My old PSP Go has been struggling lately. Had my saves get corrupted a few times and I now ordered a Pro Duo to Micro SD adapter to try to fix it, only to realize that I have been using the internal memory only so far.
I’ll try to move the saves to the SD and sell it to a true retro fan or collector who wants to replace the internal memory while it still works otherwise.
I have been saying I would replace the PSP with a Steam Deck when it dies, but I only recently saw how HUGE the Deck and other PC gaming “handhelds” are. More like a small laptop that you take out of a sleeve to use it than a PSP Go that you throw in a pocket.
I am seriously considering just getting a Retroid Pocket 3+, or 4. Those are apparently the ultimate PSP emulator, at about half the cost of a used Steam Deck and a fraction of the size and weight.
Does anyone have experience with any of these?
Steam Deck
Retroid Pocket 3+, 4 or 4 Pro
Anbernic RG 405M or higher
AYN Odin series
My main usecase is playing games in the train.
LOVE Metal Gear and Gran Turismo on my PSP. The prospect of being able to play Death Stranding, MGS V, and slow pc sims like Cold Waters and CMANO while commuting is what drew me to the Steam Deck. The size is the main thing that got me in doubt. I have no problem with small screens, have microscopic vision when I take off my glasses.
My girlfriend is not convinced that emulator handhelds are a good purchase, given how close they are to average smartphones in processing power and size. They even ship with Android. She says I should get a Steam Deck or use my phone with a controller. Neither is as comfortable to hold as my PSP Go though.
yes. I absolutely love mine. I can see your size complaints. It’s too big for my girlfriend too (she loves playing some Hades II on it from the couch or the bed, but she’d never get her own to bring it with her too anywhere). I have played Cold Waters on it (admittely with mouse and keyboard) and that was a very lovely experience. Mine is even rigged to run DCS for some free flights. It also performs a secondary function for us in that it enables us to play our steam games on the TV, either directly or streamed from the rig. When traveling, it does indeed go into its case, it’s way too big for anyone’s pocket. The advantage that its size confers is that is has quite a bit of battery, and will likely last you your travel session. There’s also more buttons on the back which are fully programmable, either to directly perform a function in the game or to be used as a modifier. That enabled me to play some more control-intensive games on it like GHPC.
Let me know if you have specific questions that I could help with.
Thanks, that’s great to hear!
The versatility of the Steam Deck is amazing, though I’m not sure how many of those options I’d use. Instead of a TV, we have my girlfriend’s gaming pc with monitors on a rotating stand in the living room, and I also already have a gaming-capable laptop.
The battery will be awesome (especially compared to the PSP) for all of these options. The Retroid easily does 8 hours too.
When travelling, how are you sitting with the Deck? Is it comfortable? Do you put it in the case during a transfer or can you just hold it or chuck it in a bag?
I’ve heard nothing but great about the SteamDeck as an emulation platform. IMO, the only thing you really miss out on is the form factor, especially for the PSP Go. I’m still rocking a 1000 series and that’s massive by comparison.
It also cost me $30 or something at a flea market.
Pretty much as if with a PSP (have one too but not used in like 12 years) but with a wider grip.
I case it and then bag it, but more because I wouldn’t want anything to happen to it rather than it being unwieldy or anything. The edges and back are curved and shaped like a controller so it is very easy to hold on to.
This seems to be the biggest argument against something like this. It does a lot of things great but it’ll end up eating dust if you already had something better to perform those functions.
I’ve got this one as well plus a SteamDeck OLED. Love both of them, the Anbernic is perfect for GBA/PS games. The Steamdeck pretty much for anything that requires a controller, pretty much throw whatever I feel like on it and it seems to handle most with ease.
You are the perfect person to ask then: do you often take the Anbernic because the Steam Deck seems too large, heavy or fragile or is the choice mostly driven by the choice of game?
No because I can fit either or both in my backpack, and the Steamdeck has advantages that it has the save games from my PC games that are also on the steamdeck! I quite like the bigger screen as well.
If you want you can run everything you can on the Anbernic on the Steamdeck as well. The Anbernic is very nice if you just want to throw a retro game device in a jacket or something, the deck isn’t going to fit in that
@TheAlmightySnark Thanks for sharing your experience with both classes of handheld. Very valuable, and of course, with all the advice from my house- and forum mates, I could no longer resist.
I’m lucky: I won’t need to use the official case/bag as a bumper / mod case was included that just lets me clip a front plate onto the Deck to protect it instead of zipping it up.
Looking forward to playing all the Playstations, Zeldas, but also Death Stranding and all the other offline games I never had time for, while commuting.
Just not on this (very short) train ride yet as the seller neglected to charge it (I need that old BBForum bouncing emoji here, @wheelsup_cavu do you have that one?)
I do hope you have the original charger, otherwise it won’t properly charge from a dead state unforunately. It does charge with most USB-C chargers but slowly if they can’t deliver sufficient power.
So far I’ve only played the hilarious tech demo, Aperture Desk Job, Portal, Red Faction Guerrilla and Death Stranding on it.
All worked beautifully out of the box and feel and look great.
I’ve also plonked all my PSP games on it using Retrodeck. GT PSP is a bit tough, as the PSP has no analog triggers and the finesse is all in the ministick. Not as easy to do with the large throw and deadzone stick on the Deck. I should probably play a racing game that uses the analog triggers.
My main problem now though, is choosing what to play (besides finishing Death Stranding)
I could install any of these and start playing:
Cyberpunk
Dirt Rally 2
Project Cars 2
GRID and GRID 2
F1 2015
Halo MCC, continuing the Halo 1 and 2 campaigns that I never finished
MGS 1 (PS1)
MGS 3 (PS2)
MGS V (pc)
Gran Turismo 4 (PS2)
Star Wars: Tie Fighter or any other in the series, especially with a bit of tinkering for the total conversion mod would be a blast
And I am tempted to buy these:
Horizon Zero Dawn (great sale on now, only €12,50 )
And then I haven’t even gotten into the Nintendo emulation side with all the classic Zelda and Metroids I’ve missed…
So many great games to play anywhere.
This was a great buy, thanks again for your advice!
Glad to hear you’re enjoying it so much! There are some community control schemes available for a lot of games, if you don’t want to do all the tinkering with controls yourself.
Forza Horizon 4 is great on the deck, can recommend. I’ve played the first Dirt on the deck, would also recommend! Star Wars Squadrons was also lovely if you have that, haven’t tried the recent Tie Fighters/X-wing updates yet for the old 90’s versions.
