PS2 Appreciation & Celebration Thread, long live the King!

I mentioned I was thinking about getting Radiata Stories last week.

Well I got it! Here's the other stuff I picked up as well throughout the month so far!

rMBs9kT.jpg
 
cj_iwakura said:
Xenosaga II is really the worst of the 3, but it does have a phenomenal OST and a fun battle system.

Also, it's VERY short.
Click to expand...


I will keep this in mind. I sort of hit a wall at the beginning of the game and didn't feel compelled to throw it back in, like I did with 1. got sidetracked with other games.
 
redhairedking said:
Does anyone here happen to know of a relatively easy way to play imports on an unmodded system? I was looking to get into Ar Tonelico (quite expensive in english but cheap in japanese) and the older Atelier games(japanese only) and would rather not buy a japanese system, though it is an option. From what I've read it seems like swap magic may be my best bet, though I've read a lot of conflicting information about the ability of softmods to run imports. I was just hoping to get some info from someone with experience.
Click to expand...

I did this a long time ago with swap magic, but even that required you to do things to the console itself. I think you had to remove the faceplate or front portion of the DVD drive of the fat model, not sure what to do for the slim.This is still probably the easiest way without buying a jp console, and if i remember correctly it wasn't hard once you did it a few times.

Nowadays you should be able to do it with FreeMcBoot and ESR, but you will have to build an ISO of your game then patch it with ESR, so you wont necessarily be able to run the actual purchased disk.

To softmod the PS2 you need to purchase an official PS2 to PS3 memory card adapter, but you don't need to alter your console physically in any way.

It's a little cumbersome to setup, but this is the way to go though, because there are widescreen patches for Ar Tonelico (at least for the US version) so depending on how the game is coded, you should be able to get 16:9 widescreen. And if not, you still can use GS Mode Selctor and get 480p, assuming the game isn't field rendered.


orthodoxy1095 said:
I mentioned I was thinking about getting Radiata Stories last week.

Well I got it!
Click to expand...

Congrats! It's a great little game, really unique too.
 
also, whenever I play a JRPG I enjoy, I think "wow, the next 10 games I'm gonna play are all gonna be JRPGs!" and then it doesn't happen lol
 
kick51 said:
also, whenever I play a JRPG I enjoy, I think "wow, the next 10 games I'm gonna play are all gonna be JRPGs!" and then it doesn't happen lol
Click to expand...

They're quite a time commitment, aren't they? Even if it's just psychological, cuz I'm sure I play action and arcade games for just as long, lol.
 
sixteen-bit said:
They're quite a time commitment, aren't they? Even if it's just psychological, cuz I'm sure I play action and arcade games for just as long, lol.
Click to expand...


yeah. I play a lot, but I kinda marathon'd Xenosaga 1. I needed to play some action games to clear my palette...and managed to beat Otogi and Onimusha 1+2 in less time total than that one JRPG.

but hearing Xenosaga 2 is short is encouraging.
 
kick51 said:
also, whenever I play a JRPG I enjoy, I think "wow, the next 10 games I'm gonna play are all gonna be JRPGs!" and then it doesn't happen lol
Click to expand...
I know right. I had a blast with Skyborn on Steam, and felt nostalgic for classic jRPGs, and decided I would do a new FF5 and FF6 playthrough, then Phantasy Star IV, and all the other great oldies.

...Instead I just played Dark Souls II again. >_>
 
Morrigan Stark said:
I know right. I had a blast with Skyborn on Steam, and felt nostalgic for classic jRPGs, and decided I would do a new FF5 and FF6 playthrough, then Phantasy Star IV, and all the other great oldies.

...Instead I just played Dark Souls II again. >_>
Click to expand...

Dark Souls II isn't a JRPG? I thought JRPG meant role playing game from Japan?
 
sixteen-bit said:
They're quite a time commitment, aren't they? Even if it's just psychological, cuz I'm sure I play action and arcade games for just as long, lol.
Click to expand...

JRPGs are usually pretty long, slow and repetitive so it feels like forever compared to something active like action games etc.

That's why I loved FF12 so much, it felt a lot more active and like an adventure game. Tried to start Digital Devil Saga right after and almost fell asleep (so went to DMC4 to wake up).

After playing The Last Story and Xenosaga 2, I'm really liking the 20-something hour length for a JRPG. TLS was even able to fit in an excellent post game in that span of time.
 
Currently playing Shadow Hearts: Covenant again. Forgot how much humor was in the game. Great music as well. I love the alternate history/fantasy approach of this series. Wish it had continued. :(
 
Morrigan Stark said:
It's commonly used to refer to a certain style of gameplay and artistic direction. Which I'm sure you already know...
Click to expand...
In Japan, RPGs that follow series conventions of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy and the like are called "Light RPGs". Perhaps we should use that term instead of pretending that type of game only comes from one place on the earth.
 
OuterLimits said:
Currently playing Shadow Hearts: Covenant again. Forgot how much humor was in the game. Great music as well. I love the alternate history/fantasy approach of this series. Wish it had continued. :(
Click to expand...

It gets more serious further into the game. the first 5-6 hours are pretty goofy though, it almost turned me off the game, so I'm glad I kept playing. Battle system is one of the best though.
 
It's great. Very bloody though. And many people don't like the stealth segments, but they are brief and not that difficult.
I'm still surprised that it came out in Germany. Uncensored, even. Dismemberment, decapitation, using limbs as clubs, throwing body parts into the audience to make them go wild and cheer you on more. Extra points for killing people that have pissed themselves in fear. The list goes on. The gorier the happier the audience, basically.
 
Hoping my PS2 still works. Planning to hook it up for the first time in years to play Klonoa 2 next week when it arrives at my local GS. Wondering if it will still work. It's been on a shelf in a closet or in a drawer for years.
 
Anyone here played Monster Hunter for ps2? Is it any good? Always been interested in playing those games, but never got a wii (waiting for MH4 for the 3ds).
 
maxcriden said:
Hoping my PS2 still works. Planning to hook it up for the first time in years to play Klonoa 2 next week when it arrives at my local GS. Wondering if it will still work. It's been on a shelf in a closet or in a drawer for years.
Click to expand...

Phat or Slim? I think you have a better shot with the slim still working.
 
maxcriden said:
Hoping my PS2 still works. Planning to hook it up for the first time in years to play Klonoa 2 next week when it arrives at my local GS. Wondering if it will still work. It's been on a shelf in a closet or in a drawer for years.
Click to expand...

Should be fine. I can't remember which ones had the better lasers, but both of mine were in storage for a good 3-4 years and they fired right up.
 
Retro4ever said:
Phat or Slim? I think you have a better shot with the slim still working.
Click to expand...

Phat PS2s made between ~2002-2004 are not bad. No more disc read error defect.

That motorized drive door can get pretty clunky if it's been collecting dust for awhile... but it actually loosens back up a bit after you use it regularly.
 
Logy said:
Anyone here played Monster Hunter for ps2? Is it any good? Always been interested in playing those games, but never got a wii (waiting for MH4 for the 3ds).
Click to expand...

I've wanted to try Monster Hunter 1 but never had the chance. I started with Tri and really enjoyed the game a lot, mostly because it doesn't force you to figure everything out right away and actually bothers to walk you through a few things.
 
MidgarBlowedUp said:
Should be fine. I can't remember which ones had the better lasers, but both of mine were in storage for a good 3-4 years and they fired right up.
Click to expand...

Retro4ever said:
Phat or Slim? I think you have a better shot with the slim still working.
Click to expand...

BocoDragon said:
Phat PS2s made between ~2002-2004 are not bad. No more disc read error defect.

That motorized drive door can get pretty clunky if it's been collecting dust for awhile... but it actually loosens back up a bit after you use it regularly.
Click to expand...

Thanks guys. It's an OG PS2, and I got it in 2001. So hopefully it'll be alright. I guess a new (used) one would be pretty cheap, right?
 
maxcriden said:
Thanks guys. It's an OG PS2, and I got it in 2001. So hopefully it'll be alright. I guess a new (used) one would be pretty cheap, right?
Click to expand...

Yeah pretty common at yard sales and flea markets since it was such a popular console too.

Off topic, but I hear folks are buying OG PS2s on the cheap and dismatling them because they've got about $30-$40 worth of gold components in them, lol
 
sixteen-bit said:
Yeah pretty common at yard sales and flea markets since it was such a popular console too.

Off topic, but I hear folks are buying OG PS2s on the cheap and dismatling them because they've got about $30-$40 worth of gold components in them, lol
Click to expand...

Holy crap! This is definitely the first I've heard of that haha.
 
ascii42 said:
You probably do not need to change anything. I think it defaults to Y cb/pb cr/pr over RGB, which is what you want.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Would that be true even if I exclusively used composite cables with the system when I last played it previously (red/white/yellow)?

(Sorry if I'm misspeaking here, this is really outside my wheelhouse!)
 
maxcriden said:
Thank you. Would that be true even if I exclusively used composite cables with the system when I last played it previously (red/white/yellow)?

(Sorry if I'm misspeaking here, this is really outside my wheelhouse!)
Click to expand...

I believe so. I don't remember having to do anything when I first bought component cables for my PS2. Worst case scenario, you look up how to change that setting blind.
 
maxcriden said:
Thank you. I ended up getting this one:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005MDZD/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Click to expand...

Should work fine, just know that some people, myself included, find that the Sony brand cables seem to offer an ever so slightly cleaner picture on some of the older model PS2's. I'm not sure why myself, but I don't think it's a placebo. I think it's because the Sonys had the built in ferrite rings that reduced electronic interference. But the difference is negligible even on my CRT and again could just be from all the other electronics I have in the room.
 
maxcriden said:
Sorry to hear it. Hmm, well, reviews are mixed to positive, so we'll see how it goes.
Click to expand...
Mine not only had red dots but also degrades the picture quality and cuts off the picture as seen here:

ibzqvZ0vGUoB6Q.png


Then I threw it in the trash, got the PS3 component cables and now it's fine!!!

ibjdQ31jGrjQxk.PNG


I also couldn't get 1080i to work with Gran Turismo 4 because it loses the signal, lol, yet it's perfect with the PS3 component cables.

Lets hope you get a good one.
 
Timu said:
Mine not only had red dots but also degrades the picture quality and cuts off the picture as seen here:

ibzqvZ0vGUoB6Q.png


Then I threw it in the trash, got the PS3 component cables and now it's fine!!!

ibjdQ31jGrjQxk.PNG


I also couldn't get 1080i to work with Gran Turismo 4 because it loses the signal, lol, yet it's perfect with the PS3 component cables.

Lets hope you get a good one.
Click to expand...

Oh, that is really odd, and unfortunate. Sorry to hear it. Hopefully the one I get will work better with my TV. If not, I guess I'll just have to return it.
 
Been playing Haunting Ground and Silent Hill 4 for the month of October and those games are a blast. Silent Hill 4 seems to lack some of the polish of SH2 and 3, but I'm still enjoying it.

Trying to make more of an effort to go through my PS2 backlog.
 
Psycho Powaa said:
Been playing Haunting Ground
Click to expand...
Me too. And it's great. Especially kicking the dog in the face after cuddling it =D*
But seriously, this game was really ahead of time and it's still fun to play, recently there are even some cheap sealed PAL copies on ebay... Everyone should do do himself a favour and play it!!!!

*(I love dogs and happily live with three of them, kicking dogs in real life is TOTALLY WRONG).
 
StoKatZo said:
Me too. And it's great. Especially kicking the dog in the face after cuddling it =D*
But seriously, this game was really ahead of time and it's still fun to play, recently there are even some cheap sealed PAL copies on ebay... Everyone should do do himself a favour and play it!!!!

*(I love dogs and happily live with three of them, kicking dogs in real life is TOTALLY WRONG).
Click to expand...

Haunting ground was awesome. Also if you like it might wanna check out Clock Tower 3.
 
Just wanted to give y'all an update. The component cables worked amazingly well. Thank you all for the great advice. I had to finagle with the settings a bit with no video output at the time, to get it working, but I had the cables hooked up incorrectly at first so it's possible you normally wouldn't have to do that. I'm going to have to take a pic or something because I cannot believe how good a PS2 game looks on my HDTV.

Anyway, I was able to get a copy of Klonoa 2 shipped from a NJ GameStop to my local VT store; it's disc-only which is okay by me and it was a whopping $1.20 or so. That's ridiculously cheap. It works well for the most part (some audio stuttering in a cutscene that I don't think is part of the game) and looks superb on my TV.

Now I'm wondering--what are some other cheap, charming, zany games I should be checking out?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Long live Tango Gameworks! 'Appreciation Thread'
2
63
7K
Hudo replied
HDR appreciation thread
2
90
4K
rofif replied
PS2
2 3
123
3K
Heimdall_Xtreme replied
You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become Phil Spencer
2
91
1K
AeonGaidenRaiden replied
Soulstone Survivors 1.0 Release - The Void King
21
772
DonkeyPunchJr replied
Top Bottom