The first PlayStation-certified phone, formerly known as the PSP-phone or PlayStation-phone, is here and Sony is calling it the Xperia Play. With so much hype surrounding its release, and lots and lots of built-up tension in anticipation of the said gadget, will it measure up to everyone’s expectations?
(photo credits: Xperia Play product page)
A fair warning: if you want a technical review of this phone, please visit the ever-reliable GSMArena. Ours is more of a hands-on experience type of review, and maybe a few tips on how to enjoy this phone more.
Since people initially expected a PSP or PlayStation phone, more than a handful will be disappointed to know that this phone does not play PSP games and only some PS1 games are supported/released out of the box, although Sony did say that they are planning to release some classic PS1 and PS2 (yes, God of War included) games in the future.
If you think this is a huge turn-off, think again. Sony also plans to build an app store (in Sony-terms, the PlayStation store) that the Xperia Play will be sharing with it’s future flagship handheld – the other much anticipated PSP – the PlayStation Vita a.k.a. PSP 2.
In short, it won’t be impossible for the two to share games. Or at least they’d get to share titles.
Plus, the Xperia Play runs the latest Android OS, ‘Gingerbread’, which means it has lots and lots of apps and games available in the market (free and paid). Some games have even been reprogrammed, or ‘optimized’, for the Xperia Play.
And if you still really, really want to play your PS1 games immediately, some emulator apps are also available in the market. These apps have been tested and they work perfectly with this phone. Only downside would be that they aren’t officially supported by Sony, and you must extract ISO copies of your PS games.
Since I particularly don’t like any PS1 games so much that I wouldn’t be able to wait for Sony’s official release, I’ve been happy enough to try one PS1 game plus a handful of Xperia Play optimized Android games. The best of them will be reviewed in separate posts here at otaku.ph, but some are worth mentioning.
Asphalt 6, shown in the picture above, is similar to previous Asphalt games, which means fast-paced gameplay, awe-inspiring graphics, and hours of fun in collecting all cars and upgrades. Personally tested and works smoothly and perfectly, much like it would in any handheld console.
Battleheart, to be reviewed separately, is one of the best Android games in the market. This is a tap and drag game which does not use the Xperia Play controls.
Stellar Escape is a react-type game. Most users in the Market complain that the touchscreen controls don’t respond smoothly, which causes them to miss a jump or slide and therefore lose. Fortunately, the game has been optimized for the Xperia Play so you won’t have to use the on-screen controls. The buttons, of course, work perfectly. A must-buy!
And since we’re posting this on otaku.ph, another app that’s a must-have for you readers is MangaWhat. This app communicates with Manga hosting sites. From the app, you can browse and select your favorite Manga. The app can download chapters of your favorite manga by batch, and save them for offline viewing. Moreover, you can set the app to check regularly for new chapters and notify you so you can be updated. Trust me, if you love manga, you’ll definitely love this app.
Lastly, Age of Zombies, from the creators of Fruit Ninja, Halfbrick, was programmed with the Xperia Play in mind. Here you use the virtual ‘analog’ touchpads to control the main character and kill zombies. Very fun game, albeit short on levels.
If you’re thinking of buying an Android phone that doesn’t necessarily have a keyboard and isn’t necessarily light and small, Xperia Play would be a best fit. It’s fast, responsive, has amazing capabilities, and is lots and lots of fun.
It would have been so much better, though, if it could play PSP games, or if it was accompanied by more PS1 titles out of the box – in short, this phone would only get better as more support is added.
Now to our final rating. As an Android phone, one couldn’t ask for more. Specs-wise it could have been better, but the phone is fast enough for everyday use. Sadly, this is both a phone and a gaming device, and in that aspect, the Xperia Play falls short on most people’s expectations due to the lack of games on the market. Again, this negative comment should disappear once the games start to flow in. For now though, we have to average everything.
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