Observations, thoughts and other assorted stuff.
Published on November 3, 2004 By Ravenblack In Gaming
I bought a PS2 last weekend. Look at this beautiful limited edition white PS2:



It was a long debate for sometime within my mind whether I should get an xbox or a ps2. I just finally decided that a PS2 was it. This special limited edition package includes a 8MB memory card and a Gran Turismo 4 prologue, which incidently is the asian version and is entirely in chinese. (Although I am of chinese descent, my mastery of the chinese language is somewhat sub-average in the reading and writing department.) But who cares? The cars look awesome and the game plays like a dream and looks great - I can't wait for the full product which is set to be release in December.

Screenies right here.


I also bought Burnout 3 which is an awesome and very fun arcade racing game. If you like driving dangerously, crashing cars and knocking your rivals off the road (and into oncoming traffic), this is the game to have. It's certainly more challanging to be racing on roads with normal traffic.

I haven't had so much fun in a long time. Buying a game and not having to worry about the specs of your machine running it is a nice feeling for a change. The games are more expensive that the PC ones, so I'm going to have to be more controlled in my buying choices and just go for the best rated games.

Comments
on Nov 03, 2004
Awesome! Hope you have a blast with it, Raven. Of the games that come out exclusively for PS2 or for Xbox, it seems like the PS2 ones are more fun or appealing.
on Nov 03, 2004
It does seem that way to me too.
on Nov 03, 2004
Ah, the good 'ole PS2. Mine's served me faithfully for almost 2 and a half years but now i feel the pull of the sexier update, with it's new styling and newer parts (not faster or bigger, but not as age weary). I'll either trade in for the new one or give the other away to charity, or maybe just someone less fortunate then I (perhaps the owner of an Xbox).

But on a more serious note (or as serious as one can get discussing game consoles) two and half years ago I had to make the decision between the two i ended up going PS2 for two main reasons. The first was that I figured games like Halo which were classified "Xbox only" would make it to PC anyway due to Microsoft's inherent wish to make money so the good Xbox games I could play on my PC. The other major reason was I found the Xbox controller less user friendly then the DualShock controller, I have friends who come over that wouldn't be exactly console experts so, for them at least, the PS2 controller was the go.

Now onto yet another note, Burnout 3 rocks amazingly hard. Unfortunately I don't own it yet but my system of checking games by borrowing from the local video store (in which videos are almost extinct) has put it to the top of the list until Ratchet & Clank 3 comes out. This game will bypass said system due to the current ownership of the first two (platinum games mind you) in the series.

But anyways, rock on and welcome to the world of the PS2.
on Nov 03, 2004
A PS3 is set to release at the end of next year supposedly. You can hang on to that old PS2 until then.

Come to think of it, many of the xbox games are indeed available on PC - I don't care for Halo, but I like Morrowind and Knights of the Old Republic. It's still better to play them on PC since you can get patches and additional stuff, whereas on console, you're prettty much stuck. And I did hear that the two games had a few bugs on the console system. I guess maybe major RPGs are still better played on PC, but that might be a personal preference thing.

Burnout 3 is freakin awesome. It's a great stress reliever. I haven't had so much fun in a long time.
on Nov 03, 2004
I have a PS2 and an XBOX. I love them both! My favorite thing about PS is that even if you upgrade, you can still play your older, favorite games. I still have some PS games around that I play on my PS2.

I don't care for Halo, but I like Morrowind and Knights of the Old Republic


I only recently bought a used version of Halo and I have to say, I enjoy the game, but it isn't all that... I've not played it multi-player, though, and I hear that's where the fun is. I loved Knights of the Old Republic. That game rocks! My only complaint was that the very last stage almost requires that you have a specific power (that I didn't have the first time around!).
on Nov 03, 2004
Very nice looking two there Ravenblack. One of these days I will convince my wife that we would benefit as a family from spending the money on a console. Until then I will play on my computer. One of these days though, one of these days. . .
on Nov 04, 2004
Chip: Yeah, for me, I think the main problem with KOTOR was that it was just too linear. Not enough freedom to do different stuff. It would have been really cool if it was more like Deus Ex in the choice of action department.

BlueDev: It's a matter of getting her interested in gaming. Find something fun the two of you can play together. Or you can always say it's a present for the kids...*grinz*
on Nov 04, 2004
BlueDev: It's a matter of getting her interested in gaming. Find something fun the two of you can play together. Or you can always say it's a present for the kids...*grinz*


I tried that with a Gamecube. I talked about how it has more games that kids and families could enjoy, that we could play together, blah, blah, blah. She doesn't believe me. She loves to play puzzle type games on the net, but that is about it.
on Nov 04, 2004
There's one puzzle type game on the PS2 that's worth noting: Bust-a-move, that's fun for puzzle fans. Mix reviews at gamerankings.com, but it might be just the thing.

Link to review summary page.

on Nov 04, 2004
A PS3 is set to release at the end of next year supposedly. You can hang on to that old PS2 until then.
Yeah from memory it's called the PSX or something and it looks even sweeter then the PS2. I forgot to mention one of the main reasons I'm thinking of upgrading is that I want an ethernet adaptor to play the upcoming R&C3 online. In Australia (where I live) an ethernet adaptor is about $60 but if I trade in three games and my old PS2 I get the new PS2 for only $90. So i'm seriously thing about it.