Should You Get a PS Vita with a PS4?

The PlayStation 4’s release is drawing close and people’s wallets are starting to open up. Retailers like Amazon and Target are offering “buy two, and get one” deals for next-gen games.

Black Friday is less than two weeks away and I smell a price cut for Sony’s PS Vita during the holidays. Heck, forums are already speculating if there will be a price drop. Regardless if there’s a sale or not, should you get it?

Well, the answer depends on what you’re going to use it for.

In my case, I’m a college student with my own television and console inside my room. The PS Vita appealed to me because of its Remote Play capabilities with the PS4. I was told that it was even possible to play it outside of my network’s proximity.

My mind was suddenly flowing with a montage of myself playing NBA Live 2K14 and Killzone: Shadow Fall in between classes or anywhere away from home. The PS Vita does have Remote Play capabilities with the PS3, but the next-gen’s integration with streaming service Gaikai is expected to improve the capability.

However, it’s not as simple as it sounds. Sony was able to clarify through their massive FAQ that Remote Play works best within the same WiFi network. Beyond that, gamers may encounter issues and would largely depend on the Internet connection of your current location.

I told a friend of mine that I intended to purchase a PS Vita to play PS4 games when I travelled abroad. He told me that even if I was connected to fast Internet, there would still be major lags due to “latency” issues. On top of that, you cannot access PS Vita through 3G as a back-up.

If you’re only after Remote Play, then I don’t think shelling out $199 is worth it when there’s no guarantee you can use it in every place you want. I also wouldn’t advise it if you’re the only one using your television. Even if you just want one to play PS4 games in the bathroom or the kitchen, I still think the price is too steep.

Of course, I wouldn’t say no if Black Friday bestows us with an amazing promo for the PS Vita.

I talked about how a PS Vita might not be a smart purchase right now for people who are in the same situation as myself.  Now, let’s talk about when it would be a good idea to get it.

I previously mentioned that it wasn’t worth it to get if you don’t have to share any of your appliances or devices. If I was living with my parents, it would be a different story.

The ability to have a second screen is particularly useful if another person wants to use the television. You don’t have to stop the game while mom watches the cooking channel. Simply enable Remote Play and change the TV’s input so that everyone is happy.

If you are interested in independent, Japanese, and “classic” (PS1 and PS2) titles, then the PS Vita is an excellent device for you to play these games on the go. The device doesn’t exactly boast a diverse line-up of AAA titles, so the PS Vita appeals to a gamer with specific tastes.

In the end, always remember that it's not always a simple "yes" or "no" answer when it comes to purchasing a device. What might not work for another person, might be the perfect solution for the other. Hopefully, I've helped you decide if the PS Vita is something you should look into when you get a PS4.