Which handheld do I want?

[pffh]

Here's the deal every summer I get a summer job doing well nothing and being a med-student I'm not used to just sit around staring at the dust gathering. So I'm thinking of buying a handheld-console to play with.
I'm thinking about getting a DS but I don't know anyone that owns one so I don't really know anything about it.

Here is what I want:
At least 5 hour constant playing battery life
Easy to carry in a pocket
Games that can be saved/stopped anywhere at a moments notice (in case I need to save someone and don't want to mess up my game ^^)

And if you are feeling extra nice you may want to recommend some games for said console, the longer I can mess around with the game the better as I will be playing the thing for 4-5 hours every day for three months.

Thanks in advance

ps sorry if this is painful to read I'm writing this in a state of insomnia.

 

[randommaster]

stuff

I don't know much about the PSP, but the DS, especially DS Lite, is pretty small and even on maximum brightness has a six hour battery life.

As far as the saving thing goes, I find that to be dependent on the game not the console. You can, however, put a DS into sleep mode just by closing it.

The DSi or the PSP(2?) could be what you want if you are looking for downloadable games.

As far as game recomendations go, what are you interested in?

 

[hopeneverdies]

If you have some GBA games go for the DS Lite because I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want to buy all those again if you wanted to switch between platforms.
If you don't have any then I guess DSi is the way to go.

 

[pffh]

stuff

I don't know much about the PSP, but the DS, especially DS Lite, is pretty small and even on maximum brightness has a six hour battery life.

As far as the saving thing goes, I find that to be dependent on the game not the console. You can, however, put a DS into sleep mode just by closing it.

The DSi or the PSP(2?) could be what you want if you are looking for downloadable games.

As far as game recomendations go, what are you interested in?

Hmm strategy games and RPGs come out on top but good old platformers and some strange indie sort of games never fail to get me obsessed.

 

[foolishmatt]

I own a PSP (original) and can say that the battery life is pathetic. I'm lucky if I get 3 hours out of it. The new ones may have fixed that, but if a main concern is battery life then go with a DS Lite or DSi. For an RPG, "The World Ends with You" is supposed to be good (according to Gamespot and IGN).

Also, the DS Lite is 40 (U.S.) dollars cheaper than the DSi.

 

[randommaster]

stuff

I don't know much about the PSP, but the DS, especially DS Lite, is pretty small and even on maximum brightness has a six hour battery life.

As far as the saving thing goes, I find that to be dependent on the game not the console. You can, however, put a DS into sleep mode just by closing it.

The DSi or the PSP(2?) could be what you want if you are looking for downloadable games.

As far as game recomendations go, what are you interested in?

Hmm strategy games and RPGs come out on top but good old platformers and some strange indie sort of games never fail to get me obsessed.

I would definitely recomend Yggdra Union if you get a DS or DS Light as the game is for the GBA. It is long, but there is no grinding. Also, you don't need to micromanage equipment or classes. If you like the micromanagement, then I would suggest FF Tactics 2 or Fire Emblem. Pokemon is best if you have someone to fight against, but it doesn't seem like you do. They have released the FF games I - VI on either the GBA or DS, so if you are a fan, you can pick them up. Chrono Trigger recently got remade for the DS, as well. Valkyrie Profile also got a sequel for the DS, which has recieved some good reviews.

For platformers, the GBA released most of the Super Mario Bros. games, and there is a new one for the DS. There are some 2D sonic titles that are good as well. I like the 2D metroid games as well. Outside of the big titles, A Boy and His Blob is coming to the DS, a game I would highly recommend.

Sorry about all the mainstream titles, I just don't remember all the games off the top of my head. Shame on me.

 

[Zildjin81]

I have a PSP (original) and my friend has DS and I must say that I like to play PSP much more than I do DS.

Though the battery life on the original PSP is crap.

 

[pffh]

Thanks for all the answers

stuff

Do you happen to know if old gambeoy games (as in ooooold games for the first gameboy) work in the DS light?

 

[Same River New Water]

Do you happen to know if old gambeoy games (as in ooooold games for the first gameboy) work in the DS light?

Nope, just GBA games.

I recommend the DS too. I love mine. (I haven't tried the PSP.) The DSi is nifty, but if you're interested in GBA games the DS Lite is the way to go - there are a lot of great GBA games out there, especially on eBay.

If you get a DS, I highly recommend:

* Advance Wars (turn-based strategy) - if I have to pick just one of the four that have been released for GBA and DS, I'll say Dual Strike, but they're all equally good. The latest game, Dark Conflict/Days of Ruin (depending on your region), has a few extra features but doesn't have the light-hearted tone of the previous games, which I miss.
* Pokemon
* Mario Kart
* Chrono Trigger (RPG)
* The World Ends With You (an unusual RPG)
* Meteos (fast-paced puzzle a la Tetris)
* Picross (slow-paced newspaper-style puzzle)

I've only been playing GTA Chinatown Wars for a few hours, but so far it's awesome.

 

[wilsonscrazybed]

As a PSP owner, and having played a few games on the DS, I'd say DS is the best bang for your buck. That's not to say the PSP isn't without merit (see patapon), just that you're getting more access to more games with the DS. As for the DSI, I've heard people still prefer the lite. Whether it's because of custom firmware (which could be used for homebrew applications), or the price tag I don't know.