The PlayStation 2 is one of the most successful video game consoles of all time. Not only are its sales figures incredibly impressive, but it also was home to some of the best games of all time, like Metal Gear Solid 2, Final Fantasy X, and Silent Hill 2.
While the game catalog is breathtaking, players could do more with the platform they may have realized. Much of what gamers could do with the PlayStation 2 are things only future pieces of hardware would normalize. While many gamers did not engage with the ten facets listed below, it is still wild to think the PS2 could do it at all.
10 Console MMO
While not the first console MMO, the PlayStation 2 certainly made a big splash with Final Fantasy XI. Not only could players explore the massive online RPG, but it also enabled cross-play with those on PC. The game is still online, though updates have long since ended and the PS2 version is no longer operational. It is difficult to understand by modern standards, so most new players are better off playing Final Fantasy XIV.
9 Netflix
It was a pretty big deal when the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 finally received Netflix functionality, giving millions of people the ability to watch thousands of movies at their fingertips. The PS2 could also do this, but with a catch. Only those in Brazil were able to indulge their movie watching desires on the console, using a disc distributed to PS2 owners. The move makes sense for the country, where new consoles are ludicrously expensive.
8 HD Gaming
Believe it or not, the PlayStation 2 included played a select few games in 1080i. Using composite cables, games like Gran Turismo 4 and Tourist Trophy would run at the higher 1080i resolution. Even the Xbox 360 did not have HD capabilities in its first run. Like a lot of other entries on the list, only a small handful of gamers could experience this quality, since HDTVs were extremely expensive at the time.
7 Backwards Compatibility
With this upcoming generation, Backwards Compatibility is a real hot button issue. Most consider Microsoft to have the edge in this respect, with the ability to play games from all the prior Xbox consoles.
On the PlayStation 2, Sony was way ahead of the curve, playing PlayStation One games when its two competitors, the GameCube and Xbox, offered nothing comparable. A few games had issues with audio and frame rate, but for the most part the feature worked like a charm.
6 Mini Versions
Both the PS4 and Xbox One had mid-generation iterations which increased the power and capabilities of the hardware. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 also had redesigns, but not to the same extent. The PlayStation 2 had a mini version which significantly decreased the size of the console. Looking at the size of the PS2 compared to the PS3 and the upcoming PS5, it almost looks like the original design of the PS2 could have been the mini. The real PS2 mini is tiny.
5 PSP Connectivity
Many modern games have companion apps and ways to engage with the product without using the controller. With the PlayStation Vita or PSP players could connect with either the PS3 or the PS4. Sony’s first handheld came out during the PS2’s lifespan, however, and also included similar connectivity for some games. Some games even let the player import their save to the PSP and continue their session on the go.
4 Linux Support
Every console includes various apps and the ability to surf the Internet. The PS2 included an installable OS for players to use the console as a fully functioning desktop. One of its main functions was independent game development, letting hobbyists more easily engage with their passion. The product has since been discontinued, like all of the PS2’s other Internet offerings, though enthusiasts have kept the functionality alive.
3 Pressure Sensitive Buttons
The face buttons on the PlayStation 2 reacted differently depending on how hard they were pushed. Certain games like The Bouncer and Metal Gear Solid 2 integrated it into the gameplay seamlessly, with the former using it for different severities of melee attack moves mapped to the same button and the latter using it to holster the gun after pointing it at someone instead of shooting. With haptic feedback on the triggers coming on the next-generation controllers, pressure sensitivity is coming back in a different way.
2 Camera
The EyeToy was a camera manufactured by Sony which could be used to play certain games. It was mostly a novelty, but also a predecessor to what future consoles would do with cameras and motion sensor technology.
Kinect was a similar device, which thankfully received more support before also phasing out during the Xbox One generation. Sony also had PlayStation Move, whose controllers are used for PSVR.
1 DVD Player
Consoles these days are full-fledged multimedia centers, an ambition Sony has aimed for since the first PlayStation. The company’s debut console was a solid CD player, and the PS2 was a DVD player. This was a game-changer for the system since DVD players at the time cost about as much as PlayStation 2. This was the same strategy that would help PlayStation 3, since it too was a Blu-Ray player when the format was still relatively new.
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