By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close
Salnax on 21 February 2014
Edit Thread
alrightiwill said:
Salnax said:
I hope the PS2 remains king. It was a far better system than the PS4.


Why do you hope that? I for one, always prefer new tech to surpass old tech :p Otherwise why keep on gaming if it hit it's height in 2002? 

Also, what makes PS2 better in your opinion? I'm just curious and not flame baiting. PS2 was my favourtite for introducing DVD to the masses.


I just don't like it when what I view as a worse product sells better. I can understand if there are two different markets or whatever, but I think the PS2 and PS4 are similar enough to be compared directly. And while as a Nintendo fan, even I have to admit the PS2 was great, I can't say the same for the PS4.

 

Here are some reasons why I think the PS2 deserved to be the #1 console of its generation.

  • It was backwards compatible with what was in 2000 the most popular gaming console of all time. The PS4 lacks compatibility with the PS3, a proportionately weaker console compared to the PS4 than the PS1 was to the PS2.
  • At roughly 10 or 12 times the power of the PS1, it was the right leap for a generation IMO. Plenty of power for games, including even PC ports, but not too much so as to make the price over $300. This low price at an early date helped it outsell the often more expensive Xbox, despite the Xbox being arguably twice as powerful. In contrast, I feel that the PS4 may be a touch too powerful. Other than slightly better resolutions for multiplatform games, I feel Sony could have used slightly cheaper parts, have still matched the One's power, and offered the PS4 for $350, or a $400 bundle.
  • Being a DVD player brought a new popular form of media to a lot of people. Being the only console that did this easily is probably why the PS2 got at least 10% of its sales. Using the DVD a;so allowed for larger games to be made on a single disc, like Final Fantasy XII. The PS4 uses the same Blu-Ray tech as its predecessor, so in that regard there isn't that much in the way of new media options offered.
  • The PS2 was forward thinking, but not overly so. Hence, it was internet compatible, but largely as an add-on. It was the right level of internet connectivity for a console in the 2000 to 2006 era. The PS4 is not actually doing badly in this respect, so no complaints there.
  • Probably the best "hardcore" controller ever IMO. I really like how Sony built on their original PS1 controller and made the analog sticks symetrical and clickable. I know I'm in the minority, but I prefer a slight ergonomic downgrade to more consistent and familiar positioning. The seemingly useless light bar on the PS4 controller, not to mention the lack of backwards compatibility ala PS1 controllers on the PS2, bothers me.

The PS2 is not my favorite platform ever or anything. However, I really appreciate what it was and what it did, especially for the time.

 

You may have noticed I glossed over the actual game libraries. There are a few reasons for that, but one of them is that the PS4 is too young to judge in this respect. That said, I have my doubts that the PS4 library will match that of the PS2 in terms of exclusives in particular, thanks to the Xbone's similar architecture and guaranteed userbase from America and the UK.



My friend is a Vtuber, check him out.