Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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993 of 1,050 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
DVDs and Playstation games in a slick little package., October 25, 2004
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
The Playstation 2 has been out in the USA for four years now, and has gone through a number of subtle redesigns, but none as dramatic as this. This new PSTwo is remarkably tiny, and you almost need to hold it in your hand to appreciate just how much Sony reduced the size of the machine. The design feels a lot like a laptop computer -- especially the top-loading optical drive -- and is doubtless cheaper for Sony to produce. This time I feel that we the consumers get a slick product in return for the company's increased profits. It's delicate, but no more so than the original PS2.
There are no major compromises in this machine: like the previous design, it has two memory card slots, two controller ports, two USB slots, a progressive scan DVD player, a built-in infrared remote receiver (for controlling and watching DVD movies), and the AV outputs as the original PS2. Optional video cables can change the signal from the default component to S-Video or composite, just as before. An optical audio jack is also present for digital sound output.
What's missing? Not much. The Firewire port of the launch PS2 has long been abandoned, and is also absent here. You will need to use a new multi-tap if you want to play one of the few games that support more than 2 simultaneous controllers. You'll also be unable to plug in the "PS2 HDD," the hard disk drive albatross that will likely never be supported by Sony again outside of the online Final Fantasy game. No great loss there.
As a DVD player, the new PS2 is at least as good as any other lowend machine that does progressive scan and has DTS and Dolby audio and digital output. I'm using it paired with an official Sony remote and plan to return the cheapo machine I bought when my old DVD player wouldn't change layers on the new Star Wars set properly. My new PS2 not only performs just as well, it also plays hundreds and hundreds of games for both Playstation 2 and the original Playstation. It also plays DVD-R movies, though not MP3 CDs or VCDs.
The machine has a built-in modem and Ethernet port for online play. There is no additional cost for most PS2 online games, but in my opinion Sony's online implementation is not nearly as easy or smooth as that of the XBOX.
Even after this redesign, the PS2 is still the "weakest" of the current game consoles (compared to Microsoft's XBOX, Nintendo's GameCube) in terms of graphical power, and despite this new design, is still the most expensive since you will need to purchase an 8MB Playstation 2 memory card in order to save your games and settings. Nevertheless, it's a great system even if you already own one of the competitors, because of the large software library with many exclusives and lots of quirky Japanese titles. The new design is cool enough to even warrant getting a second PS2 system even if you already own the original.
If you don't have a current-generation video game system yet, and you want one, this would be a good one to start you off. The PS3, when released, is likely to be little more than an evolution of the types of games represented on this system. There's a huge number of excellent low-cost games on this platform, with something for almost everyone who loves games.
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571 of 672 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely good but still not GOD!!!, November 12, 2004
Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars
First off let me start by saying, this is NOT going to be a PS2 bashing. Though we all have our opinions on the three systems, the fact is that they are all great systems in their own right. That is to say you won't go wrong no matter which one you choose.
Let me reiterate, this is not a bad system. It has several great games (Final Fantasy X & X2, Grand Theft Auto Series, WWE Smackdown Series and several others). Though it must be noted that Gamecube and XBox both have great exclusive titles. The graphics are outstanding and they may not even be the best of the three, but they are great, certainly better than anything we had just a few short years ago. They definitely have more benefits than everybody else (free online gaming, the Eyetoy, and more games. As far as controllers go, I like Gamecube's a bit better, but this controller works wonderfully well too and is well laid out. (You won't be searching for the buttons like you do on XBox controllers, that is my one true complaint with that system).
One thing that irks me about the new design is the lack of support for the hard drive. It's not a huge issue unless you want to play Final Fantasy XI or take advantage of HDD capability as with ESPN NFL2k5. Not a big deal, but something could have been worked to support it.
I do like the smaller, slimmer design. It certainly helps when you have many systems old and new and are lacking in space to have them all setup at once. You almost have to see it in person to truly appreciate the size reduction this thing has undergone. While the old one is regarded as somewhat of a "clunker"; this thing is small, sleek, and powerful. I wish they could have found a way to include four controller ports (should be an industry standard) as opposed to just two. It's not a big issue but a bit annoying for those who enjoy playing multiplayer sports games.
Anyway Playstation 2's biggest downfall is in the fragility of the system itself and though I have experienced no problems personally, I have heard of a few from close friends.
1. Disc Reading Error (This is very likely a non-issue with this newer model.)
2. Malfunctioning Disc Door (This is no longer an issue because the system is now top-loading.)
3. The power cords tend to wear out faster than average. (Not a big deal, the cords are fairly cheap, but it could present a fire hazard.)
None of these things would be a huge deal except that the PS2 comes with a measly 90 day warranty (Do I hear 1 year anyone?)
I'm not trying to say this system is junk. It does have durability issues more than anything. Some of these problems should be lessened/eliminated with the new model. I personally prefer Gamecube but only by a small margin. All of you who immaturely spout "PS2 rules, Gamecube & XBox suck" are not only lying to yourselves, you're doing a great disservice to the readers who depend on these reviews to make an important decision.
The bottom line is the Playstation 2 is a great system and definitely worth the money, but it is not gaming perfection as some make it out to be. Try Gamecube & XBox as well. All three are extremely fun!!!
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56 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great New Design and Concept, November 5, 2004
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
I am a mother of three children, so I have grown to know alot about these game consoles. I bought the new Playstation 2 for my 14 year old daughter. When it arrived, I opened it and tried it out to make sure it was in working condition. It is about 3 times smaller than the old one. There is also the option of getting online with it. I don't think that $149.99 is too expensive. It is the same price as the old one, and with more features. I think people are just a little too impatient about the PS3 coming out. Since I have kids 14 and under, Playstation 2 is the best for us. XBox doesn't have as many games, especially geared towards kids. They seem to have too many sports games. My youngest daughter has a Gamecube, and there isn't as many games available, and they are more expensive. It isn't easy to find many good games on sale for $20-$30 like it is for PS2. Anyway, I think the PS2 is great. I think most of the bad reviews are from people who don't own it yet, either because they are children whose parents refuse to buy the new version because they already have the old one, or from impatient hard-core gamers desperately waiting for the PS3.
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