I think I could play my PS2 forever and be happy.

[dsheinem]

I really go in phases with the PS2. There are times where I consider it to be one of my all time favorite consoles, and other times when I see it as home to a bunch of overrated and overwrought games. My PS2 collection ebbs and flows - I have around 100 PS2 games, about 1/3 of those are collections/compilations, 1/3 are games from series that got started on earlier platforms, and 1/3 are games/series that were new to the PS2 or that generation. As much as there are a few other PS2 games that interest me, I really don't see that collection growing much more.

The thing is - it is probably the most balanced system in history in terms of genre. There is no defining genre for the PS2 the way that there was for almost all consoles of earlier generations. If you like shmups, fighters, platformers, run-n-gun, FPSs, TPSs, sports, horror, etc. - almost every genre I can think of is well represented on the console. That said, very few of my favorite games of all time are on the PS2...

[Ziggy]

That said, very few of my favorite games of all time are on the PS2...

I always thought the same thing. I love the PS2, and there's many games that I have for it that I love, but none of the games have made my "all time favorites" list. But then again, there's so many games I haven't played yet. As of now, I only have 30-40 PS2 games, and about 20 of those were games that I bought during last generation. And 80% of those games were of the FPS or racing/driving genre. I'm only now starting to dig into the PS2 library.

[dsheinem]

That said, very few of my favorite games of all time are on the PS2...

I always thought the same thing. I love the PS2, and there's many games that I have for it that I love, but none of the games have made my "all time favorites" list. But then again, there's so many games I haven't played yet. As of now, I only have 30-40 PS2 games, and about 20 of those were games that I bought during last generation. And 80% of those games were of the FPS or racing/driving genre. I'm only now starting to dig into the PS2 library.

The ones that are some of my all time favorites are from a genre that I feel was perfected on the PS2 - 3D hack n' slash. Devil May Cry 1 and 3 (DMC3 is in my all time top 5) and God of War 1 and 2 are all games that were new IPs for the PS2 in a genre that differentiated the system from what came before. Off the top of my head, the only other two games that come to mind are Shadow of the Colossus and Vice City - two games whose massive worlds and storytelling techniques really couldn't have been done beforehand - I associate these with the PS2 and would rank both high in my all time list.

Past these games, there are only a handful of shmups (Ibara, DoDonPachi DOJ, and Gradius V especially) that would get close to some kind of hypothetical personal all time top 50 or top 100 games list. A solid library, but very few standouts in my book (especially given the sheer quantity ot titles).

[elmagicochrisg]

[lwcook]

PS1 has a stronger RPG library though...

I would miss my PS1 collection more than my PS2 collection.

But that's why the PS2 is awesome! You don't have to miss PS1 games because it can play those too.

It's often overlooked nowadays, but I think that's one of the reasons PS2 really succeeded. People often bought it as a DVD player, but hey! people could play their PS1 library so they didn't have to go buy new games right off the bat.

[Ziggy]

But that's why the PS2 is awesome! You don't have to miss PS1 games because it can play those too.

It's often overlooked nowadays, but I think that's one of the reasons PS2 really succeeded. People often bought it as a DVD player, but hey! people could play their PS1 library so they didn't have to go buy new games right off the bat.

Yeah, that's what I was talking about on the last page. I never had a PS1 back when, and when I first got my PS2 I couldn't afford any games for it but PS1 games were cheap. It was also my first DVD player, now that I remember.

The ones that are some of my all time favorites are from a genre that I feel was perfected on the PS2 - 3D hack n' slash. Devil May Cry 1 and 3 (DMC3 is in my all time top 5) and God of War 1 and 2 are all games that were new IPs for the PS2 in a genre that differentiated the system from what came before. Off the top of my head, the only other two games that come to mind are Shadow of the Colossus and Vice City - two games whose massive worlds and storytelling techniques really couldn't have been done beforehand - I associate these with the PS2 and would rank both high in my all time list.

The only game that I played for PS2 that would fit the hack n' slash genre would be Castlevania Lament of Innocence. I have the Devil May Cry games, and just recently got God of War 1 and 2 from the forums (waiting for them in the mail ) but haven't played any of them yet. So many games that I missed. But it's great, PS2 games are pretty cheap right now. It's fun going back and rediscovering a console. Especially one that you already spent a lot of time with.

It's funny that you said you associate Vice City with the PS2 though, because I actually associate GTA3 with the PS2. For a long time, it was the only game I owned for the PS2 besides Agent Under Fire, so I spent a long time playing it.

[dunpeal2064]

PS1 has a stronger RPG library though...

I would miss my PS1 collection more than my PS2 collection.

It does, but I don't consider the PS2 all that far behind. I think it still had some really solid rpgs. The difference to me is, the ps1 rpg library is more accessible, whereas the ps2 rpgs are love or hate. I couldn't get through Persona 3 (although I heard FES and 4 are great), but I am loving Mana Khemia, and thoroughly enjoyed Shadow Hearts recently.

However, if I had to chose between ps1 or ps2 games, I would def pick ps1. Just for the rpgs.

[dsheinem]

It's funny that you said you associate Vice City with the PS2 though, because I actually associate GTA3 with the PS2.

As do I, but I just spent a lot more time playing Vice City that GTA3 or GTA:SA, and consider it easily the best of the GTA3 "trilogy." I would put Vice City in that hypothetical top 50 list. I wouldn't put GTA3 there.

[Gamerforlife]

It's funny that you said you associate Vice City with the PS2 though, because I actually associate GTA3 with the PS2.

As do I, but I just spent a lot more time playing Vice City that GTA3 or GTA:SA, and consider it easily the best of the GTA3 "trilogy." I would put Vice City in that hypothetical top 50 list. I wouldn't put GTA3 there.

Vice City was a bit more polished. The ambulance missions alone were manageable in Vice City if you were careful and paying attention. They were damn near impossible in GTA 3. GTA 3 was the innovator, Vice City polished it up...and I pretty much stop following the franchise after that.

I think games like Devil May Cry and God of War and all of those hack n slashers were great, and DMC certainly got the ball rolling. However, I loved Ninja Gaiden's combat a bit better, though the games have always lacked polish, especially NG II. At least, the ones from the ORIGINAL Team Ninja. I didn't play any of the Sigma entries. NG's combat has always felt more fluid and intuitive to me. You have to really WORK to pull off cool stuff in the DMC games. I always felt like I was fighting Dante more than my enemies

God of War I view as much more of a hybrid of genres. It doesn't focus on depth and challenging combat as much as DMC or Ninja Gaiden. It's a hack n slasher at heart, but puts more effort into its platforming, quality story telling, puzzles, etc. than its peers do. It wants to be that jack of all trades more than they do. Those other genre elements feel much more half assed in DMC or NG, like they just put them in out of obligation

I wouldn't call the PS 2 my FAVE console, but I would agree with others that it probably is the best of all time overall. Though the SNES gives it a good run for its money. The whole dead battery thing hurts it though. All those great rpgs on the SNES.....all with wiped out save data

Thank god for the advent of memory cards

[Ziggy]

The whole dead battery thing hurts it though. All those great rpgs on the SNES.....all with wiped out save data

I don't see it as that big of deal. Yes, the batteries will die at some point, but it's not much to worry about as far as PLAYING the games go. And those batteries really do last a long time. Even if you have to put a fresh one in, that just means you have a good decade (if not more) to hold your saves. When I start up a SNES game that will take some time to complete, I will actually test the battery first to make sure it's good. If not, they're pretty simple to replace. And if you're really worried about losing saves, there are ways to back them up. There's even ways to restore backed up saves.