Hand Held Game System Review

Handheld game systems seem to be on most kids' wish lists, but they aren't just for the tween crowd; adults like them, too. Now that cell phones have become better for playing games, though, does buying a dedicated handheld system make sense? If you're interested in playing for more than a few minutes at a time, the answer might be yes. That's in no small part because playing games on your phone drains its battery pretty fast. Generally speaking, handheld game systems can last a lot longer on a set of batteries. Hybrid phone and gaming devices like the recently launched Sony Xperia Play have received tepid reviews, frequently concluding that while using a hybrid device is better than playing on a normal phone, it's worse than just using a handheld console. (Note that ConsumerSearch covers full-size game systems like the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3 in a separate report on video game consoles.)

Much has changed in the handheld arena in the past year. Nintendo led the way into the third dimension with the 3DS (*Est. $250) in spring 2011, and Sony announced that it will launch the PlayStation Vita (*Est. $250), the successor to the PSP, by the end of 2011. The new Sony device will have access to the PlayStation Network, three motion sensors, a gyroscope, a 5-inch OLED touch screen, a rear touchpad, an accelerometer, a compass, GPS, 3G connectivity in some models, front- and rear-facing cameras, Wi-Fi and controls that look a lot like the existing PSP. There is no word yet on whether a partridge, pear tree or portable kitchen sink will be available as options.

While one Sony system is coming, at least one is going. The company stopped producing the PSP Go in Europe and Japan after it received a lukewarm reception from both reviewers and gamers, though it continues to support existing users and continues to sell that system -- for the time being -- in North America. The future of the PSP 3000 ( *Est. $130) has yet to be officially announced.

Overall, Sony and Nintendo continue to dominate the market, and they face little competition other than the rising popularity of gaming on Android and Apple smartphones. Sony hasn't released a new handheld console since 2009, when the PSP Go first debuted. Nintendo's DSi XL (*Est. $170), a large-screen version of its popular Nintendo DSi (*Est. $150), gets high marks for its bigger screens and sound, but many experts say the Nintendo DSi is still a better bet for the buck on the bargain end of the price range. Still, neither can consistently compare to the stellar reviews of the new 3DS, meaning the best picks among handheld consoles are now the Nintendo 3DS and the Sony PSP-3000.

CNET has the most comprehensive coverage of handheld gaming devices. Editors have reviewed all of the major systems, and their analysis is balanced and updated on a regular basis. CNET is particularly valuable for its prizefights, a series of video reviews that pit two handheld consoles against each other using criteria like design, value and performance. Three CNET editors rate each platform and an overall winner is declared after five rounds. The only drawback here is that the site has yet to do a 3DS prizefight, although it has done a complete standard review. Although other technology sites like PCMag.com and Engadget.com also have solid handheld console reviews -- the PCMag.com review of the Nintendo 3DS, for example, is extraordinarily complete --  few sources can match CNET. There are a number of British sites worth a look as well, including TechRadar.com, T3.com and TrustedReviews.com. All of these sources have helpful rating systems that help identify which handheld game systems lag behind the competition.

When it comes to owner-written reviews, Amazon.com is a top resource. Some handheld gaming devices have hundreds -- if not thousands -- of individual reviews. BestBuy.com and Newegg.com are also worth a look, but their collection of reviews pales in comparison to Amazon.com. The only downside is that most handheld games get similar average ratings, although the reviews help point out details that the professional reviewers might have missed.