Disappointed
Written: Dec 26 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Metal Case
Cons: SLOW loading, only one controller, games not intuitive, no memory storage by default, short (present) controller cord(s), no S-video cable by default
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| papyrus's Full Review: Sony PlayStation 2 Slimline Console |
Background
My wife and I have been out of the video game scene for quite a while, with the exception of the first person shooters I play on my PC. We were interested in getting something we could play socially with each other - something similar to the Mario Cart from days of yore. We were looking for something we could play with visitors (house guests, not Martians) at a leisurely level, without too much time commitment.
How I got it
My wife tried to get in line on the fateful night that the PS2s went on sale (Oct 26 I believe). She got to a local Wal-Mart about a half hour before midnight and stood in line. She was too late to get a PS2, which makes more sense in retrospect since hearing stories of people camping out for 12 hours.
I saw that Amazon.com would occasionally have PS2s available with little advance notice. I wrote a simpler PERL scripts on a cron-job (unix talk) to check their site every minute, and page me if a unit was available. I got a page while in a meeting at work. I stormed directly out (I'm glad that looking at your pager and storming out of a meeting only makes you look more dedicated in the IT industry) and got on the first computer I saw with IE already running. I went to Amazon and bought a PS2 immediately. I later found out that the purchasing window only remained open for 3.5 minutes that time ( and 30 seconds the next).
Initial Impressions
I bought the Amazon "Action Gamer's Bundle" which included an extra controller, 3 games (Madden 2001, Ridge Racer V, and Tekken Tag) and a DVD (Armageddon). It arrived in about a week (free shipping) as expected.
My first pleasant impression was the solid construction of the console. It is nice to see that the manufacturers have finally figured out that these things should be BLACK and most importantly METAL. If I was engaged in hand to hand combat with a foe wielding a Nintendo 64, the PS2 would surely send him (or his brains) running. This is a good thing (somehow). The console also stands naturally vertically OR horizontally, which I was impressed with. I have since seen a vertical stand available, which I do not see the need for.
I was very disappointed to find that the THIRD controller my bundle included was actually a SECOND controller! I am not a playstation veteran and I have since leaned that including only one controller is standard fare. I was glad to have bought the bundle with the second controller, but I would have been enraged if I had spent $300 only to find it only had one controller. Every console should have at LEAST two controllers. On a Freudian note, Sony is sending the message to kids that sharing is very OPTIONAL. In addition, the machines of my childhood all had two controllers. Nintendo, Coleco, Atari... even PONG had two controllers (well, kind of).
Hooking up the system
As soon as I had unpacked and inspected the system, I ran downstairs... PAST the TV, into my car in the garage, and sped off to the local bar for a previous unrelated engagement. I noted how priorities change with age.
The next morning I finally tried out the PS2. Hookup was very simple, although I was very disappointed to find that an S-video adapter was NOT standard. This is another fascist ploy similar to the one-controller selfishness problem. I am fortunately not a hi-fi nut, but I know many people would not even want to view it if it wasn't coming in an S-video jack.
Game play - Madden 2001
I started with Madden 2001. My goal was to pop in the cartridge (CD) and immediately hit the start button a few times, and be passing a ball within the first 15 seconds of powerup. This was NOT as feasible as I expected. In reality (SONY branded reality) I popped in a CD, turned on the UNIT, and SAT. I waited quite a while for the game to load. I then chose the most intuitive option from the screen (quick start I believe), which caused MORE delay. I had a VERY difficult time choosing my team. The controls were not intuitive at all. Once I had given up and accepted playing AGAINST the vikings and not WITH them, I was subjected to MORE loading.. waiting... I thought these things were supposed to be getting FASTER... not SLOWER.....
FINALLY I was ready to "play." I quickly realized that this was not a simple "toy" but rather a serious time and effort investment. It took me QUITE a while to figure out how to get anything done. I had even gone so far as to break protocol and READ THE INSTRUCTIONS the previous night.
I finally got to the point where I could win a game. I thought I would save my progress and continue another day. I navigated the menus to save my league. More disappointment. I had heard of these mythical memory cards. I thought these were needed by 7 year olds wanted to bring their saved teams/characters to each others' houses, or to save extended amounts of data. I was wrong. Apparently this optional component is needed to save ANYTHING at all. My NINTENDO saved games like mad... why is this suddenly so difficult?
Ridge Racer with the Rim Raider
My next test involved Ridge Racer V. I ejected Madden 2001 and put in the RRV CD. No dice. I had to reset the unit. Apparently no "auto-play" available. I waited an eternity once again for the game to load.
Upon loading, the game presented a detailed scene involving a scantily-clad asian woman. This boded well for the game, but it turned out that scantly clad asian women have NOTHING to do with this game - as you may well imagine. It ALSO turns out that the "plot" that this game DOES have involves you, as the driver, listening to a RADIO station with an effeminate DJ commenting on the racing. The plot is pretty hard to grasp. Many questions come up. Here is a brief list:
1) Why does my Ferrari race car have a radio?
2) Why am I listening to it?
3) Why is a radio station for RACING only in existence?
4) How is the DJ able to see what is happening to MY CAR only?
5) Why is the DJ "Big Gay Al" from Southpark?
The only explanation I could find for these questions involved the fact that the game was most likely produced in Japan and translated to English.
With the plot problems behind me, I began racing. It was somewhat fun, although the lack of missiles or real cars was a let-down. The constant badgering from the fairy godmother was somewhat disconcerting, especially when he made comments regarding safety during run-ins with other cars. Another source of frustration was choosing the easily fat-fingered position for the reverse camera angle button. It is very... stressful... to suddenly be looking out the back window while approaching a turn at 180mph.
My biggest disappointments came when I decided to try out multiplayer. Since I had the extravagant luxury of purchasing the OPTIONAL second controller, my wife was able to try it out with me. The screen split to top and bottom. The view-change button was now gone. This was somewhat relieving, but it did not make much sense that the controls would be different in multiplayer mode. In addition, it was no longer possible to lock my brakes up with multiplayer. It was as if I had anti-lock brakes. I can not figure out why gameplay would differ so much with two players.
Scenery was not especially exciting, and it was hard to see changes in the road coming up. Overall, I was again disappointed.
Remedy
My disappointment over the PS2 was rapidly relieved when I sold the bundle on ebay for $750.
Conclusions
Metal console cases are good.
Having memory and a second controller optional is fascist and insulting.
Having such short controller cables (or ANY at all in this wireless age) is silly.
CDs and DVDs, or any media with such a large spin-up time, are NOT suitable for single purpose computers such as game consoles. Solid-state cartridges or the ability to copy games to an internal hard drive are essential.
This system is NOT for the leisurely player who enjoys a spontaneous game now and then. This is for a DEDICATED 7 year old with a head full of braces, no friends, and rich inattentive parents.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
papyrus
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Location: Atlanta, GA
Reviews written: 17
Trusted by: 3 members
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