It all started back at the beginning of the year 2000, so during the 6th gen era when SONY had launched their PS1's console successor at March in Japan, October in US, and November in EU.
During the first day of launch release, the console sales went skyrocketing which sold more than 500,000 units marked as the fastest-selling game console in day one, while it reaches total of 1.3 million units by the end of the year beating out their rivalry such as SEGA Dreamcast had struggled to stay on top against SONY's popularity causing SEGA to end the lifespan support of their last console in March 2001, while the PS2 remained the only 6th gen console for over 6 months before it faced competition from new rivals such as Nintendo Gamecube and Microsoft Xbox original.
As an result, SONY Playstation 2 is heavily regarded as not only being the 6th gen's greatest video game system of all-time, but also considered as being one of the top best-selling home consoles of all-time having sold over 155 million units worldwide.
PS2 console was widely recognised for its own unique hardware features such as in ability to play DVD playback and of course most of PS1 games as backward compatible are the major factor for PS2's marketing success, and it also shares numerous of both 1st and 3rd party software titles that defines the PS2's game libraries such as Jak and Dexter, God of War, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, Gran Turismo 3, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, Final Fantasy X, Tekken Tag Tournament, Star Wars Battlefront 2, Tony Hawk's Underground, Max Payne, Burnout 3: Takedown, and list goes on are the reason why it made PS2 becoming a most beloved video game system that every gamers and casuals can remember their PS2 console as part of the childhood nostalgia throughout the years.
Back in my gaming days of 2000s when I was originally planned to consider getting a PS2 console, but when I went to my cousin's house and discovered the SEGA Dreamcast in the front room which had caught my interest to play their console which is why I decided to change my mind with the SEGA's 6th gen console instead of getting SONY's mainstream system.
In around between October 2002 and September 2003, I ended up owning the Nintendo Gamecube as my most wanted video game system to play, while my brother got a hands on with the Microsoft Xbox original in a year after I had a Gamecube.
I never own the PS2 console throughout the years since the release in 2000 because I was reliant on mostly a Nintendo or SEGA consoles related stuff that I been kept busy with, but until around at my late-teens which then I started to grow interested on SONY's video game system starting off with PS3, PS Vita, and of course PS4, so my interest on SONY's console platforms started to growing high as I decided to get the PS2 console which I had it for 4 months ago, so it took me 22 years since the system was released in 2000.
There are the reason to own a system that are two decade old, as I still continue to collect gaming related stuff adding to my collection in my home.
So I want to take a look of the things that the PS2 console came to my interest depending on how great the game's libraries has and what are the biggest features that made PS2 console worth to own it as today.
So without go further do, here are 5 reasons to own SONY Playstation 2 console.
1. Large variety of PS2's libraries (including both popular and obscure titles)
There are several great mix of 1st and 3rd party PS2 titles such as Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, Sly Cooper, God of War, Twisted Metal: Black, Gran Turismo 3, Shadow of the Colossus, Devil May Cry 3: Dante's Awakening, Final Fantasy X, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, GTA: San Andreas, Max Payne, Burnout 3: Takedown, Tony Hawk's Underground, Medal of Honor: Frontline, Pro Evolution Soccer, The Simpsons: Hit and Run, Silent Hill 2, and Resident Evil 4.
It also shares with some of the obscure titles that are unknowingly common, but also considered hidden gem like Area 51, Project Snowblind, Urban Chaos: Riot Response, Silpheed: The Lost Planet, Gradius V, The Thing, Kill Switch, Raiden 3, Castle Shikigami 2, Contra: Shattered Soldier, Odin Sphere, Klonoa 2: Lunatea's Veil, Killer 7, God Hand, Okami, and Beyond Good and Evil.
PS2 is an pure example of how to make the best libraries of games as possible that has attracted many people to get an hands with the SONY's one of the kind machine that offers a variety of games to choose from.
2. Full backward compatibility (Plays PS1 games)
Before SONY added the backward compatibility feature for PS2, you may or may not know that there are some companies like Mattel, Nintendo, and SEGA had done experimenting the ideas before, so having their previous generation software titles being played on later system like ColecoVision Expansion Module 1: Atari 2600 adapter that plugs into the home system allowing ColecoVision to play Atari 2600 cartridges (But wait, isn't that sounds illegal for Mattel to have Atari 2600 games being played on their console without Atari's consent? oh well that's 80s to you guys), where as Super Game Boy adapter that allows Game Boy cartridges to be played on a SNES console, and SEGA Power Base converter allowing it to play SEGA Master System cartridges on SEGA Genesis/MD console which was way ahead its time in early 90's, but the issue is that those are additional add-ons which requires both the home console and add-ons in order to play previous gens titles.
So unlike the PS2, we already learned the PS2's major selling point is the huge reason to own the console, so that is full backward compatibility option that allows you play various of previous generation titles for PS2 console, yes I'm talking about PS1 games on the PS2 console.
What SONY did to PS2 console is that they added the PS1's built-in chipset onto PS2's motherboard so that means you don't really need the additional adapter to play PS1 games, so all you do is to place PS1 disc into PS2's disc tray and it will instantly boot-up and load the PS1 software itself which is more convenient and easier to use than having an add-ons adapter options you seen from older consoles like SNES and Genesis/MD, or even its more better than having Game Boy Player being plugged under the Gamecube's system to play GBA cartridges which is why having a build-in compatibility console like PS2 without requiring add-ons adapter to play previous gen games is always been much easier to use.
The main benefit of having full backward compatibility is that you don't really need to buy PS1 console to play PS1 games, so like I've mentioned the PS1's built-in chipset being installed on PS2's motherboard before which is why you can able to enjoy playing most of the entire best PS1's software titles like Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, Final Fantasy VII, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, Tekken 3, Mega Man X4, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, Tomb Raider, and so on being played on PS2 console.
But be very warned about buying an slim model PS2 because I heard the Slim revision had removed the PS1's built-in chipset and turned into software emulation meaning it can still play PS1 games, but it ran with many issues like sounds does not play properly, the game just froze, some parts may not be displayed correctly, and being stucked on loading screen which did not come nicely as the original PS2 model which ran flawlessly with no issues whatsoever.
For those who wanted to play PS1 games smoothly on PS2 console, I highly recommended to get the original base model version instead of choosing the slimline model.
3. DVD playback
PS2 console are not the only system to play PS1 games, but also has ability to watch DVD movies which are also another PS2's major selling point that made the system quite popular back in early 2000s.
DVD video brings the new innovations of video format technologies started out quite popular in early 2000s which beats out VHS format in terms of high quality pictures, widescreen support, and special features that aren't included in VHS such as documentaries, behind the scenes, and gallery which is why a lot of consumers had bought their DVD player to their home, so they can able to enjoy watching films with additional features being included in DVD disc.
So why is the DVD playback support been added to the SONY's home console? well it's the company are also manufactured their own DVD player which is why they decided to add DVD support on PS2 console meaning that you don't really need an actual DVD player to watch movies, so you just simply place the DVD disc into PS2's disc tray and it will instantly boot-up and load the DVD playback software itself, just sit, relax, and enjoy watching various of your favourite films being played on PS2 console.
Back in old days of 2000s, it is also a cheaper alternatives to most DVD player which cost quite expensive compared to SONY's 6th gen system where it not only can play both PS2 and PS1 games, but also plays DVD software which is quite worth of the price than having to just buy an actual DVD player it own.
4. Dualshock 2 controller
You can't go wrong with the SONY's holy grail controller which was considered as legendary by many gaming critics and fans had regarded this as one of the greatest video game controller of all-time.
The Dualshock 2 controller is quite identical to PS1's Dualshock 1 controller, so you have d-pad buttons, 5 digital buttons, 8 pressure-sensitive buttons, and of course 2 analog sticks.
What I've liked about the Dualshock 2 controller is the overall design because I find these controller grips quite comfortable to hold making it easier to stay on my hand without making an ache on my hands in overtime, and my two thumbs being placed nicely on these thumbsticks while I can shift my index finger on to any of these 4 shoulder buttons feels just right with my playstyle depending on which games I'm playing on.
These d-pad buttons and 4 face buttons feels really responsive when playing most of fighting games where you can able to pull-off many combo moves in right timing when hitting the correct commanding inputs, where as these analog sticks are perfect for RPGs, Platformers, and Action-Adventures which you can able to move the player precisely and freely controlling the camera around you during the exploration, while using 4 shoulder button are commonly used as zooming and aiming mostly for FPS and TPS games.
The built-in vibration just feels so good on my hands, man I really like it when the video game controllers just start rumbling during the gameplay giving you an intensity for the action.
This is the reason I much preferred the PS2 controller over the Xbox and Gamecube controller in my opinion.
5. PS2 Accessories
PS2 console has several of 1st and 3rd parties peripherals that are heavily designed for the specific games that requires one of the accessories.
Stuff like you have Namco's G-Con 2 light gun controller that are used for certain title like Time Crisis 2 and 3 in which you are using the light gun controller as a weapon gameplay where you can able to point and shoot down those foes, as well as reloading while taking cover which delivers an full arcade experience as you seen on arcade counterpart (except PS2 version does not have the foot pedal function like the arcade machine, so you will have the button on the side of light gun to take cover and reload).
Then you have a rhythm music game like Guitar Hero series which you will need a guitar controller in order to perform music with correct corresponding notes such as your frets and strum being pressed together.
There are arcade stick controller that has 8 buttons and 1 joystick that are perfect for various of arcade titles like most of the fighting games such as Tekken Tag Tournament, Dead or Alive 2, and Capcom vs SNK 2, some shoot-em-ups titles like Silpheed: The Lost Planet and Gradius V, and of course some arcade compilations stuff like Midway Arcade Treasures and Taito Legends.
There are racing wheel controller with foot pedal that are quite useful for some racing games like Gran Turismo 3, Ridge Racer V, and Outrun 2006: Coast 2 Coast adds the precision of driving controls gives an realism of driving which makes the racing experience feels an entirely different from using an standard controller.
The innovative things for PS2 console that SONY had ever done is the EyeToy which is a tiny little webcam device is mainly used for playing games that requires an EyeToy device. This allows players to interact with the games using full-body motion sensing gestures which could detect the player's physical movements.
It might be perfect for games like EyeToy: Play and SEGA Superstars had spawned with many mini-games that all the kids and grown-ups could able to enjoy these types of game that involves interacting stuff that adds their excitements giving a new different experience of gaming that definitely puts Microsoft's Xbox Kinect into shame.
PS2 console gives you a new way of enjoying the games thanks to numerous of video game accessories out there that really fits the game's main playstyle.
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This is Zeeshan Mirza's Blog and I'll see you next time, happy blogging everyone.
