The Playstation 2; a videogame console which had a working lifespan of around 13 years, over 4000+ games developed for it, and saw 2 generations of consoles come and go before losing steam. It was one of the most well-supported systems ever, and remains one of the most common videogame platforms ever created. It became the go-to console in terms of both affordability and ease of use, all while providing features like the ability to play dvd's and connect to other players over ethernet. It remains an easy console to obtain, as its widespread popularity means it is prolific as people have upgraded their entertainment systems and gaming devices.
My personal connection with the PS2 began in the early 2010's; I recieved one as a gift from someone who was upgrading to the PS3. Along with the system, they gave me Persona 4, The Getaway, and Champions of Norrath. Persona 4 remains one of my favorite games of all time, having related so heavily with the struggles of characters who were also growing up in a rural-ish town and being so similar in age to myself at the time. The Getaway was not quite as impactful, but as a teenager who had never experienced anything like GTA, it was a close substitute, and driving down a lifelike version London's streets was its own little form of escapism. Champions of Norrath helped spur my love of mindless action-rpg's; it always scratched that itch for a casual dungeon crawl. Alongside my Gamecube ,Wii, and boombox playing morning radio shows, many of my core memories of my teenage years were formed around the Playstation 2.
Somewhere along the line, I too relinquished my PS2 and game collection. Now that I'm in my late 20's, I'm finally getting around to experiencing all the games I missed out on on all my prior consoles.The PS2 has a unique allure that is hard to deny, and I have begun to build a new collection, and want to share the joy I'm getting with others. I hope you have just as much fun here as I do.
Sadly, many fantastic games are still locked to the PS2. With a library of over 4000+ games (and that's just an estimate, it is difficult to determine how many games exactly were made for the console) it is unlikely many will ever be ported to a modern system. However, the PS2 has a very dedicated fanbase, and many collectors have been quite generous in sharing new discoveries with the commnunity via wiki entries or on other websites.
In addition, the console (as of 12/31/2025) is hihgly affordable. While some games are above 40$ USD most can be found for under 15-20$ USD. This means that games which are great but relatively unknown can often still be found at local retro game stores, thrift/charity shops, or yard sales for amazing deals. It is a console which has a relatively low presence of scalpers and bad actors, which helps keep things affordable for the average collector.
Flipnic is an incredible and bizarre pinball game. You will play through a variety of tables, seperated into several distinct worlds which all revolve around a central theme (loosely).The controls feel tight, especially when compared to other pinball games released on the PS2. The tables are chock full of strange mechanics, and are all worth trying to complete just to see the weird ways they deal out points. Prepare to be surprised if you normally shy away from digital pinball; this rendition is entirely unique.
The Playstation 2 led the industry for a number of years in 3d graphics and technology. Even in the current day, the rendering capability of the PS2 is nothing to scoff at. Many of the visuals are just as striking and beautiful as when the console was just released. Games like Katamari Damacy revel in the chunky polygons and bright colors which were so well-associated with the system. The accessibility of the controller meant that even those unfamiliar with english characters (such as those on xbox) and could easily distinguish which buttons were which even if they were colorblind. Those symbols have become inexorably linked with the Playstation brand; iconic facets of the design which make the console instantly recognizable.
It cannot be understated that a major aspect of the PS2 design philosophy was to play with the limitations of the console. Developers utilized hundreds of clever features to squeeze every bit of optimization out of the console as possible. Models were chopped into efficient polygons, giving many of the earliest games a look reminiscent of the PS1, while later games looked nearly on par with even some PS3 titles. Visually stunning games such as Final Fastasy X and XII were an amazing showcase of the power of the PS2, with water effects and lighting that simply wasn't possible on earlier consoles. Although the PS2 only supported analog signal output, with the use of component cables it could display crisp, clear resolutions that were beautiful at the time and are still fantastic to this day. (Did you know?:A simple HDMI converter box can allow modern players to get the greatest quality possible from their console, and enjoy their games at the resolution the devolopers intended. They can often be found for 15-30$ USD.)
The PS2 had a unique air associated with new millenium, with all the rebellious nature of urban aesthetics- graffiti, Y2k, Frutiger Aero, and jelly-like, soft-eged visuals. It's apparent as soon as the console boots up; large, blue, rectangular towers fill a black void, each representing save data on the memory cards inserted into the system, before the camera is whisked deeper into the void toward the Playstation 2's startup menu. That menu has a calming, almost ominous soundtrack that can often evoke the feeling of floating underwater, with nothing but a dark blue mist and a ring of swirling lights to draw the viewer's eye. The sound of what seems to be distant waves crashing, or a breaking surf, is strongly associated with the early 2000's; a sort of eternal feeling of a summer that never ends, or a sense that everything in the world has stagnated in a pleasant way. Time has frozen, and the sun is here to stay.