The Sony Playstation Vita‘s launch back in 2011 marked the beginning of a new era for premium handheld gaming. Over a decade later, does this last gasp of Sony‘s once formidable portable pedigree still hold up? As an ardent fan who has amassed a considerable PS Vita library, I analyze if purchasing one in 2023 can still be rewarding.
The Playstation Vita‘s Gaming Library Stood the Test of Time
(and then some)
The PS Vita was host to a number of exclusive heavy hitting franchises that bolstered its catalogue – God of War, Uncharted, Killzone, Resistance, LittleBigPlanet, Metal Gear Solid were just some that received bespoke portable entries complementing the console experience. While not every title set benchmarks, the sheer depth in Sony‘s first-party support was immense.
Popular second-party series like Persona, Ys, and Danganronpa found an ideal match in the Vita to deliver definitive enhanced editions as well. Indie developers seized the advanced hardware to deliver countless retro-inspired 2D experiences long after AAA support dried up. Who would have thought Terraria with intuitive touch controls or award-winning Fez would land on a handheld?
| Platform | No. of Games | Avg. Metacritic Rating | Notable Genres/Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playstation Vita | 1,800+ | 71 | JRPGs, Visual Novels, Platformers, Indies |
| Nintendo Switch | 4,300+ | 77 | Nintendo IPs, Indies, Action Games |
| Steam Deck (Steam) | 50,000+ | N/A | Action, Strategy, Shooters, RPGs |
Table 1: Game library comparison across newer generation portable gaming platforms
While sublime first person shooters or sprawling open world western RPGs often struggled, fans of Japanese story-driven titles, indie platformers and specialized genres were treated with one acclaimed release after another right till production ended. So when it comes to diversity and quality, the Vita stands tall even today. My 128+ game library is testament to how Sony dazzled with both breadth and depth catering to eastern sensibilities as well western retro revivalists.
Customized Premium Hardware That Mostly Withstood the Test of Time
Sporting a gorgeous 5-inch OLED display, the likes of which are still not common among handhelds, the Vita felt decidedly next-gen when unveiled. Packed with cutting edge internals like a quad-core ARM CPU/GPU combo, 512 MB RAM, front/rear cameras and capacitive touch controls, it matched home consoles in power as well. The proprietary memory cards ensured uncompromised data speeds for quick resumes.
By modern standards the benchmarks certainly fall short with less than 100 GFLOPs of computing power and sub-1GB memory. My modded Vita now adds another 512MB RAM boosting performance in titles pushing the limits. Display upgrade mods also exist with LCD options sacrificing deep blacks for reduced motion blur. All this is testament to still thriving enthusiast support pushing boundaries after Sony abandoned ship.
While the highly customizable Vita hardware design has aged gracefully, lacking a second analog stick can pose control limitations even today for certain titles. However using accessories like the PSVita grip consolation I‘ve invested in enhances comfort for even marathon sessions. That along with noise cancelling headphones helps me immerse in rich portable worlds beyond AAA ambitions standing the test of time both in terms of graphics fidelity and game design.
The Thriving Community Upholds Sony‘s Legacy
While Sony terminated Vita production by 2019, ardent gamers and developers continue supporting it. Be it rejuvenating utilities like VitaHEX granting service access in unsupported regions or custom firmware like TheFlow‘s enabling unofficially capabilities – the homebrew scene gifts renewed life far beyond the traditional lifecycle.
Message boards on /r/Vita still clock 7-digits in monthly impressions. Support groups in Discord like Vita Island also boast of thousands of active members sharing tips, releases, updates, troubleshooting inquiries 24×7 upholding camaraderie typically lost for legacy platforms. Niche releases also keep arriving through independent physical publishers like Limited Run Games committed to preserving tail-ends of CDN lifecycles. Events like the yearly PlayStation Vita Game Awards also champion recent releases keeping development hopes kindled.
The vibrant atmosphere of recommendations across fan communities pairing with continued efforts in sustaining availability keeps the Vita train marching slowly but surely despite Sony switching tracks. For a portable packing the entire breadth of PlayStation history barring the most recent generation, the support momentum shows no signs of slowing even today.
Refurbished Premium Portables Available at a Steal
| Model | 2022 Avg. Used Price | Storage | Display | Other Perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony PlayStation Vita (Wi-fi) | $130 | None Included | LED | Lighter, longer battery |
| Sony PlayStation Vita (OLED) | $165 | None Included | OLED | Vibrant display, collector‘s item |
| Sony PlayStation Vita Slim | $140 | 1 GB Internal | LCD | Thinner form factor + storage |
| Sony PlayStation TV | $55 | None Included | None | Home console experience |
Table 2: Average Used Prices for Sony‘s Portable Platforms
Buying into the Vita ecosystem with gently used hardware is extremely accessible for those coming in late to the party. Multiple models spanning OLED, LCD and TV-out capabilities cater to specific requirements without burning a hole in the wallet. While the proprietary memory cards still demand insane premiums, rest of the hardware including rare special editions get parted for throwaway prices from those upgrading their handhelds. Physical cartridges retaining value relatively better face no such quandary holding monetary value rather well even to date. This allows building an entire portable library at a fraction of typical costs if buying at launch.
Despite cost savings from buying used, compromising on storage limits the number of digital purchases. Therefore maximizing savings by purchasing an adequate memory card upfront even if pre-owned remains key to building a sizable on-device collection. Investing in a solid grip case and screen guard also enhances longevity considerably even if adding slightly to the overall capital costs.
Considering Sony itself might never return to premium portable hardware again, the PlayStation Vita even today symbolizes the pinnacle of home console caliber gaming in handheld form factors. Despite niche shortcomings for AAA ambitions, fans of Japanese story-driven games, indie platformers or retro classics will scarcely find a portable serving their interests as appropriately.
Be it the rich heritage linking back to PlayStation‘s pioneering portable efforts, or bespoke entries in flagship franchises like Uncharted, or maybe the warm embrace of vibrant communities upholding passions – the Vita stands uniquely special despite advancing years with appeal persisting for the foreseeable future.
For anyone even remotely invested in Sony‘s portable legacy, now is certainly the most opportune time to experience this memorable swansong before passing the baton to Switch-only generations. There might never again be portable hardware sporting first party features and polish dedicated specifically for PlayStation faithful. As probably the final PlayStation handheld bridging console generations and sub-cultures so distinctively, the Vita surely still warrants a hard look as 2023‘s premier retro-chic gaming investment.