The ultra-svelte PSP has created the mother of all buzzes across the gaming fraternity, as it's the first handheld console that can truly compete with its TV-reliant relatives. Boasting eye-popping graphics, awesome processing power, a gorgeous widescreen display, superb sound, rechargeable battery, wireless connectivity, and the ability to play games, music and movies whenever and wherever you want, the beautifully built PSP is liable to spend more time in your sweaty mitts than any other item you'd care to think of.

As you get to grips with this ergonomically elegant piece of kit the first thing that impresses is its truly magnificent screen. You won't have to squint or buy bionic eyes to keep track of the action because this 4.3" widescreen dwarfs those found on other handhelds, and it is capable of displaying a graphically gobsmacking 16.7 million colours.

But what about the games? Well, quite frankly, they're amazing. The graphics are gorgeous, the sounds are slammin' and, thanks to the PSP's familiar controls, the playability is absolutely superb. Sony are promising a whole raft of thrilling titles for the PSP, but it's worth buying for Ridge Racer alone - which is handy because that's the title it comes with.


PSP games come on all-new, high-capacity UMD (Universal Media Disc) format. UMD stores a broad range of content including games, music, movies and more. Sony promises to provide more movies and TV content soon, but until then you can download files from your PC to the PSP's Memory Stick (via WiFi or USB 2.0 port). WiFi support lets you go head-to-head with up to 15 other gamers on a local wireless network and opens up the future possibility of gaming over the Internet. There's even a music function which turns the PSP into a digital audio player capable of playing Sony's own ATRAC3 files as well as MP3s.



Unless both your arms have just fallen off with excitement, or you're reading this from the Planet Futuretron, where a gazillion games are grafted onto your brain at birth, we can think of no good reason why you wouldn't want to order a PSP this very instant. It really is that good!

Just think, no more waiting around to use the telly; no more pining for your PlayStation when you're out and about; no more lugging consoles from room to room - the PSP truly is the answer to every gamer's prayers. Amen!