Rating

A+

Specific Ratings

GameplayA+
GraphicsA
Learning CurveA+
Replay ValueA+
SoundA+

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Plays DVDs with no needed accessories
  • The best 3rd party support
  • Has online ability
  • Backward compatible
Cons
  • Only two controller ports
  • Hard drive feature was left to die

Sony PlayStation 2 (PlayStation 2)

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Summary

Learn of the PS2, hardware list, and review

Description

Although not the most powerful system of the three, (actually the weakest), the Sony PlayStation 2 is all around a system for the casual, and the hardcore gamer. With backward compatibility, those who purchased the system early on, could play their PS1 games, while they await some tiitles to be released worth their $50. This is a unique feature that the Gamecube did not incorporate. Also, all the hardware like controllers, memory cards, and various adapters would work with the PS2.

The PlayStation 2 was released on March 4, 2000 in Japan, and October 26, 2000 in the United States, nearly selling out immediately in every store that there were systems available.

Graphics/Visuals

Graphically, the PS2 has some amazing games to date, Gran Turismos, Metal Gear Solids, God of War, and countless other exclusive titles that fully utilize the capabilities that the system has to offer. However, the games that producers port over on multiple systems often have the worst image quality on the PS2, due to the extreme differences in hardware and functionality.

Hardware/Accessories

In 2002, millions of PlayStation fans from all over the world became connected on the new online ability of the system. With the add-on of a network adapter, those with broadband and dial up internet access could take their gaming abilities online against players from all over the world. Some thought down upon the controllers when the system was unveiled, they were no different then the original PlayStations. However, they were different and labeled as the "Dual Shock 2." They were pressure sensitive, and had a firmer feel in the buttons. The console accepted new larger memory cards, now 8MB replacing the old 15 block versions. A large miss on Sony's part was the failure of the hard drive add-on, this was supposed to be able to store music, new game content downloadable off the new online mode, and would possibly replace the memory card. But nothing ever became of the feature to date. Only a few games such as Socom and FFXI have taken advantage of the HD.

The PlayStation 2 also had the ability to play DVD movies with no needed peripherals. Unlike the XBOX where you had to buy the remote and kit, this is simply place the DVD in and play. This attracted casual buyers to the system, allowing them to buy the PS2 and not spend another couple hundred on a DVD player. All is not good with the hardware on the system. Many did not like the idea that there were only 2 controller ports, when the competition each had four. To have more than two players required the use of a multitap adapter which had to be bought separately, as a result many games only incorporated a two player limit.

Software

With such a strong third party of developers, the PlayStation has gone on to be the best selling video game console of all time. With so many excellent games that are only PS2 exclusive, many buyers wanting a certain game were forced to purchase the system, such as the Final Fantasy franchise, and the Gran Turismo sequels.

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HARDWARE POWER AND CONTENTS
CPU 128-bit CPU (Emotion engine)
System clock frequency: 294.912 MHz
Cache memory: Instruction: 16KB, Data: 8KB + 16 K(ScrP)
Main memory: Direct Ram bus (Direct RDRAM)
Memory size: 32MB
Memory bus bandwidth: 3.2GB per second
Co-processor: FPU (Floating Point Unit),

GRAPHICS Graphics Synthesizer™
Clock frequency: 147.456MHz
Embedded DRAM: 4MB
DRAM bus bandwidth: 48GB per second
DRAM bus width: 2,560 bits
Polygon drawing rate: 75 million polygons per second
Screen resolution: Variable from 256 x 224 to 1280 x 1024

SOUND “SPU2 + CPU”
Number of voices: ADPCM: 48 channel on SPU2 plus definable,
software programmable voices
Sound memory: 2MB
Output frequency: Variable up to 48 KHz (DAT quality)

Disc device speed: 24x CD-ROM, 4x DVD-ROM

ADDITIONAL FEATURES
Drive bay (for 3.5” hard disc drive)
Expansion bay (for network peripherals)
DVD player software built in.

GENERAL
Dimensions (approximately.): 301mm x 78mm x 182mm (w/h/d)
Mass (approximately): 2.2 kg
Operating temperature: 41°F-95°F (5°C-35°C)
Laser diode properties:

INPUTS/OUTPUTS – CONSOLE FRONT
2 Controller ports
2 Memory Card slots
2 USB Connectors
S400 i.LINK connector

OUTPUTS – CONSOLE REAR
AV multi out connector
Digital out (Optical) connector
Expansion bay

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