Search results
Nov 2, 2023 · Complete systems and limited editions fetch the highest prices. For consoles and games in great shape, the PS2 remains a valuable and worthwhile investment for fans of retro gaming. Below we‘ll explore all the factors that drive PS2 value today, from rare games to modding potential. Let‘s dive in!
- (3)
- Overview
- Cultural changer
- Grand Theft Auto 3
- Gran Turismo 3: A-spec
- Metal Gear Solid 2
- Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox
News
By Patrick Goss
last updated 11 November 2021
Sony's PS2 fundamentally shifted attitudes to gaming
(Image credit: Sony)
Consoles are still in their infancy, and yet in hundreds of years’ time people will look back and pick out the PlayStation 2 as a console that changed the very face of gaming; at the heart of dragging an industry out of the basement and into the mainstream.
But, in truth, the PlayStation 2’s biggest impact was cultural. A generation of gamers were not prepared to hang up their joypads as they got a little older, and the PS2 gave them permission to keep on gaming.
This was a console for kids and adults alike; reflected in a an broad mix of games many of which were (at least ostensibly) not meant for children.
Incredibly, the PS2 was still being produced up until 2013 – not bad for a console that first arrived in March of the new millennium. And few could make a case that it has ever been surpassed in terms of its impact.
Many consoles had waned after the initial burst of launch publicity, but the PS2 was blessed with a second lease of life.
GTA 3 was an open-world third-person/driving game that cast the gamer as a criminal making his way in a larger-than life world of American stereotypes and gun culture.
Sony presciently secured this most iconic of games as an exclusive for a couple of years on console (and it was years before it made its bow on Windows).
Although San Andreas was the better game, it was GTA 3 that transformed the gaming landscape, introducing the world to the ‘sandbox’.
GTA created a game universe that was jam packed with often puerile but just tongue-in-cheek enough humour that even the adverse headlines only served to make it more attractive to its fans.
The Gran Turismo series was already hugely popular, but the third incarnation served as the perfect showcase for the generation’s graphical capabilities.
Perfectly modelled cars and brilliant game (ahem) mechanics came together to create an immersive, beautiful driving experience that showed that gaming was now way beyond the era of sprites.
Looking back, it’s hard to imagine that MGS2 was anything other than lauded - but this was a game that truly divided its audience by demanding a bit more thought and attention to detail.
Hideo Kojima’s greatest game was anything but mindless - exploring themes beyond how much gore could be created when you shot someone in the head.
This was a game that was a microcosm of the gaming world and the PS2, thrusting itself out of the ‘gaming is for kids’ narrative.
Metal Gear Solid 2 was actually the fourth MGS, but established itself as a true classic for the PS2, with an exclusivity deal again allowing it to become an established party of the console’s success.
Get the hottest deals available in your inbox plus news, reviews, opinion, analysis and more from the TechRadar team.
Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors
- Patrick Goss
- Staff Writer
- The PS2 Was Affordable and Accessible. The PS2 wasn’t what you would describe as “cheap,” but it was affordable. Sony launched the PS2 at $299, which is around $500 when you adjust it for inflation today.
- The PS2 Holds the Highest Sale Record of All Time. For over two decades, the PS2 has remained the best-selling console ever. Sony has sold 159 million units of the PS2, leaving a whopping 5-million-unit gap from its runner-up, the Nintendo DS (154.02 million units sold).
- The PS2 Had Better DVD Support Than Xbox. One of the biggest contributing factors to the PS2’s success was how it was an entertainment system for the whole family.
- Sony Gave Us Some Memorable Titles and Series. Frankly, the PS2 didn’t have the best hardware of its time. The original Xbox and Nintendo GameCube both had better specs on paper.
Jan 10, 2013 · Page 1. Page 2. Page 3. It’s taken 12 years, but as the final PlayStation 2 rolls off the production line, I’ve reached the personal conclusion that PS2 is the greatest console in gaming’s...
- Justin Towell
People also ask
Are PS2 games good?
Are PS2 games worth it?
Why should you buy a PS2?
Is the PS2 the best console of all time?
r/ps2. • 3 yr. ago. Is ps2 worth buying in 2021? Question. So, I checked what my city's aftermarket offers to me, and I saw some actually interesting offers starting from 40 USD. I thought this is a very good price, but I'm not sure should I buy one, because this thing is very old, obviously. Share. Add a Comment. Sort by: Search Comments.
Oct 19, 2023 · Ranking the best PS2 games ever made, from GTA: San Andreas to SOCOM 2: US Navy Seals. Comments. (Image credit: Future) When you look at our ranking of the best PS2 games, you're going to...
Feb 13, 2023 · PublishedFebruary 13, 2023. We may earn a commission from links on this page. Start Slideshow. Image: Evan Amos / Kotaku / s_maria(Shutterstock) It’s the best-selling home video game console of all...
