Not quite revolutionary, but solid enough
Written: Jan 19 '01 (Updated Jan 19 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Capable of great graphics, DVD player included, compatible with most PSOne games
Cons: Current software lineup is uninspired and bland
The Bottom Line: While it may not be the revolution Sony promised just yet, PlayStation2 is still a worthwile investment for any self-respecting gamer.
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| onetuffcowboy's Full Review: Sony PlayStation 2 Slimline Console |
Sony's PlayStation2 has been heralded by many as the end-all-be-all of home consoles. But is it the revolution Sony promised? Is it everything we thought it would be? Well, no. Not yet, at least. While there are some inherent problems with the PS2 at the moment, there is no denying that it is still a very good system with plenty of potential for the future. Think of it this way: was Dreamcast as great as it is today when it first came out? What about PSOne? What about N64? Nope. No console is perfect right out the box, and PS2 is no exception.
As a next generation console, PS2 is great, but nowhere near revolutionary. Among the titles available right now, there are few must-haves; in fact, the vast majority of the PS2 lineup is decent or worse. Of course, this has been the case with every console launch in the history of the industry. A console launches with a few memorable games, while the rest are forgettable at best, no doubt rushed to meet the launch date. There were a total of 26 launch titles for PS2, and over half of them aren't worth your time. Of course, Dreamcast was the same way; other than Sonic Adventure, Soul Caliber, NFL 2K, and NBA 2K, there wasn't much for Dreamcast owners to choose from at its launch date. Still, considering the amount of hype PS2 had coming in, this is quite disappointing. Here are my recommendations for the holiday season:
Dead or Alive 2: Hardcore--Without a doubt the best fighting game to hit the PS2 thus far, DOA2 takes what made the Dreamcast version so great and adds a few new features. Unparalleled level of depth, coupled with smooth controls and sweet graphics, make DOA2 a PS2 must-have. (5/5)
SSX--Snowboarding heaven. Anyone who loved Tony Hawk Pro Skater (not me, but I know I'm the minority here) will enjoy SSX. The graphics may not be cutting edge, but the involving gameplay more than makes up for it. If you own a PS2 and SSX isn't in your library, it should be. (5/5)
Tekken Tag Tournament--The quintessential Tekken experience, the only thing TTT has going against it is the fact that it's basically a prettier Tekken 3. However, with beautiful graphics, deep gameplay, and a highly addictive Tekken Bowling mode, TTT is a Tekken fan's dream. (4/5)
NHL 2001--EA Sports once again gives us a solid hockey experience. The graphics are lush, the controls are smooth, and the action is fast. Sports fans will love this gem. (4/5)
Armored Core 2--Some may not like the complex nature of this title, but in terms of depth and playability, no other mech game comes close. (4/5)
NASCAR 2001--Yes, there are some major graphical shortcomings, but in terms of gameplay, no other game gives you the most true-to-life NASCAR experience. This is a very solid game. (4/5)
I know, only six games out of 30+ that I can recommend; that's not very good. But PS2's strength comes in its potential as a next generation system. Third-party support is running rampant, and while PS2's first-party support right now is rather weak (Fantavision or NFL GameDay 2001, anyone?), it shows all the signs of stepping up in the future. PSOne showed that a console that has a healthy balance of quality third-party and first-party titles is sure to succeed, so look for PS2 to strive for the same thing. Need proof that the games are coming? Just look at some of the games coming out in 2001: Metal Gear Solid 2, Zone of the Enders, Dark Cloud, Gran Turismo 3, Final Fantasy X, Silent Hill 2, Devil May Cry, Twisted Metal Black, Tomb Raider PS2, the list goes on. Sony promised us groundbreaking gameplay, and while it may not be here yet, it is coming. It's just a matter of exercising a little patience, that's all. To expect a console to be perfect right out of the box is simply ridiculous; not only that, it would also be quite boring if a system were the absolute best it could be right out of the box. Half the fun of owning a new console is watching it grow and evolve. If a console can't evolve, then you're stuck with the same old thing for the next four, five years.
Yes, there have been complaints that PS2 is hard to develop for, hence the lack of quality software. But you have to keep in mind that PS2 is a new machine, and developers are still learning the architecture of it. Once they do, development will be a lot easier and better games will start coming out on a more consistent basis. We just have to be patient; Rome wasn't built in a day, guys....
While you're waiting for the next big thing from Sony, the PS2 has other ways to occupy your time. First, PS2 is backwards compatible, which means it can play virtually every PSOne game in existence (there are a few that don't work--FF Anthology, MK Trilogy, and Tomba among them). This means that for those of you who are going to sell your PSOne upon getting your hands on a PS2, your PSOne game library isn't useless. I personally love this idea, for once I get my own PS2 (I didn't preorder--shame on me), my 25+ PSOne games won't go to waste. Even better, PS2 can improve the performance of your PSOne games, both in terms of graphics and load times. Most games can have their load times reduced by as much as a third, and some textures are smoothed out. Not bad, considering PS2 games are slim pickin's right now (yes, I said slim-pickin's and yes, I'm from the South).
PS2 is also a pretty good DVD player. Some scoff at this feature, saying stand-alones provide better picture and sound quality at a lower cost. I've had a chance to compare PS2's DVD player to the stand-alone models and to be quite honest, there is no difference. The picture and sound quality is just as good on PS2, if not better than some stand-alones. I know it's better than the DVD drive in the PC I'm using to type this review.
So in the end, what do we have here? A $300 machine capable of playing PS2 games, PSOne games, and DVD movies. Sure, the graphics may not be leaps and bounds over Dreamcast (like Sony promised), but other than a few issues with jaggies and slowdown, PS2 is a very powerful machine who's real potential will show through in 2001. But is it worth your while to buy a PS2? Is it worth the $300? Well, if you are lucky enough to actually find one before March of next year, you certainly would not be a fool for picking one up. Games may not be that great right now, but they are coming, and come this time next year, don't be surprised if Sony is running on all eight cylinders.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
onetuffcowboy
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Member: Jeff Cunningham
Location: Norfolk, VA
Reviews written: 114
Trusted by: 16 members
About Me:
Can I just say something about destiny? Screw destiny.
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