PS2 Appreciation & Celebration Thread, long live the King!
- Thread starter Canis lupus
- Start date
AzureTranquility95
Banned
.Hack is one of those series you play through once, and that's it. The prices for copies nowadays certainly doesn't help matters.
But man, what started as me wanting to use .Hack Infection as a saucer disc in Monster Rancher blossomed into an unexpected summer-sleeper hit for me. Then I got into GU a few years later, but definitely dropped out after GU Volume 3 came out.
Then all 7 copies went into the ether that used to be Goozex. lol
The concept is really pretty stupid (It's a game within a game! derlol), but even despite that it proves to be a fun time. Again though I never felt an urge to revisit it unlike the other RPG series I've played. Take what Is ay with a grain of salt I guess.
I recall paying $20 for infection, and about the same for Mutation and Outbreak. I remember having to wait a LONG time before I could find a copy of Quarantine though, and I recall the price being $35. It was probaly complete too. Oh well.
My thoughts exactly! Won't lie though, I liked some of the keyword combinations you needed for certain areas. Still remember Delta Bursting Passed Over Aqua Field.
But man, what started as me wanting to use .Hack Infection as a saucer disc in Monster Rancher blossomed into an unexpected summer-sleeper hit for me. Then I got into GU a few years later, but definitely dropped out after GU Volume 3 came out.
Then all 7 copies went into the ether that used to be Goozex. lol
The concept is really pretty stupid (It's a game within a game! derlol), but even despite that it proves to be a fun time. Again though I never felt an urge to revisit it unlike the other RPG series I've played. Take what Is ay with a grain of salt I guess.
I recall paying $20 for infection, and about the same for Mutation and Outbreak. I remember having to wait a LONG time before I could find a copy of Quarantine though, and I recall the price being $35. It was probaly complete too. Oh well.
My thoughts exactly! Won't lie though, I liked some of the keyword combinations you needed for certain areas. Still remember Delta Bursting Passed Over Aqua Field.
theSlacker
Member
I liked them a lot, but if you are going for full completion they can get really repetitive, and you have to do some serious farming if you are crazy like me and want to get the best stuff in each game, knowing that as soon as you transfer your saves over to the next one it will be outclassed.
All the fields and dungeons are really samy other then some unique story related ones and secret ones at the end of each game. You can plow through each game in probably 10-20 hours, or 30-40 for doing all the quests/getting all the unique gear.
NormalFish
Banned
They're kind of a mixed bag. Homogenous and repetitive, but the world (especially IMOQ, and pardon the pun) is very well developed and realized. Kind of depends on what you're after, but I enjoyed my time with Infection.
theSlacker
Member
Oh boy, that is quite the question that can lead into a massive spending problem. All the worthwhile PVMs and BVMs are 20" or 14".
drtomoe123
Member
I agree. I played through the first games over the course of 10 years or so, very sporadically, and I enjoyed it. The gameplay is very grating and repetitive but it wasn't as much of an issue when I was playing the game once every two years or so.
I never had fast internet when I was a kid so MMORPGs were very intriguing to me. The series really nailed that aspect for me -- the desktop, party members with schedules, and the dungeon keywords, they were great. However, by the time you're grinding for virus cores in Quarantine, you can see through the novelty of the offline MMO and you just get frustrated because you just want to trade with a certain NPC that isn't always available.
NormalFish
Banned
Yup. It's a flawed design, but it does what it sets out to do quite well, I think.
Moor-Angol
Banned
After getting the memory card I started the Garage Mode in Automodellista
As usual you receive car parts, stickers and unlock new cars by winning races
Here is my Trueno :
As usual you receive car parts, stickers and unlock new cars by winning races
Here is my Trueno :
Moor-Angol
Banned
I suppose you got the US version, don't you?
In any case, online play can't be made I think, but how online worked on PS2 ?
I really didn't care about that back in the day, there was not a service like current PSN, so you just needed to plug your cable and play the game which supported online features ?
I think so? I mean, they reverse-engineered MGO online capabilities so that you can play it regardless of Konami closing servers. If there was something like PSN, they would have to take care of that as well?
Yes, I have the US version coming. I guess I didn't realize it originally had online, oh well I don't play online much anyway.
[Edit, I do not have the "US tuned" version coming, sorry misunderstood the question.]
I played some Enthusia last night. I forgot how much different an approach it requires compared to GT games with the Enthu points.
It's quite different from other Wipeouts, hard to explain... The physics are just... Different. More arcadey in a sense. Also the design has less of a strong identity as the previous ones. But the track designs are so much more spectacular than in the other games and I also love how they went for way wider tracks as well, love the game to death.
Moor-Angol
Banned
latest purchased games :
I bought Edit Racing (on the left) today, being a Yuke's title I thought it was a port from some crap western game but after searching on the net seemed like it was a japanese release only
I was looking the cover and I notice below the title "make a track from your own CD or DVD"
first I didn't understand what it meant, then Vib Ribon came out on my mind...
seems like it could be interesting but considering the game is as good as new I don't think the previous owner used it so much
I bought Edit Racing (on the left) today, being a Yuke's title I thought it was a port from some crap western game but after searching on the net seemed like it was a japanese release only
I was looking the cover and I notice below the title "make a track from your own CD or DVD"
first I didn't understand what it meant, then Vib Ribon came out on my mind...
seems like it could be interesting but considering the game is as good as new I don't think the previous owner used it so much
I bought Edit Racing (on the left) today, being a Yuke's title I thought it was a port from some crap western game but after searching on the net seemed like it was a japanese release only
I was looking the cover and I notice below the title "make a track from your own CD or DVD"
first I didn't understand what it meant, then Vib Ribon came out on my mind...
seems like it could be interesting but considering the game is as good as new I don't think the previous owner used it so much
Cool purchases. Some of the Simple2000 games are pretty good, quite a few got a PAL release under a different name back in the day too.
Those look like cool games, congrats!
I got to play Auto Modellista briefly last night. The wheel (Driving Force GT) didn't work but I didn't look into it too much. I'll have to look at it tonight. It works for Enthusia and other ps2 games (playing on phat backwards compat ps3) so it should work.
Anyway, game seemed pretty fun, I placed 2nd on Suzuka in the 22B in the first race.
I got to play Auto Modellista briefly last night. The wheel (Driving Force GT) didn't work but I didn't look into it too much. I'll have to look at it tonight. It works for Enthusia and other ps2 games (playing on phat backwards compat ps3) so it should work.
Anyway, game seemed pretty fun, I placed 2nd on Suzuka in the 22B in the first race.
Sweet! GT4 is the best in the series IMO.
Moor-Angol
Banned
yes, and most of UE releases didn't come to the US iirc
but the Ultimate series sometimes had some full priced title rereleased, such as a budget version but with a different label
I'm a great fan of Simple Series, especially the Tamsoft titles
Oh sorry to hear that, but there is the option for the driving steel, strange it's not working
Try to tune up your car, the game seems like to be interesting, especially on the typical japanese mountain drifting tracks
Cool, good to know! Is GT3 still worth playing anyway? I've heard there's quite a bit of difference.
It's been many years since I have put a decent amount of time into either so I can't comment on how they have aged. At the time of the release for both I recall 4 being what 3 was and a whole lot more (cars, tracks, photo mode, physics, graphics, Nurburgring Nordschleife, Le Sarthe, etc).
Is 3 worth playing? Yes, but I would play 4 first. They're huge games, if you like what 4 offers there is plenty to enjoy.
Benzychenz
Member
Cross posting this in the pick ups thread and here because it belongs in both.
My PS2 splurge is all here:
And it is glorious.
Shadow of the Colossus with the special paper sleeve case with the art cards inside, and Rayman 3 with the holographic cover are the stand outs.
My PS2 splurge is all here:
And it is glorious.
Shadow of the Colossus with the special paper sleeve case with the art cards inside, and Rayman 3 with the holographic cover are the stand outs.
GayForMaster
Banned
Never realized that Viewtiful Joe on PS2 featured Dante from the Devil may Cry series. Gonna have to sell my GC copy and pool that towards the PS2 version!
Indeed it is, quite a few all-time great games there. Enjoy!
Always annoyed me how the black PlayStation 2 bar at the top of the cover isn't standardised across all games. Font size differs and so does the black bar size. You can see it a little in your picture.
Moor-Angol
Banned
never noticed !
but at least logo was the same, PS3 had different logo, different fonts and different colors...
MAX PAYMENT
Member
I didn't have a PS2 until way late into the generation. So I only played it's top AAA titles. I wish would've had one from the beginning. I know I missed out on a lot of great B-tier games.
Maybe I should go look back into getting one.
Maybe I should go look back into getting one.
I would totally recommend it. Many games can be found for pretty cheap, especially if you have some flea markets, pawn shops or "mom&pop" shops around you. Library is insanely massive and I still enjoy playing it's games.
Petrae
Member
Seconded. PS2 games are generally very affordable right now and are still available in many game stores not called GameStop. While I certainly enjoy hunting for games on other platforms, the PS2 game library is so expansive that I'm almost always coming home with a few new additions to my own collection during my travels.
NormalFish
Banned
Start by picking up the ratchet and clank, jak and daxter, and smt games (if that's your jam). All pretty cheap, and damn good.
drtomoe123
Member
This! While this certainly isn't the absolute best time to pick up PS2 games (that was a few years ago), so many of the truly great games for the system are dirt cheap right now. Petrae hit the nail on the head with the variety of the library -- I've been actively collecting for the system for about seven years now (around 450 games so far) and there's still SO MUCH stuff that I'd like to get.
sixteen-bit
Member
I agree. PS2 library has such breadth and depth that there's always something new to discover.
redhairedking
Junior Member
I just got pcsx2 up and running so it's time to go and get all of those imports I could never play.
True, i got more then 600 PS2 games, I still find new gem every months.... This is truly unique and amazing console.
redhairedking
Junior Member
Have you had the chance to see if you can rip other region discs with OPL? I'm curious as well.
I finally got hold of the PAL release of Metal Slug Anthology - and it's laggy just as people had warned. Metal Slug 6 seems ok but the rest have a noticeable lag responding to input. Lazy conversion/emulation I guess.
It's still a neat collection and worth having, but just be aware of this particularly if you have to shell out much money for it. (I managed to snag it in a cheap eBay bundle)
It's still a neat collection and worth having, but just be aware of this particularly if you have to shell out much money for it. (I managed to snag it in a cheap eBay bundle)
Benzychenz
Member
Late reply, but I've never noticed that actually. Can't say it bothers me much.
What annoys me more is the Australian rating logos changing towards the end of the generation which you can also see in my pic
sixteen-bit
Member
dat megaten
any interest in the Raidou games?
any interest in the Raidou games?
drtomoe123
Member
Oh man, Raidou. I really liked the first game but I'd recommend the sequel to anyone as a total must play. The Kaneko aesthetic, the SMT alignment, and the tweaked battle system really come together to make one of the finest PS2 action RPGs, IMO.
It's funny because back when I started collecting the SMT PS2 games, the first Raidou was the only one that you could find for a decent price (aka under $80) -- I remember getting mine as a gutted last-copy at a Gamestop -- but after they reprinted DDS, Nocturne, and released FES, Raidou was the only one on the system going for $80. Of course, they reprinted that too so it doesn't really matter but still, haha.
It's funny because back when I started collecting the SMT PS2 games, the first Raidou was the only one that you could find for a decent price (aka under $80) -- I remember getting mine as a gutted last-copy at a Gamestop -- but after they reprinted DDS, Nocturne, and released FES, Raidou was the only one on the system going for $80. Of course, they reprinted that too so it doesn't really matter but still, haha.
cj_iwakura
Member
I don't think Raidou 1 was released in EU? Or was it the second?
Raidou 1 story with 2's gameplay would be the perfect game.
Benzychenz
Member
Yeah, if you're planning to buy an NTSC copy of the second you might as well get the first in NTSC too and save the money. The NTSC versions have been reprinted many times and are relatively cheap.
Or just buy them as PS2 classics on PSN and play on a PS3.
Benzychenz
Member
How easy is it to get NTSC games playing on a PAL console?
I'd like to do it for other games like Katamari Damacy and Suikoden III.
NormalFish
Banned
using a PS2 fatty it's pretty easy to load from the HDD. With a slim I believe you can use FreeMCBoot to use something like swap magic though I'm not sure how good of an option this is. Outside of those you can use a modchip, but they're rather uncommon it seems.
Benzychenz
Member
I have a fatty PS2. Didn't even know you could use a HDD, how do I go about doing that?
I'm seriously completely new to this stuff.
Haiiro Husky
Member
Does anyone have preferred links to a site or video with the best tutorials for installation of the FreeMCBoot? I have a slim ps2, the ps3/ps2 memory card transfer adapter and I think I can do it but would like to have the best and most user-friendly tutorial you guys recommend.