on your PS3 is irrelevant. Hell, I could just as easily play a million Mario games on my Wii, doesn't stop it from selling like hotcakes on the 3DS, does it?

 

[Ignatz_Zwakh]

Tough call. I feel that both machines are kinda in their infancy at the moment and don't have much to offer. Still, I went for a Vita based on some of the upcoming JRPGs and the capabilities it shares with my PS3. 3DS has some sweet titles though. (Here's looking at you FE)

 

[Casual Shinji]

Then again, this is a thread about handhelds and what you could just as easily do on your PS3 is irrelevant. Hell, I could just as easily play a million Mario games on my Wii, doesn't stop it from selling like hotcakes on the 3DS, does it?

And that's most likely where my lack of interest in handhelds stems from. That and I never travel.

 

[thesilentman]

I say 3DS. You get the backcatalog from the DS, and some awesome new titles coming. The Vita's fine, but Sony botched it somewhat. So take a 3DS for now.

 

[WendelI]

Which one is Pokemon X coming out on? That one please.

 

[Epona]

If I was forced I'd probably go for the 3DS.

Nintendo simply knows how to handle handheld gaming. Or at least better then Sony does, who seem to believe people want a portable home console experience.

No they don't. Nintendo gave us Sticker Star instead of a real Paper Mario game like the first two and they did that because they thought Sticker Star would be better suited to the handheld. Now, Sony would have given us the console experience and wouldn't have been afraid to put a real PM game on a handheld. Which would you have preferred?