1: WipEout 2048 vs. Super Mario 3D Land

It’s tough to crown a number one PlayStation Vita game so early on, but WipEout 2048 is definitely a top pick. The game play isn’t much different from the previous versions, but it has had a massive visual overhaul that make for quite the ride.

Super Mario Land 3D is definitely the best 3D title Nintendo has to offer – some even say it’s the only title actually worth playing in 3D. It’s your classic Mario, but with a 3D twist. What’s not to love?

2: Uncharted: Golden Abyss vs. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D

Uncharted: Golden Abyss really is the most visually striking handheld game ever (for now), and not only does it leverage the PS Vita’s power beautifully, it also makes use of all of its other new features. Plus the game play is just what you’d expect from the Uncharted series. It’s definitely a top pick.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D is the 3DS’ number two go-to title. The fact that it’s 3D isn’t why people love this game. It’s the fact that it’s one of the most loved of the Zelda titles ever made. The ability to carry now it in your pocket makes it extremely popular. The slight graphics overhaul is a nice bonus as well.

3: Rayman Origins vs. Mario Kart 7

Rayman has already made its place among the great classics, and Rayman Origins brings most of that greatness to the PS Vita. It keeps with the original 2D platformer experience but also ties in many of the Vita’s new features, like the touch screen.

Mario Kart has always been a staple in Nintendo’s classic lineup, and Mario Kart 7 is no exception. It’s just like previous installments, but with a few new features (such as kart customization) for more complex and immersive game play.

4: Super Stardust Delta vs. StarFox 64 3D

Super Stardust Delta is a unique space-based shooter with cutting edge graphics and addictive game play – pretty much what you’d expect from the Stardust series if you’re familiar with it. It’s by no stretch a complex game, but the simplicity is one of its greatest appeals. That, plus its affordable price on the PlayStation Network makes it one of the top rated Vita titles.

Just like Zelda, StarFox 64 3D is a 3DS port of the Nintendo 64 classic. The game play is almost exactly as it used to be, only with revamped graphics, improved audio and voiceovers, and a new multiplayer mode. It’s like carrying a nostalgia fix in your pocket.

5: Lumines: Electronic Symphony vs. Dead or Alive: Dimensions

Puzzles always make for great casual games, and Lumines is no exception. This latest rendition for the Vita not only brings new challenging puzzles, but also wonderful visual and audio effects – in other words, everything that made the game great, just got better.

Dead or Alive: Dimensions stays true to the buxom babe fighter genre the franchise has perfected over the years. The game play is as enthralling as ever, and the 3D aspect certainly has its perks. It’s just a shame the 3DS doesn’t have a larger screen.

The Display(s)

One of the 3DS’ biggest selling points is its glasses-free 3D display – more of a marketing gimmick, really. There are only a small handful of 3D-ready titles available, and of those, Super Mario 3D Land is the only one worth playing in 3D. Many people don’t actually like the 3D affects.

The Vita, however, has a 5-inch, fully touch-enabled OLED display which outshines the 3DS in nearly every aspect. The only downside is that its large screen might make the overall size a bit large to fit comfortably in your pocket. Score one for the Vita.

Controls

Like the previous DS systems, the 3DS has a D-pad, bumpers, a touch screen, and various buttons. Unlike its predecessors, it also has a single joystick and gyroscope/accelerometer.

Not to be outdone, the Vita has all of this, plus an additional joystick, an electronic compass, and a touch pad on the rear of the device. If anything, the Vita might have too many inputs, since they do lead to some complicated game play; nonetheless, we have to side with the Vita in this category as well.

Graphics

As a significantly newer device, it should come as no surprise that the Vita has far superior graphics capabilities than the 3DS. The Vita features an extremely high-performance quad-core CPU and quad-core GPU, capable of outputting 150 million Tri/s. The 3DS can only manage about 30 million. This is another clear win for the Vita.

Game Library

Launched with 25 titles (all of about two were very good), the Vita has a small selection. That number is very quickly growing, and thankfully, the Vita is compatible with all PSP and PS Mini titles on the PlayStation Network. Unfortunately, for anyone hoping to migrate from a PSP, you’ll have to repurchase your games.

The 3DS doesn’t have a lot of worthy 3D titles, but it does have the HUGE Nintendo DS library at its disposal. Plus many of the greatest franchises, like Mario and Zelda. The 3DS takes this category…for now.

Connectivity

Both the 3DS and Vita have WiFi, but only the Vita has Bluetooth and a 3G version available. Both have built-in web browsers and even Netflix streaming, but the Vita’s larger screen makes a big difference. The PlayStation Network also offers a wide selection of movies and TV shows to rent or purchase. Mark another win for the Vita.

Price

The WiFi-only version of the Vita weighs in at $249, a full $80 more expensive than the 3DS. The Vita also uses Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick storage, which is an additional $20 purchase at minimum (that’s just the 4GB card). 3DS games are, on average, about $10 cheaper than Vita titles as well. Considering the extra performance and features the Vita has, it’s still a good value, but the 3DS is easier on your wallet.

Overall

The Vita dominates in just about every category except Game Library and Price (arguably the two most important). The Vita game library will definitely improve over time, but we expect it won’t get much cheaper for a while. If all you’re after is a solid portable gaming experience, go for the 3DS (or DSi XL if you like a bigger screen). For premium graphics and features, the Vita is amazing.

What remains to be seen is whether the Vita can hold its own against the growing smartphone gaming trend.

Amazing Graphics

A few Nintendo loyalists have been trashing the Vita, claiming it’s simply a poor attempt at coping the Nintendo DS (referring mostly to the new touch-interface). What they forget to mention is the fact that the Vita some killer graphics capabilities.

The Vita actually utilizes components that will be used in smartphones that aren’t even out yet. It features a quad-core CPU as well as a quad-core SGX545MP4+ GPU (essentially a faster 4-core version of Apple’s dual-core A5 processor found in the iPad 2). This thing is truly capable of PS3 and Xbox 360 level graphics, which means you’ll be getting a lot of the same PS3 games rather than watered down portable versions the DS and PSP have. Games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss have already proved this.

The Price

The PS Vita comes in two flavors: a 3G cellular data version for $299 (plus monthly data plan), and a WiFi-only version for $249. Both are a spectacularly good deal.

Sure, the Nintendo 3DS and DSi XL are available for around $160, but the Vita isn’t really competing with the DS; it’s competing with smartphones. The smartphone gaming market is on the verge of rapid expansion, but they have a few huge speed bumps to get over:

1. Pricing. You can buy a new smartphone for about the same price as the PS Vita, except you’ll be locking yourself into a 2-year agreement. If you ever break or lose your phone, or want to buy a new one, it’ll cost you upwards of $500. The PS Vita is subsidized by game licensing, so its price will only go down from here on out.
2. Performance. We’ll be seeing quad-core phones before the end of the year, but the PS Vita has already achieved that performance today.
3. Controls. With the exception of the Xperia Play, smartphones are pretty much only offer touch screeninputs. Serious gaming is basically impossible. Thankfully, the Vita has dual joysticks, a D-pad, left/right bumpers, and of course a handful of buttons.
4. Games. The PS Vita is a gaming device, so there’s no question that it will soon have a massive game library with hundreds of great titles. Smartphone app stores are still hazy on the gaming department while they wait to see if smartphones can make suitable gaming devices.

Everything Else

Overall, the PS Vita has been very well designed. Its 5-inch 960×544 qHD OLED display looks great and still keeps it small enough that it will fit in your pocket, though it’s probably a bit too bulky to carry it everywhere you go. With the exception of transitioning from the joysticks to the touch screen (and visa-versa), the controls are very well thought out.

The gaming experience really is unmatched in the portable realm; however, full-sized games also mean full-sized load times. Starting up a game like Uncharted can take a few minutes. Fortunately, the sleep function makes pausing and resuming gameplay almost instantaneous. The Vita also makes for an excellent media device, with lots of options for storage and most popular media formats. That big beautiful screen does take a heavy toll on battery life, though. Expect about 5 hours of gaming on a single charge – enough for a long car trip, but bring a charger for a long flight.