this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2026
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Oh absolutely. This was exactly me for the longest time. I review retro handhelds, so I've had everything from the entry-level to the high power ones (like the Odin 3 Max). I thought you couldn't get better than upscaled graphics and save states, but when I got a re-obsession semi-recently with the PSP:
https://gardinerbryant.com/tag/psp/
...I've realized that native hardware just has magic to it. The handheld is slim, the design is retro futuristic in the best way (in my eyes), the jailbreak and add-ons are invaluable and the experience is just fun. I've just reviewed the Retroid Pocket Nova, am reviewing the Anbernic RG SP, and have a couple more on the way, but that isn't stopping me absolutely loving WipEout on my PSPs :)
I adore my RG SP. I got it in the GameCube Indigo, for that little extra hit of nostalgia. I tinkered for a bit trying to get dolphin to run before giving up and realizing my steam Deck handles that better anyway. My recent obsession has been Emerald Rogue and Pokemon Unbound, two romhacks that have managed to reawaken that childlike sense of wonder I've yearned for recently with gaming. There's just something magical about playing Gameboy Advance games on an SP, original or not.
You're so right about the "magic." The way you jailbroke the PSP was just the coolest. You hacked the battery! I remember doing that for the first time and I felt like a hacker—my friends looked at me like I was one too—even though I was just following simple instructions.
20 ish years later, I wanna get my hands on some more consoles but wanna try hardware modding to learn how to solder too.
I did it on mine and it was awesome. I told my brother I could do it for him, sliced the foil and started a lithium fire in the house. Threw the battery on a plate and carried it into the front yard while burning out.
You're not a true tinkerer until you burn at least one house down.