Should you buy a PS Vita from Japan?

If you must have the PS Vita now, you can buy one from Japan, but there are a few things you should consider before doing so.

(Credit: John Chan/CNET Asia)

The latest handheld game console from Sony, the PlayStation Vita, launched in Japan on December 18. Already, sister site GameSpot Asia has gotten its hands on a unit and published an unboxing and preview video.

We spent some time with GameSpot's unit and have to agree that the hardware is indeed attractive. Some of the launch titles, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom, and Touch My Katamari, look great on the 960x544-pixel display, and the ability to use the touch screen for certain navigation controls is refreshing for this PSP successor.

Now, you might be tempted to run out and buy a set imported from Japan, since that's the only country in which the Vita has been launched so far. It will hit the U.S. on February 22, and many countries in Asia will have to wait even longer.

Buying a Japan set seems to make sense--your local game shop probably has some units imported from the console's home country; Vita games are not region locked; and the unit's interface supports the English language. However, we have some misgivings about being an early adopter of the Japan set.read more in Should you buy a PS Vita from Japan?