PlayStation 2 Review: The Best-Selling Console of All Time
9/10 — Sony PlayStation 2
Pros
- One of the biggest, best game libraries ever
- Built-in DVD player helped make it a household fixture
- Plays most original PlayStation games
- Cheap and plentiful second-hand
Cons
- Looks rough on modern TVs without the right cables
- Memory cards required for saves
- Original "fat" models' disc drives can wear out
- Online play is long gone
The PlayStation 2 is the best-selling video games console ever made, with around 160 million units sold. Launched in Europe in November 2000, it built on the success of the original PlayStation, added DVD playback, and enjoyed a run of games so long and varied that it was still being sold over a decade later.
Design
The original PS2 is a black, ridged box that can stand vertically or lie flat. In 2004, Sony launched the PS2 Slim, a much smaller model with a top-loading disc tray and built-in network port. The Slim is lighter and more reliable, while the original models are more prone to disc drive problems as they age.
The DVD factor
The PS2’s built-in DVD player was a big reason for its success. At launch, DVD players were expensive, and for many households the PS2 was the first DVD player in the house. It helped make the PS2 more than just a games machine.
Games
The PS2’s library is staggering. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Vice City and III, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, Final Fantasy X, Kingdom Hearts, Shadow of the Colossus, Ico, God of War, Ratchet & Clank, Jak and Daxter, Burnout 3, SSX Tricky, Okami and Resident Evil 4 are just a small selection. It also plays most original PlayStation games, so you get two libraries in one.
Playing on a modern TV
The PS2 was designed for CRT TVs, and its standard definition output looks blurry on a modern flat screen through the composite cable it came with. Component cables are a big improvement, and an HDMI adapter or upscaler helps further. You’ll also need a memory card to save your games.
Buying one today
PS2 consoles and games are widely available second-hand. The Slim model is the best choice for most people. Check the disc drive reads discs reliably, and expect older controllers to have worn sticks.
Verdict
The PlayStation 2 is one of the greatest consoles ever made, with a library that’s almost unmatched in size and quality. It shows its age on modern TVs, but with the right cables it’s still a joy to play. Every collection should have one.
