Is it time to buy a PlayStation Vita?

This month, PlayStation Vita turned three. I’d love to tell you it’s been a smooth ride for the console but come on, you should know better than that.

When the Vita was released in the West back in February 2012, buyers could choose from two models: the standard Wi-Fi version and the more obscure 3G/Wi-Fi model, not something that’s common when launching a new console. Why 3G? Sony’s answer was for “Social networking and location based gaming... helping you find and meet friends.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMNsCqeIjq8&feature=youtu.be&t=1m9s

Vita-exclusive applications like Near allowed users to check-out and share experiences with local players, as well as gifting exclusive in-game items - a brilliant way of engaging the community.

Sony stumbled across many beknown issues with 3G right from the off. Many of the console’s features were great in theory, but seldom used in practice. The problem was, it’s all well and good having the ability to play console-quality multiplayer games whilst on a mobile network, but first and foremost that requires a new, data-hungry mobile network plan and a seriously stable connection - when to be perfectly honest, most features were better suited on a Wi-Fi connection.

With all that in mind, the sensible option was the the Wi-Fi version. If you really wanted to, you could just tether your phone’s connection to the Vita and have the same functionality of a 3G model. A flawless plan for the shiny new Sony handheld. How much would it set you back? If you went against your head, the 3G/Wi-Fi version launched at £279.99 and the less ridiculous Wi-Fi marginally cheaper at £229.99. Ouch. Oh, but you aren’t finished there. If you fancy downloading some substantial blockbuster titles or playing music on your new machine, then you’ll need a memory card. None of this universally found SD Card nonsense though like Nintendo’s 3DS; just as the Vita’s predecessor, the PSP, the PS Vita suffered the same fate of utilising another proprietary card, aptly named the PS Vita Memory Card. They ranged in sizes from 4GB to 64GB and prices from around £14.99 to well over £60.

You'd be feeling hard done by getting a Vita at launch, possibly out of pocket £300+ and you haven't even got any games yet. You have an extensive choice with over 30 physical launch titles in varying genres but that's where its strength of titles arguably remains to this day. Uncharted: Golden Abyss, F1 2011, WipEout 2048, ModNation Racers: Road Trip and Touch My Katamari some of the highlights - none of which have had a sequel on the console at the time of writing. Other than a few highlights such as LittleBigPlanet PS Vita and Tearaway, there have been few Vita-exclusive games to shout about. Many of the popular games have been ports of already released games, filtered for the Vita's screen, HD collections of previously released PlayStation series' or those able to be downloaded from the PlayStation Store, utilising the console's ability to play PS1, PS2 and PSP games.

As is Sony's way, the release of the slimmer PCH-2000 model, followed the release of the original. A marginally worse screen was a small gripe for considerably improved battery life, a sleeker design, mirco-USB charging port instead of the proprietary charger and a much more affordable price point of around £180. With the unnecessary 3G out of sight, it was a second life for the Vita and coupled with the release of the PS4, Sony allegedly enjoyed rejuvenated sales thanks to Remote Play, mirroring some PS4 games to be played to their full potential in the palm of your hands over an internet connection.

Cross-Save and Cross-Play are two other highly admired features adding extra abilities to the Vita’s repertoire; Cross-Save giving players the opportunity to take their savegames to and from PS4 and PS3, and Cross-Play allowing some gamers the ability to play their home console versions of some games from their Vita for just one price (and of course, multiplayer over these platforms in some examples).

Moving forward, as we roll through 2015, what could be next for the Vita? Sony's development team seem to have turned their back to the console in recent times and considering it's only just turning three years old, that’s pretty astounding. There is light at the end of the tunnel with impressive games such as Helldivers, a 60fps, top-down, 3rd person action RPG reminiscent of Diablo out now, and the ever-popular cult adventure game Shovel Knight coming early this year. However, the real question should be: Why should you buy a Vita? Simply, because there's been no better time.

I got my console back in August last year, granted I got a good deal: The Slim variation and 16GB card bundled with a few downloadable games for a mere £150. I haven't used it as much as I probably should have, but with PlayStation Plus offering multiple free games per month and a stunning selection of nostalgic and really well done ports of older PlayStation games available on the store - it could be considered a high-end yet great value purchase for those wanting to relive some old and rejuvenated classics. If you have a PS4 then you can make use of the aforementioned Remote Play feature as well as using your console as a glorified TV remote - maybe not high on the list of selling points. If you have a few friends with a Vita too then you can enjoy some really solid multiplayer titles for hours with the improved battery life of the Slim. Backseat games of FIFA and WipeOut are sure to take the edge off those lengthy car and train journeys.

At half the price of its original selling value and a wealth of budget titles available to download and enjoy, piled onto at least a couple more exciting ones on the horizon there's never been a better time to take the plunge. My recommendations? Crash Team Racing from the PS1 (£3.99 for a Vita and PS3 copy), Velocity 2X (£12.99 for a Vita and PS4 copy) and the Jak and Daxter Trilogy (£15.99 for three games, hence 'Trilogy') and if you have a PS4, check out Remote Play on Destiny - it will blow your mind playing something so substantial away from your big-screen TV.