It’s the PS2‘s 10th birthday today in Japan (where’s it’s already Friday). It was originally released on March 5, 2000. Bill Clinton was still the president, Triple H was the WWE Champion, and reality TV didn’t even exist yet. The iPod was still a year and change away, and Mac OS X wasn’t even in open beta yet. Windows XP was still months away. Twitter and Facebook didn’t exist!
I got a PS2 on launch day here in the U.S. My game library consisted of Tekken Tag Tournament and Ridge Racer V. That was it. The truth of the matter is, for the first several months, I actually played PS1 games like Final Fantasy IX, Vagrant Story, and Chrono Cross on the thing. I’m trying to think, what was the first PS2 game I really played? I do believe Twisted Metal: Black holds that distinction. I was 14, what do you want from me?
The next big games on my calendar had to be Metal Gear Solid 2 and Final Fantasy X. I didn’t get upset about the whole Raiden-Snake switch until I read message board threads telling me to be upset. And here’s a stunning revelation: I never once finished Final Fantasy X! Maybe I’ll play it using PCSX2 one of these days.
Ten years later, that original PS2 still works! Granted, discs sometimes take a little while to boot, but she works! I still have a silver PS2 Slim sitting under the TV. I’m pretty sure God of War II is still sitting in there, which is also unbeaten I hope you recognized the pattern: I tend to buy (or get as gifts in my younger days) games but not finish them. It’s a problem.
Best PS2 gaming moment? I’m going to cop-out and say Silent Hill 2 was. Start to finish, great game.
This is the part where I ask you guys to weigh in on the PS2. Memories, best moments, least liked moments, etc.
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