RIP PlayStation 2 (2000 - 2012)

[Burnt Lasagna]

Wow, it finally happened...The PS2 has finally given it's last breath...

https://kotaku.com/5973588/rest-in-peace-playstation-2-2000+2012

dl.dropbox.com/u/47184537/RIP%20PS2.png

It actually makes me feel a little melancholy. The PS2 is my personal favorite system of all time, it quite frankly had every type of game I enjoy on it and housed many of my favorite games. Sure, it didn't quite have the same warming persona that systems made by Nintendo/NEC had, but it hit a bulls eye were it mattered most, the games. The amount of support the PS2 received is simply amazing and is what really pronounced it as this system that literally had almost everything for anyone.

While its relevance, in terms of new games, might have completely dried up in about 2010, it saddens me still to hear that it has completely lost support.

Here's to you old friend! It was an outstanding thirteen year run,



(Highlight from the kotaku article)

With over 150 million consoles sold since its release in 2000, the PS2 is easily the world's most successful home video game console of all time.

[bob]

Later.
Now give me a software update with backwards compatibility on my ps3, SONY!

[Bernie]

Well, everyone is moving on to newer consoles.  However, I must agree..  The PS2 has go to be my favorite system, next to the Duo.  Most of my favorite games were made for it.  I still play mine actually, I have 3 in all.  Never liked the slim models though..    So I have the FAT bitches!

[Mishran]

I'm actually amazed that they were produced as long as they have. With everyone moving on to the newer systems. Good times were spent on that system here as well, but everything comes to an end. Guess Sony is making room for the PS4...

[Ji-L87]

It took a long time for me to finally get a PS2. And it was probably one of the best game related purchases I've ever done. Just like with the PSP, getting quality games didn't have to cost much at all and (contrary to PSP) they were literary everywhere.

Also, since I got a PS2 before I picked up a PS1, it introduced me to Ace Combat & Ridge Racer - which I love RRV doesn't have RR 1 or Type 4 beaten, but it's an enjoyable experience none the less.

[Tatsujin]

damn do I feel old.

[Duo_R]

Looks like they are making room for the PS4 production

[Burnt Lasagna]

It took a long time for me to finally get a PS2. And it was probably one of the best game related purchases I've ever done. Just like with the PSP, getting quality games didn't have to cost much at all and (contrary to PSP) they were literary everywhere.

Same here.
I didn't buy a PS2 till late 2007 (a used Phat one). At that point the system had essentially already established its library and you could just walk into a store and buy almost any game for under $20 (that sort of still is the case now too)

[Arkhan Asylum]

This seems like a bit of a overdone joke, to me.   As per the usual from Kotaku, who employs writers who probably didn't touch a PS2 til last year.

So what if they're stopping production.  It's not like you can't find a used, working PS2.

[SignOfZeta]

It was an ugly, horribly designed, difficult to program for, overpriced, breakdown prone POS with a terrible menu system, horrible load times, and the most hyper aliased graphics in the history of video games. Until the 360 came around, the PS2 was head and shoulders above all other systems when it comes to breakdowns and read errors. I had never seen a system actually shove its laser lens right into a disc and ruin it until I saw the PS2 do it.

Why the hell do I have to go into a menu and turn the optical port ON? Why does it have half the VRAM of the Dreamcast? Why does it have two power buttons, both of them fucking stupid? Why do most of the ports of older games look so fucking blurry?

However, even though it had maybe two good games in its first year and a half of existence, by then Sega was broke and the self fulfilling prophecy (that is, "The PS2 will be awesome, dude!") had to be fulfilled. With only Gamecube-era Nintendo to compete with the selection of games for this system ended up being absolutely amazing, which made the system far better than it ever deserved to be.

So its amazingly wonderfully great...but its also a huge piece of shit.

[Bernie]

Do you actually like anything Zeta??  The PS2 was certainly not a huge piece of dung..  lol

[SignOfZeta]

It most certainly is.

[jlued686]

Though it's not my favorite system (TurboDuo, followed closely by Dreamcast), I have to admit it probably has the most amazingly awesome library of any console ever. Just incredible and probably never to be topped.

[Burnt Lasagna]

So its amazingly wonderfully great...but its also a huge piece of shit.

Every now and then I'll hear this same exact argument and I've never fully understood the logic behind it. 
The idea that it somehow cheated it's way to being "amazing" makes it disqualified to earn the "it's a good system" award?

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Every now and then I'll hear this same exact argument and I've never fully understood the logic behind it.  

The library may be amazing but the hardware less so, much like Nintendo handhelds.

[TheClash603]

I never have the urge to play a PS2 game.  I won't miss it at all.

If it wasn't for the DVD player, I never would've used mine at all.

[SignOfZeta]

If you can't find something fun to play on the PS2...nevermind,it's impossible to not find something fun on the PS2, it has SHITLOADS of great stuff.

I hate the piece of shit, but it's just fantasy to say it doesn't have interesting software.

Some unfuckwitable PS2 softs:

Street Fighter Alpha Anthology (literally the best single fighting game release of all time)
Outrun Coast 2 Coast (blue skies in games, pure joy, impossible to hate, even for me)
The Sega Ages Wonderboy collection (any Hudson fan should enjoy this)
The Sega Ages Virtua On (hilariously accurate port)
Neo Geo Battle Coliseum (great SNK fan service game, only on PS2 and Atomiswave)
Hokutonoken (Arc meets Kenshiro, also a PS2 exclusive Atomiswave port)
Sky Gunner (like a steam punk Star Fox, better than actual Star Fox)

And about 200 more...

[TheClash603]

I am not saying there aren't any good games, there just aren't any games that I want to go back to.

Even the OG xbox has Panzer Dragoon Orta (and where I play Outrun) and the GC has a bunch of games I still like to play.

I haven't played a PS2 game in at least 3 years.

[NightWolve]

I bought mine in 2001 for $300 plus two games, "The Bouncer" (Squaresoft) and "Shadow of Destiny" (Konami). Bouncer is too short, but fun with good graphics and the latter I don't remember too well. I haven't gotten to beat too many games for it, but the ones that I did were very enjoyable like: "Silent Hill 2", "Ico", "Rygar", "Final Fantasy X", "Castlevania: Lament of Innocence", "Onimusha", "Resident Evil: Code Veronica X", "Shadow of the Colosuss" (<-- 100% awesomeness with that), also "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty" (another great one!), etc.

Since it's the last console that I bought, and I don't have the benefit of experiencing modern ones, it ranks as my favorite. My favorite genres of Action and RPG are well covered, the controller is slick, it had YPbPr Component and Dolby Digital outputs from the get-go, eh, I liked everything about it frankly! I own about another 20 games (35 total maybe, dunno) that I have yet to beat (the later two FFs, FF7: Dirge of Cerberus, Xenosaga 1/2, Wild Arms 3/4, Kingdom Hearts 1/2, more Resident Evil sequels, etc.), but I'll get around to things eventually. Anyway, my system still works, never had a problem with it, and I never heard about all the problems mentioned.

Here's to you old friend! It was an outstanding thirteen year run,

Seconded! RIP...

[Duo_R]

I never finished Rygar...dang backlog!!!!

[Burnt Lasagna]

I bought mine in 2001 for $300 plus two games, "The Bouncer" (Squaresoft) and "Shadow of Destiny" (Konami). 

I recently bought and played through Shadow of Destiny (got it for $1). I really enjoyed it!
Great adventure game that has a fun and cheesy story. Definitely one of the better impulse purchases I've made 

[BigusSchmuck]

About the only reason why I bought mine was to play the Robotech games, the Macross game (had to modify my ps2 lol) and Dragon Quest 8. That's it. In fact, I'll probably buy a Wii U when Dragon Quest X comes out here in the U.S. But as it stands right now, I really don't have any other games I would like to play on the system.

[TR0N]

RIP my old fatty PS2 still work to but i never did play it to death.What i liked about the console is that it cover every genre out there.What ever you were into the PS2 cover it,i know enjoyed a good deal of it compilations etc as well for it.Hmm maybe i should buy another as backup before the console becomes hard to find new.

[thesteve]

I bought mine in 2001 for $300 plus two games, "The Bouncer" (Squaresoft) and "Shadow of Destiny" (Konami). Bouncer is too short, but fun with good graphics and the latter I don't remember too well. I haven't gotten to beat too many games for it, but the ones that I did were very enjoyable like: "Silent Hill 2", "Ico", "Rygar", "Final Fantasy X", "Castlevania: Lament of Innocence", "Onimusha", "Resident Evil: Code Veronica X", "Shadow of the Colosuss" (<-- 100% awesomeness with that), also "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty" (another great one!), etc.

Since it's the last console that I bought, and I don't have the benefit of experiencing modern ones, it ranks as my favorite. My favorite genres of Action and RPG are well covered, the controller is slick, it had YPbPr Component and Dolby Digital outputs from the get-go, eh, I liked everything about it frankly! I own about another 20 games (35 total maybe, dunno) that I have yet to beat (the later two FFs, FF7: Dirge of Cerberus, Xenosaga 1/2, Wild Arms 3/4, Kingdom Hearts 1/2, more Resident Evil sequels, etc.), but I'll get around to things eventually. Anyway, my system still works, never had a problem with it, and I never heard about all the problems mentioned.

Here's to you old friend! It was an outstanding thirteen year run,

Seconded! RIP...

congrats on beating ICO, my brothers best friend from high school made it.
i played it before it hit the shelf (or was signed off as done)

[Tatsujin]

Cool, now that it can be cosidered as retro. Time to get one of these





kiddn. Had quite some good fun with it 10yrs ago

[NightWolve]

I bought mine in 2001 for $300 plus two games, "The Bouncer" (Squaresoft) and "Shadow of Destiny" (Konami).

I recently bought and played through Shadow of Destiny (got it for $1). I really enjoyed it!
Great adventure game that has a fun and cheesy story. Definitely one of the better impulse purchases I've made  

Nice. Being the sucker that bought it new, I paid $50 for it...+8.75% Chicago sales tax at the time, so ~$54... I remember a demon-like or apparition character in it bothering ya as you progress through the story; I recall it was something like Clock Tower 3 (from Capcom) which I enjoyed. But yeah, it's foggy other than that. Over time, with all the games starting out at $50 when new, I preferred to just wait it out for the $20 Greatest Hits releases (some exceptions here and there, e.g. I bought Ys VI new). ;)

congrats on beating ICO, my brothers best friend from high school made it.
i played it before it hit the shelf (or was signed off as done)

It's an easy, short game I recall, about 8 hours I think ?? But it's a privilege to have played something like it. Great story, graphics, etc. "Shadow of the Colosuss" BTW is made by the same team and is the prequel. It pretty much showcases the PS2's maximum power and is one of the last great games (overall) developed for it.

[_Paul]

I never really got into the PS2. I only got one to play Ys - The Ark of Napishtim and never really had a big collection of other titles (about 8 in total I think).

[Burnt Lasagna]

I remember like a demon-like or apparition character in it bothering ya as you progress through the story;

Funny thing about that character (Homunculus) is that he's voiced by Charles Martinet, the voice of Mario.
It's always weird when I hear him as anyone other then Mario, even more so when he's playing someone calm and creepy.

[choijimmy]

It is a really good console indeed. 

[VestCunt]

Never played it, but I once saw a friend playing one in 2001 when I was drunk. Looked kinda cool.

True story.

[Tatsujin]

[NightWolve]

congrats on beating ICO, my brothers best friend from high school made it.
i played it before it hit the shelf (or was signed off as done)

Wait, I misread that earlier. I actually thought you meant your brother's friend beat it... I kinda rolled my eyes at it, wondering why you made the comment and I thought that's kinda what inspired vesty's wiseguy crack:

Never played it, but I once saw a friend playing one in 2001 when I was drunk. Looked kinda cool.

True story.

Heh-heh. But anyway, you said *made* it ? "ICO" and "Shadow of Colossus" were made by a Japanese team in or for Sony of Japan (there was talk for a 3rd one) - They're imports that were localized by SCEA. Do you mean that he helped localize it, via managing, marketing, translating, or testing, etc. on the US side ?? What was his department ?

[TheClash603]

I bet his friend was the Emperor of Japan.

[Duo_R]

Dude his friend makes games??? Amazing!!!!  Tell him to make Turbobs!

[Tatsujin]

I wouldn't mind an ICO on teh turbob

[Duo_R]

How about Shadow of the Colossus on turbob?

[Tatsujin]

OR that!

[HercTNT]

Wife begged me for a ps2 for years. bought a slim one for her two years ago. She played one game once, and now its stored away.

[Tatsujin]

lol, strange wifey you own there.

[SMF]

I might get blasted but I never owned a PS2 intill I picked one up at a thrief store for $20 its covered in stickers and its the fat model 1 so I'm happy with the pickup. Also had the internet modem on the back along with a MK game left inside........SCORE