Playstation 2 Black Console Slim Reviews

• DVDs and Playstation games in a slick little package.

  
  By A2PXOP8AOGXQCO on 2004-10-25
  The Playstation 2 has been out in the USA for four years now, and has gone through a number of subtle redesigns, but none as dramatic as this. This new PSTwo is remarkably tiny, and you almost need to hold it in your hand to appreciate just how much Sony reduced the size of the machine. The design feels a lot like a laptop computer -- especially the top-loading optical drive -- and is doubtless cheaper for Sony to produce. This time I feel that we the consumers get a slick product in return for the company's increased profits. It's delicate, but no more so than the original PS2.
  
  There are no major compromises in this machine: like the previous design, it has two memory card slots, two controller ports, two USB slots, a progressive scan DVD player, a built-in infrared remote receiver (for controlling and watching DVD movies), and the AV outputs as the original PS2. Optional video cables can change the signal from the default component to S-Video or composite, just as before. An optical audio jack is also present for digital sound output.
  
  What's missing? Not much. The Firewire port of the launch PS2 has long been abandoned, and is also absent here. You will need to use a new multi-tap if you want to play one of the few games that support more than 2 simultaneous controllers. You'll also be unable to plug in the "PS2 HDD," the hard disk drive albatross that will likely never be supported by Sony again outside of the online Final Fantasy game. No great loss there.
  
  As a DVD player, the new PS2 is at least as good as any other lowend machine that does progressive scan and has DTS and Dolby audio and digital output. I'm using it paired with an official Sony remote and plan to return the cheapo machine I bought when my old DVD player wouldn't change layers on the new Star Wars set properly. My new PS2 not only performs just as well, it also plays hundreds and hundreds of games for both Playstation 2 and the original Playstation. It also plays DVD-R movies, though not MP3 CDs or VCDs.
  
  The machine has a built-in modem and Ethernet port for online play. There is no additional cost for most PS2 online games, but in my opinion Sony's online implementation is not nearly as easy or smooth as that of the XBOX.
  
  Even after this redesign, the PS2 is still the "weakest" of the current game consoles (compared to Microsoft's XBOX, Nintendo's GameCube) in terms of graphical power, and despite this new design, is still the most expensive since you will need to purchase an 8MB Playstation 2 memory card in order to save your games and settings. Nevertheless, it's a great system even if you already own one of the competitors, because of the large software library with many exclusives and lots of quirky Japanese titles. The new design is cool enough to even warrant getting a second PS2 system even if you already own the original.
  
  If you don't have a current-generation video game system yet, and you want one, this would be a good one to start you off. The PS3, when released, is likely to be little more than an evolution of the types of games represented on this system. There's a huge number of excellent low-cost games on this platform, with something for almost everyone who loves games.
  
  

• Definitely good but still not GOD!!!

  
  By A29Z8XYDD5UZF8 on 2004-11-12
  First off let me start by saying, this is NOT going to be a PS2 bashing. Though we all have our opinions on the three systems, the fact is that they are all great systems in their own right. That is to say you won't go wrong no matter which one you choose.
  
  Let me reiterate, this is not a bad system. It has several great games (Final Fantasy X & X2, Grand Theft Auto Series, WWE Smackdown Series and several others). Though it must be noted that Gamecube and XBox both have great exclusive titles. The graphics are outstanding and they may not even be the best of the three, but they are great, certainly better than anything we had just a few short years ago. They definitely have more benefits than everybody else (free online gaming, the Eyetoy, and more games. As far as controllers go, I like Gamecube's a bit better, but this controller works wonderfully well too and is well laid out. (You won't be searching for the buttons like you do on XBox controllers, that is my one true complaint with that system).
  
  One thing that irks me about the new design is the lack of support for the hard drive. It's not a huge issue unless you want to play Final Fantasy XI or take advantage of HDD capability as with ESPN NFL2k5. Not a big deal, but something could have been worked to support it.
  I do like the smaller, slimmer design. It certainly helps when you have many systems old and new and are lacking in space to have them all setup at once. You almost have to see it in person to truly appreciate the size reduction this thing has undergone. While the old one is regarded as somewhat of a "clunker"; this thing is small, sleek, and powerful. I wish they could have found a way to include four controller ports (should be an industry standard) as opposed to just two. It's not a big issue but a bit annoying for those who enjoy playing multiplayer sports games.
  Anyway Playstation 2's biggest downfall is in the fragility of the system itself and though I have experienced no problems personally, I have heard of a few from close friends.
  
  1. Disc Reading Error (This is very likely a non-issue with this newer model.)
  
  2. Malfunctioning Disc Door (This is no longer an issue because the system is now top-loading.)
  
  3. The power cords tend to wear out faster than average. (Not a big deal, the cords are fairly cheap, but it could present a fire hazard.)
  
  None of these things would be a huge deal except that the PS2 comes with a measly 90 day warranty (Do I hear 1 year anyone?)
  
  I'm not trying to say this system is junk. It does have durability issues more than anything. Some of these problems should be lessened/eliminated with the new model. I personally prefer Gamecube but only by a small margin. All of you who immaturely spout "PS2 rules, Gamecube & XBox suck" are not only lying to yourselves, you're doing a great disservice to the readers who depend on these reviews to make an important decision.
  
  The bottom line is the Playstation 2 is a great system and definitely worth the money, but it is not gaming perfection as some make it out to be. Try Gamecube & XBox as well. All three are extremely fun!!!
  
  

• Dash of reality

  
  By A14J5X7J78TOZ2 on 2004-11-12
  Granted I have spent countless hours holding a PS2 controller, but this just seems stupid to me. The PSone was a cutsy remake of the original, but the PStwo just seems like it's asking for trouble. The "70% quieter" function isn't just because they figured out they should remove some parts that were banging together, they are using a smaller (or no, I haven't opened one up yet) internal fan. You know those famous disc errors you hear about? A lot of thsoe are because of excess heat... and they are making the fan smaller, that means even more heat for your disc error pleasure. Secondly, I understand the power source is now on the cable as opposed to being in the PStwo box itself. That means there is a bix box on your power cable, but it makes the actual console itself smaller and lighter. Well, for all those touting how great the smaller box is, slap that big ol' power box on there too, because you are not traveling without the power cord if you actually want to use the PStwo for anything more than showing off.
  
  I fortunately didn't drop the $90 on Final Fantasy XI and the accompanying HDD (which was hyped up hugely that it would make the PS2 comparable in function to the xbox) only to have Sony remake the console without the ability to actually use the HDD!?! That makes absolutely no sense to me.
  
  Sony: "Lets make a new game in the series that is the most widely known in the world and bundle it with a piece of hardware that you need to play it... then make a new system that runs all the other games we have ever made... except this one! (maniacle laughter)
  
  Personally I look at it like this... was your old PS2 drowning out the sound from your game? Were you traveling so much that the not-so-huge PS2 was inconvenient to lug everywhere you had to go? Did you buy FFXI? Do you want to possibly deal with the overheating and disc error issues that Playstations have had for years, but now with less fan to help?
  
  Don't get me wrong... the sheer volume of games for the PS2 makes it a great console to own, but this smaller, sleeker, sexier design junk just sounds like an attempt to make more money.
  
  

• Slim, streamline, and stylish

  
  By on 2006-11-13
  A great buy for anyone looking to purchase a Playstation 2. The size has been reduced by more than half, and it's about half as heavy (about the size and weight of a book). There have been rumors of a overheating issue, but mine hasn't gotten as warm as the old PS2 because I keep it on a cookie cooling rack. It didn't even get warm after 8 straight hours of playing Kingdom Hearts. The top-loading drive is more convenient than the tray drive, however the first time I put a CD in, it came up with a disc read error. It turns out that I hadn't pushed the CD in until it snapped into place, and I haven't gotten an error since then. I have had no issues with my unit, and would recommend it to anyone out there who has been considering this model. Sony outdid themselves on this one. Great product!
  
  

• PS2 ..still the Best!

  
  By A33FLCA6RC7IRN on 2006-11-15
  This is my second PS2. I traded my first on in on a Xbox 360, which only lasted 91 days before it died (read all about it in my 360 review). Leary of version 1.0 PS3, I opted to go back to the PS2 and its proven reliability and copious games for less money. I got a set of HDTV cables, a wireless controller, and have not looked back. What a fool I was to fall for Microscams empty promises! This is the best game system! You can even play online for free! The games are more challenging and last a lot longer than the 360 games ,which I could beat in a week, playing an hour a day. The warranty is awesome at 1 year parts and labor! I am not worried,however, because I had my original PS2 for 10 years without issue before trade-in! A fantastic system at an unbeatable price! I will keep this one for at least a year before trading it in on a PS3 ,once all of the bugs are fixed and the price goes down to $400..........Until then, long live the PS2!!!!
  
  
• Still Holds Up Wonderfully - Five Years Later
  By A3V6Z4RCDGRC44 on 2006-12-19
  With all the hype about the PS3, Wii and XBox 360, take another look at the PS2. It has a huge library of games, a reliable system, and is inexpensive!
  
  The PS2, which launched in December 2001, uses DVDs as its storage medium, meaning the unit can double as a CD and DVD player. It is small, light for carrying around, and doesn't have the sound or heat problems that the 360 and PS3 have. It's extremely sturdy - we have two PS2s and haven't had any problems with either one.
  
  The graphics on the PS2 are very impressive, especially some of the later games where the game designers had years to learn how to take advantage of every last detail in the system's design. For a long while the XBox had a clear advantage with graphics, but with some of the recent releases, like Final Fantasy XIII, the cut scenes were just gorgeous.
  
  Speaking of Final Fantasy, with the PS2 you can play all games from the PS2 *and* PS1 series - meaning you can play every Final Fantasy game that is out. That alone could keep you occupied for months if not years. Guitar Hero is another fantasic game that is only on the PS2. The guitar controllers literally cannot plug into a PS3.
  
  Here's a pretty clear indicator of how good the PS2 system is. We've had the XBox 360 for a year, and got the Wii and PS3s right when they came out. Even so, we were still going back to our PS2 to play the games we had on it, rather than bother with moving our save games up to the PS3. The games were really that good.
  
  Sometimes it's not about high def super graphics. Sometimes it's about pure, fun gameplay. The PS2 has perfected that over the years, and there are numerous games on this system that have legions of fans. There's even a network port if you want to play online. Note that it doesn't have "built in wireless" - you have to plug a bridge or other wireless adaptor into the port to have it connect to your home wireless network. This is really easy to do, though, and I have full instructions if you need them.
  
  Well recommended, even in an age of next-gen consoles!
  
  
• BEWARE of SONY's Next FLOP
  By A3VSLFMJISK5KU on 2004-11-10
  Sony continues to impress with its attempts at living off its name. I bought the new PS2 because my old one crapped out, it stopped reading dics. Well i have been playing video games most of my life and i dont really worry about detailed stuff like whether or not the xbox or ps2 produces better quality images. However, I am very concerned with craftsmanship and Sony products have really begun to lapse. They need to stop living off their name and begin making quality products again. I hope that all these people who have raved about this new system (it is no better than the other PS2, just buy the ethernet adaptor and u have everything this one does)are not in for a shock when the new PS2, reminiscent of the old begins to have disc read errors. That's right after less than a week of owning the new ps2 the thing stopped reading discs. I tried Madden and GTA and other games all to no avail. I am pretty good with electronics so after hearing the machine making a clicking noise i was fairly certain the system was shot. I will be returning it to Circuit City. Hopefully this is an isolated incident but with the recent track record of sony products i doubt it. In a few weeks or months we may well see a recall on these new systems because from an electronic standpoint these systems appear to have problems from the start. Yeah they are small but guess why? Mostly because they moved the power adapter outside the system and eliminated the cooling fan. Problem being the system can overheat. Nextly they removed the cutoff switch, the only way to completely turn the system off is to unplug it from the wall and I suggest you do this so that ur system isn't damaged by excess heat. Who's dumb idea was it to remove a cooling fan from a closed electrical component? I have a lot vested in staying with ps2 I love the GTA series and GT4 comes out in December but these lapses in craftsmanship have brought me to the point where i will not buy anymore Sony products. They use crap components and it shows. There arent nearly as many complaints about Xbox or Nintendo. Because Sony is on top right now they have gotten lazy and their products are starting to show it. So beware of the "new" ps2. First it is a waste of money if u already own one. Second, the craftsmanship with sony is always suspect. It is hit or miss whether u are gonna get a craped out sony product so u might even be better buying one used and saving ur cash because the new ones are no better and certainly arent worth 150. Sony is just tryin to skim off the top with this new ps2. I was a die hard ps2 fan but this second ps2 collapse really leaves me questioning sony products.
  
  
• Great New Design and Concept
  By A1LRWH176LCE1D on 2004-11-06
  I am a mother of three children, so I have grown to know alot about these game consoles. I bought the new Playstation 2 for my 14 year old daughter. When it arrived, I opened it and tried it out to make sure it was in working condition. It is about 3 times smaller than the old one. There is also the option of getting online with it. I don't think that $149.99 is too expensive. It is the same price as the old one, and with more features. I think people are just a little too impatient about the PS3 coming out. Since I have kids 14 and under, Playstation 2 is the best for us. XBox doesn't have as many games, especially geared towards kids. They seem to have too many sports games. My youngest daughter has a Gamecube, and there isn't as many games available, and they are more expensive. It isn't easy to find many good games on sale for $20-$30 like it is for PS2. Anyway, I think the PS2 is great. I think most of the bad reviews are from people who don't own it yet, either because they are children whose parents refuse to buy the new version because they already have the old one, or from impatient hard-core gamers desperately waiting for the PS3.
  
  
• Why is all I ask
  By A2DXGHGAQZMLTC on 2004-11-20
  Sony did just fine with original PS2. Sure its graphics aren't nearly as good as Xbox, or have a hard drive like the Xbox, but it has way more games, and allot of them are really fun. Instead of optimizing the HDD, Sony has cut it out. It made the system quiter, but reduced the size of the fan-which equalls more disk errors and game freezes and it happens faster than ever. This system is completely pointless and insufficient compared to the original PS2. I love Playstation, but I cant give this system praise like all the other PS2 fans out there because it was made by Sony. Here is how it is-Xbox is a much better system, PS2 has many more fun games to play. Put the two together and it would be impressive at least. I suggest anyone looking to buy the new PStwo to spend the extra $40 and get the original, or an Xbox. If you want to buy a present for your kids, this flimsy toy thing will be smashed within a month, waste of money and time.
  
  
• A Small Packaged PS2.
  By A1JO5E9OD96VLO on 2004-10-31
  The New designed PS2 is just under 9in Long, about 6in Wide, and barely over 1 in Thick. It's just a little bigger than a VHS tape. It has a top loading system,the door pops up . The hole in your game disk clicks into place.Just like a portable CD walkman.It's much ,much ,smaller than the first design. I love the small design. The only negative is no memory card is supplied. The main reason to own a PS2 is ,simply , There's just more games than other consoles. I also own an Xbox . Which of course is the best of all consoles graphics wise ,plus its internal hard-drive. But you need to buy a dvd remote to play dvd's on the xbox.The PS2 plays dvd's right out of the box.So both consoles,have there little trick to squeeze a little more cash out of your pocket . If you wanna improve graphics on your PS2 ,I strongly suggest you get either an "S" cable, Or a component cable. First look at the back your TV ,if you have a black input that's kinda funky looking,thats an "S" video input and underneath will be red and white for audio input. If you see any blue input than that means you have also component input which is the best video input for graphics. There mostly on expensive tv's. But most TV'S have an "S" cable input which is better graphics than the supplied RCA plugs ,red,white,yellow ,that come with the PS2. You'll notice a difference in clearer graphics with the " S" cable ,or even better the "component" cable. Sony makes a good "S" cable,about $29.00. Ive tried the monster cable's ,but I had some problems with my cable. I'd stick to the SONY brand "S"cable.But Iv'e heard that madcatz "S"cable at walmart for $10.00 is just as good.With so many good games coming out on the XBOX . It's hard for me to say the new PS2 is a good buy ,not because of quality,but because of price,But $149.99 aint bad and I got a memory card for $19.99 at Circuit City. The PS2 has tons of games .Much more than the XBOX. Maybe wait until there's a good ps2 bundle .But the the new PS2 design rocks.It's highly portable.I have both systems xbox,and ps2. I like PS2 cause it has more games. I like the Xbox because it has better quality graphics,almost computer quality. If I was forced to own just one system. I'd probably go with PS2 ,because there's more games for that console,and it's very small now,and portable,It would easily fit in a backpack. But with HALO2 coming out I must keep my Xbox which is my personal "favourite" console system. But the PS2 "controller" is the best designed. All in all the new designed PS2 gets my thumbs up for quality and design.Get it if you can afford it. All three consoles have there pro's and cons. I'll leave it up to you to make your choice.
  
  
• Way Better Then Before!
  By A22BFGHM9X80OE on 2004-11-09
  This new playstation 2 is awesome. To answer some quick questions I get asked a lot about this is does it have better graphics or faster loading. NO it does not. It also does have an HDD bay which sucks for the final fantasy players. Luckily I don't play that so I'm in good shape. The new playstation is 1/3 the size of the original makeing it very convinent to carry around. You may notice that it doesn't have a fan so your wondering is it going to overheat. Not really because it has a very nice intercooling system that keeps the ps2 at a appropriate temperature. It does tend to get a little warmer then the other ps2 a little faster but nothing to worry about. If your looking to save room in your entertainment system get this. If you have a older playstation 2 and have room and it works good just keep that. The new playstation is cool but it's just smaller. Hopefully it's not going to break fast like the older ps2 model. If your planning on purchaseing a playstaion 2 and you don't have one by this one instead of the big one.
  
  
• Not Perfection But Darn Close
  By on 2005-12-01
  I think this redesign is great. My favorite change is that the system has a built in Network Adapter. So you save 20 bucks if you want to play online. My least favorite change is complete lack of HDD support. But honestly not a big loss. You'd only need it if you wanted to play a Final Fantasy game online.
  
  Now, with all of people who say the PS2 doesn't have a lot of durability, what are you doing to your consoles? Me, my uncle, cousin, and 5 friends have had a PS2 for over 3 years and they still work fine.
  
  For you people who are just now wanting a console, I'll tell you how to decide. Honestly, all the consoles are great.
  
  The PS2 is the current leader of the consoles because it had a wide variety of games and a lot of excellent exclusives (Katamari, Ratchet, Kingdom Hearts).
  
  The Xbox is next because it has the best online system. But don't think the PS2 has horrible online, you can still kick butt in MK Deception and shoot down people in Killzone. Xbox has a some excellent exclusives (Halo, Ninja Gaiden). But lots of the excellent games are ones also availiable on PS2 (GTA San Andres, Battlefront).
  
  Gamecube's only strength in my opinion are it's exclusives such as Mario, Metroid, and the flawless Zelda. But if you're a teen, you'd also want a PS2 or Xbox because Gamecube misses out on a lot of teen/mature games such as GTA, Battlefront, sometimes MK, and Destroy All Humans.
  
  But honestly, they're all excellent. They all have their own games and own capabilities.
  
  
• just note
  By A9TLCX3EOAB3X on 2006-10-20
  The only differneces between the new slim and the old playstation 2 is a cooling issue. But, you have to leave the slim on for hours to overheat. Also, the slim's CD reader holds the disc which allows easier CD read.
  
  
• AWESOME!!!!! IT GETS WARM, YES BUT DOES NOT OVERHEAT
  By on 2004-11-22
  First of all.....gamecube is the best.....ps2 is the second best.....and xbox is the 3rd best. Xbox is good but ps2 and gamecube kick its butt.....xbox may be a powerful system but it has horrible games.....yes, halo 2, halo, and fable are good but the other games are horrible. On the other hand.....ps2 and gamecube have about 40 good games.....ITS BEEN SAID THAT IT OVERHEATs and breaks or melts but its not true.....the only reason reviews say it overheats is because either michrosoft fanboys say it or michrosoft payed people to say it......think about.....if it really did overheat, sony would recall it or they wouldnt sell it at all.....this system rocks.....good job sony.....YOU MAKE GREAT SYSTEMS.....xbox is just jealouse because they couldnt make their system that small.....if xbox fell on you, it would give you a concusion.....and i am not a little kid.....i am actually 14 so im not a little kid like this review says, so even older kids love mario and zelda and all those great games.....and alot of xbox lovers are nerds, i mean, i read this review that said this guy bought 3 xbox's, three halo 2 games and a lan cord and hes gonna get it at 12:00 p.m. at night, i mean, what a loser
  
  
• Impressive Redesign
  By A37ZXCGMXBSYFG on 2004-11-02
  Sony's refreshening of the venerable PS2 is both a marvel of technology and a mild disappointment all in one teeny tiny little package.
  
  Yes, it's no PS3, and many fanboys will discount the redux as "money-grubbing", choosing to stand by their Xboxes or Gamecubes. However, to completely dimiss the redesign out of hand will be a mistake to anyone interested in a more portable game console.
  
  Make no mistake, as popular as the other guys' consoles are, there is no game platform with more titles than the PS2. And that huge library is full of fantastic games that are still very much "in" (GTA:San Andreas and the Gran Turismo series come to mind). It's hard to argue against the borg that is Sony, and having the largest selection of titles makes the PS2 a fair choice, regardless of your game genre or system preferences.
  
  But on to the new top-loading PS2 itself: this thing is small. While it lacks the motorized CD tray, anyone who travels frequently, whether it be a visit to a friend's house across the street or flight across the country, will appreciate the miniscule size of the box. About a third the size of the original, the new PS2 is perfect for slipping in a backpack, or tricking out your bling-bling ride.
  
  What makes this even more impressive is the integration of the network port. Once a separate pay-for option, the built-in networking (both ethernet and dial up modem no less) not only makes the price more reasonable, but definitely ups the cool factor a notch.
  
  The system is also very quiet and surprisingly cool, despite a reduction in internal fans.
  
  There is one noticeable issue with the new size, however. There is no hard drive interface, so Final Fantasy gamers with hard drives are out of luck (at least until they make a USB or other type adapter).
  
  Overall, the smaller PS2 is a console worthy of consideration. It's a great choice for both newcomers to the console world as well as folks with extra cash burning a hole in their wallets who need a travel-sized system or replacement to their existing PS2s.
  
  
  
  
• PS2 is still better
  By on 2004-12-05
  The PS2, a wonderful system, is now a inch tall. The 'New' PS2 has gotten smaller and comes with a bult-in network adaptor. I have to say that the PS2 is the best of the three. It may be more expensive than them all but its still good. Every system is different. Here's how:
  
  PlayStation 2:
  1) Online capability
  2) Can talk through a Headset
  3) No Monthly fee to play online
  4) Memory cards are good
  5) Controllers are good
  6) New smaller version
  7) Can play DVD's
  8) Has a cooling system
  
  GameCube:
  1) No online capability
  2) Bad memory card
  3) Very good controller
  4) Can connect to GBA
  5) Has a cooling system
  
  X-Box:
  1) Online capability
  2) Can talk through a headset
  3) Has a monthly fee to play online
  4) Built-in memory card
  5) Controllers are ok
  6) Can download music into some games
  7) Can play DVD's
  8) No cooling system
  
  Also, I would like to say something... STOP IT MICROSOFT AND NINTENDO!!!!!!!!! I've seen that the reviews are not very helpeful. For example: 0 out of 6 people found the following review helpul. To me thats just sick and I believe its because Microsoft and Nintendo decided that since they aren't doing good enough they will make all the reviews unhelpful. I mean, don't you see GameCube and X-Box have more bundle packs then PS2. It's because they aren't doing as good as PS2. I'm gonna go now and I'm pretty sure that all those GameCube/X-Boxs fans are gonna say this review isn't helpful, but I'm not worried, cause GameCube and X-Box will never do better then the PS2.
  
  
• A worthy interim fun toy before PS3 arrives
  By A5JLAU2ARJ0BO on 2004-11-16
  The new-design PS2 is IMHO a vast improvement over the original PS2. Not only is it slimmer and prettier (take that, Xbox!), but it's also quieter, loads games faster, has better DVD support, and has built-in networking. The last feature is especially cool for those of us who never bought the network adapter for the original PS2. Considering old PS2 + network adapter packs are still selling for $180 or more online, the new PS2 is a steal.
  
  OK, so PS3 this is not. It's just a souped-up PS2, or PS2+, perhaps? Is it worth your $150? Let me put this way: if your current PS2 works fine and you have no interest in online play, then don't bother getting this one. The slim design alone is not worth the price. On the other hand, if your PS2 is wearing down (judged by game-loading failures, whines from the motor or fan, flashes on screen, ...), or if you want to do online play but never bought the network adapter, here's your chance to get into the action and own a shiny new, prettier-looking PS2.
  
  PS2 is still relevant in teh game console world today (Nov. 2004) because of its vast game library. Its graphic engine is inferior to Xbox and Gamecube, but not really by that much in real-world terms. It's great.
  
  
• Some people are not very helpful
  By on 2005-02-28
  Something is pissing me off. It's when a lot of you people write a 2 sentence reveiw saying "Ps2 sucks. Buy xbox." Well I've got news for you. That dosn't help anyone. What these reveiws are for are to help people decide what video game system to buy. So if you're going to say something like that, why don't you give some resons why it "sucks." Some might say its graphics suck. But first of all PS2's graphics don't suck. Maybe xbox has better graphics but listen to this. Xbox is like almost 2 feet wide and up and down. The PS2's new design is a quarter the size of xbox and it's got a huge selection of games. Also xbox's controller is huge and has like 15 buttons on and the buttons are all scattered out. The PS2 controller is way smaller and the butttons are very well laid out. So if you're going to write a reveiw, say something helpful.
  
  
• Go find a refurbished original PS2 for 1/2 the price
  By A2PKMVPX8JUPS5 on 2005-11-01
  I was so excited when Sony bought out the new slimline PS2 and was one of the first to get one. The look and size of this machine makes it irresistible, but after I played it non stop for about 3 months it started to have problems. I would get 'Disk Read Errors' (the dreaded DRE's) and some disks wouldn't even play. The games would just skip, jump and make awful sounds. Luckily I bought an extended warranty from Sony and they refunded me the whole amount. I went out and bought a refurbished original PS2 that is twice the size and has a fan inside so it doesn't over heat for half the price of the new slimline PS2 and was able to buy a new game with the money left over. They both play games the same way, apart from the original PS2 lets me play for hours on end. This is not just a one off you should ignore, because when I returned the slimline PS2 they said they had alot of returns because of the same problem.
  
  DO NOT BUY THIS NEW SLIMLINE PS2 IT WILL OVER HEAT AND DIE ON YOU WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS.
  
  
• Sony Playstation 2
  By A2WGM9J7C59VNQ on 2005-11-16
  The Sony PlayStation 2 is the best selling video games console on the planet, with over 90,000,000 units sold worldwide. It is successor to Sony's original PlayStation (over 100,000,000 units sold) and is the predecessor to the much-anticipated PlayStation 3. PlayStation 2, or PS2 for short, was introduced in 2000 and is considered part of the sixth generation of video game consoles along with the Sega Dreamcast, the Nintendo Game Cube, and the Microsoft Xbox. The Sega Dreamcast was the first of the sixth generation consoles to the hit the market, yet the PS2, although being second, was able to quickly outsell the Dreamcast based on the strength of its PlayStation brand, tapping into the huge base of satisfied original PlayStation customers. After crushing the Dreamcast, the developers at Sony had to survive the arrival of the Game Cube and the highly publicized debut from Microsoft, the Xbox. While the debut of the Game Cube caused only a small decrease in PS2 sales, the release of the Xbox hindered sales to the extent that Sony had to lower the price of the PS2. For the last four years the PS2 has seen strong competition from the Xbox but has still managed to come out on top in terms of worldwide sales of the consoles. In order to understand the rivalry between the PS2 and Xbox, we must compare the two systems and highlight what sets one apart from the other. When deciding which video games console the gamer should buy, they should study three criteria: game selection, hardware and performance, and intangibles.
  
  One of the main selling points of the PS2 is its ability to play games from the original PlayStation, giving the system hundreds of games it can play. On top of that, the PS2 has some really killer games on the market. It's library includes Grand Theft Auto 3, Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty, Devil May Cry, Final Fantasy X, SSX Tricky, Tony Hawk s Pro Skater 3, as well as a ton of awesome sports games and RPGs. There are much, much more good ones out there too. The PS2 is also known for its variety of games that are suitable for all age groups, including children. The Xbox, on the other hand was Microsoft's first console and so they had to try to get exclusive rights from video game producers to make games only for Microsoft, when these producers had already been working with Sony on the original PlayStation and were tied up making games solely for Sony. To date, the Xbox's best selling game has been Halo, which is only available on Xbox. The Xbox has yet to materialize an RPG, and many Xbox owners are starving for one. In terms of game selection, the PS2 beats the Xbox hands down.
  
  The Xbox was heralded before its release for having superior hardware and performance, which is logical considering that Microsoft designed and built it. The graphics and processing system in the Xbox is far superior to the PS2, allowing for faster game play, less loading time, and clearer visuals, and in general better looking screens. The Xbox also has a built-in hard drive, while with the PS2 you have to buy several memory cards at $30 a piece. For online play the Xbox has a broadband adaptor already in place in the system; again, this is only available separately for $50 on the PS2. Both the Xbox and the PS2 play CDs and DVDs, with relatively similar capabilities. In terms of controllers, the PS2 controller at first is hard to get used to but gets comfortable quickly, while the Xbox controller is too big and uncomfortable even months later. The Xbox edges over the PS2 in the hardware and performance category, but the PS2 is not far off.
  
  One of the most important intangibles is price. The PS2 was always priced $125 less than the Xbox. This gave the PS2 a competitive advantage, making it more marketable to lower income consumers. PS2 games are also slightly cheaper than the Xbox's. The weight and size of the Xbox has also been a source of criticism, the PS2 on the other hand, is lightweight and small. The Xbox has also been known to overheat after four or five hours of continuous play with no such complaints for the PS2. Despite its larger size, the Xbox has been notorious for malfunctioning after rough handling that does not affect the PS2.
  
  The PS2 and Xbox are both excellent consoles that offer hours of entertainment. The PS2 has been more successful I think because of its lower price and the greater variety of games. Part of the reason also could be that Japanese and Asian sales of the Xbox were far lower than PS2 sales, while PS2 sales did even better in the US than Xbox. Maybe that is a sign of Japanese customer loyalty to products manufactured in their homeland and American disregard for where it is manufactured. Nevertheless, 2006 will see the release of the seventh generation of consoles, the PS3 and the Xbox 360 and with it will come a similar debate on who is king of the gaming consoles.
  
  
  
• Sorry but it's true
  By on 2005-11-30
  I have a xbox and a ps2. And the xbox is great, it is really powerful, will last you forever and has a very well organized online play but honestly I feel a little bit like a traitor for turning on it because I truely think that for 12 year old kids like me are better off with a ps2 unless you are fond of sports games. The xbox lacks game variety yet the games it dosen't lack are really good. Get the xbox if:
  
  You like sports game
  
  And if you enjoy 1st person shooters like me definetly get the xbox, it has incredible 1st person shooters with a unbelieveable multiplayer experience.
  So those are the reasons to get the xbox, but the reason I turned on it is because the ps2's game variety interested me much more. But in system features and functionality even the ps2 fans gotta hand it to the xbox, i mean it is incredibly powerful and has a 8gb hardrive!
  
  Hope this helps in your descision, but it will kinda hard to find this review in all the other 200 some reviews.
  
  P.S both systems are great but ditch the gamecube (it was only good while it was the smallest now the ps2 matches it's size)
  
  
• staying behind the curve
  By ALCUFI66I6Z60 on 2007-02-01
  The playstation 2 console is pretty good. Obviously it cannot compare with the graphics of XBox360, PS3 or Wii. But it does have a great variety of games available plus it has been out there for a while now so it seems to be more reliable compared to the new gen consoles who still have to fix a lot of initial bugs.
  
  I have been playing PC games all my life so if I want real good graphics I can always go to my PC games. The reason I went with PS2 was that I wanted to play games not available on the PC platform e.g Soul Calibur III, GT4, Resident Evil 4, MGS etc.
  
  Another advantage of getting a PS2 right now is that the games are pretty cheap as compared to those for the new gen consoles - around $20 compared to $49.99 for Wii and $59.99 for the XBox360. Plus you can get a lot of used games from ebay, EB games etc.
  
  I will be sticking with my PS2 for a couple of years. In the meantime the new gen consoles would have fixed their initial bugs and the console as well as game prices would have come down (hopefully). Then I might think of getting the new consoles.
  
  Thats what I meant by staying behind the curve.
  
  Remember....you are getting a video game to have fun and not admire at the graphics. The graphics certainly do enhance the experience but it can never replace a quality game design....playstation2 has a lot of good games out there.
  
  Remember that you will have to spend more than the $129 to get started. You will need to get component cables - $25 sony brand. I have not tried the other cheaper ones. I dont think they will be any different and you can save some money here. Also you need to get a memory card. I bought the 2-pack - sony brand for like $29. I think its worth since the single pack is for $19. You might also need to get an extra controller. So be prepared to shell out another $40-$55 for the cables and memory card.
  
  The component cables do make a lot of difference. Please buy them if you have a TV which has component inputs. In not then atleast get the S-video cable. Its definitely worth upgrading from the stock composite cable.
  
  Also, you do not need to buy an optical audio cable (toslink). It is used only for DVD playback. So if you have your own DVD player you do not need to get the cable for your PS2. The L-R RCA audio cables are enough since none of the PS2 games I know support digital audio. They do have a lot of games which support Dolby ProLogic-II e.g. Resident Evil 4, God of War etc. If you have a receiver which supports Pro-LogicII then its really great since it really sounds great when using ProLogic-II. For more info on Pro-Logic II I would recommend googling it up or look up Wikipedia. Pro-LogicII is a type of dolby surround system which does not require optical audio cables. The signal can be transferred through our regular RCA audio cables and the receiver decodes the information and creates the surround effect.
  
  Amazon shipping was great and before time.
  
  
• Sweet Slim PS2
  By AODZU5EE5L6M8 on 2004-10-28
  This new playstation 2 is here to replace the old "un-reliable" version. Overall design is much smaller and more simple. The loading tray is manually operated, similar to Gamecube and Playstion 1. Other updates include built-in network, progessive scan, digital optical audio output, dvd-r play, and built in remote receiver! So no more dvd receiver sticking out and hogging up joystick slot! The pegs on the rotor that hold the disc is made of plastic not metal, kinda cheapy here. The disc tray dont open high enough, have to pull the cover more open.... The DVD player is more responsive compare to the older models. More functions too such as display on/off and sharpness adjust feature. However the DVD picture quality is not as good as REGULAR DVD players.
  
  BEWARE: The PSTwo DVD player sometimes will not play certain movie's format. Virtual Sex from Digital Playground will not work properly on PSTwo.
  
  Playstation 2 is the best of all consoles. Why? Its all about the games! XBOX is like a nice sports car but with no gas in it. Playstion 2 is like a good car but with full tank of gas, at least you can always go places or play. Gamecube is like a lame car with no gas in the tank. Playstation is good because Sony is good at doing business. For example, Squaresoft never make games for Xbox, because Sony dont allow them to, if they can and other companies have the same freedom too then Playstation and Gamecube will cease to exist because Xbox's hardware performance is truly kickass.
  
  Target and Toys r us got the best return and warranty policy. They give you 90 days. Gamestop is the worst place to buy consoles, you only have 7 days for return and if your console blows up on the 8th day tough luck. However if you are smart, cough cough, you can buy the warranty. So Gamestop is cool if you are cool. Nuff said.
  
  
• ps2(new design) over priced!
  By A367POWNM8TL4 on 2004-12-31
  People are selling new PS2 over priced!!!! It only cost $150 in the store, and it's over $200 online!!!! What are you people smoking!!!!!!!?
  
  Note: No one is going to buy ps2 for over $200, only dumb people would buy for over $200, smart people would only buy for $150, you people will never make buisness like this.
  
  
• playstation 2
  By ABZLQR8JRKBZ2 on 2005-01-02
  I wish I could write a review for the Playstation 2!! However, I bought and paid for one on amazon on December 16th from PRINCESSJESS20901 and never received it!!! She picked up the money from Western Union within minutes but failed to send the product. All I can say is BEWARE!! DO NOT BUY FROM PRINCESSJESS2. She is a thief that had no intentions of ever sending the Playstation 2!!!!
  
  
• Fun affordable, but does not include all needed hardware
  By A3I04RM049YS8Y on 2006-05-03
  I am not a big video game person but these units are now below $150 and many games are available for around $20. Because of this I purchased a Playstation 2.
  
  The game system works well but has a slightly cheap plasticy feel. The disc player portion of the game is verysimilar to a portable CD player with a spring loaded door and a snap-in disc loading process.
  
  I only have two big problems with the Sony Playstation system.
  
  First, most of the games require the use of a flash memory card that has to be the sony playstation brand. Inexpensive flash memory cards widely available in electronics stores dont work in the playstation. Even Sony memory-stick flash memory doesnt work in the playstation 2 console. It has to be a playstation brand flash memory card. An 8MB card will cost you at least $25 which is an absurd amount for 8MB of flash memory. I recently purchased a 1000MB flash memory card for my camera for $50, the playstation memory is very very overpriced!
  
  Second, if you have a television that is newer than 2000, the cables included with the unit are going to provide a poor video display compared to what your television is capable of. I have a 2002 television with component inputs and I had to spend $25 for the cheapest component video cable on the market. Playstation cannot use standard component cables which are available for a few dollars at Radio Shack, you have to buy Playstation 2 specific cables because the connectors on the playstation 2 unit are not standard RCA type plugs. You will also have to do a bit of searching to even find them for $25. The cheapest component video cable at a mojor electronics retailer near my home is over $50, but they can be found for $25. The unit does include an antiquated video cable in the box but it delivers a much lower quality signal.
  
  Because of the two above issues, you must spend at least $50 to make this Playstation2 work with most games and work with modern televisions. The $130 price tag is very misleading.
  
  
• Good Gaming
  By on 2005-07-10
  The Playstation 2 has had a long history of faults. Disc Read Errors, faulty disc doors, network adapters cost extra, too big, ect. ALL of this is fixed in the new slim model.
  
  Connectivity -- 6/10 -- The Slim PS2 has a built in network adapter, which will allow you to use dial-up, broadband, DSL, and Cable to play over the net. Most games will only support broadband, DSL, and Cable though. The Slim PS2 has 2 USB ports to connect to stuff like a mouse or keyboard. I am not sure if it can hook up to things like digital cameras, but I wouldn't bet on it. Online gaming is free, but free online gaming comes with a steep price. The speed and reliability of PS2 online gaming is nowhere near that of the Xbox.
  
  Graphics -- 7/10 -- The graphics are awesome. Playing games like the Silent Hill series and Devil May Cry will captivate you in the realistic lighting effects, shadowing effects, and so forth. You will hear alot of people say that the PS2 has the weakest graphics capibilities, and that is true. But there isn't much of a difference. It's still a 128-bit gaming console, just like the Dreamcast, Gamecube, and Xbox.
  
  Processor Speed -- 8/10 -- The clock speed on the PS2 is 300 MHZ (megahertz). For those of you who don't know, clock speed is how fast the processor of any machine is. The Dreamcast pulled 200 MHZ, Gamecube has somewhere around 400, and Xbox has clock speeds of 733 MHZ. The PS2 has the next to slowest processor. I haven't been disappointed by loading times yet though. In fact, loading times in alot of PS2 games are better than what I've seen in numerous Xbox games.
  
  Library -- 10/10 -- The library of games for the PS2 is the largest by far of all four 128-bit game system. The PS2 is backward compatible with PS1 games, which means all of your favorite games from the original Playstation can be played on the Playstation 2. I heard that the first models of Playstation 2 couldn't play Playstation 1 games, but that has been fixed ages ago, and it is safe to say that you can play all PS1/PS2 games on the new slim PS2. More than half of the games on Xbox and Gamecube are on the PS2, so if you are in variety, than PS2 is worth the investment. The PS2 has alot of cool gadgets to tinker with, like the eyetoy, which is a camera that uses your body as a controller.
  
  Controller -- 9/10 -- This is the same exact controller design as the PS1 analog controller. It is pretty comfortable. I think it's better than the Xbox and Dreamcast controllers, but it tied with the Gamecube controller in my opinion. The buttons are pressure sensitive, so the harder you press a button, the more intense the command you were going for is. Example: In racing games like Gran Turismo 4, the harder you press the gas button, the faster you will go.
  
  DVD player capibility -- 6/10 -- The PS2 and Xbox can both play DVDs and CDs, but you might as well buy a DVD player because the PS2 and Xbox both don't make good DVD players. They can play DVDs, but the discs themselves can only have VERY FEW scratches, or it will stop in the middle of a movie, which is annoying. If the disc is in good condition, then both systems will play the movie in good definition. If you plan to use this as a DVD player, then get the DVD remote and take good care of your movies.
  
  Durability -- 9/10 -- I have 2 very large dogs. One just happened to knock off my darling Slim PS2 off my stand, and I expected it to die. It amazingly didn't. The slim versions have had complaints of overheating, but only because the particular persons didn't give their Slim PS2 proper ventilation. So basically, don't operate the PS2, or any system for that matter, in a closed space (Example: a cubbard, between books, in a drawer). The faulty disc door has been fixed with the flip top like the first Playstations and the Gamecube. Some people complain about this, but remember that the less moving parts something has, the less chance of it breaking down.
  
  Overall -- 8/10 -- This is an EXCELLENT system and I recommend it to everybody. But the next generation is coming out soon, so if you want to buy a Current generation console, it better be now, Because whe have Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 coming around the corner.
  
  
• Beware!
  By A3N2269M6JPKZ9 on 2004-12-07
  We've all read the debates about which console to choose, so I wont say anything on the subject. The PS2 is a geat system with a wide selection of games, and the new version doesnt change that. I find the new design better, because the lens can be easily cleaned. I also have one of the older models; i had to buy the new version because ot will no longer play anything or even load a cleaning disk to get the fild and dust off the laser - the top load design solved this problem quite simply. The built in ethernet adapter is also great for portability of the system and keeping the tangle of cords we all have under control.
  
  The BEWARE! in the subject is this - they are offered here for $200-$350. I bought mine from K-Mart for $149!!
  
  
• AC ADAPTOR PROBLEM!!
  By A140UJOL9ZEZV0 on 2005-01-15
  I want all you potential buyers to beware of the new PS2. I just got off the phone with Sony tech support,and I'm shocked to find out that the AC adaptor that comes with the game is not sold separately. The one that I got 2 WEEKS ago has bad wires in it. When you move the wire, the power shuts off. So I asked the person I talked to if I could just buy a new adaptor, and he said that I would have to return it. Then the company will review it and decide if the damage could have been caused by "consumer misuse" or if it was truly defective. OH I'VE BEEN DOWN THIS ROAD BEFORE!!! If (should I say when) they decide that the product was not defective, even though it is, the one I sent in will be returned to me and my only option will be to buy a whole new game system. FOR ONE BROKEN WIRE IN A CORD THAT IS NOT ATTATCHED TO THE CONSOLE!!! What a crock of !@$#& BUYER BEWARE OF SELF-SERVING COMPANIES. The new PS 2 is FAR INFERIOR in quality than the original. I guess if they make the design 10x more fragile, and replacement parts unavailable, and can invalidate the warranty if they feel that damage "could have" been caused by the consumer, then you'll just have to buy one, two, maybe three more playstations. X box has just gained a new customer.
  
  
• What is Hapenning to Amazon.com?
  By A2Q9EMSKLNIK91 on 2005-01-28
  Every time I enter to find some item now I found an 0.01 price what ACTUALY IS NOT THE REAL PRICE, this is just some spam inside the amazon.com. I just tried to buy a PS2 console, but the link that amazon is provinding take to me to some guy selling lenz for it or just some other stuff. Thank you amazon guys but ebay already exists! We just need the old amazon back, or if you decide to go like that, I'm just moving to the real ebay.
  
  

• Monster Cable GameLink 400 Component-Video Cable for PlayStation 2 (10 feet)
• PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year)
• Electronic Gaming Monthly
• Play

• Playstation 2 Memory Card 8MB 2PK Red/Blue
• PlayStation 2 Memory Card (8MB)
• PlayStation 2 Dualshock Controller Black
• PlayStation 2 Cordless Action Controller
• Madden NFL 07