I may be incorrect here, but I vaguely remember having a similar issue. I just ended up ripping my discs with ISOBuster and playing them that way
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PS2 Appreciation & Celebration Thread, long live the King!
- Thread starter Canis lupus
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I may be incorrect here, but I vaguely remember having a similar issue. I just ended up ripping my discs with ISOBuster and playing them that way
cj_iwakura
Member
I was considering it, but I feel like I may have a setting wrong, and there are a LOT of them. I couldn't even start the program without setting the reader to Null0(or whatever it was).
Would give me a good reason to jump back into Oni 2 and onward through 3 and DoD.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I had a moment when I thought you actually meant Oni 2 (as in a sequel to the PS2 Bungie game)
Is there anyone on GAF that would be able to install Free Mcboot btw? I have a little more trust for people here than other forums of course, and i'm sure someone's gotta have the tech expertise.
Heh speaking of, was that game any good? I remember renting it...the girl on the cover, and recently learning bungie made it. That's about it.
Heh speaking of, was that game any good? I remember renting it...the girl on the cover, and recently learning bungie made it. That's about it.
Ivan Amiibo
Banned
From what little i played about a month ago, it's pretty terrible. Floaty, weird controls, weird camera, weird everything, and poor attempt at a gits rip off
Well scratch that idea lol. A really good gits style game with matching soundtrack and actual policeish/detective style gameplay would be really fun these days.
It wasn't that good(I played it on PC back when it was 1st out and a few months ago).
A Black Falcon
Member
Bah, Oni is great! Well, I loved the PC version when I got it back in 2000, anyway. Never played it for PS2. I thought the beat 'em up action was quite good. The gunplay isn't as fun, but you can stick to fists most of the time, thankfully. I haven't replayed the game since, though, so I don't know how well it has aged. Oni is actually the only Bungie game I have ever finished. I'm still waiting for a sequel that'll resolve that cliffhanger ending... 
(yeah, right, it'll never happen.)
(yeah, right, it'll never happen.)NormalFish
Banned
Yeah, I enjoyed what I played of Oni as well. Controls were weird, but they felt pretty precise once I had them figured.
hardcastlemccormick
Banned
I think I still have all the tools to install FreeMCBoot. Give me a PM.
Really? I see new (in foil, so I assume they are new, not repacked) copies for ~$20 on Polish auctions. I know that some games may be rarer in the US than in EU and vice versa, but still, wow.
RadarScope1
Member
Anyone care to give some impressions of Castlevania: Curse of Darkness and Neo Contra? Both sitting on the shelf at my local retro spot....
Curse of Darkness has an amazing soundtrack, but the gameplay is...really bland unfortunately.
Neo Contra on the other hand is really underrated. Great catchy soundtrack, graphics are pretty decent, its got an isometric viewpoint...but still manages to capture that fast paced contra feel with a dodge button instead of jump. The story is really nonsensical even by Contra universe standards, but sorta makes sense / ties in with Shattered Soldier from what I remember. Great boss designs... and theres this:
On the subject of PS2 HDDs, anyone have any recommendations they could link on Amazon or Newegg?
Neo Contra on the other hand is really underrated. Great catchy soundtrack, graphics are pretty decent, its got an isometric viewpoint...but still manages to capture that fast paced contra feel with a dodge button instead of jump. The story is really nonsensical even by Contra universe standards, but sorta makes sense / ties in with Shattered Soldier from what I remember. Great boss designs... and theres this:
On the subject of PS2 HDDs, anyone have any recommendations they could link on Amazon or Newegg?
sixteen-bit
Member
I remember liking Neo Contra a lot. It's pretty easy for a Contra game too, which could be a plus or minus depending on the person.
Ivan Amiibo
Banned
yes, US version
Games run better from ISO anyways, so you might as well rip them.
RadarScope1
Member
Thanks folks. I think I'll grab Neo Contra soon. Not to jazzed about 3D Castlevania but wanted to make sure it wasn't some hidden gem.
Well Lament of Innocence isn't as "bad". Curse of Darkness had some good gameplay ideas, but the environments just fall flat (layout wise).
Sumio Mondo
Member
Anyone here ever play Glass Rose? It's one weird muder mystery adventure game set in one mansion for the entire game (in Japan), developed by CiNG and published/funded by Capcom. Game has some lovely CGs in it and is basically a point & click affair on the PS2, which in itself is a rarity. Seems pretty good so far. I immediately recognised the Shenmue voice actors in it though, heh. There's even a notebook/journal where you gather all of the clues and the plot is mysterious enough to keep you playing. Unfortunately it was only released into English via a PAL release only, so anyone interested will have to mod their PS2/emulate to play it. No idea what the ending will be like, but the story seems like it could go batshit crazy towards the end since there's so many characters in this one mansion.
I have no idea "whodunnit" either, they all seem to have good motives.
I have no idea "whodunnit" either, they all seem to have good motives.
A Black Falcon
Member
Neo Contra is a fun game, yeah. It's sort of like the first PS1/Saturn Contra game, in that it's entirely top-down-style 3d, but actually good, unlike that game. It also has one of the most ridiculously overdone, silly endings ever in a videogame...
As for Castlevania, both of the PS2/Xbox Castlevania games are pretty awful in my opinion, I don't like them at all. They are bland, empty hack-and-slash action-RPGs with incredibly boring level designs, some of the weakest games with the Castlevania name on them for sure. It's a completely different kind of game (3d action-adventure-platformer), but if you want a good 3d Castlevania game stick with Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness on the N64.
As for Castlevania, both of the PS2/Xbox Castlevania games are pretty awful in my opinion, I don't like them at all. They are bland, empty hack-and-slash action-RPGs with incredibly boring level designs, some of the weakest games with the Castlevania name on them for sure. It's a completely different kind of game (3d action-adventure-platformer), but if you want a good 3d Castlevania game stick with Castlevania: Legacy of Darkness on the N64.
Haiiro Husky
Member
I agree about the PS2 Castlevania games being bland. I have Lament of Innocence and I just couldn't plow through it. Like the previous posters have stated, it just doesn't feel like a good Castlevania game. Maybe if the name wasn't attached we wouldn't be as harsh, but with Castlevania in the title, I think we expect more. They lack, "soul." They feel like they are trying to be something they are not. Not a horrible game by any means, so if you play it, you'll see what we mean but they are just average.
RadarScope1
Member
Just checked out some vids of Neo Contra. Looks great. Not the Contra of old, but looks really solid (and fucking wacky in a good way).
Wow I thought I was the only person who shared these sentiments. Couldn't agree more with you man. Legacy of Darkness is great.
Ivan Amiibo
Banned
What little I played of Lament Of Innocence made it feel like a prototype of a better action game or something. Honestly, it needed a big fat dose of CV64.
sixteen-bit
Member
Yamane is too good.
Did Yamaoka help out at any point?
https://youtu.be/Bj3reKZ3vRk
EDIT: So Japanese imports -
Macross: The Super Dimension Fortress
Super Robot Wars Alpha 3
Super Robot Wars Z 1
Dragon Quest V (translation patch)
Phantasy Star Generation 1 (translation patch)
What else should I look into? Keep in mind that I know 0 Japanese lol. The only way I can play the SRW games is through that Akurasu wiki and experience with menus from Super Robot Taisen OG and Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden.
https://youtu.be/Bj3reKZ3vRk
EDIT: So Japanese imports -
Macross: The Super Dimension Fortress
Super Robot Wars Alpha 3
Super Robot Wars Z 1
Dragon Quest V (translation patch)
Phantasy Star Generation 1 (translation patch)
What else should I look into? Keep in mind that I know 0 Japanese lol. The only way I can play the SRW games is through that Akurasu wiki and experience with menus from Super Robot Taisen OG and Super Robot Wars Alpha Gaiden.
A Black Falcon
Member
The part about how, if I'm remembering right, Lament of Innocence has a male protagonist in part Iga thought that it'd be unrealistic for a female character to have a rescue/revenge plot like that game has makes me think even less of it than I would just based on the gameplay, though... and his calling Maria in RoB a "silly, cute aside" and saying that female characters in vampire stories tend to be sacrificed sure didn't help either.
Story-wise
That the LoI main character's love interest/person you have to rescue gets fridged before the end of the game is another negative, of course. He said that 'female characters in vampire stories usually get killed off' around this time.
The main problem by far about LoI and CoD isn't anything about the story or those controversies though, it's the boring gameplay. Why Iga thought that empty, flat rooms and boring and incredibly repetitive hack-and-slash action-RPG gameplay was somehow okay for a Castlevania game I honestly don't understand, but it doesn't work and isn't fun. It really shows that he didn't know how to make a good 3d Castlevania game. Removing the two N64 Castlevania games from the timeline (which, again, are pretty good games with a fantastic sense of atmosphere, good to great level designs, variety, challenging platforming, some good puzzles, and more) while making drek like those two games didn't exactly ingratiate him to me... sure, I did like some of his games, the second and third DS games are great, but still. I didn't back the Bloodstained kickstarter. If the game is good I'll get it discounted sometime after its release.
sixteen-bit
Member
Sounds like you might enjoy Mecha action. Give Another Century's Episode 3 a shot.
Added.
Also will the system recognize my hard drive before running homebrew stuff, or only after?
EDIT: Looks like it wont. How is Ape Escape: Million Monkeys btw?
Looking over the list of SEGA games on PS2...
Which of the AGES collection is worth owning for someone who does not speak japanese?
18 Wheeler got a sequel?!! (The King of Route 66) how is it??
What initial D games are good on PS2?
questions questions questions!
Which of the AGES collection is worth owning for someone who does not speak japanese?
18 Wheeler got a sequel?!! (The King of Route 66) how is it??
What initial D games are good on PS2?
questions questions questions!
parappatherapper
Member
Cheers for this - any idea on what adapter I would be looking for to connect this up to my HDTV (HDMI or VGA) ? Based in UK if that matters?
Ivan Amiibo
Banned
Phantasy Star Collection has all the english translations and english menus
Dynamite Deka is good as well though the QTEs aren't in english
I think Initial D Special Stage is the only PS2 Initial D game. It's based on Arcade Stage 2. It's a pretty fun game if you like the arcade Initial D games.
There's also Initial D Street Stage for the PSP which is based on Arcade Stage 3 and Initial D Extreme Stage for PS3 which is based on Arcade Stage 4.
sixteen-bit
Member
Treasure Box, Virtual On, Last Bronx, Fantasy Zone Complete Collection, Phatasy Star Complete Collection, Monster World Complete Collection.
For the last 2, the ENG translation is available to each game with a NA port available at the time of release.
woww! definitely going in on PSComplete Collection, thanks for the heads up!
Is there a boot disc option for playing JP PS2 games on a NA PS2?
Hm, think i'd gravitate towards Extreme Stage then. thanks!
If your set has component, just use a D terminal to component adapter cable.
sixteen-bit
Member
yeah
cj_iwakura
Member
I'm not a fan of V4, I think the PSP is the definitive version. It's V3 with the voice acting from V4.
RadarScope1
Member
Just snagged a copy of the Space Harrier SEGA AGES compilation for a very fair price on eBay. First Japanese game to try in my test PS2. No manual but I wouldn't be able to read it anyway.
EDIT: Well shit. Just realized I bought the earlier SA Space Harrier. Just the 3D remake. No wonder it was cheaper. LOL. Well I hear it's not terrible...
EDIT: Well shit. Just realized I bought the earlier SA Space Harrier. Just the 3D remake. No wonder it was cheaper. LOL. Well I hear it's not terrible...
World SkiFree
Member
I love both Neo and SS Contras on the PS2. In fact, I purchased Shattered Soldier before I bought a PS2 console. Not sure if I have even completed the game but I played it a lot.
What are your thoughts on Gradius V and R-Type: Final?
jumping in here:
Gradius V is dope. I have some nitpicks regarding some tiny cutscenes being unskippable, but all in all I consider it to be one of Treasure's legitimately great games (alongside Ikaruga and Alien Soldier).
R-Type Final put me to sleep. Man is that game dull. Has an awful lot of ships to collect, though, if you're craving that sort of thing instead of a traditional arcade STG.
RadarScope1
Member
I haven't played either but GV is supposed to be stellar. RTF I don't hear so much about.
Yeah, you're better off ignoring those until M2 takes over and they become more archival than remakes. If you're morbidly curious about the budget 3D remakes you can still get the US PS2 Sega Classics Collection that has a lot of them bundled in (including Space Harrier) for under $5.
sixteen-bit
Member
Rtype final is booty butt cheeks. One of the most boring games I can remember.
C'mon you know teaming up with yourself from the future/past in a time loop is awesome.
Every time.
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
I was just playing that sequence with my brother and we were geeking out over it... Love it.