Following up on the day after the Nintendo Switch celebrated its third year since release, another console is also celebrating its own significant anniversary. Turning 20 years old today is the PlayStation 2, a beloved system, and the most popular gaming console of all time. The PS2 was first released in Japan on March 4, 2000, with a launch lineup of games like Street Fighter EX3, Ridge Racer V, Kessen, and eight other titles. While the initial games available for release in Japan might seem underwhelming to some, the PlayStation 2 would go on to offer games that wowed audiences, and ones that defined the industry, such as Grand Theft Auto III, Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3, God of War, Devil May Cry, Kingdom Hearts, Shadow of the Colossus, Okami, Silent Hill 2, and so, so many more.

Retailing for ¥39,800, or $/£299.99 in the west, the PlayStation 2 drew attention for not only being a gaming system, but its ability to play DVDs, as well. Though it may not have been the most powerful console out of its sixth-generation rivals, it more than made up for it with its massive game library and media center capabilities. As was common at the time, in order to save your game progress, you'd need to have a memory card, and for those who wanted to be in on the cutting edge of online gaming at the time, you could pick up a network adapter, both sold separately.

So, happy 20th anniversary, PlayStation 2! What are your favorite memories with the console?

 

[Stealphie]

I am literally playing LEGO Star Wars on a PS2 right now, oh well. I do prefer the GameCube, but the PS2 is far from a bad system. It's really good. Like, really, really good.

 

[DANTENDO]

The beautiful start up sound

 

[PedroxBest]

The beautiful start up sound

 

[MaxiBash]

I bought a stack of demo discs not too long ago, and I still don’t have a PlayStation 2.
I expect my trift store to have at least 1 PS2 Slim soon in stock, considering how many accessories and games they recieve for the console

 

[Nobody_Important4u]

Finally some news that i can relate to.

 

[Uiaad]

Best console ever. No contest

 

[spotanjo3]

Best classic consoles ever in 1980 and 1990's:

NES/Famicom

Sony PlayStation/ Sony Playstation 2

SNES/SFC.

Thats about it.

 

[banjo2]

I own this console for literally 1 game, but it's nice. Happy 2 decades or something, PS2

 

[playstays_shun]

Great system!

I still have mine from launch holidays 2000, which were impossible to find at the time

cant really read blue discs but works great otherwise.

I recently hooked it up to a 13" PVM I got too, over s-video no less, and I'm in awe how much better the graphics are vs. component over OLED

480i can... not look like crap with the right set up! Tekken Tag looked fantastic

 

[Stealphie]

Great system!

I still have mine from launch holidays 2000, which were impossible to find at the time

cant really read blue discs but works great otherwise.

I recently hooked it up to a 13" PVM I got too, over s-video no less, and I'm in awe how much better the graphics are vs. component over OLED

480i can... not look like crap with the right set up! Tekken Tag looked fantastic

by blue discs you mean CD-based games right?

 

[chartube12]

by blue discs you mean CD-based games right?

i believe he means the few platinum coated games they released in attempt of increasing the dvd disc durability.

20 years since dvds went mainstream too. Those early DVDs were such crap. single layer disc with poor coding optimization. Sound quality was barely above vhs and depending on the movie, video was actually worse than the newest VHS movies. Looking at you phantom menace!

 

[spotanjo3]

I dont own PS2 console before because I was disappointed that there were few games that I really liked and I happened to played them on PCSX2 instead. However.. I want to share what I really liked about PS2 games. An awesome games for PS2:

God of War 1 and 2
Klonoa 2
Castlevania 1 and 2
Megaman X7 and MX8
Rockman Power Battle Fighters
Megaman X Command Mission
Devil May Cry 1-3 ( dont played it on PCSX2.. Not sure if I did)

Those were awesome games that I was after. I am aware of Final Fantasy series but PS4 will be fine for me with that. Anyway, I dont care about many other games, thought.

 

[vree]

Best console ever. No contest

I still prefer my GameCube

 

[Deleted User]

Best classic consoles ever in 1980 and 1990's:

NES/Famicom

Sony PlayStation/ Sony Playstation 2

SNES/SFC.

Thats about it.

cheating a little there, ps2 is only 1999 in japan

 

[spotanjo3]

cheating a little there, ps2 is only 1999 in japan

Sorry. You are right. I should say 1980-2000 at least.

Actually, Wiki said...

• JP: March 4, 2000

Thanks.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Happy Birthday PS2! Spent tons of hours playing all sorts of games, Hot Shots Golf 3, Seek and Destroy, GTA III, FFX, and tons more. Suppose it's time to boot up some classics on my phatty PS2 I've had since launch

 

[playstays_shun]

by blue discs you mean CD-based games right?

exactly

but I use OPL and have a hard drive connected to a modded network adapter that has SATA port so its not an issue

 

[Flame]

playing GTA San Andreas on the PS2 was like sex.

and still is.

 

[phreaksho]

Enjoyed my GameCube more, but it is hard to not give the ps2 credit, felt like a more mature console. My sis mainly used it to play movies, which was a neat feature. I had a great time with shadow of the Colossus. Of course I spent countless hours playing all the gta games.. happy bday ps2