Charger Grip Score: 91% Developer: Nyko Device Type: Power

Function: The Nyko Charger Grip is designed to allow you to enjoy the same comfort you experience with a PS2 controller, only with your PSP. It slides open to accommodate your PSP, making it look and feel much like a PS2 controller, all the while giving you additional precious hours of play time, since it is also a battery pack. You pop the PSP into the Charger Grip, then plug the cord into where you would plug the AC adapter. When it runs down, you can plug your existing AC adapter directly into the Charger Grip and charge both at once.

Performance: Well, as instructed by the enclosed manual, I fully charged the Charger Grip, along with my PSP, before using it for the first time. While it claims to provide "up to an additional 5 hours of battery life", I was able to run my PSP for a total of about 6.5 hours. However, I was running video the entire time, playing The Silent Hill Experience, so that was probably a bigger battery drain than a typical game. I must say that I have always treated my PSP with kid gloves, not only because of its delicate screen, but simply because every time I used it to watch a UMD (which is what usually use it for), I would invariably hit a button I didn’t mean to and skip to a new scene. I always found this incredibly frustrating. However, it seems that with the Charger Grip, this becomes almost a moot point. I have a nice, safe place to put my hands and although the buttons aren’t obscured by the Charger Grip, since I am not handling the PSP as gingerly as I normally would, it’s much more comfortable. In addition, it slides open to accommodate your PSP and then slides together for more compact storage. A nice feature and one that also provides more protection for the Charger Grip.

Features: Built-in lithium battery adds up to 5 hours more play time Ergonomic design reduces strain on hands Easy-to-install clip-on design Use your existing PSP AC adapter to charge the PSP and Charger Grip simultaneously Unique design emulates PS2 controller

Drawbacks & Problems:: There are really only two drawbacks to the Nyko Charger Grip that I could see. 1) The earphones do not fit comfortably into their receptacle while the Charger Grip is in place. I discovered this after I had placed the Charger Grip on and went to insert my earphones. They simply won’t go. Now, you can remove the Charger Grip, plug in the earphones, and reattach the Charger Grip and with only very slight finagling, it will be fine. However, perhaps that may be taken into consideration for future designs. I never use my PSP without earphones and I am probably not the only one. 2) You cannot use your existing protective case with the Charger Grip, obviously. While the Charger Grip does offer some protection, it does not protect the all-too-delicate screen of the PSP, so I tended to pull out the Charger Grip, attach it, play what I wanted, then place the PSP back into the case and slide the Charger Grip back together to put it away. Overall, the Nyko Charger Grip is a nice little piece of hardware. While it may not massively extend your battery life, it will greatly improve your comfort level if you already feel at home with a PS2 controller in your hand. At a price of $29.99, it may not be your cup of tea, but I know it really improved my PSP experience.

-Psibabe, GameVortex Communications AKA Ashley Perkins