PS2 Appreciation Thread

[the7k]

PS2 isn't what I'd consider a retro system, but there are a few chunk of retro games for it. And I'm not even talking about collections of old games, I'm talking games that were made for that time that encompass what retro games are all about. (They were just in the stark minority compared to most of the PS2's games.)

Personally I consider retro gaming to be something other than just age. It's about a core set of beliefs that go into the design of a game, resulting in that 'retro feel'. I wish there was another term for this other than retro, as it's hard to separate the term 'retro' (at least in terms of game design) from the term 'vintage', which I think is more directly related to the age of a product.

[RCBH928]

Personally I consider retro gaming to be something other than just age. It's about a core set of beliefs that go into the design of a game, resulting in that 'retro feel'.

I think you use the term "retro" to refer to gaming design style from the mid 80's to late 90's. Stuff like standard-definition, pixels, 1ups, sprites..etc .

I am guessing everyone else uses the term "Retro" to refer to gaming styles from past times, as long as it is not a current style its consider "retro" . So games with automatic saves and DLC's are automatically not considered retro.

[the7k]

Personally I consider retro gaming to be something other than just age. It's about a core set of beliefs that go into the design of a game, resulting in that 'retro feel'.

I think you use the term "retro" to refer to gaming design style from the mid 80's to late 90's. Stuff like standard-definition, pixels, 1ups, sprites..etc .

I am guessing everyone else uses the term "Retro" to refer to gaming styles from past times, as long as it is not a current style its consider "retro" . So games with automatic saves and DLC's are automatically not considered retro.

Nah, it doesn't have to do with pixels, 1ups, sprites, etc. Like, I consider Demon's Souls and it's children to be retro. There's been a few retro-styled games, especially from indie devs, that might look retro but don't feel anything like it. Demon's Souls doesn't look retro but the gameplay itself evokes feelings of old NES games stronger than most indie output.

I guess my definition of 'retro' is probably closer to what 'hardcore' is supposed to mean, but 'hardcore' also includes games like COD, GTA, and other games that aren't even close to 'retro' in either appearance or game feel.

[lisalover1]

Personally I consider retro gaming to be something other than just age. It's about a core set of beliefs that go into the design of a game, resulting in that 'retro feel'.

I think you use the term "retro" to refer to gaming design style from the mid 80's to late 90's. Stuff like standard-definition, pixels, 1ups, sprites..etc .

I am guessing everyone else uses the term "Retro" to refer to gaming styles from past times, as long as it is not a current style its consider "retro" . So games with automatic saves and DLC's are automatically not considered retro.

I think you're on the right track with this, but I would disagree with the date. I feel that the reason the Dreamcast was widely regarded as the last retro console was because arcades died along with it. The DC was the last console with which a quality arcade port lineup could be considered a major selling point. That - more than anything - signaled the end of an era.

[isiolia]

I guess my definition of 'retro' is probably closer to what 'hardcore' is supposed to mean, but 'hardcore' also includes games like COD, GTA, and other games that aren't even close to 'retro' in either appearance or game feel.

Retro isn't any one thing. All it means is that it's in a previous style. 60's fashion and 80's fashion are quite different, but both retro (even if 80s throwback is en vogue right now).

It's an ever-growing thing.

Taken as a whole, few PS2 games are downloadable, have online components, or DLC. The save structures tend to be different due to memory cards versus local mass storage. Plenty of genres have slightly different trends since then - third person shooters being more cover focused, for instance. Others maybe key off of post-PS2 games, like Assassin's Creed or Arkham Asylum. Even stuff that does use more modern aspects, like the HDD kit, is a bit retro. FFXI is an EQ-era MMO, predating the heavy vertical progression of WoW that nearly all subsequent MMOs have adopted.

In general, games are going to evolve more than they're going to get completely revamped. So, perhaps, it's a case-by-case thing there. If things have changed enough to warrant it or not.

The system itself is definitely retro, as it's predominately an offline device.

[the7k]

Offline makes it retro? Online gaming has been a part of gaming for a long time, at least since the 90s.

I think retro, at least as I see it, is best shown by genres. Platformers, fighters, shmups, beat 'em ups, survival horror, arena shooters, competitive puzzlers and roguelikes are some genres I'd consider retro regardless of age, DLC, online functionality, etc.

[RCBH928]

@The7K

I don't see how Demon's Soul is retro, but maybe you consider retro with the difficulty of a game, and they were pretty difficult and tough by design in the 80's and 90's to make you replay them forever until you win (or at least try)

I think you're on the right track with this, but I would disagree with the date. I feel that the reason the Dreamcast was widely regarded as the last retro console was because arcades died along with it. The DC was the last console with which a quality arcade port lineup could be considered a major selling point. That - more than anything - signaled the end of an era.

Well the Arcades are something from the 80's and late 90s so the the time era is same I guess. I don't have much memories of arcades in 2005 :p

[the7k]

@The7K

I don't see how Demon's Soul is retro, but maybe you consider retro with the difficulty of a game, and they were pretty difficult and tough by design in the 80's and 90's to make you replay them forever until you win (or at least try)

Playing through Demon's Souls reminds me a lot of playing through NES era Mega Man games, in terms of skill, memorization, reactions, etc.

[Cronozilla]

PS2 the shit
480i til I die
except for OutRun

What about all those 1080i PS2 games :3

[TSTR]

PS2 the shit
480i til I die
except for OutRun

What about all those 1080i PS2 games :3

What, GT4? mew

also i just wanted to haiku. interlacing hurts muh ballz. iBallz, that is.