Pitting video game consoles against each other is a tricky business, as evidenced by decades of unending console wars. Even when one system excels in hardware, another might boast a better library, more interesting gimmick, or something as simple as a controller that fits more comfortably in your hands. Throw them all into one huge brawl, though, and the Sony PlayStation 2 might just come out on top.
On paper, the PS2 really wasn't exemplary. In most technical regards, the GameCube and Xbox outstripped it, and even the less powerful Dreamcast was capable of better anti-aliasing and textures. 25 years later, though, the PlayStation 2 remains the best-selling game console of all time, and it deserves every sale it ever got.
Sony Came Out Swinging With The PS2
Year One Was Already Unstoppable
The PlayStation 2 had two big advantages at launch. With a North American release date of October 26, 2000, it beat both the GameCube and the Xbox to the market by roughly a year, making the Dreamcast its only immediate competition. It also had something the Dreamcast didn't -- a DVD player. In 2000, a regular DVD player with no other features could sometimes cost almost as much as a PS2, thoroughly justifying the console's higherprice.
Sony didn't have Nintendo's first-party library on its side, but the launch lineup came out swinging. Games like Midnight Club and TimeSplitters emphasized the dramatic increase in power from the original PlayStation, and they were only the beginning.
In the following year, the PS2 played host to Grand Theft Auto 3, Final Fantasy 10, Metal Gear Solid 2, Devil May Cry, and Silent Hill 2, just to name a few. By the time the GameCube and Xbox came out, they were facing a system that already had an arsenal of classics under its belt. Halo was enough to skyrocket Xbox into stardom, but if you wanted a wide range of great games, PS2 was still the most obvious choice.
The PlayStation 2 Game Library Has It All
A Perfect Game For Every Player
From there on out, the story never radically shifts. Look at any year of the PS2's library, and you'll be inundated with hits. Plenty of them were also released on competing consoles -- often with better graphics -- but the PS2 always boasted the widest selection. If you wanted to play a console game that didn't feature Mario or Master Chief, the PS2 almost certainly had it.
Name a genre, and the PS2 delivers, in spades. With more disc storage than the GameCube and a larger presence in Japan than the Xbox, the PS2 received a storm of RPGs, ranging from Persona 3 to Kingdom Hearts. God of War and Okami took stylish action games to new heights, while Ico and Shadow of the Colossus pushed the argument for games as art forward.
It's not the only time that one system's library has led the pack, and it certainly won't be the last. The beauty of the PS2, though, is that the overwhelming majority of these games were actually fun. Take out all the masterpieces from the PS2 library, and you'll still have plenty of games that simply feel good to play.
Sitting in the sweet spot between the original PlayStation's 3D limitations and the ballooning game budgets required for later HD consoles, the PS2 made it easy for developers to crank out movie tie-ins and asset-flip sequels that were actually worth their bargain bin prices. These games weren't life-changing, but now that the market for so-called AA games has largely disappeared, it's easier than ever to appreciate what they offered.
25 Years Later, The PS2 Is As Great As Ever
Great Games Never Get Old
Any console discussion comes with an assumption of bias, so let me get this out of the way: I didn't grow up with the PS2. My childhood loyalties lie with PCs and Nintendo consoles, and I got an Xbox 360 before any system bearing the PlayStation name. In my case, the PS2 is fighting an uphill battle against personal nostalgia, not benefiting from it.
Recently, though, I've been turning to my PS2 more often than any other game console. From playing Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence to taking advantage of its backward compatibility for a Resident Evil retrospective, there's always a reason for me to keep it plugged in. I like my PS5 as much as the next guy, but I can't say it's been getting as much of a workout as its great-granddaddy has.
The Nintendo Switch is on track to dethrone the PS2's sales soon, and I won't be sad when it does. It's another great console, and its hybrid format has rightfully taken the world by storm. Now that console prices are going up over the course of their lifespans instead of down, the Switch might also be the last one that can reasonably be considered affordable.
For the PlayStation 2's 25th anniversary, though, I'm glad that it's still clinging to the crown. That black box full of electronics has long been outmoded, but the games it can play still stand the test of time.