The PS2 launched in 2000 as Sony’s second console, and even though the PS1 was successful, it blew expectations out of the water. It sold like hot cakes for years, and it was backed by numerous publishers and developers to help fill up the library. Sony has had a very successful line of consoles following the PS2, but has any one console outdone it in terms of infamy?
The PS3 could connect online more easily to people across the globe, the PSP was portable, and the current system, the PS5, boasts an amazing suite of features that make it an all-in-one home entertainment center. As great as the PS5 is as the current Sony console, there are some things that a lot of fans miss about the PS2 era, and it goes beyond the best games.
The Startup Noise
It’s Nostalgic Music To Our Ears
The PlayStation line of consoles has had some tremendous startup noises over the years, starting with the best one on the PS1. That said, the PS2 is a great second that sounded futuristic at the time, like the console was about to launch itself into the next stratosphere of gaming. Technically, current PlayStation fans can emulate this effect on the PS5 with settings that can make the console feel more like a PS2.
While it is fun to experiment with these settings, it’s not the same thing. The art of a good startup sound has been lost on more consoles than just the PS5, as the Xbox Series X/S and Switch 2 aren’t as magical as some of their predecessors, like the original Xbox or GameCube. Overall, those who grew up with the PS2 know how nostalgic it can feel when hearing that boot-up sound again.
Games Work From Out Of The Box
No Need For Updates
This isn’t strictly a thing that the PS2 can be credited for, as it’s more like a trend of the past. Before the HD era of the PS3 and Xbox 360, console games just worked. Players could pop in a PS2 disc, a Sega Genesis cartridge, a Game Boy cartridge, and so on, and players knew those games were going to work right out of the box.
There was no need for updates or players to download the rest of the game, or even the full game, like on a lot of current Switch 2 cartridges. This made gaming more accessible as people didn’t have to worry about connecting to the internet in rural areas. The nice thing about going back to a PS2 game now is that this idea still holds true, as no downloads are required to enjoy classics like Final Fantasy 12, Jak and Daxter, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, and so on.
Not Always Being Online
Not As Easy To Get Distracted
No updates required for games will also make players remember a time when gaming wasn’t constantly connected. The PS2 did have accessories to connect to the internet in various ways, from headsets to an HDD to link up with games that required more storage, like Final Fantasy 11. There were some great online-capable PS2 games that fans had great memories of besides Final Fantasy 11 that are sadly no longer available to play, like SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs, Champions of Norrath: Realms of EverQuest, and Monster Hunter. Going online involves a different process than going online for a console like the PS5.
Players could connect to that specific game on the PS2, and that was it, as there was no Home Screen like on the PS5. Players weren’t plagued with random activities on the Home Screen, from ads to seeing streamers to checking in on friends or going to the online store. All of these modern features are great on the PS5, but PS2 players will be nostalgic for the days when they weren’t constantly bombarded with dozens, if not hundreds, of game choices on a Home Screen that is almost paralyzing today because of choice. On the PS2, most players had a relatively small collection, and once they popped a disc in, that was it unless they wanted to get up again and put in another disc.
The Memory Card Data
The Game Icons Were Cute
The one great thing that has changed with current consoles is that the need for accessories is almost done away with. For example, PS5 players NEVER have to worry about running out of storage for save data. They will have to worry about storage for game downloads and installs for sure, but save data is a hard thing to burden a current console with. PS2 owners know the plight of buying their console, a game or two, probably another controller, and a memory card or two on launch day or whenever players got their system. Some memory cards worked better than others, as price and companies did play a factor.
So, there are a lot of bad things about memory cards, but there are some positives too. For example, if players left the tray or lid open on their PS2, depending on the model, they could go to a menu screen to do a few things, like change settings or go into the memory card menu. In the memory card, every single game had an icon that was an animated model, and that’s the thing that PS2 players miss about memory cards. Some of these animated models were so iconic to the games themselves, like the rabbit costume from Silent Hill 3, Daxter stomping his foot from Jak and Daxter, or the various Grunties from the .hack games. These icons meant so much to players that it would be fun if modern games also treated save data with more whimsy.
The DualShock 2 Analog Controller
The Perfect Size For All Gamers
The PlayStation controllers subtly changed over time, but there was never anything too drastic, unlike what Nintendo fans experienced with controller evolution. Going from the SNES to the N64, for example, was a wild departure. Once the analog sticks got added to the PS1 controller, which was then tweaked and perfected on the PS2 with the DualShock 2 analog controller, the feel felt incredible. It was the perfect size and weight for most players to handle.
The rumble feature also felt incredible the first time players popped off a shot in Killzone or felt a zombie bite down in Resident Evil 4. The PS5 controller is a very good controller, to be clear, with a lot of great features, from the rumble to the speaker to the dedicated map button via the touchpad. The touchpad is also a bit awkward, though, as it makes the controller bigger than the PS2, which some players are able to handle. The PS2 controller was just more ergonomic, and a lot of fans miss its more simplistic design.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
