As a proud Vita owner, I’ve come to realize that its true potential might never be fully realized. It’s a sad truth but with Sony’s PS TV coming stateside, (formerly branded as Vita TV in Japan), it’s becoming clearer and clearer that Vita’s position right now is to act as a liaison to the PS4; essentially becoming a very pricey accessory. With great titles like Tearaway and Persona 4 Golden, The Vita’s best days are behind it but that doesn’t mean goodbye. With the PS TV, not only will we be able to play PS4 games via remote play but we’ll also be able to play a select number of Vita titles. That has us very excited.
5. Remote Play without the Cramps
You know what I’m talking about. No matter how compelling Gravity Rush was or how difficult Guacamelee got, the main thing you were fighting against were the hand cramps. The Vita has a very large screen so holding it for long periods of time was a struggle, especially if you didn’t have a set of comfortable hand grips.
4. Dualshock Support
Sony has confirmed that we’ll be able to use the Dualshock 3 for Vita games as well as PS One Classics and PSP games. Dualshock 4 support will be only supported via remote play with the PS4. Either way, it will be a much better proposition than the Vita’s controls. The thumb sticks on the Vita were a huge improvement over the PSP but they were very small and weren’t clickable, which meant R3 and L3 were regulated to the back pad which caused all sorts of awkwardness. Killzone Mercenary was wonderful on Vita but we’re willing to bet the experience will only get better when played on a Dualshock 3.
3. Price
For $99 you get to play PS4 games, Vita Games, PSP and PS One classics, as well as PS3 games with PS Now later on. It’s a nice price for such a nifty, tiny box that’ll also stream Netflix for you and Hulu Plus. A couple months ago I was thinking of purchasing a Roku box for my bedroom and I’m glad I held off, PS TV will definitely deliver everything I wanted out of a Roku box plus the games I love to play.
2. Included Storage
One of the biggest mistakes Sony made with the Vita was how they handled storage and memory cards. For some reason they were only available in 4, 8, 16 and 32gig storage and were outrageously priced. They were also proprietary so you couldn’t use a regular Memory stick which you probably already owned or purchase a $20 stick from Staples and be done with it; Sony wanted you to spend $100 on a 32gig memory card instead.
And you couldn’t even play anything on your Vita until you got a memory card.
Thankfully, the prices have come down since those dark days and there’s even a 64gig available now but we’re just glad the PS TV comes with its own storage. Sony also confirmed that we’ll be able to use our own PS Vita memory cards with the device which is really neat for people who have saved games or saved game files. The Lego bundle isn’t too shabby either and comes with an 8gig memory card.
1. New Console
It’s like having another console in your home. I don’t have a big place but I could totally use the PS TV when I go visit my parents’ house or in my bedroom while the PS4 stays in the living room. I am really looking forward to the flexibility it will bring. It’s a great device to have but let’s face it, if you already own a PS3 or PS4; the PS TV is more of a luxury. I’m fine with that and I hope Vita’s legacy lives on through this device.
There’s no way of knowing what the future holds for Vita but PS TV is certainly a big indicator. Despite the games only running in 720p, I think many gamers will appreciate the ease of use and how natural the Dualshock 3 and Dualshock 4 will feel when playing on this device. I just hope more games become compatible since so many of Vita’s marquee titles were touch-control heavy. Let’s hope Sony brings the whole catalogue of Vita games to PS TV, but then what’ll happen to the Vita?
